₦airaland Forum

Many have 'acts' they want to leave as well as those they want to imbibe, but challenges come in the way.
I want to try to address that here. In short, people want to break bad habits and build good ones.
I’ll start with something that happened to me.

I was reading a manga that I really enjoyed. It was good, I was deeply into it. I followed the characters closely, thought about the plot, all those things. You know how it is.
Eventually, I reached the end of the available chapters, but the series wasn’t finished. New chapters were coming out week after week. I didn’t want to wait, so I decided to step away and give it time.
For a while, the story stayed with me. I thought about it often—what happened here, what might happen next, how the characters would develop. But then, after some time—I don’t even know how long—I realized something: I wasn’t thinking about it anymore. I had completely forgotten it.

And when I finally remembered, I didn’t care.
This was something I could spend hours reading, something I really enjoyed. Yet now, with new chapters available, I had no interest in going back to it. Because I wasn’t interested, I didn’t feel the urge to read it. If you understand what happened here, it can help you understand how bad habits form—and how they break.

The thing that drives much of what we do is dopamine. In simple terms, we do things for the reward. We eat for the rewarding taste. We spend time with people for the reward of connection. We watch videos or shows for the reward of entertainment. We’re constantly chasing some form of reward.
On a neurological level, when something gives us that reward, dopamine is released. When dopamine is triggered, the brain treats it as something important. It then traces the steps that led up to that dopamine release and begins to wire them together. Those steps, are the actions you took. The idea is simple: do this again to get that feeling again.

So wiring happens in the brain.
But on a conscious level, something else is happening. We begin to see those actions as meaningful. We tell ourselves that they matter, that they’re important, that there’s a reason behind them.
But this is a key point to understand. The action feels important because dopamine was triggered—not necessarily because it truly is important. But consciously, we reverse it. We think, “This matters, therefore I feel good,” when in reality, “I feel good, therefore it seems like it matters.”
In that sense, there’s almost an illusion at play.

Take social media as an example. You scroll, you see a post or video, and it triggers dopamine. Your brain lights up and says, “Something important just happened.” At the same time, it traces the steps: you were bored or frustrated, you picked up your phone, you scrolled. That pathway gets wired. Later, when you’re bored, stressed, or uncomfortable, your brain looks for that same reward. It nudges you toward the same action. And consciously, your mind starts giving reasons—excuses that sound convincing—to get you to do it. It feels meaningful. It feels necessary.

But understand this: the action itself doesn’t have the meaning you think it does.
What’s really happening is wiring.
Coming back to the bad habits you’re trying to leave—more often than not, they exist because certain actions triggered dopamine. When that happened, your brain wired the steps that led to that reward. And once that wiring is in place, your brain keeps looking for those same actions again.
So you start thinking things like:“I need to eat this tasty food—I can’t stop thinking about it.”“I need to watch this movie—I have to know what happens next.”“I can’t stop checking my phone—my mind won’t settle otherwise.”
That’s how it feels. But that’s not what’s actually happening.
On a neurological level, your brain is simply trying to get another dopamine hit. That’s all. The story it tells you—“You won’t be happy,” “What if he’s replied?” “Let me just check in case there’s something good”—is merely a justification.

[center]It’s just
To get you
To take the action
The action you’re trying to break[/center]

If you understand that that’s what’s going on, and you don’t actually need to take the action, because the emotional pull—the urgency you feel—is not real. Deep down, you already know this. You know the habit isn’t good for you. Yet it feels like you have to do it.
And what I’m saying is: no, you don’t have to.
What’s really happening is that your brain has been conditioned to make you think you need it.
Now let’s talk about good habits.
Why are the habits you genuinely want—studying, exercising, reading the Qur’an, praying at night—so difficult to maintain?

The answer is the same: dopamine.
Those actions haven’t been paired with enough pleasure for your brain to see them as important. You may understand their benefits intellectually. You may know the reward, the growth, the barakah, the long-term value. But if dopamine isn’t involved, then biologically, the trigger just isn’t there

And here’s where most people go wrong.
When there’s no pleasure attached to an action, they try to force it. They exert effort, push themselves, apply pressure. They rely on discipline alone. But the more effort you exert without experiencing any reward, the more your brain starts to register pain. And once that pain builds up, your brain looks for balance.
Where does it usually find that balance? In your bad habits.
So you end up going right back—not because you’re weak, but because your brain is trying to escape discomfort and return to pleasure. This is the core mistake: trying to quit bad habits by fighting them directly. What you resists persists, and the harder you fight, the stronger they get.
That’s not what happened when I stopped reading that series. I wasn’t forcing myself or constantly telling myself, “I won’t go back when the next chapter comes out.” I simply redirected my attention elsewhere. I found pleasure in other things. And because of that, I left it without even realizing I had left it. I forgot about it.

That’s the key.
If you want to build good habits, you have to build them in a way that allows you to derive some form of pleasure from them. Without that, it will always feel hard. And when something feels hard for too long, you will naturally default to what is easy—or what feels good.
I see people constantly recommending apps, systems, models, and techniques. These things can help, but they are still just mechanisms—external ways of forcing behavior. Understanding how your mind and biology actually work is far more powerful than any system. The best systems are the ones that support how you already operate, not ones that assume you function the same way as everyone else.
Trying to fix your habits or reach your goals without understanding your own wiring is like putting someone in charge of a company without teaching them how that company operates. Expecting them to lead a system they don’t understand. What do you think would happen?

So to bring it all together:
You have bad habits because your brain has been wired around certain actions that reliably produce pleasure. You struggle to build good habits because those actions haven’t been paired with enough reward for your brain to care.
Once you understand this, you stop fighting yourself blindly. You become more intentional. More strategic. And far more effective at breaking bad habits, building better ones, and moving toward the goals that actually matter.

Kobojunkie:
It is only a waste if you wish for it to be. 🥱🥱

Nice, so I would say this. You're ignoring the whole context and why Islam and Christianity share similarities. Here's chatgpt to brake it down for you.

There are Christian groups and individuals who pray in a way that looks very similar to Muslim ṣalāh. This isn’t common among most Christians today, but it does exist in some traditions.
Here are the main examples:
1. Ethiopian & Eritrean Orthodox Christians
These churches are ancient and preserve very old practices. Their worship includes:
Standing, bowing, and full prostration
Praying at fixed times of the day
Facing the east during prayer
Removing shoes before entering some holy spaces
Ritual purity rules before worship
Many Muslim travelers historically noted how similar this looked to ṣalāh.
2. Coptic (Egyptian) Orthodox Christians
They also have:
Bowing and prostration in prayer
Set prayer times (Agpeya)
Fasting rules that resemble Islamic fasting
3. Syriac / Eastern Churches
Some Eastern Christians use:
Prostrations (called metanoias)
Chanting prayers at specific hours
Facing a direction during prayer
4. “Jerusalem Christians” or “Nazarene Christians” (rare today)
Some small groups attempt to imitate what they believe early Christians did, which includes:
Praying with prostration
Praying multiple times a day
Washing before prayer
5. Individual Christians influenced by early Christianity or by Islamic practice
Some Christian monks, scholars, or spiritual groups adopt:
Prostration as part of devotion
Repeated daily prayer cycles
They don't call it "ṣalāh," but the movements are very similar.
Why the similarity?
Because early Christians prayed almost exactly like this, and Islam preserved that tradition. Prostration was the standard way of worship for:
Jews
Early Christians
Prophets mentioned in the Bible
For example:
“Jesus fell on his face and prayed.” (Matthew 26:39)
“Moses and Aaron… fell on their faces.” (Numbers 20:6)
So some Christians kept this old style, while others moved away from it.

In short:
Yes, certain Christians — especially Eastern Orthodox traditions — still pray in a style very close to Muslim ṣalāh because it comes from the older prophetic way of worship.

My say:
They're not similar because one copied the other, they're similar because the source is the same, as for differences, that is the same too, human desire and corruption. And when you talk about the aspects, you're missing the point.

Tempted to write ✍️
But I know it's a waste of time and energy.

Deepspirituals:
Any need to Go to Quranic School again to Read D Quran? It's Already in English and Yoruba now .

There is, the Arabic language is very rich, and when translated, it loses a lot of that meaning, and I mean a lot.
For example, kufr is usually translated as disbelief, but it has a closer mean ungrateful than to disbelief. The English word disbelief is like refusing to believe in something, but that meaning is inaccurate, because how can the devil not believe in Allah when he has spoken and prayed to Him, but he is not a believer. When you apply the meaning ungrateful, then it makes more sense, if you know his story.

Note that this is just one word, when you here words like din, Iman, Ihsan, Taqwa, sālih, etc, and you translate them to religion, faith, goodness, piety, righteousness, you have lost so much of the meaning, it's shocking.
These are terms that are deeply connected with human existence, things we can't separate from.
There is just so much lost when Arabic is translated, you can compare it to a food that's processed and loses most of its nutrients.

I feel like sometimes the easiest things Allah asks from us are, at the same time, the hardest things for us to actually do. And how can something be so easy, yet feel so hard? I won’t say I have the answer, but I want to share something that happened to me once.

It’s a long story, but basically, because of our situation—I come from a mixed religious home, Muslim father and Christian mother—and after my father passed away, the responsibility for my sister’s marriage fell on me. If you understand Islamic rulings, you know what that means. When I tried to find someone suitable for her, the person I found was much older than she was. Even though she agreed, a lot of people were displeased. Somehow the situation escalated to the point where my mother chased us from the house. Long story, but that’s not the point.

The point is: it was a very disgraceful and shameful period for us, especially for me. From the outside, people might say I put myself in that situation—and maybe I did. People expect me to be independent, to be on my own, yet I’m not. Anyway, what happened happened, and months later I came out of it. But I still had ill feelings about it.

My mom, with no warning, told us to pack our things and leave, saying she never wanted to see us again—only to later tell us that she thought we would apologize and turn away from it. That hurt me deeply. I felt sad, or maybe angry—anger is probably covering the sadness. And because of that, I felt reluctant to call her or speak to her.

When I spoke to someone about it, they advised me not to be angry. They said problems in life never end. No matter what you achieve, there will always be something. And this was simply my own problem to face. As for her being my mother, she has a right over me, which Allah wants me to give her.

I said, “I don’t know how a mother can claim to love her child and then throw them out.” And the person told me: she loves me as her son, but what she doesn’t like is my religion(or at least my stance). I guess I can understand that, even though it’s hard to come to terms with.

But the challenge is to look at her, to meet her with a face that shows I’m not angry, that I’ve forgiven her, that I don’t hold anything in my heart. Ideally, that’s what I’m supposed to do. But I find it very hard. A part of me still wants to blame her, or maybe blame myself—I don’t know.

From an Islamic standpoint, I’m supposed to recognize that this was decreed by Allah, something that was always going to happen, something I couldn’t escape. So there’s no one to blame. But still, something in me wants to blame somebody. And if I do that, then it’s like I’m failing the test.

This is where the real challenge is. Allah says that if we hold on to what He sent down—the Qur’an and His guidance—we will succeed. So in such a situation, I’m supposed to believe in Allah’s promise. I can’t say I don’t believe in Allah. But maybe I’m fearful or worried, and those feelings affect my ability to draw closer to Him. Because deep down, I know that if I truly have faith, Allah will come to my aid. But that faith is hard to muster when things are challenging.

And we compare ourselves to others—people who probably fall into haram, people who don’t take Allah seriously, people who don’t have your level of taqwā—and say, “If I was in their situation, or if I had what they have, I wouldn’t be in this mess.” But that’s not how to look at things.

We accept what happens. That doesn’t mean we put ourselves in bad situations or do nothing—no. We take action and accept whatever result comes. We seek the good of this world and the good of the Hereafter. The real challenge is the weakness of iman. Because when we expose ourselves to worldly things, they make us desire them, and they make us forget Allah and His promise.

Without constant reminders, it feels like the challenges we face are punishments, or things we can’t handle. But this is simply life. If I think I’m going to escape hardship, that’s never going to happen. The challenge is not thinking, “If only this or that had happened, I could have escaped it.” But the real solution is relying on Allah, clearing ourselves of doubts, falsehood, and temptations—because these weaken iman and drag us down.

We care too much about what people say and too little about what Allah, and even His angels say. We forget that Allah is the one who will ultimately determine who succeeds.

It’s a challenge. And we need to realize that we will fall sometimes. We will be down. It might take time to rise. Things will happen that we don’t like. That’s part of life. And we shouldn’t care about what people think—because the reality is they probably aren’t even thinking those things. We only imagine they are.

Deep down—the part of me that allows me to face this situation, even though it’s difficult—is the belief that Allah’s promise is true, and that I’m going to meet Him one day. And I want to meet Him hoping for His mercy, and I fear His punishment, how do people feel safe from the punishment of Allah? What I face in this life is my test. I cannot escape it, but I can try to make it the means by which I reach what Allah calls true success.

I hope Allah shows me favor, rewards me for my actions, and protects me from the evil of myself. It takes faith, but faith is a challenge. Why don’t we just believe what Allah says and trust that relief will come? One day it will all be over. We will be gone, and new people will live on the earth, and they too will be tested. This is my test. May Allah grant success to every believing man and woman in their trials.

The Reality of Intention

The Prophet ﷺ said:

> “Indeed, actions are only by intentions, and every person will have only what he intended.”
(Narrated by al-Bukhārī and Muslim)


Many people know this ḥadīth, yet while the meaning is clear, it is misunderstood and used to justify wrong actions. There are many lessons to take from it, but I want to first shed some light on a major misunderstanding — because as it’s been said, ignorance is a disease, and its cure is knowledge.

If people remain ignorant of the true meaning of this ḥadīth, they might act in ways they believe are beneficial, when in reality, those actions bring them no benefit at all.

When the Prophet ﷺ said “actions are only by intentions”, the Arabic phrase إِنَّمَا الأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ means that the reason an action is carried out is because there was an intention behind it. If you think about it, every action we take begins with an intention — without it, we wouldn’t even act.

Imām Ibn Rajab رحمه الله explained that this ḥadīth means the validity and acceptance of an action depend on the intention behind it.

As for the second part — “and every person will have only what he intended” — it is not merely a repetition. Rather, it means that the result and reward of your action will be only what you intended from it.

This is what many people overlook. They use the ḥadīth as if it justifies disobedience — saying, “Our intention is good,” even when the act itself is prohibited.

But how can a person claim a good intention while doing what Allah has forbidden?

First of all, let's clarify what is meant by intention.

Intention (niyyah) has been defined in different ways, but one clear explanation is that it is the aim or purpose behind an action.

For example, if a man likes a woman and buys her flowers, it’s clear that his intention behind that action is the woman herself.

Another example: a poor woman once received great kindness and help from a generous lady. When the benefactor passed away, the poor woman brought flowers to her grave out of gratitude. Now, while the act itself (placing flowers on a grave) is not permissible, the point here is to show that every action flows from an intention — in this case, her gratitude and appreciation, for the woman.

The Prophet ﷺ clarified this meaning with the remainder of the hadith:

> “So whoever emigrated for Allah and His Messenger, his emigration is for Allah and His Messenger. And whoever emigrated for some worldly gain or a woman to marry, his emigration is for what he emigrated for.”
(al-Bukhārī and Muslim)



A person may perform the same outward act — hijrah — but the rewards differ completely, completely, depending on the intention behind it.

Likewise today, people may commit prohibited actions and say, “Our intention is good.” How can a prohibited act be justified with ‘good intention’. This is lack of understanding and self deception.

Imagine a man wanting to please a woman by buying her something she hates, or someone intending to please his mother by doing something she dislikes. Similarly, when someone claims to act for Allah but does what Allah dislikes, it shows that his true aim was his own desire, not Allah.

When a believer prays, he prays hoping that Allah will accept his prayer.
When he glorifies Allah, he means it — his heart recognizes that Allah is worthy of all praise.
When he seeks forgiveness, he feels regret and hopes for mercy.
When he thanks Allah, he truly appreciates His blessings.

This sincerity is what gives life to deeds. Allah described the hypocrites by saying:

> “They do not remember Allah except a little.”
(Sūrat an-Nisā’, 4:142)


Their actions were outwardly correct, but because their hearts were not seeking Allah, their deeds were empty.

And Allah also praised the sincere, saying:

> “We feed you only for the sake of Allah; we desire neither reward nor thanks from you.”
(Sūrat al-Insān, 76:9)

When someone acts sincerely for Allah, he does not care about people’s opinions, because his intention is not them. He does what he does for Allah alone.

My Advice

You will never carry out an action, except with an intention, whether you realize it or not. It is either for Allah or for something other than Him. And many of the actions that are pleasing to Allah are disliked by the desires. A man will never hate something and then do it, unless it was for something less hated or to obtain a benefit, so let him look to the intention behind his actions.


If your intention is other than Allah, then all you will get from that action is what you intended — nothing more.

Some people perform acts that appear to be worship, but because they are done for show, praise, or reputation, they receive no reward. Their intention was not for Allah.

Therefore, look closely at your actions. Some are purely for worldly desires; others are for Allah’s sake. Focus on the latter — because those are the actions that truly bring you closer to Him.

For example, many of the arguments I see, one can't deny the urge to speak, but I will wager that the one who ignores them is more sincere than the one who argued back(Allah knows best). In closing, don't neglect the intention behind your actions.

We ask Allah to purify our hearts, grant us sincerity, and guide us to the straight path.
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ

Interesting that one was posted just before this.

Anyways, I was surprised to see a thread I made a long time ago resurface, and then I look at it and found it was just arguements and justifications. When it comes to these arguments, two statements come to mind.
The first is from Imām Mālik (رحمه الله), who said:
> “Whenever a man comes to us more skilled in argument than another, should we then abandon what Jibrīl brought to Muḥammad ﷺ because of his debating skill?”
Like really think about that.

And the second is from Imām al-Shāfiʿī (رحمه الله):
> “Whenever I argued with an ignorant person, he defeated me; but when I debated with a scholar, I defeated him.”
Meaning: You can’t win with ignorance, because the ignorant don’t seek truth. And they come up with all kinds of falsehoods to justify their points. This is not new, Allah said:
“And those who disbelieve argue with falsehood, to refute therewith the truth. And they treat My Ayāt, and that with which they are warned, as jest.”
— [Sūrat al-Kahf, 18:56]
The truth is there’s no real point in trying to “win” an argument. Because most of the time, people aren’t searching for truth — they’re just inflating their ego.
And when two desires clash, there’s no agreement. Islam came with truth, and the truth is meant to lead you toward what benefits you. After that, it’s your choice whether to accept it or turn away.
Allah said:
“Whoever does righteous good deed, it is for (the benefit of) his ownself; and whoever does evil, it is against his ownself; and your Lord is not at all unjust to (His) slaves.”
— [Sūrat Fuṣṣilat, 41:46]
If someone sincerely wants to know whether Islam is true, that’s a different matter, and you can speak to them, clarify, and invite them gently. But most arguments aren’t like that. You can tell from people’s words and tone that they’re not really looking for truth. Here’s the thing: when someone wants to reject something, it doesn’t matter if you bring them a hundred proofs — they’ll still find a reason to deny it. Likewise, when someone wants to justify something, they’ll always find an excuse for it. Allah said:
“And even if We had sent down unto them the angels, and the dead had spoken unto them, and We had gathered together all things before their very eyes, they would not have believed, unless Allāh willed; but most of them behave ignorantly.”
So at the end of the day, what are you trying to achieve? If you’re defending Islam, know that no statement of theirs will as much as brush it. And if you’re defending your ego, you follow the true religion with the greatest proofs & justifications, then that’s not what Islam came to teach. Allah created you for a purpose, and if you fulfill that purpose, you’ve succeeded.
When you reflect on the Qur’an, you see that Allah calls you toward goodness — to be aware of Him, to do deeds that please Him, to guard yourself from Shayṭān and his whispers, and to stay away from what leads to evil.
Allah says in Sūrat az-Zumar (39:9):
Is one who is obedient to Allah, prostrating himself or standing (in prayer) during the hours of the night, fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the Mercy of his Lord (like one who disbelieves)? Say: “Are those who know equal to those who know not?” It is only men of understanding who will remember

Allah describes a man who spends the night standing in prayer, prostrating before Him, fearing the Hereafter, and hoping for His mercy. Now think about that person — do you think he’ll give time to arguing about which religion is true or piling up proofs against others? No. His concern is with his own soul — his mistakes, his repentance, his fear of punishment and hope for forgiveness, his longing for Allah’s mercy.
If you know the history of the Prophets, then you know that this is simply history repeating itself. Like it’s said; History is simply people repeating the same mistake.

So when people start these arguments, the best thing to do is to simply ignore them. Hopefully, some will find benefit in this.
Was Salaam.

What you said made me think, if someone is looking for the true religion, how would he think from first principles?

That’s an excellent question — and a deep one.
Let’s approach it carefully, step by step, in the spirit of first principles thinking.


---

1. What it means to think from first principles

Thinking from first principles means not accepting inherited assumptions, traditions, or authority as your foundation.
Instead, you break things down to their most undeniable truths — the things that no rational mind can deny — and then build upward from there.

For example, if someone wants to know the true religion, he shouldn’t start from “My family follows X,” or “Most people believe Y.”
He should start from: What can I know for sure? What is self-evident about existence?


---

2. Step One: Begin with undeniable realities

A sincere seeker could begin by asking:

1. Do I exist?
→ Yes, that’s undeniable. I am aware of myself.


2. Is this existence dependent or independent?
→ I didn’t bring myself into existence, and I can’t prevent my death. So my existence is dependent.


3. If I’m dependent, there must be something independent that sustains me.
→ Something that doesn’t depend on anything else — the Necessary Being.



So, through reason alone, one reaches the conclusion that there must be a Creator — الْخَالِقُ (al-Khāliq) — who is uncaused, self-sufficient, and necessary.


---

3. Step Two: Examine the nature of this Creator

Once you establish there is a Creator, you ask:

Does this Creator resemble the creation?
→ No, because resemblance implies limitation, dependency, and composition — all signs of createdness.

Does the Creator have rivals or partners?
→ If two gods existed, each would either have full power (leading to conflict) or limited power (implying imperfection). Thus, there can only be One God — اللّٰهُ أَحَدٌ (Allāhu Aḥad) (Sūrah al-Ikhlāṣ 112:1).


From first principles, Tawḥīd — the oneness of Allah — follows naturally.


---

4. Step Three: Reasoning about purpose

Next, a rational person would ask:
Why am I here?

Everything in nature has a purpose: eyes to see, ears to hear, intellect to think.

To believe the human being — the most complex creation — has no purpose would contradict this consistent order.


So there must be a purpose behind our existence.

Now the question becomes: What is that purpose?

We can’t determine it ourselves (just as a device doesn’t define its own purpose).
The purpose must come from the One who created us.


---

5. Step Four: Seeking revelation

At this point, reason concludes:

There is one Creator.

He must have a purpose for His creation.

The only way to know that purpose is if He informs us.


So now the search shifts:
→ Has the Creator communicated with us?
→ Are there signs of authentic revelation?

This leads the seeker to examine the major claims of divine revelation — the Torah, the Gospel, the Qur’an — not through blind belief but through the lens of consistency, preservation, clarity, and message.


---

6. Step Five: Testing the messages

A first-principles thinker now asks:

Does this message affirm what reason already knows — that there is One perfect, independent Creator?

Is the message preserved and free from contradiction?

Does it bring a clear and consistent purpose to life?

Is there evidence of divine origin (linguistic miracle, accurate prophecies, moral coherence, etc.)?


Through this examination, the Qur’an stands distinct:
It affirms what reason confirms, challenges humanity to produce its like (Qur’an 2:23), remains perfectly preserved, and delivers the same core message of Tawḥīd found in all true revelations.


---

7. Step Six: Arriving at Islam through first principles

At the end of this reasoning chain, the sincere mind arrives at:

1. There must be a Creator.


2. He must be One, perfect, and unlike His creation.


3. He must have a purpose for His creation.


4. He must have revealed that purpose.


5. The Qur’an is the only preserved revelation that fulfills all logical and moral criteria.


6. Therefore, Islam — submission to that One Creator — is the only true religion.




---

Would you like me to show how a first-principles thinker would evaluate rival religions at this stage (like Christianity, Hinduism, or atheism) to confirm why Islam alone fits the logical chain?

Didn't come here to argue, just to see another perspective, if anyone would care to try.

I simply asked chatgpt for what it thinks is the true religion from first principles.

In case any doesn't know, first principles is a way of reasoning from the ground up, starting with what you know for certain — instead of starting from what other people assume, believe, or do.

The advantage is that you're able to removes errors that come along with assumptions, and so you're more likely to come to the truth and achieve a better result. That's the gist of it.

Of course chatgpt is prone to support your view, so I want to know what it'll say if prompted by someone who from data is known to be Christian.

Again, I'm not arguing for or against it, I understand people can come up with whatever fits their desire.
I'll like someone, anyone who converses with chatg or any AI, and is inclined towards Christianity to prompt it and show it's response.

If what we want is salvation, to be saved from hell and be amongst the people of Paradise, I hope you'll see where I'm coming from. If what you want is to prove your religion and nothing else, please ignore this.

I'll show the prompt and response, tweak it however you see fit. I'll like to see what chatg says when prompted by a Christian. If anyone would care.

Adam and His Wife were the first human on earth, as they came together.

There is no doubt

Kidnapped?
How did she escape
Thank God, that was 1 chance

Imam Ibn Baaz, may Allah have mercy upon him.

Question:
Are Shirk and Kufr synonymous, or is it the meanings are different when they are mentioned together?

Answer:
"They are synonymous generally speaking. And Kufr could be used upon rejection (Juhuud), and Shirk upon directing worship to other than Allah.

Every Kaafir is a Mushrik, and every Mushrik is a Kaafir.

But if it was due to rejection usually it's called Kufr, and if it is due to supplicating to other than Allah and or beseeching aid from other than Allah, it is called Shirk". End of speech.

The difference between Kufr and Shirk

Imam Ibn Baaz, may Allah have mercy upon him answered a question:
"Disbelief is denying the truth and concealing it, such as one who denies the obligation of prayer, or the obligation of zakat, or the obligation of fasting in Ramadan, or the obligation of Hajj if one is able, or the obligation of honoring one’s parents, and so on..

Such as one who denies the prohibition of fornication, or the prohibition of drinking intoxicants, or the prohibition of disobedience to parents, or the likes of this.

As for Shirk, it is: directing some worship to other than Allah, such as one who beseeches help from the dead, the absent, the jinn, idols, the stars, and the like, or sacrifices to them or makes vows to them.

The Kaafir is called a Mushrik, and the Mushrik is called a Kaafir, as Allah the most high said:

(وَمَن يَدْعُ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا ءَاخَرَ لَا بُرْهَٰنَ لَهُۥ بِهِۦ فَإِنَّمَا حِسَابُهُۥ عِندَ رَبِّهِۦٓۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلْكَٰفِرُونَ)
"And whoever invokes besides Allah another deity for which he has no proof -  then his account is only with his Lord. Indeed, the disbelievers will not succeed".
[Al-Mu'minun:117]

And the exalted said:

(إِنَّهُۥ مَن يُشْرِكْ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ ٱلْجَنَّةَ وَمَأْوَىٰهُ ٱلنَّارُۖ)
"Indeed, he who associates partners with Allah - Allah has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire".
[Al-Ma'idah:72]

And the mighty and majestic said in Surah Faatir:

(وَٱلَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦ مَا يَمْلِكُونَ مِن قِطْمِيرٍ ۝ إِن تَدْعُوهُمْ لَا يَسْمَعُوا۟ دُعَآءَكُمْ وَلَوْ سَمِعُوا۟ مَا ٱسْتَجَابُوا۟ لَكُمْۖ وَيَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ يَكْفُرُونَ بِشِرْكِكُمْۚ وَلَا يُنَبِّئُكَ مِثْلُ خَبِيرٍ)
"And those whom you invoke other than Him do not possess [as much as] the membrane of a date seed. If you invoke them, they do not hear your supplication; and if they heard, they would not respond to you. And on the Day of Resurrection they will deny your association. And none can inform you like [one] Acquainted [with all matters]".
[Fatir:13-14]

So he called their supplication to other than Allah Shirk in this Surah, and in Surah Al-Muminoon, He called it Kufr.

(يُرِيدُونَ أَن يُطْفِـُٔوا۟ نُورَ ٱللَّهِ بِأَفْوَٰهِهِمْ وَيَأْبَى ٱللَّهُ إِلَّآ أَن يُتِمَّ نُورَهُۥ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ ٱلْكَٰفِرُونَ ۝ هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُۥ بِٱلْهُدَىٰ وَدِينِ ٱلْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلدِّينِ كُلِّهِۦ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ ٱلْمُشْرِكُونَ)
"They want to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah refuses except to perfect His light, although the disbelievers dislike it.
It is He who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion, although they who associate others with Allah dislike it.
[At-Taubah:32-33]

So He called the those that disbelief in Him Kufaar, and He called them Mushriks.

This points to that the Kaafir is called a Mushrik, and the Mushrik is called a Kaafir, and there are many verses and hadiths about that.
From it is the saying of the Prophet ﷺ: "Between a man and Shirk and Kufr is the abandonment of the prayer".
Reported by Muslim in his Sahih on the authority of Jabir bin Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with them both.

And his ﷺ saying: "The covenant between us and them is the prayer, so whoever abandons it has disbelieved". Reported by Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasaa’i and Ibn Majah with an authentic chain of transmission on the authority of Buraidah bin Al-Hasib, may Allah be pleased with him, and Allah is the Grantor of success". End of speech.

tintingz:
Hello to all my Muslim friends, it's been a while since I created a topic here. I hope you are all doing well.

I want to share that I'm still not convinced that Islam, or any theistic faith, is true since I left Islam, and I lack the belief in the existence of a supreme god or gods.

Best regards.

**I hope I'm not breaking any rules here.

What is it you don't believe? The religion or the existence of God?

Abü Bakr bin 'Ayyäsh said, "Once when I was a youth, a man said to me,
'Save your neck from the punishment of the Hereafter as much as you can.
The prisoner of the Hereafter will never be released. "' Abü Bakr bin 'Ayyäsh
said, "I have never forgotten his words."

But we can't save anyone, not even ourselves. All the people go through of
suffering in this wolrd is nothing compared to the hereafter. They suffer and
with time, it's gone. So don't waste time in pity, this is the unescapleble
reality of this world.

When people heard that Corona took millions of lives away, people were fearful of it. The Prophets warned about shirk and idols that took away the success of billions of people generation after generation, leading them to disgrace, misery and destruction. Yet we belittle it and take no heed when we hear. So do the dwellers of the fire have anyone to blame but themselves? And Allah is the source of guidance.

I haven't decided, people are not cautious about Freemixing so I thought it will not be the first thing but then again it matters right.

I wish I had a sister that I could delegate to the women side but currently the isn't anyone available, what do you think?

By the way this is my account for my Islamic side and I posted it with my business account because I decided to stop having separate life. so I want to merge them together and I use MCC more than shidda.

vinexe:
thank u sir... This is the reason I opened this topic.. to read comments and at the end take a decision...

Maybe this might help.
https://www.nairaland.com/7941292/married-women-must-lurrn-hard

It seems you rushed the matter, and now you're not sure what it is you want.
Figure that out, if you really want to divorce her, you'll find a way. She has no power over you, just like she ran away from her brother and your friend.
Maybe they knew something you didn't at the time.

verybadmouth:
Please help me with tips to making money online

Research, Google, YouTube, chatgpt

abefeabebi:
You didn't talk about the price in money

Zakatul fitr deals with food, money is not to be given, unlike the regular zakah

Amongst the greatest acts by which the servant can draw near
Allåh, is by abundant recitation of the Qur'ån and listening to it with
meditation, consideration and understanding.

Khabäb bin Al-Arätt said to a man, "Draw near Alläh as much as you
can, and be aware that you will not draw near Him by anything which
He loves more than His Words.

'Uthmån (may Alläh be pleased with him) said, "If your hearts
were pure, they would never be satiated from hearing Alläh's words
Ibn Mas'üd said, 'The one Who loves the Qur'ån loves Allåh
and His Messenger."

Taken from 'Jamial Uloom wal Hikaam' by Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali (Rahimahullah)

Ah ah! Sister! This your dream, even nabiyy Yusuf alahi Salam didn't dream this kind dream.

In this Nigeria!!!!

Bintdawood:
Wa'alaikassalaam warahmatulloh..
Maa Sha Allah alaik..
You see the best love is where you find someone who makes your Imaan rise, who makes you more pious, and who helps you here in the duniya beacuse that person wants to meet you again in Jannah, May Allah bless you with a pious Spouse who will be the pleasure of your eyes, the comfort of your heart and the sweetness of your soul.
Ameen Ya Rabb!

Baarakallahu feek, Haadhaa mufeed, but i'll say somethings
The best love is love and hate for the sake of Allah, such a person would have tasted the sweetness of iman, if not perfected it
And if you want to increase your iman, take it from where those with high iman took, i.e. the Book of Allah and the sunnah of His Rasul sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam.
If you're hoping for something from other than Allah, even if for your partners to be pious, then you are in a sense dependent upon that person, and if he/she does not come through, you will be disappointed.
But if you depend on Allah, while seeking what benefits you, such as a righteous spous, then you will be patient with what afflicts, and less likely to be disappointed.

The Prophets were the best of minkind, but someone of them married women who betrayed them. Asiyah was amongst the best of women, but was married to one of the worst of men, who tortured her to death, because she believed in Allah and His Messenger.

Point: There is hardship and difficulty in this world, by all means seek what will benefit you, but trust in Allah, and whatever, even if it's not what you wanted, you will at least have relief that people are just means, and the real giver of benefit and remover of Harm is Allah, and true happiness is in the Hereafter.

Lukgaf:
There are two verses in Surah Al Maidah that could be used in Nigeria to curb corruption, robbery and banditry etc:...................
What do you think?

Many people seem to think they can just see a problem and find a quick solution and it will be solved. But what they see are just surface problems, and there are deeper underlying problems aka the roots, these are what need to be addressed, if not, any form of implementation will at at do nothing, and at most lead to something worse, this is what happened in the case of issuing new naira note with the supposed intention of curbing corruption.

Islam came to a people that were regarded as the worst of the worst, zina, killing, alcoholics, intertribal wars, infanticide, and many more. Yet what the islam start with? Laa ilaha illa lah.

I won't go into this here, but the kalimah is in fact the root of all rectification, the least of which is that it will save someone from being eternally damned in the fire, if this is not addresses, then there will never be any concrete rectification.

Was it not 1-2 generations ago and we heard nothing like killing kidnapping and the like, but without any firm root, evil spread and it became what it is, in fact, it is becoming worse...........

And Allah is the source of help

Beginning verses of Surah Fussilat (41:1-14)

Summary - Allah explains about His book, but the disbelievers reject His Messenger, so Allah tells him to ask them, are they denying(mentioning great actions of His). Then He tells His Messenger again to warn them of a fate similar to the people of old who denied.
Full
Allah said, about His Book:
3. A Book whereof the Verses are explained in detail; A Qur'an in Arabic for people who know.
4. Giving glad tidings, and warning, but most of them turn away, so they listen not.

He Glory be to Him adds:
5. And they say: "Our hearts are under coverings (screened) from that to which you invite us, and in our ears is deafness, and between us and you is a screen, so work you (on your way); verily, we are working (on our way)."

So Allah tells His Messenger:
6. Say: "I am only a human being like you. It is inspired in me that your Ilah (God) is One Ilah (God - Allah), therefore take Straight Path to Him and obedience to Him, and seek forgiveness of Him.

He then gives a description of the mushrikun and the believers, then tells His Rasul to ask them, as He mentions praiseworthy qualities of Himself:
9. Say: "Do you verily disbelieve in Him Who created the earth in two Days and you set up rivals (in worship) with Him? That is the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists).
10. He placed therein (i.e. in the earth) firm mountains from above it, and He blessed it, and measured therein its sustenance (for its dwellers) in four Days equal (i.e. all these four 'days' were equal in the length of time), for all those who ask (about its creation).
11. Then He Istawa (rose over) towards the heaven when it was smoke, and said to it and to the earth: "Come both of you willingly or unwillingly." They both said: "We come, willingly."
12. Then He completed and finished from their creation (as) seven heavens in two Days and He made in each heaven its affair. And We adorned the nearest (lowest) heaven with lamps (stars) to be an adornment as well as to guard (from the devils by using them as missiles against the devils). Such is the Decree of Him the All-Mighty, the All-Knower.

This is something to think about, that is He the One they are denying? And He has done such things, implying His favors, Ability & Supremacy of His creation, but yet they still deny.

So He tell His Messenger:
13. But if they turn away, then say: "I have warned you of a Sa'iqah (a destructive awful cry, torment, hit, a thunderbolt) like the Sa'iqah which overtook 'Ad and Thamud (people)."

Then He mentions about them:
14. When the Messengers came to them, from before them and behind them (saying): "Worship none but Allah" They said: "If our Lord had so willed, He would surely have sent down the angels. So indeed! We disbelieve in that with which you have been sent."

And it continues………………

Assalamu Alaikum!

Are you interested in learning more about Islam? Do you have questions or doubts that you would like answered? Look no further than my Islam channel on Telegram! (Actually, you should totally look at other reliable places, I'm just trying to make this sound cool)

On this channel, I discuss things I've learned about Islam and aim to bridge the gap between those who have knowledge and those who do not. There is truly so much to be learned and explored in this beautiful religion. Allah's greatness, His favors on His slaves, many gems of wisdom and knowledge behind the religion like the Allah's Nur, the heart, meaning behind his Names, explaining the reality of Allah's actions on mankind, and so on. t(.)me/ i l m session s - remove bracket and no spaces.

However, I must warn you that I might not be able to post as regularly as I would like, as I can get busy at times. But rest assured that whenever I am able to post, I will do my best to share something valuable and informative.
So come join me and let's explore the beauty of Islam together.

Join my Islam channel on Telegram today and let's embark on this journey of knowledge and understanding together. See you there!

Religious arguments are the last thing someone should engage in, if he’s looking to gain any worthwhile thing. Without making this too long, I'm going to explain the simple reason by which we take actions, why arguments is not just futile, but even backfires, and mention briefly on how our pious predecessors handled such.

In this world we have problems, and desires to have those problems removed, and the way we remove them is by taking action. Think hunger - eat, Poor – work for money, Fat - Exercise. So the thing that bridges us to our goal/action/wish/solution is the actions that we take.
Now, if you accept islam/believe that it is the true religion, then look and listen to the statements of our pious predecessors:
'I have never regretted an any as much as my regret over a day on which the sun sets and my life span decreases while my good deeds have not increased.' Abdullah Ibn Masood
A person who knows his lord should constantly be in the service of his Lord, because he recognizes and appreciates the value and importance of time; therefore during the day he observes his duties and fulfills the rights of the King [i.e. Allah], while his night is dedicated to conveying his love and devotion to his Lord; thus he never flnds a moment of repose. Ibn Qayyim

Some poor believers to the Prophet: "O Messenger of Allah, the affluent have made off with the rewards; they pray as we pray, they fast as we fast, and they give [much] in charity by virtue of their wealth."

So what are they doing by such actions? Simple, they have a problem, which is distance from Allah, and take actions that draws them closer to Him. In other words, they are worshiping Allah by drawing closer to him, by performing the actions that are beloved to Him, for people I reached by that which they love.
Think of two people, which of the two do you think is more beloved to their wife, the one that posts his wife’s pictures on social media and boasts about how beautiful she is, and how no one has such a beautiful wife, going at great lengths and details to describe her beauty. Or the one who tells his wife how much he loves her, and he appreciates her for whatever efforts she puts in, he buys gifts for her he tells her things she likes to hear, apologizes to her if he does wrong, and tells her how he's happy to be with her. Obvious isn't it, people are reached by what they love.
When you argue with it let's say a Christian, and you go as far as point out weaknesses in his religion, it doesn't matter whether it's true or false, what matters is how he feels. When you attack his religion, he feels offended, you attack him directly, he becomes more defensive, and the last thing he wants to do is to worship Allah and he might even go as far as attack the religion or attack Allah, so what benefit have you gotten from that? If the whole of Islam is drawing closer to Allah, do you think the Christian in any drew closer to Him, and how do you think the shaitan will feel about that? So why would you want to argue? Again, it didn't matter what was true or what was false, think of all the things we know that are good for us but we still don't do them, but whatever we feel or desire to do, even though we know it’s bad for us, we still do it. No one leaves his religion and enters into yours because it was attacked, no matter the religion.

Yes there might be a time to argue in situations where two people can talk together in order to reach and understanding, and wisdom is applied in speech. This is something that is quite hard to do and it's going to take a lot of time, it's not something that will be done with a comment or two, and you’re better of just taking actions that draw you closer to Allah.

What if others are the one attacking your religion? Here’s what Allah said:
And the slaves of the Most Beneficent (Allah) are those who walk on the earth in humility and sedateness, and when the foolish address them (with bad words) they reply back with salama

Ibn Kathir explains the Salama, that if ignorant people insult them with bad words they do not respond in kind but they forgive and overlook and say nothing but good words. In short, they can simply be ignored

This can go longer, but here’s the point; the no point behind religious arguments, especially the known ones people engage in. If you believe in Allah, then worship Him, and if someone believes otherwise, then their actions are for them, and ours for us, as Allah said:
"Whosoever does an evil deed, will not be requited except the like thereof, and whosoever does a righteous deed, whether male or female and is a true believer (in the Oneness of Allah), such will enter Paradise, where they will be provided therein (with all things in abundance) without limit. (Surah Ghafir 40:40)

Religious arguments are the last thing someone should engage in, if he’s looking to gain any worthwhile thing. Without making this too long, I'm going to explain the simple reason by which we take actions, why arguments is not just futile, but even backfires, and mention briefly on how our pious predecessors handled such.

In this world we have problems, and desires to have those problems removed, and the way we remove them is by taking action. Think hunger - eat, Poor – work for money, Fat - Exercise. So the thing that bridges us to our goal/action/wish/solution is the actions that we take.
Now, if you accept islam/believe that it is the true religion, then look and listen to the statements of our pious predecessors:
'I have never regretted an any as much as my regret over a day on which the sun sets and my life span decreases while my good deeds have not increased.' Abdullah Ibn Masood
A person who knows his lord should constantly be in the service of his Lord, because he recognizes and appreciates the value and importance of time; therefore during the day he observes his duties and fulfills the rights of the King [i.e. Allah], while his night is dedicated to conveying his love and devotion to his Lord; thus he never flnds a moment of repose. Ibn Qayyim

Some poor believers to the Prophet: "O Messenger of Allah, the affluent have made off with the rewards; they pray as we pray, they fast as we fast, and they give [much] in charity by virtue of their wealth."

So what are they doing by such actions? Simple, they have a problem, which is distance from Allah, and take actions that draws them closer to Him. In other words, they are worshiping Allah by drawing closer to him, by performing the actions that are beloved to Him, for people I reached by that which they love.
Think of two people, which of the two do you think is more beloved to their wife, the one that posts his wife’s pictures on social media and boasts about how beautiful she is, and how no one has such a beautiful wife, going at great lengths and details to describe her beauty. Or the one who tells his wife how much he loves her, and he appreciates her for whatever efforts she puts in, he buys gifts for her he tells her things she likes to hear, apologizes to her if he does wrong, and tells her how he's happy to be with her. Obvious isn't it, people are reached by what they love.
When you argue with it let's say a Christian, and you go as far as point out weaknesses in his religion, it doesn't matter whether it's true or false, what matters is how he feels. When you attack his religion, he feels offended, you attack him directly, he becomes more defensive, and the last thing he wants to do is to worship Allah and he might even go as far as attack the religion or attack Allah, so what benefit have you gotten from that? If the whole of Islam is drawing closer to Allah, do you think the Christian in any drew closer to Him, and how do you think the shaitan will feel about that? So why would you want to argue? Again, it didn't matter what was true or what was false, think of all the things we know that are good for us but we still don't do them, but whatever we feel or desire to do, even though we know it’s bad for us, we still do it. No one leaves his religion and enters into yours because it was attacked, no matter the religion.

Yes there might be a time to argue in situations where two people can talk together in order to reach and understanding, and wisdom is applied in speech. This is something that is quite hard to do and it's going to take a lot of time, it's not something that will be done with a comment or two, and you’re better of just taking actions that draw you closer to Allah.

What if others are the one attacking your religion? Here’s what Allah said:
And the slaves of the Most Beneficent (Allah) are those who walk on the earth in humility and sedateness, and when the foolish address them (with bad words) they reply back with salama

Ibn Kathir explains the Salama, that if ignorant people insult them with bad words they do not respond in kind but they forgive and overlook and say nothing but good words. In short, they can simply be ignored

This can go longer, but here’s the point; the no point behind religious arguments, especially the known ones people engage in. If you believe in Allah, then worship Him, and if someone believes otherwise, then their actions are for them, and ours for us, as Allah said:
"Whosoever does an evil deed, will not be requited except the like thereof, and whosoever does a righteous deed, whether male or female and is a true believer (in the Oneness of Allah), such will enter Paradise, where they will be provided therein (with all things in abundance) without limit. (Surah Ghafir 40:40)

MyPeopleInfo:
ok

Being my first time to be the first commenter on a post on nairaland and on this particular topic and on this particular day (Friday) I feel it must be significant. Reason being the subject topic has being what I've being practicing for a while to the extent that my first in a very long time post with this particular account which is also the first post of this account is tantamount to my thinking of loosing my patience in making it legitimately.
..........................
Thanks in anticipation.

Who knows, i sent you a pm, may Allah see us through

Ibn Qayyim said about Patience(in summary)

Patience is as firm as a horse that never stumbles, it is as effective as a sharp sword, it is the basic step for victory without which there is no victory, it is more sufficient than the strongest weapon. The people of patience are granted the priviledge of receiving Allah’s support in this world and the next. Allah made it is a major requisite of leadership, it is better in every way for those who hold onto it. As long as people are patient and have Taqwa, no evil plan can harm them. It leads to glory, dignity and success. Allah has stated that He loves those who are patient.

The glad tidings of patient – every of which is better than this world and all it contains. Allah said:
And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Sabirin (the patient ones, etc.). 156. Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: "Truly! To Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.". They are those on whom are the Salawat from their Lord and His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided-ones. (Baqara 2: 155-157)

Say (O Muhammad ): "I have been forbidden to worship those whom you call upon besides Allah, since there have come to me clear evidences from my Lord, and I am commanded to submit (in Islam) to the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists). {Surah Ghafir 40:66}

NaijaMemes:
How is this thread here? Crypto is gambling.

Haram

Exactly