₦airaland Forum

honeric01: Abeg how we wan take know which side God dey? was God also on the side of Hitler when he was murdering the Jews since its seems those who bully are seen as the one with God's blessings.

You dont know how Igbo think... They are very primitive in everything they do including reasoning.

all4naija: Your down-syndrome problem has not been taken care of yet! Is there any place I said the fight is about religion? You are so religious that any time you see religion in people's comment you take it for granted. For your own information, their differences include religion in this mater, said whether you like to shy away from it or not. I never said the fight is about religion, it is about occupation fool. There are evidences the land is linked to religion(of how god gave it to the people blahblahblah).

Buzz off silly head!

Shut up your stinging hate filled Igbotic mouth. It is typical of Nigerian Christians to jump up on the side of Isreal each time because you have been brainwashed that Isrealis are Christians while all Arabs are Muslims. How uneducated can you be? Again, Jesus was burn in Isreal but today Isreal is not a Christian state - it is Jewish state and the religion of their leaders is Judaism. And let it enter you skull that there are more Muslims in Isreal than Christians. The largests of mosques in the Arab world are in Jerusalem.

rbjimoh: . @Erics, read this. When someone asked me recently how I came into the fold of Islam, I was taken aback and a bit surprised. For I have never thought of my coming into Islam as having one critical turning point. When did I first question Catholicism? When did I first want to become a Muslim? The answers to these questions and many others require more thought than I could have ever imagined. To really anwer these questions I have to start at the very beginning so that you understand the point to where I got in my life that led me to finally accept the truth of Islam. I became a Muslim at the age of 67, and I thank God that He has blessed me to become a believer in Islam. “Those whom Allah (in His plan) wills to guide,- He opens their breast to Islam; those whom He wills to leave straying,- He makes their breast close and constricted, as if they had to climb up to the skies: thus does Allah (heap) the penalty on those who refuse to believe.” (Quran 6: 125)
I was raised in a strict Roman Catholic home, the middle daughter of three children. My father worked hard and long every day. He would leave early in the morning each day and would return late at night. All of this so that my mother could stay home and take care of my sisters and me. One very sad and unfortunate day my mother told us that my father had been in a car accident. He passed away suddenly and our whole world turned upside down. With all the changes that were taking place, my mother told us that she would now have to go back to work. My mother, who had once been a nurse, was now forced to work to support us. She found a job in the local hospital, many times working two shifts. But with this newfound responsibility, my mother was no longer able to oversee our upbringing. And although she sent us to Catholic school, her job kept her from keeping a watchful eye on her daughters.
So, with much time to pass and spend, I found myself spending time with my friends at the local cafes. It was there that I met a very nice Musliman man who later became my husband. My mother did not know that I was spending time with this man. In fact, when I told her that I was in love and wanted to get married, she warned that we were from different backgrounds and that we would eventually have problems. She stated that if there were ever children in our future, problems over religion would undoubtedly develop. At twenty years old, I could not imagine that we would have any problems in our marriage. I was so in love and felt so happy that someone would be taking care of me. My husband was not a very religious man at that time, and deep down I felt that I would be able to get him to convert to Catholicism. As for us not having the same ethnic background, I considered myself more open-minded and was excited to be embracing a new culture.
Everything seemed to be going along so perfectly for the next several years. We were happy and not once did culture or religion ever cause us any problems. God blessed us with a beautiful son and then several years later with a beautiful daughter. Still, we went along with our lives and I even began taking my children to church with me. My husband never prevented me from attending weekly Sunday mass. However, after a few times of my taking our children to church, that is when he spoke to me about his not wanting the children to attend church. Frankly, I was angry and upset. “But why not,” I objected. “Any religion is better than none,” I argued. I really could not understand the harm in taking them to church. Up until this point, we had never even discussed religion. In fact, I had never even questioned that there could even be a different religion than Catholicism. I was born a Catholic and thought that Catholicism was the right religion. For explanations that I can’t even put a finger on, it seemed like from this day on, so many problems were now evident. We argued all the time— about everything and everyone. Now, little things became a big deal. Religion became an arguing point between us. The differences in our cultures became something to argue about. We argued about in-laws and most unfortunately, we argued on the upbringing of our children. Everything that my mother warned us about was now coming true.
The only peace and harmony that was now between us was the wisdom, sincerity, concern and love my husband’s father, my father-in-law, had for our marriage. My father-in-law loved his son and grandchildren, yet also genuinely loved me as a daughter. He was a very religious and devout Muslim and was a very wise man. At that time, because I was not surrounded with Islam, my father-in law was the first introduction into Islam I had. He prayed every prayer, fasted during the month of Ramadan, and was very generous to the poor. I could feel his connection to God. In fact, my father-in-law was so kind to the needy that every day after coming home from the dhur prayer at the mosque, he would invite any needy person home to eat lunch with. This was every single day. Up until his death at the age of 95, relatives remembered that he had continued with this habit.
My father-in-law did not like the arguing between my husband and me and counseled us to find a solution before the children suffered as a result of our fighting. He tried desperately to help us find a solution. He warned his son to allow me room to practice my religion, but it was no longer about religion anymore. I felt frustrated and desired to take a break. When I asked my husband for a separation, he agreed that perhaps it was the best thing for our marriage. You know the saying, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” Well, not in our case. In fact, the absence made our hearts grow further apart. After the separation, we both wanted a permanent separation and agreed on a divorce. Although I desperately wanted my children to live with me, we both felt that it would be better for the children to be raised by their father. He was in a much better position, financially, to raise them and give them many comforts; something I was not prepared to give. How I longed for them every night. I moved back with my mother and continued seeing my children every weekend. My ex-husband would drop off our children on Friday afternoons and pick them up early Sunday mornings. Although this arrangement hurt, it was better than nothing.
Each night before going to bed, I would read from the Bible. When my children were visiting me, I would read them a passage regardless of whether my children understood or not. After reading a passage, one night I would seek help from Jesus, the next night from the angels, the next night from the different saints, the next night from the Virgin Mary. But one night we had no one else to ask, I had run out of Saints. So I said ‘ now we’re going to ask God’. My son said ‘Okay, now who is God?’ I said ‘He’s the one who created you, who created me. He is forever our neighbor’. So he was pondering, he was thinking about those words. To my explanation, I rubbed my cross again. I said ‘now thank God’. He looked at the cross and said ‘Mamma, who is this?’ I said ‘This is God. He’s the son of God’. He said ‘You just told me a minute ago that God is forever. How come this one is dead?’ I never, never in my whole life realized that fact. He asked me where does this god come from? And I said, he came from the womb of Mary, of the Virgin Mary. He said ‘Oh, so he was born sometime before’. I said ‘well, yes’. But then he said ‘But you told me that he’s forever. He never dies and he’s never born. My son, who was now about eight, asked me directly, “Mama, why don’t you just ask God for help?“ I was surprised and stunned and remember feeling a bit shocked that he would question my religion. I told him that I also ask God. Little did I know that this son of mine would grow up to be a constant thorn in my side, always reminding me about the need to worship the One, True God. Thank God.
I ended up remarring a few years later and relocated to Australia with my new husband. My ex- husband, who had also remarried, moved his family to Saudi Arabia. I longed to see my children but eventually it was in Italy where I started a new family and became the mother to three more daughters. Still, every single night I would pray, “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.“ The years passed quickly and busily. I was so excited one summer; my son and daughter would be coming to visit me. So many things raced through my mind. Would they be happy to see me after such a long absensce? What would we talk about? I prayed for help. All of my fears evaporated the first time I laid eyes on my children at the airport. There was an instant bond between mother and children and it was if little time had elasped. My son was the more vocal of the two. He made sure to remind me that they do not eat pork, nor could they eat foods that contained alcolhol. I told him that I remember that about his religion. I also told him that I also do not eat pork, nor drank alcolhol, a habit that remained from the time I was married to his father. As for the wine, well, I would make sure to stop cooking with it while they were home with me.
We had a beautiful summer, getting to know each other, them getting to know their new sisters, pickinicking, going on outings, swimming. I did not want it to end. But I knew that they had their life back in Saudi Arabia and they needed to get back. I asked my daughter the dreaded question of how her step-mother treated her, and I honestly felt happiness when she said she was treated like a daughter.
My children visited me together two more times after that summer. When my son turned 21, he came to live with me for 6 months. We would argue religion—boy, would we argue religion! My son and I are somewhat similar in personality, but we do have our differences – and very obvious ones at that! Whilst I’m very hot tempered in disputes, my son is a lot cooler, so he tends to maintain a sense of calm while I’m borderline crazy! Despite this clash, I believe it works in our favor in that we can find balance within our discussion. We’re very much alike in that we are loving, generous and helpful people. What I admire most about my son is his dedication to almost everything he does. He is a sweet, gentle person, but has strong ethics and aims to achieve whatever he puts his mind to, which I respect a lot. I admire his ability to keep a level head in the most stressful of situations. He’s very logical and won’t dwell too long over a problem. He just attempts to find solutions and neutralize situations as much as possible. I continued to pray that my son would find it in his heart to convert to Catholicism. I so badly wished that he would become a priest—I felt he would make a fine preacher. He was a good boy, and God-fearing at that. Good qualification for the Priesthood. When I once told him that he would make a wonderful priest, my son smiled and replied that it would be more likely that his mother would After 6 months, though, my son expressed desire to leave for the United States. He eventually settled in America and made a home in Miami, Florida. Meanwhile, I became a widow with one teenager daughter left in the house. My son really wanted for me to join him in America, so I left to the States with my 17-year-old daughter. We very much liked it in America and my daughter quickly started to make a life for herself. Nothing had changed for my son and me—we continued talking about Catholicism and Islam and neither one of us would ‘give up‘. Sometimes, when the subject of the Trinity came up and I could not find any answers or rebuttal to him, I would just put up my hand and walk away. I would get very angry for what I saw was his attacking my religion.
“Why can’t you be like everyone else,“ I asked. “Other Muslims accept me and do not try to convert me.“ “I’m not like everyone else,“ he answered. “I love you. I am your son and I want you to go to Paradise.“ I told him that I am going to Paradise—I am a good, honest woman, who doesn’t lie, steal, or cheat.“ My son answered, “These things are neccessary and helpful in this wordly life, however in the Quran it is stated many times that Allah does not forgive Shirk (Polytheism). The Quran says that the ONLY sin that God will not forgive is associating partners with Him, but He forgives anything else to whom He wills.” He begged me to read and learn and discover Islam. Books were brought so that I might open my mind. I refused. Born a Catholic, I will die a Catholic.
For the next 10 years, I remained living near my son, his wife, and family. I desired, though, to also spend some time with my daughter, who was still living in Saudi Arabia. It wasn’t easy to get a visa. My son joked that if I just accepted Islam, that would be the visa to enter Saudi Arabia; for I would then be able to get an Umrah visa. I told him sternly that I wasn’t a Muslim. After much hard work and a few connections, I was given a visitor‘s visa to visit my daughter, who was now the mother of three children. Before leaving, my son held me in a bear hug, and told me how much he loved me, how badly he wanted Paradise for me. He then went on to say how he had everything he had wanted in this life, except for a Mother who was a Muslim. He told me that he prayed to God (Allah) every single day that He (SWT) would change my heart to accept Islam. I told him that that would never happen.
1. I visited my daughter in Saudi Arabia and fell in love with the country, the weather, and the people. I didn’t want to leave after the 6 months so I requested an extension. I would hear the athan (call to prayer) 5 times a day and would see the faithful ones close their shops and walk off to prayer. Although that was very touching, I continued reading from my Bible every morning and evening and would constantly say the rosary. Not once did my daughter or any other Muslim person ever speak to me about Islam or try to get me to convert. They respected me and allowed me to practice my religion.
My son was coming to Saudi Arabia to visit me. I was so happy—I had missed him so. No sooner did he come was he again after me, talking religion and the Oneness of God. I was angry. I told him that I have been in Saudi Arabia for over one year and not once has anyone ever spoken about religion to me. And he, on his second night here, is so quick to begin the preaching. He apologized and again told me how much he wanted me to accept Islam. I again told him that I something that just did not make any logical sense. He reminded me that even I had questions about this. I told him that everything does not have to make sense—you just have to have faith. He seemed like he accepted this answer and I was happy that I finally won a discussion on religion. My son then told me to explain the miracle of Jesus to him. Aha, I thought! I am finally getting somewhere. I explained the miracle birth of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, Jesus dying for our sins, God breathing His Spirit in him, Jesus as God, Jesus as the Son of God. He was quiet the entire time I was talking—no rebuttal—my son, quiet? He then quietly asked, “Mamma, if Jesus died for our sins on a Friday, and then as you say, he was resurrected three days later on a Sunday, then who ruled the world for those three days? Mamma, explain that to me?” I thought about the logic to this question and at that moment, I knew that it did not make any sense.
I said, “Jesus was the son of God. Jesus and God are one and the same. My son replied, “Cows have calves; little cows. Cats have kittens; little cats. Humans have children; little humans. When God has a son, what is he? A little God? If so, then do you have two Gods?” Then he asked, “Mama, can you ever become a God?” What a ridiculous question I told him. Humans can never be a God. (Now, I was really getting angry) He then asked, “Was Jesus a human being?” I replied, “Yes.” He then said “Therefore, he could never be God.” The claim that God became man is also an absurdity. It is not befitting of God to take on human characteristics because it means that the Creator has become His creation. However, the creation is a product of the creative act of the Creator. If the Creator became His creation, it would mean that the Creator created Himself, which is an obvious absurdity. To be created, He would first have to not exist, and, if He did not exist, how could He then create? Furthermore, if He were created, it would mean that He had a beginning, which also contradicts His being eternal. By definition creation is in need of a creator. For created beings to exist they must have a creator to bring them into existence.God cannot need a creator because God is the Creator. Thus, there is an obvious contradiction in terms. The claim that God became His creation implies that He would need a creator, which is a ludicrous concept. It contradicts the fundamental concept of God being uncreated, needing no creator and being the Creator. Knowing I did not have an answer to him, I replied, “Let me think about the answer.”
That evening, I thought long and hard about what my son said. The idea that Jesus as the son of God did not make sense to me anymore. I also could not accept the fact as Jesus and God being one in the same. Before going to sleep that night, my son told me to pray to God before going to sleep and ask Him alone to guide me to the right path. I promised my son that I would sincerely supplicate to God for the anwer. I went to my room and read from the book my son had given me. Next, I opened the Holy Quran and began to read. It was if something had been lifted from my heart. I felt different. I saw the truth in Islam. What had I been fighting against all these years?
That night I prayed to God alone—not to Jesus, not to Mary, not to the angels or saints or holy spirit. Just to God I cried and asked for guidance. I prayed that if Islam was the right choice to please change my heart and mind. I went to sleep and the next morning I woke up and announced to my son that I was ready to accept Islam. He was astonished. We both began to cry. My daughter and granddaughter were called out and watched as I submitted, “There is no God except Allah and Muhammad (pbuh) is His Messenger and Last Prophet.“ I felt a changed woman. I was happy, as if someone had lifted a veil of darkness from my heart. Everyone who knew me couldn’t believe that I had converted. Sometimes I couldn’t even believe it! But Islam felt so right, so peaceful, so serene!
After my son left back to the states, I learned how to recite Surah-al-Fatiha in Arabic and have since learned how to perform the prayers. I continued with life as before; except now I am a Muslim. I always loved attending family gatherings with my daughter, and social events as well. I would attend family and friends weddings, henna parties, baby showers (aqiqah) and the gatherings when someone died. About 6 months after I had converted to Islam, I was at a funeral gathering that readlly touched my heart and reinforced what a beautiful religion Islam is. A young boy had died from a sickness. As my daughter was getting ready to leave for the condolences, I asked her if she knew the family well. She answered that she did not. “Then why go?“ I asked. “Because the family is grieving, and it is my duty in Islam to go and perhaps offer any support that I can.“ I decided to dress and go with her. I went along with my daughter to pay condolences to the boy’s family and was overwhelmed at the number of people in attendance. I was surprised and touched that so many people came to give the family support. All I could think of as I saw the family grieving was what a beautiful religion Islam was that so many people felt it their responsibility to give their support. And that one event, where Muslims were showing an outpoor of sympathy is another moment that proved the beauty of Islam.
I have been a Muslim for three years now, Alhamdullilah. Since that time, I have performed Umrah twice with my son and daughter. My son, daughter and I visited the Kabaah and the Holy Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. I just celebrated my 70th birthday Alhumdullilah. Sometimes I think back to all the hardship and heartache that I must have caused my son, but my son was extremelly happy to serve me by also being a means to bring me to Islam. He then said, that the Prophet (SAW) told a person, “ Paradise lies under the feet of mothers". The meaning of the Hadith is that you should serve your mother and take good care of her. It is for sure by being at my feet that there was paradise for both of us. I also wonder if my daughter would have applied a little pressure on me, I might have become a Muslim sooner. But my son reminded me that Allah is the best of planners. And it is only He (SWT) that can give a person Hidaya (Guidance). “ Indeed it is not such that you can guide whomever you love, but Allah guides whomever He wills. “ (Quran 28:56). The best thing that Allah had honored me is by guiding me to the path of Islam and making me a Muslim, and inshAllah enter together with my son in Paradise. “. Ameen
www.islamicbulletin.com

Interesting...

rbjimoh: . @Erics, read this. When someone asked me recently how I came into the fold of Islam, I was taken aback and a bit surprised. For I have never thought of my coming into Islam as having one critical turning point. When did I first question Catholicism? When did I first want to become a Muslim? The answers to these questions and many others require more thought than I could have ever imagined. To really anwer these questions I have to start at the very beginning so that you understand the point to where I got in my life that led me to finally accept the truth of Islam. I became a Muslim at the age of 67, and I thank God that He has blessed me to become a believer in Islam. “Those whom Allah (in His plan) wills to guide,- He opens their breast to Islam; those whom He wills to leave straying,- He makes their breast close and constricted, as if they had to climb up to the skies: thus does Allah (heap) the penalty on those who refuse to believe.” (Quran 6: 125)
I was raised in a strict Roman Catholic home, the middle daughter of three children. My father worked hard and long every day. He would leave early in the morning each day and would return late at night. All of this so that my mother could stay home and take care of my sisters and me. One very sad and unfortunate day my mother told us that my father had been in a car accident. He passed away suddenly and our whole world turned upside down. With all the changes that were taking place, my mother told us that she would now have to go back to work. My mother, who had once been a nurse, was now forced to work to support us. She found a job in the local hospital, many times working two shifts. But with this newfound responsibility, my mother was no longer able to oversee our upbringing. And although she sent us to Catholic school, her job kept her from keeping a watchful eye on her daughters.
So, with much time to pass and spend, I found myself spending time with my friends at the local cafes. It was there that I met a very nice Musliman man who later became my husband. My mother did not know that I was spending time with this man. In fact, when I told her that I was in love and wanted to get married, she warned that we were from different backgrounds and that we would eventually have problems. She stated that if there were ever children in our future, problems over religion would undoubtedly develop. At twenty years old, I could not imagine that we would have any problems in our marriage. I was so in love and felt so happy that someone would be taking care of me. My husband was not a very religious man at that time, and deep down I felt that I would be able to get him to convert to Catholicism. As for us not having the same ethnic background, I considered myself more open-minded and was excited to be embracing a new culture.
Everything seemed to be going along so perfectly for the next several years. We were happy and not once did culture or religion ever cause us any problems. God blessed us with a beautiful son and then several years later with a beautiful daughter. Still, we went along with our lives and I even began taking my children to church with me. My husband never prevented me from attending weekly Sunday mass. However, after a few times of my taking our children to church, that is when he spoke to me about his not wanting the children to attend church. Frankly, I was angry and upset. “But why not,” I objected. “Any religion is better than none,” I argued. I really could not understand the harm in taking them to church. Up until this point, we had never even discussed religion. In fact, I had never even questioned that there could even be a different religion than Catholicism. I was born a Catholic and thought that Catholicism was the right religion. For explanations that I can’t even put a finger on, it seemed like from this day on, so many problems were now evident. We argued all the time— about everything and everyone. Now, little things became a big deal. Religion became an arguing point between us. The differences in our cultures became something to argue about. We argued about in-laws and most unfortunately, we argued on the upbringing of our children. Everything that my mother warned us about was now coming true.
The only peace and harmony that was now between us was the wisdom, sincerity, concern and love my husband’s father, my father-in-law, had for our marriage. My father-in-law loved his son and grandchildren, yet also genuinely loved me as a daughter. He was a very religious and devout Muslim and was a very wise man. At that time, because I was not surrounded with Islam, my father-in law was the first introduction into Islam I had. He prayed every prayer, fasted during the month of Ramadan, and was very generous to the poor. I could feel his connection to God. In fact, my father-in-law was so kind to the needy that every day after coming home from the dhur prayer at the mosque, he would invite any needy person home to eat lunch with. This was every single day. Up until his death at the age of 95, relatives remembered that he had continued with this habit.
My father-in-law did not like the arguing between my husband and me and counseled us to find a solution before the children suffered as a result of our fighting. He tried desperately to help us find a solution. He warned his son to allow me room to practice my religion, but it was no longer about religion anymore. I felt frustrated and desired to take a break. When I asked my husband for a separation, he agreed that perhaps it was the best thing for our marriage. You know the saying, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” Well, not in our case. In fact, the absence made our hearts grow further apart. After the separation, we both wanted a permanent separation and agreed on a divorce. Although I desperately wanted my children to live with me, we both felt that it would be better for the children to be raised by their father. He was in a much better position, financially, to raise them and give them many comforts; something I was not prepared to give. How I longed for them every night. I moved back with my mother and continued seeing my children every weekend. My ex-husband would drop off our children on Friday afternoons and pick them up early Sunday mornings. Although this arrangement hurt, it was better than nothing.
Each night before going to bed, I would read from the Bible. When my children were visiting me, I would read them a passage regardless of whether my children understood or not. After reading a passage, one night I would seek help from Jesus, the next night from the angels, the next night from the different saints, the next night from the Virgin Mary. But one night we had no one else to ask, I had run out of Saints. So I said ‘ now we’re going to ask God’. My son said ‘Okay, now who is God?’ I said ‘He’s the one who created you, who created me. He is forever our neighbor’. So he was pondering, he was thinking about those words. To my explanation, I rubbed my cross again. I said ‘now thank God’. He looked at the cross and said ‘Mamma, who is this?’ I said ‘This is God. He’s the son of God’. He said ‘You just told me a minute ago that God is forever. How come this one is dead?’ I never, never in my whole life realized that fact. He asked me where does this god come from? And I said, he came from the womb of Mary, of the Virgin Mary. He said ‘Oh, so he was born sometime before’. I said ‘well, yes’. But then he said ‘But you told me that he’s forever. He never dies and he’s never born. My son, who was now about eight, asked me directly, “Mama, why don’t you just ask God for help?“ I was surprised and stunned and remember feeling a bit shocked that he would question my religion. I told him that I also ask God. Little did I know that this son of mine would grow up to be a constant thorn in my side, always reminding me about the need to worship the One, True God. Thank God.
I ended up remarring a few years later and relocated to Australia with my new husband. My ex- husband, who had also remarried, moved his family to Saudi Arabia. I longed to see my children but eventually it was in Italy where I started a new family and became the mother to three more daughters. Still, every single night I would pray, “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.“ The years passed quickly and busily. I was so excited one summer; my son and daughter would be coming to visit me. So many things raced through my mind. Would they be happy to see me after such a long absensce? What would we talk about? I prayed for help. All of my fears evaporated the first time I laid eyes on my children at the airport. There was an instant bond between mother and children and it was if little time had elasped. My son was the more vocal of the two. He made sure to remind me that they do not eat pork, nor could they eat foods that contained alcolhol. I told him that I remember that about his religion. I also told him that I also do not eat pork, nor drank alcolhol, a habit that remained from the time I was married to his father. As for the wine, well, I would make sure to stop cooking with it while they were home with me.
We had a beautiful summer, getting to know each other, them getting to know their new sisters, pickinicking, going on outings, swimming. I did not want it to end. But I knew that they had their life back in Saudi Arabia and they needed to get back. I asked my daughter the dreaded question of how her step-mother treated her, and I honestly felt happiness when she said she was treated like a daughter.
My children visited me together two more times after that summer. When my son turned 21, he came to live with me for 6 months. We would argue religion—boy, would we argue religion! My son and I are somewhat similar in personality, but we do have our differences – and very obvious ones at that! Whilst I’m very hot tempered in disputes, my son is a lot cooler, so he tends to maintain a sense of calm while I’m borderline crazy! Despite this clash, I believe it works in our favor in that we can find balance within our discussion. We’re very much alike in that we are loving, generous and helpful people. What I admire most about my son is his dedication to almost everything he does. He is a sweet, gentle person, but has strong ethics and aims to achieve whatever he puts his mind to, which I respect a lot. I admire his ability to keep a level head in the most stressful of situations. He’s very logical and won’t dwell too long over a problem. He just attempts to find solutions and neutralize situations as much as possible. I continued to pray that my son would find it in his heart to convert to Catholicism. I so badly wished that he would become a priest—I felt he would make a fine preacher. He was a good boy, and God-fearing at that. Good qualification for the Priesthood. When I once told him that he would make a wonderful priest, my son smiled and replied that it would be more likely that his mother would After 6 months, though, my son expressed desire to leave for the United States. He eventually settled in America and made a home in Miami, Florida. Meanwhile, I became a widow with one teenager daughter left in the house. My son really wanted for me to join him in America, so I left to the States with my 17-year-old daughter. We very much liked it in America and my daughter quickly started to make a life for herself. Nothing had changed for my son and me—we continued talking about Catholicism and Islam and neither one of us would ‘give up‘. Sometimes, when the subject of the Trinity came up and I could not find any answers or rebuttal to him, I would just put up my hand and walk away. I would get very angry for what I saw was his attacking my religion.
“Why can’t you be like everyone else,“ I asked. “Other Muslims accept me and do not try to convert me.“ “I’m not like everyone else,“ he answered. “I love you. I am your son and I want you to go to Paradise.“ I told him that I am going to Paradise—I am a good, honest woman, who doesn’t lie, steal, or cheat.“ My son answered, “These things are neccessary and helpful in this wordly life, however in the Quran it is stated many times that Allah does not forgive Shirk (Polytheism). The Quran says that the ONLY sin that God will not forgive is associating partners with Him, but He forgives anything else to whom He wills.” He begged me to read and learn and discover Islam. Books were brought so that I might open my mind. I refused. Born a Catholic, I will die a Catholic.
For the next 10 years, I remained living near my son, his wife, and family. I desired, though, to also spend some time with my daughter, who was still living in Saudi Arabia. It wasn’t easy to get a visa. My son joked that if I just accepted Islam, that would be the visa to enter Saudi Arabia; for I would then be able to get an Umrah visa. I told him sternly that I wasn’t a Muslim. After much hard work and a few connections, I was given a visitor‘s visa to visit my daughter, who was now the mother of three children. Before leaving, my son held me in a bear hug, and told me how much he loved me, how badly he wanted Paradise for me. He then went on to say how he had everything he had wanted in this life, except for a Mother who was a Muslim. He told me that he prayed to God (Allah) every single day that He (SWT) would change my heart to accept Islam. I told him that that would never happen.
1. I visited my daughter in Saudi Arabia and fell in love with the country, the weather, and the people. I didn’t want to leave after the 6 months so I requested an extension. I would hear the athan (call to prayer) 5 times a day and would see the faithful ones close their shops and walk off to prayer. Although that was very touching, I continued reading from my Bible every morning and evening and would constantly say the rosary. Not once did my daughter or any other Muslim person ever speak to me about Islam or try to get me to convert. They respected me and allowed me to practice my religion.
My son was coming to Saudi Arabia to visit me. I was so happy—I had missed him so. No sooner did he come was he again after me, talking religion and the Oneness of God. I was angry. I told him that I have been in Saudi Arabia for over one year and not once has anyone ever spoken about religion to me. And he, on his second night here, is so quick to begin the preaching. He apologized and again told me how much he wanted me to accept Islam. I again told him that I something that just did not make any logical sense. He reminded me that even I had questions about this. I told him that everything does not have to make sense—you just have to have faith. He seemed like he accepted this answer and I was happy that I finally won a discussion on religion. My son then told me to explain the miracle of Jesus to him. Aha, I thought! I am finally getting somewhere. I explained the miracle birth of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, Jesus dying for our sins, God breathing His Spirit in him, Jesus as God, Jesus as the Son of God. He was quiet the entire time I was talking—no rebuttal—my son, quiet? He then quietly asked, “Mamma, if Jesus died for our sins on a Friday, and then as you say, he was resurrected three days later on a Sunday, then who ruled the world for those three days? Mamma, explain that to me?” I thought about the logic to this question and at that moment, I knew that it did not make any sense.
I said, “Jesus was the son of God. Jesus and God are one and the same. My son replied, “Cows have calves; little cows. Cats have kittens; little cats. Humans have children; little humans. When God has a son, what is he? A little God? If so, then do you have two Gods?” Then he asked, “Mama, can you ever become a God?” What a ridiculous question I told him. Humans can never be a God. (Now, I was really getting angry) He then asked, “Was Jesus a human being?” I replied, “Yes.” He then said “Therefore, he could never be God.” The claim that God became man is also an absurdity. It is not befitting of God to take on human characteristics because it means that the Creator has become His creation. However, the creation is a product of the creative act of the Creator. If the Creator became His creation, it would mean that the Creator created Himself, which is an obvious absurdity. To be created, He would first have to not exist, and, if He did not exist, how could He then create? Furthermore, if He were created, it would mean that He had a beginning, which also contradicts His being eternal. By definition creation is in need of a creator. For created beings to exist they must have a creator to bring them into existence.God cannot need a creator because God is the Creator. Thus, there is an obvious contradiction in terms. The claim that God became His creation implies that He would need a creator, which is a ludicrous concept. It contradicts the fundamental concept of God being uncreated, needing no creator and being the Creator. Knowing I did not have an answer to him, I replied, “Let me think about the answer.”
That evening, I thought long and hard about what my son said. The idea that Jesus as the son of God did not make sense to me anymore. I also could not accept the fact as Jesus and God being one in the same. Before going to sleep that night, my son told me to pray to God before going to sleep and ask Him alone to guide me to the right path. I promised my son that I would sincerely supplicate to God for the anwer. I went to my room and read from the book my son had given me. Next, I opened the Holy Quran and began to read. It was if something had been lifted from my heart. I felt different. I saw the truth in Islam. What had I been fighting against all these years?
That night I prayed to God alone—not to Jesus, not to Mary, not to the angels or saints or holy spirit. Just to God I cried and asked for guidance. I prayed that if Islam was the right choice to please change my heart and mind. I went to sleep and the next morning I woke up and announced to my son that I was ready to accept Islam. He was astonished. We both began to cry. My daughter and granddaughter were called out and watched as I submitted, “There is no God except Allah and Muhammad (pbuh) is His Messenger and Last Prophet.“ I felt a changed woman. I was happy, as if someone had lifted a veil of darkness from my heart. Everyone who knew me couldn’t believe that I had converted. Sometimes I couldn’t even believe it! But Islam felt so right, so peaceful, so serene!
After my son left back to the states, I learned how to recite Surah-al-Fatiha in Arabic and have since learned how to perform the prayers. I continued with life as before; except now I am a Muslim. I always loved attending family gatherings with my daughter, and social events as well. I would attend family and friends weddings, henna parties, baby showers (aqiqah) and the gatherings when someone died. About 6 months after I had converted to Islam, I was at a funeral gathering that readlly touched my heart and reinforced what a beautiful religion Islam is. A young boy had died from a sickness. As my daughter was getting ready to leave for the condolences, I asked her if she knew the family well. She answered that she did not. “Then why go?“ I asked. “Because the family is grieving, and it is my duty in Islam to go and perhaps offer any support that I can.“ I decided to dress and go with her. I went along with my daughter to pay condolences to the boy’s family and was overwhelmed at the number of people in attendance. I was surprised and touched that so many people came to give the family support. All I could think of as I saw the family grieving was what a beautiful religion Islam was that so many people felt it their responsibility to give their support. And that one event, where Muslims were showing an outpoor of sympathy is another moment that proved the beauty of Islam.
I have been a Muslim for three years now, Alhamdullilah. Since that time, I have performed Umrah twice with my son and daughter. My son, daughter and I visited the Kabaah and the Holy Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. I just celebrated my 70th birthday Alhumdullilah. Sometimes I think back to all the hardship and heartache that I must have caused my son, but my son was extremelly happy to serve me by also being a means to bring me to Islam. He then said, that the Prophet (SAW) told a person, “ Paradise lies under the feet of mothers". The meaning of the Hadith is that you should serve your mother and take good care of her. It is for sure by being at my feet that there was paradise for both of us. I also wonder if my daughter would have applied a little pressure on me, I might have become a Muslim sooner. But my son reminded me that Allah is the best of planners. And it is only He (SWT) that can give a person Hidaya (Guidance). “ Indeed it is not such that you can guide whomever you love, but Allah guides whomever He wills. “ (Quran 28:56). The best thing that Allah had honored me is by guiding me to the path of Islam and making me a Muslim, and inshAllah enter together with my son in Paradise. “. Ameen
www.islamicbulletin.com

Interesting...

hotwax: Muslims calling Israel racist are kettle calling pot black.
Quran the arc-racist book pointed out that christians and jews should be killed.

Don't give us "israel is A̶̲̥̅​ racist country" poo. We asre not buying. Islam is the world cancer and just like nazism, it will be defeated. Nazis were powerful than isamist yet, the world overcame it.

The only defence the world has against islam is Israel and the west. If not them, I wonder where I would be today.

What nonsense is this Igbotic fool saying? Isreal is a Jewish state, not a Christian state and the largest population there are Muslims. Go and check dumbo. It was like the Apatheid South Africa - the fact that white were ruling doesn't mean they were the majority in SA.

all4naija: I think the Palestinians are very childish! Why would they allow something that would lead to the death of innocent people to happen. Stop firing rockets into Israel because it can't deter them from listening to you. I think the Palestinians should start to learn how to relate with the Israelis. Maybe with time they can find a common ground to end their differences. I still see Israelis and Palestinians as brothers and sisters despite their religion differences!

To you, the fight is about religion - interesting. Illiterates abound in Nigerian.

There are many Christians in Palestine who are Palestinians and many natives of Jerusalem who are Muslims. As a matter of fact, there are more Muslims and mosques in Jerusalem than there Christians there. Ignorance is killing your brain - Isreali/Palestinian struggle is about land and occupation. Exercise your brain a little bit by researching - don't waste your existence on drinking alcohol and dancing in the church.

caseless: and who told u d people isreal kill only muslims in palestain? Infact, they kill xtains too....they dont care about u. Now u tell me where church of nativity is situated?

Those guys are illiterates - they don't read and don't travel outside of their village. You can see why they are easily brainwashed? They don't even know there are Christians in Palestine who are fighting the occupiers as well. Do they even know there are more Muslims in Jerusalem than Christians?

munas: where this one come from? how many isreali soldiers died and how many hisbollah fighter died and how much was the destruction in lebanon?
Guy go read well before you talk nonsense here.

Stop this Igbotic reasoning. Normally Isreal would look to defeat Hazibolah within a week. But what happened? Only Isreal can tell you what they suffed in the hand of Hazibolah. Why was Hazibolah jubilating after the war?

hotwax: Yes its not only dubai. Even in the bible era, the bible recorded that euthopia and egypt were richer than Israel. So no big deal about your UAE, dubai stuffs.
Israel too is stinking rich right now. People are investing their. Its A̶̲̥̅​ technology hub for IT indusatry.

Who is investing in Isreali? yes, technologically they are advanced but how many businesses have moved there? Dubai is now the new the business hub for Middle East and Africa. All business are moving their head office there - MTN, Etisalat, Unileval, all Technology companies, etc.

For thnology companies, it used to be SA for Africa but every business is moving to Dubai now.

Anyway, I am neither an Emiratis or Isreali -

odehaj: As if Israelis are complaining. Let the Muslims in those areas misbehave nah! Can you imagine what would have become of UAE,Dubai now if they had been al-quaeda HQ or if your Osama Bin Laden had gone there after 9/11?

And how many muslims support Al-quaeda brand of belief? How many Christians are in support of Anders Breivik view of the world?

hotwax: Let me educate you. America can't help Israel win hizbolla because like boko-haram, they throw bombs and run away and hide amoung women and children. They are not soldiers, they just like arear boys in Lagos.
Let them come out as soldiers and fight Israel. No, they can't.

You are probably a kid as you dont seem to know much. The Isreali - Hazibolah war was military vs military on the border of both countries. Isreali had to withdraw eventually.

Rick9: ISrael cant be defeated remember what God said i will curse those who curse israel and i will bless those who bless israel. Remember that, that is Jesus hometown so God must fight for them.

Let us assume you are right. How come countries like UAE, Saudi, Quatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iran, etc are so blessed with so much resources? The place everybody (the rich I meant) wants to go, relax and invest their money is Dubai, a muslim city that will deny anybody with Isreali stamp on his passport entry. Tell me why your God that cursed all enemies of Isreal, leftout UAE and the other countries listed above. Have you ever stepped out of your village to see some of those places?

Balkan: There many muslims in Israel but they dare not make any stup noise. They are very loyal.

Israel will continue to deal with this terrorists. Israel is sorrounded by enemies just like the Igbos and still they are the strongest and the richest. Just like the Igbos too

See Amadioha Logic at play here... The last time I checked, Dangote was the richest in Africa... Is Dangote a Igbo man?

Why are these guys this foolish - they talk like illiterates.

[quote author=Duke_Nija]Hamas is Palestine, Palestine is Hamas.

This is War between Palestine and Isreal.
Isreal can Fight Ten Countries and still comeout Smiling.

Massive Logistics, Expert Weaponry, Trained and Equiped Soldiers, God's Promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Even US dey use style style dey avoid Wahala with Dem.

"Who is this uncircumcised Palestinian to Fight Us the people of God, we will feed Your Carcass to the Birds of the air and Dogs of the Field"
E Dey Bible O, No B Me talk Am O [/quote]Look at this guy - Isreal that was held back by Hazibolah with so many casualities on Isreali side as well. Hazibolah is not a country, just a small group within Lebanon.

Dont pray for war my brother, it is only America support that will save Isreal if war ensues. Palestine is an occupied territory - they can do whatever they like there including using drone, etc.

all4naija: Is not only a thief also a terrorist sponsor!

See another illitrate from Amadioha republic...

all4naija: They are so ignorant and think such barbaric practice carried out in places like Saudi Arabia, China, etc will be the solution. They can't just figure out other ways of finding solutions to problems. It sure proves these people are still far from being civilized.

Now, tell us what you think the civilised solution should be.

Deprofessional: It is very unfortunate the way this merger is going. Let me tell you something you do not know.
For the merger of CPC/ANPP/ACN to provide a formidable platform to wrestle power out of PDP, an Igbo man MUST fly the presidential flag.

Reason, this is the only way to give the merger a national outlook. secondly, the Igbos who constitute the the 2nd largest after the indigenous tribe will massively vote for the merged party which in essence will give the required 25% of the votes in each state.

Third, it will go to show that the proponent of merger talks are really sincere to provide dividend of democracy to the people irrespective of who is at the helm of affairs.

My thought though.

Igbo for where? Is APGA no longer existing? Igbo should go and contect under APGA... Sure they will win...

christopherike: Have you ever considered that GEJ won the election because he was CHRISTIAN? Any muslim ticket is a non-starter... Fashola/Ribadu? ACN/CPC??... oh time will tell... #sings#

You are a fool... So, Tinubu conspired with PDP to allow South West to vote for Jonathan because Tinubu is a christian and as such he wanted a christian as president? Igbo logic.

[quote author=mister.hillz]i honestly don't want buhari to contest again.they should just bring good candidates that will represent the interest of Nigerians.that's it[/quote]You have not given me a reason why Buhari should not contest... Is "honestly" the reason why he should not contest?

skyfall: Great idea. It can work as long as Buhari or Tinubu are not contesting. All the opposition parties should present a single candidate against the evil PDP in 2015. We need to get rid of that empty-headed fisherman in Aso Rock.

Give me one sensible reason Buhari should not contest? I am Yoruba and I will not vote for Tinubu if he contests? But Buhari, I will campaign for him with everything I have.

Please remember I have only asked for intelligent reason why Buhari should not reason... Don't come and tell me all those crap and bigotry that brought us to where we're today.

ikeyman00: no body i repeat no body will be moved by this statement

these two fools never really voice out their opposition against these boko fools

never

the best we get from then is boko harem immergence is due to poverty; na only dem poverty dey affect eh?

Will you shut up your stinging hate filled ignorant mouth? Buhari and El Rufai are happy that PDP Is bombing the north or what? When did Buhari joined PDP that it is now Buharis assignment to talk about Boko haram?

Jarus: If na Buhari talk this, we go don hear he is violent, he is the father of Boko Haram etc

Most of us in the south specifically the Igbos think with their anus.

Jarus: If na Buhari talk this, we go don hear he is violent, he is the father of Boko Haram etc

Most of us in the south specifically the Igbos think with their anus.

Iolo: Ribadu would take the north if Buhari is out of the picture. You get?

Ribadu is nobody in the north. What does he stand for? Nothing other thn boy boy like he is doing for the fraudulent leader now.

MAYOWAAK: The comments hereunder were said to be have been made by Pastor Bakare in church yesterday during the thanksgiving for his 58th birthday:

'All General overseers and religious leaders must go to prison, so they can feel the Nigerian situation. lock Pastor Adeboye Pastor Kumuyi myself and others up in a Nigerian prison, may be if we come out we will change and put the interest of our people first, preaching greed is sin, we have the confidence of millions of people and continue to fail them, that must change"

"I am not inciting the public against the church and the mosque, but the congregation must demand explanation from their leaders, they must demand to know where they are getting the money if it is not from the church offering then it is from Abuja – all general overseers must go to prison."

They are even worse than politicians. Simply call them anti-Christ.

Sincere 9gerian: Any revolution that will be BENEFICIAL to Nigeria must begin 1st with you &I changing our character for GOOD. You &I must do the right thing at all times. Anything short of that will just be replacing the current political leadership with MORE incompetent, MORE irresponsible and MORE corrupt &opportunistic persons. Whoever doubts this submission should look back in history and see how leadership at ALL levels have progressively gotten WORSE since independence when we had the likes of Awo till date. Anyway, OBJ was just running his mouth. The probability of an uprising occuring in Nigeria is slim, because the very people to organise it are more corrupt and WORSE than the very present political leaders at all levels. Nigeria's problems will be solved GRADUALLY, no magic wand. In the past some misguided persons looked for QUICK FIX (military coups) but this ended in worsening the situation and a CIVIL WAR. GEJ may not be charismatic or an orator, but he's taking some RIGHT steps

slowpoke, what step has GEJ taken that is right? Not declaring his asset? Discrediting house committe on oil subsidy, decrediting Ribadu's committee? The wanting corruption currently going on the country?

Tell what right step he s taken.

naja2: I believe the merger will work, i also know that GMB and tinubu ar goin to step back and support Ribadu for president and fashola vice pres. this two though muslims are extremely liberal, very intelligent and extremely courageous guys, yet very modest unlike the fisherman and cattle rearer that are in charge now with their army of comic relieve aides.

Ribadu? Is he not already in PDP working with Jonathan to fight oil thieves? How do you expect opposition parties to do all the work only for Ribadu to come and carry the flag against his friend (GEJ)?

Alaanyihaji: The above is not a constructive opinion. We don't need that type of comment on this thread. For Nigeria to move forward, we must forget ethnic and tribal sentiments. Recal in Obama's campaign for 1st term, his opponents made three public apologies to him on racial comments.In their just concluded election, issues occupied their discussions and comments.While we may not be America yet, we can make today to be better than our yesterday by being constructive on isssues for once.

Thanks but if ethnic and tribal sentiments must be put aside, let the Igbos demonstrate this first - very simple...

[quote author=xcuggs_m]SMH! I wonder why Malam El Rufai is complaing about Pastor Orisejafo owning a private jet?
.
If he wants one, ETISALAT in which I heared he has a major shareholding [using faceless proxies] can buy one for him!
.
I pity those who are super wealthy but because they want to masquerade under an ideology and fake pretences prefer to live austere lives! So sorry!!![/quote]At least, El Rufai is investing his money wisely to create jobs for people and so many christians are employed by Etisalat. Tell me what industry these anti-christs have other than collecting tithe from the gullible, lazy and shortcut-seeking Nigerians.

Xetima: All well meaning Lagosians are aware that the current ACN administration in Lagos has turned anti-people. Unfortunately, the existing opposition seem not to have anything netter to offer. In fact, there is currently no credible opposition in PDP and CPC. While PDP is on ground to some extent, their performance at the centre is not encouraging. Also it is true that there are no true democrats within this environment today. But do we fold our hands and allow Fashola and Tinubu turn all Lagosians to their slaves, NO!

All over history, people take their destinies in their hands. If we keep silent, we would die in silence and like Late Afrobeat king Fela averred, we should not be "suffering and smiling"

For the avoidance of doubts here are some of the anti-people policies of this administration in Lagos:

- Lekki tow gates and the aftermath of revolution by the residents. The government deployed soldiers in a civilian setting to quell civil protests
- Turning blind eyes to illegal extortion on Lagos roads by miscreants 'area boys' who are government hatchet men
- Illegal demolitions at Makoko and other areas without consideration of the impact on the poor living in those areas.
- Destruction of thousands of motor bikes popukarly known as Okada - the only means of livelihood for the poor in Lagos today thereby extending the already high rate of unemployment
- Destruction of peoples' shops and means of livelihood in the name of state beautification
- Ban on Okada in 475 roads in Lagos and stipulating a minimum of 200cc motorcycle for use in the other non-motorable roads. Note that this effectively bans okada operation in Lagos
- Enacting anti-people traffic laws aimed at further impoverishing the already poor people of Lagos
- Issuing draconian statements like "if you cannot obey Lagos laws, you relocate to your villages" in a democratic setting, not minding the cosmopolitan status of Lagos as a former capital developed by the commonwealth of the Nigeria people
- Using armed soldiers to arrest, intimidate and main unarmed protesters of obnoxious Lagos laws and government policies
- Introducing different taxes and levies in the guise of revenue generation.
- Cornering local council allocations and making them irrelevant and ineffective in provision of basic needs.
- Illegal creation of local councils that violates the Nigerian Constitution
- Proposed illegal ban on other state numbered cars from operating commercial services on Lagos roads
- Obnoxious increase in school fees at state owned university
- Proposed introduction of Lagos residents' identity card - we already have several cards from Lagos e.g. a) National ID card b) FRSC National Drivers License c) Lagos Drivers License d) TIN Card e) National Voters Card f) Riders card(Okada) g) company employee ID h) student ID card i) church ID card j) club ID card k) estate ID card l) PHCN id card, etc.
- Bad and un-motorable local council roads and several others too numerous to mention here.

From the foregoing, I am using this medium to invite Governor Mimiko of Ondo State and the Labour Party to come and help us in Lagos. I am not a politician, but on this cause, I offer to lead a mass mobilisation to unseat ACN in Lagos come 2015. I appeal to the LP to come and shop for shop for a credible candidate to take over the affairs of Lagos come May 2015.

This is doable and I ask all like minded individuals to be hopeful and bear with Fashola to 2015 for the ACN you see now, you shall see them no more any longer.

Long live LABOUR PARTY OF NIGERIA!!!

A sensible person that can still remember where we were before will not open his mouth to say ACN is anti-people. This is to say, you have got no sense.

Yes, I agree ACN may not be perfect and definitely we will have people who might want to take advantge of the party to pursue selfish agenda like Tinubu is doing but again, this is south west - we will handle him and put him where he belongs when the time comes.

And CPC has not been tested as a party for you to properly assess them and come to the conclusion that they are like PDP - or what are you basing your assessment of CPC on? CPC is only in Nassarawa and I have not seen any corruption allegations coming out of there or cases of bad leadership.

So stop wasting your time, ACN in Lagos is working and only a short-sighted person will say banning Okada, clearing out and tidying up Oshodi and other filty/criminal hideout is anti-people. The most congested market/place in Dubai (Deira) is still far better than the most beatiful of places in Nigeria. So, the building, cleaning and transformation of Lagos has just started.

kunlekunle: was it habituate that confused you or what.
i only did a comparative analysis, why the cry?

Sorry, my mistake. I was to respond to the OP - will correct it.

pistol: Happy bday to the man of God..
But am not comfortable with ur forlicking with ungodly men..
What does light and darkness have in common.

And can you tell us who the ungodly men are?