Part 3: Reno’s Distortion On The Ultimate Abode Of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.)
By: Dr. Salihu Lukman
Introduction
I have been following Pastor Reno Omokri’s posts for some years now and did not suspect that he harbors a sinister motive aimed at tactically relegating Islam and its principles to the background until now. He has studied Islam deeply and has defended it and its followers with a view to scheme his way into the hearts of the Muslims and ultimately reduce it to rubble. Any wise Muslim who reads the numerous Omokri’s posts in the defense of Islam and the Muslims would become pessimistic that there is definitely an ulterior motive lurking in the background if only one can be analytical and not naïve. About 5 months ago I wrote a 2-part series, extolling what I perceived at the time as the uncommon virtues of Omokri titled ‘Pastor Reno Omokri – A Bridge Builder Between Muslims & Christians’ only for me to later encounter his other posts that subtly and cleverly cast aspersions on prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.), Muslims and Islam as a whole. He is on a mission to hide under his knowledge of Islam to distort established and fundamental aspects of Islam such that average Muslims may not notice anything fishy in his posts at all. Follow me on this part 3 of the expose on Reno Omokri in which I will be reproducing my comment on Omokri’s post dated 24 September 2023 where he cleverly and mischievously postulated that the final abode of prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) and his followers in the hereafter is uncertain despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
Thank you for your feedback. Perhaps you are not aware, but I have read al-Quran. And my wife speaks flawless Arabic. I respect prophet Muhammad, Salla Allahu Alayhi Wasalaam. But the reason I follow Yeshua Hamashiach (Jesus Christ) rather than Nabi Muhammad (SAW) is because when asked where He was taking His followers, Yeshua told them clearly that if we believe in Him, we shall have everlasting life with Him in His Father’s Kingdom. And I believe Him.
However, I am not sure that the holy prophet Muhammad (SAW) told his followers, with certainty, what would happen to both him and them in the afterlife. However, if this is not true, then I apologise. But I am reasonably certain that it is.
Let me make this clear, because it seems some people are conflating issues.
My quarrel is with those who have distorted the pure message of Isa al-Masīḥ, whom God sent to reconcile man to Himself. My conflict is not with al-Masīḥ (Jesus Christ). I believe in Him as the only Way to God. I trust Him fully. I preach Him globally. But I don’t believe in Him as God Himself because He never claimed to be, and that is an adulteration of His message. And I am very content to live and die this way.
Thanks again, and may God bless you.
#TableShaker
My Response
Pastor Omokri is definitely wrong in the above post when he claimed that Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) did not tell his followers with certainty about what would happen to him and them in the afterlife.
On the rewards of the afterlife for those who believed in Allah, His prophets, and do good deeds, Allah says.
” As for those who believe and do good, We will admit them into Gardens (Paradise) under which rivers flow, to stay there for ever and ever. There they will have pure spouses, and We will place them under a vast shade.” Qur’an 4:57.
” Give good news ˹O Prophet˺ to those who believe and do good that they will have Gardens (Paradise) under which rivers flow. Whenever provided with fruit, they will say, “This is what we were given before,” for they will be served fruit that looks similar ˹but tastes different˺. They will have pure spouses, and they will be there forever.” Qur’an 2:25.
These are just a few of the many Quranic verses that support the Prophet’s (S.A.W.) teachings about what will be the rewards of the believers in the afterlife. Hence, it is wrong to say that Muhammad (SAW) did not tell his followers with certainty what would happen to him and them in the afterlife.
In addition, the following Hadiths also buttress the Qur’anic verses above, the Prophet (S.A.W.) said:
“Whoever believes in Allah and His Messenger, and establishes prayer, and pays the zakat, he will have his two gardens (Paradise).” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
“Whoever dies upon the testimony that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger, and that Jesus is the servant and Messenger of Allah, and that he was created by His Word and His spirit, he will enter Paradise, whatever his actions may have been.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
The Prophet (SAW) also told his followers that he would be interceding for them on the Day of Judgment. He said:
“I will be the first intercessor on the Day of Judgment.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
The Prophet’s (S.A.W.) teachings about the afterlife are a source of comfort and hope for Muslims. They believe that if they follow the Prophet’s (S.A.W.) teachings, they will be rewarded with Paradise in the afterlife.
Salihu Lukman is an assistant professor of civil engineering at the University of Hafr Al Batin, Saudi Arabia
Part 2: Exposing Pastor Reno Omokri: Mission Badda Musulmi
By: Dr. Salihu Lukman
All Muslims following Reno should understand his unequivocal agenda on Islam. That is, pushing for a narrative that Islamic practices and beliefs were simply directly copied from Ethiopian ancient religious practices. This clear narrative which he has been pushing for a long time in many of his posts implies that Islam did not actually receive revelation directly from the Almighty God to guide their practices and beliefs, which by extension means that Islam is not a true religion, but Christianity through Isa (A.S.) and Judaism through Musa (A.S.) are the only authentic paths to follow. In other words, he does not believe in the prophethood of Muhammad (S.A.W.) nor does he believe that the Qur’an was a revelation from the Almighty God to Muhammad. His disbelief in the prophethood of Muhammad is no surprise at all because he is a pastor who strictly follows prophet Isa (A.S.) and by extension believes in the prophethood of Musa (A.S.).
Someone who follows his posts would question, what about Omokri’s tons of articles defending Islam and Muslims despite him being a pastor? Yes, it’s true that pastor Omokri goes out of his way to defend Islam and sometimes to the detriment of his faith which is Christianity even though he does not accept being labelled a Christian. This act attracts to his social media handles a huge Muslim followership and I am one of them. Here is my take. Muslim readers of Omokri’s posts pertaining to Muslim practices and beliefs in particular should not take his words as the Gospel truth. Rather, they should scrutinize such posts to the fullest using their Islamic background and knowledge and consult Islamic scholars where necessary. Despite Omokri’s vast knowledge of Islam, he is NOT an Islamic scholar. In fact, my current conviction of his agenda toward Muslims after a careful review of his posts siding with the Muslims against Christians is that he is subtly hiding under his defense of Islam and Muslims to indirectly disqualify Islam as a true religion that the Almighty God sent prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) to propagate. He embodies the true definition of what the Hausas call Dan Mission or Mission Badda Musulmi or Orientalist. He is the proverbial wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Despite his being Dan Mission, I still read his posts daily because I learn a lot from them but his Muslim followers should understand his agenda on Islam which is to strip Islam of all authenticity and originality thereby casting doubts on its adherents which can ultimately lead to Muslims deserting their religions and becoming Christians. I had initially thought that pastor Reno Omokri was truly a bridge-builder between Muslims and Christians and had written on this in a 2-part series in September last year, 2023. Little did I know that his bridge is unidirectional whose goal is to convey Muslims (i.e., convert them to Christianity) from one end to the other end of the bridge where Christians reside. Non-Muslims reading this article should know that all Muslims believe in the prophethood of Isa (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), i.e. Jesus Christ. We believe that he was one of the most distinguished prophets, and did many miracles during his time. A whole chapter (Surah) was dedicated to his mother Maryam (Mary) in the Qur’an, wherein his story was narrated. You cannot be a Muslim and disbelieve in prophet Isa (A.S.). No way! Hence, Muslims don’t need to be converted to Christianity before they accept the prophethood of Isa (A.S.). But pastor Omokri should desist from trying to rewrite Islamic history in a way to deceive Muslims into believing that he is an authority on Islam, hence, everything he says on Islam is nothing but the truth. He is simply Dan Mission Badda Musulmi. Muslims should be careful!
It may surprise you to know that pastor Reno Omokri has started translating some of his posts into the Hausa language alone to strategically capture the attention of the Muslim North. To appear more appealing to the Muslims, he crafts a special message or video clip every Friday wishing Muslims happy Jumu’ah, but he never does the same thing on Sundays.
I call on you to critically analyze some of his posts that depict his so-called knowledge of Islamic history and practices and you will surely find portholes that are meant to push a deviant narrative that undermines the very essence of Islamic practices and beliefs. For a proper understanding of this article, you need to read my 1st engagement on the subject matter titled “Part 1: Response To Reno Omokri On Some Muslim Practices And Beliefs” available at:
Thank you for your feedback. Much of what you practice in Islam was learnt from the people of Habesha.
Many Muslims are unaware that the first Hijrah in Islam was to Ethiopia, then known as Abyssinia in English and Habesha in Amharic. Many of the cultures of Islam were actually derived from the Ethiopians.
If you Google Ethiopian Christian monks, you may be surprised at how similar their dressing is to the Islamic way of dressing. Yet, they have been dressing that way for over 2000 years, as described in their holy book, Kebra Nagast, and as testified to by ancient drawings and illustrations. Islam, as revealed to prophet Muhammad (SAW) and practised by his followers, is 1400 years old. You do the maths.
The attached photo is of a Tewahedo monk. I took it myself. Does he not look like a Sheikh? My wife and daughter wear a netala (hijab) to go to church. All Tewahedo women wear one to enter the church. And they enter from a different entrance and do not mingle with men in church.
Tewahedo means the oneness of God, without a partner, equal or confederate, as revealed to Moses (Nabi Musa) in Deuteronomy 6:4. The Islamic Tawhid means the same thing. Please fact-check me: Tewahedo, as a practice, is older than Tawhid. Again, you do the math.
Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) nurse, Umm Ayman, was an Ethiopian. She was present on the day the prophet was born and on the day he died.
Ruqayyah, the daughter of the holy prophet Muhammad (SAW), lived in Ethiopia for almost a decade with her husband, Uthman, the third Caliph of Islam.
In one of the Hadiths, it is recorded that the Christian Negus (king) of Ethiopia gifted prophet Muhammad (SAW) two items of clothing.
There are more descendants of prophet Muhammad, salla Allahu alayhi wasalaam, (these descendants are called Sayyids) in Ethiopia, than in Saudi Arabia. In fact, they formed their tribe, called the Sirte.
Harar in Ethiopia is the fourth holiest Muslim city in the world. The Muslims who returned to Medina from Habashah (as Ethiopia is called in Arabic). The word Habashah means “to collect” in Arabic. It is believed to be so called because the early Muslims collected so much from Ethiopia.
The Ethiopian king (Negus) militarily protected the Muslims from the Quraysh of Mecca, who wanted to kill them, and they flourished during their time in Ethiopia. Do the math, Hassan.
Thanks again, and may God bless you.
#TableShaker #GrowNairaBuyNaija
My Response:
To say that “Much of what you practice in Islam was learnt from the people of Habesha” is an unsubstantiated claim and a clear depiction of a lack of knowledge of the origins of Islamic practices and beliefs. You are a learned follower of prophet Isa (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and an erudite pastor, but that does not qualify you to be an expert on the origins of Islamic practices and beliefs even though you have lived with the Muslims in the Northern part of Nigeria and have read widely about Islam.
For you to conclude that “Many of the cultures of Islam were actually derived from the Ethiopians” just because of the shear resemblance of some Islamic dressings with the Ethiopians and because of the Islamic concept of Tauhid resembling the Tawahedo concept of the oneness of God which came before Islam speaks volumes of your lack of knowledge on the origins of these two important Islamic practice and belief. This sweeping and simplistic conclusion is devoid of any concrete evidence. Relying on Muslim migration to Ethiopia during the 5th year of prophethood, an Ethiopian nurse, and a gift of clothing to prophet Muhammad (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to further support your conclusion only points to the fact you need to study the origins of Islamic practices and beliefs in greater details so that you don’t misinform your audience who might believe your every word. When you quoted that prophet Musa (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) practiced Tauhid, you never inferred that his Tauhid was also derived from the Ethiopians. The million-dollar question here is when prophet Isa (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) practiced Tauhid, did he also derive it or learn it from the Ethiopians and not from God’s revelations in the Scripture?
I am sorry to say that your assertion that “Harar in Ethiopia is the fourth holiest Muslim city in the world” is not true, because there is nothing like the fourth holiest Muslim city in the world. Muslims only know of the 3 holiest Muslim cities, i.e., Mecca (1st), Medina (2nd), and Al-Aqsa (3rd) in Jerusalem because of the Sacred Mosques in these cities as illustrated in the Hadith below.
Prophet Muhammad (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “A prayer in the Sacred Mosque (in Mecca) is worth 100,000 prayers; a prayer in my mosque (in Medina) is worth 10,000 prayers; and a prayer in al-Aqsa Mosque is worth 1,000 prayers.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
There are numerous other Hadiths similar to the one I quoted above that clearly assert greater holiness of these 3 cities compared to other places but Harar in Ethiopia was never mentioned as the fourth holiest Muslim city in the world anywhere.
You see, I follow you on all your social media handles, read posts daily like a daily ritual, and have written in your favor before and shared your posts in my articles, groups, and status because your logical and critical analyses on most topics are superb and extraordinary. However, reducing core Muslim practices and beliefs that were derived directly from the Qur’an and ancient Arab cultures and passing them off as mere appendages of some ancient Ethiopian practices and religious beliefs is at best highly misinformative and at worst extremely disinformative.
Salihu Lukman is an assistant professor of civil engineering at the University of Hafr Al Batin, Saudi Arabia
Diabetes Reversed in 4 Days Using Lifestyle Changes – Another Success Story
By: Dr. Salihu Lukman
1. She was diagnosed on 24 December 2023 (6 days ago): Fasting – 261 mg/dL (14.5 mmol/L). She was placed on an antidiabetic drug to be taken once daily before breakfast.
2. She joined the DMF (Diabetic Monitoring Forum) Hausa Telegram open group (Ciwon suga [Diabetes]: DMF4) 2 days later on 26 December via the open link: https://t.me/ciwonsuga2. I started following up on her case the same day with a starting blood sugar of 221 mg/dL.
3. I would appraise her food choices 3 times daily (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and emphasize her daily workout for at least 30 minutes after each meal.
4. She took at least 2-point glucometer readings daily. Fasting and 2 hours after breakfast.
5. Fasting blood sugar (FBS) readings:
Day 1 (27 Dec.) – 218 (with anti-diabetic medication)
Day 2 (28 Dec.) – 127 (with anti-diabetic medication)
Day 3 (29 Dec.) – 118 (with anti-diabetic medication)
Day 4 (30 Dec.) – 123. Antidiabetic medication was stopped today on Day 4 and 2 hours after breakfast result was 118 mg/dL.
6. I asked her to stop taking diabetic medication on Day 4. FBS was lowered from 221 to 123 in just 4 days by eating nutritious meals and exercising after each meal. All other readings were within the normal range.
7. I weaned myself off diabetic medication in 2016 instantly and my blood sugar levels normalized in just 3 days and have always been within the normal range since then. With the help of my team, we helped several other diabetics normalize their blood sugar levels and in some cases wean them off diabetic medications completely in a similar way to the above. You can also do it if you are diabetic or you can follow up with your loved one in a similar way if he or she is diabetic to change the narrative. Nothing is hidden in this process, all the interactions I had with her from the beginning until the end including all her meal samples are also available on the group for all to see and learn. I have already explained all the good and the bad foods for diabetics in several of my articles and presentations on the Diabetic Monitoring Forum (DMF). Join us to say goodbye to diabetes through lifestyle enhancement without selling any diabetic medication to anyone in any form.
I have been taking cow’s milk, meat, poultry, and other dairy byproducts for time immemorial. I started learning about lifestyle enhancements in 2015 when I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I changed my lifestyle and reversed it in 2016, i.e. 7 years ago and counting. I stumbled upon low-fat plant-based diets in 2020 after watching the Lifestyle Enhancement Conference videos that I shared with you earlier. The presenters emphasized that one of the main keys to the prevention and reversal of many chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, heart disease, etc. was eating low-fat plant-based diets exclusively. Plant-based diets essentially consist of greens, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, especially legumes such as beans. In other words, it implies ditching all animal-based byproducts, from dairy byproducts (fresh milk, powdered, yogurt, cream, cheese, butter, ghee, ice cream, condensed milk, etc.) to meat (red meat, poultry, fish), eggs and all other derivatives from these products, i.e., a VEGAN diet. This is because of the overwhelming and long-term negative impacts that these animal products have on our overall health. I set a goal back then in 2020, that I want to become a vegan one day but it has been very difficult for me to ditch these animal byproducts, especially milk, yogurt, fish, and egg that I take almost daily.
Listening to Dr. Chidi in the past few days discuss the various side effects of these animal byproducts, especially cow’s protein in milk and beef has again strengthened my resolve more than ever before to ditch these animal byproducts for good except fish. Yes, I need oily fish to get adequate omega-3 intake instead of taking omega-3 supplements. Omega-3 fatty acids play a crucial role in maintaining good health. You can say that I am now 99 %. There is also economic gain to becoming a vegan. You will save the money you used to spend on these animal byproducts. Maybe I will ditch fish in the future to become 100 % eating only low-fat plant-based diets. I also call on all, diabetics and non-diabetics, to set similar goals and work hard to achieve them. I will preach this lifestyle to my family members with the hope that one day, they will join me on board. Always aim high, but start small. Remember, we are what we eat, and let our medicine be our food.
There is good news for cow milk addicts. Soy milk from soya beans is an excellent plant-based alternative with as much protein as cow milk but fewer saturated fats, overall fats, and calories but more expensive. There are other plant-based alternatives such as oat milk, almond milk, coconut milk, rice milk, etc.
In this video, Dr. Chidi Ngwaba, a renowned lifestyle physician who swapped the surgeon’s knife for lifestyle medicine to save more lives, trained at University College London (UCL) and Cambridge, has been reversing these chronic illnesses for the past 26 years now, discussed several important things such as:
Some constituents of milk can increase the risk of cancers in general and breast cancer in particular. Eliminate cow’s milk in your diet. Soy milk, on the other hand, has what it takes to prevent breast cancer.
Cow’s protein found in its milk has been incredibly linked to triggering type 1 diabetes in children.
Generally, cow’s protein in its milk and meat can trigger autoimmune responses in our bodies. This can lead to a number of other autoimmune diseases and cancers.
Prostate cancer can be reversed using plant-based diets.
Strive to get adequate sunlight for vitamin D3 production and other benefits. Otherwise, take vitamin D3 supplements under the supervision of your doctor to boost your immune system.
For more details, endeavor to watch the video below.
Exercise: The Miracle Drug You Didn’t Know You Needed, Unlocking a World of Health and Happiness
By: Dr. Salihu Lukman
Highlights:
The Power of Exercise
Hormones for Better Mood Stability and Fight Depression
Heart Health
Normalizing Blood Pressure
Good Glycemic Control
Weight Management
Can You Lose Weight Without Exercise?
Inclusivity and Diversity
Other Benefits of Exercise
How Much Exercise Do You Need?
What Types of Exercise Are Best?
Can Exercise Cause Weight Gain?
Introduction
Exercise is often touted as a weight loss tool, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. In reality, exercise offers a wide range of benefits for people of all ages and fitness levels. In today’s fast-paced world, it’s crucial to prioritize our health and well-being. While exercise is often associated with weight loss, its benefits extend far beyond shedding a few kilograms. From boosting mood stability to promoting heart health, exercise truly has something to offer everyone. In this article, I will delve into the wide-ranging advantages of exercise and explore why it’s an essential component of a healthy lifestyle.
The Power of Exercise
Exercise is not just about fitting into a smaller dress size or appearing more “fit.” It has the power to positively impact our lives in numerous ways. Let’s explore some of the remarkable benefits that exercise brings, regardless of age or body type.
Hormones for Better Mood Stability and Fight Depression
When you exercise, your body releases endorphins – often referred to as the “feel-good” hormones – which have mood-boosting effects. Endorphins can also help to reduce stress and anxiety. Regular exercise has been shown to be effective in treating depression and improving mood stability. Hence, it becomes a natural remedy for boosting mental well-being, providing a refreshing sense of clarity and positivity.
Heart Health
Engaging in cardiovascular exercises, such as brisk walking, jogging, cycling, or swimming, strengthens the heart muscles and improves blood circulation. This helps reduce the risk of heart disease, lowers blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and promotes overall cardiovascular health, ensuring a strong and resilient ticker.
Normalizing Blood Pressure
Exercise helps to lower blood pressure by dilating blood vessels and improving blood flow. This is especially beneficial for people with high blood pressure, also known as hypertension.
Good Glycemic Control
Exercise plays a vital role in regulating blood sugar levels, making it particularly beneficial for individuals with diabetes or those at risk. Physical activity enhances insulin sensitivity, allowing the body to effectively utilize glucose for energy. This leads to better glycemic control and reduces the risk of developing complications associated with diabetes. Exercise can help to prevent type 2 diabetes and improve overall health.
Weight Management
Although exercise alone may not magically melt away excess calories consumed from unhealthy foods, it plays a crucial role in weight management. Combining regular exercise with a balanced diet helps create a calorie deficit, aiding in weight loss. Additionally, exercise promotes the development of lean muscle mass, which boosts metabolism, leading to more efficient calorie burning even at rest.
Can You Lose Weight Without Exercise?
Yes, it is possible to lose weight without exercise. While exercise can be an effective tool for weight loss, creating a calorie deficit through dietary changes alone can also lead to weight loss. Here are some strategies to help achieve weight loss without exercise:
Caloric Deficit: Weight loss primarily occurs when you consume fewer calories than you burn. By carefully monitoring your calorie intake and creating a calorie deficit, you can achieve weight loss. This involves consuming fewer calories through portion control, choosing nutrient-dense foods, and reducing excessive calorie-dense foods.
Balanced and Nutrient-Dense Diet: Focus on incorporating a variety of whole foods into your diet, such as lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats. These nutrient-dense foods provide essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber, keeping you satisfied and supporting overall health.
Mindful Eating: Pay attention to your body’s hunger and fullness cues. Practice mindful eating by eating slowly, savoring each bite, and being aware of your body’s signals for hunger and satiety. This can help prevent overeating and promote better portion control.
Hydration: Drinking an adequate amount of water throughout the day can help with weight loss. Water can help you feel more full, curb unnecessary snacking, and support overall hydration and metabolism.
Adequate Sleep: Prioritize getting enough quality sleep each night. Lack of sleep has been linked to increased appetite, cravings, and weight gain. Aim for 7 – 9 hours of sleep for adults to support your weight loss goals.
Stress Management: High-stress levels can contribute to emotional eating and hinder weight loss efforts. Incorporate stress management techniques like meditation, deep breathing exercises, or engaging in activities you enjoy to help reduce stress and emotional eating. The stress hormone cortisol can cause weight gain.
It’s important to note that incorporating regular exercise into your routine not only aids in weight loss but also offers numerous health benefits. Combining exercise with a balanced diet can enhance weight loss efforts, improve physical fitness, and support overall well-being.
Inclusivity and Diversity
Exercise knows no boundaries when it comes to age, gender, or body type. It benefits people of all backgrounds, offering a multitude of activities to suit individual preferences. Whether it’s strength training, or high-intensity interval training (HIIT), there’s something for everyone. Finding an exercise routine that you genuinely enjoy increases the likelihood of long-term adherence and reaps the full range of benefits.
Other Benefits of Exercise
Stronger bones and muscles
Improved balance and coordination
Reduced risk of falls
Increased energy levels
Better sleep quality
Improved cognitive function
Reduced risk of some types of cancer
How Much Exercise Do You Need?
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity each week. Children and adolescents should get at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day.
If you’re new to exercise, start slowly and gradually increase the amount of time you spend exercising each week. It’s also important to choose activities that you enjoy. This will make it more likely that you’ll stick with an exercise routine.
What Types of Exercise Are Best?
There are many different types of exercise, so you can choose something that you enjoy and that fits your fitness level. Some examples of moderate-intensity aerobic activity include:
Walking
Biking
Swimming
Dancing
Gardening
Examples of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity include:
Running
Playing sports
HIIT workouts
You can also combine aerobic activity with strength training exercises, such as lifting weights or resistance bands. Strength training helps to build and maintain muscle mass, which is important for overall health and well-being.
Can Exercise Cause Weight Gain?
Yes, strength training can lead to an increase in weight, but it’s important to understand that this weight gain is typically due to an increase in muscle mass rather than fat. Strength training involves engaging in exercises that target and challenge your muscles, such as weightlifting or resistance training. Resistance training is a form of exercise that focuses on improving muscular strength, endurance, and overall fitness. It involves using external resistance, such as free weights, weight machines, resistance bands, or even body weight, to create resistance against muscle contractions. The primary goal of resistance training is to progressively overload the muscles, challenging them to adapt and become stronger over time. The resistance can be adjusted by increasing the weight, repetitions, or intensity of the exercises.
Strength training can help improve your body composition by reducing body fat percentage and increasing muscle mass. While your overall weight may stay the same or slightly increase, the composition of your body will shift towards a higher proportion of lean muscle mass and lower fat mass. This can lead to a more toned and defined physique. Strength training is essentially what we call bodybuilding.
Conclusion
Exercise is an invaluable tool in our pursuit of a healthy, fulfilling life. It goes beyond mere weight loss, delivering a plethora of advantages that enhance both our physical and mental well-being. From the release of mood-boosting hormones to the prevention of chronic illnesses, exercise empowers us to take control of our health. So, let’s embrace exercise, find joy in movement, and unlock a world of health and happiness. Remember, consistency is the key to reaping the full rewards that exercise has to offer. Start today, and let your journey toward a healthier you begin!
Salihu Lukman is an Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Hafr Al Batin, Saudi Arabia
Between Glycemic Index & Glycemic Load, Which One Should A Diabetic Use?
By: Dr. Salihu Lukman
Introduction
Are you looking for the ultimate guide to managing your blood sugar levels as a diabetic? Look no further! In the world of nutrition, two terms frequently mentioned are Glycemic Index (GI) and Glycemic Load (GL). Both play a crucial role in understanding how different foods affect your blood sugar levels. In this article, I will explore the differences between GI and GL with specific examples, and offer insights into which one should be prioritized by individuals with diabetes.
GI Vs. GL
Glycemic load (GL) is a measure of how quickly and how much food raises blood sugar levels. It considers both the glycemic index (GI) of the food and the amount of carbohydrates in a serving.
The glycemic index (GI) is a measure of how quickly a food raises blood sugar levels compared to pure glucose. It is calculated by comparing the blood sugar response after eating a particular food to the blood sugar response after eating pure glucose.
GL is a more realistic measure of how foods raise blood sugar levels than GI because it takes into account the amount of carbohydrates in a serving. This is important because a food with a high GI may not have a high GL if it contains a small amount of carbohydrates. This means that even if a food has a low glycemic index, consuming a large quantity of it could still lead to a significant increase in blood sugar.
The glycemic load (GL) ranges are as follows:
Low: 1-10
Medium: 11-19
High: 20 or more
How is GL calculated?
GL is calculated by multiplying the GI of a food by the amount of carbohydrates in a serving and dividing by 100.
Example:
Watermelon has a GI of 76 and 11 grams of carbohydrate per serving.
White bread has a GI of 70 and 23 grams of carbohydrate per serving.
GL of watermelon: 76 x 11 / 100 = 8.36 (Low GL)
GL of white bread: 70 x 23 / 100 = 16.1 (Medium GL)
In this example, watermelon has a lower GL than white bread, even though it has a higher GI. This is because watermelon has a lower carbohydrate content per serving. This means that eating a slice of white bread will raise blood sugar levels more than eating a wedge of watermelon, even though watermelon has a higher GI.
Other results reported lower GL for watermelon (<5) and higher white or brown bread (>20).
GL is a more useful tool for people with diabetes or other blood sugar control problems. This is because it can help them to choose foods that are less likely to cause sudden spikes in blood sugar levels.
Here are some tips for using GL to choose healthy foods:
Choose foods with a low or medium GL.
a) Be aware of the GL of foods that you eat frequently.
b) Pair high-GL foods with low-GL foods to help slow down the absorption of carbohydrates and reduce the impact on blood sugar levels.
c) Eat foods in moderation, even if they have a low GL.
How To Pair High-GL Foods With Low-GL Foods
To demonstrate a practical pairing of high-GL foods with low-GL foods to reduce the impact on blood sugar levels stated in b) above, see one of my meals below, consisting of Jollof spaghetti with spinach (GL of about 15 – 20), salad cocktail (GL of about 3), 2 cuts of fried mutton (GL of about 15 – 20), and orange (GL of about 6). Jollof spaghetti alone has a GL of about 25 (High), adding spinach has reduced its GL to a range of 15 – 20 (Medium/High).
Now, including a salad cocktail made from carrot, cucumber, habanero, garlic, and onion in addition to orange will bring down the average GL of the meal to within the low range, thereby not spiking my blood sugar level. Notice that the salad and the spaghetti are of the same quantity, portion size control is very important for a nutritious meal. Hence, despite ‘cheating’ with spaghetti, I have added enough low-GL foods to dilute the high-GL Jollof spaghetti I wouldn’t ordinarily eat. I do this once in a while during my ‘cheat day’, because, spaghetti is one of my favorite meals. A cheat day for a diabetic is a day when they allow themselves to eat foods that are not normally included in their diabetes diet, such as high-sugar and high-carbohydrate foods. I would always jog up and down the staircase of a 6-storey building 3 times immediately after eating my meal. This workout is essential for improved blood sugar control, increased insulin sensitivity, reduced risk of heart disease, increased energy level, and improved mood. Engage in at least 5 – 10 minutes of workout immediately after each meal.
What do you expect how healthier this meal would have been if the spaghetti were to be replaced with beans or oats porridge and the fried mutton cuts with boiled fish cuts? A diabetic should always avoid fried foods in general and fried red meat in particular due to their high GL. They can spike your blood sugar level, add unhealthy fats to the diet, and contribute to weight gain. I would normally take fish, but I ran out of stock. Sardine and salmon are top on the recommended list. Fish oil is needed because it is healthy, but chicken’s and red meat’s fats are considered unhealthy overall.
This example also demonstrates the importance of eating fruit with every meal as well as salad. They have low GL and help in adding fiber and nutrients to your diet for good gut health and sugar level control. Eat a fruit with every meal if you can.
Conclusion
In conclusion, when it comes to managing blood sugar levels as a diabetic, both the Glycemic Index (GI) and Glycemic Load (GL) can be valuable tools. While GI provides a general idea of the impact of carbohydrates on blood sugar, GL takes into account serving sizes, providing a more accurate representation of a food’s effect on blood glucose levels. For overall blood sugar control, it is recommended for diabetics to consider GL instead of GI when choosing healthy diabetic meals. By appropriately pairing high-GL foods with low-GL foods, individuals with diabetes can make informed choices that promote stable blood sugar levels and improved overall health. Take control of your health and make informed choices for a brighter, healthier future!
Salihu Lukman is an Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Hafr Al Batin, Saudi Arabia
Diabetes Reversed in 7 Days: A Compelling Success Story
By: Dr. Salihu Lukman
Introduction
In a world filled with the complexities of chronic diseases, it’s truly extraordinary when a success story defies the odds and inspires us all. Today, we have the privilege of sharing an awe-inspiring account of one individual’s journey toward reversing diabetes in just 7 days, solely through the transformative power of lifestyle changes. The patient is a resilient and determined individual who embraced a revolutionary approach to managing his diabetes. Rather than relying solely on medication, he embarked on a 7-day adventure, committed to proving that lifestyle modifications hold the key to regaining control over his health.
Throughout this article, we will delve into the remarkable details of his inspiring journey, exploring the pivotal moments, and strategies that propelled him toward success. Join us as we uncover the secrets behind his 7-day transformation, and discover the remarkable potential that lies within each of us.
His story serves as a testament to the incredible possibilities that emerge when we believe in the power of our choices and embrace the opportunity for change. Are you ready to embark on this remarkable journey together? Stay tuned for the next installment as we uncover the secrets behind Sarah’s seven-day transformation and explore the life-changing potential of lifestyle modifications in the quest to reverse diabetes.
How He Did It?
Find the details provided below.
He is 49 years old, weighs 130 kg, and BMI of 40.
He was diagnosed on 29 July 2023 with the following: Fasting – 18.1 mmol/L (325.8 mg/dL), HbA1c – 11.8 %. He was placed on 1000 mg of Glucophage after every meal. He is also hypertensive and on medication.
I started following up on his case last week on Friday, 13 October 2023. Before that day, his fasting blood sugar (FBS) used to be around 10 mmol/L.
I would advise him on what food to eat daily and emphasize his daily workout which is a brisk walk for about 1 hr just before Magrib after which he eats dinner.
He takes 4-point glucometer readings daily. Fasting and 2 hr after breakfast, just before dinner, and 2 hr after dinner. He eats only twice daily.
Within the first 3 days, his FBS fell from 10 to an average value of about 8.5. There were 2 readings of the 2hr after breakfast above 12 (12.3 and 12.8).
I asked him to be monitoring his blood pressure daily from Day 2.
I asked him to stop taking diabetic medication after Day 6, and his FBS was 6.2 on Day 7. The normal FBS is up to 7. All other readings were within the normal range on Day 7 despite stopping the diabetic medication. In addition, I asked him to observe a 10 – 15 min workout after every meal from Day 7 when the medication was stopped to avoid blood sugar spikes after the meal.
Accordingly, with this change in his lifestyle, his blood pressure fell from 145/99 and 150/96 on Days 2 & 3 respectively to an average of 121/84, which is normal. I hope that it will fall further to such an extent that he will also be weaned off antihypertensive medication. His headaches resulting from the uncontrolled blood pressure are all gone now.
He has been successfully weaned off of diabetic medication and his blood pressure fell from high to the normal range in just 7 days! Yes, 7 days.
Conclusion
I weaned myself off diabetic medication in 2016 and my blood sugar level has always been within the normal range since then. With the help of my team, we helped several other diabetics normalize their blood sugar levels and in some cases wean them off diabetic medications completely in a similar way to the above. You can also do it if you are diabetic or you can follow up with your loved one in a similar way if he or she is diabetic to change the narrative. Nothing is hidden in this process, I have already explained all the good and the bad foods for diabetics in several of my articles and presentations on the Diabetic Monitoring Forum (DMF). Join us to say goodbye to diabetes through lifestyle enhancement without selling any diabetic medication to anyone in any form.
This success story is a reminder that diabetes is not a life sentence. With lifestyle changes, it is possible to reverse diabetes and live a healthy, active life. If you are diabetic or you love someone who is diabetic, please know that there is hope.
Salihu Lukman is an Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Hafr Al Batin, Saudi Arabia
Part (2): Pastor Reno Omokri – A Bridge Builder Between Muslims & Christians
By: Dr. Salihu Lukman
My interest in understanding the true teachings of Jesus Christ according to the Bible was ignited in 1999 when I was a 100-level student at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Every Sunday, Christian preachers would visit us and preach to us about Christianity in our rooms at the Dan Fodo Hall. Three years later in 2001, I enrolled in a Bible study course (22 years ago) where I obtained a certificate in Comparative Religious Studies. Hence, there is almost nothing new to me about all the corrections to the Christian practices and beliefs that Omokri advocates here.
On how a Biblical verse was changed from its original form to insert the concept of Trinity, Omokri has this to say.
“What Is The Origin of The Trinity?
A young man named Leke was so indignant at me for saying that the doctrine of the Trinity is satanic, and he asked me why I don’t believe in something that is in Scripture.
Sadly, many do not even know what Scripture is.
The Bible is NOT Scripture. And when Paul wrote about Scripture in 2 Timothy 3:16, he was not referring to the New Testament. He was referring to the Torah.
It may surprise you to note that neither The Bible nor much of the New Testament was written when Paul was alive.
Other than the Gospel according to Luke, the only Gospel book whose human author we suspect we know is the Book of Mark. The present Book of Mark is not the original Book of Mark. Please don’t believe me. Assume that the devil is lying to you and research it yourself.
The oldest manuscripts of the Book of Mark end in Mark 16:8. Everything after Mark 16, verse 8, is of unsure origin.
Mark is believed to be written by John Mark, but in truth, nobody knows for certainty.
As for the Gospel according to John, the author is anonymous. It is believed, by faith, to be written by the apostle John. But nobody knows who actually wrote it.
I have been to the John Rylands University Library in Manchester to read the oldest surging fragment of the Gospel according to John (that is what I am doing in the attached photo), which is written in Greek.
But the reason many scholars believe John did not write the book that hears his name is because of John 21:24:
“This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. WE know that his testimony is true.”
The use of the term ‘we’ makes it more likely that John’s followers wrote the Gospel according to John.
As for the Gospel according to Matthew, it is attributed to the disciple, Matthew. But this attribution is done by faith. We simply do not know who wrote it. Especially as it was written in Greek,
The Gospel according to Luke, is based on the earlier Gospel according to Mark. Luke was not among the thence disciples and was likely a Greek speaking person based on the quality of his work.
The Trinity has not always existed. For the first 300 years of Christianity, there was nothing like the Trinity. The word does not exist in the Holy Scriptures. It was introduced during the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD.
According to the official creeds of the Catholic, Anglican and the World Evangelical Alliance, the Trinity is a doctrine that projects one God in three Divine Persons, in which the three Persons are co-equal and, co-eternal and omniscient.
Is there co-equality between God, His Son and the Holy Spirit? In John 14:28, The Son said, “My Father is greater than I.” Obviously, that verse contradicts the first leg of the Trinity.
Almighty God is omniscient. He knows all things. But is His Son omniscient? In Matthew 24:36, The Son said, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, NOR THE SON, but only the Father.”
It is clear from the above Scripture that only The Father is omniscient.
So, where does the biblical authority for the Trinity come from? It comes from 1 John 5:7 in the King James Version. That verse says:
“There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”
Now, here is the problem. When you read the original Greek manuscript, that verse does not exist. This is not even an argument or controversy. It is a FACT.
I will now quote it in the NIV, NLT, ESV and the Aramaic Bible in Plain English:
“There are three that testify”-NIV
“We have these three witnesses”-NLT
“There are three that testify”-ESV
“The Spirit testifies because The Spirit is the truth.”-Aramaic Bible in Plain English.
So where does the KJV get the part that justifies the Trinity? From men, not from God. Why did they do it? I do not know. But I know that most if not all, the scholars who translated the Holy Scriptures into the KJV were high level Masons.”
A Muslim drew his attention that if he conducts thorough research on Islam, he will ultimately accept it. He responded as follows.
“Dear @Ishaqor,
Thank you for your feedback. Perhaps you are not aware, but I have read al-Quran. And my wife speaks flawless Arabic. I respect prophet Muhammad, Salla Allahu Alayhi Wasalaam. But the reason I follow Yeshua Hamashiach (Jesus Christ) rather than Nabi Muhammad (SAW) is because when asked where He was taking His followers, Yeshua told them clearly that if we believe in Him, we shall have everlasting life with Him in His Father’s Kingdom. And I believe Him.
However, I am not sure that the holy prophet Muhammad (SAW) told his followers, with certainty, what would happen to both him and them in the afterlife. However, if this is not true, then I apologise. But I am reasonably certain that it is.
Let me make this clear, because it seems some people are conflating issues.
My quarrel is with those who have distorted the pure message of Isa al-Masīḥ, whom God sent to reconcile man to Himself. My conflict is not with al-Masīḥ (Jesus Christ). I believe in Him as the only Way to God. I trust Him fully. I preach Him globally. But I don’t believe in Him as God Himself because He never claimed to be, and that is an adulteration of His message. And I am very content to live and die this way.
Omokri is definitely wrong in the above post when he claimed that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) did not tell his followers with certainty about what would happen to him and them in the afterlife.
On the rewards of the afterlife for those who believed in Allah, His prophets, and do good deeds, Allah says.
” As for those who believe and do good, We will admit them into Gardens (Paradise) under which rivers flow, to stay there for ever and ever. There they will have pure spouses, and We will place them under a vast shade.” Qur’an 4:57.
” Give good news ˹O Prophet˺ to those who believe and do good that they will have Gardens (Paradise) under which rivers flow. Whenever provided with fruit, they will say, “This is what we were given before,” for they will be served fruit that looks similar ˹but tastes different˺. They will have pure spouses, and they will be there forever.” Qur’an 2:25
These are just a few of the many Quranic verses that support the Prophet’s (SAW) teachings about what will be the rewards of the believers in the afterlife. Hence, it is wrong to say that Muhammad (SAW) did not tell his followers with certainty what would happen to him and them in the afterlife.
In addition, the following Hadiths also buttress the Qur’anic verses above, the Prophet (SAW) said:
“Whoever believes in Allah and His Messenger, and establishes prayer, and pays the zakat, he will have his two gardens (Paradise).” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
“Whoever dies upon the testimony that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger, and that Jesus is the servant and Messenger of Allah, and that he was created by His Word and His spirit, he will enter Paradise, whatever his actions may have been.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
The Prophet (SAW) also told his followers that he would be interceding for them on the Day of Judgment. He said:
“I will be the first intercessor on the Day of Judgment.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
The Prophet’s (SAW) teachings about the afterlife are a source of comfort and hope for Muslims. They believe that if they follow the Prophet’s (SAW) teachings, they will be rewarded with Paradise in the afterlife.
While responding to a question on whether the Kaduna church, ‘Our Lady of Fatima’, is named after Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) daughter Fatima, he has this to say.
“Dear King Aliy,
Thank you for your feedback. Actually, the church is not named after Fatima Bint Muhammad, the daughter of prophet Muhammad (SAW). Rather, it is named after the town of Fatima in Portugal, where an apparition, which claimed to be Mary (Maryam), the mother of our Lord and Saviour, appeared to the townspeople in 1917.
I went to Fatima to investigate the visitation, and while I cannot say who the being that appeared really is, I can say that the apparition did happen. It was not a hoax.
A lot of Muslims get confused that a town would be called Fatima in a very Roman Catholic country, like Portugal. The reason is that In the 8th century, Muslim Moorish people from North Africa conquered much of what is now Portugal and Spain and called their new territories al-Andalus. Today, the place is known as Andalusia.
Millions of White Europeans were taken and sold as enslaved people by the Moors. And the Moors ruled that part of Europe for 800 years.
When European Christians eventually regained control, they used such measures, like the Spanish Inquisition, to wipe out Islam and Judaism from that part of the world. Many of the Moorish people fled to North Africa, and much of the Jews fled to the Ottoman Empire.
Towns like Fatima in Portugal, Zaragoza in Spain, and Gibraltar (now a British dominion within Spain) are relics of the Moorish era.
Also, and especially amongst Shia, some Muslims invoke the Holy Mother. When Roman Catholics see this, they mistakenly assume they are praying to Mary. But they are not. They are asking the prophet’s daughter, Ruqayya bint Muhammad, to intercede for them.
Omokri might have mistakenly written Ruqayya instead of Fatima in the second to the last paragraph above. On invoking other people apart from Allah by some of the Islamic sects, some adherents of Shi’a and Sufism (Tariqa) venerate their Imams and so-called saints (Waliyyai) to the level of divinity. It is not uncommon to find a Shi’ite invoking Imam Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) or a Sufi invoking his Sufi masters such as Nyass (Gausi), Tijjani, or Abdulqadir Jilani for protection, guidance, or help in dealing with a difficult situation that only the Almighty Allah can intervene.
The authentic Islamic position on invoking anyone apart from Allah is that it is shirk, or polytheism. This is because shirk is the sin of associating partners with Allah. Invoking anyone other than Allah for help, intercession, or blessings is a form of shirk.
The Quran is unequivocal on this subject and contains many verses that prohibit shirk, including:
قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ١
ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ ٢
لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ ٣
وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌۢ ٤
“Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “He is Allah—One ˹and Indivisible˺. Allah—the Sustainer ˹needed by all˺. He has never had offspring, nor was He born. And there is none comparable to Him.” Qur’an 112: 1 – 4.
“And do not invoke, instead of Allah, what can neither benefit nor harm you—for if you do, then you will certainly be one of the wrongdoers.” Qur’an 10:106’
On Jesus Christ sent by the Almighty God as a prophet not as God incarnate, i.e., debunking the famous divinity of Jesus Christ, Omokri has this to say.
“When those who have been brainwashed by European paganism passing off itself as Christianity, are given Scriptural proof that contradicts their church doctrine, they begin to go spiritual, and claim they have a Rhema (spiritual insight that is esoteric and not available to the unbelieving). But read 2 Peter 1:20:
“No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.”
A Rhema that tells you something contrary to Scripture is suspicious, even if it agrees with your church doctrine.
I have read Scripture in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. I have read Scripture in multiple English translations. There is nothing like Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Baptist, Protestant, Calvinism, and so on in Scripture. There is only the Ekklesia (the gathering of believers).
There is scarcely a place mentioned in Scripture that I have not physically visited, not because I have money or want to boast, but because of genuine love for God. That is my only motive. I am looking for what God’s Word says and that is why I have gone as far as Ethiopia, Manchester (John Rylands University Library), Israel, Rome, and Egypt, in search of the original Scriptures.
Therefore, it is unwise to allow church doctrine to shift you away from what Scripture says. You respect men too much. If anybody brings you any doctrine, no matter how eloquent and philosophical, that does not emanate from Scripture, INCLUDING ME, donate to that person a very hot slap and go your way. Let them carry their Trinity, purgatory, Christmas, Easter, forbidding men to marry, and so on, and keep it in their Europe, where their own people are rejecting these lies in record numbers.
What Yeshua (Jesus) taught is very simple. It is men who want to make it complicated. Yeshua was a Jewish Rabbi who taught as follows.
I am not God, and only God is good-Mark 10:18.
God sent Me-John 3:16.
If it were left to Me, I would not have allowed men to kill Me. I did it to obey God. It was not My desire. It was His-Matthew 26:39.
I am the Way to God. But I am not Myself God-John 14:6.
I sit on the right Hand of God-Mark 14:62.
On My Own, I can do nothing except what God tells Me-John 5:30.
Just as you pray to God, so do I also pray to God-Matthew 27:46.
I am not equal to God-John 14:28.
I know a lot, but I don’t know everything like God-Matthew 24:36.
The popular way is DEFINITELY the wrong way-Matthew 7:13.
Even in heaven, I am still subject to God-1 Corinthians 15:28.
Oya, start to insult me. Am I the first person you will insult? What did my Master say?
“It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul (satan), how much more the members of his household!”-Matthew 10:25.
#TableShaker”
On the legality of polygamy in Christianity, he has this to say.
“Dear @OlobeOfLagos1,
Thank you for your question. The views I will give here are my own opinions and not something that the Holy Spirit told me. It is also not the standard view in Pentecostal, Evangelical or mainstream Protestant Christendom, and Roman Catholicism. These are purely and simply personal opinions based on my intellectual study of Scripture and spiritual insights.
I am legally married to only one wife. I have never been married to two women simultaneously, and have never committed adultery with another woman while married.
However, I do not condemn polygamy. For the following reasons:
1.God Himself gave David multiple wives. As we can see from the following verse of Scripture:
“I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more.”-2 Samuel 12:18.
1.Abraham, Jacob, David, and many other patriarchs and pastors were polygamous.
1.I am not sure that one woman can satisfy the sexual libido of one man for a lifetime, especially given that biologically, women experience menopause in their forties, which comes with decreased libido. In contrast, biologically, men can maintain their libido into their eighties. What is a married man to do in such circumstances?
1.Scripture prescribes monogamy and even total abstinence for only Bishops. We see this in the following verses:
“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;”-1 Timothy 3:2.
“It is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am.”-1 Corinthians 7:8.
Having said the above, it would seem that BEFORE the fall, when man was still innocent, God’s intention was for monogamy. The reason I say this is because He created only one wife for Adam, and His definition of marriage appears to support one man, one wife, as we can see from Genesis 2:24:
“That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.”
However, after the fall of man, men and women were punished differently-Genesis 3:16-19.
As a result, different things happened to their bodies when man fell and lost perfection. One of the differences is that their biological clocks were no longer in equal alignment. Men retained virility much longer than women, which may be (this is an opinion, not an insight from Scripture or the Spirit) why God allowed polygamy after the fall.
In conclusion, I believe that polygamy is not a sin and that it is better than adultery and gay marriage. But these are my personal views, and I could be wrong, and because I could be wrong, I don’t want to mislead people, so approach God in prayer and get your own enlightenment on this issue.
On the morals displayed by Muslims, he has this to say.
“Say what you want about Islam, but the morals Muslims display are commendable. How many practicing Muslim women do you see slaying? Paternity fraud is almost nonexistent in Islamic countries. Faith is not the only object of religion. Morality is just as vital!
On how Islam stands out as a complete way of life, by covering all aspects of their day-to-day endeavors, he has this to say.
“One reason I respect Islam is how it provides a complete way of life. Islam does not just cover how to pray or mosque. Even how you have intercourse, with your spouse, eat, sleep, go to toilet, etc, are governed by Islam. Islam gives Muslims clarity throughout life
Regarding obedience to one’s mother, he cited a popular Hausa rendering of the summary of all Hadiths dealing with the topic. After all, Pastor Reno Omokri was born and brought up in Sokoto, Nigeria and he speaks Hausa. His father, Justice Christopher Omokri, was a judge of the Sokoto State High Court. Reno Omokri attended primary and secondary school in Sokoto and later went on to study law at the University of Benin.
Omokri has spoken publicly about his experiences growing up in Sokoto and has said that he had a happy and fulfilling childhood there. He has also said that he is proud of his Sokoto heritage and that it has shaped his views on religion, culture, and politics.
“Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said paradise lies at a mother’s feet because no human love is greater than a mother’s love. Even if you are not a Muslim, you can still consider the depth and morality of this truism. Never quarrel with someone who brought you into this world because of a woman who rocks your world, be it your wife or lover. Especially when she will not discharge her own paradise of a mother but wants you to hands off yours. You can’t accept God and reject your parents when it is God who gave you to your parents!
On his call for Christians and Muslims to tolerate and respect one another, he has this to say.
“Your parents can choose your religion for you, but only you should select your faith. Religion is your relationship to your church or mosque or whatever physical place you worship. Faith is your relationship with the one true spiritual God. You were born into your religion, but you choose your faith. Don’t hate Islam and Muslims because you are a Christian, and don’t disdain Christianity and Christians because you are a Muslim. Don’t even look down on traditional African religion. Stealing, bribery and corruption are worse now in Africa than when our ancestors practised their ancient religions. Now, men are marrying men and women are wedding women in African nations with Christian and Muslim majorities. In pre colonial Africa, that could never happen. So, how bad could our ancestors faiths had been? Be open minded. If God speaks to you through faith, then explore it without looking down on others just because of their beliefs.
On his call for non-Muslims to respect the sensibilities of the Nigerian Muslims, he has this to say.
“It is essential that non-Muslims respect the sensibilities of the Nigerian Muslim Ummah, in particular, and the worldwide mumins. These are honourable people who hold steadfastly to the teachings of nabi Muhammad (Salla Allahu Alayhi Wasalaam). In ignorance of their sacred principles, it is possible to cause unintended offence. However, when that is brought to light, there should not be any hesitation to address and redress those hurts.
The gentleness of our brothers and sisters should not be taken for granted. And I urge anyone who has become aware of how their actions have caused grief to adherents of Islam to speedily make amends so that the issue is laid to rest as soon as possible.
He went on to appreciate the Muslims for always standing against any internal or external attack on their faith.
“Dear @Humble09030,
Thank you for your feedback. When someone is insulting your religion, you can be polite. But I have every confidence in the Muslim Ummah to speak out forcefully when their religion is insulted. I may not be a Muslim. But if any group of people genuinely love God, it is the Mumin.
Many of you will physically defend your girlfriends if another man insults or assaults her. And the same set of people wants Muslims to be nice when a mere mortal inadvertently insults their religion.
You really don’t understand the North. If you insult them, they can take it. But if you insult Yeshua Hamashiach (yes, they don’t accept an insult to Jesus) or Muhammad (SAW).
For example, Harira Jibrin and her four underaged daughters were murdered by unknown gunmen in Anambra. Did Northerners reciprocate by killing Igbos? Ahmed Gulak was killed in Imo. Did they react? But try to insult prophet Muhammad even on the moon, and they will forcefully respond.
I urge you also to cast your mind back to how the Muslim Ummah condemned Nasir El-Rufai over his infamous Jesus joke.
From the bottom of my heart, I wish the body of Christ were as passionate for God as the Muslim Ummah. If we Christians respect our faith the way Muslims respect theirs, the moral fabric of our society will be higher than it is today. There will be peaceful mutual religious coexistence because they will know our boundaries, and we would know theirs, and that knowledge will bring peace.
There are several of his posts about motivations, how to make money online, politics, and the true account of the 1966 coup with incontrovertible evidence. He is also a fierce critic of former President Muhammadu Buhari, Nasiru El-Rufa’I, and Peter Obi.
On supporting irresponsibility and greed by being generous, he has this to say.
“I am not heartless because I refuse to give or lend you money (which you will never repay) for your emergency. Your failure to plan or prioritise is not my emergency. You can’t be using luxuries and begging for necessities. I never claimed to be nice. I am wise—big difference! My generosity is strategic, not erratic. I give where there is need, not where there is greed.
Despite being a staunch PDP member, he would go out of his way to defend the policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu so long as he is convinced that the president is on track. This he did on several occasions that you may tend to wonder, ‘Was Reno Omokri hired to defend the policies of this APC-led government in spite of belonging to the opposition party?’. He would always say the bitter truth however unpopular it may be.
“A Tale of Two Nations
Minimum wage in Ghana is GHS446 or $40
Minimum wage in Nigeria is ₦30,000 or $38
A litre of fuel in Ghana costs GHS12.486 or $1.14
A litre of fuel in Nigeria costs ₦617 or $0.78
A bottle of coke in Ghana is GHS7, or $0.62.
A bottle of coke in Nigeria is ₦250, or $0.31.
Nigerian universities tuition average ₦50000 or $65.
Ghanaian universities tuition average GHS17,145 or $1503.
Please Fact-Check me:
Things are not easy in Nigeria. The government must increase the minimum wage and work with the private sector to improve the economy. Having said that, Nigeria is not the worst country on Earth. Quite the opposite. There are much benefits to being a Nigerian. Many countries would die to have the economic conditions we have in Nigeria. Things are not perfect. They can be a lot better. But Nigeria is still a great nation!
I can go on and on quoting his numerous posts on reviving the practices and beliefs of Christianity and his endorsement of Islamic practices and beliefs, but I will stop here. Reading Omokri’s posts made me become convinced that if Christians will heed his call and adjust their practices and beliefs accordingly, then, the disagreements between Christians and Muslims will reduce to the lowest level. Consequently, this will promote unity and peaceful coexistence among the adherents of these religions.
Salihu Lukman is an Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Hafr Al Batin, Saudi Arabia
Part (1): Pastor Reno Omokri – A Bridge Builder Between Muslims & Christians
By: Dr. Salihu Lukman
Introduction
As a preamble, Omokri does not know me from Adam, I started reading his posts accidentally on Twitter (now called X) almost 2 years ago after which I followed him on Facebook and Instagram. He posts several times daily on different topics spanning from politics, religion (especially Christianity), current affairs, and motivations to how to make money online. After following his social media engagements for this long, I can’t help but make him one of my outstanding role models. He is a pastor, a lawyer, a staunch PDP member, a Niger-Deltan, and a former Special Assistant to the former President Goodluck Jonathan. Pastor Omokri is a brilliant Christian scholar who has a deep understanding of religious, sociocultural, and political issues. Given his gifted keen intellect, he can see through the fog to cut to the heart of the matter. He is known for his fair and balanced analysis, as well as his commitment to truth and justice. He has a good head on his shoulders, but as a fallible human being, he is not immune to making mistakes. He is also passionate about reviving the Christian true practices according to the Bible, and he has dedicated a lot of his precious time to this cause. He is a true seeker of truth, and his work has had a profound impact on many people across the globe including my humble self.
A True Unifier Between Christians & Muslims
Omokri’s passion for reviving Christian true practices according to the Bible is like a flame that burns bright. His desire to see the church restored to its biblical foundations, free of innovations, saw him debunking with incontrovertible evidence, most of the present-day Christian practices and beliefs, while at the same time, hailing and appreciating Islamic practices and beliefs. His sincere commitment to truth and justice shielded him from becoming a religious bigot. Let me allow Omokri himself to buttress these points by directly quoting his posts culled from his social media handles. All his words have been italicized in quotation marks.
On the doctrine of the Christian Trinity vs. Islamic Tauhid (Oneness and Uniqueness of Allah), he has this to say.
“The pure teachings of Yeshua Hamashiach (Jesus Christ) have more in common with Islam than much of modern Christianity. You can now insult me. While I follow Yeshua, and I am NOT a Muslim, I believe wholeheartedly in the Islamic doctrine of Tawhid, which for those who do not know, simply means the Oneness of God, without any partner or equal. The Trinity is the most blasphemous, evil and satanic doctrine in existence and has nothing to do with either Moses or Yeshua. Both our Saviour, Yeshua, and Moses taught exactly what the Muslims teach as Tawhid.
European pagans invented the word Trinity, and its concepts. It did not emanate from Scripture. Scripture agrees COMPLETELY with Tawhid in Deuteronomy 6:4:
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.”
Men, like you and I, sat down in Nicaea, in modern-day Turkey, and invented this doctrine in May 325 AD. And over the next century, they systematically killed, banished, imprisoned, overtaxed, and even castrated people who refused to believe in the Trinity.
And it is not just the Trinity. Christmas, Easter, and Godliness as a means to financial gain are other additives that have contaminated the pure following of Yeshua. None of these doctrines emanated or are supported by Scripture. They are all European pagan additions. But sadly, my people are too used to adjusting Scripture to suit their doctrines instead of adjusting their doctrines to suit Scripture.
If you are annoyed, please kindly stop following me. Truth is bitter but better.
#TableShaker”
Source: From his official and verified Facebook Page called, Reno Omokri.
On Muslims practicing what is in the Bible better than the Christians, he has this to say.
“Of all major religions, Christians are the most likely to do exactly what their holy Book tells them not to do and justify it with logic or church dogma. Whether you like it or not, Muslims are the most likely to stick to the tenets of their religion, even in the pain of death. Admit it. It is true. You might not like the fact that it is true. But be honourable enough to accept that it is true. In fact, Muslims often do what is in the Bible better than Christians.
Jews are also good at sticking to the direction of their Scriptures, except when it involves something that I will not mention here.
As a follower of Yeshua Hamashiach, make up your mind to adjust your life to Scripture rather than adjusting Scripture to suit your life. If it is not permissible by Scripture, don’t let one smooth-talking pastor or Bishop use mass psychology to convince you otherwise. Ignore any politician prepared to win elections by propagating what is popular, even though they know it is wrong.
When you die, you will not give an account of your life to man. You will do so to God. And He gave you the Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth, otherwise known as Bible. So, you are without excuse!
#RenosNuggets”
Source: From his official and verified Twitter account titled, Reno Omokri.
On the Islamic way of greeting, ASSALAMU ALAIKUM, he has this to say.
“When a Muslim greets you, As-salamu alaykum, accept the greeting. It is a universal blessing. It means ‘Peace be upon you’. It is not just an Islamic greeting. It is an eternal Godly greeting that predates Islam. It was first used by Yeshua Hamashiach (Jesus Christ) in John 20:21. And Muslims accept that Yeshua (Isa) is from God. The word salam in Arabic has the exact meaning as the word shalom in Hebrew and Selam in Amharic (the national language of Ethiopia, which are all of Semitic origin. So, on this Jumu’ah, promote peaceful religious coexistence and greet a Muslim with as-salamu alaykum. And if they greet you with it, accept it in good faith with love and affection. There is only one religion in heaven or Jannah, and it is love. And there is only one way of life there, which is peace.
To all my Muslim followers, subscribers and fellow global citizens, I say as-salamu alaykum. Jumu’ah Mubarak!
He went on to report exactly how Jesus Christ used, ASSALAMU ALAIKUM, in the Bible.
“How do you say peace be upon you in Hebrew, the way Yeshua (Jesus) said it in John 20:21?
Shalom Aleichem.
How do you say peace be upon you in Arabic?
Salam alaykum.
What is the difference? Virtually nothing. And then when a Muslim greets you as-salamu alaykum, you reject it or get upset, or behave as if he has cursed you? Arabic and Hebrew are closer to each other, being Semitic, than the English you speak is closer to your own precolonial language. If an Arab speaks Arabic, a Hebrew can pick it, and vice versa. Whether in Hebrew, Arabic, or English, all we want is peace! Amin!
On the use of the name Jesus Christ, Christian or Christianity, and the pseudo practice of idol worship and paganism under the guise of Christianity, he has this to say.
“Yeshua Hamashiach was not a Christian and did not establish any religion known as Christianity. He lived, died and was resurrected as a Jew, and His followers were seen as a sect of Judaism throughout His life. His Name is not even Jesus Christ.
Much of what is practiced today in the name of Christianity is just refined idol worship and repackaged paganism. Even the title, Christ, is of Koine Greek origin. The term ‘Christian’ is a label given to the genuine followers of the Jewish Rabbi known as Yeshua by the townspeople of Antioch-Acts 11:26.
Yeshua never claimed to be God. That is the making of men, like you and I, at the May 325 AD First Council of Nicaea. 1 John 5:7 was altered by Europeans, who did not hide it. That is why all other translations, except the King James Version, have abandoned it, because the original Scriptures do not support it. And in the KJV, there is a reference note to that verse explaining the Johannine Comma.
Much of modern-day Christianity is no different from a business like network marketing. These franchise businesses have turned people into regular addicts of religious products that have little bearing on Scripture. Ask them to justify what they are doing, and they will use philosophy, exegesis, wisdom and church doctrine. Never Scripture. And the most brazen of them will even say more outrageous things. A lot of their members quote them rather than Scripture.
Stop allowing men like me and Daddy GO, Bishop, Archbishop, and others to lead or mislead you. Get Scripture for yourself and read it. Be like the Berean Jews (notice they were called Jews, not Christians, though they believed Paul’s Gospel. Hebrew is a race. Judaism is a religion) of Acts 17:11:
“Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word eagerly, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”
Remember, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”-John 8:32.
Non-Muslims reading this article should know that all Muslims believe in the prophethood of Isa (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), i.e. Jesus Christ. We believe that he was one of the most distinguished prophets, and did many miracles during his time. A whole chapter (Surah) was dedicated to his mother Maryam (Mary) in the Qur’an, wherein his story was narrated.
He is mentioned in the Quran 25 times by name, and many more times by titles and attributes. He is one of the most mentioned prophets in the Quran, and his story is told in detail in several chapters.
The Quran teaches that Isa was a messenger of God, born to the Virgin Mary without a father. He was sent to guide the people of Israel back to the true path of worship. He performed many miracles, including healing the sick, raising the dead, etc. The Quran also teaches that Isa (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was not crucified, but was raised up to heaven by God. He will return to Earth at the end of time. The Quran’s portrayal of Isa is one of respect and admiration. He is seen as a great prophet who was sent by God to guide humanity. On this subject, this is what Omokri has to say.
“It is somewhat surprising that Nigerian Christians, and even a newspaper like @MobilePunch, are surprised that there is a mosque named after Mary, the mother of Christ, in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
Those asking Nigerian Muslims to learn from Dubai, are actually the ones who should learn from Nigerian Muslims. They are relatively ignorant of Islam.
The most Islamic state in Nigeria is Sokoto. And one of the most common names in that seat of the Islamic Caliphate is actually the name of Christ. Isa is not a Hausa name. Isa, or Yisa, or Issa, is the Arabic version of Yeshua in Hebrew and Jesus in Greek.
So revered is the name in Sokoto that a Local Government Area is named after Him-Isa Local Government Area, Sokoto.
As a matter of fact, you cannot be a true Muslim if you do not believe that God sent Christ.
When prophet Muhammad, Salla Allahu alayhi Wasalaam, had his first revelation of the Quran, he went with his wife, Khadijah, to consult a man named Waraqah ibn Nawfal. Waraqah was a monotheistic Christian, who revered Maryam (Mary).
When the Quraysh wanted to kill prophet Muhammad (SAW) and the first Muslims, the Muslims escaped to the Christian nation of Ethiopia, where they were protected by the Negus, which was the first hijrah before the hijrah to Medina.
Christ is mentioned by name in the Quran more times than almost anybody except prophet Muhammad (SAW), and Moses, and His mother, Maryam, of whom the Dubai mosque is named, is the only woman mentioned BY NAME in the Quran. (Other women were mentioned but not by name).
So, if Al-Quran mentions Maryam, why is it surprising that a mosque is adorned with her name?
Christ Himself is described in the Quran as Al-Masihu Isa (Yeshua The Messiah) in Quran 4.157, 4.171.
So, it is only people unfamiliar with Islam in general, and with Islam as practiced in Nigeria, that will marvel at the Dubai mosque named after Maryam (Mary).
How can you ask Nigerian Muslims, who named a whole Local Government after Yeshua (Jesus), to learn from Dubai, because they named a mosque after Maryam (Mary). Who should learn tolerance from who?
