Ajami in the Senegambia

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Mouhammadou Thierno Dème's Fula - Pulaar Ajami Video

Understanding Islam

Written by: Mouhammadou Thierno Dème
Date written: 2006

In this text, Mouhammadou Dème draws from the Qur'ān and the teachings of Prophet Muh̩ammad to discuss issues including compassion, the judgment day, responsibilities of Muslims, and finally Islam's view of suicide and the value of human life.

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Compassion in Islam
Discussion of Cerno Muḥammad Dem

Dear friends, after thanking God and Prophet Muḥammad -- may peace be upon him -- we are sending you our greetings. May peace and well-being be with you. We want to share with you our religion.

Islam is a revealed religion about which all prophets, from Adam to the Prophet Muḥammad -- may peace be upon them -- have taught. In the Qur'ān, God said: "Muḥammad, I did not send you for anything except to bring compassion to humanity." The Muslim religion has several aspects, one of which is the belief in one God, the sole Creator who deserves to be worshiped.


The Three Holy Books
God is the only creator of everything. We pay homage to Prophet Muḥammad, to his religion, his teachings, and his work. He is the last of the messengers of God. After him, there will be no other religion, and his way completes other ways. We follow his teachings and we love him. The religion has removed us from darkness and ignorance, and brought human beings to light, to knowledge and to what is useful to them. All human beings are God's creatures, including believers and those who do not believe in God. God has sent books and messengers. The Torah, the Bible and the Qur'ān are among the books.


The Qur'ān
The Qur'ān completes other books. The other holy books have lost many aspects for several reasons, among which modifications and additions. God has protected the Qur'ān from these things. The Qur'ān is God's word, and he protects it Himself. The Qur'ān cannot be changed, and no one can modify God's words. He said in the Qur'ān that: "This book, I revealed it and I will look after it." Every Muslim believes in God and must follow his recommendations. God instructs us to look after ourselves, and he will look after the Qur'ān.

God has also created angels. He created them from light, they obey him, follow his instructions and avoid things he forbids. The Muslim who believes in God must also believe in the last Day of Judgment that will come.


The Judgment Day
It is the day when God judges all his creatures in this world. It is the day when God will pay everyone their deeds. Those who did good things will be rewarded, and those who did bad things will also be punished.

We Muslims believe that day will come. That is why we prepare for that day. That day needs to be prepared from this world. If you want to be part of the chosen that day, you must follow God's instructions. You must do good things, say good things, work for the unity of all people, and follow God's recommendations, and you will be rewarded.


What it means to be a Muslim
Dear friends, this is how Islam is. It is a religion of peace, a religion of righteousness, and of goodness. The world was in darkness, and Islam came to bring light to it. God redirected the world. He wants people to follow only his instructions, and not to follow solely their desires. One cannot create an object (idol) and then worship it, something that cannot even do anything even for itself.

Therefore, as a Muslim, we believe that every human being believes in something. But, as far as we are concerned, we believe in God. We worship God […]


Responsibilities of a Muslim
We follow God's recommendations. Anyone who follows his instructions will have nothing but peace in this world and the afterlife. Anyone who does not follow his recommendations will be troubled in this world and the afterlife. Praying is part of our religion. That is the reason why a Muslim must pray. The Muslim must pray the five daily prayers. It is praying that distinguishes the Muslim from the non-Muslim. If you do not pray, then you are not Muslim. A Muslim must pray and follow God's recommendations.

Praying is part of the principles of Islam. Islam, dear friends, is a religion that wants peace in the heart of Muslims. Since its arrival to this day, it calls for unity to build peace.


The Value of Human Life in Islam
Peace is what makes us full human beings. Islam is a religion that loves life and wants people to enjoy it. That is the reason why Islam forbids suicide, because the human being does not own himself/herself to be able to do whatever s/he pleases to do with his/her body. If Islam forbids suicide, it is because it highly regards human life. Islam wants people to live, and wants Muslims to love life. Dear friends, nowadays Islam is misunderstood. Most people only follow their own interpretation.


Understanding Islam
Islam is not as it is depicted. Islam does not teach that. Nowadays, many people do not know Islam and do not study it. Some people do not like Islam because they do not know it. One must not judge someone simply because people say that he is a bad person. If you do that, you are not wise. A wise person would, if s/he is told that a given person is bad, verify to see if the allegations are founded or not. One must not simply hear that a given person is bad and immediately believes it.


Call for a Serious Study of Islam
I call upon all human beings to study Islam seriously. It is the way for them to appreciate the blessings of Islam. They would learn about the advantages of the religion. They will then understand that Islam brings nothing but peace to human beings. The true poor (unlucky) person is the one who lacks peace. Without peace, one cannot be a good believer. One cannot work. One cannot do anything without peace. One cannot even educate (raise) children without peace. This is the reason why Islam reveres peace, and the word "Islam" itself is related to "peace." That is the reason why the word Islam is synonymous to the word "salām" (Peace).