Ajami in the Senegambia

by Fallou Ngom

Boubacar Diallo's Fula - Pulaar Ajami Video

Virtues of a Good Muslim

Written by: Boubacar Diallo
Date written: 2014

In this gallery, Boubacar Diallo argues that Islam does not only belong to Arabs. He also discusses the expected virtues of a good Muslim, the need for mutual respect among people and how human beings are representatives of God on earth.

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Page 1: Islam belongs to everybody

[Introduction: Prayer in Arabic]
The Muslim religion is a religion of solidarity and compassion. [Arabic quotation from the Qur'an]. Islam is a religion of patience/tolerance and goodness. It is not a religion of conflict or hatred. Islam does not exclusively belong to Arabs or non-Arabs. Although prayers are only said in Arabic, no one is superior to his fellow human being in the religion, if it is not by the degree of his belief in God. Belief in God means to perform righteous deeds and not to perform bad ones. That is what Islam is.

Page 2: Responsibilities of a Muslim

[Arabic quotation from the Qur'an].
God tells us: "Be patient/tolerant. I am with those of you who are tolerant/patient." Patience/tolerance is a good thing. If someone hurts you and you forgive him, he will be ashamed. Consequently, he will love you and will be less mean toward you in the future. This is why God asks us to be tolerant and be patient. He tells us that we have obligations toward these three: Religion, blood relatives, and neighbors. If you live with someone who is a Muslim and who shares with you blood relationships, you have three obligations toward him. If you live with a neighbor who is a Muslim, you have two obligations toward him. If you live with a neighbor who is not a Muslim, you still have one obligation toward him (that of good neighborliness). This shows that Islam is a religion of goodness. But it is important to note that God is aware of everything we do. If we perform good deeds, we will be rewarded, and if we perform bad acts, we will bear the consequences. This is why the Muslim must not hurt, say bad things, or insult a fellow human being. He must not also fight, except when attacked.

Page 3: Mutual respect between human beings

[Quotation in Arabic from a hadith].
The Prophet said: "You will not enter paradise unless you are believers. You will not be believers unless you love one another." Thus, let us work to enter paradise. Paradise is peace. If human beings are united and do not fight each other, they will get along well. This is what life is about. Let us get along well with one another. Peace is the source of all that is good. Without it, there will be no paradise. Peace is synonymous with paradise. [Arabic quotation from the Qur'an]. God said that he created men and women as well as ethnic groups so that they may know each other. The best among us is the one who believes in the God the most. God is aware of everything. It is because of this reason that God is fully aware of all our good and bad deeds.

Page 4: Human beings are representatives of God on earth

[Arabic quotation from the Qur'an].
God said that he created this world. He will reward us in it, and will also take away our lives from it someday. This is why the Muslim and the non-Muslim are mentioned in Islam. This is the reason why [Arabic quotation from the Qur'an], he made us his representatives on earth. God also tells us that he honors us. He tells us that he created on earth and in the waters (seas, rivers, and oceans) numerous things such as good and clean food, clothes that we can wear, water to wash ourselves, and provided us with materials to build homes. It is because of these reasons that God brought us to this earth and gave us rules of conduct so that we may live happily. [Conclusion: Prayer in Arabic].