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Friday Sermon] Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) Have Been Sent As A Mercy To The World!

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Murtadha Gusau

Friday Sermon] Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) Have Been Sent As A Mercy To The World!

By Imam Murtadha Gusau

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all creation. May the salutations of Allah, His peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet, his family, his companions and his true and sincere followers until the Last Day – then to proceed:

Dear servants of Allah! I advise you and myself to have Taqwa (consciousness of Allah), for there is no salvation on the Day of Resurrection except through it. Allah the Most High says:

“And Allah will deliver those who are conscious of Him to their places of success (Paradise). Evil shall touch them not, nor shall they grieve.” [Qur’an, 39:61]

He Almighty also says:

“He has decreed upon Himself mercy. He will surely assemble you for the Day of Resurrection, about which there is no doubt.” [Qur’an, 6:12]

Dear brothers and sisters! Allah’s Mercy to His servants is great and His favour upon them is immense. And His Mercy is complete and does not have any deficiencies. And it is not driven by inability or weakness. It is the Mercy of the Most Merciful the Most Beneficent that encompasses everything with mercy and knowledge.

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And the greatest mercy on this Ummah (nation) from the Lord is that he designated for them the Prophet of mercy. Through His Mercy, He honoured this final Ummah (nation) with the best of His creation and sent to them the seal of the Messengers. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) was the most merciful of the Prophets to his Ummah (nation). He (Peace be upon him) was the most compassionate, vigilant, pardoning and forgiving of the Prophets to his Ummah (nation).

And through the Prophet (Peace be upon him), Allah took people out of the darkness into the light. And He the Exalted sent down all kinds of mercies through him. Such that the people of the earth are compassionate through it until the Day of Resurrection. Allah Almighty said:

“And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.” [Qur’an, 21:107]

His message revealed from His Lord the Exalted showered all kinds of mercies upon the creation. The people and the jinn.  The believer and the disbeliever. The righteous and the wicked. The young and the old. The strong and the weak. The near and the far. Men and women. The birds and animals. Animals and inanimate objects.

And he (Peace be upon him) came with a Shari’ah (legislation) all of which is good and mercy for the people. And there is no one on earth from the time that he was sent to our present day until the Day of Resurrection except that will be touched by this mercy that Allah the Most High made reach all the worlds. Therefore, it was narrated in an authentic Hadith that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

“Oh people, indeed I am a gifted mercy.” [as-Sahihah of Imam al-Albani]

And those with preference and the greatest share of this mercy are those who believe in him, honour him, support him, and follow the light (the Qur’an) which has been sent down with him. It is they who will be successful. Their success will be in this world and the next. And just as it is indicated in the Qur’an that the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) is a mercy to the worlds it is also mentioned in the Qur’an that he (Peace be upon him) is a mercy to the believers in verse 61 of surah At-Tawbah. Allah Almighty says:

“(He) believes in Allah and believes the believers and [is] a mercy to those who believe among you.” [Qur’an, 9:61]

And from his mercy for those who believe in him and embraced his religion is that he supplicated for them much. Especially if one considers the state of other Prophets with their Ummahs (nations). His mercy for his Ummah (nation) overtook him and he supplicated for them. As related by Abdullah Bin Amr Bin Aas (may Allah be pleased with them):

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) recited the Words of Allah, the Exalted, and the Glorious, about Prophet Ibrahim who said:

“O my Lord! They have led astray many among mankind. But whosoever follows me, he verily, is of me.” (Qur’an, 14:36) and those of Prophet Isa (Jesus) who said: “If You punish them, indeed they are Your servants, and if You forgive them, verily, You, only You, are the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.” (Qur’an, 5:118). Then he (Peace be upon him) raised up his hands and said, “O Allah! My Ummah (nation), my Ummah (nation),” and he wept; Allah, the Exalted, said: “O Jibril (Gabriel)! Go to Muhammad (Peace be upon him) – and your Lord is most knowledgeable- and ask him: ‘What makes you weep?” So Jibril came to him and asked him (the reason of his weeping) and the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) informed him what he had said (though Allah is most knowledgeable). Upon this Allah said: “Jibril, go to Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and say: ‘Verily, We will please you with regards to your Ummah (nation) and will never displease you.” [Muslim]

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The mercy of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) for his Ummah (nation) was to an extent that he preferred them over himself in the answered supplication that Allah gave him as He the Exalted gave other Prophets before him. He did not limit this supplication to himself and he included his Ummah (nation). As Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) related that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

“Every Prophet had a supplication that was granted by Allah. I dedicated my granted supplication to having intercession for my Ummah (nation) on the Day of resurrection.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said:

“Every Prophet had a supplication that was granted, and every Prophet advanced their supplication (in this world). But I reserved my supplication as intercession for my Ummah (nation) on the Day of Resurrection, and it will reach, if Allah wills, those of them who die, not associating anything with Allah.” [Muslim]

May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, how great his mercy was for us and how cautious he was over us. Can the believers in him be blamed for loving, honouring and supporting him when he preferred them over himself and designated them for his supplication in a situation of all situations!? By Allah, no one can blame them for that aside for a disbeliever or a hypocrite who is hiding his disbelief or an ignorant person that does not know the virtue of the Messenger (Peace be upon him). Allah Almighty said:

“There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you [i.e., your guidance] and to the believers is kind and merciful.” [Qur’an, 9:128]

From the mercy of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) to his Ummah is that he selected for them a complete and easy to follow Shari’ah (legislation). And the most precise and attainable decrees. And Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) described him and she is the closest of people to him:

“The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) was never given a choice between two matters but that he chose the easier of the two as long as it did not involve sin. If it was sinful, he was the furthest person from it.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

He (Peace be upon him) used to leave a deed that he wanted to do and was able to handle as a mercy for his Ummah (nation) fearing that it would be obligated and the majority of them would not be able to handle it. And whoever views his Sunnah can see that. And how many times did he (Peace be upon him) say: If it was not a hardship for my Ummah (nation) I would have commanded them with such and such or if it were not a hardship for the people I would have commanded them with this. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said:

“The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) would give up a deed that he liked to perform, fearing that the people would follow suit and it would be obligated upon them.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

Dear brothers and sisters! Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon him) was afflicted for the sake of Allah Almighty, like no one else has been afflicted. He (Peace be upon him) said:

“Indeed I have feared for the sake of Allah, such that no one has feared, and I have been harmed for the sake of Allah, such that no one has been harmed.” [Tirmidhi]

Be conscious of Allah Almighty and obey Him. And know that affliction in religion and worldly matters is the path of the Messengers of Allah (Peace be upon them). And that steadfastness through affliction is the way of the successful servants of Allah. Allah Almighty said:

“Did you think that you would enter Paradise even though Allah has not yet seen who among you strove hard in His way and remained steadfast?” [Qur’an, 3:142]

There were periods when the Prophet (Peace be upon him) was deeply grieved due to his people denying him, and his companions (may Allah be pleased with them) being tormented and killed. And for his loss of supporters among mankind. And due to the hardship and harshness of life. And many instances of his grief were recorded in his fragrant biography after the start of his mission.

And the first grief that befell him (Peace be upon him) after start of his mission and the most intense and the greatest was due to the pause in receiving revelation after he received it for the first time. Waraqah Bin Nawfal (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

“No man has come with what you brought without being harmed. And if your day comes while I am alive, I would support you strongly. But after a few days Waraqah died and the Divine Inspiration was also paused for a while and the Prophet (Peace be upon him) became sad.” [Bukhari]

And every believer who has a day in which he does not recite anything from the Qur’an must grieve. Because the Prophet (Peace be upon him) grieved at the pause in the revelation in spite of it being out of his control. So what about the one who is able to recite the revelation at every moment to nourish his heart, guide his soul and rectify his condition, but falls short in that regard and does not grieve over his shortcomings?!

And when the Prophet (Peace be upon him) invited his people to Iman (faith) they denied him. So he grieved deeply over them due to his knowledge of the fate of those who denied. And because he wanted for them Iman (faith) and a conclusion of success and great triumph. Allah Almighty addressed him to lighten his grief:

“We know that you, [O Mohammad], are saddened by what they say. And indeed, they do not call you untruthful, but it is the verses of Allah that the wrongdoers reject.” [Al-An’am 33]

Rather, his grief over his people’s denial of him nearly destroyed him, until Allah Almighty prohibited him from devastating himself

 

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Obi Accepts NDC Ticket, Pledges to Raise Nigeria’s Power Generation to 10,000MW in Four Years

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Coalition, Peter Obi on Saturday formally accepted his nomination and unveiled an ambitious reform agenda aimed at confronting Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, economic stagnation and infrastructure deficit, including a pledge to raise electricity generation to 10,000 megawatts within four years.

Obi made the pledge in his acceptance speech delivered in Abuja after emerging as the party’s flag bearer, where he expressed gratitude to party leaders and delegates for what he described as their confidence in his leadership capacity.

“It is with deep humility that I accept the role of presidential candidate for our party. I express my profound gratitude to the leaders of our party, His Excellency Seriake Dickson, the National Chairman, National Secretary and the National Working Committee members of our relentless supporters, and the Nigerian populace who have steadfastly kept the spirit of hope alive,” he said.

He said Nigeria was currently at a difficult crossroads marked by insecurity, economic hardship and declining public confidence in governance.

According to him, the situation had created widespread disillusionment across communities and businesses, though he insisted that the country still had the capacity for recovery if leadership choices improved.

“Businesses are struggling, communities are suffering, and an alarming number of citizens have lost faith in the very concept of governance.

“Yet, I stand before you filled with optimism and strong faith in the resilience of our people, for I firmly believe that a New Nigeria is possible,” he said.

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Obi stressed that Nigeria’s diversity should be seen as a strength rather than a fault line, warning against deepening ethnic, religious and regional divisions.

Turning to insecurity, the NDC presidential candidate said Nigeria’s security challenges had deteriorated significantly in recent years, citing global rankings that placed the country among the worst affected by terrorism.

He said, “In terms of security, the situation in Nigeria has considerably worsened. The global terrorism impact assessments ranked Nigeria as the 8th most affected nation in 2022, 6th in 2024, and 4th in 2026.”

However, he contrasted the current situation with Nigeria’s historical role in international peacekeeping missions, where its military once enjoyed global respect.

The former governor referenced Nigeria’s contributions to global missions across several countries and praised the legacy of Nigerian military leadership in international operations.

Obi vowed that his administration would prioritise security reforms.

“We must address insecurity with resolve and urgency, for no nation can thrive while its citizens live in trepidation. The primary responsibility of government is to ensure the safeguarding of lives and property,” he said.

He promised an intelligence-driven and technology-supported security framework aimed at tackling both immediate threats and underlying causes such as poverty and unemployment.

On health, Obi decried Nigeria’s poor indicators, particularly infant mortality and low health insurance penetration, promising major reforms.

“Nigeria suffers from one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world. Furthermore, health insurance coverage in Nigeria hovers around a mere 10 per cent, in stark contrast to countries like Indonesia, which boast over 90 per cent coverage.

“This situation is regrettable. I pledge that within four years, our health insurance coverage will more than double to over 20 per cent,” he said.

On energy, Obi described Nigeria’s electricity crisis as a major constraint to development, noting the gap between Nigeria and other comparable economies.

“Nigeria today is the nation with the highest number of citizens lacking access to electricity globally. We currently generate and distribute a mere 4,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity for a population exceeding 200 million,” he said.

He compared Nigeria’s output with that of other countries to underline the scale of the challenge.

Obi then made a major campaign promise.

“Over the next four years, I commit to ensuring a minimum of 10,000 MW power increase generation and distribution,” he said.

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Kano Civil Servants Hail Governor Yusuf Over N20,000 Sallah Support Package

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The Joint Public Service Negotiation Council (JNC) in Kano State has commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for approving the payment of a N20,000 Sallah Support Package to state civil servants on Grade Levels 01–14 ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Chairman of the JNC Kano State Council, Comrade Hashim A. Saleh, expressed appreciation to the state government for the gesture, describing it as a timely intervention aimed at easing the financial burden on workers during the festive period.

The council extended its felicitations to Governor Yusuf, the Secretary to the State Government, the Head of Civil Service, and the entire workforce in Kano State on the occasion of the Eid-el-Adha celebration.

According to the statement, the approval of the support package demonstrates the administration’s commitment to the welfare of civil servants and its recognition of their contributions to the development of the state.

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“The Joint Public Service Negotiation Council wishes to express its deepest appreciation to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano State, for graciously approving the payment of N20,000 as a Sallah Support Package to state civil servants on Grade Levels 01–14,” the statement said.

The council also offered prayers for the continued success of the administration, seeking divine guidance and support for the Kano State Government and the nation as a whole.

The JNC reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a cordial working relationship with the government through sustained engagement on issues affecting workers and the public service.

It further called on civil servants across the state to reciprocate the government’s goodwill by remaining dedicated, productive, and committed to the delivery of efficient public services.

The statement noted that a vibrant and effective civil service remains critical to achieving the development objectives of the state government and improving service delivery to citizens.

The message was signed by the Public Relations Officer of the JNC Kano State Council, Comrade Haladu Musa.This version is written in a newspaper style suitable for publication in print, online news platforms, or official government media channels.

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Kwara Governor Urges Tinubu to Raise Minimum Wage to N100,000

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State has called on President Bola Tinubu to consider increasing the national minimum wage from N70,000 to N100,000.

AbdulRazaq, who also serves as the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), made the appeal while commending the President’s decision to remove the petrol subsidy—a move he described as courageous and politically difficult.

“Only one percent of politicians can make that tough call,” the governor said.

Speaking on the initial response to the subsidy removal, AbdulRazaq revealed that state governments had anticipated widespread protests. He said governors mobilised security agencies in preparation for possible public backlash.

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“We were expecting serious riots, because there were #EndBadGovernance protests even before then, and for lesser issues,” he explained. “We spent money and mobilised security agencies to secure the states. But on that day, nothing happened. No riot, no protest anywhere. I think the nation was shocked by the audacity of Mr. President to implement that serious policy.”

According to the governor, the removal has since yielded significant benefits. He noted that states are no longer borrowing money or issuing bonds to cover salaries and project costs.

“Today, in my own state, after paying salaries from our FAAC allocation, we are left with N100 or N200 million,” AbdulRazaq said.

He added that most states are already paying a minimum wage of N100,000—exceeding the current national statutory minimum of N70,000.

“I urge Your Excellency, let’s have a discussion on moving the minimum wage to a minimum of N100,000,” he said. “We know we will get support from you as we go ahead to implement that.”

President Tinubu had approved the increase of the minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000 in June 2024 after signing the national minimum wage legislation into law. The law mandates a review of the wage every three years. The previous N30,000 minimum wage was signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

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