Dr. Waffie Mohammed
The first Trinidad national to have earned a doctorate in the study of Islam, Dr. Waffie graduated from the University of Karachi with a PhD in Islamic Studies, obtained in parallel with Al-Kamil certification from the Aleemiya Institute established by Dr. Fazlu R. Ansari.
On his return to Trinidad, Dr. Waffie contributed to the development of the Muslim communities located throughout the country and the region, while at the same time serving the wider national communities. This led to his appointment to the Senate in 1981, and his later appointment as Director of the Muslim World League regional office for the Caribbean and Latin America, a position in which he contributed to global Muslim development, until his retirement in 2003.
Dr. Waffie is currently serving as the Principal and Director at the Markaz al Ihsaan Institute of Islamic Theology. He also serves as a spiritual leader of the local chapters of the Qadri and Nakshbandi Orders within Islamic Spirituality Circles.
The author of numerous books, articles and publications dedicated to Islam and contemporary social issues, Dr. Waffie also has a growing number of pioneering works in contemporary Islamic studies. Dr. Waffie blogs often at http://drwaffie.blogspot.com
Will I go to Paradise if I should follow the ways of Father Abraham?
- By Dr. Waffie Mohammed
- Published 10/18/2010
And the Lord had said unto Abraham…… I will make of thee a great nation; and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing. And I will bless them that bless thee; and curse him that curseth thee; and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (Gen.12:2-3)
In the New Testament we find the following:
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. (Lk.16:22)
The blessed dead were with Abraham, they were conscious and were comforted. (Lk.16:25)
Allah tells us in the Qur'an, the following about Father Abraham:
Abraham was indeed a model; devoutly obedient to Allah; true in faith; and he joined not gods with Allah. He showed his gratitude for the favours of Allah who chose him, and guided him to a Straight Path. And We gave him good in this world and he will be in the Hereafter in the ranks of the Righteous. So We have taught thee: Follow the ways of Abraham, the true in faith. (16:120-123)
It means that because he followed the law and was grateful for Allah's mercies and blessings on him, he is in Paradise among the ranks of the righteous.
If I follow the law of God, as Abraham did, and I don't ascribe a partner with the Lord, I shall be considered to be righteous. I will not only be following the ways of Father Abraham, but will also be upholding the teachings of Moses and Jesus.
Never forget that Jesus said:
Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the Prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. (Mt. 5:17)
Even Paul said:
I had not known sin but by the law. (Rom.7:7)
What Abraham taught us is that we need to believe that there is only one Creator of the universe called the God of Abraham, and that we need to abide by the law that God give to us and we shall be righteous.
If we do both these things, then we are automatically saved. As a result we do not need a Saviour, like Jesus to take us to Paradise. We can save our selves.
Allah tells us about this in the Qur'an in the following verse; Believe and do good.
