Fruitful Living
Living Godly lives
• Christians must live a Godly life
Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. – 1 Peter 2:11
INTRODUCTION
In 2 Peter chapter 2, Peter explained why it is necessary to base our faith in God on the truth of the gospel: because there are counterfeits among us. Coming at the church from the outside world was a barrage of heretical and blasphemous teachers and doctrines that had been dressed up to look like Christianity. Peter painted a scathing picture of these teachers. His language is rich with signs and warnings to avoid them at all costs and hold firm to the truth of the gospel. His examination of the false teachers reached a climax in chapter 3, where he reminded his readers to remember what the prophets and apostles of the Lord had spoken. He implored his readers to bear in mind the imminent return of our Lord, who will come like a thief in the night. The expectation of Jesus’s return recalls the beginning of the letter, in which Peter urged believers to live upright, moral lives in full devotion to the teachings of Jesus Christ.
2 PETER 2:1-22
But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment; if He did not spare the ancient world when He brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if He rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in His righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgement. This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority.
Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings; yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgement on them from the Lord. But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish.
They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, revelling in their pleasures while they feast with you. With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood! They have left the straightway and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness. But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.
These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For thy mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed returns to its wallowing in the mud.”
2 PETER 3:1-18
Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Saviour through your apostles.
Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ He promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgement and destruction of the ungodly.
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him. Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever!
Amen.
Conclusion
Purity – What kind of persons’ people ought to be in view of the events of the end time? The answer is holy and godly, spotless and blameless, guarded and growing. Since God is holy, to be godly is to be holy. To be holy is to be distinct from the ordinary and worldly. Moral blamelessness must be maintained. The influence of error and evil demands persons who are on guard. The prospect of meeting the Lord encourages growth in grace and knowledge of Christ. The sincere expectation of the Lord’s coming promotes personal purity.
Stay blessed!
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Website: saltandlightgh.org
By Dr. Joyce Aryee, the author
Fruitful Living
Eid-ul-Adha: A living legacy of faith, sacrifice, and devotion
We begin in the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. We praise Him, seek His help and forgiveness, and seek refuge in Him from the evils of our souls and the wrongs of our actions.
May peace and blessings be upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), his family, his noble companions, and all those who follow his path until the Day of Judgment.
Understanding the essence
of Eid-ul-Adha
Eid-ul-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, is one of the two major Islamic celebrations observed by Muslims across the world.
It commemorates the unwavering submission of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham, peace be upon him) to Allah’s command when he was prepared to sacrifice his beloved son Isma’il (Ishmael, peace be upon him). Allah, in His infinite mercy, intervened and replaced the son with a ram, thus honouring Ibrahim’s sincerity and faith.
This moment of sacrifice is recorded in the Qur’an: “Then when they had both submitted and he put him down upon his forehead, We called out: ‘O Ibrahim! You have fulfilled the vision.’ Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good.” (Surah As-Saffat, 37:103–105)
This act of obedience is not merely a historical account. It is a living symbol that forms the essence of Eid-ul-Adha.
Ibrahim (A.S): The Architect
of Submission
Before the moment of sacrifice, Prophet Ibrahim and his family played critical roles in establishing Islam’s foundational pillars:
1. The building of the Ka‘bah
Prophet Ibrahim and his son Isma’il were chosen to construct the Ka‘bah, the sacred House of Allah in Makkah. The Qur’an records this noble moment:
“And [mention] when Ibrahim was raising the foundations of the House and [with him] Isma’il, [saying], ‘Our Lord, accept [this] from us. Indeed, You are the Hearing, the Knowing.’”
(Surah Al-Baqarah 2:127)
This structure remains the spiritual centre of Muslim worship, facing which over a billion Muslims direct their daily prayers.
2. The struggle of Hajar (Hajara) between Safa and Marwa
The mother of Isma’il, Hajar (Hajara), exemplifies a profound lesson of patience and faith. Left in the barren valley of Makkah with her infant, she ran between the hills of Safa and Marwa, desperately searching for water. Her perseverance was rewarded when the well of Zamzam sprang forth at the feet of her baby.
Her sincere struggle is now ritualised in Hajj as the Sa‘i between Safa and Marwa—a reminder of the role of women, the power of du‘a, and the value of trust in Allah’s provision.
Sacrifice at Mina and the
Rites of Jamarat
During Hajj, pilgrims reenact Ibrahim’s confrontation with Shaytan at Mina, where he rejected the devil’s temptation and cast stones at him. This act is now observed in Hajj as the ritual of stoning the Jamarat, symbolising the rejection of evil, temptation, and disobedience.
It is a vivid spiritual lesson: the path to Allah is one of resistance to distraction and sin, and one must be prepared to fight these forces with unwavering faith.
The essence of Arafat in Hajj
The Prophet Muhammad said:“Hajj is Arafah.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi, 889)
Standing on the plain of Arafat, in deep humility and supplication, is the heart of Hajj. It represents the Day of Judgment, when all of humanity will stand before their Creator. The Prophet said: “There is no day on which Allah frees more people from the Fire than the Day of Arafah.” (Sahih Muslim, 1348)
For pilgrims, Arafat is a time of repentance, reflection, and renewal— and for non-pilgrims, fasting on that day is highly recommended.
Three core lessons from the
Sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim
(A.S.)
1. Absolute obedience to Allah
Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son teaches that the essence of faith is unquestioning obedience to Allah. He prioritised divine command over emotion, logic, or comfort.
Takeaway:
In our lives, we must also be ready to put aside our desires, egos, and even attachments if they conflict with Allah’s instructions. This may involve sacrifices such as waking up for Fajr, staying away from haram income, or being truthful in difficult situations.
2. Sincere intention and inner sacrifice
The real essence of the sacrifice lies in the heart’s submission to Allah.
It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is your piety that reaches Him.”
(Surah Al-Hajj 22:37)
Takeaway:
Every act of worship should be grounded in sincerity. Whether it is prayer, charity, or sacrifice, what matters most is the purity of our intention.
3. Sacrifice for the greater good
The legacy of Eid-ul-Adha teaches us that sometimes, faith requires us to give up what we love for a greater purpose. Sacrificing wealth, time, or status in the path of Allah or for the benefit of others leads to spiritual elevation.
Takeaway:
Use your resources such as time, money, skills, for acts of benefit: support the poor, educate the young, assist the sick, and build your community.
Celebrating Eid-ul-Adha: A
Festival for all Muslims
Even for those who do not go on Hajj, Eid-ul-Adha holds immense significance. Muslims across the world participate in the act of Qurbani (sacrifice) to honor the tradition of Ibrahim (A.S.).
Types of animals and their
symbolism
Permissible animals include goats, sheep, cows, and camels. Each must meet a minimum age and be free of defects. The sacrificed animal is then divided into three parts: one for the family, one for relatives and friends, and one for the poor and needy.
This distribution reflects the spirit of sharing, compassion, and social responsibility—values at the heart of Islam.
The eternal message of Eid-ul-Adha
Eid-ul-Adha is not merely a celebration; it is a living tradition that calls us to:
• Submit like Ibrahim,
• Strive like Hajar,
• Sacrifice like Isma’il,
• Reflect like the pilgrims at Arafat.
May this Eid awaken within us a renewed commitment to obedience, sincerity, and compassion.
Let us make every Eid-ul-Adha a step forward in our spiritual journey, embodying the values of submission, sacrifice, and service to humanity. I wish every Muslim Eid Mubaarak
By Imaam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai
(Kpone Katamanso Metropolitan Chief Imaam)
Fruitful Living
Steps taken by government to combat illicit drugs (Final part)
The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to combating drug abuse and illicit trafficking for a safer environment which would
go a long way to make Ghana a drug-free country. 3News.com (2025)
Solutions to Illicit Drugs from the Islamic perspective
are comprehensive and emphasise of both prevention and treatment:
Tarbiyah (Islamic nurturing): Instilling strong Islamic values from childhood through Qur’anic education, regular prayer, and association with righteous companions.
Community preaching (Da’wah): Imams must consistently raise awareness during khutbahs and Islamic programs about the dangers of drugs and the beauty of a sober, productive life.
Faith-based rehabilitation: Mosques and Islamic centers can partner with medical institutions to offer Qur’an therapy, spiritual counseling, and structured recovery programs.
Islamic youth clubs: Providing youth with halal entertainment, mentorship, and purposeful engagement can steer them away from harmful peer groups.
Zakat and Sadaqah: Channelling funds to support families of victims and establishing centres for rehabilitation.
Role of Parents, Society, Muslim Chiefs and Imams:
Parents must be vigilant and provide emotional support. A loving, nurturing home reduces a child’s vulnerability to drugs.
Society should de-stigmatize addiction. Drug users should be seen as patients needing healing, not criminals deserving rejection.
Muslim Chiefs must lead community campaigns, setting moral examples and supporting policy enforcement.
Imams must be more than religious leaders—they must become counsellors, educators, and advocates. Their leadership can shift public perception and guide collective action.
Conclusion
Illicit drugs pose one of the most dangerous threats to our society, undermining our religious values, harming our youth, and destroying our future. The Islamic position is clear and
Unequivocal: such substances are forbidden due to their destructive consequences on all aspects of life. Islam does not merely condemn the act but calls for a holistic response—spiritual, social, and structural.
As a society, particularly as Muslims, we must rise to confront this crisis with faith, compassion, and commitment. We must not only preach against drugs but actively work to rehabilitate victims, educate the next generation, and partner with public institutions to create a society of wellness and righteousness.
Recommendations
1. Introduce Islamic drug awareness education in madrasas and public schools, using Quran and Hadith-based materials to instill moral responsibility.
2. Create partnerships between the Ghana Narcotics Control Commission, Ghana Health Service, and Muslim organisations to develop culturally sensitive rehabilitation centres.
3. Train Imams and teachers in basic mental health and drug abuse counselling to serve as front-line responders in communities.
4. Utilise Friday sermons (khutbahs) nationwide to address the dangers of drug abuse periodically and provide practical steps for prevention.
5. Encourage community surveillance, where parents, chiefs, and youth groups report dealers and suspicious activities to the authorities.
6. Establish mentorship programmes in every Muslim community where successful, drug-free role models mentor youth.
7. Form interfaith coalitions, working across religious lines to tackle the drug menace as a national threat rather than a religious issue.
8. Provide job skills training for rehabilitated victims, helping them reintegrate into society and live dignified, self-sufficient lives.
By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai, the Author
