Fruitful Living
Catholic Church honours retired catechist From Peter Gbambila, Sekoti
There is a popular saying that “a country that does not honour its heroes is not worth dying for”.
For this reason, the Catholic Communities of Datuku and Kulpeliga in the St Theresa of the Child Jesus in Tongo Parish of the Navrongo-Bolga Diocese honoured a retired catechist, Mr Gabriel Tibil, popularly known as Fada Tibil, a traditional ruler with the skin name Dasang Naab Kokorum Malimyalig (the expansion of an existing water source).
Fada Tibil, born about 105 years ago, had no formal education but was naturally brilliant and picked up teachings very fast from the White Fathers who started the Catholic Church in the then Upper Region.
The White Missionaries came to Sekoti in the Northern Region in 1927 and Fada Tibil started catechism at the age of 12, and because of his brilliance, he was picked by late Fr Lapointe to attend the Catechists’ School at Binduri near Bawku in 1954 and was baptised the same year.
Fada Tibil was the first catechist to start the St John the Apostle Catholic Church at Sekoti in 1957 and was transferred to start another church at Datuku in 1961.
He retired as a catechist in 1986 after returning to Sekoti and was later enskinned as the chief of Dasang, a Divisional Chief under the Sekoti Paramountcy.
On the occasion of the 2020 Fathers’ Day celebration, the Catholic Communities of Datuku and Kulpeliga honoured Fada Tibil with a citation, a smock and a hat, a walking stick, a local cloth for the wife, Mrs Catherine Tibil, and an undisclosed amount of money.
His support for the growth of the Catholic Church in the Talensi and Nabdam Districts of the Upper East Region and the unshakable faith in the Catholic Church prompted those he brought up in the church to honour him on this year’s Fathers’ Day.
In appreciation of the surprise presentation, Mr Tibil said he was so happy and at a loss for words to describe the gesture, but prayed for the youth to be law abiding and emulate the good works of the nice people around them, especially the aged.
From Peter Gbambila, Sekoti
Fruitful Living
The Maqāṣid al-Sharī’ah: The Islamic framework for addressing contemporary social challenges
In the Name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all worlds. We send peace and blessings upon the noble Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), his family, his companions, and all those who stand for justice until the Day of Judgment.
Introduction
We live in an era of rapid social transformation. Technological advancement, urbanization, changing family structures, health crises, unemployment, moral decadence, drug abuse, cybercrime, and weakening social bonds have created enormous challenges for Muslim communities across the world. The Muslim Ummah in Ghana is not immune to these realities.
Islam is not merely a religion of rituals. Islam provides guidance for every aspect of life— spiritual, social, economic, educational, political and health-related.
Allah said in the holy Quran “We have neglected nothing in the Book.” (Qur’an 6:38).
Before discussing the practical challenges facing our communities today, it is important to understand that Islamic law was revealed to achieve specific objectives known as Maqāṣid al-Sharī’ah (The Higher Objectives of Islamic Law).
The great scholar, Imam Abu Ishaq al-Shatibi, explained that all Islamic laws aim at securing benefit (Maslahah) and preventing harm (Mafsadah).
The scholars have summarized these objectives into five fundamental necessities known as:
Hifz ad-Din (Protection of Religion)
Islam seeks to preserve faith, worship, Islamic identity and moral values.
Allah said, “And I did not create the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me.”
(Qur’an 51:56)
Therefore, strengthening Islamic education, supporting the mosque, preserving family values, and protecting the next generation from immoral influences are all means of preserving the Islamic religion identity.
Today, social media abuse, drug addiction, pornography, cybercrime, and moral decay threaten the faith of many Muslim youth. The Muslim Ummah must equip itself with sound Islamic knowledge to preserve its religious identity.
Hifz an-Nafs (Protection of Life)
One of the greatest objectives of Islam is the preservation of human life.”And do not kill yourselves. Indeed, Allah is Most Merciful to you.” (Qur’an 4:29)
This objective forms the basis for:
• Public health programmes
• Vaccination campaigns
• NHIS registration
• Hospital care
• Disease prevention
• Environmental sanitation
• Road safety
• Maternal and child healthcare
Every effort to save lives is an act of worship.
“Whoever saves a life, it is as though he has saved all mankind.” (Qur’an 5:32)
Throughout the Old Testament, God’s presence was associated with a particular location the Tabernacle and later the Temple. These sacred places represented the meeting point between heaven and earth.
But Pentecost changed everything
When the wind and fire entered the house where the disciples were gathered, God was revealing a new reality. His presence would no longer be confined to a building made by human hands.
The Temple was no longer merely a structure in Jerusalem.
The Temple had become a community of believers.
Every follower of Jesus would now become a dwelling place of God through the Holy Spirit.
This was a revolutionary truth. The overlap between heaven and earth was no longer limited to one geographical location. Wherever believers gathered and wherever the Spirit dwelt, God’s presence was manifested.
As the Apostle Paul later wrote: “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16).
Gods desire to dwell with his people
From the very beginning, God’s desire has always been to live among His people.
We see this desire in:
- The Garden of Eden
- The Tabernacle
- The Temple
Yet sin continually created separation between God and humanity. A holy God could not fully dwell among a sinful people without judgment.
But Jesus made a way.
Through His death and resurrection, Jesus dealt with the problem of sin once and for all.
John beautifully describes this truth: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
Because of Christ’s redemptive work on the cross, our sins are forgiven and we are reconciled to God. The Holy Spirit can now live within believers, making us the new temple of God.
To be continued!
Stay blessed!
Please note that the preaching programme on Sunny 88.7 FM – Tuesdays at 5:30 am has been temporarily put on hold. However, please continue to join us on Asempa 94.7 FM – Sundays at 5:30 am and YFM 107.9 – Sundays at 6:30 am for our Radio Bible Study, as well as on Sunny 88.7 FM every Sunday at 3:30 pm for Hymns and Their Stories.
By Rev Dr. Joyce
