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Dear servants of Allah! The love for Allah and His Messenger (Peace be upon him) must be prioritised over any other love, so that Allah and His Messenger (Peace be upon him) become more beloved to you than your wealth, children, family, and all of humanity.
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
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All praise be to Allah, who sent His Prophet Muhammad as a radiant lamp, and made love for him and following him a straight path. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah, who is without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. May Allah exalt and send peace to him, his family, and his companions in abundance. To proceed:
Dear brothers and sisters! Pastor Emmanuel Sunday Garba, born on 28 October 1975 and believed to be residing in Jos, Plateau State, while claiming indigeneity of Gombe State, has come under intense scrutiny for his repeated and inflammatory attacks on Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), Islam and Muslims.
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Despite presenting himself as a pastor, some brothers claimed that extensive searches across his social media platforms — including Facebook, Instagram, and other channels — have failed to uncover any verifiable evidence of his pastoral credentials, church affiliation, or formal religious training. His online profiles are dominated by toxic videos and content that consistently target Islam, Muslims, and prominent Islamic scholars, often featuring cuts clips of Muslim preachers, followed by derogatory and blasphemous remarks.
Garba gained significant notoriety during the recent Jos crisis, where his daily output of unguarded utterances and provocative videos against Islam became a regular feature on social media. He frequently cuts segments from Islamic lectures or sermons and interjects with insults, further escalating tensions.
His profile surged dramatically after he openly blasphemed against Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), an act that has provoked widespread anger across Nigeria. Many Muslims have called for his immediate arrest and prosecution, viewing his statements as a direct and unacceptable provocation.
This man has crossed a line that must never be crossed, as he openly insulted the Messenger of peace, Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), in a very offensive manner.
Muslims are law-abiding citizens and do not support taking the law into our own hands. It is the responsibility of the government and the authorities to urgently find him so that he can face justice. If no legal action is taken against him, then Muslims should not be blamed if they decide to take action themselves. Our lives and everything we own are a sacrifice for the Messenger of peace, Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him).
Despite all the outcries and the responses by Muslims Ummah against Pastor Emmanuel Sunday Garba for denigrating and blaspheming Qur’an and the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (Peace be upon him), he is still a free man commenting and making further provocative remarks and videos about Islam, Muslims and the sacred Qur’an on social media.
We also listen to Pastor Ezekiel Dachomo for the second time vilifying Allah Almighty and the religion of Islam during the mass burial of the Rukuba victims and now this Pastor Emmanuel Sunday Garba.
If anybody is testing the strength and resolve of Muslims, I am afraid Nigeria cannot survive denigrating Allah, His Prophet (Peace be upon him), Muslims and the religion of Islam.
We want Pastor Emmanuel Sunday Garba to understand that the honour of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is foundational to the faith of over two billion Muslim believers around the globe.
And Allah the Most High says:
“The Prophet (Muhammad) has a greater right on the believers than their own selves, his wives are their mothers.” [Qur’an, 33:6]
Again, Allah the Most High says:
“Say, If your parents and children and siblings and spouses and extended family and the wealth you have acquired and the trade you fear will decline and the homes you cherish—˹if all these˺ are more beloved to you than Allah and His Messenger and struggling in His Way, then wait until Allah brings about His Will. Allah does not guide the rebellious people.” [Qur’an, 9:24]
The above mentioned Qur’anic verse, Surah At-Tawbah (Qur’an, 9:24) warns Muslim believers against prioritising worldly attachments — family, wealth, business, and homes — over love for Allah, His Messenger (Peace be upon him), and striving in His cause. It states that if these worldly things are dearer, then one should “wait until Allah brings about His Will”, with a warning that Allah does not guide those who are disobedient.
This Qur’anic verse was revealed to emphasise that faith and commitment to Islam must take precedence over emotional and material ties, particularly in the context of migration (Hijrah) and struggle.
The Qur’anic verse highlights that choosing fleeting worldly pleasures over spiritual obligations leads to a loss of divine guidance. The verse specifically mentions parents, children, siblings, spouses, relatives, acquired wealth, businesses, and cherished homes as potential distractions, if loved more than Allah and His Messenger (Peace be upon him).
Respected brothers and sisters! Have you heard the story of the leader of Yamamah, Thumamah Ibn Uthal? The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) sent a military expedition, and Thumamah was brought as a war prisoner and tied to one of the pillars of the Mosque. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) came to him and said, “What do you have to say, O Thumamah?” Thumamah replied, “Only good things, O Muhammad! If you kill me, you kill someone whose blood will be avenged. If you show favour, you show favour to one who is grateful, and if you seek wealth, ask for whatever you want.”
For three days, the question and answer were repeated, and on the third day, the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said, “Release Thumamah!” Thumamah went, washed himself, then returned to the Mosque and declared, “I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” He then said, “O Muhammad! By Allah, there was no face on earth more hated to me than your face, but now your face is the dearest of all faces to me. By Allah, there was no religion more hated to me than your religion, but now your religion is the most beloved to me. By Allah, there was no land more hated to me than your land, but now your land is the most beloved to me.”
Thumamah then traveled to Makkah for Umrah. Someone said to him, “Have you apostatised?” He replied, “No, but I have embraced Islam with Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him), and by Allah, no grain of wheat will come to you from Yamamah until the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) permits it.” [Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim]
Anyone with a pure heart who comes to know the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) through his noble character and pure qualities cannot help but love him. In fact, they will be completely captivated by love for him.
For this reason, no one has ever loved another as the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and Muslims loved him. It was true love, not empty claims.
Their love for him was so great that they sacrificed their lives for him, preferring him over their own parents and families.
When the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) sat on the pulpit and said:
“A servant has been given a choice between the adornments of this world and what is with Allah, and he has chosen what is with Allah,” Abubakar, the truthful companion, understood that the one being given the choice was the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him). Abubakar began to weep and said, “May our fathers and mothers be sacrificed for you, O Messenger of Allah!” [Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim]
When they were together during the Hijrah, Abubakar brought milk for the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) from a sheep and cooled it for him, then said to him, “Drink, O Messenger of Allah!” Abubakar later said, “The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) drank until I was satisfied.” [Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim]
On the blessed day of migration (Hijrah), when the Quraish had placed a great reward for whoever captured the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and Abubakar, mercenaries among the disbelievers, set out to find them. One of them, Suraqah Ibn Malik, nearly caught up with them. Abubakar wept when he saw him approaching, and the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said to him, “What makes you weep?” Abubakar replied, “By Allah, I do not weep for myself, but I weep for you.” [Narrated by Ahmad]
At the Battle of Uhud, the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) stood as a brave lion, advancing toward the enemies of Allah with courage. However, Abu Talhah surrounded the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and shielded him, saying, “O Prophet of Allah! May my father and mother be sacrificed for you! Do not expose yourself! Let no arrow strike you; my neck for your neck!” [Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim]
Abdullah Ibn Abdullah Ibn Ubay Ibn Salul, when he learnt of his father’s harm toward the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), said:
“By the One who has honoured you and sent down the Book upon you, if you wish, I will bring you his head.” But the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) replied, “No, rather honour your father and treat him well.” [Narrated by Ibn Hibban]
Their joy was tied to what made the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) happy. Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) once said to the Prophet’s uncle Abbas:
“By Allah, your acceptance of Islam on the day you embraced it was dearer to me than the Islam of my own father, for I knew that your Islam was more beloved to the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) than the Islam of my father.” [Narrated by Al-Tabarani]
Their love for the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) extended to everything he loved, simply because he loved it.
Here is Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) witnessing the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) eating food containing pumpkin, and he saw him following the pieces of pumpkin around the dish. Anas said:
“I have continued to love pumpkin ever since I saw the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) doing what he did.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Dear servants of Allah! The love for Allah and His Messenger (Peace be upon him) must be prioritised over any other love, so that Allah and His Messenger (Peace be upon him) become more beloved to you than your wealth, children, family, and all of humanity.
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:
“There are three qualities, whoever possesses them will find the sweetness of faith,” the first being: “that Allah and His Messenger are more beloved to him than anything else…” [Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) also said:
“None of you will truly believe until I am more beloved to him than his father, his child, and all of mankind.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) has more right over you than even your own self. Therefore, his love takes precedence over your love for yourself.
One day, the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) took the hand of Umar Ibn Al-Khattab, who said to him:
“O Messenger of Allah, you are more beloved to me than everything except my own self.” The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said: “No, by the One in Whose Hand is my soul, not until I am more beloved to you than your own self.” Umar then said: “Now, by Allah, you are more beloved to me than my own self.” The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said: “Now, O Umar!” [Narrated by Al-Bukhari]
Indeed, the greatest sign of love is faith, obedience, and absolute following of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). Allah Almighty says:
“Say, ‘If you love Allah, then follow me, and Allah will love you and forgive your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.'” [Surah Ali-Imran: 31]
A true lover does not place anyone’s words above the words of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), nor anyone’s judgment above his. This is what Imran Ibn Husain (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated about the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), that he said:
“Modesty only brings good.” A man responded, “It is written in wisdom that modesty brings dignity, serenity, and sometimes weakness.” Imran became angry until his eyes turned red, and he said to him, “I narrate to you from the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him), and you speak to me from your paper!” [Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
And this is Abdullah Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), who narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:
“Permit women to go out to the Mosques at night.” His son, named Waqqid, said: “But they will use it as a means of corruption.” Ibn Umar struck his son in the chest and said: “I narrate to you from the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him), and you say, ‘No’?” [Narrated by Muslim]
The love for the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) contradicts innovation in the religion of Allah. How can one claim to love him while opposing his Sunnah and guidance?
The love for the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) is not expressed through extremism, seeking his help, or celebrating birthdays filled with evils, polytheism, dancing and drumming.
True love for him is faith in him, following his Sunnah, and supporting his religion.
May Allah have mercy on Imam Darul Hijrah, Imam Malik when he said:
“Whoever innovates in Islam something they see as good, has claimed that Muhammad (Peace be upon him) has betrayed the message, for Allah says: ‘Today I have perfected your religion for you.’ [Surah Al-Ma’idah: 3]. So what was not part of the religion then, cannot be part of the religion today.”
Ya Allah, grant victory to Islam, honour the Muslims, and destroy the criminals, the enemies of peace.
Ya Allah, send tranquility into the hearts of the mujahideen in Your cause, save Your oppressed servants, and raise the banner of religion by Your strength, O Strong and Mighty One.
Ya Allah, guide our leaders to what You love and are pleased with, and take their steps towards righteousness and piety.
Our Lord, give us goodness in this world and goodness in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire, ameen Ya Hayyu Ya Qayyum!
Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of Nagazi-Uvete Jumu’ah and the late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okene’s Mosques, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: [email protected] or +2348038289761 or +2348024192217.
This Jumu’ah Khutbah (Friday sermon) was prepared for delivery today, Friday, Shawwal 29, 1447 AH (April 17, 2026).
