DEAR READER,

AS Palm Sunday dawns upon us once again, we are drawn into the majesty, and meaning of the final days of Jesus’ earthly journey. While the image of Jesus riding triumphantly into Jerusalem on a colt is often the central focus— glorious and significant though it is— today, we invite you to step into the Gospel of Luke’s profound account of these events.

Luke’s narrative not only recounts Jesus’ entry into the city but also draws us into the heartbeat of His mission: a journey not merely to a city but to the very cross where love would be poured out without measure.

Let us take a walk with Luke and look afresh at the approach, the purpose, and the passion of Christ our Lord.

The Triumphal Approach to Jeru­salem: Luke 19:28-40

After Jesus said this, He went on in front of them toward Jerusalem. As He came near Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, He sent two disciples ahead with these instructions: “Go to the village there ahead of you; as you go in, you will find a colt tied up that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If someone asks you why you are untying it, tell him that the Master needs it.” They went on their way and found everything just as Jesus had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying it?” “The Master needs it,” they answered, and they took the colt to Jesus.

Then they threw their cloaks over the animal and helped Jesus get on. As He rode on, people spread their cloaks on the road. When He came near Jerusalem, at the place where the road went down the Mount of Olives, the large crowd of His disci­ples began to thank God and praise Him in loud voices for all the great things that they had seen:

“God bless the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory to God!” Then some of the Pharisees in the crowd spoke to Jesus. “Teacher,” they said, “command your disciples to be quiet!” Jesus answered, “I tell you that if they keep quiet, the stones themselves will start shouting.” – (Good News)

Let us now continue with why Christ died. The hymn writer, Henry Francis Lyte (1793 – 1847) puts it so appropriately in one of his hymns.

“PRAISE, my soul, the King of heaven, To His feet thy tribute bring;

Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, Who like thee His praise should sing?

Praise Him! Praise Him! Praise the everlasting King.” – MHB 12: Stanza 1

And it is true Christ died that we would be delivered from bondage of sin – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” – Rom. 6:23 (NIV). Christ died to Ransom us, Heal us, Restore us and Forgive us.

As you enjoy this article, please commit yourself again to the Lord Jesus Christ whom to known is “Eternal Life.” Let Him ride into the “Jerusalem of your heart.” Weep over your sins and cleanse your heart which is the temple of the Holy Spirit from all that does not please our Holy, loving God.

WHY CHRIST DIED

When God first created mankind, He intended that an intimate rela­tionship should exist between the Creator and His creatures. But the first man and woman chose to dis­obey God and, therefore, forfeited the privilege of this close friendship with God. Moreover, through their disobedience, sin made its entry into the world: ‘Sin came into the world through one man.’ – Romans 5:12

By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee, the author

5. Prohibition of Pork

QUR’ANIC Verses: Surah Al-Baqarah (2:173) “He has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah. But whoever is forced [by necessity], nei­ther desiring [it] nor trans­gressing [its limit]—then there is no sin upon him. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merci­ful.”

Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:3) “Prohibited to you are dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah.”

Explanation:

Pork is prohibited because of its impurity and harmful health effects.

However, if a person is starving and has no other food, they may consume it only to survive.

6. Prohibition of Backbiting and Slander

Qur’anic Verses: Surah Al-Hujurat (49:12) “O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or back­bite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Accepting of Repentance and Merciful.”

Explanation:

Backbiting is equated to eating the flesh of one’s dead brother, showing how detest­able it is.

Islam emphasises honesty, sincerity, and respect in social relations.

7. Prohibition of Eating Dead Animals and Blood

Qur’anic Verses: Surah Al- Ma’idah (5:3) “Prohibited to you are dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah.”

Explanation:

• Eating dead animals (carrion) and blood can lead to diseases and spiritual impu­rity.

• Islam promotes halal slaughter to ensure that food is ethically sourced and pure.

The Qur’an’s Guidance on Worship

The Qur’an instructs Mus­lims on how to worship Allah correctly:

• Salah (Prayer): Establishing regular prayers five times a day is a direct command from Allah (Qur’an 11:114).

• Zakat (Charity): Giving a portion of one’s wealth to the poor purifies one’s wealth and soul (Qur’an 2:110).

• Sawm (Fasting): The obligation of fasting in Rama­dan is emphasised to cultivate self-discipline and gratitude (Qur’an 2:183).

• Hajj (Pilgrimage): Per­forming Hajj is an obligation upon those who can afford it (Qur’an 2:196).

These acts of worship strengthen the believer’s con­nection with Allah.

The Quran Shows the Boundless Mercy of Allah

“Say, O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.” (Qur’an 39:53

Explanation of the Verse: A Call to All Sinners

Allah addresses His servants who have committed exces­sive sins and urges them not to despair. The phrase (O My servants) reflects Allah’s love and care, even for those who have sinned greatly.

Hope and Mercy

Do not despair of the mercy of Allah) is a direct command from Allah, instructing believ­ers never to lose hope in His forgiveness, no matter how many sins they have commit­ted.

Allah Forgives All Sins

(Indeed, Allah forgives all sins) means that no sin is too great for Allah’s mercy—ex­cept shirk (associating part­ners with Allah) if one dies in that state without repentance (Qur’an 4:48).

The Quran and Allah’s At­tributes of Forgiveness

The verse ends with “(In­deed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful).

Al-Ghafūr: The One who completely forgives all sins, no matter how great.

Ar-Raīm: The One who con­tinuously showers His mercy upon His creation.

The Quran and Afterlife: Paradise and Hellfire

The Qur’an describes the consequences of actions in the afterlife:

• The Righteous will en­joy eternal bliss in Paradise:

“Gardens beneath which riv­ers flow, wherein they abide eternally…” (Qur’an 9:72).

• The Wrongdoers will face severe punishment in Hell:

“And fear the Fire, which has been prepared for the dis­believers.” (Qur’an 3:131).

This serves as a reminder to live a righteous life.

Conclusion: The Qur’an beyond Ramadan

The Qur’an is not just for Ramadan; it is a lifelong com­panion. The Prophet Muham­mad said:

“The best among you are those who learn the Qur’an and teach it to others.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 5027).

Every Muslim should recite, reflect upon, and apply the teachings of the Qur’an daily to attain the pleasure of Allah and ultimate success in the Hereafter.

I also urge all human beings to quickly grab a copy of the Quran from a nearby Islamic bookshop or an Imam. Thank you.

* The writer is the Metro­politan Chief Imam of Kpone Katamanso

By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai, the Author