An elaboration that might help you gain a broad understanding about life & how to live it. Why were we created? What is the purpose of our existence at this time among those people? Does every one of us has a certain role in life or should we choose our own way of life as we desire? }وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ ﴿الذاريات: ٥٦﴾{ {And I (Allah) created not the jinn and humans except they should worship Me (Alone). (56)} This verse sets the reason behind our creation, which is worship ONLY! And of course it should be dedicated to Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) Alone. That is tawheed (believing in the Oneness of Allah). So basically we are here only to worship Allah, nothing more & nothing less. So what is worship? What is included & what’s excluded? Is worshiping all about Salah, Zakah, Fasting, Pilgrimage, Sadaqat, etc… ONLY? Or what is it really about? What does Allah, who created us ONLY for that reason, tell us about it? Let’s check the next verse… }قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّـهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿الأنعام: ١٦٢﴾{ {Say (O Muhammad SAW): Verily, my Salat (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists). (162)} Although the speech is to The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) yet the verse is meant for all Muslims & it elaborates what worship is & how Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) wants us to do it. The verse included everything from the cradle to the grave. Which implies that work, marriage, travelling, raising kids, playing, having fun, being serious, sleeping, waking up, having friends, smiling, being angry when sins are committed, Salah, Zakah, Hajj, & everything else we do are all considered acts of worship as long as they are done with the intention of pleasing Allah (سبحانه و تعالى). Now we have a broad understanding of how Allah wants us to live our lives. HE wants us to enjoy every moment yet do it with the intention to please HIM ALONE. Could someone live his life, enjoy it to the fullest & get rewarded ending up in paradise & eternal bliss? The answer is YES! Provided he would have done all for the sake of Allah alone. Then what is the measure? How could I know I’m not living my life just to satisfy my own pleasures, following my worldly desires or I’m not going astray? All people are trying to enjoy their lives yet they seem to be going to hell! :) Let’s have a look at the next verse to find the answer… }وَلَا تُخْزِنِي يَوْمَ يُبْعَثُونَ ﴿٨٧﴾ يَوْمَ لَا يَنفَعُ مَالٌ وَلَا بَنُونَ ﴿٨٨﴾ إِلَّا مَنْ أَتَى اللَّـهَ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ﴿٨٩﴾ سورة الشعراء{ {And disgrace me not on the Day when (all the creatures) will be resurrected; (87) The Day whereon neither wealth nor sons will avail,(88) Except him who brings to Allah a clean heart [clean from Shirk (polytheism) and Nifaq (hypocrisy)]. (89) [Ash-Shuara]} It’s all about the heart! As long as your eman (faith) is increasing, or at least under control (where you are having high self awareness), you are going in the right direction. Of course the acts of worship are a good indicator for ones eman. Yet one shouldn’t burden himself by comparing his deeds or acts of worship with people who lived a totally different life in completely different circumstances. We all wish to be like our predecessors (Sahaba) no doubt about that. Yet we need to look closer at their lives, not just their acts of worship & Jihad, & how did they reach such a state? Moreover, we need to consider the diversity of characters. They were not all AbouBakr or Omar. There were among the Sahaba people who did very little yet gained great thawab by watching their heart closely. This is not an invitation to relax or sit doing nothing claiming you are watching your heart. This is an invitation to find out which type of the Sahaba are you closer to. This will only be by identifying your abilities, needs, & passions. Having a “Personal Mission Statement” based on your own true capabilities not what you dream of having. Furthermore, lets have an insight about how change happens in order to reach the genuine state of satisfaction which lies deep in the heart to see whether we can change or is it impossible or maybe too late. }لَهُ مُعَقِّبَاتٌ مِّن بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ يَحْفَظُونَهُ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللَّـهِ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰي يغَيِّرُوا مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ وَإِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّـهُ بِقَوْمٍ سُوءً فَلَا مَرَدَّ لَهُ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِ مِن وَالٍ﴿الرعد: ١١﴾{ {For each one are successive [angels] before and behind him who protect him by the decree of Allah. Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. And when Allah intends for a people ill, there is no repelling it. And there is not for them besides Him any patron. (Ar-Rad : 11)} Its about you, only you! You are the only creature capable of changing your own self by taking the decision of changing & acting upon it. Other factors or people helping you to change are only catalysts to the equation but not essential or effective if you decided not to change. Others can only show you the way & maybe guide you but only you can walk through! Another precious advice is in this coming verse. }وَالَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا وَإِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَمَعَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿العنكبوت: ٦٩﴾{ {And those who strive for Us - We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good. (Al-Ankabut : 69)} Here, Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) is guiding us to His way by giving us the secret ingredient which is striving. Striving is not easy, it requires patience, tolerance, strength, acceptance, & satisfaction with all what Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) does to us since HE does ONLY whats best for us regardless of how we see/perceive it. Striving is not just about exerting physical efforts. Its also about controlling & taming you desires in the case they are obstacles on your way to pleasing your Lord The Creator, your way to change & live for a noble purpose where you & others would benefit. Its more of a win-win situation. Also, Allah is not asking us for more than we can handle in order to be able to apply, excel, & be accountable. }لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّـهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا{ {Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity.} These are explicit words, from surat Al-Baqara, telling us we are only held accountable for our own actions based upon our own capabilities & skills that Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) has given us. Thus we need to identify our points of strength & those of weakness. We need to identify our passions, talents, needs, & the purpose of our existence.
Posted on: Thu, 21 Nov 2013 23:36:02 +0000
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