Excerpts from my book Rediscovering Genuine Islam...: Turning to God and serving Him alone means forsaking the path of evil and going along the straight and righteous path (sirat-al-mustaqim – 1:6), which is really the path of God (11:56). It means that we do nothing but what is right, good, just, and kind, appropriate, and productive, and all that God stands for. Numerous verses of the Quran point to such attributes or qualities of God. God is True (4:87, 122) and He represents Truth (18:44; 24:25). God is Just (39:75; 40:20), and also Beneficent, Merciful, or Kind (1:1, 3; 2:163; etc.). His are the most beautiful names (asma-ul-husna) or attributes (59:24). God represents the Highest Ideal. He is unique, unrivalled, and unsurpassable. p. 28 We benefit by following God’s path because His is the highest and unsurpassable ideal, and because His path is flawless, most bountiful, and blissful. He hears everything, sees everything, and knows, and has record of all events. Nothing can be hidden from Him. He is Most Wise, and the source of all knowledge. He has power over all things, and is the source of all power. He is the source of all bounty. We can gain in sight, hearing, knowledge, and power if we seek His help. The final judgment belongs to Him alone. p. 29 We need to reflect on the various names or attributes of God since these names provide the clues to the great variety of ways in which we can develop our own personality and march ahead spiritually. For example, God is Loving, Beneficent, Kind, and Forgiving. Thus we need to develop our character in such a way that we become loving, beneficent, kind, and forgiving in our conduct. He is Truthful and Just. He does not cause the slightest injury to any of His servants. He is appreciative of whatever good one does and rewards one accordingly. We also need to develop these qualities. God is All-Seer, All-Hearer, and Most Wise. We also need to develop our seeing or perceiving and hearing capabilities, and we need to enhance our knowledge and wisdom. Striving to reflect God’s attributes or qualities in one’s life is the greatest salat or prayer one can perform. Elevating us in such qualities will be our true spiritual pursuit and development. p. 36
Posted on: Mon, 24 Mar 2014 23:07:00 +0000