Charity: trait of the believers

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Peace be upon you,

Research in psychology shows that giving to charity makes us happier. Charity is mentioned very early in the Quran as one of the traits of the believers. God encourages charities for the growth and purification of our souls. Charity we give is to please God, and for the benefit of our own souls (Quran 2:261, 2:272).

The Best Investment

[Quran 2:261] The example of those who spend their monies in the cause of GOD is that of a grain that produces seven spikes, with a hundred grains in each spike. GOD multiplies this manifold for whomever He wills. GOD is Bounteous, Knower.

Investments in this world do not return a yield of over 700 times and more (equivalent to 70,000%). That’s what God promises us in 2:261. All praise be to God. Our worship, our prayers and our charities are only for the sake of God.

[Quran 76:8-9] They donate their favorite food to the poor, the orphan, and the captive. "We feed you for the sake of GOD; we expect no reward from you, nor thanks.

 

References:

• Charities of the Believer

Peace.

The Night of Destiny

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Peace be upon you,

The month of fasting (Ramadan) this year (2011; or 1431 in the Islamic calendar) has been completed. We are thankful to God for the blessing to grow our souls and appreciate the gift of guidance He has given us through the Quran (2:185).

The night of Ramadan 27 (i.e., the night between the 26th and 27th fasts) is the Night of Destiny. In the lunar calendar, the day begins at sunset. So the Night of the 27th, precedes the 27th fast. The Night of Destiny is an extremely important night for Submitters to God (Muslims). It is the night in which the Holy Quran, was revealed from the Lord of the Universe to Prophet Muhammad.

Some submitters take advantage of this night to gain extra credit for the soul by spending the night commemorating God the Almighty (and doing other forms of worship like meditation or reading Quran), either in their privacy, or in a masjid with other submitters.

[Quran 97:1] We revealed it in the Night of Destiny.*
[97:2] How awesome is the Night of Destiny!
[97:3] The Night of Destiny is better than a thousand months.
[97:4] The angels and the Spirit descend therein, by their Lord's leave, to carry out every command.
[97:5] Peaceful it is until the advent of the dawn.
*97:1 The Quran was placed into Muhammad's soul on the 27th night of Ramadan, 13 B.H. (Before Hijrah). See also 17:1, 44:3, 53:1-18, and Appendix 28.

God encourages us in the Quran to meditate every night for extra credit (Quran 17:79), reminding us it’s better for our souls (Quran 39:9).

[Quran 39:9] Is it not better to be one of those who meditate in the night, prostrating and staying up, being aware of the Hereafter, and seeking the mercy of their Lord? Say, "Are those who know equal to those who do not know?" Only those who possess intelligence will take heed.

[Quran 17:79-80] During the night, you shall meditate for extra credit, that your Lord may raise you to an honorable rank. And say, "My Lord, admit me an honorable admittance, and let me depart an honorable departure, and grant me from You a powerful support."

Many of us, out of our human weakness or with worldly commitments cannot do much in the way of meditation every night. The Night of Destiny is an encouragement for our souls, to be able to do it and perhaps repeat it more often during the year with God’s help.

 

References
Night of Destiny
Religious Duties, A Gift from God

Peace.

Avoiding the Tools of the Devil

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Peace be upon you,

We learn from the Quran that the devil is our most ardent enemy (Quran 36:60), and will do everything in his power to get us off God's path (Quran 7:16-17). The devil is the definition of pure evil, and hence sees no compassion, no kindness, and no mercy. His primary goal in this life is to lead as many humans astray as he can.

The devil's nature is to be sneaky and full of deceit (Quran 7:27). Instead of telling us to disbelieve in God outright, he may try to lure us off the path by telling us to be rude and arrogant (Quran 17:53) or have us believe intoxicants (e.g., wine) in moderation is in fact good for us (Quran 5:90).

[Quran 17:63-65] He said, "Then go; you and those who follow you will end up in Hell as your requital; an equitable requital.
"You may entice them with your voice, and mobilize all your forces and all your men against them, and share in their money and children, and promise them. Anything the devil promises is no more than an illusion.
"As for My servants, you have no power over them." Your Lord suffices as an advocate.

We must devote ourselves absolutely to God Alone (Quran 15:40, 37:160, 38:83) and stay away from all the devil's invitations. This is the first commandment in all the scriptures.

The Devil is the Other Alternative

[Quran 36:60-61] Did I not covenant with you, O Children of Adam, that you shall not worship the devil? That he is your most ardent enemy? And that you shall worship Me alone? This is the right path.

[Quran 37:40] Only GOD's servants who are absolutely devoted to Him alone (will be saved).

[Quran 7:29] Say, "My Lord advocates justice, and to stand devoted to Him alone at every place of worship. You shall devote your worship absolutely to Him alone. Just as He initiated you, you will ultimately go back to Him."

[Quran 6:162-163] Say, "My Contact Prayers (Salat), my worship practices, my life and my death, are all devoted absolutely to GOD alone, the Lord of the universe. He has no partner. This is what I am commanded to believe, and I am the first to submit."

[Mark 12:29-30] The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

[Deuteronomy 6:5] You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Reference: Tools of the devil

Peace.

Happiness: Live a God-centric life to find it

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Peace be upon you,

Everyone is looking for happiness. But most look for happiness in the wrong places, such as the materials of this world.

Happiness comes from God, and is a quality of the soul, not the body. A successful person in this life, may have all the cars, houses, fame, and riches that can be imagined, but will still be unhappy if they don’t have God in their lives.

Worldly Materials Are Nil

[Quran 9:85] Do not be impressed by their money or their children; GOD causes these to be sources of misery for them in this world, and their souls depart as disbelievers.

[Quran 92:5-7] As for him who gives to charity and maintains righteousness. And upholds the scripture. We will direct him towards happiness.
[Quran 92:8-11] But he who is stingy, though he is rich. And disbelieves in the scripture. We will direct him towards misery. His money cannot help him when he falls.

[Quran 10:62] Absolutely, GOD's allies have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve.
[10:63] They are those who believe and lead a righteous life.
[10:64] For them, joy and happiness in this world, as well as in the Hereafter. This is GOD's unchangeable law. Such is the greatest triumph.
*10:62-64 Most people think that they have to wait until the Day of Resurrection before they receive their rewards for righteousness, or the retribution for wickedness. But the Quran repeatedly assures the believers that they are guaranteed perfect happiness here in this world, now and forever. At the end of their interim here, they go directly to Paradise (see Appendix 17).

The secret of happiness is in a well-developed and nourished soul. To be happy, we have to make a choice to be with God whole-heartedly, and nourish our souls through righteousness.

[Quran 20:130] Therefore, be patient in the face of their utterances, and praise and glorify your Lord before sunrise and before sunset. And during the night glorify Him, as well as at both ends of the day, that you may be happy.

Guaranteed Happiness Now and Forever
[Quran 16:97] Anyone who works righteousness, male or female, while believing, we will surely grant them a happy life in this world, and we will surely pay them their full recompense (on the Day of Judgment) for their righteous works.

[Psalms 1:1-2] Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night.

Reference: Living a Godcentric life for Happiness

Peace.

Ramadan a gift from God to grow our souls

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Peace be upon you,

Ramadan, the month of fasting, comes to a close at the end of August. Currently, we are in the period referred to in the Quran as the “Last ten nights” (Quran 89:2, 2:187). Many submitters to God (Muslims) use this time to remember God frequently, commemorate His name, and meditate on God. Even if we cannot spend the ten nights in retreat, God gives us the Night of Destiny as a yet another opportunity to stay up all night and meditate on His name (17:79, 50:40, 20:130, 39:9, 26:218, 73:1-6, 73:20, 76:26).

[Quran 17:79-80] During the night, you shall meditate for extra credit, that your Lord may raise you to an honorable rank. And say, "My Lord, admit me an honorable admittance, and let me depart an honorable departure, and grant me from You a powerful support."

Religious duties are a gift from God to us, that we may grow our souls. God provides us Ramadan as a religious practice, and consequently an opportunity for us to grow our souls. By following His commandment to fast, we place the body in service of the soul, and in submission to God. With God’s help, we also use it as a time to express our appreciation for the guidance in Quran.

[Quran 2:185] Ramadan is the month during which the Quran was revealed, providing guidance for the people, clear teachings, and the statute book. Those of you who witness this month shall fast therein. Those who are ill or traveling may substitute the same number of other days. GOD wishes for you convenience, not hardship, that you may fulfill your obligations, and to glorify GOD for guiding you, and to express your appreciation.

Peace.

Charity

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Peace be upon you,

With Ramadan (the month of fasting) approaching, many submitters to God focus on developing their souls. One of the means God gives us for soul growth is charity.

[Quran 3:133-134] You should eagerly race towards forgiveness from your Lord and a Paradise whose width encompasses the heavens and the earth; it awaits the righteous, who give to charity during the good times, as well as the bad times. They are suppressors of anger, and pardoners of the people. GOD loves the charitable.

A good opportunity suggested by submitters is to build drinking water wells for the needy in Africa.
More information at "Water: Life Giving Charity"  (direct donation link)

Article: Charities of the Believer

Ramadan 2011: Dates & info http://www.masjidtucson.org/submission/practices/ramadan/

Peace.

Deformed, Retarded, Famine-stricken children

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Peace be upon you,

A difficult question for those who believe in God to answer is, "If God is just and merciful, why does He afflict innocent children?" This question has been asked in many forms by atheists and those who believe alike. For example, the common “Problem of evil” is a broader version of this question.

The Quran tells us that Satan is solely responsible for evil and such calamities; they reflect Satan's incompetence as a designated temporary ruler of this world. Satan is trying very hard to make his kingdom, this world, perfect, but he just can't do it.

God gave us free will (Quran 33:72), and with that free will comes the ability to choose either evil or good. It is not free will if God forces us all to do only good or forces us to love or worship him.

God does not inflict an atom's weight of injustice (Quran 4:40).

Divine Justice

[Quran 4:40] GOD does not inflict an atom's weight of injustice. On the contrary, He multiplies the reward manifold for the righteous work, and grants from Him a great recompense.

Article: Deformed, Retarded, Famine-stricken children 

Peace.