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.

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.

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.

Righteous go straight to Heaven

 

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Peace be upon you,

The conventional understanding is souls of believers and disbelievers must await the Day of Judgment to enter Paradise or Gehenna. In other words, the Day of Judgment is when people realize their final destiny.

The Quran gives us great news—the righteous do not really die. When their lives on this earth come to the predetermined end, their souls are invited to go straight to Heaven. All praise be to God.

There are signs to this effect throughout Quran (2:25, 2:154, 3:169, 8:24, 22:58, 36:26-27, 44:56, etc.).

The Righteous Go Straight to Paradise*

[Quran 36:26-27] (At the time of his death) he was told, "Enter Paradise." He said, "Oh, I wish my people knew. That my Lord has forgiven me, and made me honorable."
*36:26 The righteous do not really die; they simply move on to the same Paradise where Adam & Eve lived. They join the prophets, saints, and martyrs in an active and utopian life (see App. 17).

[Quran 3:169] Do not think that those who are killed in the cause of God are dead; they are alive at their Lord, being provided for.

Sourced from: http://www.masjidtucson.org/publications/books/SP/1990/feb/page1.html

Meditation: Another great way to Remember God

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Peace be upon you,

Which one of us would like to be raised to an honorable rank with God? If your answer was, "I would", then meditation is an activity that should be on your daily list. God tells us in the Quran:

[Quran 17:79] During the night, you shall meditate for extra credit, that your Lord may raise you to an honorable rank.

[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?…

Peace.

Reference:
Meditation: Another Great way to worship God

Animals—smarter than we think?

 

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

The Quran has a story of Solomon and the hoopoe. As the story goes, one day Solomon was out and about with his troops. Not just ordinary troops, his special forces included a contingent of birds. One of the birds, a hoopoe, was missing from action. When the hoopoe returned, Solomon demanded an explanation. The hoopoe’s story was that he scouting the land of Sheba and had news for him. Solomon was not convinced of the hoopoe’s honesty, and put the hoopoe to the test.

The first thing that stands out of course is that, “Wow, God taught Solomon the knowledge of bird language”. But then, we also notice that he feels the hoopoe is capable of lying. Why is this significant?

In the past, researchers felt that primates were perhaps the only creatures capable of deception. Later studies showed that other animals, including squirrels, were capable of tactical deception. Why is this a big deal? Deception is not a simple act, it requires a lot of thinking as one blogger notes.

True deception assumes the deceiver knows that (1) other beings have minds, (2) different beings’ minds can believe different things are true (when only one of these is actually true), and (3) you can make another mind believe that something false is actually true. (Source: Mindful Hack)

Back to the story of Solomon. The Quran puts in print back in 600-650AD that animals were capable of meta-cognitive thought. Not only are they aware of themselves, they are aware of others and can ascribe motivation or intention to them and change their own actions and words accordingly.

In this context, the story of Solomon and the ant is fascinating. We post the Quranic verses below:

David and Solomon

[Quran 27:15-19] We endowed David and Solomon with knowledge, and they said, "Praise GOD for blessing us more than many of His believing servants." ● Solomon was David's heir. He said, "O people, we have been endowed with understanding the language of the birds, and all kinds of things have been bestowed upon us. This is indeed a real blessing." ● Mobilized in the service of Solomon were his obedient soldiers of jinns and humans, as well as the birds; all at his disposal. ● When they approached the valley of the ants, one ant said, "O you ants, go into your homes, lest you get crushed by Solomon and his soldiers, without perceiving."*

*27:18-19 The more unusual the events in a given sura, the stronger the mathematical evidence supporting them. This helps assure us that such strange phenomena are indicative of God's power. This sura's initials, T.S., constitute a complex part of the mathematical miracles related to the Quranic initials. The unusual birth and miracles of Jesus are in Sura 19, which is prefixed with five Quranic Initials. See Appendix 1 for the details.

The story tells us that the ant is aware of Solomon, the different troops with him, and that their intentions were not to crush them but they may accidentally do so. The ant also provides her companions with an effective solution to the march of Solomon’s army overhead. Solomon, furthermore was able to hear and understand the ant (Quran 27:19)!

[Quran 27:19] He smiled and laughed at her statement,* and said, "My Lord, direct me to be appreciative of the blessings You have bestowed upon me and my parents, and to do the righteous works that please You. Admit me by Your mercy into the company of Your righteous servants."

 

The Quran has many verses that tell us the animals submit to God (Quran 22:18, 24:41, 6:38), glorify Him and worship Him. While humans may not necessarily understand animals or their behavior, they have been designed to fulfill certain roles on the planet and they go about their roles in complete Submission to God Alone.

[Quran 22:18] Do you not realize that to GOD prostrates everyone in the heavens and the earth, and the sun, and the moon, and the stars, and the mountains, and the trees, and the animals, and many people? Many others among the people are committed to doom. Whomever GOD shames, none will honor him. Everything is in accordance with GOD's will.

[Quran 24:41] Do you not realize that everyone in the heavens and the earth glorifies GOD, even the birds as they fly in a column? Each knows its prayer and its glorification. GOD is fully aware of everything they do.

 

Animals and Birds: Submitting Creatures*

[Quran 6:38] All the creatures on earth, and all the birds that fly with wings, are communities like you. We did not leave anything out of this book.** To their Lord, all these creatures will be summoned.

*6:38 Animals were among the creatures who took advantage of God's offer to repent after committing the original sin (see the Introduction).
**6:38 All information relevant to our eternal life of the Hereafter is contained in the Quran. The true believers accept, without hesitation, God's assertion: "We did not leave anything out of this book." The importance of this statement, and similar statements, is reflected in the fact that each of them consists of 19 Arabic letters (Appendix 19).

 

All praise be to God, Lord of the Universe!

Monotheism—A Natural Instinct placed into the people by God?

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Peace be upon you,

Almost every culture among the tens of thousands that we have come across, has a concept of a divine being—one who creates and protects and provides. Across time and place, communities have been aware of and have worshipped one or more deities. Some have a monotheistic form of worship (e.g., Judaism, Christianity or Submission to God), and others worship a pantheon of gods (e.g., sects in Hinduism, or historically—the Greeks and Romans).

Research at Oxford University shows that belief in God and the Hereafter is part of human nature.

Not surprisingly, this is what the Quran tells us too—that that monotheism is “the natural instinct placed into the people by God” (Quran 30:30). Science invariably confirms what the Quran says (see for example an article on Quran & Science and other articles on scientific signs in Quran). All praise be to God.

Monotheism: Natural Instinct*

[Quran 30:30] Therefore, you shall devote yourself to the religion of strict monotheism. Such is the natural instinct placed into the people by GOD. Such creation of GOD will never change. This is the perfect religion, but most people do not know.

*30:30 Recognizing God ALONE as our Lord and Master is a natural instinct. We are born into this world with such an instinct. See 7:172-173 and Appendix 7.

Reference: One Message, ONE GOD!

Peace.

Monotheism—A Natural Instinct placed into the people by God?

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Peace be upon you,

Almost every culture among the tens of thousands that we have come across, has a concept of a divine being – one who creates and protects and provides. Across time and place, communities have been aware of and have worshipped some deity. Some have a monotheistic form of worship (e.g., Judaism, Christianity or Submission to God / Islam), and others worship a pantheon of gods (e.g., sects in Hinduism, or historically—the Greeks and Romans).

Research at Oxford University shows that belief in God and the Hereafter is part of human nature.

Not surprisingly, this is what the Quran tells us too—that that monotheism is “the natural instinct placed into the people by God” (Quran 30:30). Science invariably confirms what the Quran says (see for example an article on Quran & Science and other articles on scientific signs in Quran). All praise be to God.

Monotheism: Natural Instinct*

[Quran 30:30] Therefore, you shall devote yourself to the religion of strict monotheism. Such is the natural instinct placed into the people by GOD. Such creation of GOD will never change. This is the perfect religion, but most people do not know.

*30:30 Recognizing God ALONE as our Lord and Master is a natural instinct. We are born into this world with such an instinct. See 7:172-173 and Appendix 7.

Reference: One Message, ONE GOD!

Peace.

What are our Goals for the Soul?

 

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Peace be upon you,

What would God say about my soul if I died tomorrow? How would I plan my life if I had only one day to live, or one month? Do I have goals in place for the soul-work ahead?

God tells us the purpose of creation (Quran 45:22, 51:56). It makes sense to plan ahead and focus our lives on achieving these goals.

[Quran 45:22] God created the heavens and the earth for a specific purpose, in order to pay each soul for whatever it earned, without the least injustice.

[Quran 51:56] I did not create the jinns and the humans except to worship Me alone.

Consider an example from this world, if a company like Ford or Toyota had a mission to build quality cars, people would think they were being foolish if they got into the business of providing haircuts. Similarly, if they used their money on non-productive activities or worse—had no business plan at all, not many would consider they had a longer-term chance of success.

Since the Hereafter is so much more important than this life, does it not make sense that we should organize our lives to fulfill our goal for reaching God’s Kingdom?

Read more at: What is Your Goal In Life?

Peace.

Lessons from Honeybees

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Peace be upon you,

Honeybees choose a new home by due consultation, and a process of consensus building that's quick and effective by God's design. How effective? They end up making the right choice some 90-95% of the time according to Professor Thomas Seeley.

The process honey bees use to choose their home reminds us of a variety of Quranic principles that God recommends for us in our lives and our decision-making. In Chapter 42 of the Quran (title: Consultation, or Al-Shoora in Arabic), God encourages the believers to decide their affairs by due consultation (Quran 42:38).

For this democratic process to work, we need to uphold the truth and be absolutely equitable when bearing witness (Quran 2:177, 5:8). Another helpful trait, is that scout bees (who are usually elder and more experienced) do not blindly follow what another honey bee is saying—they verify the information for themselves (Quran 17:36). Finally, we see that the bees are not fanatical or egotistical about their viewpoints. Once they have presented the hive and how good they think it is, they are open-minded and willing to accept other viewpoints and be part of forming a consensus with the rest of the hive, even if it is not the opinion they originally presented.

All of these fall into traits God recommends for humans, and important for a successful democracy:

• truthfulness (3:17)
• killing one’s ego (2:54)
• not insisting on our ways despite the proofs (98:1)
• seeking the truth rather than being wedded to one’s personal opinion (38:26)
• regarding one’s associates (4:36)

To conclude with a few verses from Quran on bees and consultation.

The Bee

[Quran 16:68-69] And your Lord inspired the bee: build homes in mountains and trees, and in (the hives) they build for you. Then eat from all the fruits, following the design of your Lord, precisely. From their bellies comes a drink of different colors, wherein there is healing for the people. This should be (sufficient) proof for people who reflect.*
*16:69 Besides its recognized nutritive value, honey has been scientifically proven as a healing medicine for certain allergies and other ailments.
   
[Quran 42:38] They respond to their Lord by observing the Contact Prayers (Salat). Their affairs are decided after due consultation among themselves, and from our provisions to them they give (to charity).

 

Related Articles

• God's Design of the Bee
• Characteristics of a successful human Society

Peace.

New discoveries on fungi–praise God for His infinite variety

 

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Peace be upon you,

God's design of the heavens and the earth, and the huge number and varieties of species He placed on this planet are signs for people (Quran 16:8-13, 41:53). Shouldn’t natural selection have gotten rid of many of these species? Some are fragile and barely have a reason for hanging around, and others of course man took care of in his indiscriminate selfishness and lack of care of the planetary resources. But God Creates, and God chooses.

In further proof of how little we know, an entirely new branch of fungi (which may double the known kingdom) was recently discovered by British biologists. Praise be to God. How many more such creatures are out there? And how much more do we have yet to learn and discover by God’s leave?

[Quran 16:8] ... Additionally, He creates what you do not know.

Knowing God

[Quran 10:61] ... Not even an atom's weight is out of your Lord's control, be it in the heavens or the earth. Nor is there anything smaller than an atom, or larger, that is not recorded in a profound record.

[Quran 55:10] He created the earth for all creatures.

Article on Masjid Tucson about God's infinite Variety ( http://www.masjidtucson.org/publications/books/SP/1999/jan/page1.html )

On a related note, Submission-World is a website on God’s creations, the beauty and signs around us.

Peace.

Mathematical Miracle of Quran

The mathematical miracle of Quran is a powerful proof from God (Quran 74:30-35). Those who submit to God recognize this proof and their faith is strengthened (74:31). The proof based on the number 19 is present throughout the Quran, beginning at Chapter 1.

[Quran 74:30] Over it is nineteen.
...
[74:35] This is one of the great miracles.

The first chapter (sura) of the Quran is titled "The Key" (Al-Fatehah). It is short (7 verses), but contains strong mathematical signs. It is the chapter that Submitters (Muslims) recite in their Contact Prayers every day.

The Miracle of Miracles

Peace.

Heaven and Hell

A key understanding in Quran is that the absence of God is Hell (19:71-72). Heaven, by contrast, is defined by our closeness to God.

Everyone Sees Hell*

[Quran 19:71] Every single one of you must see it; this is an irrevocable decision of your Lord.
[Quran 19:72] Then we rescue the righteous, and leave the transgressors in it, humiliated.
*19:71 As detailed in Appendix 11, we will be resurrected prior to God's physical arrival to our universe. That will be a temporary taste of Hell, since the absence of God is Hell. When God comes (89:22), the righteous will be rescued. See 19:72.
[Quran 56:10-12] Then there is the elite of the elite. They are those who will be closest (to God). In the gardens of bliss.

A question people sometimes have is regarding the materialistic descriptions of Heaven and Hell in the Quran. The descriptions of Heaven and Hell throughout Quran are allegorical. And the Quran tells us so whenever such descriptions occur as independent statements, not within a general subject. See 2:24-26, 13:35, and 47:15. The word "Mathal" (allegory) is used in these verses. Linguistically, the word "Mathal" in these verses can be removed, and we still have perfect sentences. But it is there because the descriptions of Heaven and Hell are allegorical.
Thus, it is not about literally getting everything the hearts desire and the eyes wish for (Quran 43:71), but rather describing the extent of happiness and bliss in heaven.
The worldly analogies are the closest we can get to understanding how much joy and happiness await those who make it back to God’s Kingdom and Paradise. Because, in truth—we have no idea how wonderful it is (Quran 32:17).

Heaven: Indescribably Beautiful

[Quran 32:17] You have no idea how much joy and happiness are waiting for you as a reward for your (righteous) works.
More on the Day of Resurrection, and Heaven and Hell.

Submission (Islam), a Universal Religion

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

The joke goes, Heaven must be empty--since every religion is busy condemning the rest of the world to Hell. So, who's left to make it to  Heaven?

According to the Quran (2:62, 5:69), anyone who fulfills the following 3 criteria: (1) belief in God, (2) belief in the Hereafter, (3) leading a righteous life.

Surely, those who believe, those who are Jewish, the Christians, and the converts; anyone who
(1) believes in GOD, and
(2) believes in the Last Day, and
(3) leads a righteous life,
will receive their recompense from their Lord; they have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve.
             [Quran 2:62, 5:69]

Logically, if you don't believe in God or Heaven, you don't care about making it there. And if you believe (paying more than lip-service), you will do your best to lead a righteous life. Thus the Quranic criteria are both logical and inclusive. All praise be to God. He is the Most Gracious and the Most Merciful.

If you've felt this way all along, you may already be a submitter to God.

In the future, God willing, more on Heaven and Hell.

Uprooting Terror

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Peace be upon you,

“Islamic” terror continues to be propagated by so-called “muslim scholars”. Ironically the scholars claim to follow Prophet Muhammad.  Nothing can be further from the truth. God revealed the Quran through Muhammad to eradicate the era of unjust aggression and ignorance.The same scholars will tell you that in his life, Muhammad did not fight wars of aggression, instead he only fought in self-defense (Quran 2:190-193). Ironic, isn't it? In their quest for power, the mullahs have it all wrong. They would do well to reflect on what the Quran clearly teaches.

[Quran 10:57]  O people, enlightenment has come to you herein from your Lord, and healing for anything that troubles your hearts, and guidance, and mercy for the believers.

[Quran 7:28] They commit a gross sin, then say, "We found our parents doing this, and GOD has commanded us to do it." Say, "GOD never advocates sin. Are you saying about GOD what you do not know?"

[Quran 2:190] You may fight in the cause of GOD against those who attack you, but do not aggress. GOD does not love the aggressors.
*2:190 All fighting is regulated by the basic rule in 60:8-9. Fighting is allowed strictly in self-defense, while aggression and oppression are strongly condemned throughout the Quran.

Read the full article on uprooting fundamental Islamic terror.