Humility – The Path to God

 

God created human beings to worship Him and a practising Muslim in, essence, should be able to worship God in every second, of every hour of every day. Islam is a way of life and it means nothing more, or less, than submission to the One God.

{And I (God) created not the jinn and humans except they should worship Me Alone.} (Quran 51:56)

The concept of God in Islam describes Him as the most Merciful and the most Loving and whatever He prescribes for humankind is in the best interest of humankind. Submission to the will of God is a pathway to purity, to peace and ultimately to Paradise.

The word the Quran most frequently uses to describe worship is Ibadah. Ibadah is the root of the word ‘ubudiyyah, which means to express ones humility or humbleness, and as with most Arabic words there are many shades of meaning. Ibadah involves more than an awareness of humility. It is the complete sense of humbleness that overcomes one who is totally submitted to the will of God, the Almighty. Worship is submission to God, the essential part of submission is humility.

{So glorify the praises of your Lord and be of those who prostrate themselves (to Him).} (Quran 15:98)

Humility can guide us to Paradise, just as its opposite, arrogance can only lead us into Hell. It is Satan’s arrogance that caused his expulsion from Paradise; when he refused to humbly obey God’s command and prostrate before Adam, the father of mankind, he condemned himself and his followers to Hell. Satan’s lack of submission, or humility, resulted in one of the most pious of God’s creatures falling into the abyss.[1]

{Except Satan, he refused to be among the prostrators. God said, ‘O Satan! What is your reason for not being among the prostrators? ‘Satan said: ‘I am not the one to prostrate myself to a human being, whom You created from sounding clay…} (Quran 15:30-35)

No one who behaves arrogantly or who acts as if he or she has power over others is capable of true submission. All power and strength is from God Alone. All human beings are equal in the sight of God and the distinctions between nations, tribes, and families are only to know each other and not for the sake pride.

{O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with God is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa (God consciousness). Verily, God is All-Knowing, All-Aware.} (Quran 49:13)

Humility is Piety

The main pillar of worship, Ibadah, is the prayer. The congregational prayer is performed in rows where all men stand before God as equals.[2] There is no special place for the rich or powerful, the meek and poor are not relegated to the back lines. Each man bows his head in humility knowing that his brothers, on either side of him are equally important in the sight of God. Only one thing raises one man or woman above another – piety. True piety or righteousness is not achievable without cultivating a sense of humility.

{And turn not your face away from men with pride, nor walk in insolence through the earth. Verily, God likes not each arrogant boaster.} (Quran 31:18)

Humility comes from knowing about God and recognizing His greatness, venerating Him, loving Him and being in awe of Him; and it comes from knowing about oneself and one’s own faults, and weaknesses. God gives this characteristic to those who struggle to become close to Him through deeds of piety and righteousness.[3] A companion close to the Prophet Muhammad heard him say:

“Wealth does not decrease because of charity, and God increases His slave in honor when he forgives others. And no one humbles himself before God but God will raise him (in status).” (Muslim)

Humility is one of the greatest blessings God can bestow on a human being. It allows one to achieve genuine submission. Prophet Muhammad was truly submitted to God; his character was one of complete humility and based on sincere trust in God. He was a model of kindness and humbleness. In fact, the characteristics displayed by Prophet Muhammad were the exact opposite of pride and arrogance. Every aspect of his life reflected humbleness, even his walking, talking, sitting or eating.

The Prophet did not behave towards others as if he was better than they were, nor did he spurn manual work. One of his companions reported that Prophet Muhammad worked happily with servants or workers. Other companions related that the Prophet tidied his house, tied camels, feed animals, ate meals with his servants, and helped them in kneading dough and bringing provisions from the market. It was also reported that he used to visit the sick, attend funerals, ride on a donkey, slow down his pace for the sake of the weak and accept invitations from the poor.

The companions of Prophet Muhammad and the early generations of Muslims understood the concept of humility. They behaved humbly towards God and mankind because of their love for God, and their fellow man, and fear of punishment in the Hereafter.

During his Caliphate, Omar ibn Al Khattab was marching upon Damascus with his army. Abu Ubayda was with him. They came upon a little lake. Omar descended from his camel, took off his shoes, tied them together, and hung them on his shoulder. He then took the halter off his camel and they entered the water together. Seeing this in front of the army, Abu Ubayda said:

“O Commander of the Believers! How can you be so humble in front of all your men?”

Omar answered:

“Woe to you, Abu Ubayda! If only anyone else other than you thought this way! Thoughts like this will cause the downfall of the Muslims. Don’t you see we were indeed a very lowly people? God raised us to a position of honor and greatness through Islam. If we forget who we are and wish other than the Islam which elevated us, the One who raised us surely will debase us.”

The one who is truly humble is the one who is truly blessed. Every time he feels superior to others, he remembers God, the Most Great and Omnipotent, and humbles himself in true submission.

{And the slaves of God are those who walk on the earth in humility and calmness, and when the foolish address them (with bad words) they reply back with mild words of gentleness.} (Quran 25:63)

Source: NewMuslims.com

________

Footnotes:

[1] Satan was a being from among the Jinn. His level of piety was so high he was eligible to worship with the Angels.

[2] In congregational prayer, men and women are separated. Women often have their own separate area.

[3] Ibn ul Qayyim

About Aisha Stacey

Aisha Stacey is the mother of three adult children. She embraced Islam in 2002 and spent the next five years in Doha, Qatar studying Islam and working at the Fanar Cultural Centre. In 2006 Aisha returned to university for a second time and completed at Bachelor of Arts and a Graduate Certificate in Writing. Aisha is also a published writer in both internet and print media and in 2009 -10 she was the Queensland editor at a national Australian Islamic newspaper ~ Crescent Times.

Struggling with Anxiety & Inferiority Feelings

Anxiety can reach a point where it’s crippling and takes so much from your life.

It interferes with your daily functioning and isolates you from others.

When you feel that things are not going well and you start losing control, turn to a therapist or GP for assessment.

Whether it is depression or anxiety, they are going to help you find the reasons behind it.

Feeling less than others is not a default mode; you can learn to think better about yourself.

- aboutislam.net

About Aisha Mohammad

Aisha has a PhD in psychology, an MS in public health and a PsyD. Aisha worked as a Counselor/Psychologist for 12 years at Geneva B. Scruggs Community Health Care Center in New York. She has worked with clients with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, panic disorder, trauma, and OCD. She also facilitated support groups and provided specialized services for victims of domestic violence, HIV positive individuals, as well youth/teen issues. Aisha is certified in Mindfulness, Trauma Informed Care, Behavioral Management, Restorative Justice/ Healing Circles, Conflict Resolution, Mediation, and Confidentiality & Security. Aisha is also a Certified Life Coach, and Relationship Workshop facilitator. Aisha has a part-time Life Coaching practice in which she integrates the educational concepts of stress reduction, mindfulness, introspection, empowerment, self love and acceptance and spirituality to create a holistic healing journey for clients. Aisha is also a part of several organizations that advocates for prisoner rights/reentry, social & food justice, as well as advocating for an end to oppression & racism. In her spare time, Aisha enjoys her family, photography, nature, martial arts classes, Islamic studies, volunteering/charity work, as well as working on her book and spoken word projects.

Is It Haram to Be Naked at Home?

 

In his Sahih, Imam Al-Bukhari narrated that Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) was a very shy and modest man, and none of his skin was ever seen because he was so modest.

So some of the Children of Israel annoyed him by saying, ‘He is only being so modest because he has some fault in his skin, such as leprosy, scrotal hernia, or the like.’

Allah wanted to demonstrate that he was free of what they were saying about him.

One day Moses went away by himself, put his garment on a rock, and washed himself. When he had finished, he went to pick up his garment and the rock ran away with it.

Moses picked up his stick and ran after the rock, saying, ‘My garment, O rock! My garment, O rock!’ Then he reached a group of the Children of Israel, who saw him naked and that he was the best that Allah had created and the most free of the faults that they had spoken of.

Then the rock stopped, so Moses took his garment and struck the rock with his stick.

By Allah, there were marks left on the rock by his stick, three or four or five.

This is what Allah told us about in the verse that reads, ‘O you who believe! Be not like those who annoyed Moses, but Allah cleared him of that which they alleged, and he was honorable before Allah’ (Al-Ahzab 33:69)

Scholars quoted this hadith as evidence that it is permissible to be naked when one is alone, especially if that is for a reason such as taking a bath.

Most of the scholars regarded this as being permissible, as Al-Hafizh said in Al-Fath.

Al-Bukhari gave this chapter the title “Chapter on one who bathes naked when he is alone, although whoever covers himself, covering is preferable.”

The fact that covering oneself is preferable is taken from the hadith which was narrated by the compilers of Sunan and classed as sound by At-Tirmidhi and as authentic by Al-Hakim, from Muawiyah ibn Haydah, who said:

I said, “O Messenger of Allah, when should we cover our awrah (parts of the body that need to be covered in front of others) and when may we uncover it?”

He said, “Protect (cover) your awrah from everyone except your wife and those whom your right hand possesses.”

I said, “O Messenger of Allah, what about when one of us is alone?” He said, “Allah is more deserving than the people that you should be modest before Him.”

Allah Almighty knows best.

Source: www.islamqa.info

About Sheikh Muhammad Saleh Al-Munajjid

ًA well-known Saudi lecturer and author

Want a House in Paradise? Stick to This Sunnah

In this video, Ustadh Omar Suleiman shares with us the teachings of the Prophet (SAW) through acompelling Hadith that underscores the spiritual value of Sunnah prayers, beyond the obligatory ones, the reward of that is a house in Paradise, can you imagine that? Allah the Almighty will build a house for you in Jannah! Who doesn’t want that? - aboutislam.net

What is the Purpose of Hereafter According to Islam?

 

There are two points to discuss : understanding the purpose of this life and understanding the purpose of the hereafter.

What’s the purpose of this life?

It’s essential to understand that the Creator Allah Almighty doesn’t ‘need’ our worship in the sense of requesting empty/purposeless ritualistic movements.

The worship that is mentioned in the Qur’an is much deeper than that.

When the Creator Allah Almighty told us the story of creating Adam (and subsequently mankind), He said that He made Adam a successive authority on earth, and He taught Adam (see Qur’an 2: 30-31).

This means that all of us, mankind, will be taught by the Creator in this life. He created this entire universe for us to teach us and test us.

Since we have an authority, this means we also have a free will to make choices.

Throughout the Qur’an, you will find verses talking about Allah teaching us, and about the choices that people make.

For example:

“Recite in the name of your Lord who created –
Created man from a clinging substance.
Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous –
Who taught by the pen –
Taught man that which he knew not.” (96: 1-5)

“And [by] the soul and He who proportioned it
And inspired it [with discernment of] its wickedness and its righteousness,
He has succeeded who purifies it,
And he has failed who instills it [with corruption].” (91: 7-10)

So, we learn and we make choices.

Now, essentially, we need to learn about our Creator, the purpose of life and how to get eternal success/happiness.

When we learn about Allah from His Own Words, the Qur’an, we will know that He is The All-Knowing, All-Encompassing, All-Wise, Source of Love, Mercy, Power, Might, Beauty…etc.

These are His Names and Attributes.

In this life, we get glimpses of these elements to learn and understand His Nature, appreciate and connect with Him.

But seeing Him, getting the full reward and full picture is in the hereafter.

Obviously, if we see Allah, there is no test and no purpose. Imagine anything beautiful, powerful, intelligent, loving, merciful you’ve ever witnessed in your life, then multiply that by Infinity!

Who can reject or turn away from The Source of Ultimate Perfection?

But, His eternal closeness is reserved for those who are sincerely faithful. Faith here is not merely about empty movements and words of love.

It is very easy to love/connect/worship when everything is going well. But when the going gets tough, the true nature of one’s love, faith and commitment appear.

In this life, we are tested with the good and bad, the hardship and ease, the health and illness, the giving and deprivation. These are all part of the test.

The test could be hard, yes, but tests are harder when the rewards are bigger. The PhD exam is not like the elementary school exam; the higher the prize, the tougher the test.

Allah who created this astoundingly impressive universe is promising us eternal happiness where we get whatever we desire forever with no need to do anything ever again.

You can read here about Jannah and the immense rewards to get a fuller picture.

This is an unrivaled reward, and it is definitely worth the effort.

Imagine someone offering you 10 billion dollars and two islands when you retire, isn’t this worth some effort?

The people who miss this reward are those who belittle/ignore/reject or don’t see the full picture, and the full picture is in the hereafter.

When you find people complaining “why do bad things happen to good people?”, “why is there evil in the world?” — This is all because they’re missing the hereafter dimension.

So, What’s the Purpose of the Hereafter?

Imagine if a man murdered one hundred human souls, how can we punish him in this life?

Will we be able to murder someone one hundred times to account for each person he harmed?

Even if we tried, we cannot establish full justice in this world.

There are individuals who have launched unjust wars, killed thousands/millions of people, enslaved, tortured, raped, abused, harassed and viciously harmed others.

You can’t fully punish the criminal or fully repay the innocents here.

The hereafter, then, is what makes this life make sense.

None of the injustices, corruption or evil will go without account… and no good deed will go without full reward either:

“That Day, the people will depart separated [into categories] to be shown [the result of] their deeds.
So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it
And whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.” (Qur’an 99: 6-8)

“Indeed, Allah does not do injustice, [even] as much as an atom’s weight; while if there is a good deed, He multiplies it and gives from Himself a great reward.” (Qur’an 4: 40)

We can choose to do good and thus get eternal rewards that are much more than we ever imagine, deserve or work for, or we can choose to do wrong/evil/reject/disbelieve, and thus be held accountable for what we’ve done.

Now is the time to make the choice, and none of us can withhold our own death or emergence to the Day of Judgment.

“This Day every soul will be recompensed for what it earned. No injustice today! Indeed, Allah is swift in account.” (40:17)

I genuinely advise you to read the Qur’an carefully from cover to cover.

Get the full message, and then it is your choice to believe or reject.

I also suggest you to watch “The purpose of life” a thought-provoking lecture by a former atheist professor who accepted Islam after reading the Qur’an.

Also, the short handbook, The Amazing Qur’an, by Dr. Gary Miller will give you great insights.

- aboutislam.net

About Dina Mohamed Basiony

Dina Mohamed Basiony is a writer based in Cairo, Egypt. She specializes in Islam and spirituality. Dina holds an MA and BA in Journalism and Mass Communication from the American University in Cairo.

Advance Directives and Living Will for Muslims

 

The practices of advance directives, living will, and medical power of attorney, which are common in the West, are in harmony with Islamic law, and their use is permissible and legitimate.

The patient has the right to appoint someone to act on their behalf in medical consent matters. In the event of the patient’s incapacity and the absence of the proxy, guardianship transfers to the blood relatives, who are the heirs, both women and men, according to the majority view.

If the secular laws grant guardianship to those other than the legal guardians, the legal guardian can request a proxy from the legal heirs or enforce their consultation.

If the patient’s condition and the nature of their illness are unknown, it is obligatory to initiate resuscitation to avert danger from them and as a precaution to preserve life. This is a communal obligation, and it becomes a specific duty for the doctor and medical team, who bear the legal responsibility.

Almighty Allah knows best.

Source: AMJA Online.

About AMJA

Permanent Fatwa Committee of the Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America (AMJA)

Little Hands Around the House

 

You see them everywhere – on the walls with crayons, in the fridge with hungry bellies – across the room, unearthing the Lego.

They are even on your computer, patting happily away at the keyboard and sometimes on the screen.

Any mum would know these little hands have truly a hand at causing mayhem and havoc around the abode they know as their home.

Whether it’s smashing up crackers or tossing building blocks across the living room, these little hands are those who were once cradled by the hand that will rock the world – you. That’s what they all say.

But between rocking the world and re-folding clothes, how does a mum get little children to help out around the house, while acknowledging the fact that there are little, busy hands that do enjoy the sanctity of a messy house?

A Little Interior Designing Ingenuity Would Help…

Having children requires some thought when it comes to rearranging and managing all the things you have in your home, whether they are furniture, boxes, toys, or breakables. All of these need to be arranged in a way that allows for the least damage and the easiest clean-up, without too much clutter.

Boxes (with lids) that are kept and stored at appropriate heights are a little helpful. In fact, storage systems that are age-appropriate are also encouraged in a multi-aged household.

Keep little books well in reach, as well as some toys, and everything else safely above them. In fact, keeping only a few books or toys around will help curtail the mess significantly. Books and toys can be rotated every 2 to 3 months to curb the clutter.

When each child has its own designated place for storage, cleaning up becomes a little easier. Have a little nook set up for the little ones, and they will be more likely to keep their own toys.

Make it a habit to show them how to put toys away after they play. This is obviously easier for older children, but even for toddlers, their innate enthusiasm to copy others may work to your advantage.

Cultivate the Love for the Home…

Talking about the blessings of having a home and living as a family is one way to cultivate a deep love for the family home.

Make it a habit to recite the morning du’a with your children and discuss how many blessings they have already received from Allah without venturing out of the home.

The list is endless. Their beds, their belongings, their breakfasts and snacks –these are all blessings that often drop through their fingers without realizing it.

By reminding our children of how important their home is and how it’s one of the greatest blessings from Allah, they will also begin to develop a deep love for their Provider from a very young age, imbuing the emotion of gratitude deep in their subconscious.

When children are naturally encouraged to be grateful, they tend to outgrow their phases of self-centeredness a little quicker. Say “Alhamdulillah” constantly for everything you have, and your children, too, will grow in appreciation of how much they receive from their Lord.

Working together as a family is also a blessing, so remind each other that blessings come in all shapes and sizes.

Talking about the blessings of having a home and living as a family is one way to cultivate a deep love for the family home.

Make it a habit to recite the morning du’a with your children and discuss how many blessings they have already received from Allah without venturing out of the home.

The list is endless. Their beds, their belongings, their breakfasts, and their snacks—these are all blessings that often slip through their fingers without them realizing it.

By reminding your children that they are blessed, even with the smallest abode, you act as a reminder to love their home and keep it neat and tidy. With that, constantly encourage them to always keep their toys and put their books back in place, because those—at any age—are precious blessings from Allah.

Create a Chore Chart…

Everyone in the family should have designated chores. Though the little ones may need help keeping their toys and pencils organized, make sure everyone works together to keep the play area tidy.

Older children may help out around the kitchen and even in the dining area during meals.

Chores need to be ability-appropriate, such as taking out the garbage.

Though some chores may take forever to get done, with little children always getting sidetracked and needing constant reminders, having household chores will help children and the family in the long run, as keeping tidy is an important habit to cultivate.

Quick Clean Up Time…

Fix a schedule for tidying up. Just before lunch, and just before winding down in the evenings, create a quick clean up time.

Get everyone to tidy up in 20 minutes and make it fun. Race, laugh, and score points as everyone completes their tasks.

Turning this into a routine helps in the long run, as small tasks create habits, and habits create character.

Create a Score Chart…

A score chart is a great way to reward children, though it would work for younger children.

A simple sticker chart for every chore done is a great way to motivate them to keep the house tidy. After a while, they will get so used to helping around the house that they wouldn’t need the score chart.

Other treats such as a trip to the park or ice cream are also great rewards for being wonderful children – but pace yourself too – or you would be dishing out rewards every single day – not that it’s a bad thing at all – at least the house is clean.

Let It Go and Enjoy….

Lastly, remember to let it go – all of it if it’s possible. We win some and we lose some.

Sometimes we lose a lot, but the fact that there are children running havoc in our homes is more than a blessing alone.

Remember that only Allah knows best, the trials of having and raising children, and with every hardship, (even a little one, like spilled milk), two blessings await their caregiver.

Some days the house will be cleaner than others; some days are beyond repair.

But at the end of their childhood, everything will have balanced out, and for the better at most, if they had fun and enjoyed the security of their own home with you—and if their little hands created memories all over the house.

- aboutislam.net

About Maria Zain

Maria Zain AboutIslam.net author who passed away in December 2014.

Does God Love Us All Unconditionally?

 

God loves humans but hates their sins.

This means that although bad deeds merit God’s disapproval and subsequent punishment, they also invoke His infinite mercy on a weak creature whom He has lovingly created, to whom He has given life, and whom He has nurtured with gifts and bounty.

Allah describes Himself in the Quran as “The Loving”:

And He is the Forgiving and Loving (Quran 85:14)

Yet love must be expressed in action; otherwise it’s just a word without meaning.

For example: A man may say to his wife “I love you” and then may treat her badly. Does he love her?

Love between humans and God follows the same principle of actions consistent with words.

It must mean obedience from us to God — as His grateful creation — and mercy from God to us as our loving Creator.

Manifestations of God’s Love

Allah’s love is translated in His attributes of forgiveness, compassion, and mercy.

While His love is bestowed lavishly on those who earned it, His mercy is unconditional.

You receive it whether you are an obedient person, a sinner, or even a pagan or idolater.

If a non-believer sincerely asks God’s help or protection in an emergency, he gets it, although God knows he will turn back to sin as soon as he is rescued.

Despite this, he is given an unconditional dose of God’s infinite mercy that he may find the right path:

When trouble touches a man, he cries unto Us (in all postures), lying down on his side, or sitting, or standing. But when We have solved his trouble, he passes on his way as if he had never cried to Us for a trouble that touched him! Thus do the deeds of transgressors seem fair in their eyes! (Yunus 10:12)

People everywhere in the world obtain their sustenance from Allah regardless of their beliefs.

Many evil people are even very rich because Allah gives them good things in this life, although He knows that they have not earned safety in the hereafter.

On the other hand, believers who follow through with good deeds receive special blessings from Allah: happiness and contentment in this life — even in the midst of trials and tests — and reward in the hereafter for holding on to their faith under pressure.

Allah loves them because they have shown their love to Him practically.

God’s Greatest Mercy to Us: Forgiveness

Allah gives a person a lifelong opportunity to turn away from sin and disobedience, and to choose the right path in order to receive His forgiveness.

Those who commit evil are hurting themselves in this life and the next.

However, Allah’s forgiveness has no limits and the only condition is asking for it:

O My slaves (mankind) who have been prodigal to their own hurt! Despair not of the mercy of Allah, Who forgives all sins. He is the Forgiving, the Merciful. (Quran 39:53-58)

Forgiving sins and accepting repentance is a manifestation of God’s love.

He is absolutely just and fair to the minutest detail, so everyone gets exactly what they deserved, plus extra measures of compassion, mercy, and forgiveness.

Prophet Muhammad said:

Allah said: ‘O son of Adam! I shall go on forgiving you so long as you pray to Me and aspire for My forgiveness whatever may be your sins. O son of Adam! I do not care even if your sins should pile up to the sky and should you beg pardon of Me, I would forgive you. O son of Adam! If you come to Me with an Earth-full of sins and meet Me, not associating anything with Me in worship, I will certainly grant you as much pardon as will fill the earth’ (At-Tirmidhi).

Expressing Our Love for God

On the other hand, our expression of love for God is being completely obedient to Him in order to gain His love and mercy.

The Quran says what means:

If you love Allah show it in your conduct and obey Allah and His Messenger, for obedience of His Messenger is the obedience of Allah. (Quran 4:80)

Say, if you love Allah, obey me (Muhammad), Allah will love you and forgive you your sins, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. (Quran 3:31)

Gaining Allah’s Love

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“When Allah loves a slave, He calls Jibreel (Gabriel) and says: ‘I love so-and-so; so love him.’ And then Jibreel loves him. Then Jibreel announces in the heavens saying: ‘Allah loves so-and-so; so love him’; then the inhabitants of the heavens (the angels) also love him; and then people on earth love him.” (Al-Bukhari)

Ibn Al-Qayyim, in his book Madarij As-Salikeen, gives us a prescription to help us gain the love of Allah:

• Giving precedence to what He loves over what you love when you are overtaken by your desires
• Remembering Allah under all circumstances, with your tongue, heart, and actions
• Pondering the beauty of His creation and the wisdom in the universe
• Observing Allah’s kindness, goodness, and bounties
• Having a soft, subdued, and meek heart before Allah
• Being alone with Allah during the last portion of the night while reading His Book, then repenting and asking for forgiveness
• Accompanying the good and sincere people and benefiting from their knowledge
• Keeping away from any evil that comes between the heart and Allah
• Performing voluntary deeds after completing obligatory deeds as is explained in the hadith qudsi: “My slave continues getting closer to Me by performing voluntary deeds until I love him.” (Al-Bukhari)

Allah knows best.

- aboutislam.net

About Sahar El-Nadi

Sahar El-Nadi is an Egyptian freelance journalist who traveled to 25 countries around the world and currently based in Cairo. Sahar also worked in many people-related careers in parallel, including presenting public events and TV programs; instructing training courses in communication skills; cross cultural issues; image consulting for public speakers; orientation for first-time visitors to the Middle East; and localization consulting for international educational projects.

Are We Entirely Free?

 

Whether humans have free will or not is one of the most debated questions in philosophy and religion. The problem can be stated thus: If God is in full control, humans cannot have freedom, as everything is pre-determined by God. So either God is not in full control, or humans have no freedom of will and action.

God’s Ambassador

From the Quranic point of view, Man is the khalifah (vicegerent) of God on earth and everything here has been created for him. This means that Allah has given Man certain abilities to act here as His ambassador. These gifts of Man will be useless unless he has freedom, so God has given him freedom too. Yet, it is within limits, as human abilities too are limited.

It is clearly stated in the Quran that life on earth is a testing ground for Man. And we know that any test requires that the tested should have the freedom to act on their own initiative. Otherwise, there is no meaning in such tests.

As the chief faculty of Man is his reason, he can use it to good purpose. He can study the world around him as well as assess his own potential and scope of action. On that basis, Man strives to achieve the objectives and goals he visualizes.

Allah (swt) says in Surah 99, verses 7-8:

{Whoever has done an atom’s weight of good shall get its reward and whoever has done an atom’s weight of evil shall meet with its consequences.}

Also in Surah 53, verse 39:

{Man shall have nothing but what he strives for.}

Freedom & Divine Guidance

Everything is accounted for, and nothing is wasted in God’s scheme of things. Allah (swt) in His infinite mercy has given Man guidance too. This is to help him use his freedom and faculties to his own benefit and live a meaningful life here.

Allah wants Man to use the freedom He has given in accordance with His guidance. This means that the scope and potential of Man’s freedom is within the framework of God’s jurisdiction and control. For this reason, we may say that Man is not a master of his fate; nor is he a mere cog in the wheel of destiny.

God says in Surah 13, verse 11:

{Allah will never change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.}

So ‘taqdir’ used in the Quran does not signify that Man is deprived of free will. It stands for the latent possibilities Allah has invested in the nature of things. It also signifies God’s grand design of creation as well as His foreknowledge; but it does not imply that human beings have been completely deprived of freedom of will or action.

For this reason, Man’s freedom of will – if he ignores divine guidance – can lead him to do wrong things, as suggested by your atheist friend. That exactly is the reason why we need divine guidance; to keep ourselves upright and steady in times of extreme trials.

Thus, from the Islamic point of view, it is our willful choice of those actions from our inherent possibilities, that are in harmony with God’s will that earns us our reward from Him. Our efforts should always be to see that our choices and actions are in agreement with God’s guidance.

- aboutislam.net

About Professor Shahul Hameed

Professor Shahul Hameed is an Islamic consultant. He also held the position of the President of the Kerala Islamic Mission, Calicut, India. He is the author of three books on Islam published in the Malayalam language. His books are on comparative religion, the status of women, and science and human values.

Afraid of Future? 4 Ways to Combat Anxiety

 

Anxiety is being afraid to face things which might happen. It’s being afraid to face our futures and the consequences of our actions. And it’s not just a psychological state. It affects our bodies in the following ways:

• Sweating
• Trembling
• Dizziness
• Rapid heartbeat

In this world of uncertainties, anxiety is a pretty common problem. Probably everyone has suffered from it at some point. Many of us are perpetually anxious, and we just don’t know how to cease to be scared of the future.

Of course, this is different from thinking of the future and preparing for it, which is very much encouraged in Islam. We’re supposed to think about the hereafter all the time, and that thinking should be reflected in all the things we do throughout our lives.

We prepare for getting Jannah and saving ourselves from the Fire. That is a praiseworthy characteristic, and that doesn’t fall under the category of anxiety.

We’re scared of a whole lot of things. We wonder how we’ll manage to pay next month’s bills, how we’ll manage to pass our exams, and whether we’ll look funny wearing that particular dress. We’re afraid of standing up and speaking to our colleagues during a presentation.

So how do we cease to be afraid and start living our lives with peace? Here are a few tips which may help.

1- Change of Attitude: Know that Allah Says You Don’t Need To Be Afraid

This phrase occurs so many times in the Quran that you probably know it by heart:

. . . there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.

Allah says about a group of people that there will be no fear on them. Who are these amazing people?

Allah says this after He orders Adam and Eve to descend on earth:

We said, ‘Go down from it, all of you. And when guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance – there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.’ (2:38)

Allah clarifies further in other places what is means to ‘follow My guidance’:

Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds and establish prayer and give zakah will have their reward with their Lord, and there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve. (2:277)

So it means that if we obey Allah, we don’t need to be scared of the future.

2- Change of Attitude: Have Tawakkul

Just remember that the Prophet said:

If you were to rely on Allah as He should be relied on, He would provide for you as He provides for the birds. They go out early in the morning hungry and return in the evening full. (At-Tirmidhi)

Let go of all your worries. Close your eyes and jump off the cliff, confident that Allah is there to catch you.

3- Change of Attitude: Develop Optimism

Some people have this unhealthy notion that a Muslim is supposed to be pessimistic – he/she has to wallow in grief and anxiety thinking about the worsening situation of the ummah and about the Hellfire.

You just need to ask one question to dispel this idea: did the Prophet behave in that way? He was a very optimistic person. In fact, he advised us to think the best about Allah, and that automatically means being optimistic about the future.

Professor Lyubomirsky mentions some excellent methods of cultivating optimism in her book The How of Happiness. Here is one of them:

“Best possible self” diary: Take a nice notepad and paper, sit in a quiet place and take 20-30 minutes and imagine a future where all your plans and wishes have come true, and you’re at your best. Write down everything you can imagine it looks and feels like.

According to Lyubomirsky , ‘You may discover new insights into yourself as you write about your future and your goals.’ We tend to focus more on the negatives when we’re anxious. This diary approach will highlight the positives in our minds and make us feel better.

4- Action Point: Apply CBT

Once you know for sure that Allah guarantees you won’t be sad if you obey Him, have complete trust that Allah will take care of everything, and have a written record of positive outcomes, you are ready to fight Shaytan’s whispers. Learn more about CBT in my article How Shaytan Whispers.

Take about ten minutes everyday to do the following exercise:

Negative Thoughts	Positive Thoughts

Write down all the thoughts that are worrying you in the left column. Then take each thought individually, analyze it rationally and see if it really is practical to think like that. Then think about an alternative positive outcome that also likely. Write the positive thought in the right column. Here are a few examples for you:

Negative Thoughts	Positive Thoughts
I’ll probably fail my exams	I’ll probably pass my exams in sha Allah
I’ll make a fool of myself during the presentation	I’ll have an awesome presentation in sha Allah

Once you have done this for a few weeks, you will notice a big decrease in the number and intensity of negative thoughts that bother you, and you’ll have a database of positive thoughts to combat them with.

Note: If you are having a serious persistent anxiety problem, do not hesitate to check with a doctor or psychiatrist, because it could be a symptom of many psychological and biological problems.

Republished from Understand Quran

About Tabassum

Tabassum is a freelance writer and online Alimiyyah student at Al-Salam Institute, UK.  ihsan.life