It is always less challenging when we
follow the mainstream concepts. It is
seemingly trouble-free path when we are
followers of a majority. Standing out as
a minority is tough and it brings up a
lot of criticism as it never appeals to
the majority! Because we are created
weak, it is so difficult not to be
driven with the flow! This has been a
tragic loss and a common human defect
- the tendency to follow the masses and
the fear of supporting what goes against
the crowd, no matter how righteous and
logical it sounds.
This tragedy has a serious impact on
us when it comes to choosing the path to
our salvation. The Quran warns us
against peer and social pressure and
sets for us many educational standards
to assist us in making our choices. God
has specifically commanded us to use our
brains and verify all presented
information (17:36.) God has warned us
that each soul is held accountable for
its own choices and that no soul will
carry the sins of another (6:164).
He has informed us that we return to Him
as individuals irrespective of our
affiliation with a majority or minority
on this earth (19:95, 6:94,18:48).
Yet, we still regress, intimidated and
pressured to choose the easy path - to
go with the flow. Satan manages to make
us feel awful when we stand out. He
instills fear in our hearts. Fear of
loneliness, rejection, and criticism if
we express our support to what the
majority is opposing .
A clear example of this fear and pear
pressure is the tendency to
blindly adopt our families' beliefs or
paths even if they are against the
guidance of the Quran. It is one example
of how we choose the trouble-free road
and go with what would please them,
while losing God's approval and
pleasure. God has warned us enough, but
rarely do we take heed:
[9:24] Proclaim:
"If your parents, your
children, your
siblings, your
spouses, your
family, the
money you have earned,
a business you
worry about, and the homes
you cherish are more beloved to
you than GOD and His messenger,** and
the striving in His cause, then just
wait until GOD brings His judgment."
GOD does not guide the wicked
people.
Inherited
Traditions Condemned
[43:22] The fact
is that: they said, "We found
our parents carrying on certain
practices, and we are following in their
footsteps."
[43:23]
Invariably, when we sent a warner to any
community, the leaders of that community
would say, "We found our
parents following certain practices, and
we will continue in their footsteps."
[43:24] (The
messenger) would say, "What
if I brought to you better guidance than
what you inherited from your parents?"
They would say, "We are disbelievers in
the message you brought."
Because of our weakness, we seek
social strength and popularity with
the majority. Satan knows this,
so he entices us to fit into groups
that compromise the truth in the
Quran. This is another example of
peer and social
pressure that intimidates us to go
with the flow. God reminds us enough
in the Quran that we shouldn't fall
into the illusion of a "powerful,
prosperous, or popular majority".
Satan will eventually claim the
majority. Why then are we impressed
by the power of the doomed? God's
support is exclusive for those who
strive to stay on His path. This is
the only valid power:
[6:116]
If you obey the majority
of people on earth, they will divert
you from the path of GOD. They
follow only conjecture; they only
guess.
Satan Claims the
Majority
[34:20] Satan
found them readily fulfilling his
expectations. They
followed him, except a few
believers.
[5:100]
Proclaim: "The bad and
the good are not the same, even if
the abundance of the bad may impress
you. You shall reverence GOD,
(even if you are in the
minority) O you who possess
intelligence, that you may succeed."
[3:160]
If GOD supports you, none
can defeat you. And if He abandons
you, who else can support you? In
GOD the believers shall trust.
The
Majority
[19:73] When
our revelations are recited to them,
clearly, those who
disbelieve say to those who believe,
"Which of us is more
prosperous? Which of us is in the
majority?"
[19:74]
Many a generation have we
annihilated before them; they were
more powerful, and more prosperous.
David and Goliath
[2:249] .....Those who
were conscious of meeting GOD
said, "Many a small
army defeated a large
army by GOD's leave.
GOD is with those who
steadfastly persevere."
[11:62] They
said, "O Saaleh, you used to
be popular among us before this.
Are you enjoining us from worshiping
what our parents are worshiping? We are
full of doubt concerning everything you
have told us."
The Disbelievers Always Losers
[11:63] He
said, "O my people, what
if I have solid proof from my Lord,
and mercy from Him?
Who would support me against GOD, if
I disobeyed Him?
You can only augment my loss.
[30:60]
Therefore, you shall steadfastly
persevere - for GOD's promise
is the truth - and do not be
intimidated by those who have not
attained certainty.
The Majority
of People Do Not Believe
[12:103]
Most people, no matter what you
do, will not believe.
The
Majority of Believers Destined for
Hell
[12:106]
The majority of those who
believe in GOD do not do so without
committing idol worship.
Through this bad company and
with his allies (Satan), we
trade in simple truthful stands
with social and personal gains.
We become hypocritically
involved with everybody, side
with the compromisers for the
sake of popularity or to please
some friends or to gain some
power and control. Satan knows
our weakness, but so does God.
He has sufficiently warned us,
but yet, we can easily be
hypocrites on a daily basis
without perceiving. How sad and
serious loss this is!
Social Pressure:
A Profound Disaster
[29:25] He said,
"You worship beside GOD
powerless idols due to peer pressure,
just to preserve some friendship among
you in this worldly life. But then,
on the Day of Resurrection, you will
disown one another, and curse one
another. Your destiny is Hell, wherein
you cannot help one another."
[7:169]
Subsequent to them, He substituted new
generations who inherited the scripture.
But they opted for the worldly life
instead, saying, "We will be
forgiven." But then
they continued to opt for the materials
of this world. Did they not make
a covenant to uphold the scripture, and
not to say about GOD except the truth?
Did they not study the
scripture? Certainly, the
abode of the Hereafter is far better for
those who maintain righteousness. Do you
not understand?
[7:170]
Those who uphold the scripture, and
observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), we
never fail to recompense the pious.
Corrupted Religious Leaders
Conceal
the Quran's Miracle*
[2:174]
Those who conceal GOD's
revelations in the scripture, in
exchange for a cheap material gain,
eat but fire into their bellies. GOD
will not speak to them on the Day of
Resurrection, nor will He purify them.
They have incurred a painful
retribution.
[4:142]
The hypocrites think that
they are deceiving GOD, but He is the
One who leads them on. When they get up
for the Contact Prayer (Salat), they get
up lazily. That is because they
only show off in front of the people,
and rarely do they think of GOD.
[4:143]
They waver in between, neither
belonging to this group, nor that group.
Whomever GOD sends astray, you will
never find a way to guide him.
God has cited for us all kinds of
examples and He warns us against
ourselves. Yet most people tend to go
with the flow, ignore all the divine
warnings, bypass the difficult path, and
choose an imaginary peace, joy, and
contentment with the crowd of "friends,"
" family," "community," etc... even if
they are compromising the guidance of
the Quran:
[90:1] I solemnly
swear by this town.
[90:2] The town
where you live.
[90:3] The
begetting and the begotten.
[90:4] We
created the human being to work hard
(to redeem himself).*
[90:5]
Does he think that no one will ever call
him to account?
[90:6] He boasts,
"I spent so much money!"
[90:7]
Does he think that no one sees him?
[90:8] Did we not
give him two eyes?
[90:9] A tongue
and two lips?
[90:10]
Did we not show him the two paths?
[90:11]
He should choose the difficult path.
[90:12]
Which one is the difficult path?
[90:13]
The freeing of slaves.
[90:14]
Feeding, during the time of hardship.
[90:15]
Orphans who are related.
[90:16]
Or the poor who is in need.
[90:17]
And being one of those who believe, and
exhorting one another to be steadfast,
and exhorting one another to be kind.
[90:18]
These have deserved happiness.
[73:8]
You shall commemorate the
name of your Lord, to come ever
closer and closer to Him.
[73:9]
Lord of the east and the
west; there is no other god beside
Him. You should
choose Him as your advocate.
[73:10]
And remain steadfast in the face of
their utterances, and disregard them
in a nice manner.
[73:11]
And let Me deal with the
rejectors, who have been
generously blessed; just give them a
little time.
[76:24]
You shall steadfastly carry
out your Lord's commandments,
and do not obey any sinful
disbeliever among them.
[13:19]
Is one who recognizes that
your Lord's revelations to you are
the truth equal to one who is blind?
Only those who possess
intelligence will take
heed.
[13:20]
They are the ones who
fulfill their pledge to GOD,
and do not violate the
covenant.
[13:21]
They join what GOD has
commanded to be joined,
reverence their Lord,
and fear the dreadful
reckoning.
[13:22] They
steadfastly persevere in
seeking their Lord,
observe the Contact Prayers
(Salat), spend from our
provisions to them secretly and
publicly, and
counter evil with good.
These have deserved the best
abode.
[13:23] They
enter the gardens of Eden, together
with the righteous among their
parents, their spouses, and their
children. The angels will enter in
to them from every door.
[13:24]
"Peace
be upon you, because you steadfastly
persevered.
What a joyous destiny."
___________________________________
[7:126] ....
"Our Lord, grant us steadfastness,
and let us die as submitters."
[2:250] ...."Our Lord, grant us
steadfastness, strengthen our
foothold, and support us against
the disbelieving people."
