Shame and humiliation
versus honor and dignity are feelings or
states of minds that we experience. We tend
to analyze certain situations or status,
categorizing them as humiliating or
dignifying based on our limited shortsighted
human standards. Vanities such as wealth,
health, power or lack of any of them are
sometimes misleading factors in this
regard. The Quranic perspective on the other
hand provides us with a perfect scale to
accurately judge and define the path of
divine honor and dignity and the trigger of
real humiliation.
Among the attributes
of God almighty is : The Most
Honorable, Al-Kareem,
(23:116, 27 40, 82:6 and more..).
The same attribute is also given to the
Quran, the divine and final word of God (
56:77, 27:29). The root for this Arabic word
means giving generously to honor and dignify
someone or some entity. The specific grammar
format given to God almighty and the Quran (
Al-kareem), implies the excessiveness, with
no limits or boundaries, of this attribute,
meaning infinite generosity
to honor and
dignify. When this word is
used in all formats we are
expressing/offering honor and
dignity through our generosity. Depending on
the context, this word is usually used to
describe someone who has an honorable
character (generous level of the most
beautiful etiquette), honorable upbringing
(coming from a family that is well known to
have generous elements of highness),
tendency to give generously to honor and
dignify those in need or to simply honor
guests, being rewarded/honored for an
achievement. In the Quran, there are
numerous examples in many verses so we
can understand the extensive meaning of this
beautiful word. In all these verses, the one
common understanding of this word lies on giving
generously to honor and dignity.
[82:6] O you
human being, what diverted you from
your Lord Most Honorable?
[82:7] The One
who created you, designed you, and
perfected you.
[82:8] In
whatever design He chose, He constructed
it.
[56:77] This is an
honorable Quran.
[56:78] In a
protected book.
Titled as "Honorable",
both God and the Quran represent the
infinite generosity in honoring and
dignifying the human being. God has
honored human beings with the brains,
eyesight and hearing so we can sense
our dignity through the gift of freedom we
are all born with (33:72). The Quran is also
a gift of honor as it fully details what
it takes to be saved and redeemed. Both are
granting the human race the utmost honor and
dignity.
Trusting God and
believing in this divine
law dictates a state of fearlessness. This
state of fearlessness adds a true sense of
freedom, peace, clarity, security, strength,
and dignity to our lives irrespective of our
apparent surroundings and how differently we
might be perceived by others:
[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.
This
freedom, peace, and
dignity can be continued,
eternally, if we choose to
hold fast to the rope of
God, and uphold His word
truthfully and
unconditionally all the
way until we leave the earth
as righteous believers:
[10:25] GOD
invites
to the abode of
peace, and
guides whoever wills (to
be guided) in a straight
path.
Heaven and Hell
are Eternal
[10:26] For
the righteous,
the reward will be
multiplied manifold.
Their faces will
never experience any
deprivation or shame.
These are the dwellers
of Paradise; they abide
therein forever.
[10:27] As
for those who earned
sins, their
requital is equivalent
to their sin.
Humiliation is their
lot, and
no one beside GOD
can protect them.
Their faces will seem
overwhelmed by masses of
dark night.
They will be the
dwellers of Hell; they
abide therein forever.
They Go
Straight to Paradise
[16:32] The
angels terminate their lives in a state
of righteousness, saying,
"Peace
be upon you. Enter Paradise
(now) as a reward for your
works."*
Any
one who chooses to violate the
limits set by God is gradually
deprived of the above divine
security and becomes a prisoner
of his/her fears thus loses
freedom and heads towards the
eternal shame. While God and the
Quran infinitely honor and
dignify us, Iblis, his
descendants, and his
constituents offer us addictive
practices through lust, vice,
and corruption. They enslave our
souls with a fake call for
freedom. It is all illusion.
Their invisible shackles stay
with us on the Day of Judgment:
[4:120] He promises them
and entices them;
what the devil promises
is no more than an illusion.
[35:40] Say, "Consider the
idols you have set up beside
GOD; show me what on earth
have they created." Do they
own any partnership in the
heavens? Have we given them
a book wherein there is no
doubt? Indeed,
what the transgressors
promise one another is no
more than an illusion.
A Common
Occurrence
[22:8] Among the
people there is the one who argues about
GOD without knowledge,
and without guidance,
and without an enlightening
scripture.
[22:9]
Arrogantly he strives to divert the
people from the path of GOD. He thus
incurs humiliation in this life,
and we
commit him on the Day of Resurrection to
the agony of burning.
[34:5]
As for those who
constantly challenge our
revelations,
they have incurred a
retribution of painful humiliation.
[4:14]
As for the one
who disobeys GOD and His
messenger, and transgresses
His laws, He will admit him
into Hell, wherein he abides
forever. He has incurred a
shameful retribution.
Retribution for Opposing God
and His Messenger
[9:63]
Did they not know that anyone
who opposes GOD and His
messenger has incurred
the fire of Hell forever?
This is the
worst humiliation.
[31:6] Among
the people,
there are those who uphold
baseless Hadith,
and
thus divert others
from the path of GOD without
knowledge, and
take it in vain.
These have incurred a shameful
retribution.
Fear,
the well-known tool of the
devil, weakens our will to apply the
word of God. If not defeated by
knowledge and strong faith, fear
certainly intimidates us to adopt a compromising
path of shame and
humiliation. True believers have no
interest in leaning towards
the mainstream or pleasing their
friends and allies when it's time
to choose and apply Quranic
principles. The following verses set
very strong examples so we pursue
the true dignity with God and His
scripture with no fear or
compromise:
[63:8]
They say, "If we go back to the city,
the powerful therein will evict the weak
(and we will be victimized)." (They
should know that) all dignity
belongs to GOD and His messenger, and
the believers. However,
the hypocrites do not know.
[20:45] They
said, "Our Lord,
we fear lest he may attack us,
or transgress."
[20:46] He said,
"Do not be afraid, for I will
be with you, listening and watching.
[4:138]
Inform the hypocrites that
they have incurred painful
retribution.
[4:139]
They are the ones who
ally themselves with disbelievers
instead of believers.
Are they seeking dignity
with them? All dignity belongs with
GOD alone.
We are either
on the path of freedom, honor, and
dignity or the path of shackles and
shame. Both paths can be eternal
depending on our choices we make on
earth. It is God and the Quran, only
God and the Quran, that will grant
us the divine honorable ranks.
All Dignity Belongs With God
[35:10]
Anyone seeking dignity should know
that to GOD belongs all dignity.
To Him ascends the good
words, and He
exalts the righteous works.
As for those who scheme evil
works, they incur severe
retribution; the scheming of such
people is destined to fail.
[94:0] In the
name of God, Most Gracious, Most
Merciful
[94:1] Did we
not cool your temper?
[94:2]
And we unloaded your load (of
sins).
[94:3]
One that burdened your back.
[94:4]
We exalted you to an
honorable position.
[94:5]
With pain there is gain.
[94:6]
Indeed, with pain there is gain.
[94:7]
Whenever possible you
shall strive.
[94:8]
Seeking only your
Lord.
________________
[3:26]
...."Our god: possessor of all
sovereignty. You grant
sovereignty to whomever You
choose, You remove sovereignty
from whomever You choose. You
grant dignity to whomever You
choose, and commit to
humiliation whomever You choose.
In Your hand are all provisions.
You are Omnipotent.
[3:27]
"You merge the night into the
day, and merge the day into the
night. You produce the living
from the dead, and produce the
dead from the living, and You
provide for whomever You choose,
without limits."
Peaceful Friday, salaam, and may God bless you.
info@submission.org
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