Considering Submission to be the only religion authorized by God
and delivered to mankind through all of God's messengers and
scriptures (3:19, 3:85), the Quran is very clear in
identifying who a submitter is in the following verse:
Unity of All Submitters
[2:62] 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.
The very first element to spell out the above definition of
a submitter is the belief in God. Most people define this
element, belief in God, in a very limited way. Usually, it
is thought of as the mental and/or verbal acknowledgment of
God's existence, nothing more or beyond that. Does this
encompass the true meaning of "belief " or "iman" in
Arabic ? The truth of the matter is that the meaning of the
word belief in both Arabic and English languages is much
heavier and more complex than what most of us think.
To believe is
to have confidence in the truth, or the reliability of
something, although without absolute proof that one is right
in doing so.
It
is the unshakable conviction that something exists whether
it is physical or mental, seen or unseen, agreed upon by
others or not. Depending on the entity we
believe in, the
word could also be intricate in both languages that it
carries many other values and rich emotions such as absolute
love, trust, passion, and extreme care for whoever is
believed in. When the word is truly meant and
appropriately used, this complex of deep meanings, feelings,
and values just evolves and shines and many
implications automatically follow.. Belief in God is not
only acknowledging whether He exists or is real, but is also
the display of that complicated mix of meanings and feelings
of love, passion, and trust.
This complex structure of
believing in God is fully illustrated and expressed through
the divine, perfect word of God in His infallible, Arabic
Quran. The Quran teaches us that those who truly believe in
God offer much more than flat and superficial acknowledgment
of God's existence. They demonstrate, fully, what it takes
and how it feels to be a Believer/Mu'men in God:
[49:15] Mu'mens
(believers) are those who believe in GOD and His
messenger, then attain the status of
having no doubt whatsoever, and strive with their money and
their lives in the cause of GOD. These are the
truthful ones.
[10:84] Moses said, "O my people, if you have
really believed in GOD, then put your
trust in Him, if you are really submitters."
[2:165] Yet, some people set up idols to rival GOD, and
love them as if they are GOD. Those who believe
love GOD the most. If only the transgressors
could see themselves when they see the retribution! They
will realize then that all power belongs to GOD alone, and
that GOD's retribution is awesome.
[8:2] The true believers
are those whose hearts tremble when GOD is mentioned,
and when His revelations are recited to them, their faith
is strengthened, and they trust in their Lord.
[9:124] When a sura was revealed, some of them would say,
"Did this sura strengthen the faith of anyone among you?"
Indeed, it did strengthen the faith of those who believed,
and they rejoice in any revelation.
[13:28] They are the ones whose hearts rejoice
in remembering GOD. Absolutely, by remembering
GOD, the hearts rejoice.
[5:83] When they hear what was revealed to the messenger,
you see their eyes flooding with tears as they
recognize the truth therein, and they say, "Our
Lord, we have believed, so count us among the witnesses.
[6:162] 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.
A true believer in God
speaks with a heart full of love, passion, obsession, and
unshakable trust in God and His divine words. Trusting Him
implies having no doubts or hesitance in carrying out ANY of
His commands without even the slightest compromise. It also
implies the certainty about all of His attributes. Loving
Him and being passionate about Him, implies doing the very
best to unconditionally please Him alone, obey Him, and
reverence Him:
[3:146] Many a prophet had godly people fight along with
him, without ever wavering under pressure in the
cause of GOD, nor did they hesitate or become discouraged.
GOD loves the steadfast.
[7:180] To GOD belongs the most beautiful names;
call upon Him therewith, and disregard those who distort His
names. They will be requited for their sins.
[5:35] O you who believe, you shall reverence
GOD and seek the ways and means to Him,
and strive in His cause, that you
may succeed.
[16:50] They reverence their Lord, high above them,
and they do what they are commanded to do.
[3:31] Proclaim: "If you love GOD,
you should follow me."
GOD will then love you, and forgive your sins. GOD is
Forgiver, Most Merciful.
[32:16] Their sides readily forsake their beds, in order to
worship their Lord, out of reverence and hope,
and from our provisions to them, they give.
[21:49] The ones who
reverence their Lord, even when
alone in their privacy, and they
worry about the Hour.
[30:38] Therefore, you shall give the relatives their
rightful share (of charity), as well as the poor, and the
traveling alien. This is better for those who
sincerely seek GOD's pleasure; they are the
winners.
[2:265] The example of those who give their money
seeking GOD's pleasure, out of sincere conviction,
is that of a garden on high fertile soil; when heavy rain
falls, it gives twice as much crop. If heavy rain is not
available, a drizzle will suffice. GOD is Seer of everything
you do.
[24:51] The only utterance of the believers,
whenever invited to GOD and His messenger to judge in their
affairs, is to say, "We hear and we obey."
These are the winners.
Unfortunately, and per the
clear teachings of the Quran, the majority of humans on
earth, plus the majority of those who practice the lip
service of belief in God, offer their love, trust,
appreciation, and extreme passion and care to other entities
that are not worthy of such regards (12:103,106). They fear
others while they should only fear God. They please others
while they should only please God. They reverence others
while they should only reverence God. This was characterized
by Luqmaan as "Gross Injustice" only because all the regard
that the disbelievers or idol worshipers offer their idols
rightly belong to God, and only God.
[31:13] Recall that Luqmaan said to his son, as he
enlightened him, "O my son, do not set up any idols beside
GOD; idolatry is a gross injustice."*
[16:51] GOD has proclaimed: "Do not worship two
gods; there is only one god. You shall reverence Me alone."
[2:150] Wherever you go, you shall turn your face (during
Salat) towards the Sacred Masjid; wherever you might be, you
shall turn your faces (during Salat) towards it. Thus, the
people will have no argument against you, except the
transgressors among them. Do not fear them, and
fear Me instead. I will then perfect My
blessings upon you, that you may be guided.
[2:165] Yet, some people set up idols to rival
GOD, and love them as if they are GOD.
Those who believe love GOD the most.....
[10:34] Say, "Can any of your idols initiate creation, then
repeat it?" Say, "GOD initiates the creation,
then repeats it. How could you deviate?".
[10:35] Say, "Does any of your idols guide to the truth?"
Say, "GOD guides to the truth. Is one who guides
to the truth more worthy of being followed, or one who does
not guide, and needs guidance for himself?
What is wrong with your judgment?"
[35:3] O people, remember GOD's blessings upon you. Is
there any creator other than GOD who provides for you from
the heaven and the earth? There is no other god
beside Him. How could you deviate?
[41:9] Say, "You disbelieve in the One who created the
earth in two days,* and you set up idols to rank
with Him, though He is Lord of the universe."
[2:22] The One who made the earth habitable for you, and
the sky a structure. He sends down from the sky water, to
produce all kinds of fruits for your sustenance.
You shall not set up idols to rival GOD, now that you know.
[25:55] Yet, they still set up beside GOD idols
that cannot benefit them, nor harm them.
Indeed, the disbeliever is an enemy of his Lord.
[22:71] Yet, they idolize beside GOD idols
wherein He placed no power, and they know nothing about them.
The transgressors have no helper.
[13:33] Is there any equal to the One who controls every
single soul? Yet, they set up idols to rival GOD.
Say, "Name them. Are you informing Him of something on earth
that He does not know? Or, are you fabricating empty
statements?" Indeed, the schemes of
those who disbelieve have been adorned in their eyes. They
are thus diverted from the right path. Whomever GOD
sends astray can never find a guiding teacher.
[46:4] Say, "Consider the idols you have set up beside GOD.
Show me what on earth did they create. Do they own part of
the heavens? Show me any other scripture before
this one, or any piece of established knowledge that
supports your idolatry, if you are truthful."
[5:76] Say, "Would you worship beside GOD
powerless idols who can neither harm you, nor benefit you?
GOD is Hearer, Omniscient."
[40:20] GOD judges equitably, while the idols
they implore beside Him cannot judge anything.
GOD is the One who is the Hearer, the Seer.
[35:13] He merges the night into the day, and merges the
day into the night. He has committed the sun and the moon to
run for a predetermined period of time. Such is GOD your
Lord; to Him belongs all kingship. Any idols you
set up beside Him do not possess as much as a seed's shell.
[13:14] Imploring Him is the only legitimate supplication,
while the idols they implore beside Him cannot
ever respond. Thus, they are like those who
stretch their hands to the water, but nothing reaches their
mouths. The supplications of the disbelievers are in vain.
[7:194] The idols you invoke besides GOD are
creatures like you. Go ahead and call
upon them; let them respond to you, if you are right.
Thus, true belief in
God also involves avoiding idolatry, a practice that
constitutes disbelief in God. According to the Quran, one
can acknowledge God, and even admit He is the Creator, but
still fails to fulfill the elements of belief in Him. This
only means that his/her actions and choices are not
conforming with the complex of Belief/Iman ; paying all the
love, trust, and care to others by choice. Satan is a good
example. He acknowledged God but he chose to challenge Him
and to offer his passion and trust to his own ego. He
teaches the same lesson to his allies:
[7:12] He said, "What prevented you from prostrating when I
ordered you?" He said, "I am better than he; You
created me from fire, and created
him from mud."
[38:82] He said, "I swear by Your majesty,
that I will send them all astray.
[38:83] "Except Your worshipers who are devoted absolutely
to You alone."
[29:61] If you ask them, "Who created the
heavens and the earth, and put the sun and the moon in your
service," they will say, "GOD." Why
then did they deviate?
[29:63] If you ask them, "Who sends down
from the sky water, to revive dead land," they
will say, "GOD." Say, "Praise GOD." Most of
them do not understand.
In conclusion, true belief
in God is the foremost of all beliefs as it guards against
idolatry. It involves a complex of meanings, emotions, and
values. The fulfillment of believing in God besides the
acknowledgment of His existence, would only mean a heart
that is full of love reserved exclusively for Him, utmost
care and passion, unshakable trust, unconditional attention
devoted to Him alone. This implies a heart that truly values
God the way it should be and acts based on that ; pleasing
Him, obeying Him, and fearing Him. This is how
complex "belief in God" is. Most of us do not think of this
broad and deep definition when we utter the word of belief/iman/faith
in God. It's truly the highest and the ultimate blessings of
all to be in love and full of trust and passion towards the
Most Gracious and His cause. May God continue to fill us up
with abundant love for Him and to bring ONLY TRUE believers,
with like hearts, around us.
[46:31] "O our people, respond to the call of GOD,
and believe in Him. He will
then forgive your sins, and spare you a painful
retribution."
[4:175] Those who believe in GOD, and hold fast to Him,
He will admit them into
mercy from Him, and grace, and
will guide them to Him in a straight path.
Peaceful Friday, salaam, and God bless you.
