[76:3] We showed
him the
two
paths, then he is
either
appreciative, or
unappreciative.
God cites in the
Quran all kinds of
examples and
teach us the history
of the previous
generations for the
mere purpose of
reflecting and
taking heed.
Ignoring the wisdom
behind these
lessons or
heedlessly repeating
the same mistakes of
those who preceded
us makes us fall in
the category of the
unappreciative
creatures:
[24:34] We have
revealed to you
clarifying
revelations,
and
examples from the
past generations,
and an
enlightenment for
the righteous.
[59:21] .....
We cite
these examples for
the people, that
they may reflect.
[17:41] We
have cited in this
Quran (all
kinds of examples),
that they
may take heed.
But it only augments
their aversion.
[29:43] We
cite these examples
for the people,
and none
appreciate them
except the
knowledgeable.*
Throughout the true
history in Quran,
God teaches us that
many
communities/generations
were annihilated by
God's will as
a result of their
own transgression.
It has been a
repeated pattern
that those who
reject God's message
and His proofs, or
lose their guidance
and transgress the
limits set by
God face disastrous
consequences that
are divinely
planned and carried
out in a
predetermined time:
[17:58]
There is not a
community that we
will not
annihilate before
the Day of
Resurrection, or
inflict severe
retribution upon
them.
This is
already written down
in the book.
[16:36] We have
sent a messenger to
every community,
saying, "You shall
worship GOD, and
avoid idolatry."
Subsequently,
some were guided by
GOD, while others
were committed to
straying.
Roam the earth
and note the
consequences for the
rejectors.
[18:59]
Many a community we
annihilated
because of their
transgressions;
we designated a
specific time for
their annihilation.
[28:58]
Many a community we
annihilated for
turning
unappreciative of
their lives.
Consequently, here
are their homes,
nothing but
uninhabited ruins
after them, except a
few. We were
the inheritors.
[17:17]
Many a generation
have we annihilated
after Noah.
Your Lord
is most efficient in
dealing with the
sins of His servants;
He is fully
Cognizant, Seer.
[17:16] If
we are to annihilate
any community,
we let
the leaders commit
vast corruption
therein. Once they
deserve retribution,
we annihilate it
completely.
New communities
substitute those who
reject or fail to
uphold the clear
teachings of God.
This is easy for God
to do. Quran
was given to the
Arabs for years,
but their later
generations have
lost their guidance
and failed to uphold
its commands. They
have decided to fall
into idol worship,
and divide into
sects by following
other
sources/entities
besides God's! They
are now incurring
wrath after wrath..
They are disregarded
in the darkness,
leading the most
undignified life
along with millions
of Muslims who are
following them
blindly on the east
side of the world.
All brands of
disasters -natural,
economical, or
social- are hitting
them according to
God's plans in
specific times.
God has substituted
them with a new
generation that has
been blessed to
receive a guiding
teacher and witness
a physical proof of
the Quran's
authenticity- our
generation. We were
brought back to the
message of God
alone, and to
the light of Quran,
and nothing but the
Quran. This has been
God's system since
Noah; God's systems
are unchangeable:
[6:6] Have
they not seen
how many generations
before them we have
annihilated?
We established them
on earth more than
we did for you, and
we showered them
with blessings,
generously, and we
provided them with
flowing streams.
We then
annihilated them
because of their
sins,
and we substituted
another generation
in their place.
[21:11]
Many a community we
terminated
because
of their
transgression,
and we
substituted other
people in their
place.
[4:133] If
He wills, He can
annihilate you, O
people, and
substitute others in
your place.
GOD is
certainly able to do
this.
Based on all the
above wisdom, we
should come to the
conclusion that
receiving the
message and
witnessing "the
Truth" brings up a
decision-making responsibility
. We either decide
to be
unappreciative, and
face the
consequences, or
appreciative, a
decision that needs
constant validation
through our actions:
[30:34]
Let them be
unappreciative
of what we have
given them.
Enjoy
temporarily; you
will surely find
out.
Miracles
Bring Greater
Responsibility*
[2:211] Ask the
Children of Israel
how many profound
miracles have we
shown them!
For those who
disregard the
blessings bestowed
upon them by GOD,
GOD is most strict
in retribution.
*2:211 The
Quran's mathematical
miracle is a great
blessing, and brings
with it an awesome
responsibility
(please see 5:115).
Greater
Miracles Bring
Greater
Responsibility*
[5:114] Said Jesus,
the son of Mary,
"Our god, our Lord,
send down to us a
feast from the sky.
Let it bring plenty
for each and every
one of us, and a
sign from You.
Provide for us; You
are the best
Provider."
[5:115]
GOD said, "I am
sending it down.
Anyone among you who
disbelieves after
this, I will punish
him as I never
punished anyone
else."*
*5:114-115 The
Quran's overwhelming
miracle (Appendix
One) is described in
74:35 as ``One
of the greatest
miracles,''
and brings with it
an uncommonly great
responsibility.
Moment of
Death Predetermined
[3:154]....GOD
thus puts you to the
test to bring out
your true
convictions, and to
test what is in your
hearts.
GOD is fully aware
of the innermost
thoughts.
[47:31] We will
certainly put you to
the test,
in order to
distinguish those
among you who
strive, and
steadfastly
persevere. We must
expose your true
qualities.
It has been
nineteen long years
since God's
messenger of the
covenant left us to
High Heaven. He was
"killed" after
putting a
whole community back
on track and
restoring
the message of
worshiping God alone
and following Quran
alone. It is we, and
no one else, who
were handed this
heavy responsibility
of holding the torch
for both ourselves
and others. It is
about time to look
back and reflect on
these 19 years. What
have we
accomplished, and
what have we failed
to accomplish?
What went right and
what went wrong?
What exactly has
consumed our energy?
and was that the
right cause to waste
our energy on? Have
we been united on
the One Ultimate
Truth?
Have we been a
righteous community
that advocates
righteousness and
forbids evil
according to Quranic
standards?
Have we been
striving and
mobilizing in one
voice, one direction
to spread the truth
we were handed?
Or, we have been
disputing simple
straightforward
facts/commands and
our ego has been
holding us back and
sticking us to the
ground? It
is about time to
analyze every step
of the way, until
the current one we
are at. It is about
time to become so
honest with our
souls, look up
straight at the
mirror, and
determine if we are
worthy of the
truth, or capable of
fulfilling this
great
responsibility. It
is about time to
learn from our
mistakes, gather our
strength, and
utilize whatever we
are blessed with to
correct our path,
move forward, and
truly validate our
convictions.
If we were
appreciative of the
special knowledge
and guidance we have
received, and the
proofs we have
witnessed, then our
utmost goal should
have been one and
the same - UPHOLD
and SPREAD God's
Truth. Have we been
doing that?
to what extent? Can
we do more?
How can we
improve or do
better, God willing?
If we claim that we
are seeking our
inner strength and
soul's
salvation, this
salvation is
unattainable
without upholding
God's Truth (6:51.)
If we are striving
to be righteous, we
cannot achieve this
righteousness if we
are
selectively following
some teachings and
disregarding
others based on
convenience (2:189.)
We lose our souls
when we disregard
God's revelations,
SOME or ALL, just
like the majority of
previous
generations has
done:
[15:90] We
will deal with
the dividers.
[15:91]
They accept the
Quran only
partially.
[7:9] As for those
whose weights are
light,
they will be the
ones who lost their
souls* as a
consequence of
disregarding our
revelations,
unjustly.
Christians,
too, Must Obey God's
Messenger
[5:14] Also from
those who said, "We
are Christian,"
we took their
covenant. But
they disregarded
some of the
commandments given
to them.
Consequently,
we condemned them to
animosity and hatred
among themselves,
until the Day of
Resurrection. GOD
will then inform
them of everything
they had done.
[9:112] They are
the repenters, the
worshipers, the
praisers, the
meditators, the
bowing and
prostrating, the
advocators of
righteousness and
forbidders of evil,
and the
keepers of GOD's
laws.
Give good news to
such believers.
[6:51] And
preach with this
(Quran) to those who
reverence the
summoning before
their Lord - they
have none beside Him
as a Lord and
Master, nor an
intercessor -
that they may
attain salvation.
[2:189] .....righteousness
is attained by
upholding the
commandments and by
being
straightforward. You
shall observe GOD,
that you may
succeed.
Mobilizing or
striving in the
cause of God is
AMONG the crystal
clear teachings and
commands set in the
Quran. It is an
obligation toward
the truth God has
blessed us with, or
else we are not
worthy of it. We are
not above the rule
- it is so easy for
God to substitute us
with others who will
love God the most
and strive in His
cause with their
money and lives. God
teaches us that the
truthful believers
are always eager to
do so, while the
weak ones, are
always apt to find
excuses that is
unfounded in the
Quran to stay
behind. In doing
that, they tend to
divide the believers
and create a
negative force to
hold them back from
pleasing God and
serving their souls.
God has cited for us
the examples and the
history of all the
previous messengers
and the minority of
believers who strove
and mobilized to
support them.This
history is not cited
to entertain us, but
to set the righteous
precedents for us on
how we should handle
the Truth. Have we
been doing that
after witnessing and
believing in God's
messenger of the
covenant?
Striving/mobilizing
to PROCLAIM the
Quran to the world
as the Ultimate
Truth is how we
support God the way
the disciples did.
We are invited by
God to follow their
example (61:14). God
took a covenant from
all of us,
recipients of the
scriptures, to
proclaim His Truth (
3:187). True
believers are the
ones who keep their
covenants with God
(13:19-20). Have we
been keeping our
covenant?
[5:54] O
you who believe,
if you revert
from your religion,
then GOD will
substitute in your
place people whom He
loves and who love
Him.
They will be
kind with the
believers, stern
with the
disbelievers, and
will strive in the
cause of GOD without
fear of any blame.
Such is GOD's
blessing; He bestows
it upon whomever He
wills. GOD is
Bounteous,
Omniscient.
[9:38] O
you who believe,
when you are told,
"Mobilize in the
cause of GOD," why
do you become
heavily attached to
the ground?
Have you chosen this
worldly life in
place of the
Hereafter? The
materials of this
world, compared to
the Hereafter, are
nil.
[9:39]
Unless you mobilize,
He will commit you
to painful
retribution and
substitute other
people in your
place; you can never
hurt Him in the
least. GOD is
Omnipotent.
[47:38]
You are invited to
spend in the cause
of GOD,
but some of
you turn stingy.
The stingy
are stingy towards
their own souls.
GOD is Rich,
while you are poor.
If you turn
away, He will
substitute other
people in your
place, and they will
not be like you.
Better
Believers Strive in
the Cause of God
[9:41]
You shall readily
mobilize, light or
heavy, and strive
with your money and
your lives in the
cause of GOD. This
is better for you,
if you only knew.
True
Believers are Eager
to Strive
[9:88] As for the
messenger
and those
who believed with
him,
they eagerly
strive with their
money and their
lives.
These have deserved
all the good things;
they are the
winners.
[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.
The
Weak Believers
[8:5] When your
Lord willed that you
leave your home, to
fulfill a specific
plan, some
believers became
exposed as reluctant
believers.
[8:6]
They argued with you
against the truth,
even after
everything was
explained to them.
They acted as if
they were being
driven to certain
death.
[61:14]
O you who believe,
be GOD's supporters,
like the disciples
of Jesus, son of
Mary.
When he said to
them, "Who
are my supporters
towards GOD,"
they said, "We
are GOD's supporters."
Thus, a group from
the Children of
Israel believed, and
another group
disbelieved.
We helped those who
believed against
their enemy, until
they won.
[3:187]
GOD took a covenant
from those who
received the
scripture: "You
shall proclaim it to
the people, and
never conceal it."
But they disregarded
it behind their
backs, and traded it
away for a cheap
price. What a
miserable trade.
Believers
Versus Disbelievers
(1) The
Believers
[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.
Gross
Offense
[2:159]
Those who conceal
our revelations and
guidance, after
proclaiming them for
the people in the
scripture, are
condemned by GOD;
they are condemned
by all the
condemners.
[2:160]
As for
those who repent,
reform, and
proclaim, I redeem
them. I am the
Redeemer, Most
Merciful.
[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.
[2:42]
Do not
confound the
truth with
falsehood, nor
shall you
conceal the
truth,
knowingly.
[18:29]
Proclaim: "This
is the truth from
your Lord,"
...
The above questions,
and all the Quranic
facts and verses of
how we should handle
the truth, and the
consequences of not
fulfilling our
responsibilities are
not by any mean
listed as a threat,
or to put us down,
or to underestimate
all the hard work of
those who have
been striving day
and night to build
up their souls and
spread out God's
truth. All the above
questions are listed
only for the mere
purpose of
stimulating our
minds. They stand as
an invitation for
each and everyone of
us to reflect and
dig deep inside for
his or her inner
strength and
qualities in order
to take part and be
actively involved.
Each and everyone
should be able to
answer these
questions, and we
definitely will come
up with different
answers based
on different levels
of guidance,
knowledge, and
capabilities.
However, if we are
truly on the right
track, standing in
the right line to
hold fast to the
rope of God (Quran
and nothing but the
Quran), we shouldn't
have any
disagreements on our
objectives as a
community of
submitters and
recipients of the
truth.
It has been 19
years, and I
sincerely take this
chance and ask us
all to honestly
spend some time
evaluating our
communities
throughout these 19
years. Let's ask
ourselves these
questions. Let's
share our
perspectives and
answers with each
other, and try to
focus on some
goals, plans, or
directions. Let's
truly hold fast to
the Quran, validate
our belief, and
express our
appreciation to the
gift that God has
blessed our
generation with.
Let's keep the
examples and the
true history
narrated in the
Quran in front of
our eyes, and take
heed. Let's
not repeat the grave
mistakes of all the
previous
generations. Let's
not take God's
systems and plans
for granted:
Most People
Make the Wrong
Choice
[7:96] Had the
people of those
communities believed
and turned
righteous, we would
have showered them
with blessings from
the heaven and the
earth. Since
they decided to
disbelieve, we
punished them for
what they earned.
[7:98] Did
the people of
today's communities
guarantee that our
retribution will not
come to them in the
daytime while they
play?
[7:99]
Have they taken
GOD's plans for
granted? None takes
GOD's plans for
granted except the
losers.
[7:100] Does it
ever occur to those
who inherit the
earth after previous
generations that, if
we will, we can
punish them for
their sins, and seal
their hearts,
causing them to turn
deaf?
[7:101]
We narrate to you
the history of those
communities: their
messengers went to
them with clear
proofs, but they
were not to believe
in what they had
rejected before. GOD
thus seals the
hearts of the
disbelievers.
[7:102]
We found that most
of them disregard
their covenant; we
found most of them
wicked.*
Peaceful Friday,
salaam, and God
bless.
