Giving

Surah 55 Ar-Rahman

1. The most Compassionate
2. It is He who has taught the Quran
3. He has created the human being
4. He has taught him insight
5. The Sun and the Moon follow courses computed
6. and the herbs and the trees bow in adoration
7. and the firmament he has uplifted and he has established the balance of justice
8. In order that you may not transgress due balance
9. So establish weight with justice and fall not short in balance
10 it is He who has spread the earth for his creatures
11 In it are fruits and sheathed date palms
12. and husked grain and scented herbs
13 then which of the favors of your lord will you deny?

Some People see love in the actions/deeds of a person. How much someone cares is measured in what the person has done for us. When thinking of God's love, we fall into this trap of trying to measure it in terms of what God has done for us-----Yet, true love is not about recieving but about giving. When a mother loves her child, she only thinks of what she can do for the benefit of her child. When we think of God's love---we should be thinking---not of what God has done for us, ---but what we can do for God. How can we best please God?---by having the right intentions that create the right actions for the benefit of all of his creations.

Because of God's love, his compassion and mercy, human beings have been given guidance, just as a mother thinks of the welfare of her beloved child. It is now upto us to honor this love by giving back........

Guidance

Surah 48 Al-fat-h verses 1-5



1. Surely We have granted you a manifest victory

2. That God may forgive you the faults of your past and those to follow; fulfill his favor to you and guide you on the straight way.

3. And that God may help you with powerful help

4. It is he who sent down tranquility in the hearts of the believers, that they may add faith to their faith; for to God belongs the forces of the heavens and the earth; and God is full of knowledge and wisdom

5. That he may admit the men and women who believe, to gardens beneath which rivers flow, to dwell there and to remove their sins from them, and that is in the sight of God, the grand triumph.



Surah 2, Al-Baqarah verses 255-257



255.God, there is no God but he

The living, the self-subsisting, the supporter of all

No slumber can seize hime, nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and the earth

Who is he can intercede in his presence except as he permits? He know what is before or after or behind them.

Nor shall they compass any of his knowledge except as he wills. His throne does extend over the heavens and the earth and he feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them.

For he is the most high, the supeme.

256. let there be no compulsion in religion. Truth stands out clear from error. Whoever rejects evil and beleives in God has grasped the most trusted handhold, that never breaks. And God hears and knows all things

257. God is the protector of those who have faith. from the depth of darkness, he will lead them forth into light. Of those who reject faith, the patrons are the evil ones, from light, they will lead them forth into the depths of darkness. they will be the companions of the fire, to dwell therein.





Guidance should not only improve, instruct, ennoble, and empower, it must also inspire in the reciever a transformative energy/force that will create a motivation /attitude of change for the better.
The Quran,
Its Guidance is for the taking
If we want it
Its secrets are to be shared by us,
If we seek them,
Its sweetness is apparent,
iIf we savor it.

"Do not be daunted by the ennormity of the wolds grief.
Do justly now
Love mercy now
Walk humbly now
You are not obligated to complete the work,
But neither are you free to abandon it."
-----The Talmud

Gratitude

Surah Al Waqia (56) verses 63-74

63.Do you see the seed you sow in the ground?
64. Is it you that cause it to grow or are We the cause?
65. Were it our will, we could make it broken orts. and you would be left amazed.
66. (saying), "We are indeed left with debts"
67. "Indeed we are deprived"
68. See you the water which you drink?
69. Do you rain it down from the clouds or do We?
70. Were it our will, we could make it saltish (unpalatable). Then why do you not give thanks?
71. See you the fire which you kindle?
72. Is it you who grow the tree which feeds the fire, or do We grow it?
73. We have made it an article of comfort and convenience for the denizns of the deserts
74. Then glorify the name of your Lord, the supreme!

It is often the little things in life that bring us the greatest, most sincere joy. Yet, in savoring the happiness of the moment, we overlook to thank God. Often, we are so focused on ourselves, that we overlook the big things too. It is a priveledge to live on this planet, to enjoy the wonders of nature, to eat of the foods from the earth, the sea, and the soil, to have the company of those we love......yet, we forget to thank God. In this age of abundance and luxury, our attention sometimes wanders to the things we do not have but would like to have. In our pursuit of achievements or success, we forget that our stay here is transitory, that our final destination is to God..... Our God, who is compassionate and merciful and has given us so much.Instead of looking at all the inconveniences and trails of the day, it is time to strive for an attitude of gratitude for the blessings we have been given. To remember to take the time to thank God, the compassionate and the merciful.

For each new morning with its light
For rest and shelter of the night
For health and food
For love and freinds
For everything your goodness sends
---Thanksgiving by Ralph Waldo Emerson

We are what we think.
All that we are arises with our thoughts
With our thoughts We make our world
-----Buddha

Let's try to fill our thoughts and our hearts with gratitude today......

Spiritual Pleasure

Surah 92 Al-Lail verses 12-21

12. Surely we take upon us to Guide
13. And surely to us (belong) the end and the beginning
14. Therefore I warn you of a fire blazing fiercely
15. None shall burn there but the most unfortunate ones
16. Who give the lie to Truth and turn their backs
17. But those most devoted to God shall be removed far from it
18. Those who spend their wealth for increase in self-purification
19. And have in their minds no favor from anyone for which a reward is expected in return
20. But only the desire to seek for the countenance of their Lord most High.
21. and soon will they atttain (complete) satisfaction.

Rabia Al Basri wrote----
If I adore you out of fear of hell
burn me in hell
If I adore you out of desire for paradise
lock me out of paradise
But, if I adore you
for yourself alone
Do not deny to me your eternal beauty.

Rumi wrote----
A heart without love is nothing but a handful of dust.
A human devoid of love is not worthy of humanity.

As intelligent human beings, we should not forget the values that make us civilized and humane. It is in ever striving for these noble values of compassion, mercy, justice, tolerance, patience, perseverance, love.....that we can create better selves and thus better societies.

Let us strive to be a little better today than we were yesterday.....

law

Surah 91 Ash-Shams verses 1-9

In the name of God, the compassionate and the merciful

1. By the sun and her brightening
2. By the moon when it follows her
3. By the day when it dispels her
4. By the earth and what shaped her
5. By the soul and what formed her
6. and revealed her debased
7. and revealed her faithful
8. whoever honors her flourishes
9. whoever defiles her fails.



When we contemplate on the world around us, we realize that everything works according to "Laws",....laws of biology, botany, physics etc. These laws are based on cause and effect, a particular cause creates a particular effect. So, it would be reasonable to assume that human beings are also under the influence of "laws". One law, whose effects on the human body we can observe with science, is the law of biochemistry. But we are more than just our body. We also have "self". This "self" is blessed with knowledge and free-will that gives us a certain amount of "control" over the "laws". Yet, this must have an 'effect" or consequence since all of creation works under "laws". This law of "self" is explained in the Quran. ---The right intentions, that lead to right actions for the benefit of all of God's creations. ---Adhering to this law benefits the self by strengthening it in spirituality, ignoring this law harms the "self" by debasing it.
This "law of self" is tied to the "law of Judgement", where the benefit and harm to our "self" will be weighed.



The Tao gives birth to all beings,
nourishes them, maintains them,
cares for them, comforts them
protects them,
takes them back into itself,
creating without possessing,
acting without expecting,
guiding without interfering,
That is why,
the love of the Tao
is in the very nature of things.

Iblis

Surah 7 al-araf verse 11-17

11. It is We who created you and gave you shape. Then we bade the angels prostrate to Adam. They did so, Not so Iblis; He refused.
12. "What prevented you from prostrating when I commaded you?" He said "I am better than him; you created me from fire and him from clay."
13. "Get down from it, it is not for you to be arrogant here. Get out, for you are malicious.
14. He said "Give me respite till the day they are raised up."
15. "Be you among those who have respite."
16. He said "Because you have thrown me out, I will lie in wait for them on your straight way.
17. Then will I assault them from before them and behind them and from their right and their left; Nor will you find in most of them, gratitude (for your mercies)."

Iblis used his free will to choose a path that disobeyed God. Why did God give him respite? because God is merciful and compassionate to all his creation. The time that we have been given can be used for good, perchance, offsetting our errors. But some of us, in our arrogance and pride may refuse---and be ungrateful for God's mercies, just like Iblis. But if God is omnipotent, why give Iblis the opportunity to "assault" us on the straight way? Why not take away Iblis's free-will so that they will only be observers? Human beings naturally tend to view the world from a Human-centric perspective---everything should be for our well-being/convenience. But taking away free-will also means taking away the chance to repent. Would that not be an injustice? God's justice is for all of his creations.
This life is only a respite. We can use Iblisi logic, and in our arrogance and pride, disregard goodness---or we can walk on the Guided path. Blaming "evil" on God is simplistic. Iblis does not have any power except that which we give them. Because of our free-will, we are fully empowered to determine the course our life here on earth takes.

conditional free-will

Surah 10 Yunus verses 104-109



104 Say: O you people! If you are in doubt as to my religion, (see) I worship not what you worship other than Allah. But I worship Allah---who will take your souls (at death). I am commanded to be of the believers.


105 And further, turn your face towards religion with true piety and never in any way be of the unbelievers.


106 Nor call on any other than Allah; such can neither profit you or hurt you--if you do only see, you will be of those who do wrong.


107 If Allah does touch you with hurt, there is none can remove it but he: If he do design some benefit for you, there is none can keep back his favor. He causes it to reach whomever of his servants he pleases. And He is the often forgiving, Most merciful.


108 Say: O you people. Truth has reached you from your Lord. Those who recieve guidance, do so for the good of their own souls ; those who stray, do so to their own loss: and I am not going to arrange your affairs.


109 Follow the inspiration sent to you and be patient and constant, till Allah decides, for he is the best to decide.


God is Omnicient and Omnipotent and he decides everything. Yet, there is also the reality that we make our own choices and we are responsible for those choices. How do we reconcile these realities? Our free-will is from God and the level of free-will we have in any given circumstances is determined by God. Therefore, sometimes we have many choices, other times only a few and there may be occasions when we have no choice. Our level of responsibility depends on our level of free-will which is determined by God. We cannot escape our responsibilty by refusing to excercise our free will in the hopes that God will decide for us, for the choice to use or not use our God-given gift of free-will is a decision in itself. We must be actively involved in life and living and "arrange our affairs". However, God is compassionate and merciful and has given us a criteria (Quran) so that we have access to His wisdom when we make choices. If we choose to follow His wisdom, it will help us and ease our souls. Yet, as we excercise our free-will, we must also trust in God, ---his power and his love.

One must strive to make dynamic, creative, God-centered decisions. By putting our trust in God and his wisdom, we can make fearless choices. Vincent Van Gogh asks "What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?"

"I love the man that can smile in trouble,
that can gather strength from distress,
and grow brave by reflection.
Tis the bussiness of little minds to shrink;
but he whose heart is firm,
and whose conscience approves his conduct,
will pursue his principles....." Thomas Paine.