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We learn from the Qur'an that whatever is in/on the earth is for mankind's benefit. It is for us to use and for our benefit.
[22.65] Do you not see that Allah has made subservient to you whatsoever is in the earth...
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ سَخَّرَ لَكُمْ مَا فِي الْأَرْضِ...
[2.29] He it is Who created for you all that is in the earth...
هُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ لَكُمْ مَا فِي الْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا...
[7.10] And certainly We have established you in the earth and made in it means of livelihood for you; little it is that you give thanks.
وَلَقَدْ مَكَّنَّاكُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَجَعَلْنَا لَكُمْ فِيهَا مَعَايِشَ ۗ قَلِيلًا مَا تَشْكُرُونَ
If we look at the bigger picture, what a human being is able to do and what is already provided for him on earth in terms of livelihood, environment (which is not on the other planets, not even on the moon), we need to give thanks for the pleasure we get from it all.
[22.66] And He it is Who has brought you to life, then He will cause you to die, then bring you to life (again); most surely human is ungrateful.
وَهُوَ الَّذِي أَحْيَاكُمْ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْيِيكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ لَكَفُورٌ
We come empty handed and go from here empty handed. We are unable to dress ourselves when we are born and unable to dress ourselves when we die. We depend on others at both times. Therefore, we should be grateful for what we are able to do at other times during our lives.
Never be too proud and haughty. Nature has habit of degrading the haughty ones.
Life spent for others and the other earthly living beings, including the environment (looking after plants, trees and greenery is our responsibility) is the best life spent on earth. We. don't have much time. Life is so brief that it seems to go very fast. Do something worthwhile for others and for the future generations. It can bring only peace and real happiness in your heart and self-satisfaction.
Give thanks to Allah (SWT) for what He has given us. ALHAMDULILLAH (Praise is for Allah).
In Islam, giving in charity (alms) is very important.
No point in waiting for tomorrow to give as we may be dead by tomorrow. By tomorrow, our appointed time on this earth may have come to an end. Time to give is now.
[63.9] O you who believe! Let not your wealth, or your children, divert you from the remembrance of God; and whoever does that, these are the ones in loss.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تُلْهِكُمْ أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَلَا أَوْلَادُكُمْ عَنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ۚ وَمَنْ يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ
[63.10] And spend (in charity) out of what We have given you before death comes to one of you, so that he should say: My Lord! Why didst Thou not respite me to a near term, so that I should have given alms and been of the doers of good deeds?
وَأَنْفِقُوا مِنْ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَأْتِيَ أَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ فَيَقُولَ رَبِّ لَوْلَا أَخَّرْتَنِي إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ فَأَصَّدَّقَ وَأَكُنْ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ
[63.11] And God does not respite a soul when its appointed term has come, and Allah is Aware of what you do.
وَلَنْ يُؤَخِّرَ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِذَا جَاءَ أَجَلُهَا ۚ وَاللَّهُ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
[14.31] Say to My servants who believe that they should keep up prayer and spend (in charity) out of sustenance We have provided them, secretly and openly, before the coming of the day in which there shall be no bartering nor mutual befriending.
قُلْ لِعِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا يُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَيُنْفِقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَأْتِيَ يَوْمٌ لَا بَيْعٌ فِيهِ وَلَا خِلَالٌ
Life is a trial whether we are rich or poor. If we have more than we need, it's not for us but for others too. Just as we expect others to give us when we are poor, we are expected to give the poor ones when we are rich.
The day will come when we may regret not having given to poor ones when we could easily do so. The best contribution made by anyone in this life is contribution towards humanity and towards sustaining life on earth. This was the real purpose human beings were created and placed on earth (Qur'an 2:30).
[2.267] O you who believe! Spend (benevolently) of the good things that you earn and or what We have brought forth for you out of the earth, and do not aim at what is bad that you may spend (in alms) of it, while you would not take it yourselves unless you have its price lowered, and know that Allah is Self-sufficient, Praiseworthy.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْفِقُوا مِنْ طَيِّبَاتِ مَا كَسَبْتُمْ وَمِمَّا أَخْرَجْنَا لَكُمْ مِنَ الْأَرْضِ ۖ وَلَا تَيَمَّمُوا الْخَبِيثَ مِنْهُ تُنْفِقُونَ وَلَسْتُمْ بِآخِذِيهِ إِلَّا أَنْ تُغْمِضُوا فِيهِ ۚ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ حَمِيدٌ
We should give (as charity) to others what we like rather than what we don't like for ourselves.
Islamic year (1441) has just begun. It corresponds to the date Muslims were forced out from Mecca, and they had to go to then Yasrib (now Madina) about 325 miles away. It was at this Hijrah (migration) that Muslims had to leave everything behind, their close non-believing relatives and friends, property, trade and other belongings to save their lives in a struggle/striving (jihad). They longed to show their love for friends and relatives but the non-believing friends and relatives were not showing the same love. They had become their enemies.
[60.1] O you who believe! Do not take My enemy and your enemy for allies/close friends/protectors/guardians: would you offer them love while they deny what has come to you of the truth, driving out the messenger and yourselves because you believe in Allah, your Lord? If you go forth struggling hard in My path and seeking My pleasure, would you manifest love to them? And I know what you conceal and what you manifest; and whoever of you does this, he indeed has gone astray from the straight path.
I dedicate this post to those people who struggled hard during trials and tribulations for years before Hijrah and during Hijrah (the journey wasn't easy) but never gave up their sincere belief in One God (Allah).
[5.45] And We prescribed to them in it that life is for life, and eye for eye, and nose for nose, and ear for ear, and tooth for tooth, and (that there is) reprisal in wounds; but he who foregoes it, it shall be an expiation for him; and whoever did not judge by what Allah revealed, those are they that are the unjust.
وَكَتَبْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ فِيهَا أَنَّ النَّفْسَ بِالنَّفْسِ وَالْعَيْنَ بِالْعَيْنِ وَالْأَنْفَ بِالْأَنْفِ وَالْأُذُنَ بِالْأُذُنِ وَالسِّنَّ بِالسِّنِّ وَالْجُرُوحَ قِصَاصٌ ۚ فَمَنْ تَصَدَّقَ بِهِ فَهُوَ كَفَّارَةٌ لَهُ ۚ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَحْكُمْ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ
The above verse of the Qur'an is a reference to the Torah. Although retaliation is allowed within the law, it is (a) subject to no more than equal reprisal and (b) forgiveness is also one option which could be helpful towards forgiveness of one's own faults or sins. This is also applicable in case of murder where one life is already lost and the second could be saved through forgiveness.
[2.183] O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may (learn) self-restraint.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
Fasting in Islam is not something new. It was ordained on people before the Qur'an was revealed. It teaches us to be God-conscious during fasting and, therefore, self-restraint. It also carries some health benefits and awareness of how poor people may be feeling when they don't have much to eat for long periods.
[2.177] It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards the East and the West, but righteousness is this that one should believe in Allah and the last day and the angels and the Book and the prophets, and give away wealth out of love for Him to the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and the beggars and for (the emancipation of) the captives, and keep up prayer and pay the purification rate (zakat)); and the performers of their promise when they make a promise, and the patient in distress and affliction and in time of conflicts-- these are they who are true (to themselves) and these are they who have taqwa (consciousness about God).
لَيْسَ الْبِرَّ أَنْ تُوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ قِبَلَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ وَلَٰكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالْكِتَابِ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ وَآتَى الْمَالَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِ ذَوِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينَ وَابْنَ السَّبِيلِ وَالسَّائِلِينَ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَى الزَّكَاةَ وَالْمُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِهِمْ إِذَا عَاهَدُوا ۖ وَالصَّابِرِينَ فِي الْبَأْسَاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ وَحِينَ الْبَأْسِ ۗ أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا ۖ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُتَّقُونَ
True piety (righteousness) is not about turning to the east or the west. In other words, turning to either the east or the west are mere compliance with outward forms, and do not fulfil the requirements of piety.
True piety is in believing in God, the angels, the revelation from God, the prophets, spending from what we have, regardless of how much we love and cherish it, on close relatives, orphans, needy and the wayfarer/traveller in need, beggars, and for freeing human beings from bondage (freeing of captives and slaves). Righteous are also constant in prayer, they pay zakat (for poor people). keep their promises when they promise, are patient in misfortune, hardship and at time of peril. They prove themselves that they are conscious of God.
[7.26] O children of Adam! We have indeed sent down to you (knowledge of) raiment to cover your shame, and for beauty and (knowledge of) raiment for God=consciousness is the best of all. These are verses (ayat) of Allah that they may remember.
Three different types of clothing/covering/raiment/dress are mentioned here.
We can cover our shame if not happy with any part of our body.
We can wear a dress that will make us look good.
But the best dress we can ever wear is the dress/covering of righteousness (God-consciousness).
This is reminder to ALL the children of Adam (mankind).
Basically, we can be anything but being good human beings with consciousness about God is the best.
Question of righteous deeds was raised in another thread. For our salvation, we need to do good deeds. Good deeds are those that help other living beings on earth and the earthly environment. That includes doing good to other human beings, other living creatures on earth (animals, birds etc) and living trees and plants to sustain life on earth.
On the Day of Judgment, our salvation would depend on weight of our good deeds compared to the weight of our bad deeds. The scale would be just on that day.
The Qur'an is a reminder to us, believers, that we have to do good righteous deeds during our life on earth. Warnings are also given in it against doing bad/evil deeds.
[7.2] A Book revealed to you-- so let there be no straitness in your breast on account of it-- that you may warn thereby, and a reminder close to the believers.
كِتَابٌ أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ فَلَا يَكُنْ فِي صَدْرِكَ حَرَجٌ مِنْهُ لِتُنْذِرَ بِهِ وَذِكْرَىٰ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
[7.3] Follow what has been revealed to you from your Lord and do not follow guardians besides Him, how little do you mind.
اتَّبِعُوا مَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا مِنْ دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ ۗ قَلِيلًا مَا تَذَكَّرُونَ
If we follow the guidance in the Qur'an to do good and not do bad deeds, we can't go wrong.
[7.4] And how many a town that We destroyed, so Our punishment came to it by night or while they slept at midday.
وَكَمْ مِنْ قَرْيَةٍ أَهْلَكْنَاهَا فَجَاءَهَا بَأْسُنَا بَيَاتًا أَوْ هُمْ قَائِلُونَ
[7.5] Yet their cry, when Our punishment came to them, was nothing but that they said: Surely we were unjust.
فَمَا كَانَ دَعْوَاهُمْ إِذْ جَاءَهُمْ بَأْسُنَا إِلَّا أَنْ قَالُوا إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَالِمِينَ
So it's better to do good deeds rather than be unjust/wrongdoers before the punishment comes whether in this life or in the Hereafter.
[7.6] Most certainly then We will question those to whom (the messengers) were sent, and most certainly We will also question the messengers;
فَلَنَسْأَلَنَّ الَّذِينَ أُرْسِلَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَنَسْأَلَنَّ الْمُرْسَلِينَ
[7:7] Then most certainly We will relate to them with knowledge, and We were not absent.
فَلَنَقُصَّنَّ عَلَيْهِمْ بِعِلْمٍ ۖ وَمَا كُنَّا غَائِبِينَ
God will have the knowledge of what everyone (including the messengers) did. God is not absent from anyone. Guilty ones won't be able to plead not guilty.
[7.8] And the scale (for weighing deeds) on that day will be just; then as for him whose weight (of good deeds) is heavy, those are they who shall be successful (have salvation);
وَالْوَزْنُ يَوْمَئِذٍ الْحَقُّ ۚ فَمَنْ ثَقُلَتْ مَوَازِينُهُ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ
[7.9] And as for him whose weight (of good deeds) is light those are they who have made their souls suffer loss because they disbelieved in Our verses/messages.
وَمَنْ خَفَّتْ مَوَازِينُهُ فَأُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ خَسِرُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ بِمَا كَانُوا بِآيَاتِنَا يَظْلِمُونَ
Weight of each deed is known only to God. One good deed could be heavier than another ten deeds, and one really bad deed could be heavier than another ten bad deeds.
It should be kept in mind that each good deed (mentioned in the Qur'an) must be of some help to another earthly living being. Mere rituals are not enough as they often don't help the person himself unless he learns something from them. Rituals such as prayers, fasting and hajj are the training grounds to learn staying away from doing bad deeds, learn restraint and patience to enable us to do good deeds. Turning to the east or to the west are mere outward forms and rituals. Actual actions to help other living beings are the righteous deeds.
[7.10] And certainly We have established you in the earth and made in it means of livelihood for you; little it is that you give thanks.
وَلَقَدْ مَكَّنَّاكُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَجَعَلْنَا لَكُمْ فِيهَا مَعَايِشَ ۗ قَلِيلًا مَا تَشْكُرُونَ
Finally, this verse tells us that mankind (the best of the earthly created beings) have been established on this earth as the leaders (vicegerents) and given guidance from the higher authority as well as mean of livelihood to discharge our responsibility.
We should be grateful for it. We should give thanks but humans give very little thanks for it all.
Last edited by Khalif; 09-06-2019 at 05:19 AM..
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