|
Cont'd from page 1
You shall worship Him and trust in Him. Your Lord is never unaware of anything you do.
[25:58] You shall put your trust in the One who is Alive―the One who never dies―and praise Him and glorify Him. He is fully Cognizant of His creatures' sins.
Would you blindly obey someone you didn’t know and trust? God tells us obedience is an obligation (24:53), and that we are to obey God and obey the messengers (not because of who the messengers are, but because they bring information from God that we can trust and follow).
[3:132] You shall obey GOD and the messenger, that you may attain mercy.
[4:69] Those who obey GOD and the messenger belong with those blessed by GOD―the prophets, the saints, the martyrs, and the righteous. These are the best company.
[24:52] Those who obey GOD and His messenger, and reverence GOD and observe Him, these are the triumphant ones.
[47:33] O you who believe, you shall obey GOD, and obey the messenger. Otherwise, all your works will be in vain.
So, God has clearly told us who He is and why He is worthy of our trust. The more we know of His attributes, the easier it is to know that He is the only One we can truly trust; the One we need to turn to in times of adversity; the One we need to appreciate in times of joy.
[10:22] He is the One who moves you across the land and sea. You get onto the ships, and they sail smoothly in nice breeze. Then, while rejoicing therein, violent wind blows, and the waves surround them from every side. This is when they implore GOD, sincerely devoting their prayers to Him alone: "If You only save us this time, we will be eternally appreciative."
[14:34] And He gives you all kinds of things that you implore Him for. If you count GOD's blessings, you can never encompass them.
Indeed, the human being is transgressing, unappreciative.
[40:60] Your Lord says, "Implore Me, and I will respond to you. Surely, those who are too arrogant to worship Me will enter Gehenna, forcibly."
[51:58] GOD is the Provider, the Possessor of all power, the Supreme.
[39:52] Do they not realize that GOD is the One who increases the provision for whomever He chooses, and withholds? These are lessons for people who believe.
[30:50] You shall appreciate GOD's continuous mercy, and how He revives the land that has been dead. He will just as certainly resurrect the dead. He is Omnipotent.
[39:66] Therefore, you shall worship GOD alone, and be appreciative.
Contemplate God’s attributes when you meditate on God. He says whichever name you call Him, to Him belong the best names (17:110), and He encourages us to consider His names.
[50:40] During the night you shall meditate on His name, and after prostrating. This knowledge of who He is, this understanding of the many facets of God, can help us to truly trust that He is our Lord and Master and He is the only One to be obeyed and trusted.
[64:13] GOD: there is no other god besides Him. In GOD the believers shall trust.
[27:79] Therefore, put your trust in GOD; you are following the manifest truth.
[9:51] Say, "Nothing happens to us, except what GOD has decreed for us. He is our Lord and Master. In GOD the believers shall trust."
[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.
Partial alphabetical list of God’s attributes. Add others as you find them in Quran.
Appreciative, Alive, Aware
Bounteous, Most Blessed
Creator, Most Cognizant, Clement
Designer, Most Dignified
Eternal, Most Exalted
Forgiver, Most Faithful
Glorious, Most Gracious, Grantor
Hearer, Most Honorable, Most High
Initiator, Innermost
Judge, Most Just
King, Knower
Light, Lord, Living
Mighty, Most Merciful
Near
Omniscient, Outermost
Pardoner, Peace, Protector
Redeemer, Most Rich
Supreme, Seer, Most Sacred
Truth, Most Trustworthy
Watcher, Most Wise
* * * * *
There is a global view that “Muslims” are at opposition with the rest of the world. It is common among many countries to see “Islam” as bad in one way or the other. Some say it is a religion that spawns intolerance and fanaticism while others blame it for preaching hostility and prejudice. Still others brand it for sanctioning terrorism, brutality, tyranny and intimidation especially against the opponents of its faith.
One of the loudest criticisms against the faith is that it promotes violence. However, the Quran prohibits aggression and promotes peace. The word “Islam” is derived from the same root word (SLM) as “salaam” meaning “peace” (which is our greeting).
Cont'd on page 3