As a child, I was blessed to grow up around a remarkable human being by the name of Ale Nabi. He was one of my father's closest friends and someone who I came to embrace just like an uncle. What was remarkable about him was not the status or wealth that he came from, but the nobility and content of his character. As a professor of English he was always admired by his students. As a husband and father of three, he was always loved by his family. As a friend of many, he was always known for his kindness and generosity. He was constant in his devotion to God, through times of ease and difficulty.
Three years ago, Ale Nabi returned to his Lord and Creator after a long and difficult battle with Alzheimer's. A couple of weeks ago, I finally had the chance to visit his family in Canada and to visit his grave, to bid him farewell in person. As I stood there in prayer at Ale Nabi uncle's gravesite under the cold rain, what struck me the most was that his grave was completely unmarked -- no name, no dates, no lasting words, nothing. Yet, the feeling of angelic presence around his grave was so powerful and overwhelming. It was a reminder that our true legacy as human beings is not found in what is inscribed on our tombstones when we die, but, rather, in the way that we live life and in the way we make a difference in the lives of people around us.
The Prophet Muhammad taught us that when we die, the wealth and children we have amassed will not go with us in our graves nor will they be of any benefit to us. How true. Yet, too often we work so hard for wealth, status, glory and so much more, believing that our salvation and happiness lies in these accomplishments. But, the Prophet then added, "There are three things that continue to benefit you while you are in the grave: beneficial knowledge you leave behind; the continuously beneficial acts of charity; and a child who prays for you." This prophetic teaching (hadith), sums up how we can live life with a purpose, a purpose that is greater than our own self and ego.
We are all bearers of knowledge and wisdom, some learned through ancient books and sacred manuscripts, others through life experiences. In the last sermon that the Prophet delivered during the Great Pilgrimage (hajj), he said, "All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly." We, therefore, have the responsibility to share whatever knowledge and wisdom we have with others through writing, speaking, teaching or simply imparting it in conversation with loved ones.
We all have the capacity to give of ourselves -- financially and otherwise. These acts of charity have the capacity to change people's lives, and often reach even those we least expected to reach. The man we embraced with a smile and hug goes on to embrace others with the same warmth and kindness; the hospital we donate our money or time or services to, saves the life of a child who goes on to do great things; the depressed woman we offer a listening ear to discovers life is actually worth living, and goes on to give that same inspiration to her children at home. Charity is not an act; it is a way of life. We are called to live lives that are in service of others, and in doing so, we find purpose and meaning in our own.
And following right behind us in our footsteps is the next generation -- whether our own children or those of others. The Quran says, "O you who have attained to faith, remain conscious of God; and let every human being look to what he sends ahead for tomorrow." People who live life with great purpose, live with one eye on the present and one eye on the future, knowing that much of what they work toward will be realized only after their own lifetime. When Martin Luther King Jr. laid down his great vision for an equal and just society, shortly before his assassination, in the "I have a dream" speech, he said, "I may not get there with you," sensing that his own life was coming to an end. Yet, he strived for civil and human rights till the last breath of his life and much of what he inspired the nation to was enacted after his death. So, we too find purpose in life when we work for the generations that are to come after us.
Rumi was once asked to describe a righteous person. Rumi replied that a "righteous person is one who comes out of his mother's womb crying while everyone around him is happy; and goes to his grave happy while others around him are crying." Life is not about what we achieve, but about what we leaving behind in the way of good for others. May we all find our life's purpose and live it out with sincerity and greatness. Amen.
It's always: " Allah said that you should ...." "Allah forbidden that you ...."
"Allah told me that I should do this... should do that ...." and so on..!”
This is posted by ‘Just a voice here’ on (Jan 21).
The Quran changes its narrative often. Sometimes God refers to himself in the third person (He), sometimes refers to Himself as Allah, and sometimes by one of His attribute (Rehman = The Merciful). Sometimes God uses the royal “We”, and sometimes “Me” or “I”.
The Quran addresses all humans “Oh you people”, and sometimes the believers, “Oh you believers”, sometimes the prophet, “Oh Prophet”. Sometimes it addresses all women by saying, “Oh women”.
Examples:
21:88 What? Do they say Rehman (God) has a son? They have surely brought forth a grave thing! So grave, indeed, that it may cause the earth to explode into pieces! Or the mountains may come tumbling down! Or the heavens might just crack asunder!
41:53 Soon, We will show them Our signs in the universe, and even in their own bodies, until it becomes amply clear to them that, indeed, this (Qur’an) is the truth. Is it not enough for you that your Lord (watches and) witnesses every single thing?
22:1 Oh you people! Fear your Lord! Indeed, the jolt of that hour (of Judgment) is
a terrible thing!
Space restrictions prevents more examples.
This is what the Quran says:
33 When the deafening blare (of the trumpet) sounds!
34 Man will run away from his brother that day,
35 And his mother and father,
36 And his wife and son.
37 Everyone that day would have far too many concerns (of his own), to care about others.
38 Some faces that day, would glow,
39 (With) happiness and joyful ecstasy.
40 While some faces that day would be covered with (grim and grimy) shades,
41 And overwhelmed by darkness.
42 Such would be the unbelievers, the obstinate (sinners)!
Quran Chapter 80
21:92 Listen! This human race of yours is really a single nation and I am your Lord, so worship Me exclusively!
43:25 Never was there a messenger before you to whom We did not reveal, “There is no god except Me, so worship Me (exclusively).”
40:64 It is Allah Who arranged for this earth to be your (temporary) abode, and the sky to be the dome over you. He fashioned you in the best possible form and granted you the most wholesome (provisions). Such is Allah, your Lord! (High and) Hallowed is Allah, the Lord of the world!
40:65 He is very much Alive _ (Vital and Vigorous)! There is no god but He. Therefore, call Him, and keep your faith exclusively for Him. All praise is for Allah, the Sustainer of the world!
40:60 Your Lord says, “Address your prayers to Me and I will grace them with acceptance. Indeed, those who disdainfully turn away from worshipping Me will soon enter the hellfire, shamed and disgraced.”
40:55 So, (be sure and) remain patient. The promise of your Lord is really true! Ask for your sins to be pardoned; and sing the praises of your Lord (every) morning and evening.
I believe hard times as nowadays that it is evenmore important to reflect on the life the prophet (pbuh). During a famine, a man once to complained to the Prophet how little there is for him to eat so much so that he tied a rock around his stomach so not to feel the hunger, where upon the Prophet raised his shirt and showed him he also has several rocks tied around his stomach.
The Prophet said, "On every Muslim there is enjoined charity." They said, "If one has nothing?' He said, "He should work with his hands so that he may benefit himself and give in charity." They said, "If he cannot work or does not work?" He said, "Then he should help the oppressed unhappy person (by word or action or both)." They said, "If he does not do it?" He said, "Then he should enjoin what is good.' They said, "If he does not do that''' He said, "Then he should refrain from doing evil, for that will beconsidered forHim charity . "
the reponses you will receive from this article will reveal to the world the variation in the level of consciousness development of those that take the time to comment. ie old souls new souls thing.
thanks for sharing.
sacred, gospel, classical
do you know seven songs that i have written?
are you in the music world and missionary and have written songs?
do you write your experiences without any feedback on your work
your compositions, your columns, your outreach? HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN? AT A NO RESPONSE LEVEL IN OVER DECADES?
how is it you can teach, perform, school participate, work and get NO RESPONSE?
Clearly, one can see in the history of our major religions a veritable host of people who dedicated their lives, with great purpose, to the propagation of their ideas and beliefs. Clearly, some of those ideas and beliefs resonate with all people seeking an ethical and moral foundation for their own lives.
But just as clearly, some of them do not.
It's particularly easy to pick on Islam right now, because there are so many dedicated Muslim clerics and scholars who advocate for war and world domination. But there have certainly been many such advocates in Christendom as well.
And there are certainly dedicated and purposeful religious scholars and clerics in all three Abrahamic religions who advocate strongly for the suppression of women, the ostracizing of homosexuals and advocacy of various social policies that are repressive.
So I would say that living "a life of purpose" is not, in and of itself, a sign of any sort of religious or spiritual virtue. I'd much rather the world be populated by foolish, shallow people with no sense of higher purpose at all, than religious people whose very purposefulness makes them dangerous.
However, why is it that these violent ones are not learning from these other good Muslims?
Whats the divide? Why this difference?
If you look at history, western/christian countries have perpetrated the worst horrors of history and have been way more violent than anything muslims have been able to conjure up. Muslims don't believe Christianity is a violent religion.
This is just a human condition, independent of any religious ideology. If people want to hate something or someone, they will manufacture any reason, religious or secular to justify it.