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understanding. Deaf, dumb, and blind; they cannot understand.
Logically, someone who embraces Submission today is not doing it for the popularity, but most likely out of the sheer desire to try to please God. I remember the first couple times I attended the yearly submitter’s conference and had the audacity to question the integrity of other submitters before getting to truly know them. Who was I to make such a judgment towards a fellow submitter who was striving in the cause of God? What did I gain from writing them off, nothing but the boosting of my own ego.
[2:13] When they are told, “Believe like the people who believed,” they say, “Shall we believe like the fools who believed?” In fact, it is they who are fools, but they do not know.
[83:29] The wicked used to laugh at those who believed. [83:30] When they passed by them, they used to poke fun. [83:31] When they got together with their people, they used to joke. [83:32] Whenever they saw them, they said, “These people are far astray!
It can be tempting at times to paint individuals with a wide brush by labeling them as hypocrites or disbelievers. The argument typically goes something like this: if I can prove to myself you are committing a sin, and you are not committing this act out of weakness, then by default you are following a source beside God and therefore you are an idol worshiper, hypocrite, or disbeliever. If I use this kind of logic to make broad claims against groups of submitters then chances are I am being self-righteous.
[6:52] And do not dismiss those who implore their Lord day and night, devoting themselves to Him alone. You are not responsible for their reckoning, nor are they responsible for your reckoning. If you dismiss them, you will be a transgressor.
The truth can always stand on its own. It does not need to be offensive to make an impact. We see in the example of Sãleh, that when his people were asked what caused them to believe their reply was the message (7:75). When God commanded Moses to go to Pharaoh, he asked him to speak to him nicely (20:44). If we cause people to be repulsed by the message then we will have to pay dearly for that (4:85, 16:94). In 17:53 God says “Tell My servants to treat each other in the best possible manner.” And in 16:125 God says to invite people with kind enlightenment and in the best possible manner.
[2:44] Do you exhort the people to be righteous, while forgetting yourselves, though you read the scripture? Do you not understand?
[16:125] You shall invite to the path of your Lord with wisdom and kind enlightenment, and debate with them in the best possible manner. Your Lord knows best who has strayed from His path, and He knows best who are the guided ones.
[41:33] Who can utter better words than one who invites to GOD, works righteousness, and says, “I am one of the submitters”? [41:34] Not equal is the good response and the bad response. You shall resort to the nicest possible response. Thus, the one who used to be your enemy, may become your best friend. [41:35] None can attain this except those who steadfastly persevere. None can attain this except those who are extremely fortunate.
God knows that at times carrying out this commandment can be difficult. That is why I believe God follows these verses by reminding us to seek refuge in him from the whispers of the devil. This is because it is at these sensitive times that the devil will whisper to us to lash out and be mean-hearted.
[41:36] When the devil whispers an idea to you, you shall seek refuge in GOD. He is the Hearer, the Omniscient.
When we use guilt, we are adding additional weight to the hardships that others are in the process of carrying, but when we inspire, we are helping our fellow submitters by lightening their load and giving them the encouragement to be steadfast and persevere.
The Messenger’s Kindness
[3:159] It was mercy from GOD that you became compassionate towards them. Had you been harsh and mean-hearted, they would have abandoned you. Therefore, you shall pardon them and ask forgiveness for them, and consult them. …
[9:103] Take from their money a charity to purify them and sanctify them. And encourage them, for your encouragement reassures them. GOD is Hearer, Omniscient.
We can judge using the verses of the Quran (4:105). But when it comes to judging others we have to ask ourselves are we judging what someone is doing to make ourselves feel better or because we genuinely love to see them guided? If we care enough to judge, should we not care enough to help?
As believers we have to treat every human being as a potential believer while they are still living on this Earth. Let us love every human being as a potential believer who may become better than you and me in due time. This is by no means a blind love; our guide here is the Quran 60:8-9.
[3:104] Let there be a community of you who invite to what is good, advocate righteousness, and forbid evil. These are the winners.
Abraham tried to argue on behalf of Lot’s people, until he was asked to refrain (11:74-76). Abraham didn’tCont'd on page 3