February 2022: Page 1, 2, 3, 4

Submitters Perspective

Page 2

Grace and Mercy

Cont'd from page 1

bestow liberally or lavishly. Such is God’s grace and mercy. He lets us know that He will bestow His grace and mercy upon the believers liberally and lavishly.

We have a message with a verifiable math miracle to back it up. We want to get to the high ranks. We want to please God, not displease Him.

As much as God is Gracious, Merciful, Loving, Kind, Clement, Forgiving, Compassionate—the list of the most beautiful names goes on—God also speaks of His “anger”. We definitely don’t want to displease God. He is strict in enforcing retribution.

[5:80] You would see many of them allying themselves with those who disbelieve. Miserable indeed is what their hands have sent forth on behalf of their souls. GOD is angry with them and, consequently, they will abide forever in retribution.

[48:6] And He will requite the hypocrite men and women and the idol worshiping men and women, for they have harbored evil thoughts about GOD. Their evil will backfire against them. For GOD is angry with them, condemns them, and has prepared for them Gehenna. What a miserable destiny!

Not only does God have mercy, so does the Quran.

[6:157] Nor can you say, “If only a scripture could come down to us, we would be better guided than they.” A proven scripture has now come to you from your Lord, and a beacon, and a mercy.

[7:52] We have given them a scripture that is fully detailed, with knowledge, guidance, and mercy for the people who believe.

[17:82] We send down in the Quran healing and mercy for the believers. At the same time, it only increases the wickedness of the transgressors.

Even the tablets God gave Moses: [7:154] When Moses’ anger subsided, he picked up the tablets, containing guidance and mercy for those who reverence their Lord.

So, what other mercies does God provide for us? Not only did He give us another chance to redeem ourselves in this life, God gave us a forty-year grace period.

[46:15] We enjoined the human being to honor his parents. His mother bore him arduously, gave birth to him arduously, and took intimate care of him for thirty months. When he reaches maturity, and reaches the age of forty* he should say, “My Lord, direct me to appreciate the blessings You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and to do the righteous works that please You. Let my children be righteous as well. I have repented to You; I am a submitter.”

*46:15 God knows full well who deserves to go to Heaven and who deserves to go to Hell. It is His law that whomever He puts to death before the age of 40 shall go to Heaven. God’s immense mercy is reflected in the fact that most people have difficulty accepting this divine mercy; they argue: “Put them in Hell!” See Appendix 32.

There are many many people who have died under the age of forty who perhaps we felt they didn’t deserve to go to heaven. But, God is the only Judge and the best judge. “I know what you do not know.” (2:30)

Another mercy is the creation of night and day

[28:73] It is mercy from Him that He created for you the night and the day in order to rest (during the night), then seek His provisions (during the day), that you may be appreciative.

The wind and the rain

[30:46] Among His proofs is that He sends the winds with good omen, to shower you with His mercy, and to allow the ships to run in the sea in accordance with His rules, and for you to seek His bounties that you may be appreciative.

 

[42:28] He is the One who sends down the rain after they had despaired, and spreads His mercy. He is the only Master, Most Praiseworthy.

Another mercy from God is that He gives many opportunities to repent and reform.

[2:160] As for those who repent, reform, and proclaim, I redeem them. I am the Redeemer, Most Merciful.

Even the hypocrites:  [4:146] Only those who repent, reform, hold fast to GOD, and devote their religion absolutely to GOD alone, will be counted with the believers. GOD will bless the believers with a great recompense.

And then on top of those mercies there’s sura 25:68-70:

[25:68] They never implore beside GOD any other god, nor do they kill any soul―for GOD has made life sacred―except in the course of justice. Nor do they commit adultery. Those who commit these offenses will have to pay. [25:69] Retribution is doubled for them on the Day of Resurrection, and they abide therein humiliated. [25:70] Exempted are those who repent, believe, and lead a righteous life. GOD transforms their sins into credits. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.

God transforms our sins into credits! The first time I came upon this verse it brought tears to my eyes.

Praise be to God.

God’s mercy encompasses all things. These traits—grace, mercy, compassion, forgiveness—are not just reserved for God only. God also wants us to have these traits as well.

[42:37] They avoid gross sins and vice, and when angered they forgive. [42:38] They respond to their Lord by observing the Contact Prayers (Salat). Their affairs are decided after due consultation among themselves, and from our provisions to them they give (to charity). [42:39] When gross injustice befalls them, they stand up for their rights. [42:40] Although the just requital for an injustice is an equivalent retribution, those who pardon and

Cont'd on page 3