May 2013: Page 1, 2, 3, 4

Submitters Perspective

Page 2

Godly behavior

Cont’d from page 1

Leviticus 19:11–16 (NIV)  “Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another. Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the Lord. Do not defraud or rob your neighbor. Do not hold back the wages of a hired worker overnight. Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the Lord. Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly. Do not go about spreading slander among your people. Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord.”

Leviticus 19:35–36 (NIV) Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight or quantity.  Use honest scales and honest weights, an honest ephah and an honest hin.I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt.

[2:42] Do not confound the truth with falsehood, nor shall you conceal the truth, knowingly.

[2:224] Do not subject GOD's name to your casual swearing, that you may appear righteous, pious, or to attain credibility among the people. GOD is Hearer, Knower.

[26:181–183] "You shall give full measure when you trade; do not cheat. You shall weigh with an equitable scale. Do not cheat the people out of their rights, and do not roam the earth corruptingly.

[4:135] O you who believe, you shall be absolutely equitable, and observe GOD, when you serve as witnesses, even against yourselves, or your parents, or your relatives. Whether the accused is rich or poor, GOD takes care of both. Therefore, do not be biased by your personal wishes. If you deviate or disregard (this commandment), then GOD is fully Cognizant of everything you do.

As we can see, God’s system and laws for how to treat each other and how to

work righteous in this world have remained unchanged. Though the previous scriptures have been allowed to be tampered with, God’s guidance is clear for those who reverence their Lord.

As submitters to God, our duty is to set the example for those around us with our words and our deeds. Our behaviors and our utterances reflect upon God and His religion, so we must strive with every fiber of our being to observe God and set the absolute best example, lest we blaspheme against God and cause others to become averse to our Lord’s teachings.

[49:11] O you who believe, no people shall ridicule other people, for they may be better than they. Nor shall any women ridicule other women, for they may be better than they. Nor shall you mock one another, or make fun of your names. Evil indeed is the reversion to wickedness after attaining faith. Anyone who does not repent after this, these are the transgressors.

[29:46] Do not argue with the people of the scripture (Jews, Christians, & Muslims) except in the nicest possible manner―unless they transgress― and say, "We believe in what was revealed to us and in what was revealed to you, and our god and your god is one and the same; to Him we are 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.

As submitters we cannot afford to look lightly on the example that we set for the world through our lives and the way that we treat others, as well as the way we treat each other. We cannot afford to take our Lord’s teachings for granted, or use them only when it suits our motives or desires. Our Lord’s revelations are heavy (73:5). They are a guide for every aspect of our lives, and we are obligated to make the absolute effort to live our lives doing everything in a manner that would please our Lord. It is by example that we invite to the path of God; it is by our actions and deeds as

well as our words that we glorify God and the religion He has decreed for us, to save us. But, it is also by example that we repulse and mislead others from the path of God. So let us strive to uphold the covenant we have made with God by proclaiming that we are believers, and set the absolute best example in everything that we do or say, and in the manner that we live, so that we not only glorify and praise God with our words but with our very lives.

[17:38] All bad behavior is condemned by your Lord.

[2:177] Righteousness is not turning your faces towards the east or the west. Righteous are those who believe in GOD, the Last Day, the angels, the scripture, and the prophets; and they give the money, cheerfully, to the relatives, the orphans, the needy, the traveling alien, the beggars, and to free the slaves; and they observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat); and they keep their word whenever they make a promise; and they steadfastly persevere in the face of persecution, hardship, and war. These are the truthful; these are the righteous.

[3:133–136] You should eagerly race towards forgiveness from your Lord and a Paradise whose width encompasses the heavens and the earth; it awaits the righteous, who give to charity during the good times, as well as the bad times. They are suppressors of anger, and pardoners of the people. GOD loves the charitable. If they fall in sin or wrong their souls, they remember GOD and ask forgiveness for their sins—and who forgives the sins except GOD—and they do not persist in sins, knowingly. Their recompense is forgiveness from their Lord, and gardens with flowing streams; they abide therein forever. What a blessed reward for the workers!

These are teachings that God has sent to us through all His messengers, and these are the commandments that He has given us to uphold both in the Bible and the Quran.

Stephanie