May 2017: Page 1, 2, 3, 4

Submitters Perspective

Page 3

Brand Ambassadors

People have become very brand conscious, everything from what you wear, eat, drive, the sports gear that you use, your perfumes, etc. You name the product that is thrown in a conversation and it’s about a brand.  People have even started relating others by the brands they use. It seems that people who use certain brands enjoy a higher social status or command more respect, mostly in terms of wealth or privilege, because they associate themselves with a particular brand. It’s just their ego that wants to tell the world that they are somebody because they can afford an expensive brand.

Now, we know that by using any of the brands it will not make us special or talented or guarantee physical strength or a longer or a happier life. But people relate to these brands because they feel a sense of fulfillment or satisfaction and they want to relate to the Brand Ambassador who projects a larger than life picture. The feeling may be that by emulating the brand used by his hero, he is in some way showing attributes or qualities of that Brand Ambassador.

The process involved in creating a unique name and image for a product in the consumers' mind is mainly through advertising campaigns with a consistent theme. Branding aims to establish a significant and differentiated presence in the market—name, symbol and/or design—that attracts and retains loyal customers.

Famous athletes are recognized all over the world for their incredible skills. Most of these athletes have been playing their sport since they were children and have been putting in countless hours every day for their entire lives to reach their dream of becoming a professional athlete. Becoming a professional athlete comes with several perks. Athletes are some of the highest paid individuals in the world. Not only are they paid for their athletic skills, but many athletes are paid even more for endorsement deals.

Companies want to be associated with the best, so they choose top athletes,

with the right image, to represent their product. Also, God in all His mercy has endorsed us as Submitters. We all belong to the brand Submission: we are all Brand Ambassadors for Submission. It’s like honoring us and telling us we have the chance, we are worthy to live up to that standard, that image of what He sees His obedient servants as. This is the brand that maintains the highest standards of morals and ethics.

The Best Community

[3:110] You are the best community ever raised among the people: you advocate righteousness and forbid evil, and you believe in GOD. If the followers of the scripture believed, it would be better for them. Some of them do believe, but the majority of them are wicked.

Why are we branded as the best community?  It’s because we follow all instructions and uphold all laws and rules that God has given us in our scripture, the Quran. We are consistent with our contact prayers, have perseverance and faith and believe in the unseen and the Hereafter.

We strive to maintain and uphold righteousness (3:104, 3:114, 16:97, 17:19); we condemn cheating and dishonesty (11:85, 83:1-3); we keep our word (70:32); we avoid sins, such as adultery, gambling, intoxication, backbiting, bearing false witness, vain talk, corruption (17:32. 5:90-91, 68:8-13, 25:72, 28:83, 2:188); we avoid bad language and losing our temper (4:148, 14:26, 31:18-19); and we show patience and forgiveness (7:199, 42:40, 42:43).

 So, as every Brand Ambassador is paid heavily for endorsing that brand and is made to sign a contract that if he breaks the rules of that contract his endorsement will be cancelled immediately, so has God promised us great rewards for upholding the values and teachings of brand Submission.

And though we make many mistakes, God is still merciful enough not to invalidate our contract or cancel our Submission endorsement, as long as we worship Him alone,

repent and reform when we know we've done something wrong, and keep striving.

So, what are our rewards for being Brand Ambassadors for Submission? We get a share not only here in this world but also a share in the hereafter. [3:148] Consequently, GOD granted them the rewards of this world, and the better rewards of the Hereafter. GOD loves the good doers.

God forgives our sins and transforms our debits into credits. [25:70] Exempted are those who repent, believe, and lead a righteous life. GOD transforms their sins into credits. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.

We are given security and sovereignty. [6:82] Those who believe, and do not pollute their belief with idol worship, have deserved the perfect security, and they are truly guided.

God's Promise
 Kings and Queens on Earth

[24:55] GOD promises those among you who believe and lead a righteous life, that He will make them sovereigns on earth, as He did for those before them, and will establish for them the religion He has chosen for them, and substitute peace and security for them in place of fear. All this because they worship Me alone; they never set up any idols beside Me. Those who disbelieve after this are the truly wicked.

God also promises us victory.  [28:83] We reserve the abode of the Hereafter for those who do not seek exaltation on earth, nor corruption. The ultimate victory belongs to the righteous. [40:51] Most assuredly, we will give victory to our messengers and to those who believe, both in this world and on the day the witnesses are summoned.

And the ultimate reward—Paradise.

[2:82] As for those who believe, and lead a righteous life, they will be the dwellers of Paradise; they abide in it forever.

Cont'd on page 4