Subject: [Masjid Tucson] Submission weekly reminder

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Peace be upon you,

We are human; we foolishly accepted the responsibility to come to this earth (Quran 33:72). This means there are certain innate characteristics, certain attributes we must accept as fact: we are selfish (4:128), stingy (17:100), unappreciative (14:34), impatient (17:11), ignorant (33:72),  egotistical (14:9) and angry (3:134).

Since God created us with these characteristics, is it then okay to display those traits? Can we just say that God meant for us to be this way? Certainly not. The idol worshipers say,
"Had God willed, we would not worship any idols besides Him, nor would our parents. Nor would we prohibit anything besides His prohibitions." Those before them have done the same thing. (Quran 6:148, 16:35)

What God tells us instead, is we must overcome these deficiencies and work on the good traits for our own good. For example, we read:
[Quran 59:9] Those who overcome their natural stinginess are the successful ones.
[Quran 31:12] You shall be appreciative of God. Whoever is appreciative is appreciative for his own good.

Read more at: Traits of the Believers, http://www.masjidtucson.org/publications/books/SP/1997/dec/page1.html

Peace.


References
Why Were We Created? http://www.masjidtucson.org/quran/appendices/appendix7.html
Religious Duties: Gift from God: http://www.masjidtucson.org/quran/appendices/appendix15.html