|
Cont’d from page 1
Better yet, there is no “better belonging” than to personally know that you belong to your Lord and Creator.
When an affliction befalls them, they say, “We belong to God, and to Him we are returning.” (2:156)
Prophets Joseph and Abraham are among many examples in the Quran of people who love belonging to God.
Joseph said:
“My Lord, You have given me kingship and taught me the interpretation of dreams. Initiator of the heavens and the earth; You are my Lord and Master in this life and in the Hereafter. Let me die as a submitter, and count me with the righteous.’ (12:101)
Abraham said:
“I am against them, for I am devoted only to the Lord of the universe. The One who created me, and guided me. The One who feeds me and waters me. And when I get sick, He heals me. The One who puts me to death, then brings me back to life. The One who hopefully will forgive my sins on the Day of Judgment.” (26:77-82)
When we are reminded in the Quran that everything and everyone belongs to God, it is frequently followed by mention of God’s attributes. Upon reading such verses, a believer experiences tremendous peace and praises God. There is no better one to belong to than the One Who is Lord of the universe!
He forgives whomever He wills, and punishes whomever He wills. God is Omnipotent (2:284). All matters are controlled by God (3:109). He forgives whomever He wills, and punishes whomever He wills. God is Forgiver, Most Merciful (3:129). God is Omnipotent (3:189). God is in no need, Praiseworthy (4:131). God is the only Protector (4:132). God is Omniscient, Most Wise (4:170). God suffices as Lord and Master (4:171). He creates whatever He wills. He controls life and death. You have none beside God as a Lord and Master (9:116). Absolutely, God's promise is truth, but most of them do not know (10:55).
As for those in this world who choose not to acknowledge and submit to God, they seek out anyone, any idea, and anything in futile attempts to satisfy their innate need to belong, to be attached, and affiliated
with something that they believe satisfies their longing for recognition and acceptance. They follow idols and are wedded to illusions.
Absolutely, to God belongs everyone in the heavens and everyone on earth. Those who set up idols beside God are really following nothing. They only think that they are following something. They only guess. (10:66)
Is God not sufficient for His servant? They frighten you with the idols they set up beside Him. Whomever God sends astray, nothing can guide him. (39:36)
Disbelievers and hypocrites are “approval addicts.” They constantly seek some form of false credit, attention, acceptance, and affiliation. Why? They discarded the worship of God alone. As one consequence, their innermost need to belong is perverted and unfilled. So “24/7” or around the clock, they crave the highest approval, attention, and acceptance from other than God.
Amidst daily life’s ups and downs, it is a great blessing to a person to know that he or she belongs to God alone and he or she will return to Him. Speaking to his followers, Prophet Jesus said:
“The world would love you if you belonged to it, but you don’t…The people of the world will hate you because you belong to me, for they don’t know God who sent me…” (John 15:18, 21)
Of course, Jesus never enjoined his followers to worship him. When he said, “belong to me,” Jesus was referring to those who worship God alone, obey God’s commands, and obey God’s messengers and prophets. This is clearly conveyed in the phrase “they [referring to disbelievers in his community at that time] don’t know God who sent me…” Guided by God, Jesus explained to his followers that the world only accepts or loves those who ‘belong’ to it, and have chosen not to worship God alone. In this sense, to belong to the world is equivalent to being in Satan’s kingdom. In contrast, believers do not forget who they belong to and where they are going. With this awareness comes tremendous contentment and peace.
To Him belongs everything in the heavens and the earth and therefore, the religion shall be devoted absolutely to Him alone. Would you worship other than God? (16:52)
Every soul will taste death, after we put you to the test through adversity and prosperity, then to us you ultimately return. (21:35)
* * * * *
[79:32] He established the mountains.
[22:18] Do you not realize that to GOD prostrates everyone in the heavens and the earth, and the sun, and the moon, and the stars, and the mountains, and the trees, and the animals, and many people? Many others among the people are committed to doom. Whomever GOD shames, none will honor him. Everything is in accordance with GOD's will.
[17:37] You shall not walk proudly on earth ―you cannot bore through the earth, nor can you be as tall as the mountains.
[27:61] Who is the One who made the earth habitable, caused rivers to run through it, placed on it mountains, and created a barrier between the two waters? Is it another god with GOD? Indeed, most of them do not know.
[27:88] When you look at the mountains, you think that they are standing still. But they are moving, like the clouds. Such is the manufacture of GOD, who perfected everything. He is fully Cognizant of everything you do.
[33:72] We have offered the responsibility (freedom of choice) to the heavens and the earth, and the mountains, but they refused to bear it, and were afraid of it. But the human being accepted it; he was transgressing, ignorant.
[50:7] And we created the earth, and scattered on it mountains, and grew in it all kinds of beautiful plants.
[73:14] The day will come when the earth and the mountains will quake, and the mountains will turn into a weightless pile.