Guidance—A Gift From God
Cont’d from page 1
They act as if they are doing you a favor by embracing submission! Say, “You are not doing me any favors by embracing Submission. God is the One who is doing you a great favor by guiding you to the faith, if you are sincere." (49:17)
Whomever God guides is the truly guided one, and whomever He commits to straying, these are the losers. (7:178)
This guidance is not an arbitrary gift. God doesn’t pick and choose at random. He is fully aware of those who deserve the guidance, those who will recognize it and follow it, and those who will listen heedlessly and then turn away, following instead their own opinions.
Had God willed, He could have made you one congregation. But He sends astray whoever chooses to go astray, and He guides whoever wishes to be guided. You will surely be asked about everything you have done. (16:93)
You cannot guide the ones you love. God is the only One who guides in accordance with His will, and in accordance with His knowledge of those who deserve the guidance. [28:56]
Another interesting thing about guidance is that it seems to be a process. If we allow ourselves to receive it, then |
God increases it; the sequence and timeframe will be appropriate to each individual. God describes this process of receiving guidance in almost physical terms. Our whole being cringes away from the awesomeness of God; then God actually softens the hearts and minds of those who are striving to let Him in. God makes a comparison in terms we can understand. He describes someone willing to accept Submission as having a wide open heart. And someone unwilling to seek God’s guidance is like someone at the top of Mt Everest, his chest constricted until it is physically painful.
If God renders one's heart content with Submission, he will be following a light from his Lord. Therefore, woe to those whose hearts are hardened against God's message; they have gone far astray. God has revealed herein the best Hadith; a book that is consistent, and points out both ways (to Heaven and Hell). The skins of those who reverence their Lord cringe therefrom, then their skins and their hearts soften up for God's message. Such is God's guidance; He bestows it upon whoever wills (to be guided). As for those sent astray by God, nothing can guide them. (39:22-3)
Whomever God wills to guide, He renders his chest wide open to Submission. And whomever He wills to send astray, He renders his chest intolerant |
and straitened, like one who climbs towards the sky. God thus places a curse upon those who refuse to believe. [6:125]
Guidance from God is a very personal, individualized gift. And it’s so very important for us to recognize it, follow it and be appreciative of it. We want to be among those who are invited into Paradise, pleased and pleasing. Only with God’s guidance will we make it. We don’t want to be like those described in 39:54-60, who actually have the audacity to say:
“Had God guided me, I would have been with the righteous.” Or 3:86: Why should God guide people who disbelieved after believing and after witnessing that the messenger is truth, and after solid proofs have been given to them? God does not guide the wicked.
We want to be among those described in 22:54:
Those who are blessed with knowledge will recognize the truth from your Lord, then believe in it, and their hearts will readily accept it. Most assuredly, God guides the believers in the right path. And 19:76: God augments the guidance of those who choose to be guided. For the good deeds are eternally rewarded by your Lord, and bring far better returns.
Lydia
|
A reader’s sharing of personal feelings and appreciation of GOD Alone
… I'm learning to realize that I must take it one day at a time. I'm learning the beauty of [the Quran] inshallah (God willing). I'm learning the grace and beauty of GOD's eternal love and mercy. I'm learning that indeed the Quran is the mind and will of the Most Gracious in my life. I'm learning that the Quran is the easiest and most interesting book to read. It's clear and concise in making the impression upon my mind the contrast of good and evil. Its allegories and parables are most beautiful and poetic. It's remarkable how easy it is to recite and memorize the sayings of the Quran.
Truly like magic the Quran has me spellbound. For the FIRST time in my life I can appreciate GOD Alone. Never did I realize before the significant of that glorious phrase "Worship GOD Alone!" For the FIRST time ever I feel connected to the Universe and the Creation of all things. For the FIRST time ever I feel connected to the pattern of all things. For the FIRST time ever I'm thanking and praising GOD Alone for everything small and great as I observe the magnificent glorious creation of all things….The more I praise GOD the more He gives me peace and joy. The more I read the Quran the more I want to praise GOD Alone. I praise GOD Alone as I conclude my e-mail of appreciation for this wonderful morning in a small midwestern town with a verse from the Quran, remembering what Abraham said:
[19:48] "I will abandon you and the gods you worship beside GOD. I will worship only my Lord. By imploring my Lord alone, I cannot go wrong."
This verse gives me a good answer to whom might question my religion. I can simply reply, "If I implore GOD Alone, how can I go wrong?"
... Rodney |