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[35:8] Note the one whose evil work is adorned in his eyes, until he thinks that it is righteous. God thus sends astray whoever wills (to go astray), and He guides whoever wills (to be guided). Therefore, do not grieve over them. God is fully aware of everything they do.
Situations that involve our engagement in civilized discussions or debates with disbelievers will serve as testimony for both parties. God intends to expose certain people to the message before they reach final conclusions, so they can never claim they did not receive a warner. At the same time, such discussions are designed to test believers to see if they will deliver the truth without any compromise or concealment, and to see if they will practice perseverance to engage in them smoothly, righteously, and productively, by God’s will and according to His guidelines.
[33:39] Those who deliver God’s messages, and who reverence Him alone, shall never fear anyone but God. God is the most efficient reckoner.
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[3:20] If they argue with you, then say, “I have simply submitted myself to GOD; I and those who follow me.” You shall proclaim to those who received the scripture, as well as those who did not, “Would you submit?” If they submit, then they have been guided, but if they turn away, your sole mission is to deliver this message. GOD is Seer of all people.
[17:81] Proclaim, “The truth has prevailed, and falsehood has vanished; falsehood will inevitably vanish.”
There is no compromise whatsoever regarding illicit drugs and alcoholic beverages; they are called “abominations and the work of Satan” (5:90). In 2:219 and 5:90, we see that “intoxicants, gambling, the idols’ altars, and games of chance” are strictly prohibited. The word used for intoxicants is “Khamr” from the root word “Khamara” which means “to cover.” Thus, anything that covers or hinders the mind is prohibited. This includes anything that alters the mind, such as marijuana, heroin, cocaine, alcohol, hashish, and anything else that affects the mind. (Dr. Rashad Khalifa, Quran: the Final Testament, Appendix 35)
Several groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and Gamblers Anonymous are designed to aid those who are caught in addictions to find their way out of them by working through a set of 12 steps whose ultimate goal is to allow someone to turn their will and life over to the care of God as they understand Him.
Actually, looking at the human condition from a Quranic perspective aren’t we all in the same boat in some sense? While we may not think that we have been affected by addiction, we are here because we gave power to something other than God (for most of us, it was probably our egos). We persisted in that behavior, seeing some “reward” in it, notwithstanding the consequences for our souls. Isn’t that the essence of addiction? So whether it is an addictive substance, an emotional addiction, or a spiritual addiction, we all are in this test because of our idolatrous nature. You might say that we are here because of our addiction to idolatry. We were given chances, but we kept on engaging in it, seeing some illusory benefit or reward, in spite of the damage to our souls. Why else would we have chosen freewill when given the chance to repent?
[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.
Recently some Submitters began working together to examine the 12 steps in light of the Quran, using its verses in our sharing. Our goal is twofold, to become better submitters ourselves and to pull together materials to help others while introducing the message of the Quran to those unfamiliar with it, God willing: [10:57] O people, enlightenment has come to you herein from your Lord, and healing for anything that troubles your hearts, and guidance, and mercy for the believers.
If it is pleasing to God, over the coming months we hope to present some of the verses we find that relate to each of the Twelve Steps in a series of articles, beginning here with
Step 1: We admitted we were powerless…—that our lives had become unmanageable. (Steps taken from Alcoholics Anonymous, edition 2, 1955, p. 59-60)
The first step of AA, NA and Al Anon, etc., speaks of powerlessness over addictive substances, but it can be applied to anything that we give power to other than God. The Quran shows us that any time we tend towards something that God makes clear is not acceptable to Him—including emotions like fear, anger, etc.—we essentially set up an idol… we make a “Golden Calf” for ourselves out of it. Our egos, aided by Satan, have caused us to think that something other than God is helping us or has power in our lives but: [36:74-75] They set up beside God other gods, perhaps they can be of help to them! On the contrary, they cannot help them; they end up serving them as devoted soldiers.
Whatever we have given power to, whether a substance, a way of thinking, an emotional attachment, our own egos, etc., it ends up as a tool for Satan to mislead us deeper into idolizing and serving
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