|
Cont'd from page 2
His messengers. Such is GOD’s grace that He bestows upon whomever He wills. GOD is Possessor of Infinite Grace.
A garden of thoughts can be a pleasure to maintain and enjoy, but we have to be careful not to become too proud of it and turn it into an idol. The Quran tells us of those who became too proud of their (worldly) gardens and this caused their doom (68:8-34, 18:32-44, 34:15-19). Instead, the example we want to follow is: [2:265] The example of those who give their money seeking GOD’s pleasure, out of sincere conviction, is that of a garden on high fertile soil; when heavy rain falls, it gives twice as much crop. If heavy rain is not available, a drizzle will suffice. GOD is Seer of everything you do.
May God help us all to keep our garden of thoughts strong and healthy.
* * * * *
In some cultures, people praise and glorify their heroes, prophets, saints, etc. The purpose of this writing is to demonstrate from the scriptures that all praise and glory belong to God alone.
According to the glorious Quran, all praise and glory belongs absolutely to God alone. In our daily contact prayers, we recite, “Praise be to God, Lord of the universe” (1:2). The Arabic word Al-Hamd refers to all praise. Therefore, we are prohibited from praising any other human being. God says in the Quran that all praise in this world and in the Hereafter belongs to Him (28:70, 34:1). Also, all praise is due to Him in the heavens and the earth (30:18).
The emphasis on all praise is repeated:
[45:36] To GOD belongs all praise; Lord of the heavens, Lord of the earth, Lord of the universe.
[64:1] Glorifying GOD is everything in the heavens and everything on earth. To Him belongs all kingship, and to Him belongs all praise, and He is Omnipotent.
Therefore, to God belongs all praise and we are prohibited from praising the dead prophets and saints such as Jesus, Muhammad, Ali, Hussain, etc. We are also prohibited from praising and glorifying any living being besides God. In our daily conversations we must be careful when we use words of praise and glorification. God is the Supreme Being and Creator of all things; He is alone worthy of all praise, glorification, exaltation, and worship. Without God’s help we cannot accomplish any good deeds. All power belongs to God alone and God alone should be praised and glorified.
“Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart, in the company of the upright and in the assembly. Great are the works of the LORD; they are studied by all who delight in them. Splendid and majestic is His work; and His righteousness endures forever. He has made His wonders to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and compassionate.”
[Psalm 111:1-4]
“Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! I will praise the LORD while I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. Do not trust in princes, in mortal man, in whom there is no salvation. His spirit departs, he returns to the earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God; who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free. The LORD opens the eyes of the blind; the LORD raises up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous.” [Psalm 146:1-8]
We should praise and glorify God for guiding us. We could not possibly be guided, if it were not that God has guided us (7:43).
One of the characteristics of the believers is that they are praisers of their Lord: [9:112] They are the repenters, the worshipers, the praisers, the meditators, the bowing and prostrating, the advocators of righteousness and forbidders of evil, and the keepers of GOD’s laws. Give good news to such believers.
Everything in the universe praises His glory. Everything in the heavens and the earth glorifies God but we do not understand their glorification (17:44). The trees, mountains, stars, the thunder, etc. praise and glorify God: [13:13] The thunder praises His glory, and so do the angels, out of reverence for Him. He sends the lightning bolts, which strike in accordance with His will. Yet, they argue about GOD, though His power is awesome.
Once God saves us from our enemies, we should praise Him for saving us from the evil people (23:28). We should fall prostrate upon hearing God’s revelations and praise and glorify Him without any arrogance (32:15). We need to praise and glorify God in order to develop our souls. God does not need our praises and glorification. [35:15] O people, you are the ones who need GOD, while GOD is in no need for anyone, the Praiseworthy.
We must praise and glorify God, and reverence Him, and observe Him in every chance that we get, before sunrise, at dawn as the stars fade away, when we get up, before sunset, when we retire at night, throughout the day and night: [40:55] Therefore, be patient, for GOD’s promise is true, and ask forgiveness for your sin, and glorify and praise your Lord night and day.
[33:42] You shall glorify Him day and night.
[30:17] Therefore, you shall glorify GOD when you retire at night, and when you rise in the morning.
[20:130] Therefore, be patient in the face of their utterances, and praise and glorify your Lord before sunrise and before sunset. And during the night glorify Him, as well as at both ends of the day, that you may be happy.
Cont'd on page 4