|
Cont'd from page 1
God’s teachings in the Quran. We are blessed with the understanding that Happiness is Submission to God alone.
In Submission, God has not asked us to discard all the material wealth or luxuries and nice things of life. We don’t have to give up our family and live the life of a sage. But He has just asked us to live a righteous life. If we follow this simple path which is not at all difficult, then there is nothing to fear. God guarantees this.
[5:65] If only the people of the scripture believe and lead a righteous life, we will then remit their sins, and admit them into gardens of bliss.
In Quran God teaches us that He blesses each one of us in the manner that’s perfectly designed by Him. I have no reason to become sad because God has not blessed me with the wealth of Bill Gates or Mukesh Ambani. There is a good reason for everything.
[20:131] And do not covet what we bestowed upon any other people. Such are temporary ornaments of this life, whereby we put them to the test. What your Lord provides for you is far better, and everlasting.
God asks us to avoid becoming egoistic or boastful. God dislikes the show-offs. It’s better to be humble and charitable when God blesses us with abundance of provisions. [4:36] You shall worship GOD alone―do not associate anything with Him. You shall regard the parents, the relatives, the orphans, the poor, the related neighbor, the unrelated neighbor, the close associate, the traveling alien, and your servants. GOD does not like the arrogant showoffs.
“Happiness is Submission to God alone” is a phrase that will never become old or outdated because it is God’s promise and it’s true for all ages and for all generations. The validity of this phrase depends upon how much importance and priority we give to the submission to God alone.
Each one of us needs to take stock of our submission to God alone on a daily basis and eliminate any impurity of dependence on other than God. God promises us absolute happiness now and forever.
[10:62] Absolutely, GOD's allies have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve. [10:63] They are those who believe and lead a righteous life. [10:64] For them, joy and happiness in this world, as well as in the Hereafter. This is GOD's unchangeable law. Such is the greatest triumph.
[39:17] As for those who discard the worship of all idols, and devote themselves totally to GOD alone, they have deserved happiness. Give good news to My servants.
Our priority in this life should be to fulfil God’s expectations of us. In order to know what God expects of us, we must know our purpose here in this world. [51:56] I did not create the jinns and the humans except to worship Me alone.
It is essential to know that God made us to worship Him alone; we have to live a life that will please God. It is not just what we say, it is our actual intentions and actions to carry out His commandments. When we please God, by following His commandments consistently, then God makes everything good for us. This is a promise from God.
[24:55] GOD promises those among you who believe and lead a righteous life, that He will make them sovereigns on earth, as He did for those before them, and will establish for them the religion He has chosen for them, and will substitute peace and security for them in place of fear. All this because they worship Me alone; they never set up any idols beside Me. Those who disbelieve after this are the truly wicked.
We submitters try to live a God-centric life. We are aware about the accountability of our each and every action in the Hereafter. As a result of this awareness we try hard to reverence God by our thoughts, emotions, commemorations, meditations, etc. (in addition to our religious duties).
God cautions us in the Quran that we should avoid treating the religion as a social function for our own good. Otherwise we suffer the consequences:
[6:70] You shall disregard those who take their religion in vain, as if it is a social function, and are totally absorbed in this worldly life. Remind with this (Quran), lest a soul may suffer the consequences of its evil earnings. It has none beside GOD as a Lord and Master, nor an intercessor. If it could offer any kind of ransom, it would not be accepted. They suffer the consequences of the evil works they earn; they have incurred hellish drinks, and a painful retribution because of their disbelief.
We know that God is watching over us and knows what we are trying to do. When pleasing God through our righteousness becomes the most important aspect of our life, God promises us that wonderful things will happen in our lives. God controls the minds and hearts of the people. He is the one who puts love, respect, and understanding between us and those around us. But we must make God our priority first, working hard to be righteous and to do things that are pleasing to Him first before all others.
Our happiness depends on how we set our goals in life. Our goal should be to worship God alone. We know that our purpose in being here is to please God. We must continuously ask ourselves what’s the most important thing in our lives and we must make God our number one priority. In return, God blesses us with happiness (10:62-64). Happiness is Submission to God alone.
* * * * *