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Like the camel adapted to his desert environment or the penguin suited to life in Antarctica, like the tiger with his roar and the tabby with his purr, so too God has given to humans everything we need.
The Quran: Everything We Need
[18:109] Say, “If the ocean were ink for the words of my Lord, the ocean would run out, before the words of my Lord run out, even if we double the ink supply.”
These Are All the Words We Need
[31:27] If all the trees on earth were made into pens, and the ocean supplied the ink, augmented by seven more oceans, the words of GOD would not run out. GOD is Almighty, Most Wise.
What a great gift from God. He created us, just as he created the camel and the tiger, and He knows what it is that each of us needs. He lists in the Quran some of our needs, reminding us that we need to be thankful that God fulfills our needs.
[36:35] This is to provide them with fruits, and to let them manufacture with their own hands whatever they need. Would they be thankful?
[40:79] GOD is the One who created the livestock for you; some you ride, and some you eat. [40:80] They also provide you with additional benefits that satisfy many of your needs. On them, as well as on the ships, you are carried.
[41:10] He placed on it stabilizers (mountains), made it productive, and He calculated its provisions in four days, to satisfy the needs of all its inhabitants.
Ultimately all we ever really need is God:
[35:15] O people, you are the ones who need GOD, while GOD is in no need for anyone, the Most Praiseworthy.
And God, most generously, gives us the Quran, this amazing book to help us everyday. We know that the Quran contains all the words we need. God didn’t leave anything out of the Quran (6:38).
The Quran is “glorious” (50:1, 85:21). It is full of proof and full of wisdom (38:1, 27:1, 36:1-2). It’s a beacon (27:2, 5:15-6). It’s a mercy and a healing (7:52, 17:82).
The Quran is a special revelation: [76:23] We have revealed to you this Quran; a special revelation from us. It brings good news as well as warnings. It provides so many examples for us to study and learn from: [39:27] We have cited for the people every kind of example in this Quran, that they may take heed.
It’s even a messenger of God: [11:1] A.L.R. This is a scripture whose verses have been perfected, then elucidated. It comes from a Most Wise, Most Cognizant. [11:2] Proclaiming: “You shall not worship except GOD. I come to you from Him as a warner, as well as a bearer of good news.
As the subtitle for 17:9 says, the Quran is our means to salvation. If we follow it, if we take heed of its warnings, if we study it, then through the Quran, God will provide everything we need.
Quran: Our Means to Salvation
[17:9] This Quran guides to the best path, and brings good news to the believers who lead a righteous life, that they have deserved a great recompense.
[7:204] When the Quran is recited, you shall listen to it and take heed, that you may attain mercy.
[54:17] We made the Quran easy to learn. Does any of you wish to learn?
What a gift from God. All the words we need, mercy, healing, profound truth, and our best means to salvation.
To succeed in their world, the lion and the tiger need to roar, so God has designed them to roar. To succeed in your home, the kitten needs to purr, so God gave them the mechanism and
the instinct to do those things that are pleasing to humans. For us to succeed both in this world and in the Hereafter, we need to seek the ways and means to God and He has provided us with all the tools we need. May we always be appreciative of the wondrous things God has put in this world, and may we steadfastly persevere to stay on the right path.
[6:38] All the creatures on earth, and all the birds that fly with wings, are communities like you. We did not leave anything out of this book. To their Lord, all these creatures will be summoned.
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The name Islam has become synonymous with jihad, terrorism, violence, fanaticism and suicide bombings. The word “Jihad” does not mean “holy war” as that is a concept which does not have basis in the Quran. The word Jihad is derived from Jahd or Juhd which means a striving, an ability or a continual endeavour to the greatest capacity as granted by God. I understand there being 2 different aspects of Jihad. 1) against Satan and all enemies of God and His religion, and 2) against the evil inclinations of our inner self. The biggest struggle we have to conquer is our rebellious nature and ego and the devil within us who promotes deceit, desire, greed and revenge. The objective is not to propagate Islam but to subdue tyrannical forces which do not allow the freedom of worship of God alone. This constant struggle against evil is at two levels: within and without, internal and external. The struggle within is against a human’s lower and evil impulses such as greed and lust, aggressiveness and anger. The struggle without is against evil and wrong, oppression and persecution of the weak by the strong.
Jihad also refers to the performance of
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