|
Cont'd from page 2
Roam the earth and note the consequences for the rejectors.
[39:11] Say, “I have been commanded to worship GOD, devoting the religion absolutely to Him alone.
This is the perfect religion.
* * * * *
What is spiritual truth? Most people think this form of truth matches their own values and thoughts. However, different people have different ideas about what that means. For instance, a Christian believes that God the Father begat Jesus as His son, and many of them, though not all, believe that he actually is God as part of the Trinity. But followers of Islam, Hinduism, Jainism, and people of many other religious backgrounds do not have the same understanding.
Can the dictionary definition help us? Merriam Webster gives quite a long definition of “truth”. Perhaps the most useful part of their definition for our discussion follows: “a transcendent fundamental or spiritual reality”. Breaking that definition down, I understand it to mean that, though universal and significant, spiritual truth goes beyond human ability to understand. We simply do not have the capability to comprehend it. We can believe in it and study the scriptures to increase our knowledge of it but we can never fully understand it while we exist in our earthly life.
[6:103] No visions can encompass Him, but He encompasses all visions. He is the Compassionate, the Cognizant.
[59:22–24] He is the One GOD; there is no other god besides Him.
Knower of all secrets and declarations. He is the Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
He is the One GOD; there is no other God besides Him. The King, the Most Sacred, the Peace, the Most Faithful, the Supreme, the Almighty, the Most Powerful, the Most Dignified. GOD be glorified; far above having partners.
He is the One GOD; the Creator, the Initiator, the Designer. To Him belong the most beautiful names. Glorifying Him is everything in the heavens and the earth. He is the Almighty, Most Wise.
Others, including Indigenous Americans recognized the greatness and omnipresence of God. For example, Black Elk held the position of medicine or holy man among his tribe. I found the following attributed to him: “The Great Spirit is everywhere; He hears whatever is in our minds and our hearts, and it is not necessary to speak to Him in a loud voice.” (Black Elk of the Lakota tribe)
The Bible also speaks of God’s greatness:
Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is One God!
Therefore you shall adore the Lord your God
with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind,
and with all your strength.
[Deuteronomy 6:4–5, Mark 12:29–30]
As do the Hindu Vedas:
Let us meditate on God, His glorious attributes,
who is the basis of everything in this universe as its Creator,
who is fit to be worshiped as Omnipresent, Omnipotent, Omniscient
and self existent conscious being,
who removes all ignorance and impurities from the mind
and purifies and sharpens our intellect.
[Gayatri Mantra, Yajur Veda]
We find similar passages in the scriptures and traditions of a great many faiths. Thus, we see that no one group owns exclusive rights to the essential spiritual truth.
[originally printed in Medium]
We all love good deals. We search for bargains, clip coupons, watch the ads. On “black Friday” people will stay up all night, camp out at a Best Buy, just to get a deal on the latest in flat screen TVs. It doesn’t even matter if it’s really cold outside. They’ll wrap up in a blanket or a sleeping bag—just to be among the first into the store.
This isn’t limited to our day and age. The Quran tells us in the story of Joseph how happy the brothers were when they got home and found all their goods returned to them (12:65). They realized what a blessing this was in the material world. “What more can we ask for?” They figured they could go back and get another whole camel-load for free. “This is certainly a profitable deal.”
And God tells us that even though the Jumah prayer is an important requirement for all submitters, often people would choose to take care of business, particularly if some deal was in the works, rather than come to the prayer.
Important Commandments to All Believers
[62:9] O you who believe, when the Congregational Prayer (Salat Al-Jumu’ah) is announced on Friday, you shall hasten to the commemoration of GOD, and drop all business. This is better for you, if you only knew. [62:10] Once the prayer is completed, you may spread through the land to seek GOD’s bounties, and continue to remember GOD frequently, that you may succeed. [62:11] When some of them come across a business deal, or some entertainment, they rush to it and leave you standing! Say, “What GOD possesses is far better than the entertainment or the business. GOD is the best Provider.”
Cont'd on page 4