Subject: [Masjid Tucson] Submission weekly reminder

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Peace be upon you,

	Freedom of Choice
[Quran 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.*
*33:72 The animals, trees, stars, etc. took advantage of this most gracious offer. See Appendix 7.


Nelson Mandela said of freedom, "For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." Thus, to be truly free, we must freely make choices that benefit, and not harm, ourselves and others. In other words, we submit to God and follow His system and commandments. While it may seem counter-intuitive that to be free we must first submit to God, if we think about it we realize that happiness comes from keeping God's laws. If we (for example) break a commandment like stealing or even over-eating, there is a price to pay both in this world and the next.

Let us make the choices that keep us happy and free from pain in this world and the next.


References:
Freedom, https://www.masjidtucson.org/publications/books/sp/2024/jul/page1.html
Our Freedom, Our Responsibility, https://www.masjidtucson.org/publications/books/sp/2021/jun/page3.html
What Price A Great Nation, https://www.masjidtucson.org/quran/appendices/appendix36.html
Why Were We Created? https://www.masjidtucson.org/quran/appendices/appendix7.html

Peace.