[Al-Quran 50:6-8] Have they not looked at the heaven above them - how We structured it and adorned it and how it has no rifts? And the earth - We spread it out and cast therein firmly set mountains and made grow therein [something] of every beautiful kind, Giving insight and a reminder for every servant who turns [to Allah].

Showing posts with label purpose. Show all posts
Showing posts with label purpose. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Acknowledging the Perfection of our Lord


No change should there be in the creation of Allah [Quran 30:30] 



Abstract 
To do تَسْبِيحَ of Allah means to acknowledge, declare, and/or celebrate that Allah is absolutely perfect. Allah creates perfectly and governs excellently. We humans need to acknowledge and appreciate this fact, and consequently submit to The Right Religion (الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ). 


Full Text
The Quran informs us that those who believe and do righteous deeds / acts of reform (آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ), their Lord will guide them, due to their faith, to the Gardens of bounty, bliss, delight, pleasure, et al (جَنَّاتِ النَّعِيمِ). Upon experiencing the perfection of the Gardens of the Hereafter, they will exclaim:  

دَعْوَاهُمْ فِيهَا سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَتَحِيَّتُهُمْ فِيهَا سَلَامٌ وَآخِرُ دَعْوَاهُمْ أَنِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

[Al-Quran 10:10]

Surah Yunus ayat 10 Translations:
Ali Unal: Therein their invocation will be: "All-Glorified You are, O God! (You are absolutely exalted above having any defects and doing anything wrong.)" And their greeting (to each other and from God and the angels) will be: "Peace!" And their invocation will close with "All praise and gratitude are for God, the Lord of the worlds!"

Ali Quli Qari: Their call therein will be, ‘O Allah! Immaculate are You!’ and their greeting therein will be, ‘Peace!’ and their concluding call, ‘All praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds.’ 

Muhammad Sarwar: Their prayer shall be, "Glory be to you Lord," and their greeting, "Peace be with you," and the only other words (of worldly speech) they will speak will be, "It is God, Lord of the Universe, who deserves all praise."


The Good & The Evil 
People wonder why bad things happen in this world if the Creator is perfect and all good. The Quran addresses the confusion about the existence of evil and the harmful in this world thus: 

أَيْنَمَا تَكُونُوا يُدْرِككُّمُ الْمَوْتُ وَلَوْ كُنتُمْ فِي بُرُوجٍ مُّشَيَّدَةٍ وَإِن تُصِبْهُمْ حَسَنَةٌ يَقُولُوا هَٰذِهِ مِنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ وَإِن تُصِبْهُمْ سَيِّئَةٌ يَقُولُوا هَٰذِهِ مِنْ عِندِكَ قُلْ كُلٌّ مِّنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ فَمَالِ هَٰؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمِ لَا يَكَادُونَ يَفْقَهُونَ حَدِيثًا
...
مَّا أَصَابَكَ مِنْ حَسَنَةٍ فَمِنَ اللَّهِ وَمَا أَصَابَكَ مِن سَيِّئَةٍ فَمِن نَّفْسِكَ وَأَرْسَلْنَاكَ لِلنَّاسِ رَسُولًا وَكَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ شَهِيدًا

Wherever you be will overtake you [the] death even if you are in towers lofty. And if befalls them any good they say, "This (is) from Allah," And if befalls them any evil they say, "This (is) from you." Say, "All (is) from Allah." So what (is wrong) (with) these [the] people, they do not seem (to) understand any statement.
What(ever) befalls you of (the) good (is) from Allah, and whatever befalls you of (the) evil (is) from your Nafs. And We have sent you (as) a Messenger for all the people , and Allah is sufficient (as) a Witness.
[Al-Quran 4:78-79; edited]



Surah Yasin, which begins with an oath by The Wise Quran and mentioning the fact that 'Indeed, you (are) among the Messengers,' concludes thus: 

فَسُبْحَانَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ مَلَكُوتُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
So immaculate is He in whose hand is the dominion of all things and to whom you shall be brought back. 
[Al-Quran 36:83, Translation: Ali Quli Qari] 


تَسْبِيحَ (Glorification) & الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ (The Right Religion)  
To do تَسْبِيحَ of Allah means to acknowledge, declare, and/or celebrate that Allah is absolutely perfect: free of any and all weaknesses, imperfections and impurities. Everything & everyone acknowledges the perfection of Allah: 

تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ السَّمَاوَاتُ السَّبْعُ وَالْأَرْضُ وَمَن فِيهِنَّ وَإِن مِّن شَيْءٍ إِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تَفْقَهُونَ تَسْبِيحَهُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًا

Glorify [to] Him the seven heavens and the earth and whatever (is) in them. And (there is) not any thing except glorifies His Praise, but not you understand their glorification. Indeed, He is Ever-Forbearing, Oft-Forgiving."
[Al-Quran 17:44] 

Prior to being sent to Earth, a covenant was taken from Adam, and then he was placed in The Garden where he suffered neither hunger nor nakedness, neither thirst nor excessive heat! He was forbidden to eat from only one tree, as that would cause him loss of comforts; his disobedience caused him to lose his natural clothing and be removed from the luxurious Garden. He realised that he himself was to blame for the harm he had caused to his own nafs by attempting to make fundamental changes in his body. One of the fundamental principles of The Right Religion (الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ), mentioned in Surah arRum, is that there should be no change in the creation of Allah, the best of creators. 

Adam had attempted to achieve immortality and a kingdom that never decays by believing in the deceitful promises of Satan and obeying the suggestions made by him. Another fundamental principle of The Right Religion (الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ), mentioned in Surah Yusuf, is that only Allah is to be worshipped. Obeying Satan, in defiance of Allah's commands, causes us to suffer loss: 


Excerpt from Adam Facts  

On this Earth, in this temporal life, we humans suffer hunger, lack of appropriate clothing, thirst, the Sun's excessive heat, and many other problems, diseases, etc. Many other creatures also suffer on Earth due to human activities, and some species even face extinction due to our adverse impact on the ecosystem. The Earth has suffered extinction events before.  Scientists theorise that if humans were to become extinct, the Earth might recover from the damage caused to it, and flourish once again. The Quran (7:56) warns us to not to corrupt the Earth after it has been reformed:       




Surah alIsra begins with the declaration: سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي (Q17:1), for Allah, for having taken His servant Muhammad ﷺ on a journey we refer to as Mairaj (Ascension). Another fundamental principle of The Right Religion (الدِّينُالْقَيِّمُ), mentioned in Surah atTaubah, is about the sacred months, which I understand is about peace and security during pilgrimage travels. While scientists discuss escaping to another planet to inhabit, when this Earth is no longer habitable, we hope and pray that Allah will, having accepted our repentance in this life, forgive and guide us that day, in peace and security, and with honour and dignity, on a similar ascension, via the The Right Trajectory (الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ), to the Gardens of Eternity. 



Allah creates perfectly and governs excellently. We humans need to acknowledge and appreciate this fact, and consequently submit willingly to The Right Religion (الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ). We were created to worship and serve Allah. The most prestigious jobs in the worlds can be ours, eternally, if we submit and become of those who keep their duty (الْمُتَّقِينَ): 


 الصَّلَاةَ (Prayer) & تَسْبِيحَ (Glorification) 
The contact prayer (الصَّلَاةَ) is in itself a combination of remembrance (recitation of Surah alFateha and other ayaat from The Quran) and glorification (تَسْبِيحَ): 



وَإِذَا قُرِئَ الْقُرْآنُ فَاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ وَأَنصِتُوا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ فِي نَفْسِكَ تَضَرُّعًا وَخِيفَةً وَدُونَ الْجَهْرِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصَالِ وَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ الْغَافِلِينَ
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ عِندَ رَبِّكَ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِ وَيُسَبِّحُونَهُ وَلَهُ يَسْجُدُونَ

And when is recited the Quran, then listen to it and pay attention so that you may receive mercy.
And remember your Lord in your nafs humbly and (in) fear and without the loudness of [the] words, in the mornings and (in) the evenings. And (do) not be among the heedless.
Indeed, those who (are) near your Lord, they (do) not turn away in pride from His worship. And they glorify Him and to Him they prostrate.
[Al-Quran 7:204-206; edited]


Surah alIsra, which emphasises both contact prayers and glorification, concludes with the command:  


قُلِ ادْعُوا اللَّهَ أَوِ ادْعُوا الرَّحْمَٰنَ أَيًّا مَّا تَدْعُوا فَلَهُ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَىٰ وَلَا تَجْهَرْ بِصَلَاتِكَ وَلَا تُخَافِتْ بِهَا وَابْتَغِ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ سَبِيلًا
وَقُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي لَمْ يَتَّخِذْ وَلَدًا وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ شَرِيكٌ فِي الْمُلْكِ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ وَلِيٌّ مِّنَ الذُّلِّ وَكَبِّرْهُ تَكْبِيرًا

Say, "Invoke Allah or invoke the Most Gracious. By whatever (name) you invoke, to Him (belongs) the Most Beautiful Names. And (do) not be loud in your prayers and not be silent therein, but seek between that a way."
And say, "All Praise (is) for Allah the One Who has not taken a son and not is for Him a partner in the dominion, and not is for Him any protector out of weakness. And magnify Him (with all) magnificence."
[Al-Quran 17:110-111] 


In Surah Taha, ayaat 14-15, Allah commands Moses to establish prayer (الصَّلَاةَ) for His Remembrance (لِذِكْرِي), as The Hour (السَّاعَةَ) is approaching when every nafs (نَفْسٍ) will be compensated (لِتُجْزَىٰ)... Moses supplicates for help. In his supplication, he especially mentions:

كَيْ نُسَبِّحَكَ كَثِيرًا
وَنَذْكُرَكَ كَثِيرًا
إِنَّكَ كُنتَ بِنَا بَصِيرًا

That we may glorify You much
And [we] remember You much.
Indeed, [You] You are of us All-Seer."
[Al-Quran 20:33-35]

The Quran, however, clarifies and emphasises the importance of glorification (تَسْبِيحَ) as a separate distinct act of worship as well. In Surah anNoor, we read: 

أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَالطَّيْرُ صَافَّاتٍ كُلٌّ قَدْ عَلِمَ صَلَاتَهُ وَتَسْبِيحَهُ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا يَفْعَلُونَ

Do not you see that Allah - glorify Him whoever (is) in the heavens and the earth and the birds (with) wings outspread? Each one verily knows its prayer and its glorification. And Allah (is) All-Knower of what they do.
[Al-Quran 24:41]
The When & Why of تَسْبِيحَ
Timings for & Purpose of تَسْبِيحَ have been explained: 

for Satisfaction/Contentment

فَاصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَا وَمِنْ آنَاءِ اللَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْ وَأَطْرَافَ النَّهَارِ لَعَلَّكَ تَرْضَىٰ
So be patient over what they say and glorify with praise (of) your Lord before (the) rising (of) the sun and before its setting; and from (the) hours (of) the night, and glorify (at the) ends (of) the day so that you may be satisfied.
[Al-Quran 20:130] 


to Patiently Endure

فَاصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ الْغُرُوبِ

وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْهُ وَأَدْبَارَ السُّجُودِ

So be patient over what they say and glorify (the) praise (of) your Lord, before (the) rising (of) the sun and before the setting, And of the night glorify Him and after the prostration. 
[Al-Quran 50:39-40] 


to Patiently Await

وَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ فَإِنَّكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ حِينَ تَقُومُ

وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْهُ وَإِدْبَارَ النُّجُومِ

So be patient, for (the) Command (of) your Lord, for indeed, you (are) in Our Eyes. And glorify (the) praise (of) your Lord when you arise, And of the night, glorify Him, and after the stars. 
[Al-Quran 52:48-49] 


to Patiently Persevere

فَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تُطِعْ مِنْهُمْ آثِمًا أَوْ كَفُورًا

وَاذْكُرِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا

وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَاسْجُدْ لَهُ وَسَبِّحْهُ لَيْلًا طَوِيلًا

So be patient for (the) Command (of) your Lord and (do) not obey from them any sinner or disbeliever.
And remember (the) name (of) your Lord morning and evening.
And of the night prostrate to Him, and glorify Him a night long. 
[Al-Quran 76:24-26] 


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Last updated on October 27, 2018

Thursday, February 15, 2018

Tears of Joy

Glad Tidings: Comfort, Delight & Coolness of the Eyes!


Abstract
The Quran promises ‘comfort of their eyes’ as a special reward for Believers who patiently persevere. The Quran also encourages humans to worry, cry and prepare for the promised Approaching Day that it is repeatedly warning about.
Humans shed tears when overwhelmed by extreme emotions. The topography of tears varies with the emotions that cause them.


Full Text


وَالَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا
أُولَٰئِكَ يُجْزَوْنَ الْغُرْفَةَ بِمَا صَبَرُوا وَيُلَقَّوْنَ فِيهَا تَحِيَّةً وَسَلَامًا
خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا حَسُنَتْ مُسْتَقَرًّا وَمُقَامًا 
And those who say, "Our Lord! Grant to us from our spouses and our offspring comfort (to) our eyes, and make us for the righteous a leader."
 Those will be awarded the Chamber because they were patient and they will be met therein (with) greetings and peace. Will abide forever in it. Good (is) the settlement and a resting place.
[Al-Quran 25:74-76]



تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ الْمَضَاجِعِ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ
فَلَا تَعْلَمُ نَفْسٌ مَّا أُخْفِيَ لَهُم مِّن قُرَّةِ أَعْيُنٍ جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
أَفَمَن كَانَ مُؤْمِنًا كَمَن كَانَ فَاسِقًا لَّا يَسْتَوُونَ 
Forsake their sides from (their) beds; they call their Lord (in) fear and hope, and out of what We have provided them they spend.
And not knows a soul what is hidden for them of (the) comfort (for) the eyes (as) a reward for what they used (to) do.
Then is one who is a believer like (him) who is defiantly disobedient? Not they are equal.
 [Al-Quran 32:16-18] 

 

Comfort or coolness of the Eyes [قُرَّةِ أَعْيُنٍ] is an Arabic phrase which implies that now the person has finally found comfort and is shedding tears of joy. For example, in the ayaat in these excerpts, these women are provided coolness of their eyes: Q19:26 Maryam after childbirth; Q20:40 & Q28:13 Moses’ mother upon being reunited with Moses, the baby; Q28:9 Pharoah’s wife in taking up Moses, the baby, in her care; Q33:51 the wives of the Prophet in their relationship with their husband. 

 

The Quran offers hope for eternal and permanent gratification to the Believers. No matter what challenges and difficulties they may be tried with in this life, they are promised a loving family: to cherish & be cherished forever!

Tears
The Quran also mentions tears twice: 
Excerpt from corpus.quran.com 

Q5:83 mentions tears of recognition of truth, and Q9:92 tears of sorrow due to inability to participate. 


Science of Tears
Scientists classify tears into three basic kinds: Basal, Reflex and Psychic. Psychic Tears are shed when a person sheds tears when overcome by emotions.
Tears brought about by emotions have a different chemical make-up than those for lubrication; emotional tears contain more of the protein-based hormones prolactin, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and Leu-enkephalin (a natural painkiller) than basal or reflex tears. The limbic system is involved in production of basic emotional drives, such as anger, fear, etc. The limbic system, to be specific, the hypothalamus, also has a degree of control over the autonomic system. The parasympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system controls the lacrimal glands via the neurotransmitter acetylcholine through both the nicotinic and muscarinic receptors. When these receptors are activated, the lacrimal gland is stimulated to produce tears.[6]


Art of Tears
An interesting study by artist Rose-Lynn Fisher who has photographed tears under a microscope reveals the topography created by a variety of emotions. Each emotion sketches a unique picture: http://rose-lynnfisher.com/tears.html  

Excerpt from Smithsonian Magazine:
As Fisher pored over the hundreds of dried tears, she began to see even more ways in which they resembled large-scale landscapes, or as she calls them, “aerial views of emotion terrain.”
…
Closely studying tears for so long has made Fisher think of them as far more than a salty liquid we discharge during difficult moments. “Tears are the medium of our most primal language in moments as unrelenting as death, as basic as hunger and as complex as a rite of passage,” she says. “It’s as though each one of our tears carries a microcosm of the collective human experience, like one drop of an ocean.”
Read more: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-microscopic-structures-of-dried-human-tears-180947766/#1md8Fxpz5BSeAH5R.99 


Weep for Forgiveness 
Excerpt from corpus.quran.com 

Our present life, granted to us by our Most Merciful God, has a very important purpose. What we believe and do in this life affects our eternity. The Quran guides us and repeatedly warns us of the promised resurrection and judgment. Those who are forgiven will be generously rewarded with all they desire and much more. Those who are not able to use this life to earn God’s forgiveness will lose everything, including God’s mercy. Surah anNajm concludes as follows:

هَٰذَا نَذِيرٌ مِّنَ النُّذُرِ الْأُولَىٰ
أَزِفَتِ الْآزِفَةُ
لَيْسَ لَهَا مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ كَاشِفَةٌ
أَفَمِنْ هَٰذَا الْحَدِيثِ تَعْجَبُونَ
وَتَضْحَكُونَ وَلَا تَبْكُونَ
وَأَنتُمْ سَامِدُونَ
فَاسْجُدُوا لِلَّهِ وَاعْبُدُوا

This (is) a warner, from the warners the former.
Has approached the Approaching Day.
Not is for it besides Allah any remover.
Then of this statement you wonder?
And you laugh and (do) not weep,
While you amuse (yourselves)?
So prostrate to Allah and worship (Him).
[Al-Quran 53:56-62]



References