WHAT IS GRATEFULNESS?

Ungrateful Are Punished

Be Grateful To Him!

What Is Gratefulness?

(M. Javed Naseem)

إِنَّا خَلَقْنَا ٱلإِنسَانَ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ أَمْشَاجٍ نَّبْتَلِيهِ فَجَعَلْنَاهُ سَمِيعاً بَصِيراً
“Verily We created Man from a drop of

mingled sperm, in order to try him. So, We

gave him (the gifts) of Hearing and Sight.

إِنَّا هَدَيْنَاهُ ٱلسَّبِيلَ إِمَّا شَاكِراً وَإِمَّا كَفُوراً
“We showed him the way; whether he be

grateful or ungrateful (rests on his will).”

(al-Quran 76:2-3)

Yes, Allah has shown us the way – the right way – with His guidance (Hidayah) through the verses of the Quran. Now, it’s our choice what we do; and we’ll be rewarded (in this world and in the Hereafter) according to the choices we make in life.

أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْاْ أَنَّا خَلَقْنَا لَهُم مِمَّا عَمِلَتْ أَيْدِينَآ أَنْعاماً فَهُمْ لَهَا مَالِكُونَ
”See they not that it is We Who have created

for them, among the things which Our hands have

fashioned, cattle, which are under their dominion?”

وَذَلَّلْنَاهَا لَهُمْ فَمِنْهَا رَكُوبُهُمْ وَمِنْهَا يَأْكُلُونَ
“And that We have subjected them to their (use)?

Of them some do carry them and some they eat.”

وَلَهُمْ فِيهَا مَنَافِعُ وَمَشَارِبُ أَفَلاَ يَشْكُرُونَ
”And they have (other) benefits from them

(besides), and they get (milk) to drink.

Will they not then be grateful?”

(al-Quran 36:71-73)

The Lord Almighty (Allah) is the Creator and we are His Creation. ‘His Creation’ means that we belong to Him; we are His property; we are His servants or slaves; and we are obligated to obey Him in all walks of life. If we give thanks to Allah, He is pleased with us and He’ll bestow upon us His bounties and mercy. That’s His promise in the Holy Quran, and His promise is undoubtedly the Truth!

وَٱذْكُرُوۤاْ إِذْ أَنتُمْ قَلِيلٌ مُّسْتَضْعَفُونَ فِى ٱلأَرْضِ

تَخَافُونَ أَن يَتَخَطَّفَكُمُ ٱلنَّاسُ فَآوَاكُمْ وَأَيَّدَكُم

بِنَصْرِهِ وَرَزَقَكُمْ مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
“Call to mind when you were a small (band),

despised through the land, and afraid that men

might despoil and kidnap you. But He provided

a safe asylum for you, strengthened you with

His aid, and gave you good things for

sustenance, that you might be grateful.”

(al-Quran 8:26)

وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ

وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِى لَشَدِيدٌ

“And when your Lord proclaimed: If you

give thanks, I will give you more; but if you

are thankless, lo! My punishment is dire!”

(al-Quran 14:7)

Allah likes human beings when they beg for His mercy, forgiveness and ask Him for bounties and blessings. Those who don’t like to ask or beg Him, they are considered arrogant. And arrogance is something Allah does not like at all. It was arrogance that got the Devil (Shaitan) out of Paradise and landed him in Hell. He was cursed for ever. As a matter of fact, it was his attitude and arrogance that made him disobey Allah’s command and eventually disobedience (ungratefulness) was punished.

وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلاً قَرْيَةً كَانَتْ آمِنَةً مُّطْمَئِنَّةً يَأْتِيهَا رِزْقُهَا

رَغَداً مِّن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ فَكَفَرَتْ بِأَنْعُمِ ٱللَّهِ فَأَذَاقَهَا ٱللَّهُ

لِبَاسَ ٱلْجُوعِ وَٱلْخَوْفِ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَصْنَعُونَ    
“Allah sets forth a parable: A city enjoying

security and quiet, abundantly supplied with

sustenance from every place: Yet was it

ungrateful for the favors of Allah. So Allah

made it taste of hunger and terror (in extremes),

(closing in on it) like a garment (from every side),

because of the (evil) which (its people) wrought.

(al-Quran 16:112)

فَكُلُواْ مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ حَلالاً طَيِّباً

وَٱشْكُرُواْ نِعْمَةَ ٱللَّهِ إِن كُنْتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ
“So eat of the sustenance which Allah has

provided for you, lawful and good; and be

grateful for the favors of Allah, if it is

He Whom you serve.”

(al-Quran 16:114)

We human beings are judged on the same scale and with similar measure on which the Devil (Shaitan) was judged – the grateful-obedience. As long as we are obedient to Allah, follow His commands, live the way He has instructed us to live, and pay thanks/gratitude to Him for all His favors, we are fine. Allah is satisfied with us and rewards us without measure. But He tells us in the Quran that He does not like those who are ungrateful and rebellious. He rewards the gratefulness with His mercy and bounties but at the same time He punishes the ungratefulness.  

مَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيَجْعَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنْ حَرَجٍ وَلَـٰكِن

يُرِيدُ لِيُطَهِّرَكُمْ وَلِيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُ عَلَيْكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

“….. Allah does not wish to place you in

a difficulty, but to make you clean, and

to complete His favor to you, that you

may be grateful.”

(al-Quran 5:6)

وَكَذٰلِكَ فَتَنَّا بَعْضَهُمْ بِبَعْضٍ لِّيَقُولوۤاْ أَهَـٰؤُلاۤءِ مَنَّ

ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّن بَيْنِنَآ أَلَيْسَ ٱللَّهُ بِأَعْلَمَ بِٱلشَّاكِرِينَ
“Thus did We try some of them by comparison

with others, that they should say: "Is it these

then that Allah has favored from amongst us?"

Does not Allah know best those who are grateful?

(al-Quran 6:53)

وَٱلْبَلَدُ ٱلطَّيِّبُ يَخْرُجُ نَبَاتُهُ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِ وَٱلَّذِى خَبُثَ

لاَ يَخْرُجُ إِلاَّ نَكِداً كَذٰلِكَ نُصَرِّفُ ٱلآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَشْكُرُونَ
“From the land that is clean and good,

by the will of its Cherisher, springs up produce,

(rich) after its kind: but from the land that is bad,

springs up nothing but that which is niggardly.

Thus do we explain the signs by various

symbols to those who are grateful.”

(al-Quran 7:58)

Man is so weak that he surrenders to the Devil (Shaitan) immediately, without any remarkable resistance. Under Devil’s influence, he becomes arrogant, disobedient and ungrateful. All these qualities merit punishment in the eyes of Allah. Man forgets totally that while he is showing his ungratefulness and disobedience to God, he is still enjoying the bounties and favors from Him! Allah does not punish him immediately. He gives him ample time to reflect, to repent and to revert to obedience and gratefulness. If man does not care and continues on the stray path, Allah gives him some warning signs as reminders. And if those reminders and warning signs are still ignored, then a light punishment is given (like some loss in business, some injury, etc.). But if man still does not wake up then he is well on the road to destruction (punishment).

وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَهُمْ نَارُ جَهَنَّمَ لاَ يُقْضَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ فَيَمُوتُواْ

وَلاَ يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمْ مِّنْ عَذَابِهَا كَذٰلِكَ نَجْزِى كُلَّ كَفُورٍ
“But those who reject (Allah), for them will be

the Fire of Hell. No term shall be determined

for them, so they should die, nor shall its

penalty be lightened for them. Thus do We

reward every ungrateful one!”

(al-Quran 35:36)

Allah, the Most Merciful, has bestowed upon us countless blessings. We cannot thank Him enough for His unlimited favors to us. If we just take one minute’s time from our so called ‘busy’ schedule, every day, take a deep breath and reflect upon the countless favors, right from our birth till now, we’ll be ashamed to see that we failed miserably to thank the Almighty.

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لاَ يَشْكُرُونَ
“… For Allah is full of bounty to mankind,

but Most of them are ungrateful.”

(al-Quran 2:243)

وَمَا ظَنُّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْكَذِبَ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَامَةِ

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لاَ يَشْكُرُونَ
“And what think those who invent lies against

Allah, of the Day of Judgment? Verily, Allah

is full of bounty to mankind, but most

of them are ungrateful.”

(al-Quran 10:60)

إِنَّ ٱلإِنسَانَ لِرَبِّهِ لَكَنُودٌ
“Truly man is, to his Lord, ungrateful.”

(al-Quran 100:6)

If we decide that we should do something as a token of gratitude to Allah for all His mercy and bounties, we’ll find out that it’s not difficult to spare just five minutes (out of 1,440 minutes) every day! The only thing we need is a strong will and good intention. And this little effort can bring us great rewards!

وَٱللَّهُ جَعَلَ لَكُمْ مِّنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَاجاً وَجَعَلَ لَكُمْ

مِّنْ أَزْوَاجِكُم بَنِينَ وَحَفَدَةً وَرَزَقَكُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَاتِ

أَفَبِٱلْبَاطِلِ يُؤْمِنُونَ وَبِنِعْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ هُمْ يَكْفُرُونَ
“And Allah has made for you mates (and

companions) of your own nature, and made

for you, out of them, sons and daughters and

grandchildren, and provided for you sustenance

of the best. Will they then believe in vain things,

and be ungrateful for Allah's favors?”

(al-Quran 16:72)

كَذٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

“… Thus does Allah make clear to you

His signs, that you may be grateful.”

(al-Quran 5:89)

There are different levels of being grateful to Allah. The ‘zero level’ is when we verbally thank Allah but practically we do nothing to support our claim. Talk is only a talk, actions matter! We would be considered ‘grateful’ to our Lord only when we obey His commands; discharge our obligations the way He wants us to; and show our loyalty, sincerity and steadfastness by good deeds. All these qualities count for ‘obedience’ and obedience is the best way to show our gratefulness.

….. أَلاَ لِلَّهِ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْخَالِصُ

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لاَ يَهْدِى مَنْ هُوَ كَاذِبٌ كَـفَّار
“Is it not to Allah that sincere devotion

is due? … But Allah guides not such

as are false and ungrateful.”

(al-Quran 39:3)

Yes, to Him is due all the sincere devotion! But Allah warns us, at the same time, that He does not guide those who are ungrateful. Now, the question is: Who is ungrateful? The answer is very simple: Anybody who disobeys Allah’s commands and deviates from the path Allah has prescribed for us, is ungrateful. Such a person does not appreciate the favors that Allah has been and will be doing to him/her. Therefore, loyalty, faithfulness and steadfastness in good deeds are the signs of our gratefulness. If we don’t appreciate what the Almighty has done for us, we join the ‘unfaithful’ group. And Allah is not pleased with such a group. He punishes the ungrateful.

إِن تَكْفُرُواْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنكُمْ وَلاَ يَرْضَىٰ

لِعِبَادِهِ ٱلْكُفْرَ وَإِن تَشْكُرُواْ يَرْضَهُ لَكُمْ
“If you reject (Allah), truly Allah has no

need of you; but He likes not ingratitude

from His servants. If you are grateful,

He is pleased with you.”

(al-Quran 39:7)

ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى سَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلْبَحْرَ لِتَجْرِىَ ٱلْفُلْكُ

فِيهِ بِأَمْرِهِ وَلِتَبْتَغُواْ مِن فَضْلِهِ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
“It is Allah Who has subjected the sea to

you, that ships may sail through it by His

command, that you may seek of His bounty,

and that you may be grateful.”

(al-Quran 45:12)

Allah had subjected the Jinn, the birds and the beast to Prophet Solomon (a.s.). When he was planning to bring over the throne of Queen of Sheba/Saba (Bilqis), a mighty Jinn delivered the throne in a second. Prophet Solomon then showed his gratitude to his Lord:

  

قَالَ ٱلَّذِى عِندَهُ عِلْمٌ مِّنَ ٱلْكِتَابِ أَنَاْ آتِيكَ بِهِ قَبْلَ أَن يَرْتَدَّ

إِلَيْكَ طَرْفُكَ فَلَمَّا رَآهُ مُسْتَقِرّاً عِندَهُ قَالَ هَـٰذَا مِن فَضْلِ رَبِّى

لِيَبْلُوَنِيۤ أَأَشْكُرُ أَمْ أَكْفُرُ وَمَن شَكَرَ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِ

وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ رَبِّى غَنِيٌّ كَرِيمٌ
“Said one who had knowledge of the Book:

"I will bring it to you within the twinkling

of an eye!" Then when (Solomon) saw it

placed firmly before him, he said: This is

by the Grace of my Lord, to test me whether

I am grateful or ungrateful! And if any is

grateful, truly his gratitude is (a gain) for his

own soul; but if any is ungrateful, truly my

Lord is free of all needs, Supreme in Honor!"

(al-Quran 27:40)

The Most Merciful (Allah) reminds us in the Quran, again and again, by showing His signs and by giving examples that He is the One bestowing upon us His Grace and Bounties so that we remain grateful to Him:

وَمِن رَّحْمَتِهِ جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ لِتَسْكُنُواْ

فِيهِ وَلِتَبتَغُواْ مِن فَضْلِهِ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
“It is out of His Mercy that He has made

for you Night and Day, that you may rest

therein, and that you may seek of his Grace;

and in order that you may be grateful.”

(al-Quran 28:73)

عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرِّزْقَ وَٱعْبُدُوهُ وَٱشْكُرُواْ لَهُ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
"… Then seek you sustenance from Allah,

serve Him, and be grateful to Him!

To Him will be your return.”

(al-Quran 29:17)

 

(Zinedine Zidane, ex-captain of France’s national football team, a Muslim of Algerian origin)

وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ أَن يُرْسِلَ ٱلرِّيَاحَ مُبَشِّرَاتٍ وَلِيُذِيقَكُمْ مِّن رَّحْمَتِهِ

وَلِتَجْرِىَ ٱلْفُلْكُ بِأَمْرِهِ وَلِتَبْتَغُواْ مِن فَضْلِهِ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
“Among His signs is this, that He sends the

winds, as heralds of glad tidings, giving you

a taste of His (Grace and) Mercy, that the

ships may sail (majestically) by His Command

and that you may seek of His Bounty,

in order that you may be grateful.”

(al-Quran 30:46)

  

كُلُواْ مِن رِّزْقِ رَبِّكُمْ وَٱشْكُرُواْ لَهُ بَلْدَةٌ طَيِّبَةٌ وَرَبٌّ غَفُورٌ
"… Eat of the sustenance (provided) by

your Lord, and be grateful to Him! …”

(al-Quran 34:15)

***********

CHAPEL HILL VS COPENHAGEN: Which Is Terrorism?

Biased Media Creates Hatred

Islam-phobia Is Being Promoted

With A Vicious Agenda

(M. Javed Naseem)

Hegemony of the world, control of the universe, one world – one government, new world order, etc. etc., these are the names of the same agenda, same plan, same project – and it’s a vicious agenda, vicious plan and vicious project being implemented by a vicious circle! They want to rule you and control you through fear!

Through terror and fear strategy, they want to scare you and convince you at the same time that if you give them more control of your lives, they’ll guarantee your safety and security. They are attacking you from all directions, on all fronts. Since the empire had slipped from their hands, they have come up with new scientific inventions, technological advancement, new gadgets and tools to get ‘inside’ you; get your private information/data and control you. With all your mobile phones, electronic gadgets, computers, tablets, internet and wi-fi, etc. they have enslaved you. Now you can’t run away, even if you wanted to. They even control your bank accounts and money. At many places, they don’t accept cash from you. They force you to use electronic means or paper-work. They have been working on a ‘security plan’ for you, since many years now, by which they’ll take away your arms/guns, your liberty and freedom, your civil rights and finally your ability to resist or fight back. The project is already in its final stage of implementation.

And you are still sleeping, having good times with valentines! Allah Hafiz!  

=================================

The words like democracy, free speech,

human rights, women’s liberty, secularism,

etc., are being abused, manipulated and

misinterpreted purposely to be used for a

vicious agenda by war-mongering, fear-

spreading and anti-minorities corrupt

corporate Western media.

=================================

The year 2015 started with a bang in Paris (Charlie Hebdo) and its echoes were heard in the next few days in many European capitals. And the wolves of vicious media were unleashed all over the world. They were shouting, screaming and reading whatever they were given to. You were caught off-guard. The same biased vicious media had been bashing Red-Indians, Chinese, Asians, Africans, Blacks, Latinos, and minorities. Only this time, they are targeting Muslims and their religion Islam. It’s an all-out war now!

Chapel Hill vs Copenhagen:

Which Is Terrorism?

Russell Brand’s “The Trews” (E257)

(Video link at the end of the page)

Russell Brand:

(As per Wikipedia)

Russell Edward Brand (born 4 June 1975) is an English comedian, actor, radio host, author, and activist. In 2004, Brand achieved notoriety as the host of Big Brother's Big Mouth, a Big Brother spin-off. In 2007, he had his first major film role in St Trinian's. In 2008, he had a major role in the romantic comedy-drama Forgetting Sarah Marshall; He played the title character of the 2011 remake of the romantic comedy Arthur.

Brand has received media coverage for controversies such as his dismissal from MTV, his behavior as a presenter at various award ceremonies, and his drug use. In 2008, he resigned from the BBC following prank calls he made to actor Andrew Sachs on The Russell Brand Show. He has incorporated his drug use, alcoholism, and promiscuity into his comedic material.

Since guest editing an edition of the New Statesman, a British weekly magazine, Brand has become known as an activist and campaigner. This includes a much publicized interview with Newsnight host Jeremy Paxman in 2013, in which he encouraged the British electorate not to vote and endorsed a system based on the 'massive redistribution of wealth' to replace the status quo.

(Courtesy: Wikipedia)

Russel Brand wrote an article expressing his feelings on the brutal events unveiling the new year 2015, in European capitals. Here are some excerpts:

“I don’t know much about Charlie Hebdo, the satirical magazine where the murders took place. As a believer in God I respect the beliefs of all faiths, as a human being I respect freedom of speech. Where do we go then beyond fear and condemnation, cowed in the  valley of the shadow of death two weeks into 2015?”

“How can any spiritual scripture be used as justification for mass murder? How can the tenet that The Prophet ought never be depicted ever override Islam’s most mundane greeting AsSalaam alaikum – “peace and mercy be upon you”? It can’t and it doesn’t.

The young, bewildered, pitiable men that carry out these atrocities probably at the behest of older, power hungry men do not speak for Islam or Muhammad or Allah.

This language has nothing to do with the God I believe in or the God any of the Muslims I know believe in.”

“These men of murder are the symptom of a creed that lies as far away from God as is possible to conceive and do not represent Islam anymore than George Bush, Tony Blair and Halliburton represented Christianity, or ordinary, secular Europeans and Americans when they profited from the bombing of innocent Iraqis.”

***********************************

“I suppose there will now be calls to curb

our freedom. There will be tension and fear

in mixed communities like the one I live in,

there will be a temptation to generalise

and damn in the bleak and monotonous

tears of these insistent tragedies.”

***********************************

“The awful fact is that violence of this type is almost impossible to stop. If any of us decide to yield to the terror within us and inflict violence, misguidedly or arbitrarily then how can it be prevented? More gates and bars and guards? More spying and borders and hate? More division and suspicion and derision? That is the philosophy that got us here.”

“The only answer is in the territory of the spirit, in the deep interconnectedness within us all. In the acceptance that all action on this plane is the manifestation of an inner realm and violence of an inner malady. Our only hope is compassion and love. To marshal  vigorously the only terror and violence we can absolutely control; that which is within us individually.”

“I don’t mean this in a wet, liberal “kumbaye ah me lord” type way. I am saying that we must love as passionately as they hate. We must respect as vehemently as they desecrate. It is not easy to be peaceful and loving in the face of dreadful violence but it’s all we have.”

“The reason I feel frightened by tragedies such as this is because I think there’s nothing I can do, but there is. I can love and tolerate and reach across the fear. In places where secular and religious folk live together we have got to start observing the main message of every scripture; “be nice”.

“All the other stuff is speculation; which book is best, which God is the most mighty. None of us know what’s beyond the sensory realm, this tiny sliver of material life strewn within the infinite. But we each have the power to create heaven or hell here on Earth, extremists on all sides are clear in their intentions and actions, we, the vast, powerful majority, Christians, Muslims, atheists and Undecideds have to be more committed and more determined. We must love life more than they love death. We must love each other more than they hate, in God’s name, in Allah’s name in Charlie’s name, in all our names.”

(Courtesy: www.russellbrand.com/category/articles)

Chapel Hill Vs Copenhagen:

Which Is Terrorism?

Russell Brand

(The Trews (E257)

Russel Brand talks about the disparity in handling of two acts of terrorism by the biased and prejudiced Western media – one in Copenhagen (Denmark) and the other in Chapel Hill (USA). Watch his video show called ‘The Trews’ here:

Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgIxmRnLGRg

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WHAT IS GUIDANCE (HIDAYAH)? Part 2/2

Guidance vs Ignorance

(Part-2/2)

What Is Guidance (Hidayah)?

It’s His Mercy & Blessing

(M. Javed Naseem)

Darkness stands for ignorance and the light stands for knowledge or education. Darkness represents ‘evil’ while the light represents ‘good’. Darkness stands for falsehood and the light stands for truth. Darkness leads to the Hellfire while the light leads you to the Paradise. Darkness is from the Devil while light is from the Almighty Allah.

The darkness of ignorance leads you astray while the light of knowledge guides you to the ‘right path’. Therefore, guidance is ‘Hidayah’. That’s why the journey-from-darkness-to-light is considered a blessing and mercy from Allah Subhanahu-wa Ta’ala. Alhamdo-lillah.

هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُصَلِّى عَلَيْكُمْ وَمَلاَئِكَتُهُ لِيُخْرِ

جَكُمْ مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ وَكَانَ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَحِيماً

“He it is Who sends blessings on you, as do

His angels, that He may bring you out from

the depths of Darkness into Light; and

He is full of mercy to the believers.”

(al-Quran 33:43)

The Holy Quran is the Word of God. It is the real guidance as it is full of mercy and blessings for the entire mankind. The Creator of the universe explains through the verses of the Holy Quran the purpose of all creation. He reminds mankind that He is the ONE running the show and He is the ONE worthy of worship and glorification. He has spread His signs all over (around us) and asks us to think and reflect upon them. And as faithful creation, we should be grateful to Him and praise Him as much as possible.

هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُنَزِّلُ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ آيَاتٍ بَيِّنَاتٍ لِّيُخْرِجَكُمْ

مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِكُمْ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ

“He is the One Who sends to His servant

manifest signs, that He may lead you from the

depths of Darkness into the Light, and verily

Allah is to you most Kind and Merciful.”

(al-Quran 57:9)

The Devil (Shaitan), on the other hand, has also his own agenda. He is on a mission to send us astray; divert our attention from Deen to Duniya; and prevent us from pursuing the straight path (or the path to Paradise) with temptation and worldly pleasure. He has millions of followers who perform as his workforce and strive day and night to keep us in the Darkness, away from the Light. His best weapons are wealth and women. But the Merciful Almighty has promised us His everlasting light of guidance. It is there for those who seek it and strive for it. Unfortunately, there are not many who go for it because of heavy odds.

يُرِيدُونَ لِيُطْفِئُواْ نُورَ ٱللَّهِ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ 

وَٱللَّهُ مُتِمُّ نُورِهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ ٱلْكَافِرُونَ
“Their intention is to extinguish Allah's

Light (by blowing) with their mouths.

But Allah will complete (the revelation of)

His Light, even though the unbelievers

may detest (it).”

(al-Quran 61:8)

 

يُرِيدُونَ أَن يُطْفِئُواْ نُورَ ٱللَّهِ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ

وَيَأْبَىٰ ٱللَّهُ إِلاَّ أَن يُتِمَّ نُورَهُ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ ٱلْكَافِرُونَ

“Fain would they extinguish Allah's light

with their mouths, but Allah will not allow

but that His light should be perfected, even

though the unbelievers may detest (it).”

(al-Quran 9:32)

Now, one would ask: What is that Light or Guidance? That Light or Guidance is a miracle of Allah – that’s the Holy Quran. That is the Book which was revealed to our Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) in Truth. Allah has sent it down as a ‘Guiding Light’ for the mankind. It is the direction to the right path that leads to Paradise.

كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ لِتُخْرِجَ ٱلنَّاسَ مِنَ ٱلظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ

بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطِ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْحَمِيدِ
“A Book which We have revealed unto you,

in order that you might lead mankind out of

the depths of darkness into light - by the leave

of their Lord – to the way of (Him), the

Exalted in power, Worthy of all praise!”

(al-Quran 14:1) 

يَا أَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ قَدْ جَآءَكُمْ بُرْهَانٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ

وَأَنْزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكُمْ نُوراً مُّبِيناً
“O mankind! Verily there has come to you

a convincing proof from your Lord, for We

have sent unto you a light (that is) manifes

         (al-Quran 4:174)

                                                               

Faith is power. When we have faith, it defends us, saves us, and protects us from evil, from misguidance and from the influence of Shaitan. It surely takes us to the ‘straight path’ that has been prescribed by Allah.

Those who don’t have faith, have no real power. Their foundation is weak. It shakes at every cross-road. They are unable to find the ‘right path’ because they don’t believe in the One Who guides to the right path. They’ll end up in the pit of Blazing Fire while those having Faith in Allah would be saved from all harm and led to the Garden.

ٱللَّهُ وَلِىُّ ٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ يُخْرِجُهُمْ مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ

وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوۤاْ أَوْلِيَآؤُهُمُ ٱلطَّاغُوتُ يُخْرِجُونَهُمْ مِّنَ ٱلنُّورِ

إِلَى ٱلظُّلُمَاتِ أُوْلَـٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ ٱلنَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُون
“Allah is the Protector of those who have faith;

from the depths of darkness He will lead them

forth into light. Of those who reject faith, the

patrons are the evil ones. From light they will

lead them forth into the depths of darkness.

They will be companions of the Fire,

to dwell therein (for ever).”

(al-Quran 2:257)

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GUIDANCE VS IGNORANCE

Guidance vs Ignorance

(Part-1/2)

Heaven Or Hell!

We Make The Choice

(M. Javed Naseem)

وَٱلَّذِينَ جَاهَدُواْ فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا

وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَمَعَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

“As for those who strive for us,

We surely guide them to our paths,

and lo, Allah is with the good.”

(al-Quran 29:69)

All guidance comes from Allah and it is meant for those who seek it or strive for it. We have to make an effort for it. Without any effort, we are not going to get it. In other words, it’s our choice and our own effort that can take us from the darkness of ignorance to the light of guidance.

هَـٰذَا بَيَانٌ لِّلنَّاسِ وَهُدًى وَمَوْعِظَةٌ لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ

“This (Quran) is a declaration for mankind; 

a guidance and an admonition unto those

who ward off (evil).”

(al-Quran 3:138)

No Guidance For Liars, 

Unbelievers, Wrong-doers

And Hypocrites!

Anybody can seek Allah’s guidance as it’s available free of charge. But there’s a pre-condition to guidance – the sincerity. We should repent, beg for Allah’s forgiveness and ask Him to show us the right path (the Guidance) with all sincerity and honesty. Liars, hypocrites, unbelievers, wrong-doers, the corrupt and the ungrateful don’t qualify for it.

Here is what Allah says in the Holy Quran:

إِنَّ شَرَّ ٱلدَّوَابِّ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ فَهُمْ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ

“Lo! The worst of beasts in Allah’s

sight are the ungrateful who will

not believe.”

(al-Quran 8:55)

وَمَا دُعَآءُ ٱلْكَافِرِينَ إِلاَّ فِى ضَلاَلٍ

“The prayer of disbelievers 

goes (far) astray.”

(al-Quran 13:14)

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لاَ يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلظَّالِمِينَ

“… Lo, Allah guides not wrong-doing folk.”

(al-Quran 28:50)

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لاَ يَهْدِى مَنْ هُوَ كَاذِبٌ كَـفَّارٌ

“… Lo, Allah guides not him who is

a liar, an ingrate.”

(al-Quran 39:3)

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لاَ يَهْدِى مَنْ هُوَ مُسْرِفٌ كَذَّابٌ

“… Lo, Allah guides not the one

who is a prodigal, a liar.”

(al-Quran 40:28)

The Guidance Is For

‘Men of Understanding’

Yes, the men of understanding – the people who reflect, ponder and think with reason and logic. The ignorant (‘Jaahileen’) cannot make use of it because they refuse to think with reason and logic. Some of them even deny the existence of God ignoring all the clear signs. Those people would be the fuel of Hellfire.

On the other hand, those who think and reflect, they would be guided.

هَـٰذَا بَلاَغٌ لِّلنَّاسِ وَلِيُنذَرُواْ بِهِ وَلِيَعْلَمُوۤاْ

أَنَّمَا هُوَ إِلَـٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ وَلِيَذَّكَّرَ أُوْلُواْ ٱلأَلْبَابِ

“This is a clear message for mankind

in order that they may be warned thereby,

and that they may know that He is only

One God, and that men of understanding

may take heed.”

(al-Quran 14:52)

كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَارَكٌ لِّيَدَّبَّرُوۤاْ آيَاتِهِ

وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُوْلُو ٱلأَلْبَابِ

“(This is) a Scripture that We have revealed

unto you, full of blessing that they may

ponder its revelations, and that 

men of understanding may reflect.”

(al-Quran 38:29)

Allah, the Almighty, tells us again and again that we should carefully pay attention to His signs, His revelations and His clear commands. Those who have the brains and use their intellect, would definitely ponder over these signs and realize immediately that there’s some Supreme Power up there that’s running the show!

كَلاَّ إِنَّهَا تَذْكِرَةٌ فَمَن شَآءَ ذَكَرَهُ

“Nay, but verily this (Quran) is an

admonishment. So let whosoever

will pay heed to it.”

(al-Quran 80:11-12)

وَهَـٰذَا صِرَاطُ رَبِّكَ مُسْتَقِيماً قَدْ فَصَّلْنَا

ٱلآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَذَّكَّرُونَ

“This is the path of your Lord, a straight path. 

We have detailed Our revelations

for a people who take heed.‟

(al-Quran 6 :126)

Those who claim that all religions are fine as they all lead to the same destination. No, that’s not correct. There’s only one clear and straight path. Every other path is full of diversions and distractions; and there’s no guarantee that after going through all those diversions and distractions, you’ll reach your destination un-harmed. Don’t submit to any liberal, atheist or a secular ‘champion of humanity’ on this issue, because Allah has clearly warned you in the Quran:

وَعَلَىٰ ٱللَّهِ قَصْدُ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَمِنْهَا جَآئِرٌ

وَلَوْ شَآءَ لَهَدَاكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ

“And Allah’s is the direction of the way,

and some (roads) go not straight …..”

(al-Quran 16:9)

Therefore, revert to His Word, His Book (the Quran) and you’ll enjoy His guidance and blessings. If you are sincere, faithful and grateful to Him, He’ll never let you go astray!

      

إِنَّ هَـٰذِهِ تَذْكِرَةٌ فَمَن شَآءَ ٱتَّخَذَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِ سَبِيلاً

“Lo! This (Quran) is a Reminder.

Let him who will, then, choose

a way unto his Lord.”

(al-Quran 73:19)

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