+- Forums (https://bb.islamsms.com)
+-- Forum: ENGLISH (https://bb.islamsms.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=5)
+--- Forum: General (https://bb.islamsms.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=16)
+--- Thread: The more you know, the more you fear (/showthread.php?tid=9782)
The more you know, the more you fear - Khadijah Potter - 06-17-2003
The more you know, the more you fear,A dialogue with an “inquiring mind”
All Praise is due to Allah aza wa'jal; Peace and Blessings of Allah upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad Sallalahu alay'wasallaam.
As-salaamu alaikum waramatullah wabarkatuhu...
“The more you know, the more you fear…”
“ But how can you believe in a religion that causes you so much fear and guilt?” asks an inquiring mind.
I remember my dear father (May Allah Subhanawata’Allah have mercy on him) once said, “ I want you to be home by 6:00 PM.” My dear mother (May Allah Subhanawata’Allah have mercy on her) said, “Dear daughter, it is about time I teach you how to cook and sew”. My teacher said, “I want this homework completed by tomorrow”. My doctor said, “ Make sure you take all this capsule until it is gone”. I feared disobeying my parents for simple reasons as to avoid being grounded and cut off from my weekly allowance. Taking the advice of my mother to learn how to cook and sew is an essential knowledge that benefited my family and myself. Not doing my homework as my teacher instructed me to do would have resulted in a failing grade and left me further behind from understanding the next subject. Not following the doctor’s order would have left me seriously ill and perhaps long dead. All these demands serve a beneficial purpose.
At a very early age, I was told about the 10 commandments that God gave to the Prophet Moses, Alayhi Salam and his people. I even saw numerous movies of the life of the Prophet Moses that thought me the concept of being obedient to God and my parents. However, I noticed that as we grow older, we tend to have a mind of our own. We begin to reason irrationally only to satisfy our self-centered and selfish being. And the very famous verse in the bible that says, “ Jesus, died for our sins”, made me think, it is ok to be sinful because Jesus Alayhi Salam will take my sins upon himself. Even worse was to confess my sin to a priest and perform the recommended penance in order for Jesus Alayhi Salam to forgive my sins so that I may enter paradise. It made me think that it was absolutely all right to be intentionally bad. So the concept of fear was replaced by, “ I am me, I am right and I will do as I please”.
“Why do you cover? Aren’t you warm in that outfit? I would think you have beautiful hair.” The inquiring mind continued to babble with curiosity. I went on by saying that my hair is indeed beautiful and that was why I chose to cover my hair in order to avoid the nasty evil looks and whistles from disrespectful men that I find very offensive. Covering myself from head to toe has a medical benefit against ultra violet rays, which can cause a type of skin cancer called melanoma. Our normal body temperature changes for many reasons and the type of clothing that we are accustomed to entirely depends on our adaptability to the environment that surrounds us. The inquiring mind became more interested.
“I find Islam to be a harsh religion. I have heard scary verses from the Quran, which the preacher in our church shares in his Sunday sermon. I often read or hear too much negativity and violence from the media. I do not see many rights given to the Muslim Women. Why do Muslims have to do this and that? I find too much ritualistic practices that seem to be such a burden and hindrance to our normal ways of life”, she continued to babble, grin and shake her head while I sat patiently listening and about ready to grin myself.
I sensed finally that she had no further questions so I began to ask if she had ever seen or read the Holy Qur’an? I continued to ask her if she has ever personally acquainted herself with any Muslim? I finally asked her how much she knew about Islam other than the views she got from the media? She was honest enough to respond No or None to my questions.
There are numerous astonishing misconceptions about Islam. None Muslims find us peculiarly different perhaps even weird to some extent. These differences not only bring about curiosity but also make thousands upon thousands of people revert to Islam each year thus by far making Islam the second largest religion in the world. But an inquiring mind such as yours gives Muslims an opportunity to impart [daw’ah] the message of our beloved Prophet Muhammad Sallalahu Alayhi wa’salam and all the Prophets of Allah before him, which is to submit to Ilah’Allah [One God].
Islam not only teaches us a comprehensive way of life but also prepares us for the life in the Hereafter. Islam teaches us to understand the true nature of God and behooves us to repulse the worldly evil desires that cloud our very limited cognizance. Let us not underestimate the tricky evil temptations that strike one when you least expect it. We are so caught up in these worldly affairs thinking that this is all what matters.
“Beautiful is the life of this world for those who disbelieve, and they mock at those who believe. But those who obey Allah’s Orders and keep away from what He has forbidden will be above them on the Day of Resurrection. And Allah gives (of His Bounty, Blessings, Favours, Honours on the of Resurrection) to whom He will without limit.” 2:212
“And fear the Day (of Judgment) when no person shall avail another, nor shall compensation be accepted from him, nor shall intercession be of use to him, nor shall they be helped”. [2:123]
A Muslim woman is ordered by Allah Subhanawa’Allah to be chaste, modest and to cover herself. This is the basic meaning of our hijabs [coverings]. It not only pertains to our outer coverings but to internally guarding our moral values avoiding to be the catalyst of one of the many social evils that we currently see in these days among so many women. Muslim men are equally ordered the same provisions. This is not a new practice but practiced by the Mothers of Believers [the Wives and Companions of our Prophet Muhammad, Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him].
“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts). That is purer for them. Verily Allah is All-Aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (example from looking at forbidden things). And protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts) and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent (example like the palm of your hands or one eye or both eyes, for necessity to see the way, or outer dress like veil, gloves, head-cover, apron, etc.). And to draw their veils all over Juyubihinna (their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband’s fathers, their sons, their husband’s sons and brothers or their brother’s sons, or their sister’s sons or their (Muslim) women, or the slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigor, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers that you may be successful. [Holy Qur’an 18:30-31]
“The more you know, the more you fear…the less you know the less you fear”, I said. A Muslim who continuously seeks to advance his or her knowledge in Islam, remain conscious of Allah Subhanawata’Allah thus by far makes her or him a God fearing individual. A believing Muslim begins to recognize that a matter so small even though it may benefit us for whatever reason may also be potentially dangerous, harmful and not permissible. The fear of Allah in this regard is defined in Islam as Taqwa. For every action there is an equivalent reaction according to the Law of Physics. This is substantiated in the Holy Qur’an:
“So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant), shall see it. And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant) shall see it.” [99:7-8]
“O you believe! Fear Allah and let every soul see what he has sent forward for tomorrow. Fear Allah! For verily Allah is aware of the things you do”. [Holy Qur’an 5: 18]
“O you who believe! Fear Allâh, and be with those who are true (in words and deeds)”. [Holy Qur’an 9:119]
Attentively and with much interest she quietly listened. She came closer and sat beside me as I continued to read more verses pertaining to the subject. In the end, the inquiring mind this time smiled and asked, “ Where can I get the Qur’an? Thank you so much for you time. This is indeed very interesting. I would like to learn more about Islam and hoped that you would help me.”
The inquiring mind began to study. The inquiring mind began to seek knowledge. The inquiring mind later became a Muslim. How many more inquiring minds out there like her and myself began to learn the concept of fearing Allah Subhanawa’Allah?
Isn’t it apparent with the increasing number of reverts?
Khadijah Potter
[img:75a68bb33f]http://www.islamicimagery.com/islamicforum/images/cdkp.jpg[/img:75a68bb33f]www.islamicimagery.com
:::::::::::::::::::::::
Feel free to share my article in hopes that it serves an inspiration to all individuals seeking to understand Islam.
:::::::::::::::::::::::
The more you know, the more you fear - hefny - 06-19-2003
Gazaki Allah khair katheer for your great explanations
Just I would like to say that all of our Allah commands are in our favors as a creation and for preventive maintenances even we can not understand all of them because we have a limited knowledge
We read in the Holy Qur’an: “He has created man; He has taught him intelligent speech. The sun and the moon follow courses exactly computed; and the plants and the trees, bow in adoration. The Firmament has He raised high, and He has set up the Balance, in order that you may not transgress due balance.” (55: 3-
Because Allah created us and know our capabilities
And our evil built in capabilities for the test against justness and fairness to all of us not from selfishness point of views
As God’s representatives on earth, we too have to observe a balance and justice in the use of God’s bounty. This means that as responsible citizens of God’s kingdom, we cannot squander or waste natural resources, or even the wealth we presume to be ours; for, we have to consider not only our own needs, but also the needs of the future generations.
Before you have a full meal think about your neighbors are they have any :!: :!: :!:
Before man or woman thinks about marriage are they are committed to each other and their expected children’s or only for fun :!: :!: :!:
The guide for muslims Before we do any thing against other muslims do we like it to happen to Ourselves and our families :!: :!: :!:
IF YOU ALLOW ME TO ADD MORE EXPLAINTION
The Balance of Islam
The Holy Book of Islam, the Qur’an, describes the Muslim society as “Ummathan wasathan”, a balanced society. (2: 143) It means a society that adopts a middle course, not swerving to extremes.
This balance is seen in many aspects of Islam. One example is its stand towards this world and the other world. Religions are expected to be afterlife-directed, and renunciation of earthly life is generally considered a very desirable attitude to life, though most people fail in this venture. The Qur’an, however, teaches: “Seek your Home of the Hereafter with what God has given you in this world; and do not forget your portion in this world”. (28:77)
Allah has also said: “It is He (God) Who has created for you all things on this earth” (2:29). This clearly shows that God wants us to make use of the blessings of this world for our progress. So Islam does not teach us to adopt a negative attitude to this world; it does not say that the world is evil in itself. And when we see that God created everything for our use, then who are we to say, “We don’t want them”?
In fact it is our approach and attitude to this world that makes the world good or evil as the case may be. God has given us guidance in how best we can live here in peace and prosperity. It is up to us to determine how we use the resources of this world and how we live here.
Although chronologically Islam is the latest religion, in many ways it stands between the formalism of Judaism and the spirituality of Christianity. Islam teaches Muslims to have the best of both worlds: the world of business, politics and turmoil, and the world of eternal peace in the Hereafter.
Man as God’s Ambassador on Earth
God tells us that He created us as His ambassadors on earth (Qur’an 2: 30). This means,
(1) that He has given us certain faculties to make us worthy of being his ambassadors (Qur’an 17:70); and (2) that we have to discharge the duties that are placed on us as God’s ambassadors.
God has given us intellect, imagination, memory, speech, and so on, which are all required for our life on earth. He has also given us freedom, without which our intellectual faculties will be useless. It is up to us to use these faculties to our benefit in this world as responsible persons. But is it proper on our part to be reckless in our use of our God-given freedom and these faculties? Not at all.
Then how do we know the limits of our freedom or the seriousness of the responsibilities entrusted to us?
To this end, He has given us Guidance. He helps us to use all His blessings optimally so that we do not exceed the limits set by Him.
The Balance in the Creation of the Universe
We read in the Holy Qur’an: “He has created man; He has taught him intelligent speech. The sun and the moon follow courses exactly computed; and the plants and the trees, bow in adoration. The Firmament has He raised high, and He has set up the Balance, in order that you may not transgress due balance.” (55: 3-
As God’s representatives on earth, we too have to observe a balance and justice in the use of God’s bounty. This means that as responsible citizens of God’s kingdom, we cannot squander or waste natural resources, or even the wealth we presume to be ours; for, we have to consider not only our own needs, but also the needs of the future generations.
This balance should be present in everything we do. Therefore a Muslim cannot be an extremist in anything, just as he cannot be a spendthrift or a miser. God decries extremism even in religious matters. God commands: “Do not commit excess in your religion”, as He has commanded us to observe justice in everything. For this reason, a Muslim has to be a reasonable person, a person of proper balance and equanimity. In times of good fortune or bad fortune, he has to keep his cool; he cannot lose his balance.
Thus we find that Islam is a religion of justice and balance. It visualizes an ideal society where people live in peace as equal citizens striving for the material and spiritual welfare of all
COPIED FROM ISLAM ONLINE