07-03-2003, 08:09 PM
Praise be to Allah, a praise which is adequate to Your graces and favors, prayer and peace on the best Messenger to the worlds our Prophet Mohamed, his household, companions and whoever followed them until the day after. “They said: Glory to thee: of knowledge We have none, save what it is thou who art perfect in knowledge and wisdom.” “of knowledge it is only a little that is communicated to you, (O men)”.
Did we really submit to Allah, are we completely practicing full submission of our wills which is the essence of Islam. When you talk to people telling them we must submit our wills and just comply to what Allah decrees. Usually the answer comes, we can not isolate ourselves from the community, to do so we must move into caves and stop interacting. Is this true? Does submission contradicts using our minds? Let us see how Quran introduced the concept of submission, then try Insh a Allah to transform slowly towards this meaning in order to secure a better life and a high rank in Jannah.
“Behold! his Lord said to him: bow (thy will to me): he said: i bow (my will) to the Lord and cherisher of the universe.” (Quran 2: 131).
This is Prophet Ibraheem prayer and peace be upon him. Allah presented his attitude in this Ayah as a full submission of his will. This fact was clearly confirmed in two main situations. First when Allah commanded Ibraheem to take his only new born son along with his mother and leave them in the desert where it turned to Mecca including the Ka`aba which they both erected later. He did not hesitate for a second. All what he did is just put them there making the well known dua :” O our Lord I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley without cultivation, by thy Sacred house; in order, O our Lord, that they may establish regular prayer: so fill the hearts to some among men with love towards them, and feed them with fruits: so that they may give thanks.” (Quran 14:37). Actually through this dua, Mecca is surviving. For anyone who did not visit Ka`abs yet (may Allah allow everyone), you physically feel your heart is moving towards Ka`aba the minute you lay eyes on it. Sobhan Allah. The underlined verse in Arabic is hearts of some of the people. Who else could be more precise than Allah? He specified some of the people because not all people shall have access to Ka`aba and even there are a number of those who are allowed the visit, simply go there with their bodies but absent hearts. We seek refuge of a blind absent heart. The second and even more serious situation was when Allah commanded Ibraheem to slaughter his own son after their re-union. What both of them said is deeply touching.
“So when they had both submitted their wills (to Aallah), and he had laid him Prostrate on his forehead (for sacrifice),” (Quran 37: 103). WOW can anyone imagine seeing a dream about slaughtering a son. Then simply go to the son and explain what does the son say:” Then, when (the son) reached (the age of) (serious) work with him he said: O my son I see in vision that I offer thee in sacrifice now see what is thy view (the son) said: O my father Do as thou art commanded: thou will find me, if Aallah So wills one practising Patience and constancy.” (Quran 37:102). Now the father goes to take the son’s opinion. Although both are certain that a prophet’s vision is a Divine command that must be enforced. Did you realize the son’s reaction? Do what as you are commanded. This is the full submission presented in the following Ayah. What is the Divine reaction after verifying the intention of both of them? Actually usually this part of the story is the theme of Eid ul Adha sermon. Each time I listen to it and not a single time I don’t cry. Specially when the son advises the father to tie his hands before he proceeds so that he would not resist, puts his face down so that his heart would not soften looking at his face. Ya Allah what kind of submission is this? Allah is the Merciful waited until this moment. When the intention of both of them was absolutely clear. Then the solution was of course unexpected. First the knife refused to cut on Ismail’s neck for three times. After which a large lamb came down to sacrifice Ismail when both father and son made their submission clear.
Certainly they are winners in this situation. No matter how hard it appeared. It is worth trying.