There are thousands of details in human life. From the moment one wakes up till he retires for his bed at night, numerous different images flash before them.
Just like the deniers, the believers too wake up to find hundreds of tasks waiting to be done. Everyday is a new test for the believer.
There is one very important difference that distinguishes the believer from the unbeliever amid all this worldly confusion. The believer knows that everything is under the control of God. He knows that disease, beauty, accidents and prosperity all come from God; no event is created randomly.
In watching these images that flash before his eyes, the believer constantly turns to God in prayer, submission and fortitude. He knows that not a leaf can fall in this universe except by God’s leave. He knows that God, Whose might and power pervade the universe, directs all people and all events as He chooses.
The believer experiences the blessings of turning to God and sincere faith at all times. Physically he is involved in the events, the confusions, the world of work, making money and difficulties from time to time, but his soul remains outside them all. There is an invisible wall of glass between the believer and the life of this world. This glass wall is a wall of submission to God, a wall of fortitude, of infinite trust in God. So solid is this wall that nothing that happens can cross it. It cannot disturb, sadden, offend or anger that believer, nor can it lead him into lack of submission and rebellion.
Just as with the prophets (peace be upon them all): They too divided their souls from the life of this world with invisible glass walls, and possessed an iron will and unshakable strength because their trust in and devotion to God were infinite.
They knew that everything that happened, every second and every detail, was under the control of God. They lived by the reality, and not by what was happening on the surface.
This invisible veil they drew between themselves and the life of this world protected them against satan, being caught up by appearances and falling into polytheism.
Therefore, when the Prophet Joseph (peace be upon him) was cast into a well at a young age and later spent many years in a dungeon, despite being innocent of any crime, he never rebelled. When the Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) was involved in a fight and killed a man, he never rebelled.
The Prophet Noah (peace be upon him) never rebelled when his son was left behind, nor the Prophet Lot (peace be upon him) when his wife perished; they all stood firmly on the side of God, took Him as their friend at all times and submitted to His will.
No matter how hard the tests were, thanks to their powerful faith they always got through them well, in such a way as to earn God’s approval. They knew that all might and power belong to God, and that every test is created for training the soul for the hereafter. They looked at every event through the eyes of wisdom and never attributed equals to God.
God does not forgive anything being associated with Him but He forgives whoever He wills for anything other than that. Anyone who associates something with God has committed a terrible crime. (Qur’an, 4:48)
Ascribing equals to God does not only mean worshiping idols. It also means esteeming people and events and regarding them as independent of God. Deniers forget God in the turmoil of everyday life and are taken in by satan; satan smothers them in thousands of details.
A person then falls into sadness, grief or rebellion. Polytheism leads to a lack of submission, and a lack of submission leads to discontent and woe.
The weight of the world falls upon one’s shoulders. Satan wraps himself around him and turns him away from God. That person’s head is now filled with other people, and what they say or do. He fails to realize that they too are all under the control of God and he finds himself in a terrible spiritual quagmire as a result.
The believer will collect all his will and strength and turn to God in a state of devotion, and thus he will free himself from the scourge of polytheism. He will be on his guard against the danger of ascribing equals to God and will erect a strong wall of glass between truth and what is seen on the surface.
Beyond that wall is the troubled life of this world, while inside it is a heavenly life filled with a spotless heart. The believer must erect a wall between himself and the life of this world and must turn all his thoughts, love and attention to God alone.
Being in a state of constant contact with God and knowing that all events are under His control frees the believers from the effect of polytheism. He then develops a sharp and honest wisdom. An ineffable peace and tranquility fill the believer’s heart.
The aim of the believer in this world is to achieve deep faith, just like the prophets, to live his life in submission to God and to die in the same state. Paradise is without doubt full of people who have achieved such an immaculate faith, and the believer will fervently await the opportunity to join them throughout his life.
“Say, ‘Shall I tell you of something better than that?’ Those who have piety will have Gardens with their Lord, with rivers flowing under them, remaining in them timelessly, for ever, and purified wives, and the pleasure of God. God sees His servants’.” (Qur’an, 3:15)
Adnan Oktar's piece on Arab News:
