...They have forgotten Allah, so He has forgotten them... (Surat at-Tawba: 67)
The following is just common sense: If we see a castle made of sand along the seashore, we are certain that someone has made it. Only a foolish person would claim that it was coincidentally formed by the effect of waves and winds. Everything existing in the universe has evident design. Moreover, this design apparent in every detail of created things is incomparably more perfect, superior and complex than that of a sandcastle. Therefore, we are confronted with a crystal clear fact: The universe is created by a superior Creator. That Creator is Allah, the Lord of all the worlds.
The existence of flawless order in the universe is an undeniable fact. The world on which we live was created to be habitable. The ratio of the gravitational force, the distance between the earth and the sun, the proportion of oxygen in the atmosphere, and hundreds of other delicate equilibria, have not occurred spontaneously or by chance. They are, without a doubt, the creation of Allah, Who holds control over everything, from the miniscule microorganisms, to the immense planets of the solar system. It is Allah Who created the universe with infinite wisdom and might, and specifically designed the world as an inhabitable place for us:
He makes night merge into day and day merge into night, and He has made the sun and moon subservient, each one running until a specified time. That is Allah, your Lord. The Kingdom is His. Those you call on besides Him have no power over even the smallest speck. (Surah Fatir: 13)
Turning our attention now from outer space, let's consider our body. The human body is a structure abounding with amazing wonders. The perfect functioning of the human brain is beyond comparison to the computer, the most advanced product of modern technology. Furthermore, each organ fulfills its specific task perfectly, and works in complete harmony with other organs. For example, in order to take a single breath, one's mouth, nose, trachea, lungs, heart and all blood vessels, must function simultaneously. None of these ceases for a single instant or becomes exhausted. They are all obedient and submissive to their Creator, and dutifully comply with what is ordained for them. Air, purified and warmed as it passes through the nose, is then carried to the lungs through the trachea. This oxygen will be used by our hearts and blood vessels, by every single cell in our bodies. The organs involved in this process skilfully carry out many processes without confusion, error or delay in any way. Should there be any flaw in this harmony, there would be neither respiration, nor life.
The same also holds true for the process of sight. The eye is one of the clearest signs of creation. Both human and animal eyes are remarkable examples of perfect design. This awesome organ provides quality vision, still unmatched by twenty-first century technology. But, never forget that an eye only functions with all its components intact. For instance, if all components of the eye, such as the cornea, conjunctiva, iris, pupil, lens, retina, choroids, muscles and the lachrymal glands were intact, but missing only a single eyelid, the eye would become damaged and unable to see. By the same token, merely the failure of tear production would cause the drying of the eye, and, ultimately, blindness. This fact raises a vital question: Who created the eye and its ability to perceive from nothing?
Certainly, it is not the possessor of the eye himself who decides to create his own eye. Because, it is indeed illogical to assume that a being, unaware of even the concept of "sight," could decide upon its necessity and for the creation of an eye in its own body. This being the case, the reality is that there is a Being with superior wisdom, Who created living beings with the faculties of sight, hearing and so on. Some people who cannot measure Allah with His true measure claim that unconscious cells acquired sight and hearing, faculties that demand consciousness, by their own will and skill. However, it is clearly evident that it cannot possibly be so. The Qur'an reveals by whom sight is given as follows:
Say: "It is He Who brought you into being and gave you hearing, sight and hearts. What little thanks you show!" (Surat al-Mulk: 23)
As is seen in the verse above, it is Allah Who creates all of these systems that function in perfect harmony with one another. Countless details within our bodies and in other organisms show forth the might and grandeur of Allah, and reveal to us the truth that He encompasses everything with His knowledge. Nevertheless, rather than reflecting upon it some people find it easier to turn their back to this reality. However, Allah encourages man to look around and reflect on His greatness:
It is Allah Who created the seven heavens and of the earth the same number, the Command descending down through all of them, so that you might know that Allah has power over all things and that Allah encompasses all things in His knowledge. (Surat at-Talaq: 12)
Never forget how near Allah is to you and that He encompasses everything.Whatever may be crossing your mind at this very moment, something you experienced in your childhood as well as your plans for the next two years are all kept in Allah's knowledge. His sovereignty over all beings persists unceasingly, night and day. Allah informs us about this truth in the Qur'an as follows:
We created man and We know what his own self whispers to him. We are nearer to him than his jugular vein. (Surah Qaf: 16)
Allah knows the hidden parts of all things, including secrets and thoughts otherwise unknown to human beings. Allah, Who encompasses humanity from all around, is with us no matter where we are or what we are doing:
You do not engage in any matter or recite any of the Qur'an or do any action without Our witnessing you while you are occupied with it. Not even the smallest speck eludes your Lord, either on earth or in heaven. Nor is there anything smaller than that, or larger, which is not in a Clear Book. (Surah Yunus: 61)
Despite this fact, some people assume Allah to be far off. According to their flawed rationale, Allah resides beyond a remote planet, occasionally intervening in the "worldly affairs," or never intervening at all. They think that He created the universe and then left it uncontrolled (Surely Allah is beyond that) However, this is an obvious error. Allah is everywhere and His presence encompasses everything. He surrounds every place, from the east to the west, and from the north to the south.
What is in the heavens and in the earth belongs to Allah. Allah encompasses all things. (Surat an-Nisa': 126)
Wherever you go, Allah is there, even if it is the remotest corner of the earth. He surrounds you even at this very moment; He is nearer to you than your jugular vein. He rules your body, your room, and the city you live in, the whole universe, and all the worlds you are unable to see; furthermore, He has the knowledge of their past and future. Some people, who ignore these absolute facts, can manage to hide their thoughts and many offences they commit from other people. But, they forget the fact that they cannot hide them from Allah. In reality, Allah is with them even while they are plotting.
He knows what is in front of them and behind them. But their knowledge does not encompass Him. (Surah Ta Ha : 110)
You can never know what you will experience in a given moment, but Allah does. Hence, you are already submissive and yielding to Allah, whether or not you are aware of it.
Whether you divulge what is in yourself or keep it hidden, Allah knows it. Not a single word you whisper is kept hidden from Him. There are no secrets for Allah; He knows your secrets and anything you think you keep hidden.
Never forget that everything on the face of the earth is in need of Allah, whereas He is exalted above anything and far from any deficiency. Allah is not in need of anything. He is far above human failings such as sleep, hunger, thirst and fatigue. Everyone will certainly die, but Allah, the Living, will remain alive for all eternity:
Allah, there is no god but Him, the Living, the Self-Sustaining. He is not subject to drowsiness or sleep. Everything in the heavens and the earth belongs to Him. Who can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is before them and what is behind them but they cannot grasp any of His knowledge save what He wills. His Footstool encompasses the heavens and the earth and their preservation does not tire Him. He is the Most High, the Magnificent. (Surat al-Baqara: 255)
Never forget that Allah has everything under His control. As is stated in the Qur'an, "No leaf falls without His knowing it" (Surat al-An'am: 59) Everything happens by the Will of Allah and only under His command. Similarly, He directs every affair from heaven to earth. Many people are prone to confine this concept of "every affair" merely to natural phenomena and events such as birth and death. However, any incident happens because Allah commands so. Similarly, any work is accomplished and any system functions because Allah wills so. Technological discoveries, administration of any state in the world, the regulation of their social and economic affairs, advancements in the arts, any business company, its annual performance, each baby that opens his eyes to the world, every moment a person spends throughout his life, are all held under Allah's control. No decision, whether important or insignificant, can be taken without Allah's permission. No action is taken without His Will. By the same token, the functioning of trillions of cells in our bodies, the respective function each organelle performs within these cells, systems that keep these cells alive, and countless other details, are under His control. In addition, the earth rotates unceasingly in boundless space, and all the systems from respiration to reproduction, make the life of a single ant on this planet possible, because our Lord has them under His control. This fact is related in the Qur'an as follows:
I have put my trust in Allah, my Lord and your Lord. There is no creature He does not hold by the forelock. My Lord is on a Straight Path. (Surah Hud: 56)
Everyone is subject to Allah. Allah, the All-Knowing, encompasses everything in His knowledge. It is He Who gives knowledge to people, from the little child to a scientist. He is knowledgeable of the unseen as well as the visible. He determines the number of everything in the heavens and earth, including stars, trees, animals, people, and the amount of rain that falls on earth:
There is no one in the heavens and earth who will not come to the All-Merciful as a servant. He has counted them and numbered them precisely. (Surah Maryam: 93-94)
Every event taking place in any corner of the universe is under Allah's control. He knows every aspect of events, whether they are secret or open. He also has knowledge, not only of us, but of everything in the heavens, in the earth and all that is in between. Allah is the Owner of all the worlds.This being the case, never forget that nothing, not even something of minor importance, is hidden from Him, and that all thoughts and all acts, including your own, are under His control. That is because Allah knows what one experiences all through his life, of which He is keeping an account, in their detail. Allah never forgets anything.
Never forget that it is Allah Who has given you everything.Take a look around you; everything you see is meticulously prepared to meet your needs and given to your service. Now look at the sky and try to recognize everything you see around. This is the way to have a better grasp that it is Allah Who gives us many favours we see or fail to see, and it is Allah to Whom we must feel grateful. It is Allah Who creates the human body, which still remains a mystery, despite the greatest technological achievements, and maintains the functioning of all its organs in perfect harmony. It is also Allah Who creates livestock and places them at the service of mankind; Who raises them for meat, dairy products, wool, skins, and makes them suitable for purposes of riding and carrying loads; Who sends down water from the sky and brings forth fruits and crops with different tastes from the very same soil; Who puts hundred billions of galaxies in motion in a perplexing order; Who makes the daytime suitable for activity and the night for rest; Who makes the sun orbit so as to meet the requirements of all living things; Who creates the sea in the most proper form so that human beings can obtain food from it and travel on it. In a verse, Allah reveals:
He created man from a drop of sperm and yet he is an open challenger! And He created livestock. There is warmth for you in them, and various uses and some you eat. And there is beauty in them for you in the evening when you bring them home and in the morning when you drive them out to graze. They carry your loads to lands you would never reach except with great difficulty. Your Lord is All-Gentle, Most Merciful. And horses, mules and donkeys both to ride and for adornment. And He creates other things you do not know. The Way should lead to Allah, but there are those who deviate from it. If He had wished He could have guided every one of you. It is He Who sends down water from the sky. From it you drink and from it come the shrubs among which you graze your herds. And by it He makes crops grow for you and olives and dates and grapes and fruit of every kind. There is certainly a Sign in that for people who reflect. He has made night and day subservient to you, and the sun and moon and stars, all subject to His command. There are certainly Signs in that for people who use their intellect. And also the things of varying colors He has created for you in the earth. There is certainly a Sign in that for people who pay heed. It is He Who made the sea subservient to you so that you can eat fresh flesh from it and bring out from it ornaments to wear. And you see the ships cleaving through it so that you can seek His bounty, and so that hopefully you will show thanks. He cast firmly embedded mountains on the earth so it would not move under you, and rivers and pathways so that hopefully you would be guided, and landmarks. And they are guided by the stars. Is He Who creates like him who does not create? So will you not pay heed? If you tried to number Allah's blessings, you could never count them. Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surat an-Nahl: 4-18)
Each one of the blessings that one could hardly number in the course of his lifetime have come into existence by the Will of our Lord, Who regulates everything. Allah reminds us of this reality with a very striking example:
If all the trees on earth were pens and all the sea, with seven more seas besides, was ink Allah's words still would not run dry. Allah is Almighty, All-Wise. (Surah Luqman: 27)
Never forget that it is Allah Who has given you all the possessions and goods you possess, and that He is the true Owner of them.That is because the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth and everything in between belongs to Allah. He allots what He wills to whomever He wills. When He puts an end to their lives, He is again the only inheritor. The sole truth is, the real owner of all houses, cars, goods and properties is Allah.
The kingdom of the heavens and the earth and everything in them belongs to Allah. He has power over all things. (Surat al-Ma'ida: 120)
Once death comes upon you, you will leave behind everything you possess. Your fortune, status, personal belongings, in brief, nothing you cherished in this world, will be any longer with you. Your naked body, wrapped in a simple cloth, will be placed in a pit. Meanwhile, your soul will turn to Allah, alone. Neither your social status, your name nor your wealth will be of any help to you. These were merely to test you. You are not their real owner; you have everything because Allah gives them to you. If Allah takes them back for some reason, you will never be able to retrieve them.
Never forget that nothing happens to you except for what Allah has decreed for you. Allah holds the knowledge of every thing that happens. That is, everything is predetermined by Allah. All that happens is in accordance with one's destiny. A person waking up to a new day in the morning can never know what awaits him during the rest of that day. Even though he may carefully plan his day, it will never turn out as he had planned. Furthermore, he may well be confronted with events that were totally unexpected. Surrounded by such uncertainty, a person can only be relieved through the acknowledgement that every event he encounters is ordained by Allah especially for him, by trusting in Him, and being submissive to fate. Allah holds the knowledge of the events you had not planned and they all happen under his control. By the same token, however, the ones you had planned are also under His control…
Indeed, no place or moment in the universe is independent of Allah. Nothing can remain out of His sovereignty.
Say: "Nothing can happen to us except what Allah has ordained for us. He is Our Master. It is in Allah that the believers should put their trust." (Surat at-Tawba: 51)
Never forget that whatever happens to you does so by Allah's Will and is surely ordained for a purpose. Remember that man has no recourse other than taking refuge in Him; and that he has no protector or helper other than Allah:
Do you not know that Allah is He to Whom the kingdom of the heavens and the earth belongs and that, besides Allah, you have no protector and no helper? (Surat al-Baqara: 107)
It is Allah Who helps us to handle any problem in the course of a day or when we want to accomplish a task. Besides being the One to make that task easier for us, it is again Allah Who creates that task and enables us to accomplish it. On the other hand, a person who forgets the grandeur of Allah considers his colleagues, his family or his teacher, as those who could help him...
Surely, these people may be able to provide some assistance through their knowledge and experience. But we must keep in mind that each of them are only the means. That is because, Allah has created a system of cause and effect in this world. For example, in order to cultivate apples, a farmer must first plant the seed, water it and fertilize the soil. These are the causes by which Allah causes a result. Only after fulfilling all these pre-conditions can the farmer expect to reap a plentiful harvest. While carrying out a task, we must always be aware that we can achieve a desirable result only by Allah's Will, and that we must show sincere gratitude for what He ordains.
Never forget that it is only Allah Who protects you from danger, disease, distress and difficulty.Otherwise, it could only be a matter of an instant in which a disaster could strike you. You may well be thinking that it is your doctor and the drugs you take that heal you. Of course, these are the causes by which Allah healed you. There is no reason why you should not take advantage of these causes, but in the mean time, you must keep in mind that it is ultimately Allah Who restores you to health. Unless Allah wills, neither the most proficient physician, the most expensive drugs, nor the best hospital can be of help to you. Never forget that Allah may bring illness upon whomever He wills without a cause, just as He restores whomever He wills to health without one. In the words of the prophet Ibrahim, this is related as follows in the Qur'an:
…and when I am ill, it is He Who heals me. (Surat ash-Shu'ara': 80)
Forgetting that Allah holds all the power, and thereby, seeking help from one who is unable to be of any use either to himself or to anyone else, results only in failure, both in this world and beyond:
Those you call on besides Him are not capable of helping you. They cannot even help themselves. (Surat al-A'raf: 197)
Never forget that you must fear only Allah and seek His good pleasure.No one who you may esteem or consider important or powerful actually possesses any real power. This being the case, fearing or loving someone with the fear, esteem and love due to Allah is a form of idolatry, a truly great transgression:
Some people set up equals to Allah, loving them as they should love Allah. But those who believe have greater love for Allah. If only you could see those who do wrong at the time when they see the punishment, and that truly all strength belongs to Allah, and that Allah is severe in punishment. (Surat al-Baqara: 165)
The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, also warned people against this form of idolatry:
Whoever meets Allah, without associating partners with Him, will enter Paradise; and whoever meets Him as one who associated anything with Him, will enter the Fire. (Muslim)
This is such an important notion to understand. If a person bases his entire life by it, he will acknowledge the fact that there is no being to fear, to submit to or to be in need of, apart from Allah. By doing so, that person attains freedom in its real sense, and achieves invincibility, being protected by His Creator, the Almighty. Such a person hopes to earn the good pleasure of Allah, Who meets all the needs of all beings, sends down security upon His servants, helps the oppressed and the needy, recompenses in full for what anyone has earned:
Who is better: someone who founds his building on heeding and pleasing Allah, or someone who founds his building on the brink of a crumbling precipice so that it collapses with him into the Fire of Hell? Allah does not love wrongdoers. (Surat at-Tawba: 109)
One of the greatest errors most people commit is this: they base their entire lives on the pursuit of other people's consent. However, every moment spent and every deed done to earn other peoples' consent, forgetting one's Creator, will eventually only lead to torment. For people of understanding, Allah has given the following example in the Qur'an:
Allah has made a metaphor for them of a man owned by several partners in dispute with one another and another man wholly owned by a single man. Are they the same?... (Surat az-Zumar: 29)
Allah grants to those servants of His who live by His commands a good life both in this world and beyond. However, those who are far from those practices that would please Him, who seek help from others who are Allah's servants just as weak as themselves, can only ultimately suffer. Of this account, one verse reads:
Allah does not wrong people in any way; rather it is people who wrong themselves. (Surah Yunus: 44)
Furthermore, those who worship others beside Allah will be abandoned, and find themselves in disgrace and destitution:
Do not set up any other god together with Allah lest you sit back, reviled and forsaken. (Surat al-Isra': 22)
Those who are reckless and forgetful of Allah's existence in this world lead a life of difficulty. Their hearts can never find peace or happiness in this life. In fact, this suffering is merely the recompense for their ascribing the existence of perfect systems in this world to accident. In return for their ingratitude, a searing blaze awaits them in the hereafter.
Never forget that the "fear of Allah" is the basic tenet of Islam. Allah grants only those who fear Him the discernment to judge between right and wrong. This discernment is truly a great blessing to be conferred upon man:
You who believe! If you have fear of Allah, He will give you a criterion (by which to judge between right and wrong) and erase your bad actions from you and forgive you. Allah's favour is indeed immense. (Surat al-Anfal: 29)
The Qur'an also makes mention of people who do not appreciate Allah with the appreciation due Him, and who do not fear Him despite knowing of His existence:
Say: "Who provides for you out of heaven and earth? Who controls hearing and sight? Who brings forth the living from the dead and the dead from the living? Who directs the whole affair?" They will say, "Allah." Say, "So will you not have fear of Allah?" That is Allah, your Lord, the Truth, and what is there after truth except misguidance? So how have you been distracted? (Surah Yunus: 31-32)
The person described in the above verse is aware of Allah's existence and even affirms it. But, he feels no fear for Him. True believers, however, hold their Lord in deep awe. Having fear for the Day of Judgment, they are sensitive to His commands.
Consequently, whether or not a person keeps all Allah's laws in his mind, and becomes a servant of Him, or neglects them, it does not change the ultimate reality that he is rushing towards that day when he will return to his Lord:
O Man! You are toiling laboriously towards your Lord but meet Him you will! (Surat al-Inshiqaq: 6)
This being the case, never forget that there is no power other than of the Almighty Allah, the holder of absolute power. Those who are unaware of this fact worship others beside Allah and, moreover, fear them as they should fear Allah. However, no man or society possesses power other than of Allah's. Everything is subject to Him. Everything in the heavens and the earth fall under the Will of Allah, and are all, willingly or not, under His control. From a single cell, to the billions of galaxies, from people to animals, from mountains to the winds, all beings are subject to Him. Therefore, never forget to give thanks to Allah, as it has been advised in the following verse:
…so that you might sit firmly on their backs and remember your Lord's blessing while you are seated on them, saying, "Glory be to Him Who has subjected this to us. We could never have done it by ourselves." (Surat az-Zukhruf: 13)
Unless by Allah's Will, no one can take an action or utter a single word. This is why each every word you hear or every event you witness is from Allah, the One Who is your Protector and your only true friend… If you are a person of faith, then you know that an absolute good and beauty is hidden even behind those things that would otherwise seem evil to you. Allah knows it even though you may not know it. No matter what you encounter in life, never forget to conduct yourself with the knowledge of this fact in mind.
Never forget that Allah is Ever-Forgiving, and that there always remains the opportunity to repent.No matter what error you commit, if you turn towards Allah with sincere regret and a firm intention not to repeat it, you will always find Allah Ever-Forgiving and Most Merciful. Allah states that He forgives all errors and sins provided that His servants abandon them once and for all:
Say: "My servants, you who have transgressed against yourselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Truly Allah forgives all wrong actions. He is the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Merciful." (Surat az-Zumar: 53)
In this world, there is always the chance to repent and the hope of being forgiven for one's mistakes and sins. In Allah's religion, one does not have to bear the burden of his past misdeeds. Asking for Allah's forgiveness, and turning towards Him sincerely, will relieve him of this load. At that moment, he will only be responsible of his deeds and thoughts from then on. Meanwhile, never forget that Allah accepts only a sincere repentance and not the repentance a person asks when death comes upon him.
Even the Pharaoh, whose fierceness and arrogance is related in the Qur'an, decided to believe when he realized he was about to drown. Allah reveals the following about repentance at the moment of death:
Allah only accepts the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and then quickly repent after doing it. Allah turns towards such people. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise. There is no repentance for people who persist in doing evil until death comes to them and who then say, "Now I repent," nor for people who die as disbelievers. We have prepared for them a painful punishment. (Surat an-Nisa': 17-18)
Never forget that Allah is infinitely patient. He grants respite to some even after they have committed a mistake. Nevertheless, if a wrongdoer is not punished immediately he should not let it deceive him. That is because following his misdeeds, Allah grants His servant a certain amount of chance. If that person realizes his mistakes and asks for forgiveness, he finds Allah Ever-Forgiving. If, on the other hand, he persists on his mistake and rebels, he will certainly taste the evil consequences of his deeds:
If Allah were to punish people for their wrong actions, not a single creature would be left upon the earth, but He defers them till a predetermined time. When their specified time arrives, they cannot delay it for a single hour nor can they bring it forward. (Surat an-Nahl: 61)
Never forget that you cannot be other than a servant to Allah; because Allah created man to worship Him:
I only created jinn and man to worship Me. (Surat adh-Dhariyat: 56)
Being submissive to our Lord, Who gives us everything we have, Who created us and granted us a life span, to which He will put an end whenever He wills, is like taking hold of the firmest grip, one can never come loose:
Those who submit themselves completely to Allah and do good have grasped the Firmest Handhold. The end result of all affairs is with Allah. (Surah Luqman: 22)
So, never forget about "ALLAH, OUR LORD"...
That is Allah, your Lord. There is no god but Him, the Creator of everything. So worship Him. He is responsible for everything. Eyesight cannot perceive Him but He perceives eyesight. He is the All-Penetrating, the All-Aware. (Surat al-An'am: 102-103)
