Sunday, November 22, 2009

We need Allah, Allah does not need us

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Assalaamu alaykum

I pray that you are well.

Imagine if we can see what is beyond the sky. It is something more tremendous beyond our imagination.

All that is known of the universe, including what we can see, is within what is called the lowest heavens (part of the temporary world). 

Allah said, "We have adorned the lower heaven with the adornment of the star" (Quran 37:6). Above it there are 6 more heavens, and above it is the Baitul Makmur, and above it is the Sidratul Muntaha (it is a lote tree which marks the end of the heavens) and beyond that is another world--Paradise and the Throne of Allah. The sky that we see as compared to the one above it is like a ring in a desert, and the one above as compared to the one above it is like a ring in a desert, and similarly to the one above it as compared to the right above it, and so on. How insignificant what we can see as compared to what is out there! And imagine how much more insignificant we are on the ground!

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said (not exact words): The heavens above you are moaning. On every space equivalent to the size of 4 fingers, there is an angel bowing or prostrating to Allah. The Baitul Makmur (a creation of Allah equivalent to the Ka'bah to us) is visited by 70,000 angels everyday and they never come back again. Imagine, this has been going on for millions or billions or whatever number of years (Allah knows best). There is such a vast creation up there that should humble us to the core, and every time we look up to the skies, it should remind us of this and should humble us. 

As you can see Allah does not need us. He does not need our prayers and does not benefit from our worship and obedience nor harm by any disobedience. But we need Him. We need Him in every moment of our lives--in this world and the Hereafter. Be a grateful servant. How do you show gratitude?

"You must fill up your time with acts of worship, so that no period of time elapses, whether by night or by day, without being used in some act of goodness." (quoting from Imam Al-Haddad's Book of Assistance)

Learn the religion of Allah (this is part of worship with sincere intention for His sake only) so you know what you should do, how to worship Him. Don't delay the learning. If you can learn from a learned person, that's good, if not find somebody who are more learned than you, and if not pick up a book, but learn now. Procrastination is not an excuse. Majority of the screaming people in the Hellfire is because of their procrastination on this earth. 

"If you could but see when they will be held over the (Hell) Fire! They will say: "Would that we were but sent back (to the world)! Then we would not deny the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, revelations, etc.) of our Lord, and we would be of the believers! Nay, it has become manifest to them what they had been concealing before. But if they were returned (to the world), they would certainly revert to that which they were forbidden. And indeed they are liars." Qur'an 6:27-28 

Tawfiq is from Allah.

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