Ensuring Human Progress and Establishing Peace Around the Globe (Part 3)

By: Prof Dr. Syed Mohsin Ali Gilani

How Islam is the solution to all global issues (Part 3)

  1. Adam (peace be upon him) is the father of all the human race, and human beings are descendants of him. These children have certain privileges as well as obligations:

Allah (the Lord of the universe) designed all that is living and non-living, apparent and invisible, and endowed humans with liberty for the duration of their lives in cognition, speech, and a tendency to think about their moves. In the divine scriptures, two paths are laid out for mankind to follow, and the outcome of their endeavors will be entirely dependent on the degree to which they execute their actions on those roads.

Simply put, while humans have been given benefits, they also have a responsibility to serve the universe to the best of their abilities while abiding by divine rule, which is the greatest of all laws. Man is advised to practice moderation on earth and uphold morality since, by Allah, the Almighty’s (God’s) decision, the wicked will pay for their transgressions both here on earth and in the afterlife.

According to verse 70 of Holy Quran Chapter 17, “We have certainly acknowledged the nobility of the children of Adam, and We have carried them over land and sea, and We have given them all the good things, and We have given them an advantage over many of those We have created with a complete preference.”

Holy Quran, verse 165 of chapter 6: He is the one who gave you the responsibility of being the earth’s heirs and who gave some of you a higher position than others in order to put you to the test in terms of what He has given you. Indeed, your Lord is kind and all-forgiving, and He is quick to punish.

  1. Did the Almighty God (Allah) interact with ancient peoples before Islam?

And do not cheat people for their goods, the Holy Qur’an says in Chapter 26, Verse 183. The Creator conveyed the divine message and law to the world via apostles and messengers, and he specifically chose individuals from among all others in every era and for different nations to receive his particular set of blessings and duties. Peace be upon Noah, Abraham, David, Moses, and Jesus, who were all prophets chosen by God. The message of the Islamic faith is a continuation of what they preached at God’s command. The upright values set forth in the preceding holy Scriptures through revelations are confirmed in the Holy Quran.

There are still certain heavenly directives, instructions,guidelines,rules, commands, lessons, and values present in older divine scriptures despite human interference in the intended content. Various versions of the Bible, such as The Holy Bible, are available to us. It is ample proof that teachings from the original version of the sacred texts were invented, constructed, generated, and/or altered by human beings for their own agendas. The Holy Quran was revealed as the Creator’s final word, and it has been maintained in its purest state with no fabrication, invention, falsification, concoction, or distortion whatsoever. The Holy Quran remains in the exact original Arabic language in which it was revealed, and there is only one version of it available across the entire globe.

According to the Holy Quran, all of the prophets transmitted the revelation of the one true God, the Creator, to all mankind. Additionally, the messengers cautioned them to conduct their lives with a God-consciousness, practicing virtuous acts and refraining from sin. A sin is an immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law. In addition, they forewarned people about the accountability of their actions in the hereafter (life after death), a theme that the Quran repeatedly brings up. Through earlier holy scriptures and the final word of the Creator, the Holy Quran, several of the prophets and messengers are mentioned by name.

Numerous prophets have been sent throughout the course of human history across all of humanity’s nations, but their names aren’t recorded since they presented guidance to the inhabitants of their time frame, but Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, as the final, conveyed the most profound, universal, all-inclusive, and ever-lasting message. By the mercy of God, the Holy Quran continues uninterrupted in its unaltered, unmodified, and unharmed authentic state, beyond any forgery or distortion.

  1. What is the purpose of God’s message to the human race?

Justice has always been at the heart of God’s message. Chapter 15 of the Qur’an, verse 9: “We have without a doubt sent down the message, and we will assuredly guard it (from corruption),” declares God in the Quran.

Holy Qur’an, chapter 57, verse 25: “Certainly We have sent Our messengers with clear guidance, and We have sent down to them the Book and the Scale of Justice so that they can conduct themselves justly.”

No living being could ever be capable of creating a text that informs everything about the past, present, and future, yet owing to contemporary advances in science, we continue to uncover novel insights from the Holy Quran. This is a miraculous masterpiece of Allah, the Omnipotent. The Creator in the Quran keeps extending the invitation and opening the door to reason and introspection so that humanity can discover new treasures and knowledge and benefit from them.

Holy Qur’an, chapter 4, verse 82: “Do they not think about the Qur’an? They would have undoubtedly discovered many inconsistencies in it if it had come from someone other than Allah.

According to the Holy Quran, chapter 38 verse 29, We sent this magnificent book to you, O Muhammad, for everyone to read and as a reminder for the wise and insightful ones. God commands individuals to be truthful, just, and fair even when their own interests are at stake, reminding them that God is ever cognizant of them. The truth must not be twisted, suppressed, or concealed in the interest of justice.

 

  1. The ultimate objective of the five daily prayers of Muslims

Five prayers a day are offered by a Muslim, and these prayers serve as a constant reminder for believers to express gratitude to their Creator. Five prayers a day should not merely be adopted as a daily practice; rather, their genuine essence should be comprehended so that their vibrant colors can be reflected in our lives through our constructive and beneficial endeavors. We ought to work toward acquiring excellent ethical conduct, polite behavior, and wholesome values through it. This daily reminder inspires us to submit ourselves to our God to seek forgiveness for our acts of misconduct, and it gives us the motivation we need to turn our bad experiences into pleasant ones. Through prayer, a person finds an endless supply of positive energy, which is essential to staying on the right path and avoiding distractions. Prayer develops a connection, a bond, or a bridge between the Creator and the creature.

Holy Quran, chapter 5, verse 91: “Indeed Satan seeks to cast enmity and hatred among you through wine and gambling and to hinder you from the remembrance of God and from prayer. Will you, then, relinquish?”

The greatest failure and loss is when someone chooses an evil and wicked route in order to attain some temporary benefits illegally in this momentary world, failing their kind and compassionate Creator. Those who choose to disregard this guidance are subject to God’s wrath. The Holy Quran, chapter 11, verse 18: “The curse of Allah be upon the oppressors.”

To ensure justice in society and the globe, one has to strive to improve it on all fronts, such as through education, taking ownership of one’s behavior, and doing humanitarian acts that boost the global ecosystem. The starting point in the right direction is to concentrate on overcoming one’s own energies that are detrimental and erroneous conduct that harms others’ lives. Life requires constant effort, so we ought to support one another and work collectively to make things better. Holy Quran, chapter 2, verse 190: “Fight those who are fighting against you in the way of God, and do not go beyond the bounds.” In fact, Allah does not love people who exceed the limits.

According to the teachings of the last messenger, Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, a person who believes in God and God’s commandments should do everything in their power to uplift righteousness and justice till the very end of their lifespan in all spheres of life.

Holy Quran, verse 6 of chapter 109: “Say, O you who have no faith! I don’t worship the same things you do (idols,false gods, materialism,immorality, oppressive rulers and classes, and other ills). You don’t worship the same deity that I do—the only true God and Creator of the universe. I also won’t follow what you do in terms of worship and adoration. You won’t follow my path of worship either. I will practice my belief in God, and you will practice yours. You shall have your religion, and I shall have my religion.”

  1. How should a believer in Allah (God) conduct himself or herself?

The individual who believes in the divine must stand by every good deed he or she commits with a learned yet confident heart to avoid being affected or drained by other people’s negativity. A believer should continue to inspire people to act honorably and impartially, in addition to playing an active role in doing so. A believer must have the insight and analytical skills to avoid lending support to people who encourage any form of corrupt behavior by being more hostile, haughty, selfish, pretentious, arrogant, extravagant, and tyrannical, even if the overwhelming majority are influenced by aggressors and culprits’ worldly charm.

It is nonetheless improper even if a believer openly denounces an injustice done to another individual or group of people while in fact supporting the oppressor, either consciously or unconsciously.

Holy Quran, chapter 8, verse 61: “But if they (the enemies) incline to peace, then you (also) incline to it, and put your trust in God.

Only someone who has faith in God will take this difficult route, because only someone who has faith in God is capable of exercising that type of steadfast, persistent determination. For a person of faith, the goal of life is to please one’s Creator; paradise (a peaceful place filled with heavenly blessings and bounties) is only a byproduct of living an honest life. God will reward successful ones with righteous lives for all of their efforts, starting with their sincere intentions, sane decisions, and perseverance in carrying out that goal.

In verses 7-8 of Chapter 99 of the Holy Qur’an, it is said that “in this life, whoever does an atom’s worth of good will see it, and anyone who does even a small act of evil will see it (on the day of judgment, when everyone will be brought before their maker).” “Life is the hereafter”.

  1. The impact of monotheism on everyday affairs

Holy Quran, chapter 12, verse 40: “Sovereignty belongs only to God; He has commanded that you shall serve none other than Him.”

Holy Quran, verses 1-4, chapter 112: “Proclaim, ‘He is God the One, God the Eternal. He neither had children nor was born. There is no one like God.” No one is comparable to Him because of his omnipotence; God is capable of doing everything, and nothing or anybody can properly describe God other than God itself.

The most significant and core belief in Islam is monotheism, or the belief in one God. The Holy Quran is the final revelation from God to Muhammad, peace be upon him. All facets of life are touched upon by the enlightened word of the Quran, regardless of small and superficial differences between people. Its teachings direct humanity’s needs in the spiritual, social, and intellectual spheres. It inspires us to give thanks to God frequently, to humble ourselves before Him, to keep our testimony and promises, to collaborate with others in good conduct, and to be tolerant and forbearing when things are difficult. Through the parables of the Quran, we learn the virtues of submitting to God, stepping up against discrimination, and demonstrating compassion to people around us.

Even though God is our greatest hope and we seek divine justice, we must not mix patience with enduring tyranny, oppression, and suffering. In the same way, patriotism and nationalism are occasionally confused by people because, although love for one’s country is a natural emotion, nationalism enforces rigid ideals in order to further its objectives by whatever means are necessary, suitable or not. Faith in the Creator teaches us to face and work through challenges with tenacity and perseverance.

Islam exhorts people to act wisely since there are instances when the right place, time, and method must be chosen in order to achieve our envisioned objectives. A believer’s patience is an exceptionally valuable attribute. The Holy Quran, which exhorts believers to be faithful, states that no soul is going to be obligated to carry a greater burden than it can bear. The Holy Quran, chapter 2, verse 185: God is kind; He wishes ease for you, and He does not desire suffering.

To foster mutual trust and kindness and to prevent negativity, backbiting, foul language, gossip, and mistrust that lead to poisonous and unkind attitudes toward others, God gives instructions in the Holy Quran.

Holy Quran, chapter 49, verse 12: “O you who believe! Refrain from most suspicions, for some suspicions are crimes, and do not spy on one another or backbite one another. Would any of you be interested in consuming his deceased brother’s flesh? No, you detest it.

Again, in order to prevent unnecessary problems and allow society to develop into an improved community, one must not mix suspicion with a conscientious and cautious approach to life. The Quran provides additional guidelines in Chapter 17, verse 32: “Do not commit adultery.” Be truthful, brave, and conscious of the value of morals in life, such as those in business, intimacy, and refraining from using filthy language. Every human being deserves respect and care to maintain positive social interactions, and the most talented individuals need to get the proper recognition and rewards in a just society.

According to the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, “Every good deed is philanthropy.” Kindness can come in a variety of forms, such as a smile of warmth, heartfelt greetings, wise advice, or an assisting hand.

When compared to a materialist or someone who ignores the commands of God and lives an immoral or lawless life, a believer’s perspective on life is noticeably broader, brighter, and wider. Justice is ensured on both an individual and a collective level through faith, which strengthens the link between creation (all that is) and its creator (the one who made it). We are God’s creation and will ultimately return to Him.

 

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