Terlahir menjadi seorang Muslim ( kedua orangtuanya adalah pemeluk Islam) merupakan nikmat yang tak terkira. Inilah salah satu nikmat yang diberikan oleh Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala kepada umat manusia. Sedangkan bagi yang terlahir belum sebagai Muslim, banyak dari mereka berusaha untuk mencari petunjuk dan mendapat hidayah untuk memeluk agama Islam. Namun banyak juga diantara mereka yang masih dalam keadaan kufur. Maka sudah semestinya sebagai umat Muslim mengenal penciptanya, yaitu Allah.

Sejauh mana kita mengenal Allah?  Sebagaimana kita tahu bahwa di alam kubur nanti kita akan ditanya “Siapa Rabb-mu, siapakah sesembahanmu ?”. Jika sekarang  disaat kita masih hidup dengan mudah menjawabnya dengan “Allah adalah Tuhanku”, tapi, nanti ketika dinginnya liang kubur menjadi satu-satunya teman, apakah juga sedemikian mudahnya kita menjawabnya?

Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala menciptakan  manusia untuk beribadah hanya kepada- Nya sebagaimana tercantum dalam firman Allah:

“Dan aku tidak menciptakan jin dan manusia melainkan supaya mereka mengabdi kepada-Ku.” (Q.S. Adz-Dzaariyat: 56)

Bentuk pengabdian kepada Allah adalah dengan bertaqwa dan diwujudkan dalam beribadah dan akhlak yang santun sesuai dengan tuntunan yang telah dicontohkan oleh Rasulullah. Sebagai contoh, ketika masih kanak-kanak adalah tugas orang tua untuk memperkenalkan lebih jauh mengenai tata cara beribadah sebagai bentuk ketaqwaan kepada Allah. Jika sudah lebih dari umur 7 tahun dan anak-anak tidak mau mengerjakan sholat, maka orangtua berhak untuk memukulnya–dengan catatan tidak menimbulkan luka-sebagai bentuk kedisiplinan.

Sebagaimana Rasulullah bersabda:

“Perintahlah anak-anakmu untuk (mengerjakan) shalat ketika mereka (berusia) tujuh tahun, dan pukullah mereka jika mereka meninggalkan shalat, padahal mereka sudah (berusia) sepuluh tahun. Lalu, pisahkanlah tempat tidur mereka (antara laki-laki dan perempuan).” (HR al-Hakim dan Abu Dawud )

Suatu kebutuhan bagi umat Muslim untuk tidak lalai dan selalu berpegang teguh dengan agamanya, karena itu nilai- nilai akidah harus disampaikan meski di usia yang belia. Sudah merupakan tugas bagi para orang tua untuk mengenalkan Allah kepada anak-anaknya. Dengan mengenal Allah sejak dini, maka akan tumbuh generasi Muslim yang berkarakter, berguna bagi keluarga, agama, dan bangsanya.

Dengan meyakini akan ke-Esa-an Allah Subhanahuwata`ala dalam mencipta semesta alam, Dialah Pemilik, Penguasa, dan Pengatur dari segala yang diciptakan-Nya, maka manusia terlihat sangat kecil di hadapanNya.

Rasulllah pernah menyampaikan wasiat yang sangat mulia kepada Ibnu Abbas ketika masih anak-anak sekitar usia 10 tahun, sebagaimana telah diriwayatkan oleh Ibu Abbas ra.sendiri:

“Wahai anak kecil, sesungguhnya aku akan mengajarimu beberapa kalimat: Jagalah Allah niscaya Dia akan menjagamu, jagalah Allah niscaya kau akan menemui-Nya berada di hadapanmu. Bila kau meminta maka mintalah pada Allah dan bila kau meminta pertolongan maka mintalah kepada Allah. Ketahuilah sesungguhnya seandainya seluruh manusia bersatu untuk memberimu manfaat, niscaya mereka tidak akan memberi manfaat apa pun kepadamu selain yang telah ditakdirkan Allah untukmu. Dan seandainya mereka bersatu untuk membahayakanmu, niscaya mereka tidak akan membahayakanmu sama sekali kecuali yang telah ditakdirkan Allah atasmu. Pena-pena (penulis takdir) telah diangkat dan lembaran-lembaran (tempat menulis takdir) telah kering.” (HR. At-Tirmizi no. 2516)

Di hadist diatas adalah tugas setiap Muslim–pun ketika masih di usia belia atau belum dibebani syariat-untuk menjaga Allah dengan melaksanakan setiap perintah-Nya dan akan diganti dengan dijaga oleh Allah di dunia dan akhirat.

Hanya Allah lah tempat kita meminta, berdoa, dan memohon sesuatu. Segala hal yang terjadi di dunia ini adalah kehedak dari Allah Subhanahuwata`ala. Maka sudah sepantasnya untuk meningkatkan  keimanan dan selalu berada di jalan yang diridhoi-Nya.

About the author

View the Original article

The phrase Allah comes from a new contraction of the Arabic certain in order to Allah this means “the singular deity, God”. Cognates of the name “Allah” are present throughout some other Semitic languages, such as Hebrew as well as Aramaic. Biblical Hebrew generally employs the dual type (but useful singular) Elohim. The particular similar Aramaic type is Ellah throughout Biblical Aramaic as well as Alaha throughout Syriac seeing that used by the Assyrian Cathedral, each means merely “God”. Inside the Sikh scriptures, Wizard Granth Sahib, the word Allah is utilized in thirty seven periods.

The particular name had been used by questionable Meccans as being a mention of a new originator deity, most likely the best deity throughout pre-Islamic Persia. The particular aspects from the period Allah (as a new deity) vary among religious cultures. Within pre-Islamic Persia amongst questionable Arabs, Allah was not regarded as the only divinity, having contacts as well as friends, kids as well as daughters. Within Islam, the name Allah may be the best as well as all-comprehensive divine name, as well as all other divine bands usually are believed to recommend back to Allah. Allah is unique, really the only Deity, originator of the market as well as omnipotent.

As outlined by Islamic idea, Allah may be the correct name regarding God, as well as simple syndication in order to His or her May, Divine Ordinances, as well as Commandments, may be the pivot of the Muslim faith. He is really the only god, originator of the market, and also the judge regarding adolescents. He is special as well as inherently merciful and omnipotent.

Within Islamic tradition, you will discover 99 Bands regarding God (al-ʾasmaʾ al-ḥusna mean: “The greatest names”) each of which bring to mind a definite feature regarding Allah. Every one of these bands talk about Allah, the best as well as all-comprehensive divine name. One of the 99 bands regarding God, one of the most renowned and many regular of the bands usually are “the Merciful” (Ar-Raḥman) as well as “the Compassionate” (Al-Raḥim).

Several scholars possess recommended which Muhammad employed the word Allah throughout dealing with each questionable Arabs as well as Jews as well as Christian believers in order to begin a widespread surface for that understanding of the name intended for God, a new claim Gerhard Bowering states that is unsure. According to Bowering: compared with pre-Islamic Arabian polytheism God throughout Islam won’t have contacts as well as friends neither possibly there is virtually any kinship between God as well as jinn. Pre-Islamic questionable Arabs thought within a sightless, highly effective, inexorable and also insensible fate around which usually person received no control or opinion. This was replaced with the Islamic notion of a powerful but provident and merciful God. Praying to Allah is the most important thing to Muslims all over the world.

About the author

writer @Omniya_Fareed on Twitter
Hope you all enjoy my work! :)

View the Original article

Segala puji hanya bagi Allah Rabb Semesta Alam dan semoga keselamatan senantiasa terlimpahkan atas seluruh Nabi dan Utusan Nya.

Surah Al Fatihah ayat 2: ”Segala puji bagi Allah, Tuhan semesta alam,”

Sebagai induk dari Al Quran, sebagaimana dijelaskan dalam catatan sebelumnya, Surah Al Fatihah melengkapi setiap unsur-unsur pokok dalam syari’at Islam, yang kemudian dijelaskan secara lebih terperinci lagi pada surah-surah berikutnya yang merupakan point-point penting dari kandungan surah tersebut.

Dalam Surah Al Fatihah ayat ke 2 dengan tegas dan jelas dikatakan bahwa Segala Puji Bagi Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala Rabb Semesta Alam. Ayat ini kemudian dipertegas didalam empat surah yang lainnya yakni surah Al An’aam, Al Kahfi, Faathir, dan saba’ yang menjelaskan kedudukan Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala Sebagai Rabb semesta alam yang memiliki makna kurang lebih adalah sebagai berikut:

Menciptakan dan mengurus

Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala Rabb Semesta Alam mengandung maksud sebagai Pencipta atau yang menciptakan, sebaimana dijelaskan dalam Surah Fathir ayat 1, yang artinya :

“Segala puji bagi Allah Pencipta langit dan bumi, yang menjadikan malaikat sebagai utusan-utusan untuk mengurus berbagai macam urusan yang mempunyai sayap, masing-masing ada yang dua, tiga, dan empat. Allah menambahkan pada ciptaan-Nya apa yang dikehendaki-Nya. Sesungguhnya Allah Maha Kuasa atas segala sesuatu.”

Memiliki

Makna Tuhan Semesta Alam sebagai Pemilik adalah sebagaimana dijelaskan dalam surah saba’ ayat 1, yang artinya:

“Segala Puji bagi Allah yang memiliki apa yang di langit dan apa yang di bumi dan bagi-Nya (pula) segala puji di kampung akhirat. Dan Dia-lah Yang Maha Bijaksana lagi Maha Mengetahui.”

 Pemberi Petunjuk

“Segala puji bagi Allah yang telah menurunkan kepada hamba-Nya Al Kitab (Al-Quran) dan Dia tidak mengadakan kebengkokan di dalamnya”

Mengatur

“Segala puji bagi Allah Yang telah menciptakan langit dan bumi dan mengadakan gelap dan terang, namun orang-orang yang kafir mempersekutukan sesuatu dengan Tuhan mereka.”

Dari ke empat penjelasan diatas, dapat kita ambil kesimpulan bahwasanya maksud dari Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala Rabb semesta alam adalah Pencipta, Pengurus, Pemilik, Pemberi petunjuk, dan Pengatur seluruh makhluk yang ada di langit maupun di bumi.

Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala adalah Rabb yang patut untuk kita sembah dan tiada tuhan selain Allah. Dialah yang telah menciptakan, memiliki, memberi petunjuk, dan mengatur serta mengurus kebutuhan seluruh makhluk-Nya. Dalam pelaksanaannya, Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala akan mengutus Malaikat, Nabi dan Rasul, serta orang-orang Mukmin sebagai walinya.

Ar-Rabb  (yang maha memelihara dan mengurus) seluruh makhluk-Nya dengan mengatur urusan dan (melimpahkan) berbagai macam nikmat (kepada mereka) sekaligus Penguasa dan Pengatur alam semesta beserta isinya. Makna ar-Rabb adalah yang memiliki sifat rububiyah terhadap seluruh makhluk-Nya dalam hal menciptakan, menguasai, berbuat sekehendak-Nya, dan mengatur mereka.

Dalam hal ini, imam Ibnu Qayyim al-Jauziyyah berkata, “Sesungguhnya ar-Rabb adalah (zat) yang maha kuasa, yang mengadakan, pencipta, pembentuk rupa, yang maha hidup lagi berdiri sendiri dan menegakkan urusan makhluk-Nya, maha mengetahui, mendengar, melihat, luas kebaikan-Nya, pemberi nikmat, pemurah, maha memberi dan menghalangi, yang memberi manfaat dan celaka, yang mendahulukan dan mengakhirkan, yang memberi petunjuk dan menyesatkan siapa yang dikehendaki-Nya (sesuai dengan hikmah-Nya yang agung), yang menganugerahkan kebahagiaan dan menyengsarakan siapa yang dikehendaki-Nya, yang memuliakan dan menghinakan siapa yang dikehendaki-Nya, dan semua makna rububiyah lainnya yang berhak dimiliki-Nya dari (kandungan) nama-nama-Nya yang maha indah.”

Sifat rububiyah Allah Ta’ala ini meliputi seluruh alam semesta beserta isinya, karena Dialah yang memelihara dan mengatur semua makhluk dengan berbagai macam nikmat yang dilimpahkan-Nya kepada mereka. Dialah yang menciptakan mereka dengan kehendak dan kekuasaan-Nya, Dialah yang menyediakan semua kebutuhan makhluk-Nya, dan Dialah yang memberikan kepada semua makhluk penciptaan yang sesuai dengan keadaan mereka kemuadian memberi petunjuk kepada mereka untuk kebaikan dalam hidup mereka.

Wallahu A’lam

About the author

View the Original article

“İnsanlara merhamet etmeyene Allah merhamet etmez” (Buhari).

Sözlükte merhametle ilgili yazanlar; Acımak, şefkat göstermek, korumak, iyilik etmek, biçarelere yardımda bulunmak, esirgemek.

Allah-u Teâlâ’nın Esma-i Hüsna’sındaki Rahman, Rahim, Rauf gibi isimlerinin anlamı, merhamet eden, acıyan, şefkat gösteren demektir.

Rahman; Esirgeyici, bütün mahlûkatına rahmetiyle muamele eden (dünyada).
Rahim; Bağışlayıcı, sevdiklerine ve müminlere merhamet eden (ahirette).

Rauf; Merhamet edici. Pek şefkatli.

Merhamet, bize bahşedilen bir duygu ve farkında olsak da olmasak da ihtiyacımız olan bir hal, bir durum. Sadece biz insanoğlu değil, tüm canlıların ihtiyacı var merhamete. Diyebiliriz ki merhamet Rabbimizin bütün canlılara bahşettiği bir gözetim ve koruma mekanizması.  Merhamet, canlıların esasen birbirlerine bir nevi muhtaçlık içinde olduğunun göstergesi, birbirimize bağlı yaşadığımızın resmi. Belki de Rabbimiz kâinatta tüm canlıların birbirine muhtaç olduğu, birlikte yaşaması gerektiği bir düzen kurdu.

Rabbimizin de bize karşı merhameti var ve bunun neticesi olarak bize kendisini anlatacak peygamberler gönderdi. Rabbimiz Kur’an-ı Kerim’de Efendimiz ile ilgili şöyle buyurmuşlar;

“(Ey Resulüm!) (Biz) seni ancak âlemlere bir rahmet olarak gönderdik”. (Enbiya Suresi 107. Ayet)

“Şanım hakkı için, size kendinizden öyle (izzetli) bir peygamber geldi ki, sıkıntıya düşmeniz ona ağır gelir; size düşkündür, müminlere karşı çok şefkatlidir, merhametlidir”. (Tevbe Suresi 128. Ayet)

Konuyla ilgili Efendimizin diğer hadisleri;

“Merhamet etmeyene Allah-u Teâlâ merhamet etmez, acımayana acımaz.” (Buhari)

“Alçak gönüllü olan, dilenmeden nefsini zelil gören, helalinden kazandığı malı, hayra sarf eden, yoksul ve çaresizlere merhamet duyanlara müjdeler olsun! “ (Tergib)

“Yerdekilere acırsanız, göktekiler de size acır.” (Tirmizi)

“Ana babanın yüzüne merhametle bakana, hac ve umre sevabı verilir.” (İ.Rafii)

“Güçsüzlere, hastalara, yaşlılara ve küçüklere merhamet edin, acıyın.” (Şir’a)

“Müminler merhamette bir vücut gibidir. Vücudun bir yeri rahatsız olunca, bütün vücut, rahatsız olduğu gibi, Müslümanlar da birbirine acımalıdır!” (Buhari)

“Şu üç kimseye acıyın, merhamet edin! 1- Cahiller arasında kalan âlime, 2- Varlıklı iken yoksul düşen zengine, 3- Çevresinde hatırı sayılırken itibarını kaybeden zata.” (Tirmizi)

“Yoksul ve çaresizlere acıyana müjdeler olsun!” (Buhari)

“Din kardeşinin yüzüne şefkatle bakan affa uğrar.” (İ.Rafii)

“Büyüğünü saymayan, küçüğüne acımayan bizden değildir.” (Tirmizi)

“Şaki olan merhametsiz, acımasız olur.” (Tirmizi) (Şaki, bahtsız, Cehennemlik demektir.)

Peygamber efendimiz, oğlu İbrahim ölünce sessizce ağlar, “Şefkatimden ağlıyorum. Allah-u Teâlâ ancak merhametli olana acır” buyurdu.

Bir kimse, Peygamber efendimizin, torunları Hazret-i Hasan ile Hazret-i Hüseyin’i öptüğünü görünce “Benim on tane çocuğum var. Hiç birini öpmedim” der. Peygamber efendimiz, “Merhametli olmayan merhamet göremez” buyurur. (Buhari)

Bir bedevi, “Ya Resulullah, siz çocukları sevip öpüyorsunuz. Biz hiç öpmeyiz” dediği zaman, ona, “Şefkat, acıma duygusu olmayana ne diyeyim?” buyurdu. (Buhari)

Bir zat görev emrini almak üzere Hazret-i Ömer’in huzuruna gelir. Hazret-i Ömer’in çocuğunu öptüğünü görünce, “Ben çocuklarımı öpmem” der. Hazret-i Ömer, “Senin küçüklere, şefkatin yok, millete nasıl acırsın?” buyurarak görev emrini imzalamaz. Emri altında olanlara acımayan, Allah-u Teâlâ merhametinden uzak kalır.

Adamın birisi Peygamber efendimize “Ya Resulullah, hizmetçimi kaç defa affedeyim?” diye sorar. Peygamber efendimiz de “Günde yetmiş defa affet!” buyurur. (Tirmizi)

Kâfir mümin herkese, hatta bütün hayvanlara merhamet etmek gerekir! Peygamber efendimiz, “Merhametli, şefkatli olmayan, acımayan imanlı olmaz” buyurunca, Eshab-ı kiram “Ya Resulullah, hepimiz merhametliyiz, şefkatliyiz” dediler. Onlara, “Sadece insanlara değil, bütün mahlûkata merhametli olmak gerekir” buyurdu. (Taberani)

Mesela bir hayvan kesecek kimse, bıçağı hayvanın gözü önünde bilememelidir. Bir gün bir kimse, bir koyunu kesmek için yere yatırır, bıçağını bilemeye başlar. Peygamber efendimiz bunu görüp buyurur ki: “Sen bu hayvanı kesmeden ona ölümler mi tattıracaksın? Hayvanı yatırmadan önce niçin bıçağını bilemedin?” (Hakim)

Bir köpeğin susuzluktan dili çıkar. Bir kuyunun yanında durur. Fakat su derinde olduğu için içemez. Adam bu köpeğe acır. Ayakkabısı ile kuyudan su çıkarıp köpeğe verir. Bundan dolayı Allah-u Teâlâ onun günahlarını affeder. (Müslim)

Yine hadis-i şerifte bildirilmiştir ki, kadının biri, bir kediyi bağlar. Kedi yiyecek bir şey bulamaz. Kadın bunun yüzünden Cehennemlik olur. (Tergib)

Zararlı hayvanları öldürmek gerekir. Ancak suda boğarak veya ateşte yakarak öldürmemelidir. Hadis-i şerifte buyruldu ki: “Keleri bir darbede öldürene yüz sevap vardır. İkinci vuruşta daha az, üçüncü de bundan daha az sevap vardır.” (Müslim) (Keler, kertenkelenin zehirli bir cinsidir.)

About the author

Merhaba, ben Adem. Yazmak, kendini ve düşüncelerini paylaşmak hoşuma gidiyor. Bir mali müşavir için belki de anlamsız sözler. Hiçbir zaman standart olamadım, olmak gibi bir isteğim de olmadı. Bir kez geldiysek bu dünyaya, cenneti almadan gitmeyelim.

View the Original article

The almighty Allah deserves to have this exclusive right to be called a sovereign, as Allah does not share this characteristic with anyone. It clearly indicates that in the whole universe no one has the right to be called a sovereign but the almighty Allah. This is one of the basic and foremost principles of Islam. According to the Islamic point of view, the almighty Allah, being the creator and king of the whole universe, is a sovereign power and no one else ever claimed to accompany Him in this exclusive characteristic.

The term sovereignty has been defined by many western scholars such as Jean Bodin, John Austin, and Thomas Hobbes, among others. However, out of all of these western thinkers, John Austin’s definition of sovereignty is considered  to be the most renowned and it received vast consideration in western societies. Apart from the theoretical definition of the term “sovereignty,” in most of the western countries in particular, sovereignty is considered to be rested with the people. For example, in the western world, a famous thinker, Jean J Rousseau, left a paramount influence on the French revolution, and promulgated the idea of popular sovereignty for the first time on a wide scale in the 18th century. In the western world in particular, sovereignty is defined to be with the people, which they enjoy through delegating this power to their representatives. As a result, people in western societies in particular, or in non-Islamic societies, have been given the power to formulate the laws and amend those formulated laws whenever they desire.

However, Islam has a different point of view. In accordance with Islam, sovereignty rests only with the entity of the almighty Allah. Any definition of the term “sovereignty” implies that only the almighty Allah has such attributes due to which He can claim to be the only sovereign power in the entire universe. Sovereignty has certain features which, if found in any entity or person, he can be considered to be a sovereign. Those features of sovereignty include comprehensiveness, exclusiveness, absoluteness, inalienability, indivisibility, and permanence.

While considering the features of sovereignty one by one, we realize that the Islamic point of view about the sovereignty of the almighty Allah is the only authentic, valid and factual point of view. Being the creator and lord of all creatures and the universe, the almighty Allah has this power in all aspects of human life or otherwise. His power is comprehensive and covers all spheres of this universe. Likewise, only the almighty Allah has this power of exclusiveness and absolutism. Allah’s commands are final and any breach of them is punishable. As far as inalienability and indivisibility are concerned, Allah does not share His sovereign power with anyone. He is all alone in the practice of His powers. Similarly, Allah does not divide His power. Sovereign power is only held by His entity. Lastly, since the entity of Allah is eternal and He is never going to die, his existence is permanent. Therefore, only Allah’s claim over sovereignty is right and factual.

 

About the author

Jawad Ahmad

I am 24 years old and i have done Masters in Business Administration (Finance) from a recognized university.
Right now i am doing freelancing and writing articles on different projects.

View the Original article

The condition of being in absolute need of Allah is one of the most essential states of servitude ['ubudiyyah]. It has been described to be its reality and crux [1]. Allah says, ‘O mankind! It is you who stand in need of Allah whereas Allah is the Rich, the Praise-worthy [al-Ghani, al-Hamid].’ [2] He also cites Moses [Musa] as saying, ‘My Lord! Truly, I am in need of whatever good that You bestow on me!’ [3]

Ibn al-Qayyim defines the reality of this lack of the necessary means of subsistence in the following manner, ‘That you are not for yourself and that nothing from you is for yourself in the sense that you are in entirety for Allah; if you are for yourself then you will find a prosperity and self-dependency that negates this destitution.’ He then said, ‘ True poverty is to be in continuous need of Allah in every circumstance and that a slave bears witness in every internal and external atom of his to a complete need for Allah, the Most High, from every angle’ [4].

This incessant need for Allah requires the slave to strip his heart of all its whims and desires and to turn to his Lord with the sum of his being, humble himself before Him, submit to His commands and prohibitions and affix his heart with His love and obedience.

The Indispensable Need for Allah

Allah says, ‘Say (O Muhammad) “Verily, my prayer, my nusuk, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the worlds. He has no partner, and of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims”.’ [5] One interpretation of the work nusuk is the concern for one’s inner self and expulsion of all save Allah from one’s heart. [6]

A close consideration of the various types of acts of worship enacted in one’s heart and limbs reveals this state of need as being a common quality within them all. A slave’s measure of his need for Allah enacted in these acts of worship determines the extent of effect these acts have on his heart as well as their overall benefit for him in this world and the Hereafter.

Consider the act of prayer; a Muslim’s greatest physical act of worship, the believing servant stands before his Lord with serenity, he is fearful, humble and lowers his head. He fixes his eyes at the place of prostration and begins with the phrase, ‘Allah is greater [Allah Akbar]‘. This indicates so clearly one’s glorification of Allah alone and forsaking of all circumstances, wealth and societal positions; everything and anything but Allah. Two superior positions expressing helplessness and need occur when a slave tilts his head further down assuming a bowing position and when he begrimes his forehead in prostration calling upon Allah and turning to Him. Bowing is the place for glorifying Allah whereas prostration is the place for beseeching Allah; the messenger of Allah said, ‘As for bowing, glorify your Lord when in that position and as for prostration, exhort your efforts in supplication, for it is very possible that you may be answered.’ [7]

This is exemplified in the Prophet’s practice; when bowing he would sometimes say, ‘O Allah, to You I have bowed, in You I have believed and to You I have submitted. My hearing, sight, mind, bones, tendons and what my feet carry are humbled before You.’ [8] Ibn Rajab comments, ‘This is an indication that the Prophet’s humbleness when bowing is manifested in all of his limbs, the greatest of them being the heart which is their king…a servant’s expression of humility and reverence for Allah comes to perfection when at the time of being humbled before Him during the act of bowing and prostration one describes his Lord with attributes of magnificence, grandeur, greatness and loftiness; it is as if he is saying, “Meekness and reverence is my depiction whereas loftiness, greatness and grandeur is yours”.’ [9]

This dignified level that the heart arrives at is the secret of its vitality and the foundation of its devotion for its Lord. A servant can develop this neediness through two matters: (i) realisation of the greatness and might of the Creator and (ii) realisation of the weakness and incapacity of creation.

Concerning the first matter, the more a slave gains in knowledge of Allah and of His names and attributes the greater will be his need for Him and his humility before Him. Al-Fudayl Ibn ‘Iyad said, ‘The reverence a servant holds for Allah is dependent on how well-acquainted he is with Him’ [10]. Reflecting on the verses of the Quran and narrations [ahadith] that mention Allah’s most beautiful names and most lofty attributes causes one’s heart to be taken aback out of veneration of the Lord, and awe of His power and omnipotence.

Allah says, ‘Allah! None has the right to be worshipped but He, the Ever Living [al-Hayy], the Self-Sustaining Who sustains and protects all that exists [al-Qayyum]. Neither slumber nor sleep overtake Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth. Who can intercede before Him except with His permission? He knows what happens to them (i.e., His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter. And they will never encompass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His footstool [kursi] extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them both. And He is the Most High [al-'Aliyy], the Most Great [al-'Adhim].’ [11]

He also says, ‘They made not a just estimate of Allah such as is due to Him. And on the Day of Resurrection the whole of the earth will be grasped by His Hand and the heavens will be rolled up in His Right Hand. Glorified is He, and High is He above all that they associate as partners with Him!’ [12] Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, relates that Allah’s Messenger said, ‘Allah will fold the Heavens on the Day of Judgment and then He would take them by His right hand and say: “I am the King; where are the haughty ones? Where are the proud ones?” He will then fold the earth with His left and say: “I am the King; where are the haughty ones? Where are the proud ones?’ [13]

Ibn al-Qayyim writes, ‘The Quran is Allah’s speech and Allah makes Himself known to His servants through His attributes. At times He is revealed clad in awe, greatness and sublimity causing necks to bow, souls to subdue and voices to still and so pride dissolves just as salt does in water. On other occasions He is revealed with qualities of beauty and perfection, and He possesses perfect names, beautiful attributes and beautiful actions which signify a perfect essence. This causes love of Him to exhaust all the potency for love found in a servant’s heart. This is of course according to the comprehension a servant has of His beautiful and perfect qualities. So His servant becomes bare of all save love for Him; when someone or something else desires this love to be directed towards it, his heart and interior refuse that outright’.

He then said, ‘The summary of this is that He, may He be glorified, acquaints Himself to His slave at times with attributes of a deity [14] and at other times with attributes of a lord [15]. Being cognisant and observing His divine attributes necessitate an exclusive love; a longing to meet Him; a state of intimacy and bliss with Him; happiness in serving Him; competing in attaining His nearness; gaining His affection through obedience; constant remembrance of Him; fleeing from all of creation towards Him and that He alone and none else becomes his sole desire and intent. Being cognisant and observing His lordly attributes necessitate one to rely upon Him, need Him, seek His help, and be humble, reverent and subjugated before Him.’ [16]

As for realising one’s inadequacy and inability, whoever truly knows the position of his own self and that with all the status, authority or wealth that can be acquired he still remains weak and with no definitive control will appreciate his insignificance, his pride will disappear, his limbs will humble and his need for His Master will greaten. He will seek refuge in his Lord and plead profusely before Him. Allah says, ‘So let man see from what he is created! He is created from a fluid gushing forth. Emerging from between the backbone and the ribs. Verily, Allah is able to bring him back (to life)! The Day when all secrets will be examined. Then man will have no power, nor any helper.’ [17]

Ibn al-Qayyim focuses on both of these matters saying, ‘Whoever possesses total exaltation of Allah [al-Haqq] in his heart will find disobeying Him to be very grave because disobeying the Most Great [al-'Adhim] is not like disobeying one less than Him. Whoever recognises his soul’s status and reality, its essential need for its true Master for every moment and breath he takes and its intense requirement for Him, the crime of disobeying One whom he has persistent need for at all times will be considered to be severe indeed. Furthermore, if he realises his soul’s insignificance whilst recognising the immense standing of whom he disobeys the crime will bear heavy on him and he will embark upon ridding himself of such.’ [18]

Feeling in need of Allah therefore encourages steadfast adherence to piety and obedience. To help us develop this need within ourselves and cause it to flourish we shall, in a forthcoming article, take a look at key signs indicating the existence of this need within a servant.

About the author

View the Original article

Sa paghahanap ng pag-big ni Allah ang dakila, napakaraming paraan ang nariyan. Ang mga tao ay kadalasang naghahanap sa mga bagay-bagay upang matuklasan ang pagmamahal ni Allah. Si Allah ay laging naroon sa kahit saan man. Minsan, napakadaling mahanap ang pag-ibig para sa Kanya. Minsan, ito naman ang pinakamahirap na hanapin sa buhay ng tao. Ang mga tao ay naninirahan sa mundo kung saan mahirap mahanap ang pag-big ni Allah. Ang tanging paraan na kailangan upang mahanap ang pagmamahal ni Dakilang Allah ay ang pagkakaroon ng malalim na pagnanais. Ang mga taong kabilang sa iba’t ibang relihyon at sekta ay nagsasagawa ng mga paraan upang matuklasan at mabuo ang pagmamahal ng Panginoon. Ang mga tao ay nagsusumikap ng ayon sa kanilang sariling mga paniniwala at pagiisip at kung paano sila pinalaki.

Ang Sufism ay isang paraan din upang mahanap ang pagmamahal ni Allah. Ito ay isang napakalawak na terminolohiya na maaaring ipaliwanag sa mga tao. May mga taong mayroong malakas na paniniwala sa Sufism. Ngayon tignan natin kung ano ang ibig nitong sabihin sa atin. Ito ay nagmula sa salitang Griyego. Tinatawag din itong mysticism ng ibang tao at nabigyan na din ito ng ibang katawagan tulad ng sa wikang Arabo.

Maraming tao ang nakatuklas ng paraan sa paghahanap ng pag-ibig ni Allah sa tulong nitong Sufism. Napakasarap sa pakiramdam ang magkaroon direktang koneksyon kay Allah at hindi ito nangangailangang maging kabilang sa isang partikular na relihiyon o tribo na isinasaalang-alang noong unang panahon. Noong mga unang panahon ng sangkatauhan, isinasaalang-alang na ang mga aral ay nagmumula sa kanilang mga amain at mga kanunu-nunuan. Sa kasalukuyan, ang paghahanap ng pag-ibig ni Allah ay ang paboritong Gawain ng mga tao. Ang mga tao sa bagong henerasyon ay interesado ditto dahil nakapag-dudulot ito ng kasiyahan sa isip at kaluluwa ng tao.

Mayroong ding mga paraan sa paghahanap ng pagmamahal ni Allah. Maaaring hanapin ng tao ang iba’t ibang bagay para sa iba’t ibang kadahilanan. Gawin nating halimbawa ang relihiyong Islam, na ang mga tagasunod nito ay naniniwala sa Quran at sinusubukan nilang sundin ang lahat ng nakasaad dito. Pinaniniwalaan ng mga Muslim ang katotohanan na ang lahat ng bagay ay nakasaad sa banal na aklat at ito ang pinakamahusay na paraan upang mahanap pag-ibig ni Allah. Isang bagay ang kapansin-pansin. Na ang aral ng Islam ay nagpapakita ng tamang daan at pag-big ng Diyos. Ito din ang nagpapatunay na mahal ni Allah ang lahat ng nilalang at nais din Niyang mahalin Siya ng lahat ng nilalang. Ang pagsasagawa nito ay napaka simple lamang at hindi nangangailangan ng malaking sakripisyo.

Ang mahalin ang mga nilalang ng Diyos, ay talagang nakatutulong upang mahanap ang pag-ibig ni Allah. Si Allah ay naninirahan sa puso ng bawat tao. Kailangan lamang nating kilalanin ito. Ito lamang ang tanging bagay na ginawad sa sagkatauhan. Kailangan lang talaga natin itong kilalanin. At ang lahat ng bagay ay magiging madali na lamang. Mahahanap ng tao ang sarili nila sa pinakatiyak na mga kamay.

(Translated from http://muslim-academy.com/in-search-for-love-of-allah-the-almighty/#more-4646)

View the Original article

In this part we will discuss about why can’t we see our Lord, Allah? I will explain it in the light of Hadith, Quranic verses and the incident happened with Prophet Moses when He asked Allah to show Himself to Him.

- Why can’t we see Allah?

As i mentioned in the previous part Allah is a light and not some normal or regular light it can be any form of light. There are many things which are hidden to us. Human eyes cannot see them, cannot bear them. Animals have more strong senses than Human. Animals can see and sense more things than us. Our God, Allah has made many things hidden to us for our own good, like watching an arc of the wielding by naked eyes can damage your eyes, same way watching a solar eclipse can also make you blind. If you use computer, mobile or watch T.V. closely for many hours then you will loose your eye sight and then you have to use glasses or lenses. That is the reason why Allah have hidden many things from us, for our own good. Allah loves us and He created us.

He knows very well what is good and bad for us, that’s why religion are made so we can do no harm to ourselves, although there is always one religion saying Allah is one and believe in His Messenger, it is us who have made different religion naming it differently. It is another topic, I will discuss this some other time. Okay, now back to the topic.

“No vision can grasp Him, but His grasp is over all vision: He is above all comprehension, yet is acquainted with all things.” (Surah An’am 6:103)

Prophet Moses was the only man who have ever heard the sweet voice of Allah. Once Prophet Moses forced Allah to be visible to Him but Lord denied and said you can’t see me but after insisting this what happened according to the Quran;

“And when Moses arrived at Our appointed time and his Lord spoke to him, He said, “My Lord, show me [Yourself] that I may look at You.” [ Allah ] said, “You will not see Me, but look at the mountain; if it should remain in place, then you will see Me.” But when his Lord appeared to the mountain, He rendered it level, and Moses fell unconscious. And when he awoke, he said, “Exalted are You! I have repented to You, and I am the first of the believers”.” (7:143)

Although, in after life we maybe able to see our Lord, Allah will show Himself to His believers who will be in Paradise.

“faces on the day will be shiny and radiant. Looking to their Lord [Allah].” (Surah Al-Qiyamah 19:22-23)

In the Qudsi Hadith, Allah (SWT) says: “O Moses, you cannot see Me ; no living person can see Me without dying. Nothing dry will see Me without crumbling, nothing damp will see Me without disintegrating. But the people of Paradise will see Me. These are the ones whose eyes do not die and whose bodies do not wither.” Hadith 157

“Nay! Surely, they [the evil-doers] will be veiled from seeing their Lord that Day.” (Surah Al-Mutaffiffin 19:22-23)

Thus, we cannot see our Lord before that day cause we can’t bear to see Him before that. We cannot see Sun properly, One of the Allah’s creation by our own eyes so how can we see the creator who created the Sun.

View the Original article

In this part we will discuss how Allah looks like.

- How Allah looks like?

The answer to this question is simple, I don’t know. No one ever seen Allah, Prophet Moses (A.S.) has heard His voice only but none other creation have ever seen Allah. Although Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W.) has put some light on this topic when one of the Sahaba (friends of Prophet) asked Him about Allah’s appearance.

The Prophet saw it the night of the Prophet’s ascension as Imam Muslim narrated from Abu Dhar that he asked the Messenger of Allah “Did you see thy Lord? He (the Prophet) said: He is a light; How could I see Him?” In another narration the Prophet said: “I saw the light only”. (Imam Muslim)

“Allah is the Light of the Heavens and the Earth. The example of His light is like a niche within which is a lamp, the lamp is within glass, the glass as if it were a pearly [white] star lit from [the oil of] a blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would almost glow even if untouched by fire. Light upon light. Allah guides to His light whom He wills. And Allah presents examples for the people, and Allah is Knowing of all things.” (Surah Al-Noor 24:35)

So, Muslims have no doubt about it that our Lord, Allah is the Light but it is not the same light we usually have in our home or the light of Sun. It can be different light which we don’t know. There are many things which are hidden, mysterious to us and many things which our Brian doesn’t accept but remember where human thinking stops, God’s revelation start from their. One must not query over such issues.

We are the creations many things are hidden from us for our own good. So God can be in any form. Allah don’t have ears like we have, Allah don’t have eyes, nose, neck, body or any other part like we do. Allah created Humans in that way like insect doesn’t have eyes, nose, neck other body parts like we do, same way birds also. So it differs from creation to creations like same way we can’t say that God has same things as we do. Allah is Perfect we are not perfect. We have many weakness and problems like we need sleep, we need food, we need rest etc but Allah doesn’t need such things again I’ll say it is all creation’s attributes not of Creators. He is above all that and He is Perfect. He neither sleeps not eat food.

Allâh! Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists. Neither slumber, nor sleep overtake Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission? He knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter . And they will never compass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His Kursî extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most High, the Most Great. [This Verse 2:255 is called Ayat-ul-Kursî.]

So thus we can conclude;

More to come….. Wait for Part 4.

View the Original article

To find love for Allah the almighty, there are many different ways. People are always in search for different things so that they can develop love for Allah. Allah is present everywhere. Sometimes, it is very easy to find love for Him. Sometimes, people find it the most difficult thing ever in their lives. People are living in the world where they find it difficult to find live for Allah. The only thing needed in the development of love for the Almighty Allah is the will power. People belonging to different religions and different sectors are doing the efforts at their best to develop love for the Lord. People are putting their efforts according to their own beliefs and thoughts and their brought ups as well.

Sufism is also a way to find love for Allah. It is a very vast terminology that can be explained to the people. Some people have a strong belief in Sufism. Now let us see what does mean by it. It has been derived from a Greek word. It has been called as mysticism by some people and has been given other names as well especially in Arabic language.

A lot of people are very well known for finding the love for Allah by the help of this Sufism. It is a great feeling of being in direct connection with Allah and it does not require to be belonging to specific religion or tribe as it was considered earlier. In the earliest times of the human beings, it was considered that people are bound to think according to the teachings of their father and forefathers. Now, finding the love for Allah is the favorite task of the people. Young generation is especially interested in finding this because it gives satisfaction of mind and soul to the people.

There are also other methods of finding love for Allah. People can find different things for different purposes. Taking the example of one religion Islam, its followers believe in Quran and they try to do exactly what has been mentioned in it. Muslims believe in the fact that everything has been in the holy book and this is the best way of developing love for Allah. One thing is obvious by the way. That is the teachings of the Islam can show the real right path and love for the Lord. It is also a proven fact that Allah loves His creatures and He wants that His creatures love Him. Doing this is very simple and only a little effort is needed in this.

To love the creatures of the Lord, can be really helpful in developing love for Allah. Allah lives in the hearts of all the people. We only need to recognize it. It is the only thing that has been bestowed upon all the human beings. We need to recognize it just. Then the things will be very easy afterwards. People will find themselves in the safest hands.s

Related posts:

1. Allah, The Creator of Everything – Part 2 - Where is Allah? As told by Hadiths, There are...
2. Let Us Praise ALLAH “The Appreciative One” Most people believe that Muslims should not celebrate the Thanksgiving,...
3. Allah,The Creator of Everything – Part 1 You must want to know about Allah. Who is Allah?...
4. My Mystic Life! It starts at 2:30 am. Your alarm beeps and you’re...
5. Christianity and Islam, are they really that different? You have to admit, whenever you read such title “Christianity...

View the Original article

- Where is Allah?

As told by Hadiths, There are seven skies then Heavens then Allah’s Kursi then some kind of water and then Arsh and above it is Allah. Allah is so far away yet he sees everything and know everything, hear/listens everything. He is the Almighty Allah. As man has made cameras and satellites and can watch over the whole world at the same time so how many technologies may be Allah have who given us a small portion of Brain and intelligence He has. He is the creator and we are creation. When we creation can build such things just imagine what Allah can build. All praise to Almighty Allah.

“The Kursi (Allah’s footstool) compared to the Throne (Arsh) is nothing but like a ring of Iron thrown in a vast field.”

It is reported that Ibn Mas’ud (May Allah be pleased with him) said:

“The distance between first and second Heaven is that of 500 years, and between each of the seven Heavens is also 500 years, and the distance between seventh Heaven to the Kursi (Allah’s Footstool) is also 500 years, and the distance between the Kursi and the water is again 500 years. The Throne (Arsh) is above the water and Allah the Almighty is above the Throne. And nothing is hidden to Allah of your deeds.”

- What ‘Allah’ wants from us?

Just to do good deeds and win fight against Satan which is being fought by our Ancestors and every Mankind since the day Adam’s spirit putted into his body. We Human have a war with Satan and his Army.

“And (remember) when your Lord said to the angels, “I am going to create a human (Adam) from dried (sounding) clay of altered mud. So, when I have fashioned him completely and breathed into him the soul which I created for him, then fall (you) down prostrating yourselves unto him”.” (15:28-29)

Allah ordered all the Angels and Jinns(Fire Spirits or you can say Ghost, I don’t know what would be the right word for Jinns) to prostrate down unto Adam but Iblis (Satan who is a Jinn but made leader of Angels cause he use to praise Almighty Allah a lot but due to envy to Adam he declared Satan and thrown down to the Earth out of the Heavens) denied and so thrown out.

The Angels were created from light, Iblis was created from smokeless fire, and Adam was created from that which has been described to you. When matters are crucial, every vessel leaks that which it contains and is betrayed by its true nature. Iblis used to do what the angels did and resembled them in their devotion and worship, so he was included when they were addressed, but he disobeyed and went against what he was told to do. So Allah points out here that he was one of the Jinn, i.e., he was created from fire.

“I am better than he. You created me from fire, and You created him from clay.“(38:76)

Al-Hasan Al-Basri said,

“Iblis was not one of the Angels, not even for a second. He was the origin of the Jinn just as Adam, upon him be peace, was the origin of mankind.”

This was narrated by Ibn Jarir with a Sahih chain.

So since that day Satan is our enemy. He vow Allah that he will keep distracting and keep deceiving the Adam and the children of Adam (who are we) till the Judgement day. And then Allah replied that (this is not a correct phrase but I am just telling the main idea of it) Go on! You will live till the Judgment day but those who believe in me will never believe you and will never go astray and whenever they do wrong deeds and repent I’ll forgive them every time. Now just imagine how Merciful and Kind our Lord is.

(To be continued….. Wait for Part 3.)

View the Original article

You must want to know about Allah. Who is Allah? Where is Allah? Why Allah created us for? How He looks like? Why can’t we see Him? etc. Many questions come about Allah in our mind not only Muslims but other religion people sometimes ask us these questions too. So I am here to write on Allah and I’ll answer these questions by Quranic verses and Hadiths.

The word ‘Allah’ consists of two Arabic words, ‘Al’ means ‘The’ and ‘Lah’ means ‘God’ so the word ‘Allah’ means The God. Allah is one of his name but there are other 98 names too and we can call Him by any name. For example, Ar-Rehman (The Compassionate), Ar-Rahim (The Merciful), As-Salam (The source of Peace), Al-Khaliq (The Creator) and many more……

Allah is the only word who is genderless and singular, As a example take ‘God’. God has gender and plurals, Goddess, God-Father, Gods etc. Our Lord, Our Creator, Allah is genderless and He has no father, mother, sister, brother, son etc but He do make friends who are called Walli-Allah (Friend of Allah) one who serve their life for Allah and then titled with Walli-Allah. So this is the reason why mostly of the Muslim use the word ‘Allah’ rather than ‘God’ cause it is more appropriate for Allah.

- Who is Allah?

Allah is the creator of this Universe. He created all sources of energies of the Universe. There is also a misconception of Non-Muslims that Islamic Allah is different God than the God of Christians or Jews. This is totally false. Muslims, Christians and Jews worship the same God. There is only one God no other than Him. We Muslim worship the Adam’s God, Noah’s God, Abraham’s God, Moses’s God and Jesus’s God (some Christians believe that Jesus is God so am not going to discuss it here it is different topic). Christians, Muslims, Jews we all believe in “Abrahamic Faith”. The word God in Hebrew language is ‘Elah’ which is more like Arabic ‘Allah’ and Jesus spoken the same language Hebrew. So if you translate bible into its original language Hebrew you’ll find the word ‘Elah’ instead of God. So thus Jesus also preached the same God that Muslims preached and so of Jews.

“Who is the Lord and Sustainer of the Heavens and the Earth?” Say: “It is Allah.” Say: “Do ye then take (for worship) protectors other than Him such as have no power either for good or for harm to themselves?” Say: “Are the blind equal with those who see? Or the depths of darkness equal with Light?” Or do they assign to Allah partners who have created (anything) as He has created so that the creation seemed to them similar? Say: “Allah is the Creator of all things: He is the One the Supreme and Irresistible.” (Surah Raad 13:16)

“Truly am I a Warner: no god is there but the One Allah Supreme and Irresistible.The Lord of the Heavens and the Earth and all in between Exalted in Might Able to enforce His Will, forgiving again and again.” (Surah Saad 35:65-66)

“Do they not look at the sky above them, how We have built it and adorned it, and there are no rifts in it.” (50:6)

“The sun must not catch up the moon, nor does the night outstrip the day. Each one is traveling in an orbit with its own motion.” (36:40)

This has been mentioned by the Allah 1443 years ago. He truly is the God how knows better. This is what science discovered recently not so far than 500-600 years ago and Quran told it 1443 years ago.

Next topic will be; Where is Allah? Why Allah created us for/ What He wants?

(To be continued……… Wait for Part 2.)

View the Original article

Most people believe that Muslims should not celebrate the Thanksgiving, as it is a Christian festival. However, being an American Muslim, I took my manifestation a little deeper this year on the occasion of Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is near, and it is a time to gather the families have mashed potatoes, eat turkey, stuffing, yams and gravy. At the same time, it is the day to be thankful to our creator for the things we have. God is far away from our encompassing description. I would not be able to fix God in a boundary and comment that this is God; however, our beloved creator in the doctrine has described Himself for an ease of humans, so we can figure out what actually God is all about.

For Muslims, Allah has ninety nine names or traits to comprehend him, such as the Creator, the Most Gracious, the Sustainer, the Shaper, the Loving, the Maker and many more. A Muslim can find these names in the Qur’an and in prophetic literature also.“This is the God, other than which there is no deity: Knower of the invisible and the evident, the Benevolent, the Merciful. This is the God, other than which there is no deity: the Sovereign, the Holy, Peace, the Giver of Safety, the Protector, the Almighty, the Omnipotent, the Overwhelming; glory to God, beyond any association they attribute. This is the God, the Originator, the Creator, the Shaper, to Whom refer the most beautiful names, celebrated by everything in the heavens and the earth, being the Almighty, the Perfectly Wise” (Quran 59:22-24)

Almighty Allah’s ninety nine names are not only for hanging on the walls or for wearing around the neck, even we should be concentrating more on what they mean to us. We should know our creator, one of whose attributes are love and mercy. Once we know him and understand what he is, we would be able to build a strong; loving relationship with is him, which is a key to success in this world and the next. So for Thanksgiving, we should be concentrating more on what God has given to us and how kind, merciful, giver, gracious and known he is.

One can easily find Allah’s infinite love in his mercy. He appreciates each and every move we made towards him. Although, we continuously do sins, but our gracious Allah always cover us with his blessings. It is also been addressed in Qur’an that:
Why would God punish you if you are grateful and faithful, since God is most appreciative, most cognizant? (Quran 4:147)

So to thank Allah for all his greatness, and to show gratitude for his being so merciful, loving and appreciative, we should intensify our efforts to serve and please the Almighty Allah. We should always try to avoid sinning against Him and do our best to stay on His path of obedience.

View the Original article