Among the most beautiful words of Alija Izetbegović1:
In literature, the standing of a hero (central character) is not determined by his social significance, but by the magnitude of the moral cause he represents. Thus, a king in a novel or play may be an insignificant character, while the servant is the hero.
Why does life not work this way?
The reason is that literature introduces us to the hero’s soul (inner self), whereas in life, we get to know people from the outside. Someone may live or work beside us for years, and we may believe that we know them. In reality, however, what we know about them may have no moral significance: their name, profession, social standing, and financial status. Yet what truly matters, the inner reality of this person that a writer reveals to us, usually remains unknown!
From the book Escape to Freedom.
Get this show on the road.
During a trip to Istanbul to deliver a lecture on atheism, belief in the Creator, and the priorities of a believer, I sat beside a woman on the airplane. She had Italian-looking features and wore Western-style clothing, with a Western hairstyle and accessories.
During the flight, the woman introduced herself, and I was very surprised to learn that she was Arab and owned a beauty salon. Her trip to Istanbul was to purchase supplies for her salon.
The woman asked me about the purpose of my visit to Istanbul. As soon as I explained that I was going to deliver a lecture on the priorities of a human being, and how we can make our loyalty to the Creator of the universe our foremost commitment, she burst into tears.
I was deeply astonished. Through her tears, she said, “I want you to know that I believe in the Creator and love Him very much. I want to make Him a priority in my life.”
She opened her handbag and showed me her prayer clothes, saying, “Look! I maintain my prayers and my relationship with my Creator, and I want to continue fulfilling His commandments.” Please pray for me, asking the Creator to help me do so. I want the whole world to hear the words ‘There is no deity worthy of worship except the Creator’ through me.”
Right then, I thought of the man whose actions completely contradicted his self-proclaimed devotion to the Creator’s path. He had urged me to stop asking dignitaries, “Who is Allah?”, a phrase I relied on to introduce Islam to non-Muslims. He went so far as to send an emissary to tell me that a simple smile was enough to introduce people to the Creator.
I said to myself at that moment: Perhaps this was one of the tests of sincerity in which this person and his messenger had failed, and perhaps I, along with the heroine of our story, would pass it, God willing.
Those who have cultivated patience, good manners, and steadfastness are the strongest, because they have refused to compromise their principles.
Something I read and found thought-provoking is that a person’s clear intentions and straightforward behavior can sometimes be unsettling to others, especially those accustomed to concealing their true intentions.
Such people may view someone who is transparent with suspicion simply because they are transparent, insisting that they must be hiding something else. Strength lies not only in the ability to endure, but also in the ability to express oneself without fear and in having the courage to speak the truth without hidden interests or deception.
Dostoevsky is quoted as saying: “One word of truth shall outweigh the whole world.”
Tests of Sincerity:
Days and aspirations unfold throughout a person’s life, and with them come tests of sincerity.
Regardless of how people differ in their ambitions, compete through their achievements and possessions, become arrogant, or grow heedless, the ultimate purpose of it all is summed up in these words:
“So that Allah (the Creator) may make evident those who believe and take martyrs from among you—and Allah (the Creator) does not like the wrongdoers.” (Qur’an 3:140)
Everything a human being encounters in the form of trials, as well as every blessing and gift they receive, is a test of the heart, through which the Creator distinguishes the wrongdoers. Indeed, wrongdoing is a grave matter!
- Is your allegiance to your job and your superior, or to the Creator?
- Is your allegiance to the word of truth, or to falsehood?
- Is your allegiance to personal interest, or to the Creator of the universe?
- Do you uphold justice, even when it is against yourself?
Since we are all traveling toward the Creator, let us be careful not to diminish the honor of faith within our souls as we journey through this world.
Let us beware of allowing trivial matters and low ambitions to make us forget life’s true purpose. And let us beware of injustice, even in a single word!
Human Dignity:
At Al-Azhar University, we studied that the greatest value through which a person realizes their humanity and dignity is their pursuit of the truth, their realization of it, their steadfastness upon it, and their adherence to its path.
Human beings are perpetually restless, seeking, through the intellect bestowed upon them by the Creator, to delve into the depths of existence, discover the secrets of the universe, and look beyond this material world in search of the causes that explain their existence.
Through all this, human beings seek to reach the ultimate Cause of all causes and the Truth of all truths: the Creator. They seek to connect themselves to the Creator by knowing Him and fulfilling their duty to worship Him through allegiance, obedience, and gratitude.
The Purpose of Creation:
The Kurdish scholar Said Nursi says:
“The highest purpose of creation and the greatest result of human nature is faith in God (the Creator).
“The highest rank of humanity and the finest station of humankind is the knowledge of God (the Creator) attained through that faith.
“The most radiant happiness of humankind and the jinn, and the sweetest blessing, is the love of God (the Creator) that springs from that knowledge.
“The purest joy of the human soul and its most untainted delight is the spiritual pleasure that flows from that love.”
When we come to know the Creator with such profound understanding and truly recognize Him, we will discover the right way to plan our lives and strive to follow that path with steadfastness.
A Difficult Mission:
A believer spends their entire life resisting temptations and trials in their various forms and striving to discipline the self.
Sometimes they overcome it, and sometimes it overcomes them. Their greatest hope is to meet the Creator victorious, not defeated.
Victory and salvation lie in overcoming oneself.
The Creator says in Surah Al-Ankabut, 29:69:
“As for those who strive in Our cause, We will surely guide them to Our ways. And Allah (the Creator) is certainly with those who do good.”
“A person’s true worth is measured by what they remain committed to, not by what they abandon.”
“True freedom is liberation from every obstacle that prevents a person from obeying the Lord of all worlds. A person’s liberation lies in freeing themselves from Satan, their own desires, and traditions that contradict the Creator’s commandments. Freedom means liberating oneself from everything other than the Creator.”
A Noble Message:
The Creator says:
“And who is better in speech than one who calls to Allah (the Creator), does righteous deeds, and says, ‘Indeed, I am one of the Muslims’?” (Qur’an 41:33)
Al-Hasan al-Basri 2said of those who call people to know the Creator, based on this verse:
“This is a close ally of the Creator; this is one beloved to the Creator; this is among the finest of His creation. He called people to the Creator, and the Creator answered his call. And the Creator is the One Who grants success and guides to the straight path.”
For example, workplace leadership can be one form of trial and testing. It has been said that an unsuccessful manager is:
- A manager who marginalizes employees for personal reasons despite their competence and allegiance to the Creator, while rewarding corrupt employees simply because they are loyal to him.
- A manager who monitors employees over trivial matters, holds them accountable and punishes those who criticize him, and refuses to communicate with people with whom he has a personal disagreement simply because they differ from him.
- A manager who considers himself the smartest person in the world and believes that the fate of his employees rests in his hands. He treats them according to his psychological state or mood, as usual surrounding himself with hypocrites who seek to please him by telling him what he wants to hear.
This is because his allegiance is to himself, his position, and an agenda he seeks to implement, not to the Creator of the universe. Had his allegiance been to the Creator, he would not have committed injustice, sought revenge for personal grievances, or marginalized outstanding employees. In this case, he would have failed the test of choosing rightly, having regarded his position as an honor rather than a responsibility and acted on this mistaken assumption.
Departure to a New World:
Sometimes I wonder how we journey through this world carrying burdens invisible to the eye, yet still find a way to smile, love, and hope.
I tell myself: Whenever someone lets you down, they have taught you a lesson in the oneness of the Creator: no one fulfills promises as the Creator does. Learn, then, to free your hands and heart from attachment to people.
In Islam, ethics are not merely passing pieces of advice. They are deeply rooted values embodied in the rulings and limits prescribed by the Creator, which the prophets defended in their struggle against oppressors.
The Creator of the universe says:
“These are the limits set by Allah, so do not transgress them.” (Qur’an 2:229)
As the saying goes, truth is not recognized by the people who proclaim it; rather, people are recognized by the truth. If the truth comes to you from an opponent or someone with whom you disagree, you must accept it just as you would if it came from you or those who share your views.
I finally made the decision to leave the part of the world in which I lived and move to a place on the other side of the world, a place where I could free myself from the constraints of being subject to the moods and convictions of people whose allegiance lies with something other than the Creator.
On the other side of the world, I found myself. I found welcoming places where I could say, “Who is Allah?” and introduce people to the Creator of the universe.
Dr. Abdul Wahab Elmessiri says:
“The Creator is the fundamental cornerstone of everything: the foundation of communication between people and the guarantee that truth remains truth. When the Creator, the cornerstone, is forgotten, everything comes to an end.”
The Creator says:
“Say, ‘O Allah, Creator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the seen, You will judge between Your servants regarding that over which they used to differ.’” (Qur’an 39:46)
Loyalty to Truth and Rejection of Falsehood:
The true religion consists of the following:
- Giving the Creator His due by worshipping Him alone and bearing witness that He is the One, the Unique, without partner in His dominion or offspring. It also means affirming that the Creator is far above having a child and is exalted above becoming incarnate in the form of a human being, an animal, or an idol.
- Giving human beings their right to communicate directly with their Creator, without a priest, saint, or any intermediary. When in need or facing hardship, they should turn directly to the Creator, rather than asking any prophet including the Prophet Muhammad or any member of his family for help.
- Giving the messengers of the Creator their due by believing in, respecting, and following all of them, from Adam to Muhammad, including Christ and Moses, peace be upon them, while following the message of the last of these prophets, Muhammad.
- Establishing equality among human beings and freeing humanity from abhorrent racial prejudice. There is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab, or a non-Arab over an Arab, except through righteousness.
- Ensuring freedom and allowing people to choose their religion and practice its rituals.
- “There is no compulsion in religion. There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong. So whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing. (Qur’an 2:256)
- Ending persecution and injustice against humanity and standing up for the oppressed.
The foundation of all rights is the right of the Creator: to know Him, to introduce others to Him, to worship Him alone, and to pledge allegiance to Him and uphold His rights, while disavowing all that is worshipped or followed besides Him.
Notes:
The word Allah was mentioned in the earlier version of the Old Testament 89 times. (Refer to Genesis 2:4, Book of Daniel 6:20 Hebrew and Arabic Bible).The word ‘Allah’ appears in the original Sanskrit text. (Reg Veda – Book 2 hymn 1, Verse 11).The Christians, Jews, and Muslims in the Middle East use the word “Allah” to refer to God, which refers to The Only True God. ↩︎
The reference of God to Himself as WE or US in many verses of the Qur’an denotes Grandeur and Power in Arabic. In the English language this is known as the royal WE, where a plural pronoun is used to refer to a single person holding a high office, such as a monarch. For the avoidance of doubt, the Qur’an has consistently reminded us of the SINGULAR pronoun in reference to God, when called upon by His servants. ↩︎
The Qur’an is the last sacred book sent by God, but not the only book, as Muslims believe in all the earlier revelations of God (the scriptures of Abraham, the book of David, the Torah, the Gospel ,etc.). Muslims believe that the original message in all the sacred books is Pure Monotheism (unifying God in worship). Unlike the Divine scriptures that preceded, the Qur’an has not been kept in the hands of any particular group or clergymen of all Muslims which would lead to the misinterpretation or alteration of it. On the contrary, the Qur’an has always been within the reach of Muslims who recite it in their daily prayers, and they refer to it for all their concerns. Muslims read and recite the same Qur’anic text that was read and recited during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad and his companions. Not a single letter has been added or removed from the Qur’an. The language of the Qur’an, the prophecies which came true, the accuracy in historical accounts, the mathematical inimitability and scientific accuracy, all prove that the Qur’an could not have been produced by a man who lived in Arabia in the 7th century and who could not read or write. God the Almighty challenged the Arabs and the non-Arabs to bring forth a book similar to the one He revealed, even though the Arabs at that time were masters of eloquence and rhetoric, they were unable to meet the challenge, and they realized that the Qur’an could not be from any other than God, the Lord of the universe.
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