Today I
want to share something that is in my heart. What I have to say is
nothing new, but I'll try my best to give my rendering. I remember
reading social philosophers like Decarte and Fromme and novelists
like Dostoyevsky. The question I wanted answered had to do with
personal freedom and destiny. I was suffering from a bad case of
secular humanism. Ironically, I wanted
to need, even though it propelled me further into worry and fear. The
needing closed my eyes and my heart. I've set aside these arguments
for something better, something beautiful.
I was
writing and erasing, writing and erasing trying to separate two ideas
when a thought came to me - true freedom can only be found in
submission. There is a beautiful peacefulness in freely chosen
obedience to people, ideas and commitments greater than oneself. In
submission you can find your purpose in life freeing yourself from
the root of all angst. Submission washes away pride, envy, gluttony,
lust, anger, greed and sloth and replaces it with faith,
hope, charity, fortitude, justice, temperance and prudence. In
submission you can experience truth and love and peaceful happiness.
Having said this, submission requires a change in inner perception.
It's absolutely possible to change your “self-think”. Here is how
I got my mind around it.
How
many times have you wondered how something happened? Maybe it was the
story about the soul survivor of a shipwreck, or the video of a man
who missed being hit by 4 cars in a row as he ran through a busy
intersection. Or even the 1000 ways to die. Things that we just
cannot explain through logic are presented to us every day if we care
to take notice.
When
the Angel Jibril first meets our Prophet he commands him saying
“Iqra!”. Prophet Mohammed responds by saying he doesn't know how
to read. Again the angel squeezes him and says “Iqra!”. Perhaps
what the angel was asking was for Prophet Mohammed to submit his
logical mind.
A
key to willing submission is to realize that our intellect is
deficient. Our logic puts limits on our understanding. Do what you
don't know how to do. You don't even know you know what you know.
Your life has already been lived. In fact, the future has already
happened. Everything has been written in The
Preserved Tablet.
Nothing
occurs, either in the Earth or in yourselves, without its being in a
Book before We make it happen. That is something easy for Allah. That
is so that you will not be grieved about the things that pass you by
or exult about the things that come to you. Allah does not love any
vain or boastful man. (Surat al-Hadid: 22-23)
And
here is the beautiful realization that sets you free - someone who
believes in destiny never grieves over what befalls him or falls prey
to despair. On the contrary, he is always resigned, submitted and at
peace. Submission means there is utmost trust.
"And
there is the type of man who gives his life to earn the pleasure of
Allah. And Allah is full of kindness to (His) devotees. O ye who
believe! Enter into Islam whole-heartedly; and follow not the
footsteps of the evil one; for he is to you an avowed enemy."
(Al Baqarah 207 - 208)Sumission and realizing destiny does not mean that we should stop doing things. Allah gives people the impression that they have an opportunity of altering events and of acting in the light of their own decisions and preferences. The person who has bowed his head knows, despite the feeling he is acting of his own free will, that he actually does all these things through Allah's will.
Blessed is He in whose hand is dominion, and He is over all things competent - [He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed - and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving. (Qur'an 67:1-2)
There
is a conception that submission inevitably fosters fear. That is
absolutely true. It does foster a fear but not the ugly “fear”
secular humanists think of. The fear in submission is beautiful
because it is contained in the meaning of awe. Think about the
bravery instilled in the slave that has given over his will. He is
not afraid to learn a new skill, start a new business, travel to give
humanitarian aide, change his society and the people around him by
speaking justice because he stands in awe of his Creator, and because
he knows his book has already been written. If he is doing these
things its because he is meant to do them – where is the “fear”
in that?
These
ideas are submitted to you in His submission.
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