1:7 the path of those whom You blessed; not of those who have deserved wrath, nor of the strayers.
What does it mean to believe in God?
Believing God is knowing God’s qualities, not just God’s existence
Satan believes in God’s existence, but does not understand God’s qualities
The Majority of Believers Destined for Hell
12:106 The majority of those who believe in GOD do not do so without committing idol worship.
Believing in God means that our devotion needs to be only to God
11:23 As for those who believe and lead a righteous life, and devote themselves to their Lord, they are the dwellers of Paradise; they abide therein forever.
What does it mean to lead a righteous life?
Leading a righteous life is commensurate to the amount of information someone has
If someone has read the Quran from cover to cover they will have more responsibility than someone who has not. For example, if someone read the Quran they are required to say God willing, while someone who hasn’t read the Quran may not be responsible to do this
Three Categories of People (1) The Righteous
2:3 who believe in the unseen, observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), and from our provisions to them, they give to charity.
2:4 And they believe in what was revealed to you, and in what was revealed before you, and with regard to the Hereafter, they are absolutely certain.
2:5 These are guided by their Lord; these are the winners.
Righteous are those who are conscious of God
Righteous are those who do good actions to please God
Righteous life in life requires action vs. righteousness in belief
Cannot do action without belief
Righteousness Defined
2:177 Righteousness is not turning your faces towards the east or the west. Righteous are those who believe in GOD, the Last Day, the angels, the scripture, and the prophets; and they give the money, cheerfully, to the relatives, the orphans, the needy, the traveling alien, the beggars, and to free the slaves; and they observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat); and they keep their word whenever they make a promise; and they steadfastly persevere in the face of persecution, hardship, and war. These are the truthful; these are the righteous.
2:2, 2:62 and 2:177 use three different Arabic words for righteousness…
Can’t achieve righteousness through wishful thinking: 2:111, 7:46, 15:3, 57:14
What does it mean to believe in Hereafter?
If someone doesn’t believe in the Hereafter then they don’t believe that the Quran is complete and fully detailed
Important Criterion
6:113 This is to let the minds of those who do not believe in the Hereafter listen to such fabrications, and accept them, and thus expose their real convictions.
Quran: Fully Detailed
6:114 Shall I seek other than GOD as a source of law, when He has revealed to you this book fully detailed? Those who received the scripture recognize that it has been revealed from your Lord, truthfully. You shall not harbor any doubt.
6:115 The word of your Lord is complete, in truth and justice. Nothing shall abrogate His words. He is the Hearer, the Omniscient.
6:116 If you obey the majority of people on earth, they will divert you from the path of GOD. They follow only conjecture; they only guess.
6:117 Your Lord is fully aware of those who stray off His path, and He is fully aware of those who are guided.
If someone doesn’t believe in the Hereafter then they don’t understand the Quran – they are not sincere
Disbelievers Cannot Understand Quran
17:45 When you read the Quran, we place between you and those who do not believe in the Hereafter an invisible barrier.
Quran: The ONLY Source
17:46 We place shields around their minds, to prevent them from understanding it, and deafness in their ears. And when you preach your Lord, using the Quran alone,* they run away in aversion.
If someone doesn’t believe in the Hereafter then they are not satisfied with God Alone and need to mention other names next to God.
The Greatest Criterion
39:45 When GOD ALONE is mentioned, the hearts of those who do not believe in the Hereafter shrink with aversion. But when others are mentioned beside Him, they become satisfied.
We need to be certain about the Hereafter
2:4 And they believe in what was revealed to you, and in what was revealed before you, and with regard to the Hereafter, they are absolutely certain.
One’s actions need to align with one’s belief
Need to correspond with our innermost beliefs that only God is aware of it
40:56 Surely, those who argue against GOD’s revelations without proof are exposing the arrogance that is hidden inside their chests, and they are not even aware of it. Therefore, seek refuge in GOD; He is the Hearer, the Seer.
Weak believer vs. Disbeliever and Hypocrite
The weak believer knows what is right and wrong and works to uphold it while the disbeliever or hypocrite is oblivious to their sins or convinced that their sins are righteous.
7:155 Moses then selected seventy men from among his people, to come to our appointed audience. When the quake shook them, he said, “My Lord, You could have annihilated them in the past, together with me, if You so willed. Would You annihilate us for the deeds of those among us who are foolish? This must be the test that You have instituted for us. With it, You condemn whomever You will, and guide whomever You will. You are our Lord and Master, so forgive us, shower us with Your mercy; You are the best Forgiver.
Requirements For Attaining God’s Mercy The Importance of Zakat
7:156 “And decree for us righteousness in this world, and in the Hereafter. We have repented to You.” He said, “My retribution befalls whomever I will. But My mercy encompasses all things. However, I will specify it for those who (1) lead a righteous life, (2) give the obligatory charity (Zakat),* (3) believe in our revelations, and
7:157 “(4) follow the messenger, the gentile prophet (Muhammad), whom they find written in their Torah and Gospel.* He exhorts them to be righteous, enjoins them from evil, allows for them all good food, and prohibits that which is bad, and unloads the burdens and the shackles imposed upon them. Those who believe in him, respect him, support him, and follow the light that came with him are the successful ones.”
At some point someone will need to elevate from a weak believer to a strong believer, but God knows how much leeway individuals have to improve themselves
If we don’t try to grow in faith and righteousness do we really believe?
36:65 On that day we will seal their mouths; their hands and feet will bear witness to everything they had done.
36:66 If we will, we can veil their eyes and, consequently, when they seek the path, they will not see.
36:67 If we will, we can freeze them in place; thus, they can neither move forward, nor go back.
36:68 Whomever we permit to live for a long time, we revert him to weakness. Do they not understand?
We can always do better. If we think we can’t then we will be stagnant.
82:5 Every soul will find out what caused it to advance, and what caused it to regress.
There is no limit to righteousness
74:56 They cannot take heed against GOD’s will. He is the source of righteousness; He is the source of forgiveness.
2:197 Hajj shall be observed in the specified months. Whoever sets out to observe Hajj shall refrain from sexual intercourse, misconduct, and arguments throughout Hajj. Whatever good you do, GOD is fully aware thereof. As you prepare your provisions for the journey, the best provision is righteousness. You shall observe Me, O you who possess intelligence.
How do we know we are on the right path? How do we know we are improving? What is our gauge?
• How often do we remember God?
• What have we done in the cause of God?
• How reverent are we during our Contact Prayers
• Assume you are a hypocrite and prove yourself wrong
Happiness is a gauge of the degree of growth of our souls
Introduction – Perfect Happiness: Now and Forever
“One of the most elusive objectives of every human being is “Happiness.” The Quran reveals the secret of attaining perfect happiness in this life and forever. We learn from the Quran that happiness is an exclusive quality of the soul. Thus, a body that attains all the material successes it longs for – money, power, fame, etc. – often belongs to an unhappy person. Happiness depends totally on the degree of growth and development attained by the soul, the real person. The Quran provides a detailed map towards perfect happiness for both body and soul, both in this world and in the eternal Hereafter (Appendix 15).
In the numerous verses throughout this proven Testament, God personally guarantees the believers’ happiness, now and forever:
Happiness: Now and Forever
10:62 Absolutely, GOD’s allies have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve.
10:63 They are those who believe and lead a righteous life.
10:64 For them, joy and happiness in this world, as well as in the Hereafter. This is GOD’s unchangeable law. Such is the greatest triumph.”
So the happier we are the better indicator that we are on the right path
Why are so many people who have so much wealth unhappy?
Life does not meet their expectations.
They thought that the wealth and material possessions would bring them happiness and when it didn’t they were left very disappointed and lost
They lack contentment
They worry
Their fear of loss is greater than their fear of achievement
The average person is more fearful of losing something than gaining something. For instance people value losing $10 more than the thought of gaining $10. When someone has a lot of material possessions and vanities the fear of loss is a lot greater. If people don’t realize that God is the source of all our provisions they think that they may lose their provisions at any time. This causes chronic stress.