Two essays from the February 2026 issue. The first presents the Quran as God's final scripture for all humanity, confirming previous scriptures and teaching duties to God and society, care for orphans and the poor, and repentance. The second describes God as the best planner, drawing on the parable of the two gardens and the stories of Joseph and Moses to urge trust in His will.
There exists a common misconception with followers of other faiths that the Quran is merely a book of rituals for Muslims. The Quran is the last and final Testament of God. Other scriptures include the Torah, the Psalms and the Gospel. The Quran is for all humanity as long as it exists and not for a particular period, place or people. It will never be out of date and augments all other scriptures. [ 5:48] Then we revealed to you this scripture, truthfully, confirming previous scriptures, and superseding them….
The fundamental principle of Submission is a belief in the singularity of God. In the very beginning of the Quran, God describes Himself as
Rabbil Alamin (Lord of the Universe). The Quran does not refer to God as the God of only a particular prophet or people. The Quran points out that God not only creates and sustains all creatures but also gives moral guidance to humanity. [ 25:1] Most blessed is the One who revealed the Statute Book to His servant, so he can serve as a warner to the whole world.
[ 36:69 -70] What we taught him (the messenger) was not poetry, nor is he (a poet).
This is but a formidable proof, and a profound Quran. To preach to those who are alive, and to expose the disbelievers.[ 38:87] "This is a reminder for the world. [ 81:27 -28] This is a message to all the people. For those who wish to go straight.
Since God is the universal Creator who sends guidance to all humanity, Submitters are commanded by the Quran to affirm the divine message given to all the previous prophets. [ 40:78] We have sent messengers before you―some of them we mentioned to you, and some we did not mention to you. No messenger can produce any miracle without GOD's authorization. Once GOD's judgment is issued, the truth dominates, and the falsifiers are exposed and humiliated.
Just reading it will not suffice, no matter how beautiful it sounds. It must be translated into a language we understand well so we recognize the reason for its revelation and abide by the orders found in it. When we reflect on Quranic verses, we realise that it is a timeless guide for life, death and the all-important Hereafter. Reading it is a form of worship as it draws us closer to God. We fulfil our obligations and are duly rewarded by God.
On the Day of Judgment, every good deed, no matter how small, will be needed by us.
[ 17:70] We have honored the children of Adam, and provided them with rides on land and in the sea. We provided for them good provisions, and we gave them greater advantages than many of our creatures. So, we have obligations. One is what we owe to God and the other is what we owe to society. God has guided us as to how to discharge our duties and commitments. These started simultaneously with Adam and Eve. Adam was taught the names of all things which the humans would encounter on earth. The angels, of course, did not know all these names. Here it was proven that only God has supreme knowledge. The angels who did not have all this knowledge had a fear of God and were always ready to submit to His will.
We are all born with divine attributes and gradually develop kindness, forgiveness, intelligence, power, patience, creative faculty, etc. As we mature, there arrives lust, greed and evil motives and we drift away from the right path.
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Quran: The Ultimate Reference
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To guide us God sent us from time-to-time scriptures, prophets and messengers who preached the best values of faith and conduct.
The Quran enjoins us to uphold the continuity of Submission with previous revelations and prophets and not to make a distinction amongst them. [ 3:84] Say, "We believe in GOD, and in what was sent down to us, and in what was sent down to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, and the
Patriarchs, and in what was given to Moses, Jesus, and the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction among any of them. To Him alone we are submitters."
Submission's non-exclusive spirit is embodied in many Quranic verses, such as: [ 5:69] Surely, those who believe, those who are Jewish, the converts, and the Christians; any of them who (1) believe in GOD and (2) believe in the Last Day, and (3) lead a righteous life, have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve.
The Quran brings peace, harmony and tranquillity in the world. What it says about equality is: [ 49:13] O people, we created you from the same male and female, and rendered you distinct peoples and tribes, that you may recognize one another. The best among you in the sight of GOD is the most righteous. GOD is Omniscient, Cognizant.
This order is in general and not just to Submitters alone. Our life is a very treasured gift and mercy from God. Grossness of Murder [ 5:32] Because of this, we decreed for the Children of Israel that anyone who murders any person who had not committed murder or horrendous crimes, it shall be as if he murdered all the people. And anyone who spares a life it shall be as if he spared the lives of all the people.
Our messengers went to them with clear proofs and revelations, but most of them, after all this, are still transgressing. See how the Quran enjoins the sanctity of human life.
The Quran is the genuine defender of peace: [ 10:25] GOD invites to the abode of peace, and guides whomever He wills in a straight path. Look at our mode of salutation: [ 6:54] When those who believe in our revelations come to you, you shall say, "Salãmun 'Alaykum (Peace be upon you). Your Lord has decreed that mercy is His attribute…. This is from the same root word of Submission. God wants unity and harmony. In this worldly life, there is strife and discord but there is a future life which God always calls us to. There is no fear, unhappiness, or disappointment there.
In all societies and families there will be certain people who deserve some status due to their age, knowledge and skills. Others may deserve some considerations due to their peculiar set of circumstances. [ 2:83] We made a covenant with the Children of Israel: "You shall not worship except GOD. You shall honor your parents and regard the relatives, the orphans, and the poor. You shall treat the people amicably. You shall observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat)." But you turned away, except a few of you, and you became averse. [ 4:36] You shall worship GOD alone--do not associate anything with Him. You shall regard the parents, the relatives, the orphans, the poor, the related neighbor, the unrelated neighbor, the close associate, the traveling alien, and your servants. GOD does not like the arrogant showoffs.
In both these verses, orphans are placed just after parents and relatives. This displays how much importance is given to them. Their care is a believer's responsibility. Also, the poor and those in need are deserving of our full support with genuine help. Others mentioned are the neighbors who may or may not be related, the associates and the traveling alien ( musafir). They need not necessarily be Muslims. In our social life, we will need to deal with all of them. The Most Merciful has given us this third and final chance to do better.
There will always be haves and have-nots—the economically challenged in society. Some people cannot compete, some are physically challenged and unable to work, others mentally incapable to hold a job. Whatever may be the cause, we are commanded to do something about it. Believers are always motivated to allocate a portion of their earnings for the betterment of the poor. [ 51:19] A portion of their money was set aside for the beggar and the needy.
We cannot discriminate on the basis of caste, colour or creed. The only basis of differentiation is our taqwa – righteousness.
God gives good news in The Quran that He will forgive any sin provided one sincerely repents. He alone knows our innermost thoughts and every deed which we keep private. He knows whether we are true or not. [ 17:25] Your Lord is fully aware of your innermost thoughts. If you maintain righteousness, He is Forgiver of those who repent.
After we pass away, it is impossible for us to make up for the mistakes and sins we committed here in this world, unless God wills otherwise. We do not have a single moment to lose. With every passing moment we draw closer to death, and we don't know when death will confront us. We all will certainly pass away, and we will have to give an account of ourselves to God. Have we carefully considered His commandments? Have we earned the approval of God? If we repent and sincerely make an absolute commitment to do what is most pleasing to God, to follow the wisdom in Quran, then we can hope and pray for God's forgiveness.
Submission: The Only Religion [ 2:112] Indeed, those who submit themselves absolutely to GOD alone, while leading a righteous life, will receive their recompense from their Lord; they have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve.
Alim
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God: the Best Planner
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From the moment we wake each morning, everything around us is part of a divine plan. Have we ever paused to consider where each ingredient in our meals comes from? Every single item we consume originates from different parts of the Earth. The water we drink, the spices in our food, the grains, fruits, and vegetables each has a story that began long before they reached our plate. Someone in another country grows the product; it is harvested, sold, and finally reaches us.
Yet, we often only think about ourselves. Countless people have come and gone before us, and today, there are over 8 billion people on Earth, with more to come in the future. For each and every person, God prepares and arranges provisions daily. Such an enormous quantity of provisions are supplied. Imagine the logistics, how it's all arranged, where it comes from, and how it reaches each person. It is truly astonishing. No human mind could orchestrate such a constant, global system of provision. Only our Lord can.
Even more remarkably, God's planning extends to every aspect of our lives: the families we are born into, our spouses, our children, the relationships formed through our children's marriages, the homes we live in, the jobs we work, the companies we work for, and the communities we are placed in.
He even assigns angels to each of us watching over us and recording all our deeds ( 13:11). He is the ultimate planner of every detail in our lives. God has countless angels performing various tasks; highlighting the precision and depth of God's governance. It is truly beyond human comprehension how God manages everything so flawlessly through His angels.
The sky, the Earth, the sun, the moon, and the countless stars all are part of God's perfect design. Every element is created with purpose ( 10:5, 15:85). He decided what substance should form mountains, what should become trees, how the sky should appear, and how the Earth should be shaped.
Nature's cycles also reveal God's mastery. I once watched a documentary where a cow was chased and caught by a tiger. Later, a group of tigers gathered to feed on the cow. By nighttime, wolves and foxes came and consumed the remaining parts. The next morning, vultures fed on the carcass, followed by smaller birds like crows. The following day, swarms of flies gathered over the dead animal. Ants formed long lines and fed on it. Eventually, the cow decomposed, and bacteria broke down the remains completely, leaving only bones behind. Every part of the cow served a purpose, clearly showing how the cycle of life and death is managed with perfect precision.
Yet, despite witnessing all this around us, we often believe we are in control. We attribute our wealth and success to hard work, our children's education and achievements to our efforts and sacrifices, and our business growth to our strategies. When things go wrong, we blame ourselves or others. But in truth, everything happens by God's will. Sadly, we tend to forget this fundamental truth often at the moments when we need to remember it most.
The Quran teaches this lesson through various examples. One of them is the parable of the man with two gardens ( 18:32 –42). He became arrogant, trusting in his wealth instead of God. But his gardens were destroyed, and he was left with regret. This serves as a reminder that relying solely on ourselves, without acknowledging God's will, leads to failure and despair.
The prophet Joseph's story also teaches us a vital lesson. When he asked a fellow prisoner to mention him to the king, he temporarily relied on human help rather than trusting in God.
This momentary lapse did not suit a true believer. As a result, he remained in prison for a few more years ( 12:42). This shows the importance of trusting only in God, not in intermediaries. The Quran teaches that only God can relieve any hardship. When we rely on others instead of God, none of our plans will come to fruition.
Another lesson comes from the story of Moses. In 18:60, when he set out in search of knowledge, he confidently declared that he would not rest until he reached his destination. However, upon reaching it, he missed the sign and had to go back. When we think that we are doing something independently, that's when Satan interferes. This shows that even prophets can slip when they momentarily depend on themselves.
True success comes only when we place our trust in God. In any matter, when we entrust the responsibility to God and carry it out with patience and sincerity, only then will God make our efforts successful. This is what we must always remember.
In 20:40, God recounts how Moses was protected even as a baby, when his mother placed him in the river. The plan seemed dangerous, but it resulted in Moses being safe, raised in Pharaoh's household. Later, God's plan allowed Moses to return as a messenger to challenge Pharaoh. What seemed like a risk was actually part of a larger, perfect design.
Through these incidents, we understand that God not only plans events but also shapes people's thoughts and intentions. When our plans unfold just as we hoped, it is a sign that our desires align with God's will. In such moments, we should say, "Alhamdulillah" (Praise be to God). But when things do not go as we intended, we should be grateful too. It may be that God diverted us from a mistake or shielded us from unseen harm. Perhaps He has chosen something far better for us than what we imagined.
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God: the Best Planner
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Yet, how often do we respond with disappointment or distress when our plans fail? We regret what didn't come to pass, forgetting that God is the best of planners. We overlook how many times He has carefully orchestrated events for our benefit. Even something as seemingly simple as a leaf falling does not happen without His will ( 6:59).
When we feel disheartened because our children choose a different path than we expected, we lose out on a job opportunity, or something doesn't work out the root of our sorrow is often a lack of surrender to God's plan. We worry endlessly about the future, forgetting that everything is already under His control.
[ 57:22] Anything that happens on earth, or to you, has already been recorded, even before the creation. This is easy for GOD to do. [ 57:23] Thus, you should not grieve over anything you miss, nor be proud of anything He has bestowed upon you. GOD does not love those who are boastful, proud.
Once we truly accept this truth in our hearts, we will be able to embrace every outcome with peace, knowing that it has already been written with wisdom.
Some people, however, falter along the way. Believers who once stood firm may begin to drift or speak differently. We wonder why they changed. But God explains that He allows this to happen for a good reason. Those who act against the truth are given time not because God doesn't know their future but for a greater plan that God knows, whether it is to seal their destiny or for them to return to God's path. This is God's system in motion. He distinguishes the sincere from the insincere. In the end, His plan will prevail, and truth will stand firm.
So when we see people going through a test, let us not assume it is without purpose or rush to condemn them to hell. Instead, let us understand there is a good reason and that God's plan is still unfolding, and that relief or clarity will come in due time as our tests are completed. His wisdom surpasses anything we can comprehend.
In 7:99, God warns that those who take His plans for granted are the losers. And in 7:201, we learn that when Satan whispers to the righteous, they quickly become aware and remember God and with that remembrance, clarity returns.
These verses remind us that the entire universe, every element from fire to water, from righteousness to disbelief, is part of God's design and plan. He arranges every detail of life. If we learn to recognize and trust this divine orchestration, we can live lives filled with peace, contentment, and clarity.
[ 13:24] "Peace be upon you, because you steadfastly persevered. What a joyous destiny."
May God grant us the wisdom to trust His plan, the patience to wait for its unfolding, and the consciousness to remember Him in every circumstance.
Mehraj
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International Community of Submitters / Masjid Tucson