Patience as a test of submission leads the issue, with a long reflection on why people lose patience, compel others, and treat sincere questions about the Quran as attacks, drawing on Moses and the teacher. The issue also gives Ramadan 2003 dates and how to calculate them, a prayer for patience, a Bible reminder, and a piece on the unreliability of hadith books.
This article examines why humans lose patience
and compel others despite God’s warnings.
God commands us to resort to patience
God commands us to be patient in the Quran:
16:127 You shall resort to patience - and your patience
is attainable only with God's help. Do not grieve over them, and do not
be annoyed by their schemes.
42:43 Resorting to patience and forgiveness reflects
a true strength of character.
The human being is impatient by nature. I will
inevitably
Patience is a quality of submission requiring composure and endurance
while the qualities of compulsion are obsession, duress and urgency.
Satan terrorizes us to lose our patience
33:10 When they came from above you, and from beneath
you, your eyes were terrified, your hearts ran out of patience, and you
harbored unbefitting thoughts about GOD.
God Forbids Compulsion
2:256 There shall be no compulsion in religion: the right
way is now
distinct from the wrong way.
Anyone who denounces the devil and believes in GOD has grasped the strongest
bond; one that never breaks. GOD is Hearer, Omniscient.
21:37 The human being is impatient by nature. I will
inevitably show you My signs; do not be in such a hurry.
We are reminded in the Quran that all of us are subject to questioning
except God.
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Patience
21:23 He is never to be asked about anything He
does, while all others are questioned.
Questioning by its very nature means being doubtful, freethinking,
examining, disbelieving. We frequently deny these human qualities
in others and ourselves despite the fact that we were created with
this very nature.
18:54 We have cited in this Quran every kind of
example, but the human being is the most argumentative creature.
Many of us become self-righteous prosecutors hiding behind the
Quran when our own individual interpretations of it are questioned
/examined.
Defenses of the ego can make us intolerant of questions that doubt
our understanding or interpretation of the Quran. This defensive
mechanism contributes to our suspicion of each other. We make unjust
accusations against the questioner to defend our egos, even resorting
to the labeling of questioners as disbelievers.
Efforts to explain the unexplainable with multiple meaning verses,
may satisfy our ego’s need to demonstrate superiority of knowledge,
however we could find ourselves guilty of doing exactly what the
Quran warns us against in Sura 3:7
3:7 He sent down to you this scripture, containing
straightforward verses—which constitute the essence of the
scripture—as well as multiple-meaning or allegorical verses.
Those who harbor doubts in their hearts will pursue the multiple-meaning
verses to create confusion, and to extricate
a certain meaning. None
knows the true meaning thereof except GOD and those well founded
in knowledge. They say, "We believe in this – all of
it comes from our Lord." Only those who possess intelligence
will take heed.
To harbor means to refuge, shelter, hide, foster. The Quran mentions
the “harboring of doubt” frequently while informing
us that all of our doubts will be brought forth.
50:16 We created the human, and we know what he
whispers to himself. We are closer to him than his jugular vein.
Therefore we should not cover our ears, eyes and minds out of fear
of doubt.
Questions by their very nature challenge us to examine our doubts
and many of us fail the test of taking a stand for God alone in
denial of our doubts. As the ego fights the challenge, all too often
we end up trying to defend ourselves with multi-meaning verses to
extract a rationale for our individual position rather than referring
to the straightforward verses of the Quran. We circumvent questions
with answers that are opinionated and indirect to the question.
An unanticipated question exposes doubt and uncertainty of all;
therefore even believers fear their doubts being exposed. Those
of us who are students may have experienced this phenomenon when
asking an innocent question of an instructor who does not anticipate
it. Some instructors only invite a recitation of their own teaching
and uninvited questions and responses are abruptly dismissed.
Curiosity vs Inquisitiveness
We often cannot distinguish between curiosity (innocent sincere
questions) and inquisitiveness (meddling,
prying, and challenge to our authority/beliefs). Perhaps this occurs
when we frame our responses from a personal context or due to paranoia
from previous malicious attacks in our experience. In anticipation
of such attacks to our belief system perhaps we become so defensive
that we begin to recite rehearsed responses before allowing ourselves
to hear another’s questions.
As a curious talkative child I was indeed a test for my parents.
They described me as curious rather than bad. Often my questions
were dismissed or given illogical answers (especially about God).
I can remember being punished merely because my questioning such
answers (talkback) had insulted a parental ego. Despite my attempt
to be courteous, I shortly realized that the sin I had committed
was my rejection of a vague answer and my persistence to have my
question answered in a way I could comprehend. I am striving to
be a submitter today because my search for knowledge led me to this
path.
I remember having a recent conversation with my mother. She stated
that I converted to Islam because they could not supply the answers
to my questions and my response was, “yes, that’s how
it happened.”
29:8 We enjoined the human being to honor his parents.
But if they try to force you to set up idols beside Me, do not obey
them. To Me is your ultimate return, then I will inform you of everything
you had done.
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Patience
God uses Moses and teacher as an example
The Quran teaches us that Moses was an impatient and curious student
who was not afraid to question any lesser authority, i.e. other
than God. When he came to God, he finally met the ultimate authority
to which he submitted. He was even chosen despite his questioning
of God’s servant. This should remind us that God is the only
teacher of the Quran. When humans are unable to provide the understanding
that satisfies our desire for knowledge, those with sincere hearts
should continue to seek answers to their questions in the Quran
following the guided path of God alone.
10:109 Follow what is
revealed to you, and be patient until GOD issues His judgment; He
is the best judge.
Those who are unafraid to question could be a disbeliever or a
true seeker in the process of getting rid of their doubts…
why do we tend to judge them to be disbelievers?
Individuals fight the hardest before giving in. We have all experienced
giving up on someone to later see him or her among us. Submitters
should remember that there are several reasons for inquiries: challenge
authority, doubt, disbelief as well as inquiry/interest/curiosity.
The natural tendency to view inquiry as challenge may put us on
the defensive thereby causing confrontational debate with information
seeker. The Quran states
that submitters should avoid suspicion
so it is very important that we are careful not to prejudge each
other.
God does not need a defender. The Quran (God’s word) has
withstood the test of time and faced many challenges to its authenticity.
We are now aware of the mathematical code that provides miraculous
proof of its authorship. Therefore we should ask ourselves what’s
really going on within us when we become so dogmatic with each other.
Is it about God alone or our egos? Surely God guides the hearts
of those who genuinely seek truth. We can use our hearing, eyesight
and brains to study, question and examine the Quran (the book that
contains no doubt) until all of our doubts are removed. As God says
in Quran, “who wants to learn?”
Cheryl M.
Scriptural Reminder
Command those who are rich in this present age not
to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living
God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good that
they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing
up for themselves a good fortune for the time to come, they may
lay hold of eternal life.
1 Timothy 6:17-19
Submitted by Donna A.
[Ed.’s note: God willing, if you send us your
favorite verses from the scriptures, we will print them in the newsletter
as the space allows, and acknowledge the submitter. Please e-mail
to [email protected]]
Ramadan 2003 USA/CANADA
God willing
October 26 - November 23
To calculate the Ramadan start date: Compare the time of the New
Moon with the sunset at your location. If the new moon is born before
sunset, you should fast the next day. Similarly to determine the
last day of fasting, compare the time of the next New Moon with
the sunset at your location. If the new moon is born before sunset,
the month of Ramadan is complete on that day. For further details,
see the Ramadan page on www.masjidtucson.org.
A PRAYER
FOR PATIENCE:
God, teach me to be patient,
Teach me to go slow,
Teach me how to wait on You
When my way I do not know.
Teach me sweet forbearance
When things do not go right
So I remain unruffled
When others grow uptight.
Teach me how to quiet
My racing, rising heart
So I might hear the answer
You are trying to impart.
Teach me to let go, dear
God,
And pray undisturbed until
My heart is filled with inner peace
And I learn to know your will.
Helen Steiner Rice
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HADITH BOOKS
How reliable are they?
Hadiths are sayings attributed to Prophet Muhammad more than 200 years
after his death. They were collected against his will and many are full
of contradictions and nonsense. Anybody who read a hadith knows that it
starts with so-and-so (pbh-peace be upon him) heard from so-and-so
(pbh) who heard from so-and-so (pbh) who heard the prophet said….
Why would anybody take so-and-so’s words against God’s words
in the Quran which God calls “the best hadith.”
39:23 GOD has revealed herein THE BEST HADITH; a book
that is consistent…
The following funny anecdote submitted by sister Asiah/Singapore is a
reminder of what can happen to the original message when it is passed
through different sources.
The result of passing
the message
Memo from General Manager to Manager:
Today at 11 o’clock there will be a total eclipse of the sun. This
is when the sun disappears behind the moon for two minutes. As this is
something that cannot be seen every day, time will be allowed for employees
to view the eclipse in the car park. Staff should meet in the car park
at ten to eleven, when I will deliver a short speech introducing the eclipse,
and giving some background information. Safety goggles will be made available
at a small cost.
Memo from Manager to Department Head:
Today at ten to eleven, all staff should meet in the car park. This will
be followed by a total eclipse of the sun, which will disappear for two
minutes. For a moderate cost, this will be made safe with goggles. The
Director General will deliver a short speech
beforehand to give us all some background
information. This is not something that can be seen every day.
Memo from Department Head to Floor Manager:
The Director General will today deliver a short speech to make the sun
disappear for two minutes in the eclipse. This is something that cannot
be seen every day, so staff will meet in the car park at ten or eleven.
This will be safe, if you pay a moderate cost.
Memo From Floor Manager to Supervisor:
Ten or eleven staff is to go to the car park, where the Director General
will eclipse the sun for two minutes. This doesn’t happen every
day. It will be safe, but it will cost you.
Memo from Supervisor to staff:
Some staff will go to the car park today to see the Director general
disappear. It is a pity this doesn’t happen every day.
About this work
Kind
Document
Author
International Community of Submitters
Publisher
International Community of Submitters / Masjid Tucson