Ambition and the Quran
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Your correction is wrong. It is the faith in The Master that determines the need to have faith in what is decreed. If you had no faith at all then you would not think there is a reason to adhere to any moral laws and you could do anything to acquire wealth and power, and you could be arrogant because nothing has told you to be otherwise.
If you do exclusively good that must be because you have some innate feeling that it is our actions matter somehow.
And to do good does not necessarily have to involve monetary funds, but can be simply helping a weak old woman across the street. And no money is needed to help an elder in his final years. And you can save a brother against aggressive evildoers without money. And you can do cpr on a man or woman whose heart has stopped without money. You can dive into violent waters to save a child that is drowning without money. That is good ambition.
But to sit here and preach that poor and uneducated people are worthless, and middle income standard people have few ways to contribute, and no "True Believers", is that ambition?
It looks a lot like Ebless and the angels when they were told to show some respect to Adam. "I am stronger, have more possesions and know more than he does".
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And you misrepresent 37. Those with knowledge also understand the allegories. They say that they have faith in it.
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Your correction is wrong. It is the faith in The Master that determines the need to have faith in what is decreed.
It is up to you . . and it is your "Deen" to live in and interpreting things that Allah says "no one knows"
Therefore, who is the Iblees ? To be the one who are smarter than Allah and can interpreting things that Allah said "no one knows"?or the alternative . . you may adhere to the reality and read the signs , and use it with balance and justice . . .
This is our mission
. . .
And to do good does not necessarily have to involve monetary funds, but can be simply helping a weak old woman across the street.
Then it does not relate to benefiting the "society", the "humanity" . . . which is fine, as a "Muslim" or "Reformers", but not the "True Believers".
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And you misrepresent 37. Those with knowledge also understand the allegories. They say that they have faith in it.
Nope. . you are misinterpreted that verse, because if they understand the allegories, then it is inconsistent with the word "no one knows except Allah" (rule of negation, "except". . ie. ONLY Allah knows their meaning), and also take note on the rule of "double negative".
Therefore, the last part of that verse is about only those who are "firmly rooted in knowledge" will take heed on the "reminder" of Allah in that verse. . . Other than that, they are not people of "firmly rooted in knowledge" but are those who have the elements of deviation and diseases in their hearts.
Those firmly rooted in knowledge say ?We have iman in it. All of it is from our Lord.? But only people of intelligence pay heed (to the reminder of Allah in verse 3.7).
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There is no double negative. It is a "wa" after Allah. It includes Allah (God) and those with knowledge. If you have guidance and knowledge and wisdom then the allegorical passages will become clear to you, but for those who no faith will just mutter "what did God mean by this?" And those without faith will not follow the decree.
Anyway that is a dispute over Arabic grammar. It is not the same in every translation. But the translation becomes nonsensical the way you describe it. It means God made similitudes in the narration and then no one understands it. Where is your logic?
"True Believers" are those who have faith (iman) and do good and avoid evil things such as arrogance and oppression. Knowledge you have if you understand something.
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Then it does not relate to benefiting the "society", the "humanity" . . . which is fine, as a "Muslim" or "Reformers", but not the "True Believers".
Altruism (selflessness) benefits society (those living around you). "True Believers" don't fit a certain mold that involves wealth strictly in the financial sense, it can but doesn't only have to. Consider 614 God loves those who fight in His cause as one column; they are like bricks in a wall. As in any structure, it all works together to hold it up, one cause with many different ways to support it. Are we going to argue these are not "True Believers"...only Mr. Altruistic MoneyBucks is? Seriously. -
"True Believers" don't fit a certain mold that involves wealth strictly in the financial sense, it can but doesn't only have to.
True but since this thread is about "ambition", and Allah says "properties" . . .
Therefore True Believers must have "wealth". . .
(3) but strive with <- ie. motivation
(4) their properties <- ie. do you have wealth?
(5) and their lives <- ie. do you have skills?
49.15Those who do not have "wealth" cannot strive with their "properties"
It is better for them to feed themselves and not burdening other people, rather than thinking about something else. . .
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And none will HEED it except those who possess knowledge.
Peace out
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I say strive with themselves and their possessions. You think that only material things are useful matters?
And I told you examples of ambitions that one can undertake without any money at all.
True Believers must have faith and strive in the cause of God in whatever way.
Those who have no properties can contribute with their bodies.
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No. You need to translate the passage correctly.
None will heed (or take it to heart) except those who posses intelligence.
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Your very body is in control or possession of you. You can strive with it, with possessions or not.
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None will heed (or take it to heart) except those who posses intelligence.
I see no merit on your objection . .
First you contest that there are no "double negative", and it is clear. . .
and now you contest on the meaning of "heed" , as it means to "take it to heart"
What difference that is makes ?
It doesn't matter much to me since I can agree with you that it is about to "take it to heart"
but it is related to the "reminder of Allah in verse 3.7", ie. no one knows its interpretation except Allah.
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Your very body is in control or possession of you. You can strive with it, with possessions or not.
So if you want to believe that "body" is a "property" . . it is up to you, it is your opinion.
However, I've never seen people interpreted "body" as "property", including in the Quran or any legal texts etc.
In fact, the verse distinguish between "properties" and "lives" (body).
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No. Those who possess intelligence knows it meaning. They heed (its message) and obey.
Why would God enter allegorical phrases and then let no one understand them whatsoever. Is that not redundant revelation?
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True but since this thread about "ambition", and Allah says "properties" . . .
It depends on people and their circumstances, there are many different circumstances in rl and to brush them all over with a very stringent black and white criteria is for one not realistic and two, takes the verses in a very narrow sense that would contradict other places where we told to do good with what we have in different ways. No one can argue that taking time off to teach illiterate kids is a good act, an altruistic act, it doesn't have to involve money and it would benefit society. if one has the ambition to do good, then there are a million ways of doing so regardless of financial wealth. Properties can be taken as whatever you have in terms of assets. If you don't have financial assets, doesn't necessarily mean you're out of the running. You may have other assets as valuable. God is not unaware of the realities.It is better for them to feed themselves and not burdening other people, rather thanking about something else. . .
Your reasoning here is as bad as that of those who want the poor shipped off to some island and left to fend for themselves since they are a burden on society. It's almost as if we're reading different books here, which we well can be since I see no evidence of such in the quran. It is unrealistic, shortsighted and absurd. -
If you struggle with your life then you primarily struggle with your body. See the separation that it is AND possessions. You can struggle in the cause of God without a single coin.
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No. Those who possess intelligence knows it meaning. They heed (its message) and obey.
Why would God enter allegorical phrases and then let no one understand them whatsoever. Is that not redundant revelation?
No need for me to repeat. . .
if they understand the allegories, then it is inconsistent with the word "no one knows except Allah" (rule of negation, "except". . ie. ONLY Allah knows their meaning