Is life supposed to be hard for believers and submitters
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There's this video from Sam Gerrans and he talks about celebrities- how some of them shoot to fame out of nowhere whilst they were just ordinary people before that. No special talents or qualities. He says that some of them channel demons and the demons help them get loads of success- make them rich and famous. And also, the celebrities seem to gain qualities they didn't have before out of thin air. Do you think this is true?
Salaam Sarah,
let's check what Quran says about it,1326 God gives the provisions for whom He wishes, and He is Capable. And they were happy with the worldly life, but the worldly life compared to the Hereafter is nothing except a brief enjoyment.
116 there is not a creature on the earth but on God is its provision. And He knows where it dwells and where it hides. All is in a clear record.
353 O people, remember the blessings of God upon you. Is there any creator other than God who provides for you from the heaven and the earth? There is no god besides Him, so why do you deviate?
I don't think that demons are capable of doing this. Based on those verses, all successes and wealth are coming from God, regardless their beliefs.
May you consider this verse,
955 So do not be impressed by their wealth or children; God only wishes to punish them with it in the worldly life, and so that their souls will be taken while they are rejecters.
but that doesn't mean we can't be rich and successful, but be careful with it.
On the other hand, people who are believers and submitters seem to struggle with money compared to above celebs and therefore their general quality of life.
Again, another verse,
985 And do not be impressed by their wealth and their children; God only wishes to punish them with it in this world, and so their souls will be taken while they are rejecters.
I have no longer believe that abundance of money and wealth is a measure of success.
I had once living the affluent life, and then I lost everything I had. But all that is just the process of achieving enlightenment about the real success.
See what God says below,
5722 No misfortune can happen on the earth, or in yourselves, except it is decreed in a record, before We bring it about. This is easy for God to do.
5723 In order that you do not despair over anything that has passed you by, nor be happy of anything He has bestowed upon you. God does not love those who are boastful, proud.
For me, success is when we are not sad at what is lost, and not happy at what is given.
I've told my kids, If you are believer, than expect trial from the God,
292 Did the people think that they will be left to say "We believe" without being put to the test?
2155 And We will test you with some fear and hunger, and a shortage in money and lives and fruits. And give good news to those who are patient.
2214 Or did you expect that you would enter Paradise, while the example of those who were before you came to you; they were stricken with adversity and hardship, and they were shaken until the messenger and those who believed with him said "When is the victory of God?" Yes indeed, the victory of God is near.
no one will enter paradise without experiencing trials and suffering.
And you will never know that God will give sadness over sadness so that we are unable to be feel sadder anymore.
3153 For you were ascending to the high ground and would not even glance towards anyone, and the messenger was calling to you from behind. Therefore He gave you with distress upon distress so that you would not have sadness by what has passed you, or for what afflicted you, and God is Expert over what you do.
Magnificent huh?
And you seek help from the God,.. God said,
245 And seek help through patience and through the commitment <salat>. It is a difficult thing, but not so for the humble.
And then Allah takes away your troubles and give you guidance to do hard work
941 Did We not comfort your chest,
942 And take from you your burden,
943 Which had put strain on your back?
944 And We have raised your remembrance,
945 So with hardship comes ease.
946 With hardship comes ease.
947 So when you have free time, then stand.
948 And to your Lord you shall seek.
and then comes the hardest part of the game, you become a wealthy successful person again.
Having been saved from Pharaoh, Did not make the children of Israel become more faithful.
God has been warned us regarding this,
1021 And if We let the people taste a mercy after some hardship had afflicted them, they take to scheming against Our revelations! Say "God is faster in scheming;" Our messengers record what you scheme.
1022 He is the One who carries you on land and on the sea. And when you are on the ships and We drive them with a good wind which they rejoice with, a strong gust comes to them and the waves come to them from all sides, and they think that they are finished, they implore God with loyalty and devotion to His system "If You save us from this, we will be of the thankful."
1023 But when He saves them, they then traverse through the land with injustice. "O people, what you seek out is only the luxury of this worldly life, then to Us is your return and We will inform you of all that you had done."
So that's why I said be careful with rich and successful life. Even most of the children of Israel who were held by the power of God, failed through it.
Peace
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Salam tlihawa,
thank you for the answer.Regarding this verse
5723 In order that you do not despair over anything that has passed you by, nor be happy of anything He has bestowed upon you. God does not love those who are boastful, proud.
Why can't we be happy with anything we have? Isn't it natural to want to be happy? For example, if I got a new job and the job is really good, pays well, good coworkers etc., isn't it natural to feel happy about this? Why does the verse indiciate that we should not feel sad or happy i.e. indifferent? If I'm happy with a new job, that doesn't mean I'm arrogant...
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Is life supposed to be hard for believers and submitters?
The answer is "No".The fact is If we are true believers, we have nothing to fear nor will we grieve in this world and in the hereafter.
Qs 1062 Absolutely, God's allies have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve.For example ...
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If we sick, He will heals us. This happend to Ayoob (Prophet Job).
Qs 2680 "And when I get sick, He heals me ... (Abraham, the true believer) -
If we poor, just follow the wisdom in Quran, give charity to other needy people and God will reward multiplied manifold (The miracle of sadaqah).
Qs 5718 Surely, the charitable men and women have loaned God a loan of goodness. They will receive their reward multiplied manifold; they have deserved a generous recompense. -
The most important ...
Qs 286 When My servants ask you about Me, I am always near. I answer their prayers when they pray to Me. The people shall respond to Me and believe in Me, in order to be guided.
The Question is Are we true believers or just lip service?
Thank you.
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Salam tlihawa,
thank you for the answer.Regarding this verse
5723 In order that you do not despair over anything that has passed you by, nor be happy of anything He has bestowed upon you. God does not love those who are boastful, proud.
Why can't we be happy with anything we have? Isn't it natural to want to be happy? For example, if I got a new job and the job is really good, pays well, good coworkers etc., isn't it natural to feel happy about this? Why does the verse indiciate that we should not feel sad or happy i.e. indifferent? If I'm happy with a new job, that doesn't mean I'm arrogant...
The word "happy", I believe is not the right translation due to the context. It should say do not "boast". In my opinion, the reason being is because it is God who gives you the provisions, builds your character, gives you knowledge, etc. Everything that pertains to you, how you are designed, what you achieve, and what is taken away is by the will of God. So what room is there for one to boast? The "do not despair" part is because it has been predestined. There was nothing you could have done to change what has passed. We see this clearly in 5722 that misfortune is already written on the "Kitabin"/ record before it comes into existence. The question is, what else is on this "Kitabin"? God's knowledge of all things...
2270
Did you not know that God knows what is in the heavens and the earth? All is in a record (kitabin, same word in 5722). All that for God is easy.Every aspect of our lives, what has passed, what is happening at this very moment, and what will happen in the future is derived from this record before God manifests it. Therefore everything is predestined. The record is His plan/script. Sorry to go off topic )
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Life provides us with teachings through both pain and pleasure. Going through these events is what makes us or breaks us. It changes us for the better or the worse depending on how we face these events.
Both pain and pleasure are neither good nor bad. If you call pleasurable things good and painful things bad you are deeply mistaken.
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People with money or fame also have struggles. No-one is free from the burden's of life. Hard and easy is subjective to personality, intellectual ability, outlook and so much more!
Moreover money/fame doesn't necessarily equate to ease of life or lack of struggles.
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There's this video from Sam Gerrans and he talks about celebrities- how some of them shoot to fame out of nowhere whilst they were just ordinary people before that. No special talents or qualities. He says that some of them channel demons and the demons help them get loads of success- make them rich and famous. And also, the celebrities seem to gain qualities they didn't have before out of thin air. Do you think this is true?
LOL... do I sense 'envy' here?
While 'summoning demons' is possible, maybe I will start a new thread on this, but what those demons can do is very very very limited and are usually fake / lies.
But there are 'key characteristics' you can always lookout to really differentiate those who choose to follow the 'negative' path (Human / Demons / Any Being), it always appears and stands out regardless on how they claim themselves to be or what label or name they choose for themselves.
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Pride
The negative path is all about ME ME ME. First, ME are separate from OTHERS. It's all about how ME stands out among others, ME superior and ME survive. This relate to #2. -
Hatred and Envy
In order to ensure the survivability and superiority of ME, others must be inferiorized. Anyone other than ME is a potential threat to my survival and superiority. The only relationship that exist between ME and others is master and slave.
Am I more superior than them? If yes then I am their master and they are the slaves (inferior) BUT if they are more superior (or possess more) than ME then they are a THREAT to my 'superiority' and if not properly 'attacked', they could ends up enslaving ME.
This is the thought processes that ends up in hatred and envy towards THEM especially those who are more superior than ME in some aspects. The mindset is all about ME is more superior than OTHERS. To really ensure that OTHERS must serves ME, how others must be my servants or at least inferior compared to ME. This relate to #3.
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Controlling / Enslaving
In order to have ME stands out, Others need to be controlled and chained. Their free will and resistance need to brokened as such the only thing exist in their mind is to follow MY order and command. Don't ever think or dare to question, just "Samina Wa Atona", just hear ME and OBEY!. How to ensure this? This relate to #4 -
FEAR
From dictators, terrorists, ghosts, deities to demons, this is what they share in common. They love to spread fear and being feared! By being feared it grants ME the luxury of superiority, being in control and enslaving. And if ME sense FEAR within ME to others that means ME are being enslaved and THEY are the Masters, it means that ME is being controlled!!
To ensure it is ME that in control, ME will spread THREAT to others. As only those who are superior are able to spread THREAT to others with objective to obtain control of others. Within the threat an act of aggression is being promised, an act which shall eliminate the existence of OTHERS. (Kill, Eradication, Torture, Punishment, Suffering)
That's why even on appearance ME always choose the type of appearance of being in control / authority or to support the image of worthy to be FEARED. (AK47, Nuke Warhead, Swords, Horn, Sharp Teeth, Predator Eyes, Fire, Or any other Scary Scary accessories)
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Salam tlihawa,
thank you for the answer.Regarding this verse
5723 In order that you do not despair over anything that has passed you by, nor be happy of anything He has bestowed upon you. God does not love those who are boastful, proud.
Why can't we be happy with anything we have? Isn't it natural to want to be happy? For example, if I got a new job and the job is really good, pays well, good coworkers etc., isn't it natural to feel happy about this? Why does the verse indiciate that we should not feel sad or happy i.e. indifferent? If I'm happy with a new job, that doesn't mean I'm arrogant...
Salam Sarah,
Yes sure, it's natural to want to be happy . But I think what is meant in that verse is something deeper. This verse taught us not to love something too much.
you need to look at the previous verse,5722 No misfortune can happen on the earth, or in yourselves, except it is decreed in a record, before We bring it about. This is easy for God to do.
So for example, when we lose that job, we are not too sad, and stay positive since we knew that all the misfortune that happened on us was decreed in a record.
Maybe I'm not good enough too explain this, but here is something in my mind to represent my thought,
2964 And this worldly life is no more than distraction and play, while the abode of the Hereafter is the reality, if only they knew.
Our worldly life right now is just a game, let say a board game named monopoly,
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When we are playing monopoly, we feel enthusiastic and emotion during the games. There is excitement when having lots of money, being able to buy lots of property and win the games, and not excited when we going bankrupt. But still we realize that this is just a game in short period of time. Once the game is over, we will back to reality.
So all the excitement and sadness during the games is not real, not really affected the way we think and act.
So back to this verse,
5723 In order that you do not despair over anything that has passed you by, nor be happy of anything He has bestowed upon you...
Since the worldly life is just a game, the level of happiness and despair in this worldly life should be only compared to the level of happiness and despair while I'm playing the monopoly games.
Maybe this is not a good analogy, but hopefully can represent my thought.
Peace..
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We now have a better metaphor than monopoly game.
Role playing games, PUBG, The Sims and hundreds of others.This world is a virtual reality, everyone (actually every living being) on this realm / world is actually multi dimensional being, presuming an avatar on this world.
When you look at yourself in the mirror, that body is not really you... that body is an avatar, along with attributes that associated with it, names, gender, ethnicity, social classes, nationality, religion or any other label. Don't get too attached with it, because there will be time when that avatar body will become dysfunctional and you need to be parted with it.
Just like in role playing games, you are here assuming an avatar to experience many things. From those experience you are supposed to learn lessons.
This is not a 'strange' process it's actually very common process, just observe how people play role playing games in this world, how they (sometimes) attach and identify themselves to an avatar inside the role playing game. They refer to the avatar in PUBG or The Sims or other game as "ME" and no longer "IT".
Ask them why they play role playing games? The common answer is to experience the game. The same thing.
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Life provides us with teachings through both pain and pleasure. Going through these events is what makes us or breaks us. It changes us for the better or the worse depending on how we face these events.
Both pain and pleasure are neither good nor bad. If you call pleasurable things good and painful things bad you are deeply mistaken.
So we should not feel sorry when someone is in pain. Then why should we help anyone to get better in any situation?
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So we should not feel sorry when someone is in pain. Then why should we help anyone to get better in any situation?
It doesn't mean you should or shouldn't do any of that.
First of all, so I'm not misunderstood I'll develop my initial post. By pain I mean everything from discomfort to actual pain, and pleasure everything from comfort to the greatest pleasures.
Take these examples
- Containing one's anger is painful while expressing it is pleasurable
- Containing one's sexual desire is painful while expressing it is pleasurable.
- Containing one's hatered is painful while expressing it is pleasurable.
Most of the "virtues" in practice have to do with this pain/pleasure dynamic, wherein to be virtuous you have to let go of the little bit of pleasurable and endure the little bit of pain in order to improve.
There is nothing inherently righteous in pleasure, or in wealth or in life, as there is nothing inherently vile in pain, or in poverty, or in death. It is our actions that we deem good or bad based on our understanding of good and bad.
Now to answer what you said
"So we should not feel sorry when someone is in pain"
Feeling sorry is something that happens instinctively, it is as low as that, nothing impressive about it. Now to understand someone's pain is something else.
"Then why should we help anyone to get better in any situation?"
We should help when we judge it is right for us to "help". Many times we think we're helping when we're not helping at all. To properly and efficiently help someone you have to understand them and understand their issue. to "help" someone out of pity to appease yourself is not that impressive of a deed in my opinion.
