Can we ever be confident about where we are headed?
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Is there anyone here that can be totally sure that the way they are going they will gio to heaven?
No.Okay, now take a deep breath (and keep breathing)....
Let go... and put your trust in GOD.
Here's just a few questions that might be good ;
Who created us. Who keeps us alive. Who do we depend on? Who will we return to? WHY are we here.
When we fully and truly come to this realization... then you'll be in heaven.
I think some kind of meditation or connection to God could bring this inner peace...
You're on the right track. Relieve your mind of the workload, and listen to the God with you heart (believe me, I know, it's easier said than done).Peace be with you.
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Hello Natu,
First of all, to become obessive over idolatory is not healthy. It is usually an irrational behaviour brought on by a deep rooted anxiety and fear. Perhaps this anxiety and fear stems from your sudden and wholesale rejection of traditions that you have been raised with. I know it is never easy to come to reject something that have been part of your life for so long. But change is never easy Natu. Change is something that as human beings we always have struggled with. We are at heart very conservative. We dislike change. We always view new innovations with suspicion. The unknown always frighten us. We find the continuity with the past traditions very reassuring and it gives us a sense of security that we can go to sleep and wake up the following day and find nothing has changed and nothing will change the following day.
But you have woken up and everything has indeed changed and that is a very uncomforting feeling. But be courageous Natu, be brave. You have taken the first step towards self-realisation as an individual. This not about ego Natu. This is about reclaiming your human dignity, the dignity that have been systematically denied by organised religion. This is about fulfiling your true potential as a human being as God intended. A dignified human being who turns to God with understanding. Never think this is about ego Natu! Was it about ego that made you reject hadiths that stated Holy Goats eating surahs and Monkeys Stoning other Adulterous Monkeys or which way to turn your face when someone farts?
Does not the scripture time and time again stress that those who use reason will find the truth of God? So don't despise your reason but embrace it because it is a Gift from God. Your reason is the most reliable guide when all else fails. Doubts will always be there Natu. But doubts are good. Doubts always leads to a better understanding of God and religion.
And secondly aim not to secure Paradise Natu, if you are aiming to go to heaven and sample heavenly wine then you are perhaps missing the point of our existence. This physical reality I am sure is a testing ground for us to develop our spirituality, to develop God-conscioussness, to cultivate and nurture compassion in our self and those that are around us. It is in this world of suffering that we can work towards our spiritual growth...but this is only my view.
If you want to know, I do not think about Heaven at all, nor do I think about the sensual delights of Paradise. Neither do I think about Hell or the physical pain of Hell. You might say "How can you not Fear Hell?" and that "God warns you about Hell in every page of the scripture? So how can you not Fear Hell? and will say to you God warns us about Hell so that we can work towards overcoming our Fear of Hell. And I have just done that. I have overcome my Fear of Hell Natu and I am sure one day you will overcome your fear too. And when you do, you will have a deeper understanding of God that created you. And you will find that peace you have been looking for. Overcoming my Fear has allowed me to see the world as it is Natu The majestic beauty of the Universe, the wonderous diversity of lifeforms that live on this Earth, and the beauty of the natural world, and the love and compassion of truley enlightened human beings that I have come to know and learn about.
My aim is to live a righteous life Natu, a life of compassion for my fellow human beings and all the creatures that I share this amazing planet of ours. My focus is here and now and not the afterlife. When you are able to live with harmony with others and yourself then you are indeed serving God's purpose...harmony with others can be easily attained but self-harmony is the hardest thing. But with dedication, knowledge and understanding you realise this one day...
I think some kind of meditation or connection to God could bring this inner peace, but to be honest I've never tried doing this in anyway other than by closing my eyes and listening to some Rob Dougan - thinking asbout God while listening to "Nothing at all" or something like that - I'm sure LT will understand me on this.
I believe that there are various methods of meditation, but what are the fundamentals, I think I need it but I have no idea how to go about it, and trying to read books about meditation just makes me fall to sleep while I flick through... too much information... could anyone share their
way of meditating please? please reloaded?Talk to you about this soon...
Regards,
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Peace,
The majestic beauty of the Universe, the wonderous diversity of lifeforms that live on this Earth, and the beauty of the natural world, and the love and compassion of truley enlightened human beings that I have come to know and learn about.
My aim is to live a righteous life Natu, a life of compassion for my fellow human beings and all the creatures that I share this amazing planet of ours. My focus is here and now and not the afterlife. When you are able to live with harmony with others and yourself then you are indeed serving God's purpose...harmony with others can be easily attained but self-harmony is the hardest thing. But with dedication, knowledge and understanding you realise this one day...
Sadly, very seldom people vision such intuitions. Inetelligent are many but not wise enough to understand their own intelligence. Well said LoteTree. )
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Peace.
Zenje Wrote
Let go... and put your trust in GOD.
I think that is it. Perfectly worded. When I supplicate I shall make it clear that my request to the one God who created me, and I will ask to be guided away from polytheism. If I ask him for his help by referring to him as the one who created me, I?ll be making it clear to him that I don?t want to be a polytheist. Surely God wouldn?t mislead someone who asks him to be guided.
LoteTree wrote
First of all, to become obessive over idolatory is not healthy. It is usually an irrational behaviour brought on by a deep rooted anxiety and fear. Perhaps this anxiety and fear stems from your sudden and wholesale rejection of traditions that you have been raised with. I know it is never easy to come to reject something that have been part of your life for so long. But change is never easy Natu.
Its not the change I was worried about my friend, I actually think that was the best time of my life so far when I broke out of the cage, I loved reading articles which acted as lifelines out of that miserable pothole of an existence. My fear is not because I am obsessive about committing idolatry in the various shapes (which reminds me, hmmm?), and forms it takes place. Its just that when I was Sunni I used to think I?ll be a nice person and I?ll be fine, but I realised just how wrong I was ? and the fact that I once thought I was guided when I wasn?t worries me, because I often begin to think that I may be doing something horribly wrong right now as well, without realising it as before ? Don?t get me wrong, I will never go back to hadiths, that?s just as likely as a donkey laying an egg.
LoteTree wrote
And secondly aim not to secure Paradise Natu, if you are aiming to go to heaven and sample heavenly wine then you are perhaps missing the point of our existence.
Well in my opinion, life is not a test that we should aim to get the marks and pass it to go to heaven and sip wine. One of the many ways that I think of it is that life is a business, we have been blessed with capital to invest in righteousness and truth, and the profit will be paid on judgement day. Those who spend their capital foolishly end up in debt, and they have to pay by becoming fire fuel. Apart from getting the chance to find out what wine is like, I strive to thank God for the existence of my soul, and to make sure that these 90 or so years that are left are spent well in preparation of the next life of infinite magnitude.
LoteTree wrote
My aim is to live a righteous life Natu, a life of compassion for my fellow human beings and all the creatures that I share this amazing planet of ours. My focus is here and now and not the afterlife. When you are able to live with harmony with others and yourself then you are indeed serving God's purpose...harmony with others can be easily attained but self-harmony is the hardest thing. But with dedication, knowledge and understanding you realise this one day...
Your right, and my position reflects that exactly, but I still find it that whilst doing that we may still be committing evil sins without realising it because of the devils influence on us. I guess the best way out is to supplicate to my ?creator? and ask him to be guided towards monotheism. If I am currently worshipping an idol unknown to me, I?m sure ?the merciful? one will have mercy and guide me out if I ask him for guidance, be referring to him as ?the creator?.
Danish wrote
Inetelligent are many but not wise enough to understand their own intelligence.
Intriguing distinction made between wisdom and intelligence there Danish! But I would still say that those who have the wisdom to understand their intelligence still have the fallibility to succumb to the devil?s illusions when one performs idolatry and thinks he/she is guided.
Thanks Zenje, LoteTree, Danish ? your help is much appreciated.
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Your right, and my position reflects that exactly, but I still find it that whilst doing that we may still be committing evil sins without realising it because of the devils influence on us. I guess the best way out is to supplicate to my ?creator? and ask him to be guided towards monotheism. If I am currently worshipping an idol unknown to me, I?m sure ?the merciful? one will have mercy and guide me out if I ask him for guidance, be referring to him as ?the creator?.
If you are motivated by doing righteous deed, if you are motivated by making other people happy, if you are motivated by compassion for your fellow human beings in the things you do and if you think about God, then in my view, you are indeed Guided by God and you don't have to worry about committing "evil" sins.
If you believe in a "Satan" as entity that is here to misguide you then I don't think you will be motivated by compassion but hate, anxiety and fear and I don't think Satan will misguide you to think about God as you do now. Try to overcome this fear of committing sins Natu. God would not be just if he punishes for sins that you could have never realised. God is most compassionate, most merciful as it says in the first lines of the scripture so believe in it -) contemplate and reflect on these words so that you will understand this truth about God at the level of your entire being...
Regards,
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Hello Natu! I wish you peace and salvation!
I have found your fears and concerns justified....I have the same kind dillemas as you...that are torturing and teryyfying me in a measure that I can hardly describe...
But surely there is a way to know if you are guided or not...and its quite simple...as the truth often is...by learning and acquiring knowledge of the God
s scripture -of The Criterium, and then applying its criterias to ones behaviour and life...However i dont think theres a way of knowing if you will realy end in the Garden or Fire...
There is always a chance of being seduced....but even this may be understood as a kind of blessing, i.e. by knowing and always thinking about this bad possibility one is safeguarded from falling pray to the Devil`s tricks and and thus in the hell...
best wishes, Zlatan
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Hello Zlatan,
I have found your fears and concerns justified....I have the same kind dillemas as you...that are torturing and teryyfying me in a measure that I can hardly describe...
I was sad to hear that.
Does not a belief in a trascendent God who is most compassionate and merciful not help you in this?
Have you always had this fear? or it something that came about after your rejection of traditional beliefs? What is that you exactly fear? unrealised Idolatory?
Regards,
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Peace Natu, all,
You asked,
Is there anyone here that can be totally sure that the way they are going they will go to heaven?
I doubt it. I will offer you this, however. Heaven is not a place to go to but an evolution of spirit. You are evolving your spirit every waking moment. And this evolution does not end until death, and then, who knows? But while we're here, we need to implement a desire for constant and never-ending improvement in all facets. We should always be students of life. I feel so long as we constantly seek truth in all it's aspects, then we are on the right path. The Qur'an tells us that the righteous are those who listen to all views and follow what is best. It also tells us that God forgives those who sin in ignorance.
It is when we are doing something that we feel is wrong, and continue doing it, that the soul short-circuits. This is the built-in criterion.
In the meantime, here's some wisdom from Kahlil Gibran
And the priestess spoke again and said
"Speak to us of Reason and Passion."
And he answered saying
Your soul is oftentimes a battlefield, upon which your reason and your judgment wage war against passion and your appetite.
Would that I could be the peacemaker in your soul, that I might turn the discord and the rivalry of your elements into oneness and melody.
But how shall I, unless you yourselves be also the peacemakers, nay, the lovers of all your elements?
Your reason and your passion are the rudder and the sails of your seafaring soul.
If either your sails or your rudder be broken, you can but toss and drift, or else be held at a standstill in mid-seas.
For reason, ruling alone, is a force confining; and passion, unattended, is a flame that burns to its own destruction.
Therefore let your soul exalt your reason to the height of passion; that it may sing;
And let it direct your passion with reason, that your passion may live through its own daily resurrection, and like the phoenix rise above its own ashes.
I would have you consider your judgment and your appetite even as you would two loved guests in your house.
Surely you would not honour one guest above the other; for he who is more mindful of one loses the love and the faith of both.
Among the hills, when you sit in the cool shade of the white poplars, sharing the peace and serenity of distant fields and meadows - then let your heart say in silence, "God rests in reason."
And when the storm comes, and the mighty wind shakes the forest, and thunder and lightning proclaim the majesty of the sky, - then let your heart say in awe, "God moves in passion."
And since you are a breath In God's sphere, and a leaf in God's forest, you too should rest in reason and move in passion.
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Hello LoteTree!
Hello Zlatan,
I have found your fears and concerns justified....I have the same kind dillemas as you...that are torturing and teryyfying me in a measure that I can hardly describe...
I was sad to hear that.
Does not a belief in a trascendent God who is most compassionate and merciful not help you in this?
Have you always had this fear? or it something that came about after your rejection of traditional beliefs? What is that you exactly fear? unrealised Idolatory?
Regards,
Actually my fears are connected or related to some of my actions or deeds which i have commited or the ways i live my life of which i am not sure if they are correct/righteous or not?and these doubts concerning my actions and ways, i believe, are partialy connected to not knowing the scripture detaily?or not being able to understand it properly and thus to aplie it to my situation or circumstances of my life....actualy sometimes i have no doubts about the rightousness( or unrightheousness) of the actions and i consider them clearly wrong or unrighteous, however sometimes i do?that is, after some further study my belief or view of them change and i found them not so incorrect or perfectly normal?and then again after a passage of time the doubts about their correctness arrise?maybe i should simply stop doing them..however my life should have maybe drasticaly change then?.and i fear if i take that way that later these changes will be exposed as unnecessary and that I could do well without them?and thus i go in the circles?..you may be right?.maybe i have neglected or havent pay enough heed to the notion of the merciful Creator?.however in the scripture we read that this mercy is conditioned?ill try to give it a deeper thought? thanks for the advice
Excuse my poor english?.
best wishes, Zlatan
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Salaams All,
I don't have any fear and I also don't care where I would end, although my feelings tell me that it has to be in Heaven because I can't be in Hell here in this life and then again in the Hereafter! To subject people to both would be unjust of God.
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man u've posted some hard hitting philosophical questions .. well what i think or should i say know that we-re not perfect so i think that Allah will not send us to Hell cus he knows that we're prone to mistakes ... I dont know ... i m prolly not talking ne sense right now ..
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Salaamun alaikum,
If the messenger was not confident where he would end up then how can we be confident?
"Say, "I am not different from other messengers. I have no idea what will happen to me or to you. I only follow what is revealed to me. I am no more than a profound warner." (Quran 469)
We should follow what is revealed to us and submit and surrender peacefully to Allah and perform righteous deeds and act according to His will so that we can please Allah and establish peace and harmony in the universe and not because we will end up in Heaven or we will avoid Hell.
5122 God will Say "This is a Day when the truth will benefit the truthful; they will have gardens with rivers flowing beneath, eternally they will abide therein; God has become pleased with them and they are pleased with Him. Such is the greatest victory."
Allah being pleased with us is more important than Heaven.
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Hello Zlatan,
?and these doubts concerning my actions and ways, i believe, are partialy connected to not knowing the scripture detaily?or not being able to understand it properly and thus to aplie it to my situation or circumstances of my life....actualy sometimes i have no doubts about the rightousness( or unrightheousness) of the actions and i consider them clearly wrong or unrighteous, however sometimes i do?that is, after some further study my belief or view of them change and i found them not so incorrect or perfectly normal?and then again after a passage of time the doubts about their correctness arrise?
You are no different from rest of us Zlatan! So be comforted -) You are stuck on the same "Ship Of Doubt" like the rest of us! It is just that some of us have managed, through determination, study, hard work, knowledge, understanding and trust in God, to climb on to a higher deck of that ship, and therefore can see little bit further and little bit clearly of the way ahead, and as a result are able reduce our burden of doubts little bit more. Only very few among us have managed to climb on to the mast of the ship and glimpse the horizon. And even those that have managed to climbed the mast; only few have sighted "land". We tend to call them "Prophets".
Therefore in my view doubts are not bad. Doubts can be healthy. Doubts prevent us from taking anything for granted. Doubts are always a prelude to better understanding of God and religion. Doubts allows us to climb on to a higher deck so that we can understand a little more of where we are headed. And if we are brave, determined and courageous and have trust in God, then we can too, can climb on to the mast and see the horizon our self and perhaps even sight ?land? too!
God is just Zlatan, He is most compassionate and most merciful, he allows every individuals to have experience like the prophets so that they too can have a "certainty" like the Prophets. If you are determined and courageous you can too have this ?certainty? and find that peace you are looking for?so don't see doubt as something that is "wrong" or "sinful" but something that continually prompts you to seek a better and better understanding of the "Truth", something that urges us to climb on to a higher deck so we can see the way ahead little better?
Regards,
P.S. Your English is fine... -)