For children, - Preparing for the Hereafter: Drawbacks of a Palace, King Story

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Many years ago there lived a King who built himself a huge and magnificent palace. No one had seen anything like it before. The turrets rose into the sky and many expensive materials were used in its construction. The King invited one and all to come and view his palace and left a guest book at the entrance for them to sign and leave comments in.
He took pleasure in reading the various praises that people visiting the palace had written for him in the book. However, he came across two comments that were not in keeping with the general feeling. These two comments were not in praise of the palace; on the contrary, they criticized it. The King was upset and summoned the authors of the comments. At first, neither of them was ready to explain his comment but, after the King assured them that their lives were not in danger, they disclosed the reasons.
"O King! There are two weaknesses in this palace. The first of these is that some day, the palace will turn into ruins, and the second one is that it does not have anything to ensure that its owner will not be separated from it one day. In a life of just a few days, why do we have to attach ourselves to such worldly, material things?" (Bikhre Moti)
Man will soon die and leave behind all his worldly possessions. What will accompany him the journey to the Hereafter are his noble deeds.
Imam Ali al Hadi (as)said: In the world, people are publicized by their property, wealth and asset, and in eternity they are known by their deeds and actions.
"Wealth and children are an adornment of the life of the world, but lasting righteous deeds are better with your Lord in reward and better in hope." Noble Qur'an, (18:46)
Wisdom therefore dictates that man should focus his attention to things that are imperishable and highly rewardable.
Imam Ali (as)said: The world is a passage lodging, and eternity is a place everlasting, yon should take advantage of the opportunity to save something from your passage lodging for the rest of your Journey.
Some body asked Imam Hassan Mojtaba (as):
Why are we reluctant to die, why don't we like death?
"Because", replied the Imam Hassan Mojtaba (as), "You ruined your next world (hereafter) and developed this one; naturally, you do not like to be transferred from flourishing to decline."
Imam Hassan Mojtaba (as) said: The faithful people use this world to gather provisions for the next world but faithless people only enjoy the fruits of this world while living.
Imam Jafar Sadegh (as)quoted on the authority of Holy Prophet Muhammad (saww): What do I have to do with this world, and what does this world have to do with me? The story of me and the world is similar to that of a man who is riding on a hot day and reaches a tree. He takes a nap under the shade of the tree for a short while, and then goes on leaving the tree behind.
Imam Jafar Sadegh (as) said: The person, who is attached much to the world, when it is time to depart, will have many deep regrets and many grievances.

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Discover Islam, - The purpose of creation –II

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The meaning of worship
To understand why human beings need to worship God, one must first understand what is meant by the term 'worship.' The English term 'worship' comes from the old English 'weorthescipe' meaning 'honor'. Consequently, worship in the English language is defined as ‘the performance of devotional acts in honor of a deity’. According to this meaning, man is instructed to show gratitude to God by glorifying Him.
In Chapter An-Nasr of the final revelation, Allaah Says )what means(:"Glorify the praises of your Lord."]Quran 110 : 3[. In glorifying God, man chooses to be in harmony with the rest of the creation, which naturally glorifies its Creator. Allaah addresses this phenomenon in many chapters of the Quran. For example, in chapter Al-Israa, Allaah states )what means(:"The seven heavens and the earth and whatever is in them glorify Him and there is nothing which does not glorify His praise. However, you do not understand their glorification."]Quran 17: 44[
However, in Arabic, the language of the final revelation, worship is called ‘`Ibaadah’, which is closely related to the noun ‘`Abd’, meaning ‘a slave.’ A slave is one who is expected to do whatever his master wills.
Consequently, worship, according to the final revelation, means 'obedient submission to the will of God.' This was the essence of the message of all the prophets sent by God to humankind. For example, this understanding of worship was emphatically expressed by Prophet ‘Eesaa )Jesus(, may Allaah exalt his mention, in the Gospel according to Matthew, 7 : 21: "None of those who call me 'Lord' will enter the kingdom of God, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven."
It should be noted that 'will' in this quote means 'what God wants human beings to do' and not 'what God permits humans to do', because nothing happens in creation without the will )permission( of God. The 'Will of God' is contained in the divinely revealed laws, which the prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention, taught their followers. Consequently, obedience to divine law is the foundation of worship. In this sense, glorification also becomes worship when humans choose to obey God's instructions regarding His glorification.
The need for worship
Why do human beings need to worship and glorify God by obeying the divinely revealed laws? This is because obedience to divine law is the key to success in this life and the next. The first human beings, Aadam )Adam(, may Allaah exalt his mention, and Eve, were created in paradise and later expelled from paradise for disobeying the divine law. The only way for human beings to return to paradise is by obedience to the law.
’Eesaa )Jesus, the Messiah(, may Allaah exalt his mention, was reported in the Gospel according to Matthew to have made obedience to the divine laws the key to paradise: Now behold, one came and said to him: "Good teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" So he said to him: "Why do you call me good? No one is good but One that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."
Also in Matthew 5:19, ‘Eesaa )Jesus(, may Allaah exalt his mention, was reported to have insisted on strict obedience to the commandments, saying: "Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven"
Divine laws represent guidance for humankind in all walks of life. They define right and wrong for them and offer human beings a complete system governing all of their affairs. The Creator alone knows best what is beneficial for His creation and what is not. The divine laws command and prohibit various acts and substances to protect the human spirit, the human body and human society from harm. In order for human beings to fulfill their potential by living righteous lives, they need to worship God through obedience to His commandments.
Remembrance of God
All of the various acts of worship contained in the divine laws are designed to help humans remember God. It is natural for human beings to sometimes forget even the most important things. Humans often become so engrossed in fulfilling their material needs that they totally forget their spiritual needs.
Regular prayer is ordained to organize the day of the true believer around the remembrance of God. It interweaves spiritual needs with material needs on a daily basis. The regular daily need to eat, work and sleep is linked to the daily need to renew man's connection with God. With regard to regular prayer, Allaah states in the final revelation, Chapter Taa Haa )what means(:"Verily, I am Allaah, there is no god beside Me, so worship Me and establish regular prayer for My remembrance."]Quran 20:14[
Regarding fasting, Allaah stated in Chapter Al-Baqarah )what means(:"O you who believe! Fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you that you may become God-conscious."]Quran 2:183[
The believers are encouraged to remember God as much as possible. Although, moderation in all spheres of life, whether material or spiritual, is generally encouraged in divine law, an exception is made regarding the remembrance of Allaah. It is virtually impossible to remember God too much. Consequently, in the final revelation, Chapter Al-Ahzaab, Allaah encourages the believers to remember God as often as possible )what means(:"O believers! Remember Allaah often."]Quran 33:41[
Remembrance of God is stressed because sin is generally committed when God is forgotten. The forces of evil operate most freely when consciousness of God is lost. Consequently, the satanic forces seek to occupy people's minds with irrelevant thoughts and desires to make them forget God. Once God is forgotten, people willingly join the corrupt elements. The final revelation, the Quran, addresses this phenomenon in Chapter Al-Mujaadalah as follows )which means(:"Satan got the better of them and caused them to forget Allaah. Those are the party of Satan. Truly the party of Satan are the real losers"]Quran 58:19[
God, through divine law, has prohibited intoxicants and gambling primarily because they cause human beings to forget God. The human mind and body easily become addicted to drugs and games of chance. Once addicted, humankind's desire to continually be stimulated by them leads them into all forms of corruption and violence among themselves. Allaah Says in Chapter Al-Maa'idah of the final revelation )what means(:"Satan's plan is to incite enmity and hatred among you with intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allaah and regular prayer. Will you not then abstain?"]Quran 5 : 91[
Consequently, humankind needs to remember God for their own salvation and growth. All humans have times of weakness in which they commit sins. If they have no means of remembering God, they sink deeper and deeper into corruption with every sin. However, those who follow the divine laws will be constantly reminded of God, which will give them a chance to repent and correct themselves. The final revelation accurately describes this process in Chapter Aal 'Imraan )what means(:
" Those who, having done something shameful or having wronged their own souls, remember Allaah and immediately ask forgiveness for their sins…"]Quran 3:135[
The religion of Islam
The most complete system of worship available to human beings today is the system found in the religion of Islam. The very name 'Islam' means 'submission to the will of God.' Although it is commonly referred to as ‘the third of the three monotheistic faiths,' it is not a new religion at all. It is the religion brought by all of the prophets of God, may Allaah exalt their mention, for humankind. Islam was the religion of Aadam )Adam(, Ibraaheem )Abraham(, Moosaa )Moses( and ‘Eesaa )Jesus(, may Allaah exalt their mention.
God addresses this issue in the final revelation with regard to Prophet Abraham, may Allaah exalt his mention, saying )what means(:"Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was an upright Muslim who did not worship others besides God."]Quran 3 : 67[
Since there is only One God and humankind are one species, the religion, which God has ordained for human beings, is one. He did not prescribe one religion for the Jews, another for Indians, yet another for Europeans, etc. Human spiritual and social needs are uniform, and human nature has not changed since the first man and woman were created. Consequently, no other religion is acceptable to God besides Islam, as He clearly states in Chapter Aal 'Imraan of the final revelation )what means(:"Surely Allaah's religion is Islam."]Quran 3:19[
And )what means(:"And whoever desires a religion besides Islam will not have it accepted, and he will be among the losers in the Hereafter."]Quran 3:85[

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Discover Islam, - The purpose of creation -I

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The purpose of creation is a topic that puzzles every human being at some point in his or her lifetime. Everybody, at some time or another, asks themselves the question: "Why do I exist?" or "For what purpose am I here on earth?"
The variety and complexity of the intricate systems, which constitute the fabric of both human beings and the world in which they exist, indicate that there must have been a Supreme Being who created them. Design indicates a designer. When human beings come across footprints on a beach, they immediately conclude that a human being had walked by there some time previously.
No one imagines that the waves from the sea settled in the sand and by chance produced a depression looking exactly like human footprints. Nor do humans instinctively conclude that they were brought into existence without a purpose. Since purposeful action is a natural product of human intelligence, humans conclude that the Supreme Intelligent Being who created them must have done so for a specific purpose. Therefore, human beings need to know the purpose for their existence in order to make sense of this life and to do what is ultimately beneficial for them.
Throughout the ages, however, there has been a minority among humans who have denied the existence of God. Matter, in their opinion, is eternal and mankind is merely a chance product of accidental combinations of its elements. Consequently, for them there was no answer to the question: "Why did God create man?" According to them, there simply is no purpose to existence. However, the vast majority of humankind over the ages have believed and continue to believe in the existence of a Supreme Being who created this world with a purpose. For them it was, and still is, important to know about the Creator and the purpose for which He created human beings.
Why did God create man?
To answer the question: "Why did God create man?" it must first be determined from which perspective the question is being asked. From the point of view of God it would mean: "What caused God to create human beings?" While from the human point of view it would mean: "For what purpose did God create humans?" Both points of view represent aspects of the intriguing question: "Why do I exist?"
In the following pages, both aspects of the question will be explored based on the clear picture painted by divine revelation. This is not a topic for human speculation, because human guesswork cannot possibly produce the whole truth in this matter. How can human beings intellectually deduce the reality of their existence when they can hardly understand how their own brain or its higher entity, the mind, functions?
Consequently, the numerous philosophers who have speculated on this question through the ages have come up with innumerable answers, all of which are based on assumptions, which cannot be proven. Questions on this topic have even led a number of philosophers to claim that we do not really exist and that the whole world is imaginary.
For example, the Greek philosopher Plato )428-348 CE( argued that the everyday world of changeable things, which man comes to know by the use of his senses, is not the primary reality, but is a shadow world of appearances.
Many others, claimed and continue to claim that there is no purpose for the creation of humans at all. According to them, human existence is merely a product of chance. There can be no purpose if life evolved from non-living matter, which only became animate by pure luck. Humankind's supposed 'cousins,' the monkeys and apes, are not bothered with questions of existence, so why should human beings be bothered with them?!
The necessity of the answer
Although most people put the question of why we are created aside after occasional brief reflection, it is extremely critical for human beings to know the answer. Without knowledge of the correct answer, human beings become indistinguishable from the other animals around them. The animal needs and desires like eating, drinking and procreating become the purpose of human existence by default, and human effort is then focused to this limited sphere.
When material satisfaction develops into the most important goal in life, human existence becomes even more degraded than that of the lowest of animals. Human beings will consistently misuse their God-given intelligence when they lack knowledge of their purpose of existence. The degraded human mind uses its abilities to create drugs and bombs and becomes engrossed in fornication, pornography, homosexuality, fortune-telling etc.
Without knowledge of the purpose of life, human existence loses all meaning and is consequently wasted, and the reward of an eternal life of happiness in the hereafter is completely destroyed. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that human beings correctly answer the question: "Why are we here?"
How to know the answer
Humans most often turn to other human beings like themselves for answers. However, the only place that clear and precise answers to these questions can be found is in the books of Divine Revelation. It was necessary that God reveal the purpose to man through His prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention, because human beings are incapable of arriving at the correct answers by themselves. All of the prophets of God taught their followers the answers to the question: "Why did God create man?"
From the perspective of humankind, the question "Why did God create man?' implies: "For what purpose was man created?" In the final revelation )i.e. The Holy Quran(, this question is answered without any ambiguity. God informed humans that every human being is born with an innate consciousness of God.
In Chapter Al-A'raaf, Allaah Says )what means(:"]Remember[ when your Lord extracted from the loins of Aadam's children their descendants and made them testify )saying(: 'Am I not your Lord?' They said: 'Yes, we testify to it.' ]This was[ in case you say on the Day of Judgment: 'We were unaware of this.' Or you say: "It was our ancestors who worshipped others besides God and we are only their descendants. Will you then destroy us for what those falsifiers did?'"
]Quran 7: 172-3[
The Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, )may Allaah exalt his mention( explained that when Allaah created Aadam )Adam(, may Allaah exalt his mention, He took from him a covenant at a place called Na'maan on the 9th day of the 12th month. He then extracted from Aadam, may Allaah exalt his mention, all of his descendants who would be born until the end of the world, generation after generation, and spread them out before Him to take a covenant from them. He spoke to them, making them bear witness that He was their Lord.
Consequently, every human being is responsible for belief in God, which is imprinted on each and every soul. It is based on this inborn belief that Allaah defined the purpose of humankind's creation in Chapter Ath-Thaariyaat )which means(:"I have created the jinn and humankind only for My worship."]Quran 51: 56[
We are here to worship God
Thus, the essential purpose for which humankind was created is the worship of God. However, the Almighty is not in need of human worship. He did not create human beings out of a need on His part. If not a single human worshipped God, it would not diminish His Glory in any way, and if all of mankind worshipped Him, it would not increase His Glory in any way. God is Perfect. He alone exists without any needs. All created beings have needs. Consequently, it is humankind that needs to worship God.

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Discover Islam, - Every nation was sent a messenger

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It is an Islamic belief that every nation was sent a Messenger for their guidance. The important matter was the concept of Tawheed, or belief in the Oneness of Allaah(. The secondary matter was Sharee'ah, or religious Law, which kept changing from tribe to tribe and nation to another. Allaah the Most High alone knows what is good for His creation.
As it is mentioned in the Quran, what means:"And for every nation is a messenger. So when their Messenger comes, it will be judged between them in justice, and they will not be wronged." ]Quran 10:47[ And: "And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, ]saying[: 'Worship Allaah and avoid Taaghoot ]i.e., false deities['. And among them were those upon whom error was ]deservedly[ decreed. So proceed ]i.e., travel[ through the earth and observe how was the end of the deniers."]Quran 16:36[
Some of these Messengers are mentioned in the Quran by Allaah and some of them are not, as the Quran says, what means:"And We have certainly sent messengers before you ]O Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam[. Among them are those ]whose stories[ We have related to you, and among them are those ]whose stories[ We have not related to you. And it was not for a messenger to bring a sign ]or verse[ except by permission of Allaah. So when the command of Allaah comes, it will be concluded ]i.e., judged[ in truth, and the falsifiers will thereupon lose ]all[."]Quran 40:78[
So, we decided to have a look at the issue of Messengers sent to various tribes and nations and take the advice mentioned in the Quran, which means:"… So proceed ]i.e., travel[ throughout the earth and observe how was the end of those who denied."]Quran 3:137[
The content in this post is a discovery by serendipity. The information sometimes came from lazy browsing through the books on social anthropology and sometimes from serious research.
The Kapauku Papuans ofWest Guinea:
The material below is an attempt to show how different tribes in different parts of the world had Monotheism, or worship of the One True God. But along with the True God some subservient gods were also worshipped in some cases. It is taken from a book called "The Kapauku Papuans ofWest Guinea" by Leopold Pospisil. It is a case study of a Stone Age Kapauku tribe that led their aboriginal lives undisturbed by the spreading western civilisation until 1938.
The Kapauku Papuans are mountain people who belong to one of the several tribes whose members inhabit the central highlands of westernNew Guinea. Their country, most of which lies 1500m above sea level, is composed of rugged mountain chains and deep valleys.
The Kapauku have an interesting worldview. Regarding the Creator of the universe, the Kapauku believe that the universe itself and all existence was Ebijata, 'designed by Ugatame', the creator. Ugatame has a dual nature and is manifested to the people by the duality of the sun and the moon. To them, the sun and moon are definitely not creators themselves - they are only manifestations of Ugatame to make his presence known to the people.
Ugatame is omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent, credited with the creation of all things and with having determined all events. Obviously, Ugatame is beyond existence because to the Kapauku, all that exists must be of phenomenal nature; one must be able to see, hear, smell, taste or feel it. But the creator is beyond this phenomenal dimension, because of the simple reason that he created it.
Here is an interesting argument between a Kapauku and a Christian Missionary: "In the year 1955 a very old man from the Mapia region, supported by his two sons, managed to meet a Christian missionary. His main purpose was a problem he wanted to have clarified before he died. He could not understand how it is possible that the white man could be so clever and ingenious in designing such amazing contrivances as aeroplanes )which the old man could see flying over his valley(, guns, medicines, clothes, and steel tools, and at the same time be so primitive and illogical in his religion.
"How can you think," he argued, "that a man can sin and can have a free will, and at the same time believe that your God is omnipotent, that He created the world and determined all the happenings? If He determined all that happens, and )therefore( also the bad deeds, how can a man be held responsible? Why, if he is omnipotent, did the Creator have to change himself into a man to allow himself to be killed )crucified( when it would have been enough for him just to order men to behave?" The notion that anything can be absolutely bad or good was quite incomprehensible to him. Furthermore, the Christian notion of man resembling God in appearance appeared to him as utterly primitive )or "tabe-tabe", meaning stupid(!"
It is quite surprising that a tribe thought to be from the Stone Age could argue so rationally and logically with a Christian missionary on the aspect of God. We Muslims also use the same arguments when it comes to the concept of God. It comes as no surprise to us that when the Kapauku heard that God became man they called the concept "primitive" and "tabe-tabe" )stupid(. Well, 'polemics' against Christianity started in the Stone Age itself and Muslims are not to be blamed for that!
Lastly, where is this Ugatame, their supreme god, residing? In the view of Kamu Kapauku, the world is a flat block of stone and soil that is surrounded with water and extends indefinitely into the depths thus providing no room for an underworld. Above the earth is a solid bowl of blue sky that limits the known world at the horizon. Beyond the solid bowl of sky exists another world that may be similar to ours, the abode of Ugatame, the Creator.
It is quite surprising that the Kapauku knew where their God is. The Pharaoh knew where the God of Moosaa )Moses(, may Allaah exalt his mention, is, as the following verse mentions, which means:"And Fir'awn )Pharaoh( said: 'O eminent ones! I have not known you to have a god other than me. Then ignite for me, O Haamaan, ]a fire[ upon the clay, and make for me a tower that I may look at the God of Moosaa. And indeed, I do think he is among the liars."]Quran: 28:38[
Most people today are not aware where God is. They say that God is everywhere, in us and in them. For Muslims it is an important point of creed and must be known. Know you Lord before everything else!
To conclude, the Islamic belief is that every nation on the earth was sent a Prophet for their guidance. As time passed by, corruption was introduced in the religion and instead of worshipping One true God, false deities were worshipped along with Him. The best example would be ofArabiabefore the advent of Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam )may Allaah exalt his mention(. They worshipped idols like Al-'Uzzaa along with Allaah, the One and only true God.

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