TO TURN TO ALLAH (swt) IS FREEDOM FROM THE CHAINS OF IGNORANCE.

 PART ONE.

A brief study by: Brother Ali Ja’afary.

بِسمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَن الرَّحيم

“In the Name of ALLAH the Merciful, the Compassionate”

INTRODUCTION:

As I prepare myself to expand my Jihad for Knowledge to a more advanced level Insha’ALLAH, I felt I had to write the article, which has been lingering in my soul for quite a long time now. Especially after the multitude of blessings that I have received from ALLAH (swt) ever since I was born, (especially the great blessing of embracing Islam), in particularly this past year, where I had the chance to travel to the Middle East, perform Umrah and make contacts with a large number of different people as well as here at home and had the opportunity to reflect deeply on many different issues. Unquestionably now is the time to put down to words many of the findings I have discovered, in hopes to attain nearness to ALLAH (swt).

Unquestionably in all my prayers the same themes come up: Forgiveness of the multitudes of errors and sins I may commit, asking for blessings to those that I love and the true believers, through the mercy of ALLAH (swt) that I may obtain more knowledge, in order to achieve nearness and closeness to HIM (swt) and of course that I may dedicate the rest of my life in the service of ALLAH (swt) until I reach the purest form of true Martyrdom, in hopes to be within the presence of our most beloved Prophet Muhammad (saww) and his Ahlul-Bayt (a-s). Basically what most people pray for, who want nothing more from this transient life than to obtain ALLAH’s (swt) satisfaction, after all we were created for this purpose (“And I have not created the jinn and the men except that they should serve ME” (Glorious Qur’an 51Ad-Dāriyāt-56)); it is only natural that we pass our time devoted to HIM and HIS love. However, can I truly claim that I am doing this? Or are the preoccupations of this very short transient life blinding me from reality?

In this series of articles, I only want to investigate the behaviour patterns of the human being, and how a rather uneducated man, without any ambition and ignorant of most matters such as myself, can suddenly be filled with light and a strong desire and necessity to be closer to the Creator of all existence; ALLAH (swt), and along with all of that the overwhelming need to continuously move forward on the path that leads to the love of ALLAH (swt) and be ever surrounded by the essential and divine knowledge needed in order to obtain such high aspirations. Oh! no my dear brothers and sisters I will not bore you all with my visions and opinions, in this research I  tried to find the purest and best scientific and Divine answers to the questions that burn my heart so. As always I thank all of those who have assisted and supported me during this effort and all the dear readers, May ALLAH (swt) bless you all. 

QUESTION # 1

WHAT IS THE INNER HUMAN BEING?

‘Human Being’ in many ways is a big word for many of us, in fact many people do not reflect much on their humanity, on their mortal existence in this life, their inevitable meeting with death and the Creator of everything; ALLAH (swt). In actual fact, today’s societies do their upmost to annihilate these reflections from the minds of the masses, they portray false images of  humankind being created by accidental causes and evolving from other species, in an attempt to destroy humankind’s natural will and inner hope of bettering himself, to achieve perfection and to be close to ALLAH (swt). Today’s so called ‘politically correct’ way of thinking is making all efforts to dehumanize the human being, with disastrous results, much like pulling away the new born baby from its mothers breast or any other vital resource of nourishment, his only destiny can be his demise. Surely we find true failure and destruction for the instigators and their followers who insist on the turning away from their need and belief in their LORD and CREATOR.

“And those who strive to oppose OUR communications; they shall be the inmates of the Hell fire”. (The Glorious Qur’an 22 Al-Hajj-51)

“And those who strive in opposing OUR communications; they shall be brought to their doom”. (The Glorious Qur’an 34 Saba’-38)

Imam Sadiq (a-s) said: “Cursed are those who follow analogy, for they changed the word of ALLAH (swt), and the Prophet’s (saww) traditions, and they have accused the truthful of lying about the religion of ALLAH (swt)”. (Al-Majaalis / Al-Amaali Al-Mutafarriqaat, Sixth Assembly, Hadith 15, by: Shaykh al-Mufid (r-a))

The human beings existence is related to fulfilling his needs and desires, in order to achieve comfort and relief. All of his faculties are there for this purpose; the human being has great intellectual capacity far above any other creation. Only the human being with these most special faculties that ALLAH Azz wa Jall blessed him with, may conduct his existence freely in order to achieve the most highest of positions, or he may destroy himself in ignorance and arrogance. In other words these human faculties may be powerful tools to build a home in Paradise or a deadly weapon against himself sending him to the Hell Fire forever.

About those who use their faculties to turn away from ALLAH (swt):

“Surely they who reject faith in the signs of ALLAH will suffer the severest punishment”. (The Glorious Qur’an 3 Al-‘Imrān-4)

“Your GOD is one GOD; so as for those who don’t believe in the Hereafter, their hearts are ignorant and they are proud”. (The Glorious Qur’an 16 An-Nahl-22)

 “And when we bestow favour on man, he turns aside and behaves proudly and when evil afflicts him, he is despairing”. (The Glorious Qur’an 17 Al-Isrā-16)

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (saww) said: “ALLAH (swt) will leave those who rely on this world to earn their living only from this world”. (Mishkat Ul-Anwar fi Ghurar il-Akbar, Chap # 4, Hadith #47)

Amir-Al Mu’mineen Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a-s) said: “He has been allowed time by ALLAH (swt). He is falling into error along with negligent persons and goes early in the morning with sinners, without any road to lead him or any Imam to guide him. At last when ALLAH (swt) will make clear to them the punishment for their sins, and take them out from the veils of their negligence, they will proceed to what they were running away from and run away from what they were preceding to. They will not benefit from the wants they would satisfy or the desires they would fulfil”. (Nahj al-Balaghah, Sermon 153).

About those who use their faculties to turn to ALLAH (swt):

“Surely those who believe and do good deeds for them will ALLAH bring about love”. (The Glorious Qur’an 19 Maryam-96)

“The great fearful event shall not grieve them, and the angels shall meet them: This is your day which you were promised”. (The glorious Qur’an 21 Al-Anbiya-103)

“And for those who believe and do good deeds, these are the dwellers of the Garden of Paradise; in it they shall abide”. (The Glorious Qur’an2 Al-Baqarah-82)

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (saww) said: “ALLAH (swt) will make anyone who stops relying on others than ALLAH (swt) needless, and will provide for his unlimited sustenance through unimaginable means”. (Mishkat Ul-Anwar fi Ghurar il-Akbar, Chap # 4, Hadith #47)

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (saww) said: “Certitude is the best wealth, and worshipping ALLAH (swt) is the best job”. (Mishkat Ul-Anwar fi Ghurar il-Akbar, Chap #3, Hadith #29)

The human being’s greatest inner desire and need is also the one that can only be attainable by linking himself to the LORD, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, by his words and by his actions, for the human beings’ deepest wish is to live in comfort for all eternity and to be as close as possible to his most beloved CREATOR and LORD. Therefore only through his attachment to ALLAH (swt) can this desire and need be fulfilled, for only with a deep and true belief in Monotheism (TAWHEED) can the human being free himself from the oppressive chains and shackles of his material lusts and immoral desires.

“But if they turn back say: ‘ALLAH is sufficient for me, there is no god but HE; on HIM do I rely, and HE is the Lord of mighty power’”. (The Glorious Qur’an 9 At-Tawbah-129)

“ALLAH, there is no god but HE; and upon ALLAH, then, let the believers rely”. (The Glorious Qur’an 64 At-Tagabun-13)

“LORD of bounty; there is no god but HE; to HIM is the final goal” (The Glorious Qur’an 40 Ghafir-3)

“And that your LORD is the final goal” (The Glorious Qur’an 53An-Najm-42)

Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (a-s) said about the above Qur’anic Ayat (53-42): “Therefore you better stop any further inquiry whenever a speech ends with talk of ALLAH’s Essence”. (Mishkat Ul-Anwar fi Ghurar il-Akbar, Chap # 1, Hadith #1)

Imam Muhammad Baqir (a-s) said: “Whoever relies on ALLAH (swt) will never be defeated and whoever takes refuge in ALLAH (swt) will never fail” (Mishkat Ul-Anwar fi Ghurar il-Akbar, Chap # 4, Hadith #45)

Imam Rida (a-s) was asked about limits of reliance; Imam Rida (a-s) answered: “That with ALLAH (swt), you fear nothing else”. (Mishkat Ul-Anwar fi Ghurar il-Akbar, Chap # 3, Hadith #27)

Imam Muhammad Jawad (a-s) was asked “What does unity of God mean?” He (a-s) answered “Unity refers to what people with all different languages agree on”. (Mishkat Ul-Anwar fi Ghurar il-Akbar, Chap # 1, Hadith #7)

The essence of the human being is his love, service, worship and pure belief in the Almighty ALLAH, ALLAH (swt) says: “And I have not created the jinn and the men except that they should serve ME”. (Glorious Qur’an 51 Ad-Dāriyāt-56). When one tries to amputate this essence from the human being, his entire self begins to change, much like it does when after living a certain time in ignorance and darkness, a human being’s heart and soul opens to receive the great blessings of true belief in ALLAH (swt), both of these cases changes the human being in all forms; the first drags him to the abyss of Hell and the second can lift up to the heavens.

The human being who’s essence is amputated:

The human being, who has been amputated of his essence, which is the vital need and great pleasure of being close to ALLAH (swt), quickly becomes confused about different issues; his temperament becomes harsh and uncaring. His patience transforms to restlessness, intolerance, impatience and edginess. He develops wickedness, impiety, evil and malice, his sins become greater and greater and so does his disobedience and transgressions. His humanity (human essence) begins to drip out of him like water from a leaky faucet and it is not very long that he is totally emptied, and then he becomes lower and inferior to all the creations. His life becomes meaningless and without aspirations and goals, depression takes hold of his beaten and battered soul, so he then drowns himself in his lowest sinful desires, his heart becomes sealed, his eyes blind, his ears deaf, and his brain freezes up like a broken down computer. Our poor amputee, no longer has knowledge of something as simple as wrong and right.

ALLAH (swt) says:

 “…They have hearts, with which they do not understand, and they have eyes, with which they do not see, and they have ears, with which they don’t hear; they are as the cattle, nay, they are in worse errors; these are the heedless ones”. (Glorious Qur’an 7 Al-A’rāf-179)

“And as for him who is niggardly and considers himself free from the need of ALLAH, and rejects the best, WE will facilitate for him the difficult end”. (The Glorious Qur’an 92 Al-Layl-8-10)

“Surely as for those who disbelieve and hinder (men) fro ALLAH’s way they indeed have strayed off into a remote error”. (The Glorious Qur’an 4 An-Nisā’-167)

The human being who’s heart and soul opens to receive the great blessings of true belief in ALLAH (swt).

The most blessed of the receivers in existence, are those who receive from the Greatest Giver and who truly love HIM above all, worship HIM, dedicate themselves to HIM and are ready to sacrifice all for him. The true believers (Mu’mineen) are as rare on earth in these times as precious jewels, however, their value and worth to human kind is indescribably greater than any earthly treasure. In fact true believers essence is a light, which is directly enjoined with Paradise in the heavens, for they have achieved this by their words, behavior and actions. I can only pray and hope that one day, I could be even half of the incredible virtue and piety that they have obtained. These great men and women are on a sphere of their own, they are the links between us and the Holy Infallibles (a-s) (14 Infallibles of the Ahlul-Bayt (a-s)) who in return are our pure links to ALLAH (swt). These are those who Imam Mahdi (a-j) will call to him on the day of his (a-s) advent, and they are the ones who will follow that call without doubt or questions. They do not keep their Islamic beliefs so strongly for anyone, except for the relief of being near ALLAH (swt). Unlike the majority, their discipline has a deep mystical sense that provides light and knowledge for all those who get the wonderful opportunity to meet with them. Bearing this in mind, just imagine the astonishing, wonderful and enormous effect such an encounter with one of the 14 Infallibles (a-s) would be on us.

They are described in the Holy Qur’an as:

“Successful indeed are the believers. Who are humble in their prayers”. (The Glorious Qur’an 23 Al-Mu’minūne-1-2)

“Those who believe in the unseen and keep up prayer and spend out of what WE have given them. And who believe in that which has been revealed to you and that which was revealed before you and they are sure of the Hereafter”. (The Glorious Qur’an 2 Al-Baqarah-3-4)

“And they who do not bear witness to what is false, and when they pass by what is vain, they pass by nobly”. (The Glorious Qur’an 25 Al-Furqāne-72)

“And those who shun the great sins and indecencies, and whenever they are angry they forgive” (The Glorious Qur’an 42 Ash-Shūrā-37)

“Those who fear their LORD in secret and they are fearful of the Hour”. (The Glorious Qur’an 21 Al-Anabiyā-49)

 “And those who believe in ALLAH and HIS Apostles and do not make a distinction between any of them – ALLAH will grant them their rewards; and ALLAH is All-Forgiving and All-Merciful”. (The Glorious Qur’an 4 An-Nisā-152)

They are described in Ahadith as:

Imam Sadiq (a-s) said: “In decree of ALLAH Azz wa Jall, there is nothing but good for a believer”. (Bihar al-Anwar vol. 71, p.159  hadith 76, Al-Mustadrak vol.1, p. 137, hadith 1, Kitab Al-Mu’min chapt1, hadith 1)

Imam Sadiq (a-s) said: “ALLAH (swt) has not taken on HIMSELF to reward anyone for good deeds except the believers”. (Bihar Al-Anwar vol.67, p.64, hadith#9, Kitab Al-Mu’min, chapt2, hadith 52)

Our beloved Prophet and Messenger of ALLAH; Prophet Muhammad (saww) said: “To believe in ALLAH (swt) and to benefit His servants are the two highest characters of piety”. (Tuhaf Al-Uquul, Maxims of the Prophet (saww) #2)

Amir Ul-Mu’mineen Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a-s) said: “Be afraid of the ideas of believers, because ALLAH (swt) has put truth on their tongues” (Nahj Al-Balaghah, maxim: #309)

In conclusion of this question, a new question is formed: If all human beings have been created equal; why do some deviate from the truth and others embrace it?

QUESTION # 2

WHY DO SOME DEVIATE FROM THE TRUTH AND OTHERS EMBRACE IT?

Now that we understand that the essence of the human being is his belief, worship and adoration of ALLAH (swt), and that only by turning to ALLAH (swt) can the human being truly fulfill his needs and desires, we know that the human being seeks true comfort and relief and certainly through knowing ALLAH (swt), can he achieve this most pleasing state. However, in this transient life the human being is bombarded with evil influences, tests, adversity, pains, hardships, tragedies, etc… In order to answer the above question, we must subsequently divide its purpose into 3 questions that will bring about a full understanding of the issue in hand: 1-The meaning: Are efforts in the defense against such adversities possible? 2-The reason: Why does the human being face these adversities in this life? 3-The essence:  Why do some fight and others let go?

Are efforts in the defense against such adversities possible?

Without doubt in order to answer this question properly, we must take out from it its meaning, for we truly do not want to be left in any kind of ambiguity. To start let us look at adversity in order to understand its true connotation:

Can we say that evil is something that exists, can we say that evil is in itself an existing creation. All of creation has a specific purpose, however, when we remove the creation from its place or diminish it completely, somehow we are left with its nonexistence, this nonexistence is the lack of the creation and does not in itself become a creation (ex: object, matter, feeling, etc…). Let me give an example ALLAH (swt) created the sun (sun is the created) for a source of light and warmth (light and heat are the purpose of the sun (created)), when the sun goes down or a cloud covers it completely we are left with darkness and coldness. (The darkness and coldness themselves do not have any independent source of creation, except the missing or lack of sun) In other words: Darkness comes from missing light, however, darkness is not the purpose of the creation of light, light is the purpose of light, Cold comes from the absence or lack of heat, however, the purpose of the creation of heat is not to make cold, and since cold has no other source except coming from the lack of heat we cannot call cold an independently created existence. This is what is meant by nonexistence or nonbeing. We can absolutely feel the effects of the cold on us; however this is only because of a lack of heat and not from any other possible source.

Other examples:

A-    The earth is going through many drastic ecological changes (global warming, many ecological disasters, etc…) this because of the Ozone layer is breaking up, this bad effect is not an independent creation, it exists because of the diminishing Ozone layer, however, the Ozone layer was created to protect the earth, and it is only by its disintegration that global warming happens, global warming is not a created existence on its own.

B-     Can we say for example that ignorance is an independent creation, does ignorance on its own exist. No we cannot, for ignorance can only occur if there is an absence of knowledge. The purpose of knowledge is not ignorance, the purpose of knowledge is to perfect the human being, to give him a deeper understanding of different issues, it is only with a lack of knowledge can ignorance exist; ignorance is a result of the absence of knowledge.

C-    Our purpose for all of these explanations: I apologize to all the readers, perhaps my explanations are not clear, however, I did my best and based my research on studies, articles and books by: Shaheed Ayatullah Shaykh Murtada Mutahhari (r-a), Shaheed Ayatullah Sayyed Muhammad Baqr Sadr (r-a), Maula Sadra (r-a), Ayatullah Shaykh Muhammad Taqi Misbah Yazdi, Allamah Sayyed Muhammad Hussayn at-Tabataba’I (r-a), Ayatullah Shaykh Ja’far Subhani, as well as Albert Einstein. In truth our main objective in this article is not to have a deep philosophical and scientific discourse about creation, however, what I attempted to explain above is needed to understand that: Evil can only occur if there is an absence of good, evil on its own has no independent existence, it is only an effect like the cold is to the heat. The purpose of good is certainly not evil; evil is only an effect of the missing of good.

Adversities which may be considered by many as evil may be only in relativity of the outcome to the people affected by them. Again if a man is lost in the plains of Africa during a drought, the antelopes do not go to the water wholes in the plains to drink, for the water wholes are all dried up, therefore they stay higher in the mountains in order to survive, the predators (for example: lions) that roam the plains are therefore very hungry, at sight of the man, they attack him and devour him. In this situation we cannot say that the predators are evil, yet the circumstances of this event to the victim, his family and loved ones would be seen as a tragedy and the predators as evil. For the lion, like all living things, needs to eat to survive is not evil itself, in such circumstances, only to the victim and those affected by his lost, may presume the lion evil. In fact by the lion feeding on the man, it is guaranteeing its survival and most probably for its cubs’ survival, so to the lion, its actions are good. Here in this example, we can plainly see that the fact is: Evil (adversity) is relative.

We will analyze and investigate many times a situation, condition and circumstance from an emotional point of view, which alters the true picture. Often through patience and knowledge we come to understand many things in a new light. Many of the things we tag as tragic or evil on our part, are a lack of understanding about such things, and in most cases they are blessings for which our mental development does not yet completely comprehend, or they are of a metaphysical nature beyond a normal human beings understanding. In reality, within every adversity relief will come, in other words, as we have already said, since the sun was created to provide light, the absence of the sun’s light brings about darkness, then by the power of ALLAH (swt) the sun with its light will return. Because what we consider evil (adversity, hardship) is in reality only a lack of the existing (positive) creation, comforts and hardships always have a mutual link. Adversity is a very important part of the human beings test of patience in order to achieve the accomplishment of the Trust (we will speak about this Trust under the next question). In our Islamic beliefs ALLAH (swt), as well as his representatives the Holy Prophets (a-s) and the 12 infallible Imams (a-s) have given us many clues, lessons and examples about the mutual link of comforts and hardships:

“Indeed ease accompanies hardship. Indeed ease accompanies hardship. So when you are done with, appoint and turn to your LORD”. (The Glorious Qur’an 94 Ash-Sharh-5-8)

“WE will surely test you with a measure of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth, lives, and fruits; and give good news to the patient” (The glorious Qur’an 2 Al-Baqarah-155)

Imam Sadiq (a-s) said: “Indeed, when ALLAH (swt) loves a servant of HIS, HE drowns him in tribulations”. (Bihar Al-Anwar, vol15, p.55)

Imam Baqir (a-s) said: “The Paradise is surrounded with misfortunes and patience. Whoever becomes patient with the misfortunes of the worldly life will be in Paradise”. (Usool Al-Kafi, vol. 4 p.274)

So we must conclude, if evil is nonexistent and its effects are relative to those who are attained by them, we must open up our limited way of thinking and seeing things, especially when we are affected by their circumstances, we must remember that: the sun was not created to make shade, it’s the lack of sun that makes shade, eyes were not created to be blind, it is the absence of sight that makes blindness, the wild beast was not created to kill man, it is only the situational circumstances that may make him do so, ignorance can only be from the deficiency of knowledge and evil can only appear in the absence of good. Therefore when we meet adversity by being steadfast and patient, we realize that for our true inner humanity and our purpose for existing, adversity is without doubt a great blessing from ALLAH Azz wa Jall. For it is the harshness of evil, the repulsiveness of ugliness and the hardship of adversity that make us appreciate the gentleness of good, the attractiveness of beauty and the ease of comfort.

Therefore logically and scientifically and religiously, the human beings’ efforts in defense against such adversities are without any doubt possible and necessary. Only through belief, patience, piety and knowledge can humankind be successful in his efforts. Here is a most eloquent and powerful statement about this subject, it surely explains in depth all that we have discussed, it is by our beloved Imam Ja’afar As-Sadiq (a-s):

“Affliction is an adornment for the true believer and a mark of honor for the man of intellect, because facing it directly needs steadfastness and firm standing, both of which confirm belief. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (saww) said: “We, (the Prophets and Infallible guides (a-s)) are the people who have the hardest trials, then after us come the believers, then the others like them”.

“Whoever leaves the path of affliction is ignoring the lamp of the believers, the beacon of those near ALLAH (swt), and the guide for those on the right path. There is no good in a slave who complains of a single trial preceded by thousands of blessings and comforts. Whoever does not show patience required in affliction is deprived of thankfulness in the blessings he receives. Similarly, whoever does not give the thankfulness owed for blessings is denied the patience owed in affliction. Whoever is denied both of them is an outcast. (Masbah-al-Sharia’t By: Imam Abu Abdillah Ja’afar Ibn Muhammad As-Sadiq (a-s) Section 23: Affliction)

Why does the human being face these adversities in this life?

Now that we understand what is the meaning of adversity and its structure as being a nonexistence, and that it is a result of the absence or deficiency of an existence, we may ask a question related to reason which is: Why must humankind face so many adversities and why is the transient life a test for the human being?

ALLAH (swt) created, before all creation, the AQL (intellect, mental power), to some creation HE (swt) gave limited AQL (ex: Animals, fish, birds, insects, etc…) and to other creations HE (swt) gave unlimited AQL  ( ex: The angels, the jinn, the human being…) Sometime between the creation of the AQL and the descending of humankind to earth, ALLAH (swt) in HIS Generosity and Mercy offered to all creation on earth and the heavens a most special trust that may allow the creation, who would accept it, to be superior to all other creations. All of the creations but one, refused in fear of failing to keep and fulfill the trust. It was the human being who accepted the great challenge, some of them because of their ego and others in pure sincerity; because humankind accepted the great trust ALLAH (swt) made him vicegerent on earth, in order that humankind may accomplish the trust.

“Surely WE offered the trust to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, but they refused to be unfaithful to it and feared from it, and man has turned unfaithful to it; surely he is unjust, ignorant. So ALLAH will chastise the hypocritical men and the hypocritical women and the polytheistic men and the polytheistic women. And ALLAH will turn (mercifully) to the believing men and women, and ALLAH is Forgiving, Merciful”. (The Holy Qur’an 33 Al-Ahzab-72-73)

ALLAH (swt) in HIS Infinite Justice offered the trust to all creation freely and under no obligation and humankind took the trust freely, ALLAH (swt) in HIS Generosity and Mercy gave to all humankind perfect resources and guides in order to complete the trust. These perfect guides and resources were in the form of pure and infallible prophets (a-s) and books of divine revelations. Some of them introduced to humankind new laws and others followed and fortified laws of the infallible Prophets (a-s) before them.

The final guide and resource was the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saww) and the glorious Qur’an, this final revelation of laws, in order to achieve success in the accomplishment of the trust is Islam. After thousands of years of spreading this most important Message to all human beings of different communities, the final and seal of all of these historical and divine teachings would be kept intact on earth until the Day of Doom by two different resources; the first by the everlasting miracle of the Holy Qur’an: “WE revealed the Qur’an and verily WE are its Protector” (The Holy Qur’an 15 Al-Hijr-9) And by 12 infallible Imam (a-s) that would teach, guide, and protect the divine teachings needed for all humankind in order to fulfill the trust and reap deliverance on the Day of Judgment.

 “And whoever takes ALLAH and His apostle and those who believe for a guardian, then surely the party of ALLAH are they that shall be triumphant”. (The Noble Qur’an 5 Al-Ma’idah-56),

 ALLAH (swt) defines the true believers (those who open their hearts to the truth) as:

“And those who are the keepers of their trusts and their covenant”. (The Glorious Qur’an 23 Al-Mu’minūne-8)

“And those who are faithful to their trusts and their covenant. And those who are upright in their testimonies”. (The Glorious Qur’an 70 Al-Ma’ārij-32-33)

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (saww) said:

“He who believes in ALLAH and the Day of Resurrection should fulfill the Trust”. (Tuhaf Al-Uquul, maxims of the Prophet (saww), Hadith # 77).

“The nearest to me on the Day of Resurrection will be the most honest, the most faithful for the trusts, the most well-mannered and the closest to the people”. (Tuhaf Al-Uquul, maxims of the Prophet (saww), Hadith # 83).

Who are the hypocrites and the polytheists who do not struggle to accomplish the Trust pointed out in the Qur’anic Ayat: So ALLAH will chastise the hypocritical men and the hypocritical women and the polytheistic men and the polytheistic women. And ALLAH will turn (mercifully) to the believing men and women, and ALLAH is Forgiving, Merciful”. (The Holy Qur’an 33 Al-Ahzab-73)  Ayat 72 indicates to us that in general, the majority of human beings take the Trust unjustly; therefore the human being in general is unfaithful in his worship, his love and his duty towards ALLAH (swt), which pushes the human being towards ignorance of his obligations, away from his humanity and especially away from his Creator; ALLAH Azz wa Jall. It is written in Ayat 72: man has turned unfaithful to it; surely he is unjust, ignorant. (The Holy Qur’an 33 Al-Ahzab-72).

The hypocrites: Are described in the Holy Qur’an as:

“Have you seen those who befriend a people with whom ALLAH is wrathful? They are neither of you nor of them and they swear falsely while they know”. (The Glorious Qur’an 58 Al-Mujadalah -14)

“They make their oaths to serve as a cover so they turn away from ALLAH’s way; therefore they shall have an abasing chastisement”. (The Glorious Qur’an 58 Al-Mujadalah-16)

“These are they who buy error for the right direction, so their bargain shall bring no gain, nor are they the followers of the right direction”. (The Glorious Qur’an 2 Al-Baqarah-16)

“The hypocritical men and the hypocritical women are all alike; they enjoin evil and forbid good and withhold their hands; they have forsaken ALLAH, so HE has forsaken them; surely the hypocrites are the transgressors”. (The Glorious Qur’an 9 At-Tawbah-67)

The polytheists: Are described in the Holy Qur’an as:

“Say: Do you serve besides ALLAH what has no power to bring you any harm, or any profit, While ALLAH-HE is the All-Hearing, the All- Knowing?” (The Glorious Qur’an 5 Al-Mā’idah-76)

“Say: Have you considered if your water should go down, who is it then that will bring you flowing water?” (The Glorious Qur’an 67Al-Mulk-30)

“Do they not see the earth, how many of every noble kind WE have caused to grow in it?” (The Glorious Qur’an 26 Ash-Shu’rarā’-7)

“And if you obey most of those in the earth, they will lead you astray from ALLAH’s way; they follow but conjecture and they only lie”. (The Glorious Qur’an 6 Al-An’ām-116)

Until now we have studied how the human being objective is to fulfill his desires and needs, of which his greatest desire and need is to be in a state of well being, in comfort and with his desires and needs relieved. We found that the only way to achieve this state is by obtaining nearness and closeness to ALLAH (swt), by knowing HIM through worship, piety, seeking knowledge, patience, and being steadfast in the path of adversity, for this is the greatest of blessings. We now comprehend that humankind accepted freely the trust, which if accomplished will lead to his perfection, his purification and his salvation on the Day of Judgment. Or by failing to accomplish the trust the human being will become the lowest, most despicable creature and his destination in this case surely will be the Hell Fire.

Why do some fight and others let go?

To conclude we must answer the essence (or if you want to call it the main point) of: why do some deviate from the truth and others embrace it?         And now that we have meaning and the reason of this question, we must compose a question to be answered, which will make us understand the essence of this question. The essence of this question which is: Why do some fight and others let go? Therefore by answering this question and adding its answer to our answers of the two previous questions, we will have a complete answer to our main question: why do some deviate from the truth and others embrace it?         

 Historical examples of the tyrannical group and the righteous group

In the history of humankind we have always found a great division between the majority and the minority. In human society, it seems the main goal for the majority is the same as the minority; (we have already discussed this in the first question of this article, when we discovered that all human beings want to fulfill their needs and desires and be in a state of comfort and relief) However, the difference is not the final goal; the difference is the knowledge of understanding what the final goal is and how to obtain it. Therefore can we say that the ignorant were created with something missing that the knowledgeable seem to have?

In a large way, we have already answered this question, for all human beings who are blessed with an average intellect and physical capacities have the same opportunities to obtain a higher level and the possibility to perfect and purify his being. Then if we understand that the human being has a Trust to fulfill and all the resources and guidance to do so, why outside of the Prophets (a-s) and divinely guided Infallibles (a-s) do we find such fluctuations among humankind. For example; did the vicious tyrannical thug; Hajaj bin Yusuf (tyrannical group) and those like him have the same opportunities in their lives to perfect their inner essence (soul) as did: Umar bin Abdul Aziz (righteous group) and those like him, who turned to the truth despite obstacles and influences. For the first group stood up for tyranny, despotism, murder, torture, massacres, etc… The second group also stood up; however they stood up for Islam and its teachings, for justice, equality, freedom, as well as in the defense of the divinely righteous guided leaders the Holy Imams (a-s), etc… The question is: What are the fundamental differences in these two groups inner essence (soul), which made their destinies so different?

Of course, one may immediately jump into a deep background check on their ancestries, in hopes to find the answer. However, we cannot go only on this kind of search thinking that generalities are the rule. For example in the despotic and tyrannical Umayyad dynasty, the majority of their rulers were among the worst of human beings that ever lived, they corrupted the majority and they spent their lives committing sins, vices, horrible crimes, killing of Holy Imams (a-s), killing of righteous believers and fighting against the TRUTH. Most definitely, as a general rule, from father to son their torch of hate and despotism was passed down.

However, within this family of monsters, exceptionally, we can find such a person as Umar bin Abdul Aziz, who during his time as Caliph tried to restore some kind of correct order. We can even say that even though his lineage is within the first group (tyrannical group); his destiny proved that his existence was in the second group (righteous group). In a time when his ancestors established so many awful and despicable acts as laws, Umar bin Abdul Aziz, slowly tried to demolish those most despicable laws, for it was Umar bin Abdul Aziz who aborted the law of cursing the true Amir Ul-Mu’mineen Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a-s) before sermons and religious gatherings. By his brave stance he re-announced the truth by his claim that Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a-s) is superior to all Muslims. He also reinstated many of the rich, true and authentic Ahadith from the Holy Prophet (saww) and his Ahlul-Bayt (a-s). He showed true respect to the Ahlul-Bayt (a-s) and their followers and was murdered by poison by his own family who could not bear his virtuous and good nature.

Here my point is; we must not forget that Umar bin Abdul Aziz was a son, a nephew and grandson of such fiendish, cruel and heartless beasts as: Mu’awiya, Yazid, Marwān, Abdul Malik, etc… It was Abdul Malik who with his poisonous heart and treacherous soul, kept around him at all times, one of the most horrible and atrocious killers in history: Hajaj bin Yusuf who spent his life torturing, abusing, killing and imprisoning the descendants of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saww), Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a-s) and their followers, it is said he himself killed 120000 people aside from those he killed in battles, massacres, or those he had killed by others. When he died, there were 50000 tortured men and 30000 tortured women in his prisons, 16000 of them were naked, his prisons were high walls built around the people without roofs or any place for shelter in the shade against the burning sun, their skins would burn in the blistering heat. This article is not a historical article, I encourage you all to read about these men, in order to learn more about their lives, however, for this article we have enough to understand that it is not only a question of ancestry  that determines someone’s inner essence.

So if ancestry is not a strong enough proof in order to determine one’s development of his inner essence, what exactly does make an Umar bin Abdul Aziz so different than a Hajaj bin Yusuf? How did the heart of Umar bin Abdul Aziz open up to the great light and why did he turn to ALLAH (swt) and free himself from the chains of ignorance, while at the same time Hajaj bin Yusuf sank deeper and deeper into ignorance and self-destruction? In other words, what is the first step that one must do in order to seek nearness to ALLAH (swt) in order to receive salvation? ALLAH (swt) answers this question for us:

“And whoever desires the Hereafter and strives for it as he ought to strive and he is a believer; as for these, their striving shall surely be accepted”. (The Glorious Qur’an 17 Al-Isrā’-19)

“O you who believe! If you help (in the cause) ALLAH, HE will help you and make firm your feet”. (The Glorious Qur’an 47 Muhammad-7)

“Surely whoever helps ALLAH’s cause shall be helped by HIM. Surely ALLAH is the ALL-Strong, the ALL-Mighty”. (The Glorious Qur’an 22 Al-Hajj-40)

As we can see the human being’s first step towards the nearness and closeness to ALLAH (swt), is to strive in HIS path. And of course, as we all know, HIS path has both individual and social responsibilities, all of them are well defined to humankind, it is up to us either to accomplish them or turn away from them, however, we must always keep in mind that we will be rewarded or punished, all depending the way we choose: The Right Path to the Gardens of Paradise or the dark road to Hell. If we decide to do evil deeds and wrongdoing, then we can only blame ourselves for our ignorance, because during our short stay in this transient life all is well identified for us. ALLAH Azz wa Jall tells us in the Glorious Qur’an, if we want our destinies to change, we must first change our behaviors and attitudes:

“ALLAH never changes the condition of a nation unless it changes what is in its heart”. (The Glorious Qur’an13 Ar-Ra’d-11)

“WE have shown man the right path. Now it is up to him to be grateful of thankless”. (The Glorious Qur’an 76 Al-Insān-3)

“ALLAH did not do injustice to them, but they had wronged themselves”. (The Glorious Qur’an 29 Al-Ankabūt-40)

Most of mankind, as we said, prefers to ignore the truth in order to fulfill their immediate desires and fleeting needs, man prefers this transitory material life to his much more important eternal future in the Hereafter. So they reject the plain truth and turn to falsehood, deception, ignorance and deceit. Today’s Materialistic system supports anti-religious sentiment, it has adopted for it citizens, a state of universal ignorance, in order to control the masses easier like numb sheep, pushing its populace ever closer to their final abode, the abyss of Hell fire. ALLAH (swt) tells us about such ignorance in the Glorious Qur’an:

“We certainly brought you the truth, but most of you were averse to the truth”. (The Holy Qur’an 43 Az-Zuhruf-78)

“Or do they say: There is madness in him? Nay! He (the Prophet Muhammad (saww) them the truth, and most of them are averse from the truth”. (The Glorious Qur’an 23 Al-Mu’minūn-70)

Now it is clear that the step towards our salvation and true felicity, is our first step towards ALLAH (swt), in other words these Qur’anic teachings confirm our responsibility towards the Trust that we chose to accomplish, which confirms that what we consider adversities are actually blessings, in order to achieve closeness and nearness to ALLAH (swt), which is the ultimate comfort and relief for mankind, which as we said at the very beginning of this study is the ultimate goal for all human beings.

Conclusion:

WHY DO SOME DEVIATE FROM THE TRUTH AND OTHERS EMBRACE IT? As has been made very clear in our study of this question, it is because within the great Trust that man has chosen (in order to be the best of creation), there is a link with specific behavior and moral conditions to be filled, as well as a responsibility towards being thankful for our great blessings that ALLAH (swt) the All-Generous, All-Forgiving, and being steadfast an patient in adversity of all kinds. Those who deviate are the hypocrites, the polytheist, the wrongdoers and the uneducated that don’t want to accept the truth and those who embrace are the believers and those striving in order to perfect and purify themselves for the Day of Judgment.

One of our great responsibilities is also to educate others in understanding the purpose of mankind and their reason to be alive. As the modern despotic rulers dictate, through the media, a large hate and smear campaign against Islam, we surely can see that this responsibility is an obligation on all of the community. It is far time to tear down the curtains of deception hiding the truth, we must re-introduce the true Islam to the ignorant masses, who unfortunately see us (Muslims) in a false image fashioned and propagated by; the biggest enemies of Islam. Let us re-introduce to the whole world, the genuineness, purity, true light, love, and salvation that is Islam and the greatest, purest and most perfect and infallible human beings ever created: The Prophets (a-s), our beloved Prophet Muhammad (saww) and his infallible Ahlul-Bayt (a-s).

Insha’ALLAH, in the near future, we will investigate into more questions in hopes to gain or at least confirm the necessary knowledge to bring us closer to our Creator ALLAH (swt). Until then, may ALLAH (swt) guide, protect and bless you all. As-Salam Alaykum wa Ramatullah wa Barakatuh.

The very insignificant and minute; Ali Ja’afary.