What does God really want? Mike Ghouse gives us the answer
HARMONY
Like a mother who wants her children to live well, like a teacher who wants his students to do well, and like a chef who wants his patrons to enjoy his food…
God wants every one of his creation to live in harmony and do well.
LOVE
No one is deprived of God’s love; he has reached every human through a peace maker, messenger, prophet, reformer or simply a wise man or a good friend that brings sense to living.
GUIDANCEThe creator offers a variety of guidance to mankind, no matter where you live, the guidance is there, the guidance that leads to live in peace, and without fear of the other.
PEACE
Religion is one such instrument that God guides us through, and there are many of them, at least 250 traditions including a dozen major ones. Each tradition does well for the believer in bringing peace to oneself.
COHESIVE SOCIETY
Today, the one tradition I am talking about is Islam, and one of its beautiful aspects that helps build cohesive societies.
RAMADAN MUBARAKRamadan is the fasting month for Muslims and one of the pillars of Islam. Mubarak means blessed. Ramadan Mubarak means may you have a blessed Ramadan. Ramadan is a very busy month for Muslims – they are not just fasting but are spending more time in prayer and reciting the Quran. It is also a month of learning about others, connecting with others, developing empathy with new fellow beings and reaching new heights in piety and spirituality.
GOD CONSCIOUSNESS
Having piety and spirituality is known as Taqwa in Islam. Taqwa is to become closer to God and emulate his qualities of unselfishness, forgiveness and love.
SERVICE
Ramadan is a month of practicing service to fellow beings and developing the self-discipline to learn to live and be conscious of every moment of the day for 30 days.
BLESSED START
Ramadan starts with the sighting of the moon. However, in modern times, a few scientifically-inclined-Muslims have adopted NASA’s calculations believed to be precise. Nevertheless, four different traditions are operating concurrently:
i) Strictly Calendar
ii) NASA and
iii) Sighting with bare eyes
and iv) sighting by others in the community.
HUMAN NATUREThe Quraan says, had God willed, he would have made every one of us alike –
then he says, he chose to make us into different tribes and nations from the same couple (or the same source).
GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER
God goes on to challenge us to know each other – God knows that our conflicts stem from not knowing each other, and living with misinformation about others. When we know each other, conflicts fade and solutions will emerge.
TAKE CARE OF YOUR NEIGHBOR
Every religion means peace and Justice and that is acceptable to God. God says, you need not worry who you are, as long as you take care of your neighbor, I will recompense you. Each one of us is responsible for our Karma.
THE BEST PEOPLE
God concludes (Quraan 49:13) that the best among us is the one who knows each other, learns about each other and respects each other. If we take the time, to learn, every religion is out there to bring goodness to humanity.
GOODNESS
Mike Ghouse’s prayer for now and the future: Be good to yourselves and everyone around you.
Pic credit - Nadeem Faraz - Nadeem Faraz is an award-wining talented Urdu and English poet, writer and artist.
- Self and Allah -- When your thoughts surrender to Allah only by Nadeem Faraz
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