Salvation 10

Salaam All & Eid Mubarak (Blessed Festival)

 

Night 30

 

When we view the practice of fasting as something which must be endured in order to earn a reward, then we have entirely missed the point. The one who strives after obedience and recoils from disobedience is right to expect from the bounty of God the completion of blessing.

 

When we view the practice of Prayers only in numbers of times bowing & prostrations without comprehension by both intellect & emotions then our prayers are blind, cold, and fatalistic, while spiritual unfoldment is a vital inspiration.

 

Fasting & Prayers are disciplines which forms and shapes us, makes us into people who are more responsive to God. Who would have found the meaning of life.

 

That’s why we will NOT know how effective our Ramadan fasts & prayers have been until a few weeks after Ramadan is over.

 

Will we act differently?

 

Will we be closer to God?

 

Will we be more loving to our families and neighbours?

 

Will we be more sensitive to people in need, to the poor and destitute?

 

If we manage to complete the 30-day fast successfully, but end up acting selfishly and hatefully on the thirty-first, or forty-first, or sixtieth day, 100/200/300 day then our Ramadan will have been a failure.

 

The whole point of Ramadan is to be changed – for good. It’s not simply a set of exercises that one must endure for thirty days so that we can earn a reward in heaven, or earn a check mark next to our name on the “Good” list. Do we take God for a joker?

 

And living “right” during Ramadan does not give one license to live “wrong” the other eleven months of the year. 

 

Ramadan is like a spiritual “boot camp,” training for the rest of the year. It’s intended to make it easier to live in submission to God’s will all the year round. Fasting is learning how to say “no” to permissible things, in order that it may be easier for us to say “no” to things which are not permissible. It also helps us to say “yes” to the eternal, spiritual blessings which God offers to us in tiny, subtle ways throughout the day.

 

As you have found out during Ramadan it is possible for your better nature to govern your passions and appetites.

 

Where the passions are most strongly implanted there, too, is always an equal strength of will if it is only brought forth and exercised.  But the one is indulged, the other neglected. In Ramadan the will was exercised and not the passions. Are we now on this day of Eid and onwards until the next Ramadan to exercise the uncontrollable passions without control and leave the will to atrophy? If we do no growth will occur...

 

All greatness, all strength, in whatever direction, is associated with strong passions...that are under the will's control..

 

That is a discipline we all need throughout the year.

 

Shamal...Eid Mubarak once more and thanks for tuning in for the last 30 days...a most gracious thanks for your replies & calls...Wassalaam

 

Salvation 9

Salaam All

 

Night 29

 

The Climax of the Fast...an emotional crescendo that should leave us seeing a riot of colours...instead of being in a state of spiritual colour-blindness.

 

So which was your Ramadan...

 

This present world is the field of the next world, and the heart is as the earth, and faith is as the seed in it, and obedience is conducive to the turning over of the earth and the cleansing of it and the digging of channels and the leading of waters to them.

 

The heart which is infatuated with this present world and submerged in it is like swampy ground in which the seed does not fructify. And the Day of Resurrection is the day of reaping, and no one reaps except what they have sown, and only the one who has sown the seed of faith grows crops.

 

Rarely is faith profitable in company with a vicious heart whose moral traits are tainted just as the seed does not fructify in swampy soil. And it is fitting that the hope of the creature for pardon should equal the hope of the owner of the crops.

 

For everyone who seeks good ground and casts into it seed of first quality which is neither mouldy nor worm-eaten, who thereafter furnishes it with what is necessary to it, that is, the conducting of water to it at appropriate times; who then clears the ground of thorns and weeds and everything that obstructs the growth of the seed or makes it rot; who then sits down and expects from the bounty of God the warding off of thunderbolts and blights, until their crop is mature and they arrive at their goal - their expectation is called hope.

 

And, if one scatters their seed in ground which is baked hard or swampy, which is so elevated that the water does not flow into it, and does not labour one whit in the preparation of the seed - if such a one then expects a harvest from it, their expectation is called stupidity and self-deceit, not hope. And, if they scatter seed in ground which is good but without water, and proceeds to wait for the waters of the rains where they neither prevail nor are cut off, their expectation is called wishful thinking and not hope.

 

So which was your Ramadan...hope or stupidity...

 

O people do not go back to groping among old sins. Waste no tears upon the blotted record of lost years but turn the leaf and smile, oh, smile, to see the fair white pages that remain for you.

 

Shamal

Salvation 8

Salaam All 

 

Night 28

 

Salvation is remembrance, recollection, and confirmation of a knowledge deeply embedded in the very substance of our being. 

As Ramadan comes to a close let us reflect on the month and consider what we have learned and how our lives will be different going forward.

 

More than anything else, let us be hungry for the rest of our lives. The physical fast ends very soon, but spiritually, we should never be satisfied again.

 

We should always be hungry for the kind of dialogue we experienced during prayer – deep, soul-enriching conversations about God, about God’s purposes for the world, about God’s purposes for our lives.

 

We should always be hungry for a world where people do not kill each other in the name of religion; where violence is entirely rejected as an acceptable way to make oneself heard in the public square. Let us commit to becoming the kind of person who will simply not tolerate hate speech against Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs,  atheists, or persons of any other kind of religious expression.

 

We should always be hungry for a world where people respect freedom of thought, speech, conscience, and religion, and where people do not fear the threat of heresy. It is important that we all remain open to listen to people who differ from us, even if those differences are significant.

 

We should always be hungry for justice to be done – especially on behalf of the world’s neglected. As we fill our plates tonight, we must remember that this is a luxury for millions of the world’s people. There is something wrong with that fact. How can we truly be satisfied deep in our hearts when we know that so many people remain painfully poor and hungry?

 

We should always be hungry for quiet moments of solitude – the periods during the days of Ramadan when we carved out a little time for prayer, or walked into an empty room at work to be alone. We simply must repeat these habits throughout our daily life.

 

We should always be hungry to know the will of God – to discern God’s ways amid the distractions and obstacles of life.

 

We should always be hungry to be more like the Prophets – to imitate their ways, to follow them into the world.

 

Until we meet God face to face, we should always be hungry...hungry to make this world peaceful & just. Pick up your pen or let your fingers be piano-like on your keyboard as you write against the unjust & the mischief makers.

 

Only then will we finally be satisfied. Only then will we find the fullness of joy, the perfection of peace, the eternal peace, which we have been pursuing all our lives.

 

But until then, we fast.

 

The best recipe to gain self-control & for character building is to Fast. The best way to conquer the animal within with the Divine is to Fast.

 

Shamal

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Salvation 7

Salaam All 

 

Night 27

 

There was a song by Steppenwolf called Magic Carpet Ride...

On a cloud of sound I drift in the night
Any place it goes is right
Goes far, flies near
To the stars away from here

 

Muslims go tonight as every night in Ramadan on a magic carpet ride thru the Heavens...roll out your prayer mat
 

The road to salvation can only be the return of the sensible finite into the intelligible infinite.

 

The role of the Messengers, according to the Quran, is perhaps best captured by Moses’ address to his people, where the significance and consequence of both faith and deeds are indicated, and the only instance in the Quran in which the word al-najah (salvation) is mentioned, although there are numerous instances in which alternative forms of the word are used, e.g. the verb nunajj [19:72]):

 

My people, follow me! I will guide you to the right path. My people, the life of this world is only a fleeting pleasure, but the Hereafter is the abode of permanence. Whoever does an evil deed will only be rewarded its like; but whoever does a righteous deed and believes, be it a man or a woman, will enter Paradise and be provided for without measure. My people, why do I call you to salvation (al-najah) when you call me to the Fire? You call me to disbelieve in God and to associate with Him things of which I have no knowledge; I call you to the Mighty, the Forgiving One. There is no doubt that what you call me to serve is not fit to be invoked either in this world or the Hereafter: our return is to God alone, and it will be the rebels who will inhabit the Fire. One Day you will remember what I am saying to you now, so I commit my case to God: God is well aware of His servants. (Q. 40:38-44)

 

A Muslim is very cautious about making any categorical statement about the ultimate fate of specific individuals, including himself....God is the ONLY ONE well aware. A person should never presume themself to be a soul already saved but should humbly lead their entire life in a state of mind that lies between hope and fear. To abandon either hope or fear is considered a sin.

Salvation is the spiritual purification of mankind to regenerate into a new way of life that enriches the human soul into a state of grace, self respect and exaltation. The attainment of such condition is gained through the perpetual process of justification of deeds, actions, and the optimization of faith. Like any other process, spiritual purification is the product of a self maintained behavioral paradigm involving the mind, body and soul of the individual. The integrated capacities of the infinite capabilities of mankind should be energized, educated, trained and programmed to justify human actions and optimize faith. This standing of distinction that is elemental to human nature is achieved through knowledge as an essential requirement of strong faith.

 

Shamal...Remember Moses' plea: One DAY you will remember what I am saying to you...He as well as all the Prophets called their people to SALVATION...let there be a return of your sensible finite into the intelligible infinite.

Salvation 6

Salaam All

 

Night 26

 

We hope for salvation whilst believing in the gospel of godlessness known as materialism. This gospel is not only "preached" in the malls but in the sacred halls of religious institutions. 

 

The idea of salvation - popular in all religions -- which begins by defining a group of people in some mechanical way -- e.g. as all those who undergo a ritual trip in the water, or agree to profess a system of dogmas or adhere to a code of law -- and then promises salvation to all members of that group while declaring the rest of humankind to be doomed is rejected by God. We have not trodden the path of salvation if we belong to those mechanical ways. 

   
The Quran rather indicates, and attempts to inculcate, certain attitudes, qualities and a stage of spiritual development and promises salvation to all those who have attained those attitudes, qualities; at the same time it indicates certain other attitudes, qualities etc. and warns those who possess them of divine punishment. The following passages give a fair idea of the basic attitudes and qualities of those who are assured of salvation:

"Verily those who say our Lord and Supporter is God and thereafter stand firm in their faith in God - no fear need they have, and neither shall they grieve. They are destined for paradise, therein to abide permanently as a reward for what they did." (46:13-14)

 

The mind should be educated, trained and cultured to conceptualize the basic elements of true faith. This is attained by the proper understanding of the pure basic fundamentals of belief. The science of Fasting is the one concerned with the ultimate spiritual purification of mankind to attain eternal salvation.

 

Since death is inevitable, so what lies beyond is the exciting unknown, which is really the fruit of our conduct, behaviour, and endeavours in life. With this understanding, the journey of life is the workshop of deeds, the compilation of our actions and intentions; it is the path on which everything is engraved on our minds and concealed within our subconscious; it is the account book for which we receive the ultimate verdict on the Day of Judgement in the Hereafter.

 

To attain and accomplish success, an effort during life must be made, a struggle to survive, striving to attain a standing of spiritual distinction that is elemental to human nature, control of the human ego, an effort during the path of life to accomplish spiritual purification, self betterment, the delicacy of grace and decorum of soul.

 

The control and fruitful harness of the body machine and its physical efficiency are the material products of spiritual purification. Your soul cannot claim fitness in an unfit body. A ship cannot progress on dry land.

 

Enjoy the brochure

 

Shamal...Gain salvation in these nights where God is extremely generous and it will be worth all the gold medals ever given away in the Olympics. To gain it, all it takes is SINCERITY in your INTENTIONS, BELIEFS & ACTIONS.

 

Salvation 5

Salaam All

Night 25

Ingredient for Salvation: One reason that so few people are saved today through modern preaching is that there isn’t enough of the Word of God in the modern sermon. The preacher's personal yadayada... However in Ramadan people actually pick up and study God's Book the Quran. It's not a Book only for the preachers...but for all of humanity.

The need for spiritual purification is most justified in this age of materialistic mania in which mankind is blindly indulged. The avaricious covetousness of human desires have disorganized the rational and logical sequence of mental functions and undermined with disruption the natural human property of discrimination of values.

Human intentions, actions, and deeds are becoming more and more inadequate and blemished, perverted, malignant and detrimental to the natural inborn qualities of the human acme of goodness and decency. If humanity wants to survive the perdition in this life, and the inferno in the Hereafter; there must be a return to the path. The path of purity, salvation, self respect, human excellence, spiritual elevation, redemption. This comes about only by freedom from the slavery bondage of avaricious covetousness, carnal desires of all ego and bodily demands, and capricious fantasies. Ramadan abolishes this slavery annually.

Mankind is summoned to recognize the grave need for salvation of humanity by purification of the spirit, awakening of the conscious, knowledge of the truth and reality. This is achieved by the development of strong faith and true belief founded on knowledge and understanding of the Divine Commandments.

"Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was revealed"...billions are reading this Book to achieve the above...now if only billions ACTED on it the world would become a miniature Paradise. So let's not leave that previous thought as an airy-fairy thought. Let's give it some substance...

Immediately after Ramadan would be a good time to embark on a neighbourhood clean-up project. Or folks from different religions could march against poverty, demonstrate in front of city hall regarding their incompetence, or collaborate on some other social justice purpose. Or we could help buy books for children for the new school year...For many kids this will be a SALVATION. We must go to schools weekly to deliver a pertinent message. In other words, every day, there must be constructive, planned, and intentional activity around a particular issue or need.

This religion is of TWO parts that make up the complete whole...one part is a harking back to traditional intellectual and religious ideas, the other part is an outburst of social protest against an unjust and unstable social order.

Now who is ready to put their developed faith into action...or is it going to be more "talks" about what we should do...even though for the last year we did those same talks...yadayadayada...in essence our religion becomes a vague mist of ethical platitudes.

 
Shamal...reply to this mail if you're ready for action

Salvation 4

Salaam All

Night 24

 

The word SALVATION is closely related to the word SALVAGE.

Have you ever saved an old clunker car that was on its way to the junk yard to be destroyed. An old bicycle, old computer, old gadget. That’s exactly what God does for us in these nights of Ramadan. He saves us from being destroyed and restores us. We are no longer clunkers, but showroom beauties with that new car smell. New operating system. New apps....like that 5 times a day prayer app.

 

The truly changed life in Ramadan is a life that is grounded in three practices: deep prayer, deep hospitality, and deep justice.

Deep Prayer: Words that come out and appear on the surface of our lips must flow from a heedful Heart. Prayer coming out of our mouths must be Soul-led, the proper edification, not just a memorized recitation without understanding. Prayer is nothing to flaunt about or show off. It is a personal matter, an intimate aspect of our living, and not the public proof of our righteousness. Prayer begins in the heart, that secret place within us all.

“God of Mercy, God of Justice, God who transforms our hearts, God of Forgiveness, God of Salvation
“We give thanks for the privileges and powers that we have been given.
“God, teach us to use these blessings in the right way.
“Save us from the snares of selfishness.
“Guard us from the gravity of greed.
“Forgive us where we have gone astray,

“Grant us the wisdom & the courage to be upright. To be the best to our families. 

“And grant our leaders the wisdom and courage to make our country a beacon of success in business AND in ethics.” Sorry My God if I over-reacted in my supplication for "leaders" who are not worth it...all of them should jump over any FALLS.

Deep Hospitality: Think of a time when you have felt truly welcomed. Maybe it was coming home after a long time away. Maybe someone took you in when you were far from home. Relive those feelings for a moment. Feel that warmth again; see those smiles and feel those arms embracing you. What a gift it is to be welcomed. Hospitality, true hospitality, is emotionally powerful. It touches something very deep in us—our profound human longing to feel accepted, to belong, to be loved, to feel safe, to be valued and respected. Hospitality is not something to be proclaimed; it must be lived. Hospitality is both a spiritual discipline and an expression of spiritual health. If we feel angry, hurt, unloved, or alienated we cannot offer a warm welcome. Conversely, if we are at peace, filled with joy at being alive, aware of those around us with compassion in our hearts, then hospitality flows naturally and inevitably from the depths of our being.

What is true of an individual is also true of a community. A congregation in which people do not genuinely love each other is not likely to exude warmth. A congregation that is self-absorbed and disconnected from its community cannot offer religious hospitality. Hospitality is love in action. Let's hope that at the mosque where you break your fast that you find "love in action."

Deep Justice: The Godly Way is resisting the temptation to accept easy excuses to escape from morally complex situations, and allowing the creative tension that this produces to generate an alternative vision, an alternative system, and an alternative set of desires within our own hearts. The moral arc of the universe bends towards justice. When compassion and wisdom is embodied in social action, it becomes a powerful force to challenge injustice and to remake & salvage our world into a place of mutual reverence and care.

Shamal...Let's hope that a great percentage of Muslims achieve deep prayer, deep hospitality, and deep justice during the spiritual training of Fasting in the month like no other, Ramadan.