By: Umm Abd Al-Rahman

 

When I first saw this ayat in the Qur'an:

"Indeed,   Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves."  (Q. 13:11) I was shocked and confused.  Growing up as a Christian, I understood that God Most High was in control and that the condition I was in would change when God wanted it to change.  I didn't know that I had something to do with it.  When I accepted Islam I realized that I was accountable and responsible for all the conditions that I had in my life…This is sobering and an eye awakener. After all, the church preached that Jesus (pbuh) had saved me from all my past, present and future sins leaving me free to do as I wish and know that I still had a ticket to eternal bliss, Paradise after I die with no recompense.  I know now  I am responsible! 

A New Year… A New You?

By: Umm Abd Al-Rahman

 

When I first saw this ayat in the Qur'an:

"Indeed,   Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves."  (Q. 13:11) I was shocked and confused.  Growing up as a Christian, I understood that God Most High was in control and that the condition I was in would change when God wanted it to change.  I didn't know that I had something to do with it.  When I accepted Islam I realized that I was accountable and responsible for all the conditions that I had in my life…This is sobering and an eye awakener. After all, the church preached that Jesus (pbuh) had saved me from all my past, present and future sins leaving me free to do as I wish and know that I still had a ticket to eternal bliss, Paradise after I die with no recompense.  I know now  I am responsible!  Allah Most High told us in the Qur'an (53:38-41):   "That no bearer of burden shall bear the burden of another.  That a human achieves only what he makes an effort for.  And that his effort shall be seen.  Then he shall be rewarded for it with a full reward."   "…So whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it and whoever does an atom's weight of evil will see it."  (Q. 99:7,8)  And the Prophet (pbuh) said, :  "One's actions are determined by one's intentions.  Everyone is rewarded for what he or she intends."  (Bukhari)    

A New Year is before us to decide what we will accomplish in this amazing gift that we've been given called "life".  A New Year as the earth begins a tawaf (circling) of the sun.  A new year of rotating, moving, and orbiting on the earth's perfectly set highway out in space.  What about you and I?  We have a choice unlike the set, programmed movement of the earth.  We are free to choose what the center of our life is…Who or what will govern us and guide us in our everyday movements?

What will we choose to look at today?

What will we choose to listen to today?

What will we choose to eat today?

Where will we choose to walk today?

What will we choose to think about or worry about today?

 

The Prophet (pbuh) said, "Each person's every joint (260) must perform a charity every day the sun comes up…"  (Bukahri)

 Faith and good  action are a couple that act together as one as we see in the Qur'an.  Allah Most High said "Indeed!  Those who believe and do good deeds, theirs are the Gardens of Paradise for welcome."  (Q. 18:107)   And,   "If you do good, you do good for yourself, and if you do evil (you do evil) against yourself."  (17:7)

Remember, each and everything we do is being recorded.  Allah Most High says, "This, Our record speaks about you in truth.  Indeed, We were having transcribed whatever you used to do."  (Q. 45:29)   "On a Day when their tongues, their hands and their feet will bear witness against them as to what they used to do."  (Q. 24:24) 

Which community do you belong to?  Which instructions do you follow?  What will you do this year and where will it lead you for eternity?

"You are the best community which has been raised up for humankind; you enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, and you believe in Allah."  (Q. 3:110)

"O Allah!  You are my Master and Protector!  None has the right to be worshipped except You ; You are the Owner of the Mighty Throne and You have power over all things.  Guide us on the straight path and turn our hearts towards You and make firm our faith.  Lead us each day to that which is good and beneficial and keep us away from evil and that which could harm us.  Give us good health to serve you.  We are grateful that we are whole and healthy and have all that we need. We praise you and  send  Your blessings on Your last messenger Muhammad (pbuh).  Amin.