[AntonioMQ]

All of us say that Islam means submission.
Some times we combine it with the other meaning of Islam, peace.
We say that Islam is the peace and security acquired by submitting your will before the Will of Allah (SWT).

We love peace, well being, security extremely.
Innahu lihubbil khairi lashadeed.

So we hate submission because we do not accept that it brings peace, well being and security.

We say that we accept that we get peace by submission.
But we do not accept it by our hearts.
It is counterpart of US argument. They say that they are not at war with Islam but so many actions by them damage Muslim interests.

According to a Divine Tradition he who pleases a slave of Allah (SWT) pleases him.
He who thanks a slave he thanks Allah (SWT).
And clearly there are Traditions mandating subordination to your superior.

Even then the fact remains that the task to convince someone for submission is very difficult.

Freedom is a heady thing.
Just look around and see how difficult it is to convince anyone from the western hemisphere that freedom goes with responsibility.
And then we have our own brothers, and sister, whom it is difficult to convince about submission.
Submit your intellect, brain, logic, reasoning to the Will of Allah (SWT) and you shall get all the assurance that they are completely submitted to the Will of Allah (SWT).

And if you do not find such bosses whom you can be subservient to with ease then dear friend please know that this is a different problem.
We did not value our bosses and Allah (SWT) has given such bosses who want you to be subservient to their whims, rather than injunctions of Allah (SWT).

And if you do not find Masha-ikh to whom you can hand yourself over for personal cleansing of your inner self then the explanation is again the same. We did not value our Masha-ikh in the past and Allah (SWT) made them rare.
For Allah (SWT) removes a blessing that we do not value.

It is not an abstruse point of philosophy that a believer rises by submitting.
Allama Dr Muhammed Iqbal put it succinctly.
To rise higher submit yourself he averred.

Fa Dakhuli 'Ibadi, Wa Dakhuli Jannati.
Be a slave of mine, enter my Jannah.

When you reduce yourself by making yourself a slave of Allah (SWT) He elevated you - even in this world.
It has been a strange experience of your truly that every significant decision you make towards submission is within moments rewarded by some exquisite insight that legitimately will classify as guidance.

Let us look at an example. Input is taken from a Maulana Tariq Jamil Sahab (DB)'s sermon.
We all know a Tradition according to which if some one taunts some one else for a sin that latter has given up then former will not die till he too has committed that sin. There is a related Tradition. If some one thinks low of a sinner then he shall not die till he too commits that sin.

Now why is that? This can not be understood by cause and effect. If B is a sinner and A thinks low of B because of the sin then B might or might not know of it.
So how does the sin permeates to A?
The Traditions are all authentic.

Maulana Tariq Jamil Sahab (DB)'s argument is that since B is a slave of Allah (SWT) therefore Allah (SWT) says that you have thought low of my slave now I'll square with you by equating you with him. And A ends up at the same level as B.

It is clear that B has got a significant status just by being a slave. The status is significant enough for Allah (SWT) to put an elaborate system to avenge any injustice to him.

If a sinner has such a high status, just because of being a slave, then this business of slavery is a mighty profitable enterprise.

This wonderful proposition is neutralized by simple assertions like - I am a fiery independent person. Or I do not believe in Tasawwuf.

[ibupronec]

sometimes to submit is to stop thinking

and to

just do

no thoughts of results or rewards
just be

then become 0

[ansarigf]

sometimes to submit is to stop thinking

and to

just do

no thoughts of results or rewards
just be

then become 0

You spoke the truth akhi.

[texbrease]

Submitting is often counter intuitive...for example give sadaqa and it increases your wealth we are taught. One needs to go against the materialistic evidence we may have gathered in our lives that giving wealth away reduces ones wealth.

Materialism teaches that we are animals we are driven to encounter lots of sexual partners to pass on our genes and to have lots of children...Islam says lower your gaze, fast and shun the society of the opposite sex. Doing all these Islamic actions are difficult sometimes because our cultures that we live in are not Islam friendly, and our nafsani desires are strong. Shaitan always whispers to humans about losing out...etc. I heard a Sufi say that it is a blessing that Allah gave us a nafs and that shaitan exists because we become aware of our own distance and or nearness to Allah through these.

I was wondering recently how Islam (like Christianity I suppose) is saying something extra ordinary to human beings. It is saying that the All-Powerful and Merciful Creator of the universe and all human beings from the time of Adam AS to billions of us in the past, present and future can have a personal relationship with each one of us. This is an amazing claim if we think about it. Allah who is the All-Great is with me in my personal and private moments, and He is with billions of others at the same time. The unbelievers think Allah would not be interested in a puny little human being with his limited needs and selfish concerns.

[TSVIDeo]

Submitting is often counter intuitive...for example give sadaqa and it increases your wealth we are taught. One needs to go against the materialistic evidence we may have gathered in our lives that giving wealth away reduces ones wealth.

This is the stumbling block.
One has to realize this and then the second step is to overcome this hitch.
Simple in formulation but difficult in practice.
And it has something to do with guidance.
This is the reason that a person who has not come around can give you arguments after arguments in support of his decision to the contrary, that is, the decision to act on personal opinion rather than submit himself to the Will of Allah (SWT).
Materialism teaches that we are animals we are driven to encounter lots of sexual partners to pass on our genes and to have lots of children...Islam says lower your gaze, fast and shun the society of the opposite sex. Doing all these Islamic actions are difficult sometimes because our cultures that we live in are not Islam friendly, and our nafsani desires are strong. Shaitan always whispers to humans about losing out...etc. I heard a Sufi say that it is a blessing that Allah gave us a nafs and that shaitan exists because we become aware of our own distance and or nearness to Allah through these. I think it is difficult in general. That some times obedience is easy is a always a special favour from Allah (SWT). The Tradition saying that Jannah has been covered with hardships points to the same direction.

[swwatch]

Here is a talk on the Levels of Submission from Shaykh Husain. My notes are as follows:

~~~

Saying the following phrase (made up of 4 words) three times has more blessing and value than hours of remembrance:
1. Subhan Allahi wa bihamdihi adada khalqihi
2. Wa rida-a nafsihi
3. Wa zinatah ‘arshihi
4. Wa midada kalimatihi
Surah Al-Kahf, v.109:
Say: Though the sea became ink for the words of my Lord, verily the sea would be used up before the Words of my Lord were exhausted, even though We brought the like thereof to help.
A story about the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم
*The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to wake up his household for tahajjud prayer
*His wife (ra) was sitting in remembrance of Allah سبحانه و تعال when the Prophet (saw) went for Fajr prayers.
*She was still sitting in remembrance of Allah سبحانه و تعال when the Prophet (saw) eturned after quite some time – some 4-5 hours or so later – just before Dhuhr prayers.
*She had been sitting for hours upon hours in remembrance of Allah سبحانه و تعال.
*He said to her: “I said 4 words 3 times and they are weightier on the scale of Allah Ta'aala in their blessing than everything you’ve done all morning.” And he taught her the 4 words.
Why these words?
1. Subhan Allahi wa bihamdihi adada khalqihi
Let Allah سبحانه و تعال be praised and let him be glorified as much as all of the creation of the entire universe
Think about the number! Humans alive right now are in the billions, just think about adding all those who died and every other created thing to the number
So, over-and-over let Allah سبحانه و تعال be praised & glorified - infinitely
2. Wa rida-a nafsihi
… as much as pleases Allah سبحانه و تعال
If I sit down & praise Allah سبحانه و تعال as much as I think he deserves – that has an end. Maybe 2-3 hours and then finished, limited. But, his praise and glory are unlimited - infinite
3. Wa zinatah ‘arshihi
… as much as the weight of His Throne
If you took everything in the universe and then compare to His Throne it would be so minutely small that it would be like a small ring in the middle of a desert.
4. Wa midada kalimatihi
… as much as the ink of His World.
More than we can imagine – go back to ayah from Surah Al-Kahf
4 easy, simple words that anyone can say

Sunnah to recite them after Fajr

How can it be that these words are more weightier than hours of devoted remembrance?
b/c SUBMITTING to Allah سبحانه و تعال
essentially saying: “Ya Allah! I have no ability to praise you the way you deserve to be praised”
so you turn it over to Allah سبحانه و تعال /hand it over to Allah سبحانه و تعال
This is the depth of submission.
Secret: the MERCY OF ALLAH سبحانه و تعال
* No matter what we do, we are dependent on His Mercy
* That is why we gather in righteous company (like the talk) in order to tap into His Mercy
* One time, sahaba were sitting with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم when he said: “none will enter into Jannah except by the Mercy of Allah سبحانه و تعال.” The sahaba then asked “Ya RasulAllah, even you?” He replied: “Even I will not enter except through the Mercy of Allah سبحانه و تعال.”
* Allah سبحانه و تعال is infinite in His Mercy.
* Leaves the door open for us.
* Gives us excuse after excuse after excuse – plenty of opportunities to put us into Jannah, to bring us closer to Him.
How?
Pray – wash away sin/wipe away
Wudhu – sins are washed away
Jumah prayers – all minor sins forgiven from one Jumah prayer to the next
Hajj – wiped away like a baby, clean
Etc. etc. etc.This is the Mercy of Allah سبحانه و تعال
The only thing it takes from us… niyah (intention) to turn to Allah سبحانه و تعال

Goal: to make a change, to decide to submit to Allah سبحانه و تعال
Then we will see how everything else changes
Take that 1st step – submit to the Mercy of Allah سبحانه و تعال

It takes such a minimal effort – for example, memorize the 4 words – everyone has the ability to do so… it just takes intention.
Yet… we turn away and run in the opposite direction
Think to yourself: "today where am I in my deen and where do I want to be tomorrow?"

~~~