WHY A CREATOR π & WHAT AM I?
Allah, the Creator and Lord of all worlds, has already conveyed His message, complete and flawless, through His chosen one, Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family). He fashioned the human being in perfect balance, a mirror to reflect His attributes. The message is before us, whether we embody it in living action or let it wither into hollow ritual is our trial.
Know that a practice empty of spirit is like an untilled field: weeds overrun it, choking its purpose the grain of life. The field must be ploughed, its soil turned upside down, its weeds uprooted, its cavities opened to receive air and water, so that true growth may take root. Likewise, hearts must be turned, cleansed, and nourished, lest the truth be buried beneath neglect.
Islam is not a stagnant creed bound in lifeless forms, it is a living force. If the hearts of men fail to plough the soil of their souls with faith and action, Islam does not perish; it seeks its own openings. It flows into the cracks of worldly power and wealth, exposing them as the weakest fibers in the fabric of society. Like hidden fire beneath the earth, its magma rises, shaking the pillars of hollow rituals and lifeless traditions. When its call is neglected, Islam itself takes the initiative, stirring within the hearts of the common people. By the third generation, it awakens in grassroots revolt, reviving its purity and strength, and raising again a civilization built on justice, not vanity.
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When the heart stirs from its slumber, the veils of ignorance begin to lift, and doors of wisdom open before the seeker. Every unfolding of truth begins with a question, Why? Where? How?, for questioning is the key that unlocks understanding. By such inquiry, nations have risen, and civilizations have flourished. Consider how man once discovered force in its crude forms, like the steam that moved engines, until knowledge refined it into purer and nobler sources, such as the green energies of today. Thus, as creation is understood through questions, the soul too ascends by asking in sincerity. Each answer is not an end, but a sign, an arrow pointing back to the Origin of all knowledge, the One who is the Source and Sustainer of truth.
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The root of Islam lies in the sacred letters Ψ³-Ω-Ω
(S-L-M) a family of meanings bound together by peace, safety, and submission. From this root comes Islam, the path of surrender to the will of Allah; Muslim, the one who accepts this surrender with heart and deed; and Salam, the state of peace that flows from such submission.
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All matters of the Divine, God’s religion, the soul, and the body, are bound together as threads in a single fabric, shaping the path toward the perfection of humankind. For this very purpose, the Almighty proclaimed before the angels and the jinn: “I shall bring forth a creation unlike any before, destined to surpass all others.”
To this creation, He entrusted authority and the gift of freedom, the freedom to worship in truth and humility, or to turn away in pride and rebellion, as Pharaoh once did when he dared to claim divinity. Yet this freedom was not without limit; it was granted for a span known only to Him.
Thus began the sacred trust, first bestowed upon Adam and Eve, the fountainhead of humanity, and carried forward through a succession of prophets, each one guiding their people, until the final Seal of Prophethood, Muhammad (peace be upon him), through whom the trust was completed and perfected. Adam (peace be upon him) was not brought forth from the womb of a father or a mother; rather, he was fashioned by the command of the Lord of the heavens and the earth, a creation unlike any before him. And know this: had there been more than one god governing the heavens and the earth, disorder and conflict would have overtaken all existence.
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Thus, Islam is not merely a word, but a covenant: to lay down pride and will before the Lord, and in return to find peace within the soul and safety in His care. A Muslim is not Muslim by tongue alone, but by the heart that yields and the body that acts in harmony with divine command. True peace, then, is not the absence of struggle, but the fruit of surrender, when the servant aligns himself with the Creator, the restless soul finds its rest.
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The soul is the essence of Islam, for Islam is surrender to the One Lord. Though clothed in a body fated to decay, it bears within the eternal breath of the Divine. It wrestles with desires that bind it to the earth, yet its nature is to rise above them. Like a river carving its way through stone, it strives with patience, seeking its end in the boundless sea. There it finds rest, not in its own will, but in yielding to its Creator, the true submission, the true Islam.
But beware, faith is not still water. If it lies stagnant, it becomes a swamp of empty rituals, a lifeless pool that breeds decay. Islam calls us to movement, to vigilance, to contemplation. Life belongs to the flowing river, not the dead pond.
The soul of Islam is like flowing water, restless, seeking its course. Barriers will rise before it, yet it will cut through, move over, or find a way around. To restrain this current is to oppress your own soul; to guide it is to set it free. This is no illusion but a truth: even those who call themselves Muslims may veil it beneath ritual, clinging to comfort in wealth and rank, while neglecting the living spirit of faith.
The soul is ever in search of its true aim: to seek the pleasure of Allah. The Prophet, along with his family, is the perfect guide and model for this journey. Whoever boards their vessel with the passport of sincerity and the seal of true monotheism shall reach the safe shore. But if one begins astray, or lets themselves be lost in empty rituals, they will never arrive. To bow at places of worship (salaat) without obedience is like a child who kisses his parents yet rejects their command, such affection is hollow, and its essence denied. One path, one purpose, one soul, reaches it goal, its journey ends only when it stands before its Lord. The mind, when freed of distractions and barriers, finds its aim clear. Know that every soul is destined to depart this world; none shall remain but the Eternal.
In Islam, reflection and awareness hold a place as vital as prayer and recitation of the Qur’an. Many perform the acts of worship yet do not pause to ponder their deeper wisdom. Why is prayer (salaat) woven with movement, standing, bowing, prostrating, and sitting? It is not only devotion but also discipline for the body, a rhythm of strength and humility repeated five times a day, binding the soul to God while refining the human frame. The congregation unites hearts, for worship is both an individual ascent and a communal bond.
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Allah, the All-Glorious, was never in need of worshippers. The heavens were already filled with angels and jinn, countless in number, bowing before Him night and day. But His purpose was not multiplied prostrations, it was the manifestation of justice.
Justice is only known when choice exists. Without the freedom to choose between right and wrong, justice cannot be revealed. If there is only light and no shadow, how is truth distinguished? Thus, Allah decreed the trial of opposites, good against evil, obedience against rebellion.
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Among the dwellers of the unseen was IblΔ«s, once esteemed for his devotion in worship. Yet hidden pride smoldered within him until it flared into open defiance. Thus was revealed the necessity of free will, the measure by which truth and falsehood are distinguished. To manifest this wisdom, Allah set forth creation as a stage for His final purpose: the coming of Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family), the Seal of Prophets, and before him Abraham, Moses, and Jesus (peace be upon them), each a guiding lamp for their people. Through them, mankind was entrusted with choice, to walk the path of obedience or turn to rebellion, so that justice might be unveiled and the trust fulfilled.
Islam is not a path born to sever what was before, nor a creed apart from earlier truth. It is the same living spring that first flowed from Abraham, the Friend of God, through Sarah and Hagar, so that its waters might quench the thirst of nations across time.
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Every age was entrusted with its share of divine guidance: the Torah bore wisdom, the Gospel radiated light, and Islam descended as the seal of what had come before, completion, not denial. It gathered the scattered rays into one shining sun, uniting truth in its perfection. Its essence is justice, equity, and balance, embodied in the life of the Messenger of Allah and his pure family (peace be upon them), whose example became the path, the sunnah, for hearts to follow and lives to uphold.
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After the departure of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family), a great trial befell the people. Those who had walked at his side and proclaimed allegiance to his covenant soon abandoned it, preferring the thirst of power over the clarity of truth. In their haste to seize dominion, they violated the sanctity of the Prophet’s Household, the very trust and guidance he had left among the believers. His beloved daughter, Fatimah (peace be upon her), the light of his heart and the mother of his progeny, was struck at the threshold of her own home. There, beneath the crushing weight of worldly ambition, she and her unborn child were martyred. From that door, once a place of mercy and revelation, began the long shadow of oppression against the Pure Household.
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Allah, the Exalted, honored Musa (peace be upon him) with the noble title Kalimullah, for he was granted the distinction of conversing with his Lord. To him was entrusted the Torah, a light and covenant for his people, that they might uphold justice and remain steadfast in worshipping none but the One. Yet, the test of freedom weighed upon their hearts, and some faltered, turning to the calf fashioned by their own hands, forgetting the majesty of the Creator who had saved them. But Musa, with firmness and forbearance, called them back to truth, reminding them of the trust they had forsaken.
At Sinai, the Almighty spoke to Musa directly, raising him to a station unparalleled, a sign to all creation. His story endures as a lesson for every nation: that tyranny shall be uprooted, the oppressed shall rise, and true guidance flows only from obedience to Allah, the Most High. The message of Musa, like that of all prophets, was one and the same, submission to the Lord, justice among people, and steadfastness against the lures of desire and the arrogance of false pride.
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The life of this world is fleeting, destined to come to an end for every soul. Death shall close the chapter of this temporary existence, and the eternal realm of the Hereafter shall prevail, unending and everlasting. Know that the Hereafter is the true abode, while this world is but a passage and a trial.
In Surah At-Tahrim, the Almighty exalts Mary, the one sanctified and chosen above the women of the worlds. Into her He breathed of His Spirit, and by His command she bore Jesus, son of Mary, without the touch of man. To this noble messenger was bestowed a sign from the Divine: by Allah’s permission, he gave sight to the blind, healed the leper, and even raised the dead. These were not acts of his own power, but trusts placed in him, so that humanity might witness the greatness of the Creator and the certainty of His word. Thus was he known as RuhAllah—the Spirit from Allah.
Again, in Surah Al-Anbiya (21:91), the Lord says: “And [mention Mary], she who preserved her chastity. We breathed into her from Our Spirit and made her and her son a sign for all peoples."
Thus are the wonders of God’s command, He creates as He wills, making Adam, Jesus, and all His chosen signs lessons for mankind, so that the blind may see, and the heedless may awaken.
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The Almighty reminds us in His Book: “And We have not sent you, O Muhammad, except as a mercy to all the worlds.” (Qur’an 21:107). He, the Most High, grants signs in creation to awaken the hearts. Just as Adam was created without a father, so too was Jesus, the son of Mary, born without a father, by the command of the Lord of the heavens and the earth.
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Allah loved all three faiths, yet their followers strayed from the true path and altered the words of their sacred scriptures over time except the Quran e Kareem. For the Quran Allah Himself vowed to protect it. Allah honored His chosen servants with distinguished titles that reflect their closeness to Him. He calls Hazrat Ibrahim Khalilullah, the Friend of Allah, showing his unwavering devotion. He calls Hazrat Musa Kalimullah, the one who spoke with Allah, revealing the intimate dialogue he shared with his Lord. He calls Hazrat Isa (Jesus) Ruhullah, the Spirit of Allah, indicating his miraculous birth and the life he brought to the dead. And Allah bestowed upon His final Messenger, Muhammad (peace be upon him), the titles Habibullah and Rahmatullah al-‘Aalamin, showing that he was a mercy for all worlds, a guiding light for all creation.
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The trust of God, entrusted to the Prophet as a lamp for hearts and a fortress for faith, was meant to be upheld by wisdom and nourished by sincerity. Yet, as with the prophets before him, men turned from its light. In their thirst for dominion, they raised the banner of Islam but clothed themselves in the garments of power. They built empires upon the backs of the weak, while the very household of the Prophet, the keepers of his covenant and the bearers of his light, were cast aside and oppressed. Thus, history once again bore witness: men traded obedience for pride, truth for tyranny, and the guidance of Heaven for the shackles of their own ambition, as under the colonial dominions of those before them.
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Why does Islam emphasize the hijab? Just as every profession prescribes a code of dress, doctors, soldiers, and engineers, so too does faith provide a garment of protection. The hijab is not mere cloth, but a shield of dignity and honor, for men as well as for women. Woman, created as a mother and a companion, bears a beauty both delicate and profound. The veil guards her from the wandering gaze and shields her from harm. For beauty that is left uncovered soon loses its value; it becomes prey to desire and a cause of corruption. The human body and its impulses are bound by wisdom and divine law, not to be suppressed but to be guided.
The hijab preserves the balance of society, directing human desire toward purity, family, and responsibility, and away from the chaos of unchecked passion paraded as freedom. From the first moment of creation, humanity was formed in harmony, Adam and Eve, two complementary souls, each entrusted with dignity, each possessing rights that none may infringe.
Islam teaches that every part of the human being carries a duty: the eyes are entrusted not to betray with forbidden glances, the ears not to incline toward falsehood, the tongue not to wound with injustice, the hands not to grasp what is unlawful, and the feet not to walk the path of sin.
This was beautifully detailed by Imam Zainul Abideen in his book of "Treatise on Rights", a charter that outlines the obligations of the self and society, from the rights of God to the rights of the body, from family ties to the stranger in the street. The hijab, therefore, is not merely cloth, it is part of this greater covenant, a protection of honor, a shield of modesty, and a reminder of the sacred trust upon which human life is built.
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And why is fasting prescribed? It is a yearly renewal, a cleansing of body and spirit, a discipline that heals and restores. Every command in Islam returns as a mercy to the servant, for God has no need of our worship, yet He grants us reward for our obedience. Know that where there is hardship beyond capacity, there is also ease: the ill, the elderly, and the poor are lifted from the weight of obligations. Thus, the path of Islam is not a burden but balance, designed for the benefit of humankind, with divine reward as its crown. Poetspottery.com ❤️
Islam is not a collection of rituals. It is not limited to circling a structure or kissing its stone walls Kabah. Rather, it is a living gathering of the ummah, a universal assembly where nations, races, and tongues come together to recognize one another in dignity. It is a place to share cultures, exchange thoughts, and unite hearts upon truth, removing the roots of hatred. Whoever reduces it to empty motions has missed its purpose. And whoever does not uphold enjoining good and forbidding evil has abandoned the path of Prophet Abraham, whose legacy was renewed and perfected by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon them both).
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Imam Ali said: “I am astonished at the miser, for he hastens toward the very poverty he fears, and deprives himself of the wealth he longs to attain.”
The miser builds walls around his gold, yet those walls collapse upon him. He withholds the flow of blessings, not realizing that wealth grows only when it is released to serve others. Islam has established a living system to break these chains of greed, khums. It is not a burden but a bond: a bridge that joins the wealthy and the needy, strengthening trust, expanding trade, and nurturing brotherhood. Whoever gives khums with sincerity will see it return multiplied, for Allah is the true Provider.
Imam Ali also warned: “Do not befriend the miser, for he will deny you in your time of need.” His companionship dries the springs of generosity, leaving hearts thirsty.
The Qur’an declares: “Those who are stingy, who command others to be stingy, and who conceal the bounty Allah has given them, We have prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment” (4:37).
Khums, meaning one-fifth, is the divine measure ordained to cleanse wealth and society. It is divided between Sehme Imam, to uphold the banner of faith, sustain religious guidance, and advance just causes, and Sehme Sadaat, to relieve the poor from among the Prophet’s descendants. Thus, it is not merely a tax but an act of devotion, a safeguard of justice, and a cure for the disease of miserliness.
❤️ π π π π π ❤️ Zakat
Zakat is like a flowing river, whose strength lies in the countless drops that unite to sustain its dynamic course. When practiced collectively, it nourishes life, purifies wealth, and keeps society in motion. But if withheld, it ceases to flow, turning instead into a stagnant pool, hoarded and lifeless, serving no one and corrupting the one who clings to it.
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Zakat is not a burden but a trust upon the believer. It is a voluntary tax, a fixed share of 2.5% from one’s yearly savings, given once in that year. Its purpose is not ritual alone but the building of society, like mortar binding bricks into a strong wall, Zakat binds the community together.
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Zakat is not merely a tax; it is a divine financial institution of balance. Every believer contributes from their own income, so that relatives, the poor, and the less fortunate may share in its blessing. Through this system, Islam preserves dignity, nurtures compassion, and establishes equality among all people. It is the mortar binding the bricks of society, strengthening the wall of a safe haven of humanity.
As Allama Iqbal of Lahore a poet and a thinker so beautifully described, worship is the meeting ground of true equality:
The king and his servant stand side by side, bowing in gratitude before the Creator.
In that sacred moment, neither master nor slave remains, both are simply servants before their Lord.
The rich and the poor, the ruler and the subject, all dissolve into one essence.
When they enter His kingdom, all differences vanish, and they become one nation.
A leader’s reflection must be found in his deeds. The true leader lives with the people, eating what they eat and wearing what they can afford. One who seeks luxury while entrusted with leadership sets a false example, and such indulgence is a betrayal of the Ummah.
Some say, as George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) remarked, that Islam is the finest of religions yet its followers the worst of people. I say rather, the fault lies not in the faith, but in its leaders—who mirror the same corrupt creed of worldly rulers. As for the followers, they have surrendered their sight and reason, moving blindly without the light of thought.
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Zakat is not merely a ritual but a personal responsibility that strengthens the bond among people, as the Prophet taught. It is a channel through which believers support one another, ensuring that Islam remains a living system of justice rather than an empty form of worship. If neglected, it becomes like anti-matter, stripping faith of its vitality and reducing it to hollow gestures.
True fulfillment cannot be reached through mere symbols, such as kissing an object, without sincere practice. Each soul will one day stand alone before the Lord, testifying to its deeds without relying on intercession from the Prophet or his family.
Consider this: an engineer may design a building and provide all the materials, but if the builder only kisses the hands of the engineer and supplier instead of working with the tools and plans, the structure will never rise. So too in life, faith is a joint venture among believers, yet each person faces the end of their worldly journey alone. At that moment, let him not stand disappointed before the Lord of the heavens and the earth.
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For the sake of God, keep your destination always before you. There is no path to pleasing your Lord except through practice and action. Read, reflect, and follow the Sunnah of the Prophet and the guidance of his family, for together they are the joint trust of the Lord of the heavens and the earth. The Quran states that Allah's Divine Light will be completed in two specific surahs: At-Tawbah and As-Saff. God will soon complete His divine light, despite the resistance of those who deny, through the reappearance of Jesus Christ and Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon them), the twelfth descendant of Fatima and Ali. The path remains straight and clear, the very path illuminated by the Prophet and his household, and it is upon all of us to walk upon it with sincerity.
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Islam is never imposed by the sword; it is embraced by choice, guiding hearts and societies through justice, mercy, and harmony. By aligning with the commandments of God, it weaves a system where faith and community advance together, each believer entrusted with both devotion to the Lord and duty to humanity. Whoever used sword that was used to spread their empire working against the will of God and traditions set by Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him.
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When power-seekers neglected this trust, the spirit of Islam as a just polity was stifled, and what remained resembled worldly systems like, colorism, democracy of superiors, communism, structures without soul, governance without remembrance of the Creator of mankind.
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Imam Ali believed wealth should not be hoarded by a few but circulated fairly.
In Nahj al-Balagha, the collection of his sermons and letters, (Nahj al-balagha https://share.google/YkXRk86rWJ6ahAaMh) he condemned rulers and elites who monopolized wealth, leaving the poor deprived.
Communism also claims to abolish wealth concentration, but Imam Ali would emphasize divine justice and accountability to God, not state enforcement alone.
soldiers, and the poorest equally. He wore simple clothes and ate coarse bread to remain close to the people.
Communism speaks of classless society, but Imam Ali’s vision wasn’t about erasing social roles, it was about ensuring dignity for every person regardless of their class.
Communism rejects private property. Imam Ali, however, did not abolish private ownership, he encouraged people to work, earn, and give charity (zakat, khums) so that society benefits.
In his view, property was a trust (amanah) from God, not an absolute right. Misusing wealth at the expense of others was betrayal.
Imam Ali’s vision of justice was always tied to faith in God and moral responsibility.
Communism, being materialist, denies the spiritual dimension. Imam Ali would likely warn that a system without devotion to God risks becoming oppressive, even if it starts with the banner of equality.
For Imam Ali, helping the poor was a voluntary moral and spiritual duty tied to eternal accountability.
Imam Ali’s wisdom in Nahj al-Balagha and resembles the idea later popularized in philosophy as Pascal’s Wager(1623–1662).
“If there is a God, then the disbeliever shall be the one at loss; but if there is no God, then none shall be harmed.”
This reflects his rational way of inviting reflection: belief in God carries eternal benefit if true, while disbelief risks eternal loss if God indeed exists.
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A man who lives without God is like a fruit that shows its form but holds no sweetness within, or a body that bears weight yet offers no sustenance. He is like air without breath, a fish cast upon dry land, or a life stripped of the sun’s light.
Without remembrance of the Divine, life becomes an empty shell, for the soul is left without its true nourishment. Though unseen, God is the very essence who mirrors the hidden reality of the human's unseen soul. When illness strikes or the shadow of death draws near, even the heart of the denier longs to reach toward its Creator, for within every soul lies an innate pull toward the Source of existence.
Mysticism:
The world is but a fleeting shadow, while eternity belongs to the hereafter. Blessed are those who see beyond the glitter of this life and strive for nearness to their Creator. As the poet said, “Raise yourself to such heights that destiny itself bows before you, until God asks His servant: ‘What is your will?’”
These are the people who turn their hearts away from the yearnings of the world, offering their lives and desires as a sacrifice for the pleasure of their Lord. Such souls ascend beyond the measure of men, for even the Almighty honors their devotion, preferring their sacrifice to the treasures of this passing world.
From the first to the last, the line of one hundred and twenty-five thousand Prophets carried the trust of Heaven, each confirming and perfecting the message before him—from Adam to Muhammad (peace be upon them). Their call was one: surrender wholly to your Lord, for in submission lies harmony, and in remembrance lies protection from the treachery of Satan.
Despair is not for the people of the Book. The Torah, the Gospel, and the Qur’an all bear glad tidings of Paradise. If changes have entered their scriptures, then weigh them against the Qur’an, for it is the final criterion. What agrees with it is truth preserved; what diverges is the trace of human hands. Thus, the seeker of God shall never be left without a light to guide him.
THE ROPE OF LIFE: A Trial Between the Weight of Earth and the Wings of Heaven”
In this life, every soul walks upon a rope stretched by the decree of the Almighty. In the left hand rests the weight of the world, pulling one downward toward the depths of the earth. In the right hand are the wings of heaven, lifting the spirit upward against the pull of gravity. Each rope has a measured length, and every journey upon it is destined to end.
This is the trial of our Creator, the One without partner, Who, had He not upheld His command, the heavens themselves would have collapsed. He places us upon this path, granting us the freedom to choose, so that our choices shape the destiny awaiting us when the rope comes to its end.
Those who keep their balance do not fall. But whoever increases the burden of the left hand is dragged downward. And those who lighten its weight, until their hearts rise and connect with their Lord through His prophets, are counted among the muqarrabΔ«n, the ones brought near to God.
Fame, wealth, and power are not honors bestowed, but burdens placed upon the soul, to be accounted for on the Day of Judgment. The Qur’an has reminded us that many will stand in astonishment when they see those whom they once belittled and ignored, walking ahead of them toward Paradise, while those they revered in this world lag behind.
In the Hereafter, no soul will be able to stand before Allah and claim, “My leader deceived me.” Each person is accountable, for Allah has granted reason to discern truth from falsehood. In this age, when the world is unveiled before our eyes and knowledge flows openly through every channel, ignorance is no excuse. One must strive to distinguish the right from the wrong, to seek truth with sincerity, and not blindly follow those who mislead.
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A FINE LINE BETWEEN HUMANS AND ANIMALS
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The beast lives only by instinct, knowing nothing beyond the hunger of survival. Man, however, has been granted intellect, to question, to reflect, and to choose. By using this gift, he rises above the beast; by neglecting it, he falls beneath it. The worth of man rests in his reason when it pursues truth, while his downfall lies in surrendering that reason to desire.
An animal cannot be blamed, for it neither chooses desire nor weighs intention, it simply follows its nature. But man, endowed with reason and free will, bears accountability for his every action. He cannot shift responsibility to the creature beside him, for the burden is his alone.
Therefore, let your faith and your life be tested through questioning. For only by seeking, discerning, and striving for truth will you uncover the path to your world and your purpose.
If your faith and way of life do not permit questioning, then your path to growth and a better life is obstructed. For questioning is the key to understanding, and understanding is the ladder to progress.
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Imam Ali inne Abi Talib (ΨΉ) often described the distinction between human beings and animals, but his emphasis was not only on reasoning but on the higher faculties Allah gifted humans with.
1. Animals live by instinct.
Imam Ali (Nahj al-BalΔgha, Hikmah 1 and elsewhere) described how animals are guided by instinct to fulfill their needs, food, shelter, and reproduction, without reflection or moral choice. They do not question whether an act has meaning, nor do they seek truth beyond survival.
2. Humans have ‘aql (intellect) and free will.
Imam Ali taught that humans are distinct because Allah gave them intellect (‘aql), the power to reflect, question, and choose between right and wrong. He said:
> “The value of every man is according to what he does well in.” (Nahj al-BalΔgha, Hikmah 81)
This points to conscious choice, questioning, and striving beyond instinct.
3. Questioning as a path to faith.
Imam Ali did not dismiss questioning; he encouraged reflection (tafakkur). He said:
> “There is no worship like reflection.” (Hikmah 207)
Unlike animals, humans can ask: What is my purpose? What is beyond this world? What leads to eternal success?
4. But not all questioning is equal.
Imam Ali warned against endless doubt or questioning for pride’s sake. He distinguished between questioning that leads to truth and questioning that leads to arrogance or denial.
So, in his vision, the difference is not just that humans “question” and animals do not. It is that:
Animals follow instinct and do not deliberate on meaning.
Humans are entrusted with intellect, which allows them to question, to understand divine wisdom, to choose obedience, and thus to prepare for the Hereafter.
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