• Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:
    • Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
    • Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
    • Access to private conversations with other members.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!

What it means to submit to Allah

Shakeel

Well-Known Member
I've been asked what it means to submit to Allah.

It means to obey His laws, to do the religious duties He has prescribed on every believer and to live one's life seeking the pleasure of Allah.

While doing the obligatory acts of worship; the daily prayers, fasting the month of Ramadan, paying zakat, performing hajj (pilgrimage), are part of submitting to Allah, they are by no means the end of it.

When a Muslim sleeps in order to regain strength so that he can seek provision, pray and do good deeds, then sleeping is an act of worship. When he is working in order to provide for his family, seeking the pleasure of Allah, it is an act of worship.

Surat al-An'am 162 "Say, "My prayer, sacrifice, life, and death are all for God, the Lord of the Universe."

Surat al-Dhariyaat 56 "We have created jinn and human beings only that they might worship Me."
 

Shakeel

Well-Known Member
To live 24-7 for the purpose of pleasing someone.
That is a very different perspective from mine.
Most people (if not all) live their lives, all of it or parts of it, to please others. There is simplicity in pleasing only one, rather than trying to please many.
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
Most people (if not all) live their lives, all of it or parts of it, to please others. There is simplicity in pleasing only one, rather than trying to please many.
It's an awful lot of pleasing for just one....all these laws,
prescriptions, proscriptions, & rituals. Constant...unending.
I prefer voluntary relationships with the humans (& Scots)
of my choosing. They're not so demanding.
 

Shakeel

Well-Known Member
And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

When it becomes problematic is when there is an expectation of others to do the same.
There is an expectation on every Muslim to do that.

I would expect Christians and Jews to do that as well according to their own scripture.

Still it is largely about intention and no one can be forced to have such an intention.
 

Shakeel

Well-Known Member
It's an awful lot of pleasing for just one....all these laws,
prescriptions, proscriptions, & rituals. Constant...unending.
I prefer voluntary relationships with the humans (& Scots)
of my choosing.
Five prayers a day may take from 15 to 30 minutes, fasting is only for one month and it is good for you. The zakat is small and Hajj is obligatory only once in a lifetime.

Then Muslims do the things everyone else does: go to work, clean, cook, raise their children, socialise, study and take care of their families, — these they do, or should do, for the sake of Allah, but they are the same things everyone else does.

Instead of reading a random book they may read the Qur'an. Instead of listening to music, they may listen to the Qur'an.

Their lives are not outwardly all that different from other people's lives, but their intention is different.
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
Five prayers a day may take from 15 to 30 minutes, fasting is only for one month and it is good for you. The zakat is small and Hajj is obligatory only once in a lifetime.

Then Muslims do the things everyone else does: go to work, clean, cook, raise their children, socialise, study and take care of their families, — these they do, or should do, for the sake of Allah, but they are the same things everyone else does.

Instead of reading a random book they read the Qur'an or about Islam. Instead of listening to music, they listen to the Qur'an or lectures about Islam.

Their lives are not outwardly all that different from other people's lives, but their intention is different.
Their lives are both outwardly & inwardly very different from mine.
 

SA Huguenot

Well-Known Member
I would expect Christians and Jews to do that as well according to their own scripture.
In my scripture it tells me not to use ritualistic prayers, not to be long winded, and not to show outwardly that I am some religious pious being.
Dressing up in clothing prescribed by a religion, being in the front of the congregation, telling others they are sinners, and repeating the same words offends God.
It tells me that doing the above is a sure way NOT TO GAIN EVERLASTING LIFE.

My scripture tells me to realise that I am a sinner, and I have to gain forgiveness for MY sin, and not to judge other people for their sin.
My scripture tells me that if I am a braggard of my charity, I already received my reward here on life.
and If I fast, I should keep it a secret!

Therefore attempting to tell me what my scripture says, demands one reads it first.
 

viole

Ontological Naturalist
Premium Member
Five prayers a day may take from 15 to 30 minutes, fasting is only for one month and it is good for you. The zakat is small and Hajj is obligatory only once in a lifetime.

Then Muslims do the things everyone else does: go to work, clean, cook, raise their children, socialise, study and take care of their families, — these they do, or should do, for the sake of Allah, but they are the same things everyone else does.

Instead of reading a random book they may read the Qur'an. Instead of listening to music, they may listen to the Qur'an.

Their lives are not outwardly all that different from other people's lives, but their intention is different.
I have a couple question for which I never got a clear answer from your fellow believers.

Question 1. I come from Kiruna, Sweden, which is above the northern polar circle. That means, there is no sunset for a couple weeks in summer.
In case of Ramadan during those days and at that locations, how can it be good to starve to death?

Question 2: If you find yourself at the antipodes of the Mecca, in which direction do you pray?

Question 3: what if you die one day before your mandatory visit to the Mecca?.


Ciao

- viole
 

Shakeel

Well-Known Member
In my scripture it tells me not to use ritualistic prayers, not to be long winded, and not to show outwardly that I am some religious pious being.
Dressing up in clothing prescribed by a religion, being in the front of the congregation, telling others they are sinners, and repeating the same words offends God.
It tells me that doing the above is a sure way NOT TO GAIN EVERLASTING LIFE.

My scripture tells me to realise that I am a sinner, and I have to gain forgiveness for MY sin, and not to judge other people for their sin.
My scripture tells me that if I am a braggard of my charity, I already received my reward here on life.
and If I fast, I should keep it a secret!

Therefore attempting to tell me what my scripture says, demands one reads it first.
Debate isn't allowed here so I made a new thread in debates as a response to this.
 

JustGeorge

Not As Much Fun As I Look
Staff member
Premium Member
It might be that you're far far more concerned
with catering to the needs of others than I am.
Sometimes ya gotta say....
"Get yer own darned TV remote!"

If only it was that simple...

A recent example(with a family friend):

"Where's Ares(7 year old)?"

"Oh, he took my keys and went outside."

"Which keys?"

"Truck keys. Its okay, he can't start it."(assuming ignorance)

"Yes, he can!"(I got there in time)

Perhaps I share too much time with dunderheads, in which increases my workload...
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
If only it was that simple...

A recent example(with a family friend):

"Where's Ares(7 year old)?"

"Oh, he took my keys and went outside."

"Which keys?"

"Truck keys. Its okay, he can't start it."(assuming ignorance)

"Yes, he can!"(I got there in time)

Perhaps I share too much time with dunderheads, in which increases my workload...
I've heard that sometimes a parent must beat the stoopid out
of a kid. I don't believe that violence achieves that. But age
often mitigates poor decision making. There's a light at the
end of the tunnel.
By the time I hit 65, I was making very few bad decisions.
 

JustGeorge

Not As Much Fun As I Look
Staff member
Premium Member
I've heard that sometimes a parent must beat the stoopid out
of a kid. I don't believe that violence achieves that. But age
often mitigates poor decision making. There's a light at the
end of the tunnel.
By the time I hit 65, I was making very few bad decisions.

I wanted to beat the stoopid out of the friend.

You don't give your keys to an autistic 7 year old with a fascination with vehicles and a knack for problem solving. That's just dumb.

From the kid's point of view: "I bet I can sucker this turd out of his keys and steal his truck."
 

Shakeel

Well-Known Member
I have a couple question for which I never got a clear answer from your fellow believers.

Question 1. I come from Kiruna, Sweden, which is above the northern polar circle. That means, there is no sunset for a couple weeks in summer.
In case of Ramadan during those days and at that locations, how can it be good to starve to death?

Question 2: If you find yourself at the antipodes of the Mecca, in which direction do you pray?

Question 3: what if you die one day before your mandatory visit to the Mecca?.


Ciao

- viole
1. You would fast according to the nearest country where day and night can be distingushed from each other.

2. That I don't know and it is that much of useless question I'm not gonna go find out. But if both are okay then I'd guess both are okay.

3. One is rewarded according to his intention.
 

EnsignRo

Member
I have a couple question for which I never got a clear answer from your fellow believers.

Question 1. I come from Kiruna, Sweden, which is above the northern polar circle. That means, there is no sunset for a couple weeks in summer.
In case of Ramadan during those days and at that locations, how can it be good to starve to death?
You stop fasting at the time of Magrib prayer and start fasting before Fajr prayer.

Question 2: If you find yourself at the antipodes of the Mecca, in which direction do you pray? There are apps you can get that show what direction the Qibla (Mecca) is according to your position

Question 3: what if you die one day before your mandatory visit to the Mecca? Hajj is a pillar of faith and if one cannot afford it then this was said by the Prophet (saw)

Some poor people came to the Prophet and said,
"The wealthy people will get higher grades and will have permanent enjoyment and they pray like us and fast as we do. They have more money by which they perform the Hajj, and 'Umra; fight and struggle in Allah's Cause and give in charity."
The Prophet said, "Shall I not tell you a thing upon which if you acted you would catch up with those who have surpassed you? Nobody would overtake you and you would be better than the people amongst whom you live except those who would do the same. Say "Sub-han-al-lah", "Alhamdu-lillah" and "Allahu Akbar" thirty three times each after every (compulsory) prayer."
We differed and some of us said that we should say, "Subhan-al-lah" thirty three times and "Alhamdu lillah" thirty three times and "Allahu Akbar" thirty four times. I went to the Prophet who said, "Say, "Subhan-al-lah" and "Alhamdu lillah" and "Allahu Akbar" all together for thirty three times.

Sahih Bukhari: Volume 1, Book 12, Number 804:


Ciao

I hope this is helpful
 
Top