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Some get tested through loss.
Others get tested through material abundance.
I think the latter is the harder test with the greater downside should one fail.
There is a passage in the Q'uran that goes right to this -- about God giving the wicked more rope with which to hang themselves when they behave badly. All the while, the egos of such wicked people will mistake the increase in the material gifts as something they richly deserve. Big mistake.
I am looking for the passage. I'll post it when I find it.
by Rain on Wed Oct 26, 2005 at 12:06:20 PM PDT
If I had wanted you to kiss My ass, I'd have given you lips at least this big!
by Morgan on Wed Oct 26, 2005 at 12:34:54 PM PDT
[ Parent ]
"Riches does not mean having a great amount of property, but riches is self-contentment." (Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him)
by lauramp on Wed Oct 26, 2005 at 05:12:24 PM PDT
The Q'uran is a very mysterious text -- sometimes things hide just to get you to read more.
by Rain on Wed Oct 26, 2005 at 06:11:45 PM PDT
8. Then there are those who say, "We believe in GOD and the Last Day," while they are not believers. In trying to deceive GOD and those who believe, they only deceive themselves without perceiving. In their minds, there is a disease. Consequently, GOD augments their disease. They have incurred a painful retribution for their lying. When they are told, "Do not commit evil," they say, "But we are righteous!" In fact, they are evildoers, but they do not perceive. When they are told, "Believe like the people believed," they say, "Shall we believe like the fools who believed?" In fact, it is they who are fools, but they do not know. When they meet the believers, they say, "We believe," but when alone with their devils, they say, "We are with you; we were only mocking." GOD mocks them, and leads them on in their transgressions, blundering. It is they who bought the straying, at the expense of guidance. Such trade never prospers, nor do they receive any guidance."
Sometimes hard things happen to good people. The following passage, also from Sura 2, is very meaningful to me.
155. We will surely test you through some fear, hunger, and loss of money, lives and crops. Give good news to the steadfast. When an affliction befalls them, they say, "We belong to GOD, and to Him we are returning." These have deserved blessings from their Lord and mercy. These are the guided ones.
by Rain on Thu Oct 27, 2005 at 02:01:43 PM PDT
The passage featured in the diary approaches the question from a different angle.
I've been swamped with work lately and putting in a lot of extra hours so I haven't had as much time as I thought for researching this. To make up for it, I've highlighted your comment in my diary.
by lauramp on Sat Oct 29, 2005 at 06:35:31 PM PDT
Qur'an 9:85 Nor let their wealth nor their (following in) sons dazzle thee: God's plan is to punish them with these things in this world, and that their souls may perish in their (very) denial of God.
Qur'an 102:1 Abundance diverts you, (really the whole sura Takathur)
Qur'an 4:29 O ye who believe! Eat not up your property among yourselves in vanities: But let there be amongst you Traffic and trade by mutual good-will: Nor kill (or destroy) yourselves: for verily God hath been to you Most Merciful! (then it continues through 33).
Qur'an 17:29-30 Make not thy hand tied (like a niggard's) to thy neck, nor stretch it forth to its utmost reach, so that thou become blameworthy and destitute. Verily thy Lord doth provide sustenance in abundance for whom He pleaseth, and He provideth in a just measure. For He doth know and regard all His servants.
Qur'an 63:9-11 O ye who believe! Let not your riches or your children divert you from the remembrance of God. If any act thus, the loss is their own. and spend something (in charity) out of the substance which We have bestowed on you, before Death should come to any of you and he should say, "O my Lord! why didst Thou not give me respite for a little while? I should then have given (largely) in charity, and I should have been one of the doers of good". But to no soul will God grant respite when the time appointed (for it) has come; and God is well acquainted with (all) that ye do.
Qur'an 57:20 Know that this world's life is only sport and play and gaiety and boasting among yourselves, and a vying in the multiplication of wealth and children, like the rain, whose causing the vegetation to grow, pleases the husbandmen, then it withers away so that you will see it become yellow, then it becomes dried up and broken down; and in the hereafter is a severe chastisement and (also) forgiveness from God and (His) pleasure; and this world's life is naught but means of deception.
Also the first part of surah Qalam (#68 ...one of the the oldest sections of the Qur'an), and surah Humaza (104) are relevant.
I have probably missed some, my apologies.
To God belong the east and the west: Whereso ever you turn, there is the face of God. For God is all-Embracing, all-Knowing.
by dervish on Sun Oct 30, 2005 at 02:40:56 PM PDT
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