Chapter Qiyamah – Part 3

Chapter Qiyamah (part 3)

Recap: We discussed man’s behavior in his daily living and the need for man to seek peace in his/her life. How do human beings look for a place to escape and seek refuge?  In this world, there is no way to take refuge in anything.  We can only take refuge in the Owner of the universe, not ourselves or anything else in the universe.  In practical terms, it means that we must bear in mind that this universe has an Owner and we must interpret all the events according to our definition and understanding of the Owner of the universe, God. 

 

• When we seek asylum with God, we understand that whatever we have sent ahead and performed is in the name of God i.e. all actions must be done in His name, so He will keep it because that was the purpose of the action (remembrance of Him) and the purpose for the life of this world (get to know Him through me and the universe).  

 

Also, we usually postpone and put off “thinking about the future of our being” i.e. what is this existence for and where am I going, or what will happen to me?  We end up saying, I will enjoy my life now, and later when I get old, I will think about “death”.  While I am enjoying life, it is only in my name i.e. for my own enjoyment and not taking into account that this life is a gift given to me and it is a trust that I should treat according to how a trust should be kept.  And so, I shall follow the rules of the trusts as they are given to me to fulfill the purpose of my life.  

Now, we are going into an interesting psychological analysis of the human being.  

75:14 “In fact, the human being is a clear witness against himself.”

The question arises here, am I left alone to myself so that I will judge according to myself, how so?  We should never forget that we have been given the capacity to analyze and see, what are we doing here and for what purpose we are doing that which we are doing?  What are we trying to reach?  That depends on our description of existence and we must bear in mind that I am the one who is witnessing my reality!  

Of course, we should be careful here to know that our mind and capacity are functioning within the confinement of this universe, and we don’t know what the reality is by “ourselves” alone.  Also, taken for granted instructions that God will tell me what I am doing is right or wrong is baseless.  For even to make such a claim, I need to know how I reached “the belief in God”.  To truly understand who God is, what His position is, and does such a thing exist? we must use our own capacity. That is why He enabled us and endowed us with the capacity to know what is right and wrong.

Again, as a reminder (as emphasized in previous discussions), before getting into the subject, we should not confuse the message with the religious rituals (what to do and not to do).  In order to make any sort of reference to the Speech of God, we must first analyze ourselves and the universe and arrive at a conclusion.  The conclusion is that this Source of the existence of my being is going to present to me the principles of living in this world and doing certain rituals which will remind me of my position in this world. I must go through many other stages before reaching this conclusion.  Hence, we must learn to reason from scratch, and we must always remember that:

• I must be convinced about my conclusions within the conditions of this universe and my already existing conditions.  

• I must go to the bottom of the line of reasoning quickly: “Here I am, I see myself as a wonderful being and I have been given limitless feelings that are created, not by me”.  

• Now, I have to think about what it means to exist, because I have been given consciousness and reasoning and all sorts of feelings working in both sides trying to avoid harmful position on one side and on the other side, I want to get the things that I like to have as a means of sustenance for my existence. 

• Yes, I don’t want to experience the bad, harmful, fear-causing feelings, despair, and unpleasant feelings. I try to avoid them.  Any understanding which disturbs my feelings, I must avoid it.  That is how human beings are given baseera or “insight” i.e. what is happening in my choices, I have an insight on them!  

We all know what we need and what we want to stay away from; however, we don’t always practice it so to question: “how about my feelings, how am I going to handle my feelings?”  I have hopes and fears, how can I secure my hopes and obtain whatever I need (not in a material sense at this level)?  Now, we are at the level of the soul, the spiritual level and my feelings: 

“How can I make my feelings secure where my spirit is obtaining what it needs such as security, certainty and satisfaction in its existence? 

I am not a static or neutral being, I have two aspects (trying to get goodness and trying to avoid harm/despair) and I have free will that is continuously being exercised.  First, I must be ready that I am the one who is witnessing these feelings within my own life.  At the same time, I am aware that the Creator is witnessing it as well (speaking from God’s perspective here as I conclude that He must know my feelings and choices).  Second, I have to come to the conclusion that “Yes, He is the One who witnesses everything and oversees what He has created in the form of human beings (yes, by definition, He is the Creator and that is within His concern).”  Now, I am concerned with my own feelings as the verse says that the human beings are clear witnesses against themselves.  

I have two options in my existence, one is calling me to be selfish and egoistic and the other one is calling me to be submissive to the reality.  Ultimately, the second option brings me benefit but at first, it may seem that I am being subject to something else because human beings want and are created with the need for freedom.  Yes, I must be free, however, in this context, we misuse our freedom sometimes.  How? 

•  I want to exercise my freewill and I don’t follow anything else but my egoistic desires.  Is it freedom or slavery (this is another subject)?

Again, I always have two options and I am aware of what I am choosing.  Just because I am aware of what I am choosing does not necessarily make me always do the right.  That is the nature of the free will, by definition, human free will is given, although it is limited to the available options provided.  For example, if it is night, I don’t want darkness.  Can I choose daylight at night?  No.  What I can choose now?  To be consistent within my consciousness or ignore the voice of my consciousness and be selfish i.e. just choose what my immediate pleasure is (I want to choose this right now, I want to enjoy my life now or for example, I will not share my property with others because it is mine…).  Yes, I will die, but I will entertain my life now, we will see what will happen to me after death.  With this attitude, one always prefers the immediate pleasure and never considers the consequence of their choice because I do not want to submit my choice to the choice of reality (existence, which is my reality has a purpose, a responsibility towards the One who gave me existence).  

I know that when I am selfish with my choices, I am being egoistic, this detecting ability or insight is already placed within my own existence.  That is why the verse says that the human being is a clear witness against himself: “Hey watch out, I have created you with the ability to become aware of what you are choosing, so pay attention to it”!  

Let’s say that I am sincerely deciding on something and I don’t really feel that what I have decided about is wrong, a selfish decision. I am not responsible for it because I thought that I did the right thing. What about now, what is the criterium for me now that the message has reached me?  In light of this verse under discussion, the criterium is to leave aside my biases, prejudices, and taken-for-granted definitions of my existence.  I have the option to reevaluate my previous decision which I thought was right but may have been egoistic and so, seek forgiveness.

• Example: This world consists only of matter and matter develops like this.  As a result of this materialistic worldview, we develop and construct a secular lifestyle i.e. I am here and the universe happens to be like this, and I will benefit from it and I want something for my own interest and enjoyment.  I don’t care about death because when I die, everything will be over, that is my definition.  If this was my definition, then I would do everything selfishly to justify my definition: “I thought this was right!”  

• Really?  Have you ever thought of the claim that this universe exists by itself and just happens to be like this?  Don’t you see how it works?  Don’t you see the perfect harmony and design?  How everything is taken care of and changing in a way that we can understand that it cannot happen accidentally?

We must be sincere with our pre-assumed decisions.  If I say that I am here and the universe is an accident where my existence takes place from birth to death, then with the rest I don’t care.  Do you like death?  No.  Are you the result of an accidental happening?  It does not seem so.  Do you see how the universe perfectly functions?  

• Without a conscious arrangement, can the universe really happen by itself?  

Most of the mistakes we make and decisions we take are based on our existential assumptions.  That is why we have to go quickly, first in detail and then later quickly: “This universe seems to be perfectly arranged, the things seem to be dependent on each other and nothing has any consciousness, choice, and power to give existence to itself or another thing.”  We must think about it and be realistic that there must be some reason for it.  After this reason, I should decide what type of lifestyle I shall follow, according to an accidental existence or a deliberate existence?

From this point on, I can proceed to the conclusions (as mentioned on page 2).  I can reach the conclusion by using myself as a witness, otherwise, I will assume acquired ideas (I am a believer and I must follow the scriptures, for example.  This is not wrong, but it must be a result/conclusion and that is how human nature works).  We must make sure about our first assumption to proceed to the conclusions. 

 

• If you already find yourself with preconceived assumptions, then ask yourself: “Why am I taking the Quran as a guide? How did I come to this conclusion?  How do I know that the Quran is God’s book for there are other wonderful books out there?  How did you arrive at the conclusion that there is God? 

• Don’t start your beginning from the result/conclusion i.e. I am a believer.  No!  Rather, I look at the things in the universe and I see that they are wonderful.  We need to educate ourselves in this way and speak to people accordingly.  People who are not familiar with the reality of this universe are unaware of how to live with belief.  Existence may be taken for granted but I should have my own reasoning as to why I follow a certain religion.  That is what we are trying to establish here i.e. I must start from scratch quickly while reasoning.  

• Let’s say someone asks you why do you pray five times a day?  You should start with yourself, why do you pray?  If I do not perform my prayers, I feel that I am contradicting my own reality which says that I am given existence by someone and I must appreciate it.  As a result of this feeling, I have to find a way to express my appreciation. My Creator told me to practice this ritual so that I can keep remembering what my given position is in this world and to submit my existence to Him.  This attitude will always be refreshing my belief and confirming experiences of my previous life and as a result, I will become stronger and secure in the way I am living. 

• Taken for granted choices and decisions are not the safe way because when we are challenged with the reality of the world, we just follow our egoistic desires by defending ourselves, rather than defending the reality i.e. truth.

• Our reasoning must start from scratch, that is the most secure way.  Afterward, you can say that what the Quran says fits my reality, that is what I feel.

 

Whatever I am doing (good and bad), I am given the ability or the quality to be aware of what I am choosing.  If I do not utilize this ability given to me by my Creator, I will be the loser because I will start following the decisions of other people, society, and whatever is dictated out there (e.g. everyone has this, everyone does and says this, I must have this gadget as well…)  When we follow the choice of others, then we become the slave of others rather than being consistent within ourselves.  Consciousness is very important.  I am given the consciousness and spirit to understand what I am doing is right or wrong.  Along with the right option, I am given the possibility to choose a wrong path or make a wrong decision (nafsul ammara– always following the path of Satan, as the Quran symbolically teaches us.)  There are satanic feelings within you because you have free will to make decisions between two options (right/wrong).  The wrong option is representing Satan within me.  If I follow the wrong path, I follow the whisperings of Satan (it is just whispering and it does not have a real existence, I am making a wrong assumption/decision).  That is why if a person looks at the universe as happening naturally by itself, then whatever this person does would turn out to be meaningless because everything is established on this false assumption.

In our childhood, we don’t think about existence much because at that time we are not given the ability to be a clear witness against ourselves.  As I grow to maturity, I am enabled within my own existence to make the distinctions between right and wrong and that needs education and training.  Sometimes we may not be able to clearly understand that I am not an accidental being and what is the purpose of my existence? What can it be?  My existence is so wonderful and so there must be something who gave me existence, who can it be?  

• After this quest, you understand that the universe must have an Owner who guides you and gives you extra guidance so that you will be subject to education and through education, everything will become clearer with the help of the teacher.  

Who is the teacher?  God Himself uses various means.  From one aspect, the universe is a teacher, from another aspect, my human side is also a teacher.  We must pay attention to this and question and see how things are happening all around.  “I gave you the ability to understand and I will speak to you through your reasoning now and you will hear what I am saying and reason accordingly.”  That is extra guidance that includes something else, more than what this universe and my capacity can convey.  That is, we have some questions that we cannot answer from ourselves, but in order to feel the need for His speech, I have to utilize the universe and myself by questioning.  Without questioning myself, I go nowhere (i.e. I have wonderful feelings, how can it happen, I am not just flesh and bones. I am eating varieties of food, going through different feelings throughout the day, what is going on here and these feelings urge me to do something as opposed to doing something else).  What is going on?  

• I must always pay attention to what is going on out there, birds chirping, trees are growing…but why do we die?  People are given existence and given death, what is going on here? When I see life, I say God is a very good God. What is going on when I see death?  Is God going crazy? 

• I don’t see any signs of craziness in the universe, but what is going on? 

After struggling and fighting with these thoughts, I say, whoever you are who gave me existence! Please help me solve this for I must solve this puzzle.  He says: “Yes, I know that you need.” And so, He sends His answer through an employed person (a Prophet) because everything is created through a means.  Just as the order of the universe is established by using the elements and matter.  Example: If a person is talented in something, s/he has to utilize the material means, just as a skillful painter must take the paint and brush and reflect his quality of art on the canvas.  

• Similarly, the Creator of the universe is demonstrating His qualities by creating the universe.  

The Creator of the universe creates matter to demonstrate and manifest His qualities so that conscious beings can see His qualities and know what kind of a Creator He is.  How about His verbal speech?  He must reach me through His speech, His voice, and so it must reach me.  What does voice mean?  It means waves of air. I don’t see and hear the voice.  If the voice was obvious out there, then people would say that someone physical is speaking to me.  Given the conditions of this universe (the structure of the universe and my existence), the Creator employs a vehicle, a man to convey His speech.  Some people say that if God speaks, then He must speak to me directly, rather than speaking to a man, do you think that God needs a man or particle to speak?  In other words, the Creator speaks through employing a human being and conveys the message to me. Through these means, He provides me with the answers.  I appreciate the universe/matter for through the matter, I understand and become aware of the Creator within the conditions of this universe.  At the same time, I should appreciate the messenger because through the messenger I receive the teachings of my Creator and so I have to look for any means to receive God’s teaching, instructive speech to make sense of it.

Taking education through the speech of the Creator, I must go through myself and the universe (two fundamental stages), and then I will feel that I understand something.  Going further, I will realize that I have more questions: “What am I expected to do here? How am I to use my free will?”  I am given the potentiality to make the right decisions and the wrong decisions.  Yes, my feelings tell me what is right and wrong, but I need to undergo training, the education must be through instructions.  We can all ask ourselves: Why did you go to school?  To develop my potentiality to become a specialist in a subject and to utilize it.  Now, as far as your existential side is concerned, ask yourself: “How am I going to educate myself and deal with my humanity and make the right choices? How do I handle my free choice?”  It needs education and that is why we need God’s guidance and religion; we need instruction that reaches us through the messengers and any other means.  Instruction is best if I receive it through a man who is an example and expert on this existential subject.  I will save my life conditions through the pattern of his human life conditions, that is why Messengership is essential.  

We all listen to the Quran carefully and how the Creator of the universe says: “Listen to me, pay attention to my instruction, and these instructions are delivered to you by the Prophets.  You cannot obey me without utilizing the exemplary life of another person so take instructions from his life.” That is why the /Quran always uses: “follow God and His messenger”.  Be careful with how this is interpreted, I will follow God and also his Prophet(s).  

• Who is important?  God.   

• • But, how can I follow God?   God is the Absolute Being; can I imitate Him?  No.  I can only say that God creates the universe while nothing exists, He gives existence, and everything exists because of His will.

 

• Can I create anything without using any material means?  Without using my brain and tongue, can I speak?  Memory?  No, I just use them, so how can I follow God then?  God creates us in a way that He shows Himself through abstract notions in creation such as through the meaningful creation and my feelings and rationale.  

 

• How can I experience my feelings and belief in a concrete practical way?  I need an example of a man (Prophets) who puts the human experience into practice in their physical life. 

“Whoever obeys the Messenger obeys God.” (4: 80): If you want to obey God, that is only possible by following the Prophet i.e. adapt the Prophetic exemplary life to your living conditions.  That is to say, the obedience of God must be under the instructorship of the Prophet.  The verse makes it implicit that those people who don’t feel any responsibility towards their believing in God, are missing out on the ultimate purpose of existence.  

• Believing in God and following God would be very arbitrary because you follow God as you want.  

• How do you want to follow God?  

• I don’t know because I am a freeman and whatever my choices are, I am the best witness to see if they are egoistic and selfish.  

• I must see an example of it in a concrete and palpable sense in front of me.  

• That is why, “follow God and His messenger” means that if you want to follow God, then you must follow the Prophet. The above verse says, “whoever follows the Prophet, s/he follows God”.  The same message is being conveyed here that you can follow God, an Absolute Being by following His employed and trained instructor on Earth in human form.  

Again, we need to be watchful on our approach to the Quran i.e. how we read it; as the Quran emphatically repeats the importance of following the Prophetic exemplary lives, which is called in the Islamic literature as “sunnah”, the tradition of the Prophet (i.e. that trend must be followed as that is how human existence becomes meaningful here).  We are here at the stage of the beginning of the chapter emphasizing on the nature of creation.  Now, the sequence of the chapter has reached the second stage of human development i.e. you have to follow yourself as well and pay attention to the fact that you have as a witness “yourself”, the insight within yourself as well.

75:15 “despite all the excuses he may put forward”

We make up so many excuses (because of my living conditions, I did this or because of him/her, I chose to do such and such…)  Even if we are in a dispute or quarrel with someone (ideologically or financially), we always think of how can I turn the case in my favor?  That is what we do.  When we do it practically, at that moment, we may justify it, but I am given the ability to understand and realize that all my reasonings are nothing but excuses to justify my choices.  

• To avoid falling into this selfish situation, I have to be careful and be alert that my excuses only soothe me on a temporary basis.  

My consciousness says: “(insert your name), be careful, you win the case by making excuses saying that I am right but deep down you are not right but selfish, you are not following the reality, the truth, and justice”.  We always find ourselves doing this and after the argument is over, we say, “ok, I won the case and I may sound as if I made the right decision”.  Example: I play the role that this universe is as it is and I am trying to interpret this universe as it is by trying to get away from the difficulties for myself, to be always in the position of a winner.  However, we are always sure that we will die.  With the passing of day and night, we are getting older.  My previous life is already dead.  I cannot escape death, impossible! What is the purpose of living this life since I am going to die?  What am I doing here?  Temporary pleasure just blurred my mind and dragged me into its amusement and it is leaving, the consequence of this huge human condition (seeking eternity) because it is directly related to the purpose of my existence i.e. why am I here?  

• What am I doing here and brought into this existence with wonderful and amazing qualities, what are they good for, since I am going to die and perish away?

• My existence may seem so meaningless; however, I do not see anything to be meaningless in creation.  My body and feelings are so wonderful, and they serve me, and they are extremely important and full of meaningful messages for me, I cannot be alone in my life and existence.  

• What does this mean?  I must be extremely cautious about the decisions I make, although I am always inclined to justify them. 

We have the tendency to always look right: “I have to do this; these are the living conditions and I cannot survive otherwise…”  Really?  As much as possible, at least try to be honest within yourself according to the conditions of your life.  Everyone says that I am honest.  Even a thief says that I am honest and I know that stealing is wrong but you have no idea about my living conditions, I have to take care of my family, this is an easy way of making life… Excuses after excuses become a habit.  Are you expecting me to die of hunger?  No, just be honest and do not justify your profession as a “thief”. 

• I should be honest within myself.

• The first witness is the universe, what is the nature of this universe (first stage).
• The second witness is me (second stage).

75:16 “Do not move your tongue in haste about it [while reciting the Qur’an or message]”

What is “it” in the verse?  The previous verse says that I am a clear witness against myself despite all the excuses that I may put forward.  And so, “it” refers to my conclusions and justifications that I shouldn’t just move my tongue to twist the subject and find out an excuse to make myself stay on the top to be a winner: “I am a right man or what should I do in these living conditions for everyone steals and lies and so I must also steal and lie”. 

• Example: Politicians are experts on this i.e. I must win, that is the rule of the play.  
• Example: If you see advertisements, you can justify that is how you must do, or the company says we will go bankrupt otherwise.  
• Example: if you see someone living on interests or exploiting other people’s labors, people say that is how the economy works and so profit must be maximized. 

 

• Watch out for your words when you are trying to make yourself to be the right person!

 

Most of the scholars say that these verses are about the Prophet’s attitude when he received the message and he was moving his tongue in haste while reciting the Quran or the message.  Ok, I must be careful not to speak in haste.  But, what does this message have to do with my existential reality?

There are many elements to be taken into consideration while we are interacting with the Quran.  Historical context is an initial stage of understanding what was happening during the first period and the first addressee of the revelation.  The more permanent principle is to read the Quran within its own context.  Suddenly, the subject changes, and the human being is told that he/she is given insight into what their reality is (witness or baseera).  When we experience an event or feeling, we should not move our tongue in haste as a consequence of the happening (justifications of our choices and trying to make excuses without consulting our own consciousness of what is right).  

While I am reading the Quran, I am under the instructorship of the Quran and I should let the Quran be my teacher i.e. I read one verse.  Read this verse and see what it says without making haste conclusions.  Then, take into consideration the context of the Quran, what this verse should mean within the whole content of the Quran?  Furthermore, take into consideration who is speaking in the Quran (“I am the Creator of the universe”), why does He speak to me?  

• I must try to contextualize the meaning of the Quran within the whole purpose and objectives of the Quran i.e. what is expected of me from my understanding of the Quran?  

Some people may fall into the following error while interpreting the Quran: Study one or two verses of the Quran without putting it into the whole context of the teachings of the Quran and miss the purpose of the Speech of God that gives an obvious meaning to my living here.  Every verse makes sense only when it is put under the whole context of the teachings of the Quran.  Example: If I read a book on medicine and take one sentence from the book and present it to you, you will ask me what does it mean because you do not know which discipline this text is taken from?  Geology? Philosophy? Psychology?  I must specify that this sentence is taken out of a book on medical studies.  Only then will you get the meaning according to medical studies, otherwise it can mean anything, and anyone can interpret it as they like.  Similarly, while you are being a student of the Quran, you must see every single verse within the whole context of the Quran.  Don’t move your tongue in haste about the meaning of one verse, you have to contextualize it; otherwise, none of the sentences makes sense alone.  

• Example: If John says to you to cut your finger, will you cut your finger?  No.  You will say that John is crazy.  Now, if John says that I am a medical doctor and I suggest you cut your finger because you have gangrene.  This will resonate better with you and will make sense to you as far as your benefit is concerned.

• Without the context, do not make a haste decision.

• While trying to understand your own choices, don’t hastily come to a conclusion, think about it first- is it the right way to justify yourself, or is it just an excuse to justify yourself?

75:17 “We shall make sure of its safe collection and recitation”

The way God creates everything is going to be recited and presented to you such that if you don’t hasten and are being cautious about your decisions, His message will make sense to you. “I will gather all the elements (the universe, your feelings, and the Prophets) together for you and you will read the recitation of the reality and the creation of the events that you are getting involved with, I will make it clear for you.”  So, I shouldn’t hurriedly come up with a conclusion about any matter, take my time from the beginning to the end, where am I coming from?  Where am I going?  I must ask these questions.  

Am I really making the right choice?  

While reading the Quran and deciding about the verse that you are studying now: “We will provide you with a complete picture of the teaching if you are cautious about your interpretations of the verses. You will see that at the end, you will get the big picture settled in your mind, and accordingly you will put this verse within this picture (context of the Quran) in its right point, and then you will understand.  Hence, don’t worry.”

We are in the early periods of revelations and so there is no concrete book like the Quran yet in front of the people.  Those people who listened to the Prophets reading these verses to them would say what is the twisting of one’s tongue while reciting the verses of the Qur’an?  If the Prophet is reciting the verse, so what does it tell me about reciting it?  Even if I somehow understand these verses as God promising them that they will not get lost if they follow what is being said in these verses, it is not wrong, but this verse must be understood within the context of the previous verses and the following verses.  It means that I am making decisions according to this fleeting life’s understanding, not the permanent life (upcoming verse, 75:20 “Truly you love this fleeting life.”)

Comment: Perhaps we can also extrapolate to be cautious against creational signs that we see.  Not to make hasty conclusions about it and be free from prejudices and preconceived notions.  We should not rush to any first encountered idea and judgment blindly without any proper intellectual scrutiny?  Rather, do some thorough questioning.

We should be cautious about any signs in creation, the scripture, and what we hear from authorities.    Our feelings are like a book now in front of us.  We must take the historical context and seriously see the reality in terms of our context.  Example: It is easy to say that an animal acts on its instincts or consists of cells and the cells consist of atoms (or particles).  This is a quick conclusion and yes, we must take precautions before coming to a conclusion.  We must think about it and if need be, consult our understandings with the experts.  

• All elements are complementary to each other such as the signs that we read from the universe and our capacity (all these are signs or ayaat as mentioned in the Quran).

75:18 “So when We recite it, follow its recitation!”

When I receive the signs from the universe, myself, and the Quran, i.e., when anything is recited to me, I will follow what it says without hastily or quickly concluding.  

75:19 “And then, surely, it will be for Us to make its meaning clear.”

If you are cautious and do not take any biased attitude to follow someone (yes, s/he seems to be a qualified person and I will follow him/her), then you will be true to your human self.  Always be cautious about any thoughts that are presented, and after a period of educating yourselves and deliberate reflection on it (free of biases), make a conclusion.  We all make lots of mistakes, but we must be brave to admit our mistakes.  

To come to the right conclusion, I have to wait and make sure that its real meaning will become explicit to me by the will of God according to my intention i.e. it will be explained to me.  The universe and the human beings are created in such a way that if I say when I am on the path to seeking guidance: “I am puzzled about one subject, not sure if it’s right/wrong (for example), so let me rethink about it and reconsider what it means to me and how can I benefit from it?”  

 

• I am created in such a way that when I need guidance in some matter, I investigate.

 

If we don’t hurry to justify our excuses and don’t make ourselves the person to make the right judgment, without admitting that I am not sure about it, then we will receive guidance from the Creator i.e. something in the universe will be an excuse to remind us: “this must be so.”  God says: Don’t worry about it, I am the One who is going to reveal the meaning to you.  Either the Quran, my feelings, or the signs that I receive from creation out there will be employed to convey the meaning.  

“Signs” means not explicitly presented to us. Although the Quranic language seems simple at first glance, the real meaning needs to be explained and made clear with deeper reflection. At the end of the day, anything that I see in the universe is only a sign, which needs to be interpreted and explained.  All my feelings are signs to me.  The sign means that it needs to be interpreted.  Each verse of the Quran is a sign that needs to be interpreted and understood.  “Sign” by definition is something that is not clear but points to something other than itself. Example: A signpost says not to stand beyond this line, it does not mean that you should not stand by the signpost, rather, that indication extends to beyond the line.  The Creator says: “yes, I will enable you to understand the meaning of the Quran, signs in the creation, and yourself.  Trust me but don’t hurry, don’t jump to conclusions without taking the necessary precautions”.