Job’s Supplication – Part 2

Similar to Jonah’s narration in the Quran, Job’s narration refers to how his knowledge of God and remembrance of God has been afflicted which is symbolically represented by the tongue and the heart (in the text). Prophets are people employed in order to represent the Will of God in human form. They help us establish a consciousness of our position in relation with God.

• Prophetic mission= help me understand my connection with my Lord.

Any affliction/situation needs to be dealt with the following frame of thought:

1. lailaha: Who am I?
2. illallah: Who my Lord is?

NOTE: (Without experiencing #1, I cannot know #2). If I familiarize myself with # 1, # 2 follows easily.

Understanding “patience” under the light of the Quran:

“Patience” needs to be employed in the right way in order to overcome problems that afflict us. If someone tortures me or if I am afflicted by a calamity, I cannot merely say that I have to be patient. That would be a misuse of patience. Instead, I need to prepare myself to address the situation. When I use my human qualities to help myself get out of a situation that is my prayer which is bound to receive an answer. This PRAYER is nothing but the result of my PRACTICING PATIENCE in the right way. While confronting an affliction, I have to remember that I am asking God to remove that affliction from me: “As I am created by you O my Creator! I am not happy with this illness/event (for example), this sense of unhappiness is given by You to me and I want you to remove the affliction and my state of unhappiness from me”. If I am aware of it, then that is worshipping God. Otherwise I am wasting my time in this life when I do not use my human qualities. Furthermore, not attempting any course of action to overcome the affliction is laziness!

• Patience lies in my awareness of dealing with affliction. If any affliction harms me, I have to do something and at the same time be aware that this is the means for training in this universe. I am not given existence to suffer.

I am going through a training here so that I may learn something out of the apparent affliction which is given to me by the Source that gives me existence to realize what the purpose of my life is.

• Whatever we encounter in this world is a means of training for our benefit in order to fulfill the purpose of our existence.
• I need patience in this world in order to get to know who my Lord is.
• While going through the training, I need patience in order to fulfill the purpose of my existence.

HERE IS AN EXERCISE THE TEXT IS ALLUDING TO:

Given: An event.
Observation: I experienced pain.
What I am learning: I misinterpreted this event. I was not able to grasp the message in the event and I could not reach the Source because of the pain I lost myself in.

My Findings:

1. When I neglect the reality that the Creator of this event with a pain is a Merciful One within the affliction and I did not see the Mercy, that is the real disaster for me!
2. While I become aware that You are the Merciful One, I realize that I was wrong.
3. Affliction of pain is nothing because it is coming from the Merciful One to bring me closer to Him.
4. When I neglect Mercy in this affliction, that is concerning because I did not understand the purpose of its existence.
5. When I am forgetful, I feel that the affliction is harming me.
6. Repent: Oh God, my mistake!

My attitude towards an event has two aspects:

1. Physical side– I should take proper measures as much as I can in the given conditions and not rebel/complain.
2. Non-Physical side– As far as my relation with my Creator is concerned, I have to act immediately and seek refuge with God by admitting the mistake in my interpreting the event as bad.

While taking the proper measures to address the affliction, I am in reality obeying the physical order of the universe set by the order Giver. Doing so needs consciousness and that is worship. While doing this worship through the physical order of the universe (as established by the Order Giver), we have to remember that is how I grow, make progress in fulfilling and realizing the purpose of my being in this world. That is, I do not have an independent existence (lailaha) and my existence depends on the Source (Order Giver) who gives me existence along with the universe (illallah).

Nothing has an independent existence from the rest of the universe. In this universe, I cannot think of one single event independent from the rest of the whole cosmic order of the universe. The cosmic order cannot exist by itself, it depends on the Source who gives existence to it and thus to the universe. The order of the universe is not a simple matter as we use it without ever questioning. You cannot take one atom away from the whole universe. The existence of the whole universe depends on the Source that gives it existence, It is called God: We need to solve any problem within this frame of thought!

• My conclusion is this: The One who creates the universe is God. I know we are all created beings that are dependent in their existence on It. The One that gives me existence must be Self-Subsistent; It must be so (my conclusion after my experience of my awareness of the universe). That is belief.
• DO NOT IMAGINE GOD!

I cannot really believe in something unless I am satisfied with it within the conditions of my creation here. I expect my Creator to speak to me in order to give me the answers to the questions that I ask as I am created by It with this capacity to ask them. When I listen to the Creator, it is my Creator speaking to me and it is my Creator who has put me in this condition in this creation. It is speaking to me according to my capacity and my created conditions. Nothing should contradict my desires, expectations and the cosmic order of the universe that I observe; otherwise I cannot understand revelation (books) or Speech of God.

Belief in the books:

1. Listen to the Speech as it claims to be guidance. That is, it is my Creator speaking to me.
2. Internalize that Speech within your conditions. That is, I confirm that it is my Creator speaking to me in the text.

Don’t confuse belief with knowledge. I cannot know anything in this world apart from its physical appearance, shape, size, and weight of matter that we observe and feel. That constitutes knowledge. Similarly, mentioning God as knowledge never helps in my human satisfaction. Example: As a claim, “Everything is created by God” is knowledge unless I realize and confirm it based on my experience. When I feel pain, I should first think about the existence of the pain, WHERE IS IT TAKING PLACE WITHIN THE COSMIC ORDER? That is, connect the pain with the whole universe. Then, I should wonder who gave it to me because neither I nor anything else did not and could not produce it.

• One event does not exist by itself.
• My realization of the reality of the existence of any event (painful or not) as taking place WITHIN THE WHOLE UNIVERSE IS BELIEF!!!

Practically we can study individual particles (as the sciences are categorized into various disciplines) but we have to know that the particle exists within the whole order of the universe. My consciousness must be aware that particles altogether make one whole order of the universe. EXAMPLE: A glass of water taken from a lake/ocean. The existence of every water molecule inside the glass exists within the context of the whole order of the ocean (universe). That is, by reflecting on the existence of the water molecules inside the glass, you come to a conclusion about the Source of existence of the molecules. You then connect it to the Source of existence of all the molecules inside the lake/ocean. This leads to a conclusion that the Source that gives existence to the water molecules inside this glass and all the oceans is the same Source that gives me existence and controls the whole cosmic order of the universe.

We have become numb to wondering who is controlling the order of the universe. We have been indoctrinated with concluding things themselves are responsible and that they happen within a certain time frame i.e. beginning and end. With regard to things being responsible it is truly impossible for me to accept when I question it seriously. Although, for a second, apparently the time frame seems true but in reality, every moment is a new beginning and end. Creation is constantly being renewed. That is why we cannot really assign a number to a tree for example as we see it renewing with the seasons from life to death. Every moment the tree is dying and given a new existence. TO GET OUT OF THE SECULAR MIND SET OF SEPERATING EVERY EVENT, WE NEED TO FOLLOW THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPLES:

1. Nothing can have existence independently from the rest of the universe.
2. Question the whole universe, how is everything coming into existence?
3. How do you explain the existence of the whole order of the universe?
4. I cannot explain my existence without explaining sunlight, gravity…
5. Relate the event to the rest of the cosmos as much as you can.
6. Questioning the existence of one event should trigger me to questioning the existence of everything else in the universe.

It is known that after the death of the Prophet (pbuh), the companions quarreled over the meaning of some words when it came to the practical application of it. That is, the concept of the content of some words is left unexplained by the Messenger of God (pbuh). We know this by the statement made by the caliph Omar where he expressed his wish that if only the prophet (pbuh) had explained the meaning of those words. THEREFORE, it is left unto me to discover its meaning for myself instead of repeating from other’s interpretations. I need to work on myself and I need to be truthful in my ideological approach, and discuss with others who are truthful in their own approach as well. That is how human beings collaborate and make progress in this physical world. Example: the meaning of the word “justice” could mean to stand behind your understanding within the context of the Quran.

What is shirk (denying God)?

I may claim not to assign partners to God but if something happens to me, I get disappointed without actually letting the remembrance of God enter my mind, heart and feelings. At this point, I may have no connection with God and place Him as an Entity up there that has nothing to do with me. Moment by moment we may live in a neglectful way. We thus need to wake up and try to be aware of our reality in order not fall into shirk.

Analogy: Carpet is woven on a loom through thread going in by a shuttle. Each point of intersection of the threads by the shuttles makes a strong tie to complete the row. At the completion of the rows, the design comes out. Similarly, my consciousness weaves my carpet of life. The ties are events that I experience. That is, when I die, my carpet is full as much as I have trained myself. The passing of the shuttle is my remembrance of the Source of my Origin at every moment: I am created and my Lord is creating me, giving me everything at every moment.

Although when one is in a negligent state, they are not aware that God exists and do not attribute their being to God. That is not the problem because as soon as they are asked to explain their existence (do you exist by yourself?), they get shaken and confirm that they are created. Thus, the shirk attitude is always with us and no one is entitled to make judgments about anyone by calling them a mushrik (denier). I need to be watchful of my own claims. That is, I may have once claimed to be created by the Creator a couple of moments of my life. However, in my practical life, I do not stand by it, I neglect experiencing the meaning of my claim. Confirming the meaning of my claim through experience is what belief is.

No one lives in a state of moment by moment confirmation. But we should try to make it our aim and keep training. That is why, I need to be reminded about my reality and the Quranic message should not only be reduced as a reminder for certain ritualistic events only. I am given various means in my life that keep reminding me about my reality.

• KEEP ASKING YOURSELF: What does belief require of me?
• In essence, the negligent state is what I need to be watchful of.
• Shirk is a momentarily, unintentional state of being that emerges through neglect or being obstinate.

Every problem needs to be solved from the root cause. If someone respects his human qualities and realizes that they have been given, then it is impossible for him to steal. Similarly, the most obstinate atheist will forgive a person who steals and then asks for forgiveness after realizing it was wrong. Seeking forgiveness and the ability to forgive is within human nature. Revenge (uncontrolled feeling) is against human nature and does not conform to my reality. That is how I confirm the verses through experience (i.e. in physical terms): “What You say is true, I confirm it.”

• The Quran keeps giving us guidance about returning back to the Source of our Existence: “Keep returning to me, when you fall into neglect.”
• REPENT: “I have made a mistake.”
• Never despair of God’s Mercy and Forgiveness!

What if I do not realize Eternal life?

When I am comfortable within myself, this feeling is given to me and needs to be attributed to the right Owner. While feeling comfort, if I am appropriating this feeling to myself or the things around me, then I am at a loss. That is, when I disconnect myself from the Creator, I am bound to suffer from transience.

• Example: When I hear of someone’s death, I feel sorry for myself. The news of the death is a sign that I cannot have Eternal happiness in this universe.

Now, conflict starts within me i.e. I cannot experience Eternal Happiness in this universe. I will die away and perish away. That goes against human nature because I need Eternal bliss. The conflict is a sign that I cannot have Eternal happiness in this world. However, I have been given the desire for eternal happiness and I have the ability to experience signs of Eternal happiness to some capacity. When I am pleased, I want this pleasure to last forever. The momentarily pleasure in this world and my desire for eternal pleasure tell me that the one who gives me this momentary pleasure is communicating to me that “Look, I gave you this pleasure to make you realize that I am the Giver of eternal pleasure.”

The conflict within myself should make me realize that I should use my abilities appropriately. Even if I am neglectful most of the time, there are some moments during the day that serve as clear signs to my reality. Night comes and the day leaves you, your children grow and do not listen to you, you start aging (wrinkles, gray hair…), you spot people with curved backs walking with canes… You may feel fearful as well because of not knowing what is beyond this life. As soon as you realize that there must be an Eternal life Giver, you start feeling free from this conflict. The text is reminding me to be realistic within my own nature. Question the existence of fear in you, the desire for eternity, etc. The Quran keeps reminding us to question what the reality is and pay attention to the signs around us. Do not be NEGLECTFUL!

The following verses make me realize my reality :

“And how many a sign within the heavens and earth do they pass over while they, therefrom, are turning away.” (12):105

It is a beautiful reminder for me that indeed there are times that I am neglectful despite being bombarded with signs and thus miss on the opportunity to relate it to its origin, the Source that is attempting to communicate with me.

“And most of them believe not in Allah except while they associate others with Him.” (12):106

• If there were no signs around me to remind and shake me within my negligent state, then I will not be responsible for anything.
• If I can suppress my human qualities i.e. never let them speak to me, which is impossible, then I am being ignorant to my own reality. We can turn blind to ourselves temporarily.
• Our sad reality is that we occupy ourselves with various activities in order to avoid seeing the signs which remind us that what we have been doing is against our nature. (example: keeping busy with work, gossiping, reading useless literature, etc.)

Who can help me see the signs?

• Myself. If I want it, I can get it!
• If I am obstinate, I turn blind to myself. (I know there is Someone there looking out for me and I do not want to see It.)
• Quran mentions that we assigned a very close one to every single one of you who keeps reminding you of your reality.

Our consciousness is always with us. The text is alluding that if one can kill his mind and make himself dumb, then nothing will disturb him. If I kill my consciousness, then that is similar to living like an animal where I only take care of my physical biological needs. Although, one may claim to be a believer without confirming it experientially, our responsibility is to take guidance from the Quran and see it manifest in our physical life.

In conclusion, Prophet Job did not complain about physical harm. While something may appear to be harmful, it can serve you to get to know who your Lord is. With the right attitude, anyone can combat any situation. Never be carried away by any situation or conditions you are in. Pause and ask yourself these questions:

1. What is my take away from this creation so I will learn?
2. How do I establish my relationship with my Lord?
3. How should I come with close awareness of my Lord?
4. How can I be in a better connection with my Lord?
5. What is the point of this event, what is it teaching me?