Session 48 Notes
Did we choose to come into this world? Human beings are created with the capacity to choose, and are given free choice. We understand that we cannot create anything and neither can anything else in the universe. If we are not the creators, what does our capacity of free choice provide? How free are we in our existence? There are many questions related to our given ability to choose that we can reflect on:
- Do we have the freedom not to exist?
- Do we have the freedom not to be human?
- Do we have the freedom not to exercise our free will?
- Do we have the freedom to perform miracles, i.e. outside or contrary to the created order in the universe?
- Do we have the freedom of not to breathe or not to eat?
- Do we have the freedom to avoid responsibility for the consequences of the choices we freely choose?
- Are we the ones creating the consequences of what we freely choose?
- Do we have the freedom not to age?
- Do we have the freedom not to die?
- Do we have the freedom to choose where our choice is not brought into existence or is postponed?
Another set of questions after reflecting on the first set:
- It may seem that we may not have any freedom at all. Is it merely an illusion? What then is the significance of our freedom to choose?
- When it comes to the Creator of the universe, are we free to believe or not to believe in a Creator?
- Is there a difference in the exercise of free will whether one believes in the Creator or not?
The third set of questions:
- What does the fact that we possess free choice yet we cannot step outside the created order of the universe tell us?
- “Human beings are free yet they remain ‘worshipers of God (abdullah)’” – Nursi
- “I can live without bread but I cannot live without freedom” – Nursi
- “I can live without freedom but I cannot live without meaning.”
- Can we now conclude for ourselves: “I can live without freedom, but I cannot live without believing in a conscious Absolute Creator, God?”
We should be aware that we are in a constant state of prayer. Since everyone is constantly in a state of prayer, it matters to whom we pray. Are we worshiping and praying to blind nature or the conscious creator of the whole universe? If we understand that “a person derives their worth from the decision they make to whom they pray”, this should become the guiding principle of our lives.
Everyone can confirm that they have free will but the exercise of that free will is nothing but a prayer. I must reflect when I am exercising my free will in doing something, i.e. be conscious that I am simply obeying the order of the universe while doing something. I am always using my free will but need to be aware that I am just obeying the will of the Creator of the universe. The critical point is to realize: am I obeying the will of a conscious Creator or am I obeying blind nature? Our consciousness in this matter determines our human value.
We are only responsible for the exercise of our free will. The consequence and result is created by our Creator and we are not responsible for that. For example if I do a good action, I immediately experience the result of that choice in my feelings of pleasure and happiness. Another example is if I choose to hurt myself, the result is the experience of pain that is created for me. We must be aware that we are free to choose but we are not free to take up the responsibility of the result of our free choices.
Prayer is not placing an order for what we think we need.
Rather, prayer is acknowledging who can give us what exactly we need.
Let’s examine the following verse:
…وَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تَكْرَهُوا۟ شَيْـًۭٔا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ ۖ وَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تُحِبُّوا۟ شَيْـًۭٔا وَهُوَ شَرٌّۭ لَّكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
“… you may dislike something although it is good for you, or like something although it is bad for you.: God knows and you do not know” (2:216)
We should understand the value in the guidance of the Qur’an and be happy to worship a conscious Creator, the Owner of the universe. The other alternative is to worship nature or matter that doesn’t know anything. They have to trust in chance, nature and accidents. This makes living uncomfortable and meaningless. The verse is guiding us to worship this conscious Creator who knows the whole universe and the future. One may choose something thinking that this is best for them but in the end it may not be beneficial as we don’t know the future. Similarly, we may dislike something which may be beneficial. The human reality is that we don’t know the future but must trust the Creator of the universe.
Another verse to investigate:
وَيَدْعُ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ بِٱلشَّرِّ دُعَآءَهُۥ بِٱلْخَيْرِ ۖ وَكَانَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ عَجُولًۭا
“And humans [often] pray for things that are bad as if he was praying for something that is good: for man is prone to be hasty [in his judgments]” (17:11)
This verse is interpreted and understood in two ways. As far as our subject is concerned, we will relate this verse to prayers. The Qur’an is giving us the news that if one thinks that something is best for him and insists upon God to please give him this particular thing, he should leave the matter to God’s Will. No one can guarantee what is good for them. While we are practicing our free will, we must have the understanding that I don’t know the end result of what will be created. I must follow through the option which I think is good as far as I can see. I must prepare myself for this option to the best I can. However, I must be conscious that I am not sure what the future is going to be with this option. No one can guarantee that it would be good or bad. I must trust the Knowledge and Wisdom of the One who creates the future. With this consciousness, I present to God the Creator to create what He knows is best for me.
For example, Mary is hungry for food. She goes to the kitchen and makes her choice of what she finds is the best for her to eat. She is satisfied with that food. Her consciousness is important here as she cannot guarantee the end result of eating that food. We may eat some delicious food thinking that it is good for us but after a year or so, the blood report gives indications of concerns. We must be aware that we can only pray and ask for good results but we cannot guarantee the future of what is created. We must always keep this conscious of our Creator, God.
Another example, I think if I get a particular job, it would be ideal for the future of my profession. I get everything ready and apply for it. I should keep in mind that only the One who creates the future knows what is best for me to fulfill the purpose of my existence. After putting in my application I should be ready to trust the wisdom and mercy of the One who will create the result. I should pray to Him to create whatever is the best for me, not that He should create this particular position I applied for. I need to put my trust in Him and whatever the result is created I should be happy with it. But, it does not mean that I should not pay attention to whether the way I prepared myself was sufficient enough or not. We are talking here only to be happy with whatever is created for us only after we do our best to prepare ourselves.
This subject is extremely important in how we live our life; either with the consciousness of God or not. One must understand that they are the ones asking their Creator to create what is best for them. This is how one can become an “abd”, worshiper of God. It is only by acknowledging the Creator of the universe at every moment while we are practicing our free will that we become worshipers of God. This consciousness of God is the heart of worship.
I am responsible to exercise my free will, which is my part to pray to God. The Creator answers all prayers but gives us what is best for us. A believer would see in their life that they are given many opportunities to realize this. The Qur’an describes that the Creator of the universe gives goods to everyone and some turn their backs and are ungrateful. These are not stories of someone else but describes our attitudes. For example Abu Lahab in the Qur’an describes an attitude of pride from fame and fortune. What does one gain from their wealth and social status? Many become arrogant which hinders them to accept the message from their Creator. This prevents them from accepting the truth and seeing reality for what it is. We don’t know what this status, property and wealth would bring to me in the future. When a wealthy person dies, what happens among their descendants and people who would be inheriting his property? Many fight over wealth, creating discordance in the family; destroying their friendship connection.
The message to take here is that we should pray sincerely, ask God to create what is good for us. I must not insist, thinking that I know what is good for me. I don’t know the future but only the One who knows the future knows what is good for me. I am given the freedom to choose and He introduces Himself to me by creating the results. Whatever He gives is the best for us to fulfill the purpose of our existence which is to worship God. We are here in this world to get to know who my Creator is.
God Answers our prayers by giving what is best for us.
God answers with even greater wisdom. He always responds to our voice, ending the “loneliness” of the heart by being present. However, He gives us what is the best for us, not what we think is the best to fulfill the purpose of our existence.
Need is created as an invitation to connect to the Creator by recognizing Him as the fulfiller of all needs.
The only purpose of the prayer is connection and communication with our Creator.
Prayer is a way to show our devotion to God. Its ultimate rewards are in the afterlife. Worldly needs (like praying for rain) are simply the invitation to talk to Him and recognize our need for His Mercy. The purpose of prayer for rain is not to get the rain but by presenting our need for the rain we acknowledge Him as the One who creates it. When we pray for rain we should not have the expectation that rain will come. Rain may or may not come; it is up to the knowledge and wisdom of our Creator to create what is best for us to fulfill the purpose of our existence.
Every prayer is heard and responded to, but we need to be aware that God is not a servant to fulfill what we think is the best. He knows what is best for us and gives us according to His perfect Knowledge, Wisdom and Mercy. We are here to fulfill the purpose of our existence: who I am and Who my Creator is.
Let’s examine Figure 1 below:
Figure 1
The child does not want to take the medicine but the doctor thinks that it is right for this child. The doctor knows that if the child does not take the medicine as requested, he is not going to be happy like the happy children in his thoughtful visualization. In other words, in the mind of the doctor, he wants this child to be happy like the other children. The child has the option to say “no” to the medicine because it is bitter or the child can simply take what the doctor recommends. The child doesn’t know the future. For the child, having the medicine is the “test” in his relationship with the doctor who knows what is best for him. The doctor recommends the child to play with the toy and take the medicine. According to the doctor, answering the child’s need to get better is different from granting him whatever he is seeking. The doctor comforts the child: “I am here”, but gives what is truly beneficial; because of his wisdom either he gives the medicine or does not give anything at all. The child has to trust the doctor in this example.
We must examine our relationship with our Creator and not impose anything upon Him to create based on what we see as good. While I am practicing my given free will, I must acknowledge the One who knows what is best for me. I don’t know what is good for me so I leave it to God to create what is best for me while I am presenting what I think is good for me. If the result turns out to be not what I wanted, I should not be disappointed with it. We must remember that God always creates what is best for our life in this world and for our existence. We are all here being educated to know who our Owner is. Whatever situation one may find themselves in, either in health, sickness, wealth, poverty, one is being educated under those conditions to fulfill their purpose of existence.