STRIVING

1. IN THE NAME OF GOD, MOST GRACIOUS, MOST MERCIFULACADEMY OF ISLAMIC THOUGHT (AIT)MODULE IIPERSONAL DEVELOPMENT:COVENANT OF GOD AND JIHAD OF THE SELFSESSION 3Jihad Turk

2. STRIVING • What does “striving” mean?

3. A GREAT BARGAIN 61:10. O you who believe! Shall I lead you to a bargain that will save you from a grievous Penalty?- 61:11. That ye believe in God and His Messenger, and that you strive (your utmost) in the Cause of God, with your property and your persons: That will be best for you, if you but knew! 61:12. He will forgive you your sins, and admit you to Gardens beneath which Rivers flow, and to beautiful mansions in Gardens of Eternity: that is indeed the Supreme Achievement. 61:13. And another (favor will He bestow,) which you do love,- help from God and a speedy victory. So give the Glad Tidings to the Believers.

4. RECIPE FOR SUCCESS • Come together around faith- fulfill your covenant and God will change your circumstances • Oftentimes, psychologically speaking for community, our faith rests on the relative position of the Ummah in the world today. We somehow feel defeated as an Ummah due to the circumstances in the world. • (Terrorism, despotism, military occupation- we process these as being a challenge to our faith)

5. COVENANT WITH GOD 24:55 God has promised, to those among you who believe and work righteous deeds, that He will, of a surety, grant them in the land, inheritance (of power), as He granted it to those before them; that He will establish in authority their religion - the one which He has chosen for them; and that He will change (their state), after the fear in which they (lived), to one of security and peace: 'They will worship Me (alone) and not associate aught with Me. 'If any do reject Faith after this, they are rebellious and wicked.

6. 4:95 Not equal are those believers who sit (at home) and receive no hurt, and those who strive and fight in the cause of God with their goods and their persons. God hath granted a grade higher to those who strive and fight with their goods and persons than to those who sit (at home). Unto all (in Faith) Hath God promised good: But those who strive and fight Hath He distinguished above those who sit (at home) by a special reward,-

7. There was a major transformation psychologically and culturally from not believing anything happens to soul to believing that there is a hereafter.

8. 30:60 So patiently persevere: for verily the promise of God is true: nor let those shake thy firmness, who have (themselves) no certainty of faith 31:33 O mankind! do your duty to your Lord, and fear (the coming of) a Day when no father can avail aught for his son, nor a son avail aught for his father. Verily, the promise of God is true: let not then this present life deceive you, nor let the chief Deceiver deceive you about God.

9. HADITH ON STRIVING IN THE CAUSE OF GOD • Salman relates that he heard the Prophet say: Patrolling the frontier for a day and a night is better than a month of fasting and voluntary prayer at night and should such a one die while engaged in such patrolling, that with which he was occupied and his provision will both be continued and he will be shielded against the trials of the grave. • This “patrolling” is literal and figurative as in being vigilant and on guard of the soul

10. 6:151. Say: "Come, I will rehearse what God hath (really) prohibited you from": Join not anything as equal with Him; be good to your parents; kill not your children on a plea of want;- We provide sustenance for you and for them;- come not nigh to shameful deeds. Whether open or secret; take not life, which God hath made sacred, except by way of justice and law: thus doth He command you, that ye may learn wisdom.

11. 6:152. And come not nigh to the orphan's property, except to improve it, until he attain the age of full strength; give measure and weight with (full) justice;- no burden do We place on any soul, but that which it can bear;- whenever ye speak, speak justly, even if a near relative is concerned; and fulfil the covenant of God. thus doth He command you, that ye may remember. 6:153. Verily, this is My way, leading straight: follow it: follow not (other) paths: they will scatter you about from His (great) path: thus doth He command you. that ye may be righteous.

12. HOW DO WE STRIVE? • Through the use of intellect • Plural grammatical form indicates that God is addressing a collective group • Thus, there is a collective responsibility • A phrase used by Islamic scholars- “Collective responsibility and individual accountability”

13. COVENANT WITH ADAM 20:115. We had already, beforehand, taken the covenant of Adam, but he forgot: and We found on his part no firm resolve.

14. COVENANT WITH ADAM • Adam, the first human, had the first covenant with God • Personal development is not just about learning verses in the Quran, but also a matter of looking inward and reflecting • “The one who knows their own soul knows their Lord”

15. COVENANT WITH THE ISRAELITES 2:83. And remember We took a covenant from the Children of Israel (to this effect): Worship none but God. treat with kindness your parents and kindred, and orphans and those in need; speak fair to the people; be steadfast in prayer; and practice regular charity. Then did ye turn back, except a few among you, and ye backslide (even now).

16. COVENANT WITH THE PEOPLE OF THE BOOK 3:81 Behold! God took the covenant of the prophets, saying: "I give you a Book and Wisdom; then comes to you an apostle, confirming what is with you; do ye believe in him and render him help." God said: "Do ye agree, and take this my Covenant as binding on you?" They said: "We agree." He said: "Then bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses."

17. COVENANT WITH THE PEOPLE OF THE BOOK (cont.) • Here the Quran is addressing the People of the Book. • God is connecting Adam to the covenant of the other Prophets, simultaneously speaking to the Jewish, Christian and Muslim communities.

18. 5:11 O you who believe! Call in remembrance the favor of God unto you when certain men formed the design to stretch out their hands against you, but God held back their hands from you: so fear God. And on God let believers put (all) their trust. 5:12. God did aforetime take a covenant from the Children of Israel, and we appointed twelve captains among them. And God said: "I am with you: if ye (but) establish regular prayers, practice regular charity, believe in my apostles, honor and assist them, and loan to God a beautiful loan, verily I will wipe out from you your evils, and admit you to gardens with rivers flowing beneath; but if any of you, after this, resists faith, he hath truly wandered from the path or rectitude." 5:13. But because of their breach of their covenant, We cursed them, and made their hearts grow hard; they change the words from their (right) places and forget a good part of the message that was sent them, nor wilt thou cease to find them- barring a few - ever bent on (new) deceits: but forgive them, and overlook (their misdeeds): for God loves those who are kind.

19. 5:14. From those, too, who call themselves Christians, We did take a covenant, but they forgot a good part of the message that was sent them: so we estranged them, with enmity and hatred between the one and the other, to the day of judgment. And soon will God show them what it is they have done. • 5:15. O people of the Book! There hath come to you our Messenger, revealing to you much that ye used to hide in the Book, and passing over much (that is now unnecessary). There hath come to you from God a (new) light and a perspicuous Book. • 5:16. Wherewith God guides all who seek His good pleasure to ways of peace and safety, and leads them out of darkness, by His will, unto the light,- guides them to a path that is straight.

20. COVENANT TO ACCEPT SIGNS OF GOD 4:155. (They have incurred divine displeasure): In that they broke their covenant; that they rejected the signs of God; that they slew the Messengers in defiance of right; that they said, "Our hearts are the wrappings (which preserve God's Word; we need no more)";- Nay, God hath set the seal on their hearts for their blasphemy, and little is it they believe;-

21. COVENANT TO ACCEPT SIGNS OF GOD • Jews have a special place in history. Their reference in the Quran is a reminder of the many blessings that they were sent in Prophets, assistance, and salvation from Pharaoh • With these extra blessings comes extra responsibility • Part of this gratitude to God would be to embrace the message of Islam

22. HADITH ON “STRIVING” • Abu Hurairah said that the Prophet (PBUH) said: Allah says: Whoever is at enmity with one whom I befriend should beware of having to do battle with Me. When a servant of Mine seeks to approach Me through that which I like best out of what I have made obligatory upon him, and continues to advance towards me by dint of voluntary effort…

23. …beyond that prescribed then I begin to love him. When I love him I become his ears by which he hears, and his eyes with which he sees, and his hands with which he grasps, and his feet with which he walks. When he asks Me I bestow upon him and when he seeks My protection I protect him (Bokhari).

24. Anas relates that the Prophet (PBUH) said: Allah says: When a servant of Mine advances towards Me a foot, I advance towards him a yard, and when he advances towards me a yard, I advance towards him the length of his arms spread out. When he comes to Me walking, I go to him running (Bokhari).

25. Ibn Abbas relates that the Prophet (PBUH) said: Most people incur loss in respect of two divine bounties, good health and leisure (Bokhari).