Isn’t it Wonderful to be Muslim?

By Imam Abdullah El-Amin

ALLAH, The Almighty, has the power to use His creation as he sees fit.  He allows people to be Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, or even disbelievers.  He also reserves the authority to bestow His special blessings on a group of people that He has favored to carry His message.  That special group of people is us – the Muslims.

When I think about the special blessings ALLAH has bestowed on me, I am filled with gratitude because I could be someplace else.  In fact, I was someplace else before ALLAH rescued me and showed me the correct path.  And I’ve been striving to stay on it ever since.

What is sometimes disturbing is when I see people abusing the good life ALLAH has put them in.  I see men abusing women and taking advantage of them simply because they can.  They can consciously choose and execute this abuse because ALLAH has put the man in a stronger position than the women. But that superior position is only so the man can maintain and protect the woman.  I see men play on women’s emotions and pull them back and forth as though they were puppeteers.  It is definitely something wrong when a person is aware of ALLAH and the goodness He intends for us; and lives a life completely opposite from what she or he knows and preaches.

I am also aware of women who have a faster, more analytical mind than some men and they use this to abuse their spouse (and anyone else who gets in their way).

These people do not have a peaceful soul that is able to rest and enjoy the blessings has bestowed on them.  They see some flaw in themselves and attempt to cover it up by being overly aggressive and finding fault in others.  It seems that today’s world is filled with self-promotion, defending our own rights, taking care of ourselves first, winning by intimidation, pushing for first place, and a dozen other self-serving agendas.  That one attitude does more to squelch our joy than any other.  So busy defending and protecting and manipulating, we set ourselves up for a grim, intense state of being – and it is not new or confined to any certain group of people.

Prophet Isa ibn Maryam, said to “Be unselfish and humble yourself.  That statement is the secret of a happy life.  While someone else is busy building a case against you, you will be in the next room, down the hall, or across the globe being happy and productive.

Do all your deeds with the thought in mind of pleasing ALLAH alone.  Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind.  Let us regard other people as being more important than ourselves.  Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

In this way, you, and those you are in contact with will prosper.  And it will be done with less stress and anxiety.

These are basic Islamic tenants that help guarantee a peaceful soul.  It is the way to purify your soul so you can better carry out your role as caretaker of the creation.

As Salaam alaikum
(Al Hajj) Imam Abdullah El-Amin

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