Let Allah “See” for Us

By Imam Abdullah El-Amin, TMO

1.      Alif Lam Min
2.      2. This is the Book; in it is guidance sure, without doubt, to those who fear ALLAH;
3.      Who believe in the Unseen, are steadfast in prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them;
4.      And who believe in the Revelation sent to thee, and sent before thy time, and (in their hearts have the assurance of the hereafter.
5.      They are on true guidance from their Lord, and it is these who will prosper.

Baqarah: 1-5

The Holy Qur’an starts with Al Fatiha, seven short verses that basically testify to the Power, Beneficence, and Mercy of Almighty ALLAH; and then asks for His Guidance.  After these seven mighty verses, the second chapter (the verses above) then wondrously tells you where that guidance is. 

When we look on the back of a U.S. dollar bill, we see a single eye over a pyramid.  This is commonly called the “all seeing eye” or the “mind’s eye”, or “The Third Eye”.  This is symbolic language for our perception or being able to understand the why’s of our existence.

ALLAH, The Almighty, says belief in that which we cannot see is basic and fundamental to our status as Muslims and adherents to the religion of Al-Islam.  ALLAH starts off this sura with the mystic letters Alif, Lam, Min, but doesn’t explain what these letters mean.  Never-the-less, they obviously have meaning because ALLAH says that the entire book is guidance sure.

ALLAH also says that we are to believe in the scripture that was revealed to Muhammad (s) and also believe in the scriptures sent before this scripture, even though we do not have the complete, true scriptures of those that came before.  These scriptures of the Injeel (Gospels) of Christ Jesus, and the Torah, revealed to Moses, are not in their original form as revealed by ALLAH.  Only the Qur’an is in its’ original form and the Arabic of the Qur’an is the exact same all over the world.  ALLAH knows this but still He orders us to believe in those previous scriptures.  Now why would ALLAH order us to believe in something that He didn’t give us an explanation of? 

For one thing, everything that we want to know might not be what we need to know or might not be what we can handle if we knew.  Maybe it’s too much for our brains to absorb.  Still, it is pertinent to our religion because ALLAH included it.  These unseen verses might be affording us a protection that, had we not had it, would doom us to certain destruction.  You can’t see what holds up the Earth.  You can’t see what separates the sweet water of the lakes from the salty water of the oceans – but you believe it is a fact because you have the evidence.

You also have evidence of ALLAH’S promise to us.  It has been proven time and time again as a perfect blueprint for successful living.  ALLAH says you first have to have a profound respect and love for Him.  Next, believe in other unseen that He is utilizing for the good of the creation.  Next keep up devotion and submission to Him through prayer and spend a portion of that which He has given you.
Next, know that He didn’t just create you and leave you alone – He sent guidance to you through His prophets (Peace is on them all).  ALLAH promises that these are the ones who will be successful.

So do you want to be prosperous?  Do you want to be peaceful?  Do you want to have the assurance that when you leave this life that there is a much better life waiting for you?  Of course you do, and the way this is attained is to be guided by ALLAH.  Then you will “see” the benefits of believing in the unseen.  The unseen is there for our protection not for our visual direction.  Constantly submit and ‘see’ what I mean.

As Salaam Alaikum
(Al Hajj) Abdullah Bey El-Amin