Listening to the Prophets
Throughout the history of mankind, prophets
have brought spiritual guidance to free mankind from the slavery
of anger, lust, hatred and violence. But sadly, their true message
has been largely lost in the clutter of man-made rules and self-centered
interpretations.
In the Qur'an, we are told that the message
of all the prophets should be heard and understood, not just
one specific prophet. The revelation that we should "make
no distinction between one and another of His messengers"
is repeated several times in order to emphasize how important
this really is:
Surely those who disbelieve in Allah
and His messengers and (those who) desire to make a distinction
between Allah and His messengers and say: We believe in
some and disbelieve in others, and desire to take a course
between (this and) that.
Such are disbelievers
in truth; and for disbelievers We prepare a shameful doom.
And those who believe in Allah and His messengers
and do not make a distinction between any of them-- Allah
will grant them their rewards; and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
surah al-nisa (4.150-152)
Say
ye: "We believe in Allah, and the revelation given
to us, and to Abraham, Isma'il, Isaac, Jacob, and the
Tribes, and that given to Moses and Jesus, and that given
to (all) prophets from their Lord: We make no difference
between one and another of them: And we bow to Allah (in
Islam)."
surah al-baqarah (2.136)
Say:
We believe in Allah and what has been revealed to us, and
what was revealed to Ibrahim and Ismail and Ishaq and Yaqoub
and the tribes, and what was given to Musa and Isa and to
the prophets from their Lord; we do not make any distinction
between any of them, and to Him do we submit.
surah al-'imran (3.84)
The
Messenger believeth in what hath been revealed to him from
his Lord, as do the men of faith. Each one (of them) believeth
in Allah, His angels, His books, and His messengers. "We
make no distinction (they say) between one and another of
His messengers." And they say: "We hear, and we
obey: (We seek) Thy forgiveness, our Lord, and to Thee is
the end of all journeys."
surah al-baqarah (2.285)
Some have taught that only one certain prophet
has been given the message, or that only one specific prophet
has received the message correctly. But that is not the truth.
That is simply the on-going battle between the head and the
heart.
The head (the selfish ego) will always try to
divide and separate everything, while the heart longs for unity
and oneness. Throughout the ages, mankind has all too often
followed the guidance of the head, and not the guidance of the
heart.
The head, the self-centered ego, will attempt
to take credit for everything of merit, when in fact everything
of merit occurs only by the grace of Allah. The head will attempt
to divide everything, and will produce a sense of "I", "me", "mine"
which separates and isolates every person, bringing division
and strife.
That unfortunate situation has led us to such
foolishness as war, violence, anger, hatred and division into
various sects one against the other.
The Qur'an warns us about such division:
And verily this Brotherhood of yours is
a single Brotherhood, and I am your Lord and Cherisher:
therefore fear Me (and no other).
But people have
cut off their affair (of unity), between them, into sects:
each party rejoices in that which is with itself.
But leave them in their confused ignorance for a time.
surah al-mu'nimun (23.52-54)
As for
those who divide their religion and break up into sects,
thou hast no part in them in the least: their affair
is with Allah:
He will in the end tell them the truth
of all that they did.
surah al-anam (6.159)
Turn ye back in
repentance to Him, and fear Him:
establish regular prayers,
and be not ye among those who join gods with Allah,-
or those who split up their Religion, and become (mere)
Sects,-
each party rejoicing in that which is with itself!
surah al-rum (30.31-32)
Inevitably this will lead to the question:
which messages should we listen to?? Clearly there are lunatics
in this world who should not be followed. How then can we distinguish
which messages to listen to?
The answer is simple: we must follow the heart,
not the head.
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The heart is the peaceful temple of
the Almighty One.
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The head is full of incessant earthly
chatter.
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The heart strives for unity.
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The head is attracted to division.
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The heart enjoys loving-kindness.
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The head finds expression through anger
and greed.
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The heart is filled with understanding.
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The head is the master of selfish misinterpretation.
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| The heart is full of answers and "knowing". |
The head is full of questions and arguments. |
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The heart expresses love and generosity.
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The head thrives on selfishness and
domination.
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| The heart knows that it is an instrument
of God. |
The head believes in its own accomplishments. |
| The heart knows only the unity
of "Thou" |
The head knows only "me", "mine", "I" |
Wherever one finds a message of the heart, it
should be honored, and wherever one finds a message of the head,
it should be viewed with suspicion. That is, if the message
is unity, brotherhood, love, understanding, compassion and generosity,
then there is something worth listening to. But if the message
is of division, anger, hatred, greed and selfishness, then it
should be avoided.
The heart should be allowed to lead and the
head should follow. For all too many people, their head is continually
leading them into the suffering of anger, greed, lust and confusion.
Indeed, the head is an excellent servant, but a terrible master.
The thoughts of the head will divide, separate
and isolate due to its excessive preoccupation with "I", "me" "mine".
In contrast, the heart will unify, connect and embrace all of
creation. Which will you choose?
Only the heart can understand the message of
the prophets. Follow your heart, give all credit and all praise
to Allah, and discover the ever-present guidance of the One,
the Only One, who can transform life from mere drudgery into
glorious splendor.
Wishing you love, harmony and beauty,
wahiduddin
