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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
 Posted - 26 Jun 2008 : 14:16:11
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Monday, 23 June 2008
THE SATAN AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH MAN
Coming to the real issue of our relationship as human beings with the Devil or Satan. i will put it in a story form but it is how the scholars of Islam explained it.Long before man was created, a being was among the angels. Angels don't disobey the commands of God. They are created that way. The duties assigned to is done to perfection and they engage in the glorification of God all their lives. Among the Angels was the Devil or Satan or Jinn. He was created from Fire. He served among the Angels ,at one point rose to be among the leadership. What causes a high ranking being among the Angels to be banished to oblivion? God in his infinite plans, started creating our ancestor Adam. As Muslims we believe that God created Adam with his own hands. when Adam was laying in a form of clay or mud. the Angels will be wondering what being God is creating. The Satan started to be jealous of Adam has he lay in a lifeless form. It is reported that, The Satan usually point its finger at Adam's Tummy saying " i don't know what is this but if any thing his tummy will be a big temptation for him". to this many scholars said, the Satan's words proof true against us as humans, our quest for livelihood make us do many horrendous things. all we pursue in life is related to our happiness and comfort. from thief's to murderer.When Adam was completed to the human form, God then created a soul. The soul is not from God. The soul is created. Then Adam's soul is breath into him. Then God authorised the Angels and Satan to prostrate to Adam. God created us with honour and respect. To this request the Angels fall down and prostrated. But the Satan refused.He disobeyed the command of God. This is a serious issue but the Satan was ready to face any consequences. He was asked, why did you refuse to obey the command of God? his answer, which is similar to what many human beings say to day is " i am better than him, you created me from fire and him from clay". God told the Satan ," i know things you don't know". but the Satan was adamant. It refuse to bodge. He sealed his faith. What is the difference between committing a sin and falling in a state of disbelief? to commit a sin one knowingly do an act that he is forbidden from doing. to commit disbelief or kuffur, one denies the the validity of there being anything wrong in his or her action. he/she don't belief the commands are reasonable and valid. this is disbelief.an example, God command Muslims not to commit fornication and adultery. we as humans have many temptations. one way or the other, you find yourself committing fornication. you accepts that it is wrong but you followed your desire and commit a major sin in Islam which has a stipulated punishment in here and the hereafter. but still you do it. That is a sin.but if you don't belief that fornication is a sin and that why should it be a sin? it is a relationship between two consenting adult, it is unreasonable for God to regard it a sin, then you have disbelief and disregard God's commandments and his validity and existence.What the devil did was the later. He told God, i am better than Adam ,meaning human. i am made of fire, still coming to the discrimination issue. the statement of the devil is thus, you God made a mistake. You were irrational and unjust to tell me to bow down to an inferior creation of yours. Whom he thought doesn’t deserve any honour from him.God then asked him the Satan, what do you want. i reward you now all the past deeds you have done or later? he opted for a condition that He the Satan live till dooms day. That wish of him was granted. Before parting he made a promise to God. That is “I will make all the offspring of Adam, the man who is responsible for my banishment to disobey you" .God replied ,you can only make those who listen to you disobey me.This is the condition we are in.
God never abandon us as humans. he throughout our existence have send men among us with his message, his guidance and word. What is important for us as people to realise is that, God has given us a brain. That set us apart from all other creatures. We can differentiate between good and bad, depending on our state of mind. We can take time to read the books containing the words of God; we can take time and asked those who spend their time learning about God and the way to him. This is all our choice. But let no one mistake the words of God's punishment for disobeying him. There is a hell fire and there is paradise. There is a day of judgement. Yes we may not be able to do acts that will guarantee us paradise but obeying God's commandment is an indication that we held him high and respect his words.
suntou Touray
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Surah- Ar-Rum 30-22
"And among His signs is the creation of heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colours. verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge." Qu'ran
www.suntoumana.blogspot.com |
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kaanibaa
United Kingdom
1169 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jun 2008 : 15:12:43
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| I just read this sermon and it sent me back to my Koranic school, Karrantaa, Santa, thanks for reminding me , may we all get the rewards of your good sermon, You have just done what we are all required to do , that is spread the news of Allah . |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jun 2008 : 08:21:33
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This is an all familiar story for anyone who has a Judao-Christian or Islamic background. Santafara did a great job in narrating and contextualizing this story. In many ways the story is very similar to John Milton's epic poem 'Paradise Lost'.This story, as well as Milton's Paradise Lost, illustrates the perpetual conflict between God's foresight and Satan and man's free will.
Satan,( the devil, Lucifer, the Prince of the world, among many names)is presented as a proud and very ambitious, power hungry creature who defies his own creator. Satan's determination to defy God, man (God's favorite creature) and to lead man astray raises important questions about predestination and fate. But the fact that Satan has (almost) succeeded in sharing power with God, by rebelling against Him and winning over a significant part of the angels and mankind, raises other important questions because it personalizes God and his power. This is the problem many non-religious realist will find with this story.
When Milton came up with 'Paradise Lost', he was in prison for 'rebelling' against the British Monarch. Therefore, Paradise Lost has significant political implications, and further depicted Milton in a similar light as Satan himself. This situation is not true of the author of this story in case.
Santafara, I believe has done a great job by relating this story to contemporary issues facing mankind with regards to sin that comes with lifestyle and the pursuit of happiness.
Thanks. |
Edited by - kayjatta on 27 Jun 2008 08:22:15 |
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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2008 : 00:51:28
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| kay, interesting observation. the key is that,the satan has true knowledge of God, but it lack faith. knowledge without proper gidiance leads one to error. the fact that we are endowed with a brian and the faculty to rationalise things, make us responsible for our actions. the concept of preordienment have to do with God having knowledge about our actions inadvance. the Angel who are incharge of recording our actions have to confirm every things we do. that is why ,the quran state that "people will be withnesses against themself's in the day of judgement". satan did to itself what no man is capable of doing to it. it destroy itself and disgrace itself, it later charge man for his downfall. if God is to control all our actions, then there will be no test for us. due to our test in this life, there will be a reward and/or a punishment. depending on one's action. just like we sit through exams, if you work hard and practice the question, you pass and achieve a goal. the satan doesn't have power over us, it only beautify what is forbind for us, but the decison is ours, we either obey God or disobey him. may he forgive us and grant us his paradise, our actions alone cannot quarantee us paradise, but the infinite mercy of god also contributes. Kay you are a good man, keep being good. |
Surah- Ar-Rum 30-22
"And among His signs is the creation of heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colours. verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge." Qu'ran
www.suntoumana.blogspot.com |
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