By A. Helwa
“A paradise as vast as the heavens and earth has been readied for those who are conscious of God …who restrain their anger and pardon their fellow beings…” (Qur’an 3: 133-135)
“Raise your words, not your voice; it is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.” (Rumi)
“I am as My servant thinks I am. ~Hadith Qudsi
The saying, “You do not see the world as it is, you see the world as you are,” can religiously be remixed to, “You see Allah not as He is, but as you are.” Whatever qualities you reflect on this earth, Allah will reflect those qualities back to you on the Day of Judgement. If you always seek to avenge the wrongs done to you without mercy or forgiveness, then you will meet the face of Allah through the quality of Al-Muntaqqim (the Avenger). If you live a life on earth finding ways to cover the faults of others, trying your best to forgive and to create peace among people, then Allah will meet you with His faces of As-Salaam (Peace), Ar-Rahim (Mercy) and Al-Ghaffur (Coverer and Forgiver of faults).
But how often when people wrong us, do we ask Allah for his justice, to hold them accountable for every ounce of injustice done against us? Yet, when we are the ones that fall short or miss the mark of honoring our greatest selves, we ask Allah for mercy. Allah warns against this type of discrimination against our fellow human by saying, “Let them forgive and overlook; do you not wish that Allah should forgive you? For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Qur’an 24:22). Our sweet Prophet (pubh) also has been quoted to have said, “None of you will believe until you love for your brother what you love for yourself.” (Bukhari + Muslim). In other words, true belief is based in seeking reconciliation, in seeking to be compassionate, in striving to reflect the faces and qualities of Allah’s unity, love, mercy, kindness, forgiveness and beauty.
So, next time you seek revenge, next time you seek justice without mercy, ask yourself if you would like to be approached by Allah with the same intensity and ruthlessness that you are approaching others. Next time you judge someone for the smallest of indiscretions, next time you “forbid the wrong” without first enjoining and celebrating all the goodness a person carries, ask yourself if you would like Allah to approach you with Al-Adal (justice) void of Ar-Rahim (Mercy). In summary: Approach people as you would like Allah to approach you.
This blog is an excerpt from A. Helwa’s recently published best-selling book, “Secrets of Divine Love: A Spiritual Journey into the Heart of Islam.” Her book is available on Amazon.com
#1 Best Seller
About A. Helwa
A. Helwa believes that every single person on Earth is deeply loved by the Divine. She is a writer who has inspired hundreds of thousands of readers through her passionate, poetic, and love-based approach to spirituality. Her popular blog @quranquotesdaily, was established while obtaining her Masters in Divinity, as a means of helping others overcome personal and spiritual struggles on their journey of experiencing divine love.
With over 15 years of experience writing and speaking on Islam and spiritual development, A. Helwa draws from her personal experiences and traditional sources to help her readers access ‘Divine love in everyday life.’