Servitude: The Only Real Option
The Qur’an lays out
the goal of life to be to make enough credit with God so that when the Day of Judgment
comes, a person can receive God’s rewards. God is shown in two extreme ways: One of being
merciful and forgiving, and another as powerful and unremitting. God is the One
keeping track of people’s good and bad deeds, and the only guaranteed way to be
seen in His favor is by living a God-fearing life of servitude towards Him.
Upon Judgment day, the Qur’an warns that God the all-knowing
“…grants His bounty to any of His servants He will” (10:108). Upon this Day of
Judgment, only those who are truly worthy will be spared. “…beware of a Day when no soul can stand in
for another… nor will anyone be helped” (2:123) The God we see on Judgment Day
is selective and merciless. This God is a big contrast between the forgiving
God who “…would never let your faith go to waste” (2:143), and says “We take it
upon Ourself to save the believers” (10:103)
These differing attitudes that God shows can be exemplified
by the story in Sura 10:22 of sailors who “…are sailing on ships and rejoicing
in the favoring wind.” When waves overtake their vessel, only then do they pray
to God, promising to be good if He saves them. God shows his mercy to them but
when they get back to shore, “they behave outrageously against all that is
right.” God is merciful to those on earth so that they may have more chances to
serve him. While God may be merciful in life, or give second chances, He does
this only so that people will have more of a chance to serve Him and build
credit towards receiving His rewards.
Because God is the final judge, the Qur’an offers no option
but for humans to be His servants, if they wish be on His side upon Judgment
Day – because he will be merciless upon Judgment Day.
Anker makes some interesting points that I have thought about as well. Though the God of the Qu'ran claims to be merciful, it can only be the serving believers. The text states "anywho who follows [God] is with [him], but as for anyone who disobeys [him] - [God is] surely forgiving and merciful" (Sura 14:52). What I found interesting is that in all the other suras the text directly says that disbelievers will perish in hell, but in that quote there is a break where it just directly goes straight to that God is forgiving and merciful. Some many other times the text clearly explains only believers will be protected on Judgment day. Possibly, I think that in that quote it is just assumed that the individual should only choose to be a servant of God because he is so forgiving and merciful. Another point that Anker makes is that God only favors those who serve their God wholeheartedly. The text states that "those whose good deeds weigh heavy will be successful, but those who balance is light will have lost their souls for ever and will stay in Hell..." (Sura 23:102). Like Anker says, it seems like there is not other option, but to serve completely. The smallest of deeds will not guarantee an individual's judgement to be successful, even though God is forgiving and merciful.
ReplyDeleteThis concept of servitude is certainly crucial to ones relationship with God as dictated in the Qur'an. As Anker and Liezel have pointed out, it is this servitude that earns the right to God's mercy and good favor on judgement day. It is therefore important to define what this constitutes this active devotion. According to the Qur'an, the believers are "those who pray humbly, who shun idle talk, who pay the prescribed alms, who guard their chastity...who are faithful to their trusts and pledges and who keep up their prayers," (23:1-9). These actions all prove conscious devotion and mindfulness of God that he deserves as their creator. They serve as reminders of their servitude to God. Prayer is especially emphasized throughout the Qur'an, a repetition which is explained by the text itself. "Prayer restrains outrageous and unacceptable behavior," (29:45). In constantly focusing on God, true believers are abstaining from bad behavior, which would contradict the good that God promotes above all. Since God represents the goodness of the world, his true servants are those who do only good. Therefore, prayer keeps them on the right track of goodness and is essential to servitude.
ReplyDeleteWhile Anker makes an interesting point regarding the story of the sailors, I think that the story also shows God's desire for genuine devotion. The sailors pray that if God saves them then they "shall be truly thankful" and yet they "behave outrageously against all that is right" (10:22). This idea is also apparent the discussion of hypocrites in the second sura where God warns against those who "seek to deceive God...but only deceive themselves" (2:9).
ReplyDeleteGoing off of Kyra's point; God seeks believers to live the "true path" using the Qu'ran as their guide. The concept of a fair weather follower is not lost on God and is rejected, holding that constant dedication to God is the standard to be saved. This creates an interesting dichotomy, believing individuals who build up said "credit" with God and believers who in a sense spend this credit. God being merciful has been said to forgive if one's actions align with the Pillars of Islam but when this trust is broken in a sense you are spending the credit that has been built up. To tie into Anker's post, I see this relationship as more semblant of an indentured servant rather than a slave which is how i feel others are portraying this relationship. In consigning yourself to God you assure your place on the "true path" for judgement day and while walking this path you build up credit until your death where you are ultimately freed into heaven or condemned to the fires of torment. If this credit is spent you must put forth more effort to make up for mistakes. But in the end your servitude links you to your master who provides everything for you as long as you keeping paying forward the price of admission into heaven.
ReplyDeleteI find it also interesting that only believers can avoid the Fires below. Those who attempt to live a good life without believing in God, those who "desire [only] the life of this world with all its finery, [shall be repayed] in full in this life for their deeds -- they will be given no less -- but such people will have nothing in the Gereafter but the Fire: their work here will be fruitless and their deeds futile." (10:15-16) These lines add another dimension to Islamic tenets -- unbelievers may indeed be rewarded during their lifetimes for their good deeds. This extends even to atheists and agnostics. Purity, however, doesnt extend past death -- though an atheist may have a heart of gold and be rewarded as such during his lifetime, he will have no option other than the Fire after his death.
ReplyDeleteI do agree that servitude is the only option under the god who will burn any nonbeliever eternally in hell. However god is the only one that makes the decision as the Quran often states that god leads whoever he will and everyone else it out of luck. Therefore it seems like chance that someone gets to serve god and be saved versus be burned in hell forever.
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