Articles

Battling to Surrender

by Online Editor · July , 2019

Son, surrendering your life to Allah is not an imprudent behavior, but it is the most critical and wise conduct you would do during your entire life. After performing your tasks with your utmost best, then by surrendering to Allah for help and guidance, Allah Almighty would lead you to the appropriate path. You may not get what you are hoping for, but in the long run, you would discover that the way you followed was the best for you. Mary, mother of Jesus (PBUH), was in anguish for knowing that she was pregnant without being touched by a man. Sura 19, Verse 23 stated, “The pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree: She (Mary) cried (in her anguish): “Ah! would that I had died before this! would that I had been a thing forgotten and out of sight!” With all of her anguish, she gave birth to Jesus (PBUH), and the Holy Quran indicated that she has the highest rank among all women. Sura 5, Verse 75 stated, “(His mother (Mary) was a Siddiqah (she believed in the words of Allah and His Books).” Though Mary surrendered to Allah, yet you are still hesitant to surrender to Allah after doing your best!
According to Sura 31, Verse 13, Noah (PBUH) struggled to help his son to surrender to Allah, “O my son! join not in worship (others) with Allah: for false worship is indeed the highest wrong-doing.” Yet, unsuccessfully Noah (PBUH) asked Allah to save his son “O my Lord! Verily, my son is of my family!” (Sura 11, Verse 45). Noah’s son heard his father’s plea, however, the son’s heart was deaf and blind “Verily, it is not the eyes that grow blind, but it is the hearts which are in the breasts that grow blind” (Sura 22, Verse 46). Son, open your heart and surrender to Allah.
Similarly, Prophet Jonah disobeyed Allah, and according to the Holy Quran, Sura 37, Verse 142, 143 Jonah (PBUH) was swallowed by “a big Fish … (because) he had done acts worthy of blame” then he surrendered, and Allah saved him. Prophet Abraham (PBUH) rejected and denounced worshiping his tribe’s made gods; his process of finding a god was not successful. His investigation for finding a god pushed him in a state of hopelessness, and he humbly surrendered to Allah and according to Sura 6, Verse 77, he stated: “unless my Lord guides me, I shall surely be among those who go astray.” Concerning Sura 19, Verse 30, Jesus (PBUH) expressed his profound surrender to Allah Almighty by declaring that he “indeed a servant of Allah.” Prophet Moses (PBUH), according to Sura 10, Verse 84, said: “O my people! If you have believed in Allah. then put your trust in Him if you are Muslims (those who submit to Allah?s Will).”
Furthermore, Prophet Mohamed and Abu Bakr (PBUH) migrated from Mecca to Medina, Abu Bakr thought that the nonbelievers would catch them. Calmly, the Prophet (PBUH) recited Sura 9, Verse 40, “Be not sad (or afraid), surely Allah is with us.” All these prophets surrendered to Allah the omnipotent with unlimited power.
Son, I know you have trouble surrendering to Allah because the word surrender for you and other people is equated with submission and defeat. You think surrendering means loss and failure. But this negative context with the word surrender does not apply to the relationship between you and Allah. Surrendering to Allah means that your heart is worshiping Allah all of the time, and you are eager to do good and avoid evil actions. Son, you can know whether your efforts are admirable or evil, by the feelings you have in your heart. After any work, remember Allah, if your heart was contented, then you are on the right path.
According to Sura 13 verse 28 “Those who believe, and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah,” then your actions are admirable, and your heart surrendered to Allah. Dr. Maurice Bucaille, a French Medical Doctor, studied the Holy Quran and became a Muslim. He surrendered his heart to Allah. Bucaille (1983) indicated that all lives are made from water and the Holy Quran stated this fact at the beginning of the seventh century, Sura 21, Verse 30 indicated that “We (Allah) have made from water every living thing.” Bucaille (1983) stated that he could not find any incompatibility between scientific findings and the Holy Quran verses. Dr. Maurice Bucaille surrendered his heart to Allah.
The Holy Quran over 1400 years ago specified that the Dead Sea has the lowest elevation and a body of water on the planet. Sura 30, Verse 3 indicated that the Dead Sea is “the lowest of Earth.” NASA scientists conveyed the discovery of the lowest level of a body of water on the hearth and reported by news journals (Sea, 2019). Researchers could understand some Verses of the Holy Quran while using their recent knowledge in particular scientific field. Previously, many Verses were not understandable for a considerable number of Muslims through history, then recently investigators uncovered the apparent meaning of several Verses such as Sura 30 Verse 3. “Son, surrender to Allah.”
Son, when you surrender to Allah Almighty, your heart bursting with the sense of tranquility and guidance. And, the grace of Allah will eradicate fear from your heart. According to Sura 13, Verse 28 “Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.” Though recognizing your human limitation will guide you to open your heart to Allah Almighty, yet your fear of the unknown, your egotism, and your confusion could block your heart from seeing and contemplating the existence of Allah. Allah gave you a choice, and you can be a Muslim, Christian, Jew, or an atheist. You are free! According to Sura 2, Verse 256 “Let there be no compulsion in religion.” Son, when you were only one day old, you followed your mother’s movements with your eyes, and she provided you with all your needs. Your love to your mother removed the fear from your heart, and your love of Allah will remove any fear from your soul. According to Sura 90, Verse 8 and 9, Allah Almighty “made for him (you) a pair of eyes, (and) a tongue and a pair of lips” so you can see, contemplate and discover the truth about Him. You will not know Allah unless you are free of fear and surrender passionately.
Son, do not follow the footsteps of Pharaoh who, due to his egotism refused to accept the invitation from Moses (PBUH) to be a Muslim. According to Sura 10, Verse 75, Pharaoh and his arrogant administration rejected the invitation to Islam. Because of Pharaoh’s narcissism and arrogance, he destroyed himself and his followers. Furthermore, Pharaoh insulted Prophet Moses (PBUH) by saying ” better than this one (Moses),” and he ridiculed Moses (PBUH) by saying that “(Moses) scarcely express himself clearly.” The same evil of egotism destroyed Satan for disobeyed Allah’s order to prostrate to Adam. According to Sura 38, Verse 76 “(Satan)] said: “I am better than he. You created me from fire, and You created him from clay.”
Pharaoh destroyed his kingdom due to his strong desire to have full control over all his subjects including Jews. Mistakenly, he was confused to think that he had the power to extend his role to be the only god for all of the people who were living in Egypt. Conversely, according to Sura 7, Verse 143, Moses (PBUH) proclaimed “Glory be to You [Allah]. I turn to You in repentance, and I am the first of the believers.” Trusting Allah will clear your confusion, and Abraham (PBUH) left his family in Mecca with neither food nor water. Did Abraham (PBUH) know how his family would obtain water or food? He did not, but he trusted Allah. Abraham (PBUH) was not confused, and he fully surrendered to Allah. On the day of judgment according to Sura 42, Verse 47, son, there will be no place of refuge except running toward Allah. You need to do your best with all your daily assignments and its myriad challenges – then surrender to Allah.