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December 2, 2005

THE APPROPRIATE WAYS TO REMEMBER ALLAH (PART 3)

I seek refuge in Allah from satan the rejected.

In the name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful.

During the last couple of weeks, I have given you an overview from the Quran about the different and most appropriate ways to remember ALLAH, and how to glorify and praise Him. Rather than repeating the same words of glorification all the time, you can choose a number of ways on different occasions to exalt Him. When you adopt the complete teachings of the Quran, you become a knowledgeable believer. This is then appreciated by GOD.

For example, if you have to admire a human artist, you will do so by admiring their art. If you have to admire a scientist, you will do so by praising the research or the thesis or their invention. If you have to admire a musician, you will do so by admiring their talent on the instrument played by them. If you have to admire a cook, you will do so by praising the good and delicious taste of the food. If you have to admire a surgeon, you will do so by mentioning the number of successful surgeries they have done. These are mere examples at the human level, in order to explain you what it means to admire, praise, glorify, mention, commemorate and exalt the LORD through His attributes and whatever He has created and provides for us. If you do not recognize and appreciate each and everything that you see and come across in your life, you are an ignorant submitter. To know GOD is to know what all He has done and can do. This is the reason I will recite a verse that will augment the meaning of what I have just said.

35:28 Part 1: Also, the people, the animals, and the livestock come in various colors. 35:28 Part 2: This is why the people who truly reverence GOD are those who are knowledgeable.

Revealed: The Aleefs are 7 and 6, revealing the diff. of 1 – (you cannot reverence the Absoluteness and Monotheism of GOD till you appreciate with knowledge and certainty - the unlimited variety of creations He has created and the diversity of colors in them. GOD has drawn your attention to the various colors He has created in His creations).

Revealed: The messenger’s letters are 19 and 14 in each part, revealing the Sanctity and Sacredness of GOD as expressed and highlighted through this verse. He has to be reverenced for being absolutely precise, and for creating,

controlling, and managing each and every letter along with the mathematical

values in the Scripture. (If the people cannot appreciate and glorify GOD for these enormous and profound proofs and miracles expressed through the Quran, and sent down through the messenger, then they have not believed in Him, nor can they exalt Him. They have failed to believe in His power of Creation and Omnipotence). Let me show you one more time, some more proofs, by taking the entire Part 2 of the verse.

35:28 Part 1: Also, the people, the animals, and the livestock come in various colors. 35:28 Part 2: This is why the people who truly reverence GOD are those who are knowledgeable. GOD is Almighty, Forgiving.

Revealed: The Aleefs are 7 and 8, revealing the diff. of 1 still – This kind of double proofing puts a lot of weight on the message, and on God’s Absoluteness as the only (miracle) Creator of all creations, and of all knowledge. Praise be to ALLAH.

Revealed: The messenger’s letters in each part this time are 19 and 19 – an example of GOD’s power of creation and inscription of His messenger’s name letters within the Sacred Words of the Quran. Glory be to my LORD.

Revealed: The GV of Allah letters for Part 1 of the verse is 162 (The Submission) – this means that you cannot fully submit, unless you recognize and appreciate the variety and the diversity in the creations around you. Each represents a “masterpiece of His exclusive Design”. You have to exalt Him for being the sole CREATOR and a colorful CREATOR. He designed everything with a multitude of colors and created an enormous variety in everything. Now think of it: who is the best designer, the best creator, the best artist, the best painter, the best inventor, the best scientist, the best mathematician, the best in everything? IT IS ALLAH: THE MOST GLORIFIED, EXALTED, OMNIPOTENT LORD.

A lot of people wonder why they go through adversity, afflictions, disease, and accidents in life. All of these are meant to remind us of HIM and of HIS BLESSINGS. If HE gave us a smooth life, we would soon forget and lose sight of the ALMIGHTY, THE CREATOR, THE OMNIPOTENT. These are just small reminders so we don’t lose focus of HIM. Besides ordaining the good from HIM, as HIS BLESSINGS, He has also created the bad as part of the retribution to be tasted when you join the company of satan, by disobeying GOD’S COMMANDS. It becomes evident to those suffering from any kind of afflictions as to what the “bad” can do to them. The simple truth is that you cannot appreciate the “blessings of Goodness”, till you have seen and tasted the “bad and its consequences”. You have to recognize and appreciate that everything comes from GOD and HE controls everything as well. He is in charge over the system that He created, without having any assistants or partners in it. Let me now direct your

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attention to the subject of today: the many different ways to remember ALLAH - by taking His name as “my LORD, or our LORD”. This will be covered under a variety of captions, highlighted and underlined. The examples are of the previous messengers, and it should give you insight into the numerous ways of exalting GOD, by mentioning His attributes.

GOD IS ON THE RIGHT PATH: 11:56 I have put my trust in GOD, my LORD and your LORD. There is not a creature that He does not control. My Lord is on the right path.

GOD IS IN CONTROL OF ALL THINGS: 11:57 If you turn away, I have delivered to you what I was sent with. My LORD will substitute other people in your place; you cannot harm in the least. My Lord is in control of all things.

GOD IS THE WISEST OF THE WISE: 11:45 Noah implored his LORD: “My LORD, my

son is a member of my family, and Your promise is the truth. You are the wisest of the wise.

GOD IS KIND AND MERCIFUL: 11:90 You shall implore your LORD for forgiveness, then repent to Him. My Lord is Most Merciful, Kind.

21:83 And Job implored his LORD: “Adversity has befallen me, and, of all the merciful ones, You are the Most Merciful.”

GOD IS FORGIVER, MERCIFUL: 12:53 I do not claim innocence for myself. The self is an advocate of vice, except for those who have attained mercy from my LORD. My LORD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.

23:118 Say, “My LORD, shower us with forgiveness and mercy. Of all the merciful ones, You are the Most Merciful.

GOD IS THE BEST FORGIVER: 7:155 Moses then selected seventy men from among his people, to come to our appointed audience. When the quake shook them, he said, “My LORD, You could have annihilated them in the past, together with me, if You so willed. Would You annihilate us for the deeds of those among us who are foolish? This must be the test that You have instituted for us. With it, You condemn whomever You will, and guide whomever You will. You are our LORD and MASTER, so forgive us, and shower us with Your mercy; You are the best Forgiver.”

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GOD IS BEST PROTECTOR AND MOST MERCIFUL: 12:64 He said, “Shall I trust you

with him, as I trusted you with his brother before that? GOD is the best Protector, and of all the merciful ones, He is the Most Merciful.

GOD IS OMNISCIENT AND MOST WISE: 12:83 He said, “Indeed, you have conspired to carry out a certain scheme. Quiet patience is my only recourse. May GOD bring them all back to me. He is the Omniscient, Most Wise.”

GOD IS KNOWER AND MOST WISE: 12:100 He raised his parents upon the throne. They fell prostrate before him. He said, “O my father, this is the fulfillment of my old dream. My LORD has made it come true. He has blessed me, delivered me from the prison, and brought you from the desert, after the devil had driven a wedge between me and my brothers. My Lord is Most Kind towards whomever He wills. He is the Knower, the Most Wise.

BEST DELIVERER: 23:29 “And say, ‘My LORD, let me disembark onto a blessed location; You are the best deliverer.

BEST INHERITOR: 21:89 And Zachariah implored his LORD: “My LORD, do not keep me without an heir, though You are the best inheritor.

SEEKING REFUGE IN GOD: 23:97-98 Say, “My LORD, I seek refuge in You from the whispers of the devils. And I seek refuge in You, my LORD, lest they come near me.

BEST SUPPORTER: 7:89 We would be blaspheming against GOD if we reverted to your religion after GOD has saved us from it. How could we revert back to it against the will of GOD our LORD? Our LORD’S knowledge encompasses all things. We have put our trust in GOD. Our LORD, grant us decisive victory over our people. You are the best supporter.

BEING APPRECIATIVE TO GOD: 7:189 He created you from one person. Subsequently, He gives every man a mate to find tranquility with her. She then carries a light load that she can hardly notice. As the load gets heavier, they implore GOD their LORD: “If you give us a good baby, we will be appreciative.”

GOD IS NEAR AND RESPONSIVE: 11:61 To Thamoud we sent their brother Saleh. He said, “O my people, worship GOD; you have no other god beside Him. He initiated you from the earth, then settled you in it. You shall seek His forgiveness, then repent to Him. My LORD is always near, responsive.”

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GOD IS FULLY AWARE: 11:92 He said, “O my people, does my tribe command a greater respect than GOD? Is this why you have been heedless of Him? My LORD is fully aware of everything you do.”

GOD IS FULLY AWARE OF ALL SCHEMES: 12:50 The king said, “Bring him to me.” When the messenger came to him, he said, “Go back to your lord and ask him to investigate the women who cut their hands. My LORD is fully aware of their schemes.”

GOD WITNESSES EVERYTHING: 12:66 He said, “I will not send him with you, unless you give me a solemn pledge before GOD that you will bring him back, unless you are utterly overwhelmed.” When they gave him their solemn pledge, he said, “GOD is witnessing everything we say.”

GOD IS THE BEST JUDGE: 12:80 When they despaired of changing his mind, they conferred together. Their eldest said, “Do you realize that your father has taken a solemn pledge from you before GOD? In the past you lost Joseph. I am not leaving this place until my father gives me permission, or until GOD judges for me; He is the best Judge.

GOD NEVER FAILS TO REWARD THE RIGHTEOUS: 12:90 They said, “You must be

Joseph.” He said, “I am Joseph, and here is my brother. GOD has blessed us. That is because if one leads a righteous life, and steadfastly perseveres, GOD never fails to reward the righteous.

ABSOLUTE JUSTICE FROM THE MOST GRACIOUS AND HIS HELP: 21:112 Say,

“My LORD, Your judgment is the absolute justice. Our LORD is the Most Gracious; only His help is sought in the face of your claims.”

GOD GRANTS VICTORY: 23:26 He said, “My LORD, grant me victory, for they have disbelieved me.”

23:38-40 “He is just a man who fabricated lies and attributed them to GOD. We will never believe Him.” He said, “My LORD, grant me victory, for they have disbelieved me.” He said, “Soon they will be sorry.”

GOD NEVER ERRS, NOR DOES HE FORGET: 20:52 He said, “The knowledge thereof is with my LORD in a record. My LORD never errs, nor does He forget.”

GOD IS THE GRANTOR: 38:35 He said, “My LORD, forgive me, and grant me a kingship never attained by anyone else. You are the Grantor.”

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GOD GUIDES: 37:99 He said, “I am going to my LORD; He will guide me.”

26:62 He said, “No way. My LORD is with me; He will guide me.”

GOD CAN GUIDE YOU TO DO BETTER: 18:23-24 You shall not say that you will do anything in the future, without saying, “GOD WILLING.” If you forget to do this, you must immediately remember your LORD and say, “May my LORD guide me to do better next time.”

GOD BLESSES YOUR AFFAIRS WITH GUIDANCE: 18:10 When the youths took

refuge in the cave, they said, “Our LORD, shower us with Your mercy, and bless our affairs with Your guidance.”

RETURNING BACK TO THE LORD: 7:124-125 (Pharaoh said) “I will cut your hands and feet on alternate sides, then I will crucify you all.” They said (the believers), “We will then return back to our LORD.”

DO NOT DESPAIR OF GOD’S GRACE: 12:87 O my sons, go fetch Joseph and his brother, and never despair of GOD’S grace. “None despairs of GOD’S GRACE EXCEPT THE DISBELIEVING PEOPLE.”

19:4 He said, “My LORD, the bones have turned brittle in my body, and my hair is aflame with gray. As I implore You, my LORD, I never despair.

IMPLORING GOD AFTER WRONGING SOULS: 7:23 They said, “Our LORD, we

have wronged our souls, and unless You forgive us and have mercy on us, we will be losers.”

27:44 She was told, “Go inside the palace.” When she saw its interior, she thought it was a pool of water, and she (pulled up her dress) exposing her legs. He said, “This interior is now paved with crystal.” She said, “My LORD, I have wronged my soul, I now submit with Solomon to GOD, LORD OF THE UNIVERSE.”

IMPLORING GOD TO PROTECT YOU FROM BEING LOSERS: 7:149 Finally, when

they regretted their action, and realized that they had gone astray, they said, “Unless our LORD redeems us with His mercy, and forgives us, we will be losers.”

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11:47 He said, “My LORD, I seek refuge in You, lest I implore You again for something I do not know. Unless You forgive me, and have mercy on me, I will be with the losers.”

IMPLORING GOD FOR VICTORY FROM OPPRESSION: 54:10 He implored his

LORD, “I am oppressed; grant me victory.”

IMPLORING GOD TO MAKE YOUR OFF-SPRING ACCEPTABLE: 19:6 Let him be my

heir and the heir of Jacob’s clan, and make him, my LORD, acceptable.

IMPLORING GOD FOR GUIDANCE TO OVERCOME FEAR: 26:61-62 When both

parties saw each other, Moses’ people said, “We will be caught.” He said, “No way. My LORD is with me; He will guide me.”

I have recited and demonstrated some of the ways to implore GOD in order to exalt, glorify, praise, remember, and think of HIM, although there are more verses in the Quran. When you follow the examples given above of the previous messengers and those guided by GOD, you are making a contact with your LORD. HE loves and appreciates those who mention HIS NAME through a variety of ways, as given in the QURAN. As GOD has created variety and diversity in everything, it is absolutely appropriate to remember HIM in as many ways as possible. I implore my LORD to augment your guidance, and to enhance your wisdom and knowledge, so that you are capable of worshiping HIM to the fullest. If I do not see you change your ways after these enlightened teachings; I can only feel sorry and sad for you. Be sure, as always, to read carefully; appreciate whatever GOD reveals every week, and do not be stubborn to change your old ways. Believers are supposed to be flexible, impartial, and to have their chests wide open to SUBMISSION. These are the SACRED WORDS OF GOD, and you should not take them lightly. Those who repent and reform benefit their souls, while the stubborn and arrogant ones lose their souls. In the end, I will present a verse to wrap up today’s sermon, with PROOFS FROM GOD, just as you have seen in the beginning of this sermon. This verse will tell you that there was a group of believers, just like yourselves, at the time of Moses, who believed in GOD, based on the proofs shown by Moses, after which they were threatened with persecution and torture by Pharaoh.

Similarly, you are also witnessing GOD’S PROOFS every week, and your belief should be based on them. If you develop or display any doubts in them, then you have disbelieved in the Absolute Authority of GOD. You need to praise HIM even more after witnessing these PROOFS, so that HE knows you are appreciative of HIM and HIS blessings.

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7:126 Part 1: “You persecute us simply because we believed in the PROOFS of our LORD when they came to us.”

Revealed: The Allah letters are 14.

7:126 Part 2: “OUR LORD, grant us steadfastness, AND LET US DIE AS SUBMITTERS.”

Revealed: The Allah letters are 7.

Revealed: Do you see that the chapter number is 7, a multiple of 7, whereas the verse number is 126, a multiple of 14. Do you also see that Part One has 14 Allah Letters, being a multiple of 14, whereas Part Two has 7 Allah Letters, being a multiple of 7.

GOD HAS SENT DOWN TO YOU A REVELATION: IT IS CALLED “THE SEVEN

PAIRS REVELATION”. Praise and Glory be to HIM.

This completes the subject recited to you over three weeks. Next week will be a different topic, God Willing.

Peace be upon the messengers.

Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Universe.