đź”»All of the details in our lives, which are out of our authority, are our destiny.
đź”»The goal of creation is for us to affect our destiny and build our future.
👉🏼 Destiny (2)
🔸Sometimes, the realities that surround us are referred to using the word #destiny. What we mean by destiny is the part of our life, which is beyond our #control and is determined by God. In many cases, we call these accidental or natural events. Since they are repeated, we often consider them to be normal events. However, God has designed all of these events with His wisdom and providence. They are all in the hands of the Lord of the Universe.
🔸Some people believe divine destiny to only be involved in great and big affairs and not all the affairs in life from the smallest to the biggest of them. All of the details in our lives, which are beyond our control and will, are our destiny. The essence of our existence, the form of our existence, all the fixed or variable features of our existence, the conditions around us, and everything from our parents to the place where we are born, are all parts of our destiny.
🔸However, there are many factors, which affect our destinies. Our thoughts, interests, hopes, beliefs, deeds, actions, intentions and our prayers affect our destinies. God’s love for us, the Friends of God’s love for us, and the good or bad behaviour of the people around us are other factors, which affect our destiny but we do not control.
🔸Basically, the purpose of creation is for us to influence our destinies and build our future. However, we must pay attention to our #limitations. The most determining factor in our destiny is something other than these factors that have been mentioned. This key determining factor is the divine #tests.
#Most_Determining_Factor
âś… @PanahianEN
đź”»The goal of creation is for us to affect our destiny and build our future.
👉🏼 Destiny (2)
🔸Sometimes, the realities that surround us are referred to using the word #destiny. What we mean by destiny is the part of our life, which is beyond our #control and is determined by God. In many cases, we call these accidental or natural events. Since they are repeated, we often consider them to be normal events. However, God has designed all of these events with His wisdom and providence. They are all in the hands of the Lord of the Universe.
🔸Some people believe divine destiny to only be involved in great and big affairs and not all the affairs in life from the smallest to the biggest of them. All of the details in our lives, which are beyond our control and will, are our destiny. The essence of our existence, the form of our existence, all the fixed or variable features of our existence, the conditions around us, and everything from our parents to the place where we are born, are all parts of our destiny.
🔸However, there are many factors, which affect our destinies. Our thoughts, interests, hopes, beliefs, deeds, actions, intentions and our prayers affect our destinies. God’s love for us, the Friends of God’s love for us, and the good or bad behaviour of the people around us are other factors, which affect our destiny but we do not control.
🔸Basically, the purpose of creation is for us to influence our destinies and build our future. However, we must pay attention to our #limitations. The most determining factor in our destiny is something other than these factors that have been mentioned. This key determining factor is the divine #tests.
#Most_Determining_Factor
âś… @PanahianEN
🔻It is not God’s plan to bring hardships and calamities for His servants, unless the divine testing system requires a servant to be tested by a hardship or calamity.
🔻Paying attention to destinies determined by God reduces a person’s sorrows and eliminates regret and jealousy.
👉🏼 Destiny (5)
🔸We should believe that destinies determined by God are ruling over our individual and social lives, although it is possible for us to affect divine providence. We must also pay attention to this question that what is the most important factor in determining our destinies.
🔸One can affect his/her #destiny. For example, we can pray or give charity. However, our prayers will be answered only if that “determining factor” allows it. If it does not allow it, our prayers will not be answered, even if we are a good servant.
🔸The main and most determining factor for our destinies is #testing and divine trials. We have been created to be tested in this world.
🔸It is not God’s plan to bring #hardships and calamities for His servants, unless the divine trials and testing system requires a servant to be tested by a hardship or calamity. It is not God’s plan to give #ease to His servants in this world unless testing requires it. It is not God’s plan to give or take away #opportunities from His servants, unless testing requires this.
🔸For example, God gives much #sustenance to some people while He keeps some people poor. If He gives much sustenance to one servant, this is the way he is being tested. And if God gives little sustenance to another person, that is due to his test. [Nahj al-Balaghah, sermon no. 91]
🔸This means that all the moments of our lives and all the destinies that God has determined for us, from any way we look at, are under the influence of the determining factor, which is testing and trials. Paying attention to destinies determined by God reduces a person’s sorrows and eliminates regret and jealousy.
#AliRezaPanahian
#Most_Determining_Factor
#Destiny
âś… @PanahianEN
🔻Paying attention to destinies determined by God reduces a person’s sorrows and eliminates regret and jealousy.
👉🏼 Destiny (5)
🔸We should believe that destinies determined by God are ruling over our individual and social lives, although it is possible for us to affect divine providence. We must also pay attention to this question that what is the most important factor in determining our destinies.
🔸One can affect his/her #destiny. For example, we can pray or give charity. However, our prayers will be answered only if that “determining factor” allows it. If it does not allow it, our prayers will not be answered, even if we are a good servant.
🔸The main and most determining factor for our destinies is #testing and divine trials. We have been created to be tested in this world.
🔸It is not God’s plan to bring #hardships and calamities for His servants, unless the divine trials and testing system requires a servant to be tested by a hardship or calamity. It is not God’s plan to give #ease to His servants in this world unless testing requires it. It is not God’s plan to give or take away #opportunities from His servants, unless testing requires this.
🔸For example, God gives much #sustenance to some people while He keeps some people poor. If He gives much sustenance to one servant, this is the way he is being tested. And if God gives little sustenance to another person, that is due to his test. [Nahj al-Balaghah, sermon no. 91]
🔸This means that all the moments of our lives and all the destinies that God has determined for us, from any way we look at, are under the influence of the determining factor, which is testing and trials. Paying attention to destinies determined by God reduces a person’s sorrows and eliminates regret and jealousy.
#AliRezaPanahian
#Most_Determining_Factor
#Destiny
âś… @PanahianEN
đź”»Looking at the concept of being tested balances a person both spiritually and mentally, and it increases his/her wisdom.
đź”»Whatever happens to you is to your benefit, and the criteria for what is to your benefit is the tests.
👉🏼 Destiny (6)
🔸 When #life brings pressures on some people and the situation becomes a little hard for them, they cry out and object! These kinds of people have not understood the fundamental goal of #creation. They do not know why we are here. God says, “It is He who has created death and life to put you to the #test.” [Qur’an 67:2]
🔸God has used different terms such as “Fitna (trial),” “Ibtila (tried),” and “Imtihan (test)” about 60 times in the Holy Qur’an in order to show the importance of the issue of testing and divine trials in our lives.
🔸Before thinking about our lives being temporary, we should think about this world being a place for us to be tested. When we want to look at divine destinies that are ruling over us, we should look at the main philosophy behind these destinies and the most determining factor, which is tests.
🔸Thinking about the concept of being tested balances people spiritually and mentally and increases their wisdom. It also regulates a person’s #perspective and planning for his/her individual and social life. However, most people do not pay attention to the concept of being tested, they do not know the philosophy behind the events that are taking place for them or what God’s questions are for testing them in their lives.
🔸This subject is incredibly absorbing. That is because a person senses that he/she is living with his/her Lord in each moment. If you look at life in this way, you will understand that whatever happens to you is to your #benefit, and the criteria for what is to your benefit is the tests. Because, the mentor in your destinies is God, and He knows better what is to your benefit.
#AliRezaPanahian
#Most_Determining_Factor
#Destiny
âś… @PanahianEN
đź”»Whatever happens to you is to your benefit, and the criteria for what is to your benefit is the tests.
👉🏼 Destiny (6)
🔸 When #life brings pressures on some people and the situation becomes a little hard for them, they cry out and object! These kinds of people have not understood the fundamental goal of #creation. They do not know why we are here. God says, “It is He who has created death and life to put you to the #test.” [Qur’an 67:2]
🔸God has used different terms such as “Fitna (trial),” “Ibtila (tried),” and “Imtihan (test)” about 60 times in the Holy Qur’an in order to show the importance of the issue of testing and divine trials in our lives.
🔸Before thinking about our lives being temporary, we should think about this world being a place for us to be tested. When we want to look at divine destinies that are ruling over us, we should look at the main philosophy behind these destinies and the most determining factor, which is tests.
🔸Thinking about the concept of being tested balances people spiritually and mentally and increases their wisdom. It also regulates a person’s #perspective and planning for his/her individual and social life. However, most people do not pay attention to the concept of being tested, they do not know the philosophy behind the events that are taking place for them or what God’s questions are for testing them in their lives.
🔸This subject is incredibly absorbing. That is because a person senses that he/she is living with his/her Lord in each moment. If you look at life in this way, you will understand that whatever happens to you is to your #benefit, and the criteria for what is to your benefit is the tests. Because, the mentor in your destinies is God, and He knows better what is to your benefit.
#AliRezaPanahian
#Most_Determining_Factor
#Destiny
âś… @PanahianEN
đź”»In this world, success means being successful in the divine tests.
đź”»Other successes in life are the tools for us to be tested.
👉🏼 Destiny (7)
🔸When the central factor for our destinies, for the prophets being sent, and for the religious laws are for us to be tested, this means that the main thing in this world is neither suffering nor being comfortable. Therefore, people’s goals should not be success, comfort and blessings, and of course, no one’s goal should be to be in pain, suffering, bothering oneself or giving hardships to oneself.
🔸We are not supposed to search for #success in this world. This means that we should not be after reaching that optimal point that we have in mind. The optimal point is to pass tests correctly. Our only success is to be successful in divine #tests.
🔸When we say that the central factor for divine destinies is tests, this means that whether you are given hardship or comfort, this is for you to be tested. [Qur’an 89:15–16]
🔸When we see some differences between others and ourselves, we should not say that this is #discrimination and this is in contradiction with God’s justice! The Commander of the Faithful, Ali (as), said, “Do not count wealth and children to be the criteria of God’s anger or pleasure. This stems from your ignorance about divine tests and trials for testing [people’s] abilities and powers.” [Nahj al-Balaghah, sermon no. 192]
🔸We can say that the #primary, practical goal of the creation of human beings is to be #tested. The Qur’an says, “It is He who has created death and life to put you to the test.” [67:2] The #intermediary goal of creation is “#worshiping and servitude.” The Qur’an says, “We have created jinn and human beings only that they might worship Me.” [51:56] The #ultimate aim and goal of creation is #meeting_God.” The Qur’an states, “…you are working hard toward your Lord and you will meet Him.” [84:6] It also states, “We are the servants of God and to Him we shall all return.” [2:156] In other words, the primary goal of creation that we are facing in our actions in this world is testing.
#AliRezaPanahian
#Most_Determining_Factor
#Destiny
âś… @PanahianEN
đź”»Other successes in life are the tools for us to be tested.
👉🏼 Destiny (7)
🔸When the central factor for our destinies, for the prophets being sent, and for the religious laws are for us to be tested, this means that the main thing in this world is neither suffering nor being comfortable. Therefore, people’s goals should not be success, comfort and blessings, and of course, no one’s goal should be to be in pain, suffering, bothering oneself or giving hardships to oneself.
🔸We are not supposed to search for #success in this world. This means that we should not be after reaching that optimal point that we have in mind. The optimal point is to pass tests correctly. Our only success is to be successful in divine #tests.
🔸When we say that the central factor for divine destinies is tests, this means that whether you are given hardship or comfort, this is for you to be tested. [Qur’an 89:15–16]
🔸When we see some differences between others and ourselves, we should not say that this is #discrimination and this is in contradiction with God’s justice! The Commander of the Faithful, Ali (as), said, “Do not count wealth and children to be the criteria of God’s anger or pleasure. This stems from your ignorance about divine tests and trials for testing [people’s] abilities and powers.” [Nahj al-Balaghah, sermon no. 192]
🔸We can say that the #primary, practical goal of the creation of human beings is to be #tested. The Qur’an says, “It is He who has created death and life to put you to the test.” [67:2] The #intermediary goal of creation is “#worshiping and servitude.” The Qur’an says, “We have created jinn and human beings only that they might worship Me.” [51:56] The #ultimate aim and goal of creation is #meeting_God.” The Qur’an states, “…you are working hard toward your Lord and you will meet Him.” [84:6] It also states, “We are the servants of God and to Him we shall all return.” [2:156] In other words, the primary goal of creation that we are facing in our actions in this world is testing.
#AliRezaPanahian
#Most_Determining_Factor
#Destiny
âś… @PanahianEN
đź”»We cannot understand from the results whether we have acted correctly or not.
đź”»The beauty of trusting in God is that a person plans and acts, then trusts in God.
👉🏼 Destiny (8)
🔸We cannot understand from the #results whether we have acted correctly or not. It is possible that we have acted correctly and accurately, however since the testing system has not allowed us, we do not get the results we wanted. The other way around is possible too.
🔸Having the outlook that, “Will God accept this from us and give results to our actions?” is an incorrect outlook. That is because it is possible that God will accept our deeds but not give worldly results to our actions. The opposite is possible too, it is possible that He does not accept our actions but gives worldly results to them.
🔸Sometimes God’s testing system does not allow a good servant to do a good deed that he/she wanted to do. For example, sometimes God does not allow a good servant who always prayed the Midnight Prayer to get up and pray. Because now God’s testing system says that if he gets up to pray, he will become #proud and it will cause his ruin. If this person does not pray the Midnight Prayer and then blames himself because of being deprived of benefiting from the Midnight Prayer, this is much better for him than praying the Midnight Prayer and becoming proud of himself.
🔸When we see that divine destines are surrounding us in this way, this does not mean that we should think that everything is due to force, leave all that we are doing and sit in a corner.
🔸If we were not supposed to #plan for ourselves and not take action according to our plans, if we were only supposed to pass God’s #tests and #trust in Him, our situation would have been much easier. The beauty of trusting in God is that a person plans and acts according to his/her plan then trusts in God.
🔸God has told us to plan for ourselves. Sometimes He causes our actions to have an #effect. Although other times, He ruins our mood by causing our actions to not have an effect in order to test us.
#AliRezaPanahian
#Most_Determining_Factor
#Destiny
âś… @PanahianEN
đź”»The beauty of trusting in God is that a person plans and acts, then trusts in God.
👉🏼 Destiny (8)
🔸We cannot understand from the #results whether we have acted correctly or not. It is possible that we have acted correctly and accurately, however since the testing system has not allowed us, we do not get the results we wanted. The other way around is possible too.
🔸Having the outlook that, “Will God accept this from us and give results to our actions?” is an incorrect outlook. That is because it is possible that God will accept our deeds but not give worldly results to our actions. The opposite is possible too, it is possible that He does not accept our actions but gives worldly results to them.
🔸Sometimes God’s testing system does not allow a good servant to do a good deed that he/she wanted to do. For example, sometimes God does not allow a good servant who always prayed the Midnight Prayer to get up and pray. Because now God’s testing system says that if he gets up to pray, he will become #proud and it will cause his ruin. If this person does not pray the Midnight Prayer and then blames himself because of being deprived of benefiting from the Midnight Prayer, this is much better for him than praying the Midnight Prayer and becoming proud of himself.
🔸When we see that divine destines are surrounding us in this way, this does not mean that we should think that everything is due to force, leave all that we are doing and sit in a corner.
🔸If we were not supposed to #plan for ourselves and not take action according to our plans, if we were only supposed to pass God’s #tests and #trust in Him, our situation would have been much easier. The beauty of trusting in God is that a person plans and acts according to his/her plan then trusts in God.
🔸God has told us to plan for ourselves. Sometimes He causes our actions to have an #effect. Although other times, He ruins our mood by causing our actions to not have an effect in order to test us.
#AliRezaPanahian
#Most_Determining_Factor
#Destiny
âś… @PanahianEN
đź”»How can one see God?
đź”»God is living with us through tests in each moment of our lives.
👉🏼 Destiny (9)
🔸We can see God in #tests. God is living with us through tests in each moment of our lives. If we live with God with this outlook, we will gradually know God. And based on the tests that He takes from us, we can understand what topics He is sensitive about, because we cannot know a person well unless we live with him.
🔸God does not give us #blessings for us to relax some, then again give us some #tragedies! Rather, He gives blessings to test us and see how we behave with blessings. In the same way, He gives us hardships in order to test us.
🔸Sometimes God commands a person – due to his vices – to come and #bother us. We should not hold a grudge against him, because we were supposed to pass this test and this person is a tool with which God is testing us. In this world, all social and family #relationships are tools for being tested. Even our children are tools for testing us. [Qur’an 8:28]
🔸In designing our lives, God could have refrained from putting #sleeping. One of the tests in sleeping is when God tests us if we get up at dawn to pray or not! The sweetness of sleeping is to see if we are willing to pass up the sweetness of sleeping because of God.
🔸At the time of the Call to Prayer, God is looking at each one of us to see how we behave in this test. Are we willing to immediately put aside what we are thinking about in order to pray? Are we willing to put aside what we are very busy doing? Are we willing to pass on the sweetness of sleeping in the early morning? Are we willing to leave the mood we are in and pray?
#AliRezaPanahian
#Most_Determining_Factor
#Destiny
âś… @PanahianEN
đź”»God is living with us through tests in each moment of our lives.
👉🏼 Destiny (9)
🔸We can see God in #tests. God is living with us through tests in each moment of our lives. If we live with God with this outlook, we will gradually know God. And based on the tests that He takes from us, we can understand what topics He is sensitive about, because we cannot know a person well unless we live with him.
🔸God does not give us #blessings for us to relax some, then again give us some #tragedies! Rather, He gives blessings to test us and see how we behave with blessings. In the same way, He gives us hardships in order to test us.
🔸Sometimes God commands a person – due to his vices – to come and #bother us. We should not hold a grudge against him, because we were supposed to pass this test and this person is a tool with which God is testing us. In this world, all social and family #relationships are tools for being tested. Even our children are tools for testing us. [Qur’an 8:28]
🔸In designing our lives, God could have refrained from putting #sleeping. One of the tests in sleeping is when God tests us if we get up at dawn to pray or not! The sweetness of sleeping is to see if we are willing to pass up the sweetness of sleeping because of God.
🔸At the time of the Call to Prayer, God is looking at each one of us to see how we behave in this test. Are we willing to immediately put aside what we are thinking about in order to pray? Are we willing to put aside what we are very busy doing? Are we willing to pass on the sweetness of sleeping in the early morning? Are we willing to leave the mood we are in and pray?
#AliRezaPanahian
#Most_Determining_Factor
#Destiny
âś… @PanahianEN
đź”»We cannot ask God to not test us!
đź”»In the same way that the philosophy behind our lives is to be tested, the philosophy behind our religion is to be tested too.
👉🏼 Destiny (10)
🔸We consider #tests to be like a machine, which is affected by different factors, such as: thoughts, likings, wishes, beliefs, actions, intentions, prayers, God & His Guardian’s affection for us, & the good & bad behaviors of those around us. These are the input of this machine & the output is our destiny, which determines the confines of our authority.
🔸God has created us in this world to test us. [Qur’an 67:2] We also know we can’t leave the domain of God’s rule. [Kumayl Supplication] Therefore, it is wiser if we don’t try to #escape from tests. Instead, we can ask God, “O God, take the best & easiest tests from us…” or “O God, my test has become hard. Take easier tests from me.” But we can’t say, “God, don’t test us.”
🔸It is impossible for the philosophy behind our lives to be testing, but the philosophy behind our religion not to be testing.
🔸For example, we have been told that if we see someone is #sinning in #hiding, we shouldn’t expose him. One reason is that by exposing him, the possibility of testing him in that area will be eliminated. The reason we have been commanded not to #backbite is so that a sinner will have the opportunity to sin without being disgraced.
🔸Why have they said that women should listen to their husbands in several specific cases (of course this does not mean men have absolute control over women)? Although it is for harmony between men & women, it is also for people to be tested. Some people ask, “What if a man makes mistakes?” The answer is that these mistakes are a part of the tests too. If no complexities were involved, this would not have been a test!
🔸Another example is parents. Even if your parents are unbelievers, you must respect & listen to them except when they say something against God’s commands. You should not say, “Parents are from one generation & children are from a different generation so they usually disagree.” The Almighty God knew this too, but He gave this command to test us.
#AliRezaPanahian
#Most_Determining_Factor
#Destiny
âś… @PanahianEN
đź”»In the same way that the philosophy behind our lives is to be tested, the philosophy behind our religion is to be tested too.
👉🏼 Destiny (10)
🔸We consider #tests to be like a machine, which is affected by different factors, such as: thoughts, likings, wishes, beliefs, actions, intentions, prayers, God & His Guardian’s affection for us, & the good & bad behaviors of those around us. These are the input of this machine & the output is our destiny, which determines the confines of our authority.
🔸God has created us in this world to test us. [Qur’an 67:2] We also know we can’t leave the domain of God’s rule. [Kumayl Supplication] Therefore, it is wiser if we don’t try to #escape from tests. Instead, we can ask God, “O God, take the best & easiest tests from us…” or “O God, my test has become hard. Take easier tests from me.” But we can’t say, “God, don’t test us.”
🔸It is impossible for the philosophy behind our lives to be testing, but the philosophy behind our religion not to be testing.
🔸For example, we have been told that if we see someone is #sinning in #hiding, we shouldn’t expose him. One reason is that by exposing him, the possibility of testing him in that area will be eliminated. The reason we have been commanded not to #backbite is so that a sinner will have the opportunity to sin without being disgraced.
🔸Why have they said that women should listen to their husbands in several specific cases (of course this does not mean men have absolute control over women)? Although it is for harmony between men & women, it is also for people to be tested. Some people ask, “What if a man makes mistakes?” The answer is that these mistakes are a part of the tests too. If no complexities were involved, this would not have been a test!
🔸Another example is parents. Even if your parents are unbelievers, you must respect & listen to them except when they say something against God’s commands. You should not say, “Parents are from one generation & children are from a different generation so they usually disagree.” The Almighty God knew this too, but He gave this command to test us.
#AliRezaPanahian
#Most_Determining_Factor
#Destiny
âś… @PanahianEN
đź”»Why does God test us?
đź”»Human beings have two kinds of interests: an interest in becoming good and an interest in becoming bad.
👉🏼 Destiny (11)
🔸Why does Almighty God test us? Because we have been created #human beings, who are creatures who can produce added value. Some imagine God wanted to create good, #obedient creatures! The angels had this same idea. When God wanted to create human beings they said, “Will you set in it someone who will cause corruption in it and shed blood while we celebrate Your praise and proclaim Your sanctity?” [Qur’an 2:30] But God wanted to create a being who produces added value and becomes good.
🔸Someone asked #ImamSadiq (as), “Why didn’t God create His servants in such a way that they would all be obedient and monotheists?” He replied, “If God created people obedient, reward and punishment would have been meaningless. God created His servants in a way that they do something themselves to deserve reward or punishment.” [Al-Ihtijaj, Tabarsi, vol. 2, p. 340]
🔸To produce added value, people must have two kinds of #interests: an interest in becoming good and an interest in becoming bad. If you only had one kind of interest, #testing and having a free will was meaningless. You would definitely choose that one interest. If you had two interests, one stronger and one weaker, you would always choose the stronger interest. If you had two equal interests, you couldn’t choose and would be in a dilemma.
🔸God designed our interests very beautifully and wisely. He made one interest stronger and more valuable, but concealed. And the weaker, less valuable interest is manifested. God has created this surprising balance so that people can choose.
🔸When you satisfy your divine, stronger, more valuable interests you truly enjoy more. But these interests are more concealed. If their true value were easily seen, you would go toward them from the beginning like angels. On the other hand, the weaker, less worthy worldly interests, are more easily seen, experienced and appear stronger.
🔸With this design, God has given people the opportunity to make a valuable choice.
#AliRezaPanahian
#Most_Determining_Factor
#Destiny
âś… @PanahianEN
đź”»Human beings have two kinds of interests: an interest in becoming good and an interest in becoming bad.
👉🏼 Destiny (11)
🔸Why does Almighty God test us? Because we have been created #human beings, who are creatures who can produce added value. Some imagine God wanted to create good, #obedient creatures! The angels had this same idea. When God wanted to create human beings they said, “Will you set in it someone who will cause corruption in it and shed blood while we celebrate Your praise and proclaim Your sanctity?” [Qur’an 2:30] But God wanted to create a being who produces added value and becomes good.
🔸Someone asked #ImamSadiq (as), “Why didn’t God create His servants in such a way that they would all be obedient and monotheists?” He replied, “If God created people obedient, reward and punishment would have been meaningless. God created His servants in a way that they do something themselves to deserve reward or punishment.” [Al-Ihtijaj, Tabarsi, vol. 2, p. 340]
🔸To produce added value, people must have two kinds of #interests: an interest in becoming good and an interest in becoming bad. If you only had one kind of interest, #testing and having a free will was meaningless. You would definitely choose that one interest. If you had two interests, one stronger and one weaker, you would always choose the stronger interest. If you had two equal interests, you couldn’t choose and would be in a dilemma.
🔸God designed our interests very beautifully and wisely. He made one interest stronger and more valuable, but concealed. And the weaker, less valuable interest is manifested. God has created this surprising balance so that people can choose.
🔸When you satisfy your divine, stronger, more valuable interests you truly enjoy more. But these interests are more concealed. If their true value were easily seen, you would go toward them from the beginning like angels. On the other hand, the weaker, less worthy worldly interests, are more easily seen, experienced and appear stronger.
🔸With this design, God has given people the opportunity to make a valuable choice.
#AliRezaPanahian
#Most_Determining_Factor
#Destiny
âś… @PanahianEN
đź”» In the beginning, we must sacrifice our bad likings for good ones.
đź”» In the next stage, we must sacrifice our good likings for higher ones.
👉🏼 Destiny (12)
🔸In each #test, and in each good choice we make, we must crush some of our #likings. Of course, this is difficult and painful to do. Overcoming superficial interests and reaching deep, hidden #interests is the only way for human beings to produce added value. Thus, God has said, “O man! Surely you must strive (to attain) to your Lord, a hard striving until you meet Him.” [Qur’an 84:6]
🔸#ImamAli (as) said, “Each worship act involves some difficulties and dislikes, and each sin involves some desires.” [Nahj al-Balaghah, sermon 176] But don’t try to be religious by adapting religion to your own desires.
🔸The #Prophet (s) said about those who work for their life in the Hereafter, “People die once, but they die 70 times a day due to fighting their own wills, opposing their desires and fighting the evil that runs through their veins.” [Mizan al-Hikmah, p. 2916]
🔸God says, “Certainly We have created man to be in distress.” [Qur’an 90:4] But we keep pursuing excitements and entertainments. We expect to be constantly immersed in pleasures and comforts even though we see that we fail to achieve many of our dreams. Today, some hold classes on how to be #successful and how to reach our dreams. But Imam Ali (as) in a letter to the youth said, “I am writing to a youth whose dreams won’t come true.” [Nahj al-Balaghah, letter 31]
🔸Not only must we crush our bad and worthless likings for good, valuable likings, but in higher stages, we must also crush our good likings for better ones. And this opposing our will continues until the last moments of our lives. [Tuhaf al-Uqul, p. 370]
🔸Fighting his will for a person like Ibrahim (as) was not crushing his bad likings. It meant crushing a good liking, loving his son Ismael (as), for the love of God. Imam Ali (as) loved to protect the trust that had been entrusted to him and defend Fatimah (as). But the situation was such that for the sake of God and a higher interest, he didn’t use his sword to defend Fatimah (as), and this was very hard for him.
#AliRezaPanahian
#Most_Determining_Factor
#Destiny
âś… @PanahianEN
đź”» In the next stage, we must sacrifice our good likings for higher ones.
👉🏼 Destiny (12)
🔸In each #test, and in each good choice we make, we must crush some of our #likings. Of course, this is difficult and painful to do. Overcoming superficial interests and reaching deep, hidden #interests is the only way for human beings to produce added value. Thus, God has said, “O man! Surely you must strive (to attain) to your Lord, a hard striving until you meet Him.” [Qur’an 84:6]
🔸#ImamAli (as) said, “Each worship act involves some difficulties and dislikes, and each sin involves some desires.” [Nahj al-Balaghah, sermon 176] But don’t try to be religious by adapting religion to your own desires.
🔸The #Prophet (s) said about those who work for their life in the Hereafter, “People die once, but they die 70 times a day due to fighting their own wills, opposing their desires and fighting the evil that runs through their veins.” [Mizan al-Hikmah, p. 2916]
🔸God says, “Certainly We have created man to be in distress.” [Qur’an 90:4] But we keep pursuing excitements and entertainments. We expect to be constantly immersed in pleasures and comforts even though we see that we fail to achieve many of our dreams. Today, some hold classes on how to be #successful and how to reach our dreams. But Imam Ali (as) in a letter to the youth said, “I am writing to a youth whose dreams won’t come true.” [Nahj al-Balaghah, letter 31]
🔸Not only must we crush our bad and worthless likings for good, valuable likings, but in higher stages, we must also crush our good likings for better ones. And this opposing our will continues until the last moments of our lives. [Tuhaf al-Uqul, p. 370]
🔸Fighting his will for a person like Ibrahim (as) was not crushing his bad likings. It meant crushing a good liking, loving his son Ismael (as), for the love of God. Imam Ali (as) loved to protect the trust that had been entrusted to him and defend Fatimah (as). But the situation was such that for the sake of God and a higher interest, he didn’t use his sword to defend Fatimah (as), and this was very hard for him.
#AliRezaPanahian
#Most_Determining_Factor
#Destiny
âś… @PanahianEN
đź”» The testing system requires that a person have the opportunity to sin and to do good deeds.
đź”» Why does Islam give sinners time and opportunities?
👉🏼 Destiny (13)
🔸In order for people to be able to produce increased value, in addition to the internal conflict between good and bad likings, the external environment must also be such a way that people can be #tested. This means it should be possible to sin and to do good deeds.
🔸But it doesn’t mean there must be both bars and mosques! This means if someone drinks alcohol in hiding in his house, he shouldn’t be accosted. You shouldn’t even expose, disgrace, or gossip about him. According to traditions, if he sinned yesterday and you see him the next day, you should assume he has repented and not think that he is a #sinner.
🔸Of course, it is natural that this way of dealing with sinners will give them the #opportunity to sin again, and this method makes sinners bolder. It is because of this method that it appears that the 124,000 divine prophets did not succeed. But if God wanted human beings to be good by force, he wouldn’t have created them at all.
🔸Without a doubt it should be possible to sin, but this doesn’t mean that we should ruin the environment in such a way that it is no longer possible to do good deeds or that people should be encouraged to sin.
🔸Westerners frequently make claims about #freedom, but interestingly this concept isn’t in the Holy Qur’an. Rather, there is the concept “the opportunity to choose.” But these two concepts are different. The freedom they have designed is such that the society is so corrupted that people don’t dare to do good deeds.
🔸In the west there is freedom to be bad and it is even pushed on people, but freedom for becoming good is limited. An example is the way good people, the sanctities, and the prophets are ridiculed in the name of “freedom of expression.” This ridiculing disrupts the testing system.
🔸We are in favor of preserving the testing system. In order to do this, there must be the opportunity for sin to the extent determined by the divine laws of #Islam.
#AliRezaPanahian
#Most_Determining_Factor
#Destiny
âś… @PanahianEN
đź”» Why does Islam give sinners time and opportunities?
👉🏼 Destiny (13)
🔸In order for people to be able to produce increased value, in addition to the internal conflict between good and bad likings, the external environment must also be such a way that people can be #tested. This means it should be possible to sin and to do good deeds.
🔸But it doesn’t mean there must be both bars and mosques! This means if someone drinks alcohol in hiding in his house, he shouldn’t be accosted. You shouldn’t even expose, disgrace, or gossip about him. According to traditions, if he sinned yesterday and you see him the next day, you should assume he has repented and not think that he is a #sinner.
🔸Of course, it is natural that this way of dealing with sinners will give them the #opportunity to sin again, and this method makes sinners bolder. It is because of this method that it appears that the 124,000 divine prophets did not succeed. But if God wanted human beings to be good by force, he wouldn’t have created them at all.
🔸Without a doubt it should be possible to sin, but this doesn’t mean that we should ruin the environment in such a way that it is no longer possible to do good deeds or that people should be encouraged to sin.
🔸Westerners frequently make claims about #freedom, but interestingly this concept isn’t in the Holy Qur’an. Rather, there is the concept “the opportunity to choose.” But these two concepts are different. The freedom they have designed is such that the society is so corrupted that people don’t dare to do good deeds.
🔸In the west there is freedom to be bad and it is even pushed on people, but freedom for becoming good is limited. An example is the way good people, the sanctities, and the prophets are ridiculed in the name of “freedom of expression.” This ridiculing disrupts the testing system.
🔸We are in favor of preserving the testing system. In order to do this, there must be the opportunity for sin to the extent determined by the divine laws of #Islam.
#AliRezaPanahian
#Most_Determining_Factor
#Destiny
âś… @PanahianEN
❤1
🔻 It is impossible to say the testing system only determines a part of a person’s life and not the other parts.
đź”» Islam is a complete religion without any defects that need to be compensated for.
👉🏼 Destiny (14)
🔸It is impossible to say the testing system only determines a part of a person’s life. It is impossible the system of religious orders be under the influence of testing, but the issue of #government not be under its influence.
🔸In a religious government, testing is an important principle. A religious government is not a government that wishes to achieve results at any cost, because #testing is very important in religion. Thus, it gives #opportunities to people and doesn’t use the power of government to control people. Of course, giving opportunities often results in people misusing them.
🔸Once the Prophet (s) was told that some people were #hoarding certain goods. The Prophet (s) ordered them to return the hoarded goods to the market. A man said, “O Prophet of God (s), set a price for these goods.” The Prophet (s) said, “I won’t do so. Let it be determined naturally.” [Tahdhib al-Ahkam, vol. 7, p. 161] The Prophet (s) could have set the price, but he didn’t use his authority in just any way.
🔸Sometimes #legislators want to eliminate the possibility of any kind of sin, oppression or irregularity. So they put extra laws. But Islam has not done such a thing. We should always pay attention to the fact that Islam is a complete religion without any defects. So there is no need for us to compensate for it. Know that the laws you see in the west have not been designed due the growth of the science of jurisprudence or based on discussions about natural or human sciences. No, they are the result of security issues and political discussions.
🔸I am talking about the prevention of oppression and crimes. You are not able to stop all kinds of oppression with laws. You should leave some kinds of oppression to be taken care of by ethics. If ethics didn’t correct them, then the courts are used. Sometimes by setting extra laws, we want to bring certain preventions, but in this way we ruin all opportunities for being tested.
#AliRezaPanahian
#Most_Determining_Factor
#Destiny
âś… @PanahianEN
đź”» Islam is a complete religion without any defects that need to be compensated for.
👉🏼 Destiny (14)
🔸It is impossible to say the testing system only determines a part of a person’s life. It is impossible the system of religious orders be under the influence of testing, but the issue of #government not be under its influence.
🔸In a religious government, testing is an important principle. A religious government is not a government that wishes to achieve results at any cost, because #testing is very important in religion. Thus, it gives #opportunities to people and doesn’t use the power of government to control people. Of course, giving opportunities often results in people misusing them.
🔸Once the Prophet (s) was told that some people were #hoarding certain goods. The Prophet (s) ordered them to return the hoarded goods to the market. A man said, “O Prophet of God (s), set a price for these goods.” The Prophet (s) said, “I won’t do so. Let it be determined naturally.” [Tahdhib al-Ahkam, vol. 7, p. 161] The Prophet (s) could have set the price, but he didn’t use his authority in just any way.
🔸Sometimes #legislators want to eliminate the possibility of any kind of sin, oppression or irregularity. So they put extra laws. But Islam has not done such a thing. We should always pay attention to the fact that Islam is a complete religion without any defects. So there is no need for us to compensate for it. Know that the laws you see in the west have not been designed due the growth of the science of jurisprudence or based on discussions about natural or human sciences. No, they are the result of security issues and political discussions.
🔸I am talking about the prevention of oppression and crimes. You are not able to stop all kinds of oppression with laws. You should leave some kinds of oppression to be taken care of by ethics. If ethics didn’t correct them, then the courts are used. Sometimes by setting extra laws, we want to bring certain preventions, but in this way we ruin all opportunities for being tested.
#AliRezaPanahian
#Most_Determining_Factor
#Destiny
âś… @PanahianEN
🔻 Religion isn’t bitter.
🔻 Life’s nature is such that there is some bitterness in it.
👉🏼 Destiny (15)
🔸There are bitter realities in this world from which religion rescues a person to some extent. #Religion isn’t bitter. It’s life’s nature that there is some bitterness in it. God has mentioned this bitterness, “Certainly We have created man to be in distress.” [Qur’an 90:4]
🔸In Letter no. 31 in Nahj al-Balaghah, #ImamAli (as), addressed his young son and described 14 features of youthhood, mostly referring to the bitterness of life. “[This letter is] from a mortal father… to a son who yearns for that which will not be achieved, is treading the path of those who have gone, is subject to ailments, is caught up in the days, is a target of hardships…”
🔸Religion tells a person, “Give me your hand so that I may release you from these #hardships a little and cause your bitterness to be #fruitful. Now that you pray, when you tolerate your problems and hardships, you will gain light. Even if you weren’t praying, you would have had to tolerate hardships but without gaining any light.
🔸Paying attention to this fact that God is #testing us is very useful for a person’s spirit. It doesn’t let a person become weighed down by useless and superfluous happiness, sorrows, fears, and anxieties. It removes grudges from a person’s heart and brings comfort. It also corrects a person’s relationship with God and eliminates arrogance. Of course, it also causes a person to become fearful and anxious with respect to God a little. But afterwards, affection is created in a person’s heart and he becomes dependent on God. This is because he now understands he isn’t so independent. Thus, he will supplicate and rely on God even more.
🔸Whoever fears being tested should follow this advice of Imam Ali (as), “If you fear something, throw yourself into it, because your fear is greater than the action itself.” [Nahj al-Balaghah, wisdom no. 175] After starting that action, you will see it wasn’t as frightening as you had thought. Once you have entered into the middle of a test, you will feel relieved.
#AliRezaPanahian
#Most_Determining_Factor
#Destiny
âś… @PanahianEN
🔻 Life’s nature is such that there is some bitterness in it.
👉🏼 Destiny (15)
🔸There are bitter realities in this world from which religion rescues a person to some extent. #Religion isn’t bitter. It’s life’s nature that there is some bitterness in it. God has mentioned this bitterness, “Certainly We have created man to be in distress.” [Qur’an 90:4]
🔸In Letter no. 31 in Nahj al-Balaghah, #ImamAli (as), addressed his young son and described 14 features of youthhood, mostly referring to the bitterness of life. “[This letter is] from a mortal father… to a son who yearns for that which will not be achieved, is treading the path of those who have gone, is subject to ailments, is caught up in the days, is a target of hardships…”
🔸Religion tells a person, “Give me your hand so that I may release you from these #hardships a little and cause your bitterness to be #fruitful. Now that you pray, when you tolerate your problems and hardships, you will gain light. Even if you weren’t praying, you would have had to tolerate hardships but without gaining any light.
🔸Paying attention to this fact that God is #testing us is very useful for a person’s spirit. It doesn’t let a person become weighed down by useless and superfluous happiness, sorrows, fears, and anxieties. It removes grudges from a person’s heart and brings comfort. It also corrects a person’s relationship with God and eliminates arrogance. Of course, it also causes a person to become fearful and anxious with respect to God a little. But afterwards, affection is created in a person’s heart and he becomes dependent on God. This is because he now understands he isn’t so independent. Thus, he will supplicate and rely on God even more.
🔸Whoever fears being tested should follow this advice of Imam Ali (as), “If you fear something, throw yourself into it, because your fear is greater than the action itself.” [Nahj al-Balaghah, wisdom no. 175] After starting that action, you will see it wasn’t as frightening as you had thought. Once you have entered into the middle of a test, you will feel relieved.
#AliRezaPanahian
#Most_Determining_Factor
#Destiny
âś… @PanahianEN
🔻Religion doesn’t allow us to mesmerize people with propaganda to lead them to God.
🔻God doesn’t even permit us to speak the truth in a way that deprives people of the power of choice.
👉🏼 Destiny (16)
🔸Religion doesn’t allow us to fool people with great amounts of propaganda in order to lead them to God. God told the Prophet (s), “[O Prophet!] If their turning away is hard on you, seek if you can, a tunnel into the ground or a ladder into the sky by which you can bring them a sign. Had God willed, He would have gathered them to guidance. Do not then be among the ignorant.” [Qur’an 6:35]
🔸We are not allowed to use mesmerizing, religious propaganda to push people to submit to God. And no one should be waiting for a movie to captivate him to take him to God. But if the devil wants to attract someone, he mesmerizes him using false adornments and any or all propaganda methods to fool him and remove his power of choice. But God doesn’t even permit us to speak the truth in a way that deprives people of the power of choice.
🔸In propagating religion, we must say both the bitter and sweet truths. Both eagerness and fear must come together. Although we know people hate fear, we can’t just speak of love and being enthusiastic.
🔸At the same time, even in the best schools of science and religion, the possibility of educating the most dangerous people can’t be eliminated. This is the system that God has designed. A correct educational system is not one where everyone comes out being good. It is a system where both people like Malik Ashtar are trained and people like Shemr ibn Dhi al-Jawshan appear. This is the system of Imam Ali (as).
🔸Even today we see people who consider themselves to be modern intellectuals and claim, “Nothing was revealed to the Prophet (s) [God forbid]. He lied, or it was all a dream.” Some such people come from the most religious schools.
🔸It is very complex and not easy to judge which program is right. We must not have a shallow outlook when writing legislation, preventing oppression and creating order. We must keep in mind that tests and the testing system govern human destiny.
#Most_Determining_Factor
#Destiny
âś… @PanahianEN
🔻God doesn’t even permit us to speak the truth in a way that deprives people of the power of choice.
👉🏼 Destiny (16)
🔸Religion doesn’t allow us to fool people with great amounts of propaganda in order to lead them to God. God told the Prophet (s), “[O Prophet!] If their turning away is hard on you, seek if you can, a tunnel into the ground or a ladder into the sky by which you can bring them a sign. Had God willed, He would have gathered them to guidance. Do not then be among the ignorant.” [Qur’an 6:35]
🔸We are not allowed to use mesmerizing, religious propaganda to push people to submit to God. And no one should be waiting for a movie to captivate him to take him to God. But if the devil wants to attract someone, he mesmerizes him using false adornments and any or all propaganda methods to fool him and remove his power of choice. But God doesn’t even permit us to speak the truth in a way that deprives people of the power of choice.
🔸In propagating religion, we must say both the bitter and sweet truths. Both eagerness and fear must come together. Although we know people hate fear, we can’t just speak of love and being enthusiastic.
🔸At the same time, even in the best schools of science and religion, the possibility of educating the most dangerous people can’t be eliminated. This is the system that God has designed. A correct educational system is not one where everyone comes out being good. It is a system where both people like Malik Ashtar are trained and people like Shemr ibn Dhi al-Jawshan appear. This is the system of Imam Ali (as).
🔸Even today we see people who consider themselves to be modern intellectuals and claim, “Nothing was revealed to the Prophet (s) [God forbid]. He lied, or it was all a dream.” Some such people come from the most religious schools.
🔸It is very complex and not easy to judge which program is right. We must not have a shallow outlook when writing legislation, preventing oppression and creating order. We must keep in mind that tests and the testing system govern human destiny.
#Most_Determining_Factor
#Destiny
âś… @PanahianEN