الحمد لله نحمده ونستعينة ونستغفره، ونعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا، ومن سيئات أعمالنا ، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له ، وأشهد أن سيدنا محمداً عبده ورسوله ، اللهم صلِّ وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى آله وأصحابه  ومن تبعه إلى يوم الدين

Last week I gave a talk entitled: “The Most Valuable Blessing, Yet the Least Appreciated.”. I am going to emphasize few points from last week’s talk and add an additional key point which I will call “Allah’s Equation” or “the God Equation”.

I am using the title “Allah’s Equation” instead of “Allah’s Law “because the term equation was used by my friend Dr. Radwan El-Atrash who is Professor in the Quran and Sunnah Department at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) when I discussed with him my talk of last week. Most of you know him, because he visited us three years ago and he was the Ph.D advisor for Sheikh Mukhtar Blem.  

In any case, when I am talking about “The God Equation” I am not talking about “The God Equation” that was coined by Dr. Michio Kaku for his book “The God Equation” that addresses the quest for developing the theory of everything. Dr. Michio Kaku is a professor of theoretical physics in the City College of New York.

In last week’s talk, I discussed that expressing gratitude to Allah is not by merely uttering the verbal statement Alhamdulillah (ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ), but it is an action-based activities as Allah says in Surah Sabaa:

اعْمَلُوا آلَ دَاوُدَ شُكْرًا

“O family of David, work for expressing thanks.” (Sabaa 34:13)

I also presented the case to show that the most important blessing that Allah granted to any human being is the Quran and presented several verses in the Quran affirming that without the Quran people will live headless in this life.

Without the Quran, man loses his humanity and becomes like animals, and this is why parts of the Quran was revealed to all past messengers.

يَتَمَتَّعُونَ وَيَأۡكُلُونَ كَمَا تَأۡكُلُ ٱلۡأَنۡعَـٰمُ وَٱلنَّارُ مَثۡوً۬ى لَّهُمۡ (١٢)

“They enjoy themselves and eat as cattle eat, and the Fire will be their final abode.” (Muhammad 47:12)

Without the Quran, man loses the real function of all his senses and will be walking dead, his physical body will be like the grave of a dead soul

لَهُمۡ قُلُوبٌ۬ لَّا يَفۡقَهُونَ بِہَا وَلَهُمۡ أَعۡيُنٌ۬ لَّا يُبۡصِرُونَ بِہَا وَلَهُمۡ ءَاذَانٌ۬ لَّا يَسۡمَعُونَ بِہَآ‌ۚ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ كَٱلۡأَنۡعَـٰمِ بَلۡ هُمۡ أَضَلُّ‌ۚ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡغَـٰفِلُونَ (١٧٩)

“They have hearts wherewith they do not understand, and they have eyes wherewith they do not see, and they have ears wherewith they do not hear. They are like cattle, nay but they are worst. They are the heedless. (Al-Araf 7:179)

Without the Quran, man will be walking like a drunkard, stumbling on his face because he cannot stay upright or walk straight. 

أَفَمَن يَمۡشِى مُكِبًّا عَلَىٰ وَجۡهِهِۦۤ أَهۡدَىٰٓ أَمَّن يَمۡشِى سَوِيًّا عَلَىٰ صِرَٲطٍ۬ مُّسۡتَقِيمٍ۬ (٢٢

“Is the one who walks and keep falling down on his face more rightly guided, or the one who walks upright on a straight path?” (Al-Mulk 67:22)

Without the Quran all the blessings that people have will be a curse for them:

فَلَا تُعۡجِبۡكَ أَمۡوَٲلُهُمۡ وَلَآ أَوۡلَـٰدُهُمۡ‌ۚ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيُعَذِّبَہُم بِہَا فِى ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا (٥٥)

 “So do not let their wealth and their children attract you. In fact, Allah intends to punish them with these in this worldly life.” (Tawba 9:55)

Without the Quran, nothing of what man does of good in this life will be worth anything to Allah on the day of Judgement:

وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ فَتَعۡسً۬ا لَّهُمۡ وَأَضَلَّ أَعۡمَـٰلَهُمۡ (٨) ذَٲلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمۡ كَرِهُواْ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ فَأَحۡبَطَ أَعۡمَـٰلَهُمۡ

“And for those who disbelieve, (destined) for them is destruction, and He has rendered their deeds vain. (8) That is because they hate what Allah has sent down, therefore Allah has nullified their deeds.” (Mohammad 47:8-9)

In last week’s talk, I also presented several verses to show that the Quran is the only guide and source on enlightenment for man.

It is only the Quran that can lead people from the darkness to the true Light.  

ڪِتَـٰبٌ أَنزَلۡنَـٰهُ إِلَيۡكَ لِتُخۡرِجَ ٱلنَّاسَ مِنَ ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ (١)

“Alif-Lam-Ra. This is a Book that We have sent down to you in order that you lead mankind out of darkness into light.” (Ibrahim 14:1)

Only the Quran can bring life to this dead body by infusing in it a living Ruh (spirit) and serving as the light that guides man to the right path:

أَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ رُوحً۬ا مِّنۡ أَمۡرِنَا‌ۚ مَا كُنتَ تَدۡرِى مَا ٱلۡكِتَـٰبُ وَلَا ٱلۡإِيمَـٰنُ وَلَـٰكِن جَعَلۡنَـٰهُ نُورً۬ا نَّہۡدِى بِهِۦ مَن نَّشَآءُ مِنۡ عِبَادِنَا‌ۚ وَإِنَّكَ لَتَہۡدِىٓ إِلَىٰ صِرَٲطٍ۬ مُّسۡتَقِيمٍ۬ (سُوۡرَةُ الشّوریٰ(

“And thus, We have revealed to you a Spirit from Our command. You did not earlier what was the Scripture or what was Iman (Faith). But We have made it (the Quran) a light with which We guide whom We will of Our servants. And indeed, you are guiding to a straight path.” (Ash-Shura 42:52)

It is the Quran that guides man to what is best for him and the easiest to ensure success

إِنَّ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ يَہۡدِى لِلَّتِى هِىَ أَقۡوَمُ (٩)

“Surely, this Qur’an guides unto that which is straightest.”  (Al-Isra 17:9)

The Quran does not only provide guidance but also provides the light to guidance so there will be no confusion about it.

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلنَّاسُ قَدۡ جَآءَكُم بُرۡهَـٰنٌ۬ مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡ وَأَنزَلۡنَآ إِلَيۡكُمۡ نُورً۬ا مُّبِينً۬ا (١٧٤)

“O mankind! A proof has come to you from your Lord, and We have sent down to you a clear light.” (Al-Nisa 4:174)

The Quran does not only offer guidance, but it also includes the divine treatment for all the spiritual diseases,

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلنَّاسُ قَدۡ جَآءَتۡكُم مَّوۡعِظَةٌ۬ مِّن رَّبِّڪُمۡ وَشِفَآءٌ۬ لِّمَا فِى ٱلصُّدُورِ وَهُدً۬ى وَرَحۡمَةٌ۬ لِّلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ (٥٧

 “O mankind! There has come to you an advice from your Lord (the Qur’an), and a cure for the diseased of your hearts, a guidance and a mercy) for the believers.” (Yunus 10:57)

If we, as Muslims, truly believe that the Quran has all these benefits and even more, wouldn’t we really want to share it with all whom we love of our fellow citizens who are our friends, neighbors, co-workers and business partners and service providers because we want for them the best in this life and in the hereafter.  What is preventing us from setting a serious plan to deliver the Quran to everyone.  Shouldn’t this be our major responsibility! 

The Prophet (PBUH) is our role model, and this was his main responsibility.  Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) lived in Arabia for 40 years as normal man thought he was well respected, intelligent and honorable but only after he was selected by Allah to deliver His final message, the Quran, to mankind, he (PBUH) became the best of creation.    

We have been living here for many years as normal people, yes, we are respected by our friends and colleagues as honorable and intelligent.  But if we follow the footsteps of the Prophet (PBUH) and serve as messengers of the Quran to all the people, we will become the best people.  All the promises that Allah made to the Prophet to protect him and make him successful, they will be promises for us.

Allah’s Equation

Let me now introduce a key equation that we can call Allah’s equation or “The God Equation:  This equation is so important because it answers the most perplexing question:

Why the early Muslims despite their lack of numbers and resources were able in less than 50 years from the first revelations to form the greatest empire and develop the most advanced civilization in the world while Muslims now have huge human and natural resources, but they have no impact or influence. 

Since we have no control over the rest of the Muslim world, we can ask why Muslims in America who have been here more than 50 years still have no impact or influence and how can we change our situation?

Allah has set in the Quran a key equation that answers this question, Allah says:

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِن تَنصُرُواْ ٱللَّهَ يَنصُرۡكُمۡ وَيُثَبِّتۡ أَقۡدَامَكُمۡ (٧)

“O you who believe! If you support Allah, He will support you and will make your foothold firm.” (Muhammad 47:7)

The divine equation is simple: Our Support of Allah = Allah supports us

If we want Allah to support us, we should support Him. If we don’t support Allah, Allah will leave us to our own demise, and we should not expect His support.

This may raise the question: what kind of support Allah is expecting form us? To answer this question, we need to look in the Quran to identify the kind of support that Allah is expecting from us. When we do, we find the following verse in Surat Al-Hadeed:

لَقَدۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا رُسُلَنَا بِٱلۡبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَأَنزَلۡنَا مَعَهُمُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلۡمِيزَانَ لِيَقُومَ ٱلنَّاسُ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ‌ۖ وَأَنزَلۡنَا ٱلۡحَدِيدَ فِيهِ بَأۡسٌ۬ شَدِيدٌ۬ وَمَنَـٰفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَلِيَعۡلَمَ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُ ۥ وَرُسُلَهُ ۥ بِٱلۡغَيۡبِ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَوِىٌّ عَزِيزٌ۬ (لحديد)

“Indeed, We have sent Our Messengers with clear proofs and we sent down with them the Book and the Balance (justice) that mankind stand up for justice. And We sent down the iron wherein is mighty power, as well as many benefits for mankind, that Allah may test who supports Him and His Messengers in the unseen. Indeed, Allah is All-Strong, All-Mighty.” (Al-Hadeed 57:25)

Allah send the messengers for two purposes: 

1. Deliver Allah’s message (the Book) to mankind.
2. Establish absolute justice according to the divine commands.

Supporting Allah requires us to continue the role of His last messenger Mohammad (PBUH) by delivering the Quran to all mankind and establishing justice. We cannot promote justice if we are weak and not in a position of leadership.  Therefore, we need to start with the first responsibility which is delivering Allah final message, the Quran.  If we succeed, Allah will support us to place our honor and respect in the heart of people and thus we will gain sufficient influence to promote true justice.

We should never be afraid from taking this responsibility of being messengers of Allah in delivering His message, the Quran, because Allah will be our protector as He was the protector of His Messenger, Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), Allah says:

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلرَّسُولُ بَلِّغۡ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ‌ۖ وَإِن لَّمۡ تَفۡعَلۡ فَمَا بَلَّغۡتَ رِسَالَتَهُ ۥ‌ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَعۡصِمُكَ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ‌ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَہۡدِى ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ (٦٧)

“O Messenger convey (the Message) which has been sent down to you from your Lord. And if you do not, then you have not conveyed His Message. Allah will protect you from mankind. Verily, Allah does not guide those who disbelieve.” (Al-Maeda 5:67)

But we must be careful and deliver the message of Allah pure as He revealed it, no additions or subtractions, otherwise the following divine warning will befall us:

تَنزِيلٌ۬ مِّن رَّبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ (٤٣) وَلَوۡ تَقَوَّلَ عَلَيۡنَا بَعۡضَ ٱلۡأَقَاوِيلِ (٤٤) لَأَخَذۡنَا مِنۡهُ بِٱلۡيَمِينِ (٤٥) ثُمَّ لَقَطَعۡنَا مِنۡهُ ٱلۡوَتِينَ (٤٦) فَمَا مِنكُم مِّنۡ أَحَدٍ عَنۡهُ حَـٰجِزِينَ (٤٧) وَإِنَّهُ ۥ لَتَذۡكِرَةٌ۬ لِّلۡمُتَّقِينَ (٤٨)

“It is (The Quran) the Revelation sent down from the Lord of the worlds. (43) And had he forged some sayings in Our name, (44) We would have certainly seized him by the right hand, (45) And then we would have certainly cut off his life artery, (46) And none of you could have saved him from it. (47) And verily, this is a Reminder for the pious. “ (Al-Haqqa 69:43-48)

There is an even important form of divine support that we may overlook but we have a lot of examples from the success of early Muslims. Some of those people to whom we will deliver the Quran, may become better and more influential than us and be able to spread the Quran even further and establish justice more.

This happened to the early Muslims, many of those people to whom early Muslims transmitted the Quran became more influential and provided more contributions to the Islamic civilization.   Ibn Khuldun says this interesting fact in his book “Al-Muqaddimah”, “The vast majority of the Islamic scholars are non-Arabs be it in the core sciences or the supporting sciences, except in very rare cases. Even, if you find among the scholars some who are Arab in lineage, they will usually be non-Arabs in terms of their language, upbringing, or teachers they took from”.

We have recent examples on the effect of the Quran on the worst Islamophobes.  A recent example is Joram van Klaveren who was a far-right politician in the Netherlands parliament.  He made his fame and political mission to rid his country of Islam.  He started working on an anti-Islam book but converted to Islam and became one of the strongest voices in support of Islam in Europe.

I’ll stop here because I want to leave some time to engage you in a brainstorming session on: How best to deliver the greatest blessing, the Quran, to our Fellow Citizens?

But I’ll finish with the Dua fist and stop the recording and then we will start the brainstorming session

We pray to Allah to grant us the wisdom to appreciate the Quran as the greatest blessing and to guide us to develop the best strategy to deliver this greatest blessing, the Quran to all our fellow citizens.

DUA