Rafed English

Adherence to God and Freedom

Adopted from the book : "Freedom; The Unstated Facts and Points" by : "Ayatullah Misbah Yazdi"

Again, in relation to the fact that the essence of the prophets’ mission to the obedience to and worship of God and non-adherence to the t?a-ghu-t, God says:

“And verily We have raised in every nation a messenger, (proclaiming): Serve Allah and shun false gods.” 77

Given this explanation, it cannot be accepted that the edifice of Islam is founded on disobedience to others including God. Essentially, any religion that does not call on us to obey God is a false one and the spirit of the mission of the prophets is absolute obedience to God, from Whom the entire world of being emanates, and Who is the Alpha and the Omega as well as the Real Master and Owner:

“Lo! We are Allah's and Lo! Unto Him we are returning.” 78

Now, once we recognized God as the Real Master and Owner of the entire world of being, how can it be accepted that He has no right to issue order and decree to us? Is ownership nothing but the fact that the owner can expropriate what he owned in whatever manner he likes? It is unacceptable that we claim to have accepted Islam but made ourselves free from the requisite of servitude to God, for this absolute freedom is not only condemnable from the religious viewpoint but the intellect cannot accept it as well.

Islam and religion are the harbingers of freedom, but it is the freedom and deliverance from the worship of and obedience to other than God and t?a-ghu-ts, and not deliverance from obedience to God. Albeit man has been created free and autonomous, he is religiously and legally duty-bound to obey God. That is to say that out of his freewill he has to obey God. Essentially, in the realm of creation the seal of servitude and servanthood has been put on every phenomenon. Intrinsically, no being has existed without the sign of servitude to God, and the existence of every being exactly means servitude to Him:

“The seven heavens and the earth and all that is therein praise Him, and there is not a thing but hymneth his praise; but ye understand not their praise.” 79

In relation to the servitude and worship of the creatures, God also says:

“Hast thou not seen that Allah, He it is Whom all who are in the heavens and the earth praise; and the birds in their flight? Of each He knoweth verily the worship and the praise.” 80

Yet, on account of his possession of wisdom and intellect, man has been created free and autonomous. Although God, the Exalted, has showed him the path of guidance and the way of deviation, he is free to choose which path to tread. As what God Almighty has said:

“Lo! We have shown him the way,whether he be grateful or disbelieving.” 81

Nevertheless, he has to take into account the purpose and goal behind his creation. He has to know that he ought to engage in serving and obeying God and that the religious law of God does not permit him to tread the path of obedience to the Satan and servitude to other than God. Instead, he has to shoulder the servitude and divine responsibility, for God has created him for such a purpose:

“I created the jinn and humankind only that they might worship Me.” 82

Now, in view of the fact that worshipping God is harmonious with the system of creation and universe, shouldering the divine responsibility and performance of one’s responsibility and duty to Him is actually a gesture of gratitude and thankfulness to the Merciful Creator Who endowed us with life and through His grace and favor He granted us with health and innumerable blessings. As God has said through the tongue of Hadrat Ibra-hi-m (Prophet Abraham) (‘a):

“(He is the Lord of the worlds) Who created me, and He doth guide me, and Who feedeth me and watereth me. And when I sicken, then He healeth me, and Who causeth me to die, the giveth me life (again).” 83

How could we refuse to adhere to Him? Is it not far from justice and fairness that we say that the modern man is not subservient to duty and obedience and is in pursuit of his rights? Does Islam accept this logic? Without doubt, such a thinking is devoid of rationality and far from humanity, let alone having Islamic basis.

Notes :

77. Su-rah an-Nahl 16:36.

78. Su-rah al-Baqarah 2:156.

79. Su-rah al-Isra-’ 17:44.

80. Su-rah an-Nu-r 24:41.

81. Su-rah al-Insa-n (or, ad-Dahr) 76:3.

82. Su-rah adh-Dha-riya-t 51:56.

83. Su-rah ash-Shu‘ara-’ 26:78-81.

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