[As Salaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakatuh to Believing Muslim Friends. This is a very Sacred Chapter of Notes of mine that I will share with Believing Muslim Friends.]
Not everyone that is trying to give testimony about Allah (swt) or Al-Islam is necessarily trying to control or lead people. They might just be trying to function as in a Shura or Forum. I don't remember Allah (or read/proclaim) to lead others, but seek help from Allah for myself, or to be within the function of forum contribution (Shura). My blog post on why I remember, proclaim, testify, or give testimony about Allah, His Names, and His Verses. Nabi Muhammad (saws) is the leader.
Many people are accustomed to the concept of one person being a leader, and not a Consultation (Forum) or Shura. If the leader has a lot of questions then they will ask the advice of advisors or consuls. But, if the person is deemed incompetent it would seem fair that the Shura or Consuls should lead. I love how Islam opens ourselves into understanding the Wisdom in using a group or Shura as opposed to only using one person. Many people (each of whom have obtained expertise in a particular field of study) is Superior to one person trying to learn and know many different fields of study. Just like in the construction trades on a construction site.
What are the advantages of dhikring Allah; or giving testimony about Allah's Ayats? The main ones I have highlighted in red.
Surahtul Jumuah
[62:10]
And when the prayer is ended, then disperse in the land and seek of Allah’s bounty, and remember Allah much, that ye may be successful.
Surahtul Anfali
[8:45]
O ye who believe! When ye meet a force, be firm, and call God in remembrance much (and often); that ye may prosper:
[In this ayah the force could be circumstances, natural occurrences such as rain, snow, etc., competition in business, equipment failure, equipment loss, animals, insects, etc. but may not always constitute a battle situation.]
Surahtul Shura - Shura - Consultation; Forum; Consuls; Advisors; Consultation with one another; Group which shares information between themselves.
Surahtul Iqra
[96:3]
Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful,-
Surahtul Asr
[103:1]
By (the Token of) Time (through the ages),
[103:2]
Verily Man is in loss,
[103:3]
Except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy.
Surahtul Qalam
[68:1]
Nun. By the Pen and the (Record) which (men) write,-
[68:2]
Thou art not, by the Grace of thy Lord, mad or possessed.
[68:3]
Nay, verily for thee is a Reward unfailing:
[68:4]
And thou (standest) on an exalted standard of character.
[68:5]
Soon wilt thou see, and they will see,
[68:6]
Which of you is afflicted with madness.
Surahtul Maidah Ayat 66-69
[5:66]
If only they had stood fast by the Law, the Gospel, and all the revelation that was sent to them from their Lord, they would have enjoyed happiness from every side. There is from among them a party on the right course: but many of them follow a course that is evil.
[5:67]
O Messenger. proclaim the (message) which hath been sent to thee from thy Lord. If thou didst not, thou wouldst not have fulfilled and proclaimed His mission. And Allah will defend thee from men (who mean mischief). For Allah guideth not those who reject Faith.
[5:68]
Say: "O People of the Book! ye have no ground to stand upon unless ye stand fast by the Law, the Gospel, and all the revelation that has come to you from your Lord." It is the revelation that cometh to thee from thy Lord, that increaseth in most of them their obstinate rebellion and blasphemy. But sorrow thou not over (these) people without Faith.
[5:69]
Those who believe (in the Qur’an), those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Sabians and the Christians,- any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness,- on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.
Surahtul Nisa Ayat 85 and Power of Suggestions
[4:85]
Whoever recommends and helps a good cause becomes a partner therein: And whoever recommends and helps an evil cause, shares in its burden: And God hath power over all things.
Gospel (or Injeel) of the Messiah related by Matthew
Matthew 13:52 NLT
52 Then he added, "Every teacher of religious law who has become a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a person who brings out of the storehouse the new teachings as well as the old."
Matthew 13:12 NLT
12 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.
HQ 2:140
Or do ye say that Abraham, Ismail Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes were Jews or Christians? Say: Do ye know better than God. Ah! who is more unjust than those who conceal the testimony they have from God. but God is not unmindful of what ye do!
HQ 2:159
Those who conceal the clear (Signs) We have sent down, and the Guidance, after We have made it clear for the people in the Book,-on them shall be God’s curse, and the curse of those entitled to curse,-
HQ 2:160
Except those who repent and make amends and openly declare (the Truth): To them I turn; for I am Oft-returning, Most Merciful.
Malachi 2
1 “Listen, you priests—this command is for you! 2 Listen to me and take it to heart. "Honor my name,” says the Lord Almighty, “or I will bring a terrible curse against you. I will curse even the blessings you receive. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you have not taken my warning seriously. 3 I will rebuke your descendants and splatter your faces with the manure from your festival sacrifices, and I will throw you in the manure pile. 4 Then at last you will know it was I who sent you this warning so that my covenant with the Levites can continue,” says the Lord Almighty.
5 “The purpose of my covenant with the Levites was to bring life and peace, and that is what I gave them. This called for reverence from them, and they greatly revered me and stood in awe of my name. 6 They passed on to the people the truth of the instructions they received from me. They did not lie or cheat; they walked with me, living good and righteous lives, and they turned many from lives of sin. 7 “The priest’s lips should guard knowledge of God, and people should go to him for instruction, for the priests are messengers of the Lord Almighty. 8 But you priests have left God’s paths. Your instructions have caused many to stumble into sin. You have corrupted the covenant I made with the Levites,” says the Lord Almighty. 9 “So I have made you despised and humiliated in the eyes of all the people. For you have not obeyed me but have shown partiality in your interpretation of the laws.”
10 Are we not all children of the same Father (Adam)? Are we not all created by the same God? Then why do we betray each other, violating the covenant of our ancestors?
[Although, I, and many of us, don't claim to be Priests or Imams (if I have led it is because of Allah (swt) and Nabi Muhammed (saws)), but, reading and/or testimony about Allah (swt) is still a powerful means by which the worshiper can effect powerful change in their lives (by the Grace and Favor of Allah). This blog post is for the purpose of pointing out those powerful virtues for reading and/or giving testimony about Allah. From Bounties; to Time; to Release from Madness and Possession; to Reward Unfailing and an Exalted Standard of Character; to Happiness from Every Side; to Defense by Allah (swt) against those that mean you mischief and evil; to Having Solid Ground to Stand Upon; to Release from Fears and Grievances; to Sharing in the Good Cause of Faith in Allah (swt); and more virtues were listed here for you to give more in depth reflection. Also Allah (swt) mentions in the graphic below that the dhikr (remembrance, reminders) is a summons to Him (swt) to move a force that might be obstructing you in the day. It does not necessarily have to be a military expedition. It could be unseen forces; bad fortunes; bad luck; something eclipsing productivity; something eclipsing happiness; or freedom; etc. It is through serving and regarding Allah (swt) that treasure can be stored in the Heavens as Provisions Promised by Him (swt). Also, because testification is a Pillar of Faith.]
If any of these graphics are illegible, then please click them to enlarge. Jazakum Allahu Khayran.
