A post about intrigue and choosing our words carefully……
I have always believed that God is Spirit and that as Spirit He is above and below us, all around us, and everywhere else. I’ve always believed that there is nowhere we can go to escape God. The Koran proves this in Sura 58. It says in verse 7,
“Do you not see that God knows whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth? Nowhere is there secret counsel between three persons but He is the fourth of them…”
Think how much more carefully we would speak to one another knowing that God is there with us listening to our every word. We might not be so quick to speak words of hatred or to gossip about others knowing that He is listening to us. And He is! Listening to every word we say good or bad! God is in fact above and below us, all around us, and even in the midst of us as we converse with others or even speak silently to ourselves. He hears everything we say and knows our every thought. This is why the true Muslim must be self disciplined and one way of achieving that in great measure is coming to the realization that God is there listening to every word we speak even in secret. Words have meaning and words have power. We should choose our words carefully and with forethought and not speak hastily or without thinking. God is listening! Remember that always!
Something else that comes to mind in reading the 58th Sura this morning is verse 10 which speaks against intrigue. Intrigue is the work of Satan (the Arabic name for him is “Shaitan”). The Bible says that God is not the author of confusion so these two bits of wisdom and truth go hand in hand together. God is not the author of confusion but Satan is the author of confusion and intrigue comes not from God but from Satan. Intrigue, confusion, deception, egotism, greed….these are the traits of Satan not God. Whenever we see them we should realize them for what they are (being of Satan not God) and avoid these things in our own lives. Shaitan uses these things NOT for our benefit but against us to destroy us! He uses them in order to cause us to grieve in our own hearts and minds. Nothing good comes from Shaitan. As true believers we should never engage in deception, intrigue, or seek to create confusion. We should avoid being arrogant and egotistical and we certainly should not be greedy! True believers in God work to be honorable men and women. They work to be honest and to be clear. They do not gossip about others and they speak carefully thinking before they speak because they know God is listening and present among them.
Granted there are some believers who try to create confusion and some employ even deception. Such people tend to be greedy and very arrogant. These people are not true believers at all because if they were they would not being acting like this as they would no that such things are sins (errors against God). They say that “actions speak louder than words” and indeed they do. The Bible says “you shall know them by their fruits” and indeed this is so. Do not be deceived by slick words or empty promises! Do not let the arrogance and egotism or these people intimidate you in your faith. Do not let their wealth make you fearful as their wealth will not save them in the end and God is on your side so you have nothing to fear! And stay away from intrigue and confusion because they really are the work of Shaitan and not Allah.
True Muslims, true Christians, true Jews, all should strive to be HONORABLE men and women NOT dishonorable! Our word should be our bond because if our word is no good then that says a lot about us being dishonorable! We should not seek to engage in deception and we certainly should not be running to and fro trying to create confusion and creating intrigue. These are the works of the Evil One and God does not want us engaging in such things whatever our faith. Honorable people are people of integrity and dignity. They are not stuck on themselves. They are not greedy and they don’t go about doing the works of Satan. The speak with forethought and choose their words carefully because they are self disciplined in their actions, in their thoughts, and in their emotions. True believers are not lose canons! They don’t join the hype! They don’t get emotionally out of control. Not doing the works of Satan might seem difficult for you but consider this in all your waking hours…..
GOD IS WATCHING AND GOD IS LISTENING
TO YOUR EVERY WORD AND ACTION
BECAUSE HE IS RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDST OF YOU!!
Knowing that the Creator is right here in our midst listening and watching us tends to make us control our actions and our thoughts in ways you cannot imagine.
Salaam
azurshah 