How do we know Allah’s will?
By being quiet and listening. Learn to look for and see Allah’s answers. When a possible message or answer is perceived or received, we then need to ascertain that it is true and correct. We look for confirmation within and without. If the message comes from within, as in a dream, we look for outer confirmation from a friend, colleague or book. If it comes from a friend, or book, then we wait for confirmation from within as a dream, or hearing the heart clearly.
Is surrender acceptance of reality as it is and if so what’s the role for those who want to change reality, i.e. reduce suffering and increase justice?
It is important to understand that everything that happens does so on multiple levels. What you perceive in an action is, at best, only one seventh of the actual event. If it is a natural disaster, there may be many obvious causes. If a tornado wipes out a village, you can track down the wind velocities, and see the low pressure areas in motion. Allah through nature is responsible, and the causes are sometimes more obvious, and then again, maybe not. Perhaps Allah wanted to cleanse an area, or provide the soil with needed nutrients for a future time. There may reasons that may never be revealed why Allah does an action, but you can be sure it is not vindictive, meaningless, or random. Allah’s mercy and compassion are everywhere.
When it is a human action, like a coup, war, or bombing, then it is humans who are responsible, not Allah. Since Allah has provided us with the ability to make choices, then it is we are responsible for our actions, and therefore accountable for them.
Trying to change the world before you change yourself will only lead to an inner sabotage, and will pollute the intention to change the world with your own pride, arrogance, and “righteousness”. True and lasting change only happens when you are clean enough within to hear your heart. One cannot predict what Allah’s direction will be. Should Allah decide that you are to march to Washington to protest water poisoning, then that is Allah’s message to you. A good sufi delivers the message without expectation and without attachment. It is Allah’s will that is to be done. It is too easy to become attached to the message or the messenger. This would only infect the “cause” with the self, and destroy it. As with the UPS, the message is delivered, and that’s that. You will know if you are chosen to lead others, or participate in a march. Until that time, it is much more efficient and better to prepare and to purify yourself and work on clearing out the pride. This is Allah’s world, and though we are responsible for our actions, in sufism we try to act with our heart in all humility and modesty. The best kind of change comes from within.
That which is in our power is the ability to become the best human being we can ( with Allah’s help), and that is a cause that needs to be championed above all others. Sufis believe that a group of individuals who are good examples to others can teach and change more people and bring about more justice than a thousand marches into Washington.
What hap
Salaam Alaykum, murids, seekers, curious and interested listeners,
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