In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Art for the Soul
[91:7] The soul and Him who created it.
[91:8] Then showed it what is evil and what is good.
[91:9] Successful is one who redeems it.
[91:10] Failing is one who neglects it.
Throughout the journey on earth, believers and submitters know they must work constantly on their souls to be redeemed and to achieve higher ranks. The Most Gracious has provided them with all that would help purifying, beautifying and growing their souls to eventually earn the eternal bliss of Paradise and righteously compete to be among the closest to God.
[90:4] We created the human being to work hard (to redeem himself).
[56:88] If he is one of those close to Me -
[56:89] then joy, flowers, and gardens of bliss.
[56:90] And if he is one of the right -
[56:91] peace is the lot of those on the right.
[56:10] Then there is the elite of the elite.
[56:11] They are those who will be closest (to God).
[56:12] In the gardens of bliss.
The valid means to do that (purify, beautify and grow believers' souls) are stated in Quran. In addition to that, God has warned enough all over Quran against disbelief, whether it is in the form of idol worship or hypocrisy, when all righteous deeds and efforts would be totally nullified (6:88, 39:65, 9:17, 3:21-22, 3:91, 4:18, 4:145). He also clearly warned against the illusion of thinking to be on the straight path while Satan is in action in the background regressing the souls into the darkness of all ignorant practices (18:103-106, 35:8, 10:66). Therefore, Quran, the entire Quran, not just selected favorite chapters or verses, in its entire context, is indeed the manifest and legitimate manual for the sincere who wish to actively and objectively work hard on their souls.
[5:50] Is it the law of the days of ignorance that they seek to uphold? Whose law is better than God's for those who have attained certainty?
[18:27] You shall recite what is revealed to you of your Lord's scripture. Nothing shall abrogate His words, and you shall not find any other source beside it.
[6:51] And preach with this (Quran) to those who reverence the summoning before their Lord - they have none beside Him as a Lord and Master, nor an intercessor - that they may attain salvation.
[17:9] This Quran guides to the best path, and brings good news to the believers who lead a righteous life, that they have deserved a great recompense.
[6:70] You shall disregard those who take their religion in vain, as if it is a social function, and are totally absorbed in this worldly life. Remind with this (Quran), lest a soul may suffer the consequences of its evil earnings. It has none beside GOD as a Lord and Master, nor an intercessor. If it could offer any kind of ransom, it would not be accepted. They suffer the consequences of the evil works they earn; they have incurred hellish drinks, and a painful retribution because of their disbelief.
Believers who uphold Quran as the only infallible and ultimate source of guidance know that God has made our religion easy and doesn't impose any hardship on us. They are eager to prepare for the real life with God and they fully appreciate the art for healthy souls that is flawlessly and beautifully expressed and illustrated in truth and justice by God in Quran.
- Before, while and after enjoying any of God's countless blessings that He has created and committed for us, we are to remember Him, give Him full credit as the only Provider, commemorate His name and glorify Him to express our appreciation. Staying in contact with God through our appreciation is a strengthening formula and a source of joy for our souls that pays back; we earn God's love, support and more blessings to enjoy:
[14:7] Your Lord has decreed: "The more you thank Me, the more I give you." But if you turn unappreciative, then My retribution is severe.
[2:152] You shall remember Me, that I may remember you, and be thankful to Me; do not be unappreciative.
[30:17] Therefore, you shall glorify GOD when you retire at night, and when you rise in the morning.
[30:18] All praise is due to Him in the heavens and the earth, throughout the evening, as well as in the middle of your day.
[73:8] You shall commemorate the name of your Lord, to come ever closer and closer to Him.
[13:28] They are the ones whose hearts rejoice in remembering GOD. Absolutely, by remembering GOD, the hearts rejoice.
[20:130] Therefore, be patient in the face of their utterances, and praise and glorify your Lord before sunrise and before sunset. And during the night glorify Him, as well as at both ends of the day, that you may be happy.
- Reverencing God by living by His commands, ethics and righteousness standards detailed in Quran brings up guided and successful souls. Reverencing God at all times, brings prosperity for our souls as God consequently shines on us by His merciful guidance to strengthen out foothold and keep us guarded against evil.
[30:44] Whoever disbelieves, disbelieves to the detriment of his own soul, while those who lead a righteous life, do so to strengthen and develop their own souls.
[47:17] As for those who are guided, He augments their guidance, and grants them their righteousness.
[19:76] God augments the guidance of those who choose to be guided. For the good deeds are eternally rewarded by your Lord, and bring far better returns.
[3:102] O you who believe, you shall reverence GOD as He should be reverenced, and do not die except as Submitters.
[3:200] O you who believe, you shall be steadfast, you shall persevere, you shall be united, you shall reverence GOD, that you may succeed.
[5:35] O you who believe, you shall reverence GOD and seek the ways and means to Him, and strive in His cause, that you may succeed.
- Having the command of reciting Quran side by side with the commands of observing our Obligatory Practices only affirms how crucial to our salvation it is to read and meditate with Quran. This is falling in place with how it is healing, mercy, beacon, and guidance, and how it provides us with the details of everything we need to progress on God's straight path. We have to know it, study it, reflect on it to live by it and grow & evolve around it. Reciting Quran, everyday, makes us achieve that right balance of growing in spirituality while righteously and graciously dealing with our daily routine, our needs, our goals and our hopes.. It makes us in constant touch with the basics as well as the details of our religion to pursue real contentment and judge all matters based on the light of Quran:
[2:189] They ask you about the phases of the moon! Say, "They provide a timing device for the people, and determine the time of Hajj." It is not righteous to beat around the bush; righteousness is attained by upholding the commandments and by being straightforward. You shall reverence GOD, that you may succeed.
[29:45] You shall recite what is revealed to you of the scripture, and observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), for the Contact Prayers prohibit evil and vice. But the remembrance of GOD (through Salat) is the most important objective. GOD knows everything you do.
[35:29] Surely, those who recite the book of GOD, observe the Contact Prayers and from our provisions to them they spend - secretly and publicly - are engaged in an investment that never loses.
[17:78] You shall observe the Contact Prayer(Salat) when the sun declines from its highest point at noon, as it moves towards sunset. You shall also observe (the recitation of) the Quran at dawn. (Reciting) the Quran at dawn is witnessed.
[17:79] And during the night, you shall meditate with it for extra credit, that your Lord may raise you to an honorable rank.
[9:71] The believing men and women are allies of one another. They advocate righteousness and forbid evil, they observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat), and they obey GOD and His messenger. These will be showered by GOD's mercy. GOD is Almighty, Most Wise.
- The everyday struggle to maintain a righteous life is mercifully watched and appreciated by the Most Merciful. He has blessed the sincere believers by opening the doors of repentance wide open for them. They ask Him for forgiveness, repent for their sins and reform, and they will find Him the Most Merciful, the Forgiver. This is a divine promise for believers and a vital blessing for a continuous soul purification and growth:
[50:31] Paradise will be offered to the righteous, readily.
[50:32] This is what was promised to every repenter, steadfast.
[25:70] Exempted are those who repent, believe, and lead a righteous life. GOD transforms their sins into credits. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
[25:71] Those who repent and lead a righteous life, GOD redeems them; a complete redemption.
[110:3] You shall glorify and praise your Lord, and implore Him for forgiveness. He is the Redeemer.
[42:25] He is the One who accepts the repentance from His servants, and remits the sins. He is fully aware of everything you do.
[20:82] I am surely Forgiving for those who repent, believe, lead a righteous life, and steadfastly remain guided.
The art for successful souls is fully and flawlessly illustrated in Quran and is taught by God, the Teacher of Quran. It's always our choice to develop our skills and learn this kind of art for the sake of our souls using the only valid and divine source for that.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.