In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

The Reciprocal Relationship with the Almighty

[33:72] We have offered the responsibility (freedom of choice) to the heavens and the earth, and the mountains, but they refused to bear it, and were afraid of it. But the human being accepted it; he was transgressing, ignorant.

The angels once struggled to understand why God created our world (2:30-31). Based on Quran, believers have the assertion that God's creation of this earthly dimension serves a specific purpose, and has a predetermined expiration.. It is also a constant illustration and a profound reminder that God alone is the Deity (3:18, 21:22 ...) and the One in full control (4:126, 6:102 ...). He alone is the source of all mercy (6:12, 6:54), and is the Most merciful (7:151, 12:64, 12:92 ...). His justice, truth and mercy orchestrate and deliver the symphony of FLAWLESS LOGIC (21:47, 6: 115 ...). Evil, on the other hand, NEVER comes from Him. It is the product of allying the fake gods (4:79).

The authority of God is absolute but never arbitrary. If God wanted, He could have forced every creature in heaven and earth to submit to His will. But He wants us to submit to Him freely (18:29, 2:256 ...), with a good heart (13:28, 50:33, 22:54, 33:4 ...), in justice and truth. Therefore, despite the fact of our rebellious behavior, God created this temporary world, and sent us all down with hearts and brains to think, meditate, reflect and make a free and responsible choice (67:2, 45:22, 51:56 ...).

[10:99] Had your Lord willed, all the people on earth would have believed. Do you want to force the people to become believers?

[11:28] He said, "O my people, what if I have a solid proof from my Lord? What if He has blessed me out of His mercy, though you cannot see it? Are we going to force you to believe therein?

[26:3] You may blame yourself that they are not believers.
[26:4] If we will, we can send from the sky a sign that forces their necks to bow.
[26:5] Whenever a reminder from the Most Gracious comes to them, that is new, they turn away in aversion.
[26:6] Since they disbelieved, they have incurred the consequences of their heedlessness.

[13:31] Even if a Quran caused mountains to move, or the earth to tear asunder, or the dead to speak (they will not believe). God controls all things. Is it not time for the believers to give up and realize that if God willed, He could have guided all the people? The disbelievers will continue to suffer disasters, as a consequence of their own works, or have disasters strike close to them, until God's promise is fulfilled. God will never change the predetermined destiny.

Intuitively, we might think that there cannot be any reciprocity with an entity with absolute power. Yet, Quran teaches us that there is a reciprocal relationship between God and His creatures, in a perfect balance of justice and mercy.

[8:56] You reach agreements with them, but they violate their agreements every time; they are not righteous.

[39:7] If you disbelieve, God does not need anyone. But He dislikes to see His servants make the wrong decision. If you decide to be appreciative, He is pleased for you. No soul bears the sins of any other soul. Ultimately, to your Lord is your return, then He will inform you of everything you had done. He is fully aware of the innermost thoughts.

[7:172] Recall that your Lord summoned all the descendants of Adam, and had them bear witness for themselves: "Am I not your Lord?" They all said, "Yes. We bear witness." Thus, you cannot say on the Day of Resurrection, "We were not aware of this."

[20:115] We tested (made a covenant with) Adam in the past, but he forgot, and we found him indecisive.

[2:40] O Children of Israel, remember My favor, which I bestowed upon you, and fulfill your part of the covenant, that I fulfill My part of the covenant, and reverence Me.

[3:194] "Our Lord, shower us with the blessings you promised us through Your messengers, and do not forsake us on the Day of Resurrection. You never break a promise."

[3:77] As for those who trade away God's covenant, and their obligations, for a cheap price, they receive no share in the Hereafter. God will not speak to them, nor look at them, on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them. They have incurred a painful retribution.

[3:81] God took a covenant from the prophets, saying, "I will give you the scripture and wisdom. Afterwards, a messenger will come to confirm all existing scriptures. You shall believe in him and support him." He said, "Do you agree with this, and pledge to fulfill this covenant?" They said, "We agree." He said, "You have thus borne witness, and I bear witness along with you."

[5:12] God had taken a covenant from the Children of Israel, and we raised among them twelve patriarchs. And God said, "I am with you, so long as you observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), give the obligatory charity (Zakat), and believe in My messengers and respect them, and continue to lend God a loan of righteousness. I will then remit your sins, and admit you into gardens with flowing streams. Anyone who disbelieves after this, has indeed strayed off the right path."
[5:13] It was a consequence of their violating the covenant that we condemned them, and we caused their hearts to become hardened. Consequently, they took the words out of context, and disregarded some of the commandments given to them. You will continue to witness betrayal from them, excepting a few of them. You shall pardon them, and disregard them. God loves those who are benevolent.
[5:14] Also from those who said, "We are Christian," we took their covenant. But they disregarded some of the commandments given to them. Consequently, we condemned them to animosity and hatred among themselves, until the Day of Resurrection. God will then inform them of everything they had done.

[16:91] You shall fulfill your covenant with God when you make such a covenant. You shall not violate the oaths after swearing (by God) to carry them out, for you have made God a guarantor for you. God knows everything you do.

[9:11] If they repent and observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat), then they are your brethren in religion. We thus explain the revelations for people who know.

Whoever accepts the authority of God, sincerely & truthfully, with a good heart, will get His support & His guidance. He will lead a life in total alignment the scriptures and will be rewarded. Whoever rejects the authority of God and decides to be his own god, will do evil and will face the consequences. We, thus, go to Heaven or Hell, not by an arbitrary decision of God, but through His system of justice and mercy that dictates for us, individually, the responsibility for all decisions.

[23:62] We never burden any soul beyond its means, and we keep a record that utters the truth. No one will suffer injustice.
[23:63] Because their minds are oblivious to this, they commit works that do not conform with this; their works are evil.

[6:160] Whoever does a righteous work receives the reward for ten, and the one who commits a sin is requited for only one. No one suffers the slightest injustice.

[35:32] We passed the scripture from generation to generation, and we allowed whomever we chose from among our servants to receive it. Subsequently, some of them wronged their souls, others upheld it only part of the time, while others were eager to work righteousness in accordance with God's will; this is the greatest triumph.

[13:19] Is one who recognizes that your Lord's revelations to you are the truth equal to one who is blind? Only those who possess intelligence will take heed.
[13:20] They are the ones who fulfill their pledge to God, and do not violate the covenant.
[13:21] They join what God has commanded to be joined, reverence their Lord, and fear the dreadful reckoning.
[13:22] They steadfastly persevere in seeking their Lord, observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), spend from our provisions to them secretly and publicly, and counter evil with good. These have deserved the best abode.
[13:23] They enter the gardens of Eden, together with the righteous among their parents, their spouses, and their children. The angels will enter to them from every door.
[13:24] "Peace be upon you, because you steadfastly persevered. What a joyous destiny."
[13:25] As for those who violate God's covenant after pledging to keep it, and sever what God has commanded to be joined, and commit evil, they have incurred condemnation; they have incurred the worst destiny.
[13:26] God is the One who increases the provision for whomever He wills, or withholds it. They have become preoccupied with this life, and this life, compared to the Hereafter, is nil.
[13:27] Those who disbelieve would say, "If only a miracle could come down to him from his Lord (we would believe)." Say, "God sends astray whomever He wills, and guides to Him only those who obey."

[9:75] Some of them even pledged: "If God showered us with His grace, we would be charitable, and would lead a righteous life."
[9:76] But when He did shower them with His provisions, they became stingy, and turned away in aversion.
[9:77] Consequently, He plagued them with hypocrisy in their hearts, till the day they meet Him. This is because they broke their promises to God, and because of their lying.

[21:7] We did not send before you except men whom we inspired. Ask those who know the scripture, if you do not know.
[21:8] We did not give them bodies that did not eat, nor were they immortal.
[21:9] We fulfilled our promise to them; we saved them together with whomever we willed, and annihilated the transgressors.
[21:10] We have sent down to you a scripture containing your message. Do you not understand?
[21:11] Many a community we terminated because of their transgression, and we substituted other people in their place.
[21:12] When our requital came to pass, they started to run.
[21:13] Do not run, and come back to your luxuries and your mansions, for you must be held accountable.
[21:14] They said, "Woe to us. We were really wicked."
[21:15] This continued to be their proclamation, until we completely wiped them out.

Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.