World Blog by humble servant.Godly behavior from the Bible and Quran

Godly behavior from the Bible and Quran

[55:26–27] Everyone on earth perishes. Only the presence of your Lord lasts. Possessor of Majesty and Honor.

God is the only constant in this world and the next. No matter the time period or location in this world or even in the universe, God’s presence is the only thing that is constant (2:115, 55:26–27). And just as He is constant so are His laws and the rules He sets for us on how to live our lives in a manner that best pleases Him.

The god of the Bible and the god of the Quran are one and the same God. From the time of Adam—the  start of the human race—there has only ever been the one Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent God. From the beginning, God gave us specific words to utter (2:37), and guidelines for how to behave if we are to claim that we are His servants. Throughout His scriptures and His final testament, God advocates that we behave in a righteous manner.

In the Bible’s Galatians 5:13, 16, 19–23 we are told that we are free to choose in this life how to be and how to live but we are advised not to “use [our] freedom to indulge in the flesh”; not to commit such sins as sexual immorality, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred,jealousy, envy, or breaking up into sects or factions (Galatians 5:19–21). We see the same principles in Quran 5:5, 24:30–31, 2:102, 30:32. Galatians 5:21 also makes us aware that the people who choose to behave in such a way “will not inherit the kingdom of God” (as does Quran 10:27). In the same passage we are then told that the qualities we should endeavor to achieve, or rather, the qualities that stem from God are those of “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” This principle of freedom and consequent responsibility is also seen in the Quran.

Freedom of Choice

[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.

Absolute Freedom of Religion

[18:29]8+9=17+2=19x1=19  Proclaim: “This is the truth from your Lord,” then whoever wills let him believe, and whoever wills let him disbelieve. We have prepared for the transgressors a fire that will completely surround them. When they scream for help, they will be given a liquid like concentrated acid that scalds the faces. What a miserable drink! What a miserable destiny!

The righteous strive to rise above their greed, envy, and arrogance. They strive to avoid gossip, slander, and boasting, and they strive to show mercy and honor their parents (Romans 1:28–31; Quran 25:72, 28:55, 104:1, 31:18, 2:83, 6:151, 49:12). These are behaviors that God encourages and appreciates in His servants.

[68:10–14] Do not obey every lowly swearer. A slanderer, a backbiter. Forbidder of charity, a transgressor, a sinner. Unappreciative, and greedy. Even though he possessed enough money and children.

[57:23] Thus, you should not grieve over anything you miss, nor be proud of anything He has bestowed upon you. GOD does not love those who are boastful, proud.

In Leviticus 19:11–16, 35–36 God goes on to list a number of other behaviors from which He enjoins us. The righteous strive to obey His commands. Leviticus 19:11–16 (NIV)  “Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another. Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the Lord. Do not defraud or rob your neighbor. Do not hold back the wages of a hired worker overnight. Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the Lord. Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly. Do not go about spreading slander among your people. Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord.”

Leviticus 19:35–36 (NIV) “Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight or quantity.  Use honest scales and honest weights, an honest  and an honest ephah and an honest hin.I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt.

[2:42] Do not confound the truth with falsehood, nor shall you conceal the truth, knowingly.

[2:224] Do not subject GOD's name to your casual swearing, that you may appear righteous, pious, or to attain credibility among the people. GOD is Hearer, Knower.

[26:181–183] "You shall give full measure when you trade; do not cheat. You shall weigh with an equitable scale. Do not cheat the people out of their rights, and do not roam the earth incorruptibly.

[4:135] O you who believe, you shall be absolutely equitable, and observe GOD, when you serve as witnesses, even against yourselves, or your parents, or your relatives. Whether the accused is rich or poor, GOD takes care of both. Therefore, do not be biased by your personal wishes. If you deviate or disregard (this commandment), then GOD is fully Cognizant of everything you do.

As we can see, God’s system and laws for how to treat each other and how to work righteous in this world have remained unchanged. Though the previous scriptures have been allowed to be tampered with, God’s guidance is clear for those who reverence their Lord.

As submitters to God, our duty is to set the example for those around us with our words and our deeds. Our behaviors and our utterances reflect upon God and His religion, so we must strive with every fiber of our being to observe God and set the absolute best example, lest we blaspheme against God and cause others to become averse to our Lord’s teachings.

[49:11] O you who believe, no people shall ridicule other people, for they may be better than they. Nor shall any women ridicule other women, for they may be better than they. Nor shall you mock one another, or make fun of your names. Evil indeed is the reversion to wickedness after attaining faith. Anyone who does not repent after this, these are the transgressors.

[29:46] Do not argue with the people of the scripture (Jews, Christians, & Muslims) except in the nicest possible manner―unless they transgress― and say, "We believe in what was revealed to us and in what was revealed to you, and our god and your god is one and the same; to Him we are submitters."

[41:34] Not equal is the good response and the bad response. You shall resort to the nicest possible response. Thus, the one who used to be your enemy, may become your best friend.

As submitters we cannot afford to look lightly on the example that we set for the world through our lives and the way that we treat others, as well as the way we treat each other. We cannot afford to take our Lord’s teachings for granted, or use them only when it suits our motives or desires. Our Lord’s revelations are heavy (73:5). They are a guide for every aspect of our lives, and we are obligated to make the absolute effort to live our lives doing everything in a manner that would please our Lord. It is by example that we invite to the path of God; it is by our actions and deeds as well as our words that we glorify God and the religion He has decreed for us, to save us. But, it is also by example that we repulse and mislead others from the path of God. So let us strive to uphold the covenant we have made with God by proclaiming that we are believers, and set the absolute best example in everything that we do or say, and in the manner that we live, so that we not only glorify and praise God with our words but with our very lives.

[17:38] All bad behavior is condemned by your Lord.

[2:177] Righteousness is not turning your faces towards the east or the west. Righteous are those who believe in GOD, the Last Day, the angels, the scripture, and the prophets; and they give the money, cheerfully, to the relatives, the orphans, the needy, the traveling alien, the beggars, and to free the slaves; and they observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat); and they keep their word whenever they make a promise; and they steadfastly persevere in the face of persecution, hardship, and war. These are the truthful; these are the righteous.

[3:133–136] You should eagerly race towards forgiveness from your Lord and a Paradise whose width encompasses the heavens and the earth; it awaits the righteous, who give to charity during the good times, as well as the bad times. They are suppressors of anger, and pardoners of the people. GOD loves the charitable. If they fall in sin or wrong their souls, they remember GOD and ask forgiveness for their sins—and who forgives the sins except GOD—and they do not persist in sins, knowingly. Their recompense is forgiveness from their Lord, and gardens with flowing streams; they abide therein forever. What a blessed reward for the workers!

These are teachings that God has sent to us through all His messengers, and these are the commandments that He has given us to uphold both in the Bible and the Quran.