STUDY GUIDE 6
BUILDING THE WILL
PART II,

READING MATERIAL
Holy Qur'an
Surah 70 "The Ways of Ascent"
Surah 90 "The City"
Self-Improvement
Pages 10 and 11
Page 12 (to end of Par. 2)
The Will of God (Part I)
Pages 4-7
Page 8 (to end of Par. 6)


FACT (S)
The Bible says, when you speak, say "I will do thus and so, if it be the will of God." The Holy Qur'an says, when you speak, say, 'I will do thus and so, Insh Allah (if it be the Will of Allah).' Holy Qur'an 18:23. Because between today and tomorrow, there are forces that you know nothing of, that can interfere with all of our plans. So our plans must be contingent upon whether God will permit it, or whether Allah will permit it, or Grandfather (Native American expression of the One God) will permit it, so we must acknowledge Him, lest we make a serious mistake and abort our own progressive development and improvement in character. SELF-IMPROVEMENT - Page


DISCUSSION
1) First, let us review some key words and their definitions. Please look at the GLOSSARY (Also continue to refer to the GLOSSARY for STUDY SESSION 5). SPECIAL NOTE: Begin to incorporate the terms from the study guides into your conversation, so that as they are woven into the pattern of language we use, the intellectual and spiritual level of our communication will rise.
2) Please read Surah 70, verses 22-35. Desire is the food source of the Will (See, STUDY SESSION 5). In addition to nourishment, the Will needs direction and support. What are the principles of action which direct and support our Will in the Way of Allah (God)?
Supplement

3) Why is Allah (God) called, in Surah 70, verse 3, "Lord of the ways of Ascent"?
Supplement
4) In Session 5, we discussed the exercise of the Will by overcoming resistance. We studied examples of external opposition that we must face and overcome.
Please read Surah 70, verses 17-21. What internal resistance (opposition) must or Will overcome in order to attain the goal of meeting with Allah (God)?
Supplement
5) Please read Surah 90, verses 4-11. What insight does this give us into the relationship between hard struggle and our personal spiritual advancement?
Please read verses 12-18. What actions are we to take which will support and direct our Will in the way of Allah (God)?
Supplement
6) Please read pages 4-6 of The Will of God (Part 1). What are some of the emotional forces that adversely affect the Will?
Please discuss a personal experience where you desired something vain and/or destructive and you used the power of your Will to obtain it. What were the results? How did you feel afterwards? Discuss an experience where you used the power of your Will to obtain something positive. How did you feel afterwards.
Supplement


PRACTICAL ASSIGNMENT
At the end of Session 5 last week, you were asked to break a habit which was destructive to your Will. This is a continuing assignment. Please report on your progress tonight.
Tonight, please resolve to develop a habit which is constructive to your Will. Come to next week's class prepared to discuss your experience in your effort to be consistent in performing a positive action.
May Allah (God) bless us all with success!


SUPPLEMENT
1) See GLOSSARY (Session 5 and 6)
2) Five (5) "pillars" support the Will of one who desires to completely submit his or her Will to the Will of Allah (God). When we consciously desire to do His Will, we are acting in accordance with the nature in which we were created, therefore, He has provided the means by which we may attain nearness to Him until we reach the goal of becoming one with Him.

Building the Will Part II - Page 2
Back to top


These principles of action which direct and support the essence of our being are: Prayer; Zakat (Charity); Fasting; Hajj (Pilgrimage); Jihad (using one's utmost efforts in contending with an object of disapprobation).
While each of these pillars is necessary to our balance, it is Prayer that is given the greatest prominence in the Holy Qur'an, followed closely by Charity, which is often mentioned together with Prayer.
This course, SELF-IMPROVEMENT, is centered around the action of Prayer as the root of our success or failure in fulfilling our purpose in life. Prayer is the most humble and the most exalted state of man at the same time.
We are engaged in the development of SELF; we will each attain what we individually strive for. Allah (God) has given us a man from among ourselves as a Guide, to show us the way; but in the end, our personal success will depend upon our personal effort.
"And that man can have nothing but what he strives for; and that his striving will soon be seen. Then he will be rewarded for it with the fullest reward: And to thy Lord is the goal." (Holy Qur'an 53:39-42)
Allah (God) has given the place of Prayer such prominence in the self improvement of man and woman, that in the Call to Prayer, the words, "Hayya ala-salah" (Come to Prayer), are immediately followed by the words, "Hayya ala-l-falah" (Come to Success)
Please reflect upon the divine relationship between Prayer and Success.
In Prayer lies the root of that which leads a man or woman to give his or her life in the Cause of Allah (God). The realization of His Essence within our hearts makes us think as He thinks; feel what He feels.
But there is an emotional force that gives direction to the Will. And the emotional force -- which is the Creative Force upon which the entire Universe is constructed -- is Love. And it is out of this awesome power of Love that the Will springs up; it springs up out of this emotion and it is directed and guided by this emotion..." [The Will of God (Part 1) Page 7]
Note carefully the fact that Prayer is mentioned first and last in verses 22-35 of Surah 70, for it is Prayer which generates the Desire to perform the other principles of action, out of Love and Adoration for the Creator.
For example, the second principle of action. after Prayer is Charity. The Arabic word for Charity is "Zakat", which originally means "Purity"; "li-l-zakat" means "for the sake of purity", or "to attain purity". So constant Prayer feeds, directs and elevates Desire so that our, Desire is to do the Will of Allah (God), the

Building the Will Part II - Page 3
Back to top


Beneficent. Thus, we become one "in whose wealth there is a known right for the beggar and the destitute."
Acceptance of the Truth; Fear of Chastisement of our Lord; Restraint of our sexual passions outside of the sanctity of marriage; Keeping our Word and making good on our Promises (Covenant); Uprightness in our Testimony; these attributes are generated by Prayer; thus, verse 35 tells us to keep a Guard on our Prayer.
There is no such thing as personal success without Prayer, if our conscious Desire is to build our Will that we may do His Will. In previous study guides, you were asked to read Surah 23, "The Believers", where, in verses 1,2 it reads: "Successful indeed are the believers, who are humble in their prayers." The Arabic word used for successful is "alfaha", which signified the achievement of complete development; "faliheen", which means "farmer", or "one who cultivates", signifies the divine method of achieving success: we must cultivate our own souls as the farmer cultivates land. And, even as we cultivate self, we must remember that in the study of the prophets, in the study of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, in witnessing the life experiences of Minister Farrakhan, we know that without exception, they relied (rely) upon Allah (God) for guidance, direction and power to overcome the opposition. They submitted (submit) their Will to His Will.
Since we gave it (power of our being) to you and you say, "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away", then if Allah (God) has given you a bit of His own Power, which is His Will, then He asks you will you give it back in surrender, what should our word to Almighty God be? Of course, we should say "yes". "I submit my Will to do Your Will. Not by force, but willingly." [The Will of God (Part 1) Page 7]
On February 26, 1957, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad published a small book entitled, "Muslim Daily Prayers". If you do not have a copy of this booklet, you will receive one in the near future. He says: "The knowledge and practice of these prayers will earn you great reward with Allah and bring about great spiritual advancement in you."
Please study pages 135-160 (PRAYER SERVICE) in MESSAGE TO THE BLACKMAN.
3) "Lord" means nourisher unto perfection". It signifies "the fostering of a thing in such a manner as to make it attain one condition after another until it reaches its goal of completion."
Lord of the ways of Ascent indicates that Allah (God), the Author of all existence, has given to the whole creation its means of nourishment and has even ordained for every single one of us, a sphere of capacity. Within that

Building the Will Part II - Page 4
Back to top


sphere, He has already provided us the means or ways by which each of us attains to our goal of perfection in that which He has given us.
Every human being has a unique combination of sublime qualities which he or she is capable of becoming absolutely perfect in manifesting. There is a precise way in which that divinity is to be developed in order to be brought into the perfected state; Allah (God) is the Lord over that way. He is Lord over every way of ascent.
Look up the word "WAY" in the GLOSSARY (Study Guide 5).
4) Discuss verse 17-21 of Surah 70. These are forces which battle us from within. We must overcome the force from within that would cause us to retreat and turn our backs on the difficulties we must overcome; we must resist the internal force that causes us to hoard and withhold; we are created impatient, that is, we are fretful when under stress and niggardly when we receive the benefits of life (from the Beneficent). The Holy Qur'an tells us plainly, that we possess these traits, whether we admit it or not, and we will continue to walk under the weight of them, "EXCEPT THOSE WHO PRAY ... WHO ARE CONSTANT AT THEIR PRAYER..." and proceeds to list the qualities of the Believer.
5) Study footnote 2736. Review Study Session 3, "Overcoming Difficulty". Our personal advancement, not only spiritually, but physically, lies along a path of hard struggle. We have never made a serious conquest of any obstacle without overcoming difficulty.
We are told in verse 11, that we "attempt (s) not the uphill road." Thus, we must overcome that within us which causes us to seek the path of least resistance, that we may be successful in our journey to meet with Allah (God).
The path of least resistance will lead us away from the goal of meeting Allah (God). He is not tie Lord of the ways of Descent. We cannot get to Him without going up. This is an uphill climb; it is not an overnight experience. This is the effort to save our souls.
"...The Scripture is right in teaching, 'What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?' What would it profit us to build magnificent structures, beautiful buildings, magnificent bridges, built with magnificent technology and the soul of those human beings are wretched and deprived and underdeveloped and rottening from within? How does one lose one's soul? What is so important about the soul, or the essence of our being, that if we lose it, we lose everything?..."
Prayer is necessary, but Prayer alone will not improve us. We must engage in acts of kindness and work in the Cause of Allah (God). Verses 12-16 tell us that to free a slave; to feed the hungry; to care for the orphan and the poor man; these are actions which will cause us to actually understand the struggle, not just be intellectually aware of it. Comprehension is understanding and understanding only comes through trials.
6) Please conduct discussion of personal experiences with the forces described in the selected reading material.

Building the Will Part II - Page 5
Back to top


GLOSSARY
PILLAR A long, slender, vertical structure used to support a superstructure; a support in form and function.
GUARD To keep from harm; watch over and protect; defend; shield; to hold in check; keep from escape or trouble.
CHASTISEMENT (CHASTISE) To discipline, especially by corporal punishment. To inflict suffering upon for purposes of moral improvement.
PASSION strong amorous feeling or desire; extravagant fondness, enthusiasm, desire for anything; violent anger; any emotion or feeling, as love, anger, hate, fear, grief, joy, hope, etc., when of a powerful or compelling nature.
PATIENCE The bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, pain, etc. without complaint, loss of temper, irritation or the like; an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance in waiting; quiet perseverance; even-tempered care; diligence; composure; stability; self-possession; submissiveness. Denotes the ability to bear exertion, hardship or suffering without implication of moral qualities required or shown.
GUARD To accumulate for preservation, future use, etc., in a hidden
(verb) or carefully guarded place.
NIGGARDLY Reluctant to give or spend; stingy; meanly small or scanty; miserly.
SUNDRY Various or diverse. Akin to "sunder", which means "to separate".
CITY A large or important town. Collective of citizens. (a "citizen" is a native or naturalized member of a state or nation who owes allegiance to its government and is entitled to its protection).
CIRCUMVENT To avoid by artfulness or deception.
REPOSITORY A person to whom something is entrusted or confided; that in which something is placed.

COMPREHEND (COMPREHENSION) To catch hold of; seize. (The act of grasping with the mind.)

Building the Will Part II - Page 6
Back to top

CHAPTER 70
Al-Ma‘arij: The Ways of Ascent
(REVEALED AT MAKKAH:2 sections ;44 verses )

SECTION 1: Certainty of the Punishment

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

1 A questioner asks about the chastisement to befall

2 The disbelievers —there is none to avert it a —

3 From Allah, Lord of the ways of Ascent.

4 To Him ascend the angels and the Spirit in a day the measure of which is fifty thousand years.

5 So be patient with a goodly patience.

6 Surely they see it far off,

7 And We see it nigh.

8 The day when the heaven is as molten brass,

9 And the mountains are as wool;

10 And no friend will ask of friend,

11 (Though) they are made to see them. The guilty one would fain

redeem himself from the chastisement of that day by his children,

12 And his wife and his brother,

13 And his kin that gave him shelter,

14 And all that are in the earth —then deliver him —

15 By no means! Surely it is a flaming Fire,

16 Plucking out the extremities —

17 It shall claim him who retreats and turns his back,

18 And hoards then withholds.

19 Surely man is created impatient —

20 Fretful when evil afflicts him,

21 And niggardly when good befalls him —

22 Except those who pray,

23 Who are constant at their prayer,

24 And in whose wealth there is a known right

25 For the beggar and the destitute,

26 And those who accept the truth of the day of Judgment:

27 And those who are fearful of the chastisement of their Lord —

28 Surely the chastisement of their Lord is (a thing) not to be felt secure from —

29 And those who restrain their sexual passions,

30 Except in the presence of their mates or those whom their right hands possess a —for such surely are not to be blamed,

31 But he who seeks to go beyond this, these are the transgressors.

32 And those who are faithful to their trusts and their covenant,

33 And those who are upright in their testimonies,

34 And those who keep a guard on their prayer.

35 These are in Gardens, honoured.

SECTION 2: A New Nation to be raised up

36 But what is the matter with those who disbelieve, that they hasten on to thee,

37 On the right hand and on the left, in sundry parties?

38 Does every man of them desire to be admitted to the Garden of bliss?

39 By no means! Surely We have created them for what they know.

40 But nay! I swear by the Lord of the Eastern lands and the Western lands! that We are certainly Powerful

41 To bring in their place (others) better than them, and We shall not be overcome.

42 So leave them alone to plunge in vain talk and to sport, until they come face to face with that day of theirs which they are promised —

43 The day when they come forth from the graves in haste, as hastening on to a goal,

44 Their eyes cast down, disgrace covering them. Such is the day which they are promised.

Back to top

CHAPTER 90
Al-Balad:The City
(REVEALED AT MAKKAH:20 verses )

 

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

1 Nay, I call to witness this City!

2 And thou wilt be made free from obligation in this City  —

3 And the begetter and he whom he begot!

4 We have certainly created man to face difficulties.

5 Does he think that no one has power over him?

6 He will say: I have wasted much wealth.

7 Does he think that no one sees him?

8 Have We not given him two eyes,

9 And a tongue and two lips,

10 And pointed out to him the two conspicuous ways?

11 But he attempts not the uphill road;

12 And what will make thee comprehend what the uphill road is?

13 (It is) to free a slave,

14 Or to feed in a day of hunger

15 An orphan nearly related,

16 Or the poor man lying in the dust.

17 Then he is of those who believe and exhort one another to patience, and exhort one another to mercy.

18 These are the people of the right-hand.

19 And those who disbelieve in Our messages, they are the people of the left hand.

20 On them is Fire closed over.

Back to top

Self-Improvement Page 10 and 11


The Black man is a problem; he is a problem to himself and he is a problem to others. Listen The Chicano is a problem, but he is a problem to himself. The Indian---Native American---is a problem to himself. All human beings are suffering from a problem and the problem is not somebody else; the problem is yourself.


We have a problem. And tonight, what we want to do, is just analyze what is giving us all of this hell. Will you help me to analyze this thing?


I am a Black man and I love Black people. I sit and cry over the beauty that I see in Black people that perhaps others do not even see. I am willing to give my life tonight, if dying will make life better for you. I would leave here tonight and die for the Black man. I would much rather live for you, but if dying would do it, I would die tonight. I don't want to live seeing you in this condition; I do not care to live and watch my people dying in my face and I do nothing to help them out of this condition,. I cannot take that. But, Brothers and Sisters, listen to me.

If every white person on Earth dies tonight, you would have a problem tomorrow. My Chicano and Native American brothers and sisters, if the white man died tomorrow, you would have a problem the day after. The problem is not the white man. The problem is something within yourself that you are not facing up to. Listen to me. White people, there is something in yourself that you are not facing up to. So, each of us has some facing up to do. But, somebody has to show you your face, so that you can face up to your face and deal with yourself. Forget about your neighbor. I want you, tonight, to deal with you, because you are your worst enemy.


I listened to the television this morning. Reverend was really preaching.. He was preaching about how the devil is seeking to rob you. The devil is seeking to take joy from you. The devil is seeking to keep you from the Kingdom. The devil is going to do this, you can't let the devil do this. I mean, this devil raises a lot of hell, doesn't he? And no one can get a handle on this devil and choke the hell out of him. Tonight is the night I am going to let you put your hands on that devil that is giving you some particular hell, an you can strangle the hell out of him tonight.

The Holy Qur'an and the Bible teach us that God has no need for any of His creatures. He is above need of His creatures. He is independent of His creation, but all creation depends upon Him.

Self Improvement: The Basis of Community Development - Page 10
Back to top


The Holy Qur'an, again teaches us that man thinks himself to be self-sufficient. He doesn't recognize his incompleteness. Man is created in need and he or she goes about his whole life in pursuit of the fulfillment of needs; we don't even recognize our need of God until trouble afflicts us. The more trouble afflicts us, and there is no one around to help us, then we call on God, making our prayer sincere.


I went into the sweat lodge with our Native American Brothers and Sisters. If you have never had that experience---it is an experience. In there with fire; heat like you have never felt; darkness that resembles the darkness of the womb out of which birth comes.


I was outside of the 'inipi', listening to those who went in in front of me; I listened to how they called on God when they were praying. When that heat got hot, I heard them say 'Oh, Grandfather!' And I mean there was no insincerity in it. You could tell they were reaching for somewhere deep down within. I heard the Muslims, in the 'inipi', saying 'Oh Allah!' I mean, they cried His Name out with such fervor, such sincerity. I said, 'Uh-huh. God has to keep us in total trouble in order to get a sincere prayer from our lips.'

And even those who think they don't believe in God. Just travel on these airplanes and wait until it hits a severe (air) pocket and bumps. You see the Christian grab for his cross. You see the Jewish person get the Star of David or the Talmud; a Muslim gets the Qur'an, or something divine. They don't ask for the navigator, because he cannot see where he is going. They reach outside the plane to somebody that they know, or believe, has power over this wind, over the forces that are tearing this plane apart.


And the Qur'an says: "And lo! (When I get you safely to port), you set up other gods besides Me. Surely man is ungrateful.' Look at how you get on the plane and the man says, 'This is Flight 242, American Airlines. We will be landing in Los Angeles in 3 hours and 40 minutes. We will be flying at speed of 450 knots, at an altitude of 36,000 feet and we are looking for an on time arrival.' He does not say, "God Willing.' He doesn't recognize that there is another Power here. He (thinks he) is the power.


Listen to me carefully. That word, "I", that personal pronoun "I", represents 'independence.' "I" will do this. "I" will say that...Don't worry, just as good as done. I will take care of it.' It's the ninth letter of the alphabet. The number nine (9) represents completion.

Self Improvement: The Basis of Community Development - Page 11
Back to top

Self-Improvement Page 12

The Holy Qur'an, again teaches us that man thinks himself to be self-sufficient. He doesn't recognize his incompleteness. Man is created in need and he or she goes about his whole life in pursuit of the fulfillment of needs; we don't even recognize our need of God until trouble afflicts us. The more trouble afflicts us, and there is no one around to help us, then we call on God, making our prayer sincere.


I went into the sweat lodge with our Native American Brothers and Sisters. If you have never had that experience---it is an experience. In there with fire; heat like you have never felt; darkness that resembles the darkness of the womb out of which birth comes.

Back to top

Will of God Pages 4-7

The Honorable Elijah Muhammad has taught us that the brain of Main is "infinite." I want you to think on it --- THE BRAIN OF MAN IS INFINITE. If the brain of Man is infinite, then Man can bring into existence whatever he conceives in his mind; the repository for Allah (God), the place for the God to dwell. God is infinite in the brain of Man.

In the New Testament, Jesus says that he knocks and if we will open up to him, he will come in and sup with us. This does not mean that he is a visitor standing outside your door (although it could mean that too), but just as you would open the door of your home to allow into your home one who is a friend, likewise we should open the door of our ears, the door of our heart, the door of our mind, to let Almighty God, Allah come in. For there He wishes to dwell; in the Infinity of the Brain of Man!

The Will is the Real Power of Allah (God) in Man. However, the Will must be buttressed, or supported, by Faith and by knowledge. Let us look at Will and its meaning; Faith and its meaning; and Knowledge. Let us look at what Allah (God) has given us of His Will. And what do we have of Faith? What do we have of Knowledge, to buttress and support the power of our own being.

"Will," according to Webster's, it "the faculty of conscious and especially of deliberate action." There is no action that is not preceded by a conscious thought, planning and then the carrying of a plan into action(s). "Will" is the power of control that the mind has over its own action's).

To be able to Will is to have a creative force within that actually can change the conditions of our lives, the condition of our homes, the condition of our community, the condition of the Nation and the condition of the World.

But Will without Faith; Will without Knowledge; is Power without direction. It is power that can be manipulated. It is power that can actually be used by a smart crooked deceiver to make slaves of the totality of the human family. Therefore, all of us must be possessors of Knowledge of Faith.

Faith, of course, is "confidence or trust in a person or thing." Faith is having confidence in your own ability or in someone else's ability. In the Divine Scheme of things, Faith is having confidence or trust in Allah (God). Having Faith is having confidence and trust in His Word: Knowing that His Word never fails; His Plan never fails; His Will never fails. When we put our trust completely in Allah (God) and in His Word, we have the ability to see beyond our knowledge --- for what we know is limited.

The Will of God - Page 4
Back to top

Faith can be as big as a mountain; Faith can be as big as the Universe itself. Regardless of what you know, you must have greater Faith then your Knowledge. For your Knowledge is, of a surety, limited, no matter how much you know. But if your Faith and Allah (God) is great; your Faith in his words great; then that Faith will lead you to greater and greater knowledge.

We must be Faithful men and women, but we must also be possessors of Knowledge. There are so many of our people who have a lot of Faith but very little Knowledge. We need both: Faith and Knowledge; to buttress and support the power of our being, which is our Will.

Prophet Muhammad ( Peace be upon him) said, nearly 1400 years ago, " one goes out in search of Knowledge is in the Path of God until he returns. Why did Prophet Muhammad make such an utterance? It is because when we go out in search of Knowledge, we should never return. For Knowledge is the path of God. And Knowledge, like God, is infinite. When you go out after Knowledge, never say, " I found it!, " " when you have saved you have found it, you have stopped searching. You have stopped seeking. When you stop searching, stops seeking, you reached a plateau of learning. That plateau leads to the death of your society; the death of your own power; your creative energy. Unfortunately, this is what happened to this world in which we presently live. Men have amassed a lot of knowledge, but, unfortunately, he believed that he has found it. And in finding it to, he had lost it and is no longer in the path of Allah (God). So the Knowledge that he possesses leads his society to greater and more complex problems which his own Knowledge gives him neither the light, nor the ability, to solve. This is when Allah steps in --- when our knowledge fails us.

Knowledge without Faith is like a ship without water. Can you imagine a ship without water? No wonder the people in the days of Noah the death at him because he built a ship and there was no water. But no one knew what the people did not know; he knew that water was, indeed, coming.

What about you with this tremendous skill in science, mathematics, physics, and chemistry? Don't you realize that you are, yet, a baby? You have a little bit of Knowledge and very little Faith in Allah (God). Consequently, your Knowledge takes you nowhere but to self-destruction. An so, Beloved, each of us would want to develop the power of our own being; to use that power to better ourselves, our families, our community, our people, our Nation, the World. We must seek Knowledge and we must develop Faith. For it is Knowledge and Faith that buttress and support the great Power of Allah (God) in Man: Man's ability to Will.

The Will of God I - Page 5
Back to top

The Will is protected and also sustained, not only by Faith, but also by our Attitude, which demonstrates the degree of our Faith. We cannot have a powerful Will and a weak Attitude. The Attitude that we have is for the protection of our Will. Change your Attitude and you might redirect your Will.

Attitude is "the manner, disposition, feeling, position" with which we regard a thing. It is a "tendency or orientation, especially of the mind." Think of these words. It is a "tendency" or an "orientation" of the mind. In fact, Attitude can give you --- or damage --- your ability to perceive reality. Mood can colour your perception. So we have all of these things that affect the Will, and, in fact, redirect the Will. Beloved, we must be careful of our Attitude. (We are going to talk about that a little later on this program, but I want to lay this base before we discuss Attitude).

Will is Power, but Power must be guided. Guided by what? The Power of Will must be guided by Knowledge. But there is an emotional force that gives direction to Will. And the emotional force --- which is the creative force upon which the entire Universe is constructed --- is Love. And it is out of this awesome power of Love that the Will springs up; it springs up out of this emotion, and it is directed and guided by that emotion. When you couple Will and Knowledge and Love, then you have a balanced individual, whose Will is being used in a creative, constructive way; not in the way of destruction.

Let us take a look at the things that adversely affect the Power of Allah (God) within Man. From the time that the baby comes into the world, we see a demonstration of Will. Mother is not teaching the child from "day one," yet the child accomplishes mush in that first year of life. From what? From the Will.

The Will moves the child to grow and grow. The first year of life is the strongest year of educational development. It learns more in the first year; and without a teacher! The teaching comes from within. What does that tell us? That there is a Power within every human being that can teach and direct. That Power is connected to its Source. It can be a Source of comfort, guidance, protection and deliverance for every human being.

I.     FEAR

       Did you know that Fear is what the enemy of Allah (God) at hand, uses to restrict the Power of your own Will? What are you

The Will of God I - Page 6
Back to top

afraid of? Once someone can make you afraid, they restrict the Power of your own being to express itself.

Look at how many people today live in fear. "I'm on a job and I am afraid that I am going to be fired" (by a cantankerous boss or foreman). Think of it. So the foreman is threatening your security. You are afraid, so it restricts your Will. And, in a sense, it helps to make the individual not just a worker on the job, but a slave to the job.

Anytime we are afraid to think, to move, to express ourselves, for fear of being censured; for fear of losing a job; then we need to get away from that type of job, for we have lost the most precious thing that we could have and that is a Free Will. That is what Allah (God) has given us. But if your choices are made our of Fear, then you have  made yourselves a slave.

Fear is distressing emotion; aroused by impending pain and danger. Of course, the Scriptures teach us that the Fear of Allah (God) is the beginning of Knowledge and that, of course, is true.

The Fear of Allah (God) is restricting, but it does not restrict us in a way that damages our development. The Fear of Allah (God) frees us to act in accordance with His Will.

II.     VANITY

        The next thing that hurts the Will, redirects the Will, redirects the Power of our being in a negative direction, is something called Vanity.

        Vanity is excessive pride in one's appearance, one's qualities, one's abilities and/or one's achievements. It is Conceit. Vanity can lead to Arrogance. And, of course, anything that is done with the spirit of Conceit lacks real value. In fact, it is hollow and worthless. And those of us who are self-conceited; who are overly concerned with ourselves and who see too much importance in ourselves in our relationships to others: our acts are shallow. Our words are hollow; they have no real value. Consequently, we are considered, in the Eyes of Allah (God) worthless.

The Will of God I - Page 7
Back to top

Will of God Page 8

[So these enemies of the Will: Fear, Vanity, Pride, Envy, must be gotten rid of . But how can we get rid of the enemies that keep us from full development?]

V.      LUST

          Lust is a voracious appetite; a sexual appetite that is inordinate. It is out of the Divine Law. It is out of the way of the Order of Allah (God). It is something that we feel we have to do. It is a compulsion. And we allow that drive, that sexual drive, that ends that are nonproductive of good.

VI.     ANGER

          To those of us who are angered much, Anger can direct the Will. Anger directs the Power of our being toward the object of our Anger. And ofttimes, in our Anger, we can do - very destructive things to Self and others. Anger is something that must be controlled.

VII.     GREED

            And of course, lastly, there is Greed. Greed is the accepted inordinate or rapacious desire for wealth, power, food or drink. Allah (God) wants us to be satisfied. But when we are overcome by Greed, this lust for wealth or power or food or drink, it manifests itself in our conspicuous consumption. It manifests itself in our directing our Will to destroy those who stand in the way of our assumption of Power. It leads to obesity, where one destroys one's health because of one's Greed; or destroys one's health because of our uncontrolled urges.

******

When Allah (God) asks us to become His servants, He asks us to give Him the best part of ourselves. What does Allah (God) ask us for? He asks us for our Will. What does He ask us for? He asks us for the Power of our being.

Back to top