STUDY
GUIDE 4
THE STRUGGLE FOR BALANCE
READING MATERIAL
Holy Qur'an
Surah 55
"The Beneficent"
Self-Improvement
Page
4, Paragraph 1
FACTS
In our scriptural reading
assignment last week (Study
Session 3: Overcoming
Difficulty) we saw that Allah
(God) created the entire Solar
System, including the great
symmetry of its arrangement and
the motions of the various
planets, placing each in its own
orbit. Holy Qur'an 21:30-33.
The Planet earth is inclined on
its axis at approximately 23
degrees, 30 minutes, to the
plane of its own orbit. This
inclination, along with its
rotation on its axis and its
revolution around the Sun, makes
life forms as we know them here.
If the Earth were to alter its
motion, it would lose its
balance and leave its orbit.
Question: What is the meaning of
Balance to you as an individual?
DISCUSSION
1)
First, let us review some key
words and their definitions.
Please look at the
Glossary.
Supplement
2) Read Page
4, Paragraph 1 of
Self-Improvement. What is the
first struggle the bird
experiences after overcoming the
difficulty of pecking its way
out of the shell? What is the
significance of the bird's
experience to you and me?
Supplement
3) Read Surah
55:1-9. Why is this Surah called
"The Beneficent"? What is
Allah's (God's) intention for us
concerning "balance"? Has He
taken any actions to help us to
attain it? What does He say He
has done for you and me?
Supplement
4) Are you in
a state of balance today? Why or
why not? If asked to evaluate
your marriage, or any
interpersonal relationship you
are currently in (parent/child;
brother; sister; friendship),
would you say that it is
balanced? If not, why not?
Supplement
5) By what
means can balance be restored to
you personally and in your
interpersonal relationships?
What is the source for balance?
Supplement
6) When each
of us achieves balance in our
individual lives, what effect do
you think it will have on the
community we live in, if any?
FACTS
Approximately 75% of the
Earth's surface is covered with
water. It travels around the Sun
at 1,037 1/3 m.p.h. 'The Sun
draws this water up into the
Earth's rotation (which is
called gravitation) in a fine
mist that the naked eye can
hardly detect ... as this mist
ascends higher it increases with
other mists of water in
different currents of the
atmosphere until it becomes
heavier and the gravitational
pull causes it to distill back
to the Earth in the form of
drops of water (or drops of ice,
depending upon how heavy the
mist was in the current of air
it was moving in) ... the reason
it rains (down) on our Planet is
because it (water) cannot get
out of the Earth's sphere with
its high speed of revolution
around the Sun..."
The Earth is not perfectly
round; it has a wobble. Allah
(God compensates for this
imbalance by the imposition of a
law regulating motion. Pursuant
to that law, the Earth possesses
a natural inclination to the
plane of its own orbit. This
enables us to live on the
Earth's surface without being
disturbed by its imbalance.
Thus, we see in Creation that in
order to achieve balance, it is
not necessary that the weight of
a thing be equal on each side;
Allah (God) shows us that
balance can be achieved or
brought about by placing the
fulcrum (support) at that point
which will bring it about. That
is, the center of gravity can be
placed in such a way as to make
a balance where imbalance
previously existed.
SUPPLEMENT
1) See
Glossary.
2) The bird
must obtain its balance before
it can fly. This is a sign to us
in nature that part of the
ordained struggle for us
includes overcoming the
difficulty we must encounter in
order to achieve balance; this
difficulty must be faced and
overcome in order to proceed on
the journey to meet with Allah
(God).
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3)
Allah (God) brought things into
existence for the sustenance of
man before his creation. That
is, we did not earn the things
we need and use to sustain life,
but out of His Beneficence,
Allah gave them to us. Out of
His Beneficence, He has taught
the Qur'an, taught us
expression, for this is
necessary to our spiritual
development. Our ability to
read, write and speak is a
Divine Gift to each one of us
for spiritual and mental
sustenance, just as the
vegetation of the Planet is for
our physical sustenance.
We see in verses 5-9 that even
as the Sun and Moon follow a
reckoning, Allah has set up the
measure "that you (speaking of
you and I) may not exceed the
measure, and keep up the balance
with equity, nor fall short in
the measure."
Also, read Footnote 2407 in the
Maulana Muhammad Ali Translation
of the Holy Qur'an for the
meaning of the Arabic word,
"mizan", which means 'a measure"
and also signifies "justice".
4) Allah (God)
placed in male and female, a
natural inclination towards one
another (biologically,
physiologically, spiritually).
He also placed this inclination,
in another way, between mother
and child. The power or force
that is the source of the
inclination is a need in the two
(man and woman; mother and baby)
for one another. The need causes
us to incline toward that which
will fulfill the need. The baby
needs the milk in the breast of
the mother and she needs to give
the baby the milk, in order for
each of them to be in a balanced
state of health.
Let us each reflect on the
emotion of Love. When we love
someone, really love them, what
does that feeling generate in us
regarding that person? We think
about the object of our love and
affection. We think about them,
we speak of them often, and
whenever possible, we
communicate with them and most
of all, want to be with them. We
give them symbols of love
(cards, gifts, etc.).
If we fall in love with a man or
a woman because a need we have
is fulfilled through creating a
bond, then what should our
feelings be about the One Who
has provided for all of our
needs--Who, indeed, is the
Creator and Sustainer of the man
or woman we love, as well as
ourselves? If we call our loved
one on the telephone at every
opportunity, how often should we
call on The One Who brought us
into existence from a speck of
dust out of His love for Himself
and us? We should think of Him
not only once a day, or even 5
times a day, but moment to
moment.
5) Let us
analyze this situation: why do
our relationships in life
invariably bring discontentment,
dissatisfaction, and in most
instances, dissolve?
It is because our inclination
towards other human beings is
not a primary inclination; it is
secondary. We cannot find
fulfillment in any secondary
need if we ignore the primary
need. Our primary need is for
Allah (God). Though He
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is the true
Center of our existence, we have
replaced Him with secondary
needs, which cannot be
successfully done. When we put
our personal relationships ahead
of our relationship with Allah
(God), we are guilty of "shirk",
which is the Arabic word for
belief in more than one God.
When we set up gods besides
Allah, not only do we bring
about the degeneration and
destruction of those
relationships, but we destroy
any hope of a relationship with
Him.
Then what is the means by which
we learn to love our Lord the
way we should? How is any true
love created, nurtured and
brought to fruition? By
repetition of those actions
which increase the bond that is
Love.
The child sucks from the breast
over and over again. Each time
the child draws the milk and the
satisfaction that comes with it,
the child's love for its mother
grows; her love for the child
grows as she draws satisfaction
from giving him the milk.
Our love for Allah (God) is
nurtured from repetition of acts
of devotion to Him. Each time we
pray and draw the incredible
feeling of happiness and
satisfaction that comes from
prayer, our love for Him grows.
Each thing we do in His way
increases our Love. And as our
love for Him grows, we recognize
Him as the True Center of Our
existence and the source of
balance for our lives. Once we
are right with Him, and only
when we are right with Him, do
we have a hope of right
relations with others.
(Note on imbalance)
Each of us has experienced
overcompensation. e.g., the
human body needs iron. When the
iron supply in the body is
depleted due to one thing or
another, the result is a
condition known as anemia. In
order to correct this imbalance,
or iron deficiency, we ingest
certain foods which are
particularly rich or abundant in
iron in order to restore
balance.
Mental imbalance results from
the taking away of some
component necessary to mental
stability. In order to restore
that imbalance, the missing
component must be restored or
compensated for.
6) Black people
are not balanced; nor is
humanity in general. Allah (God)
created us with a-natural
inclination towards Him. That
inclination causes us to move in
His direction from the very
beginning of life to the end.
But the journey to Allah (God)
has been aborted because of
Falsehood and the acceptance of
Falsehood.
Our brains were created to think
right. Falsehood, which is
untruth or deception, produces a
spiritual and chemical imbalance
in the brain. And since the nine
(9) systems of the human body
all rely upon the brain, its
imbalance
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results in a
malfunctioning of the entire
health system. Even though there
may still be a regular
heartbeat, normal blood
pressure, etc., there is a very
real dysfunction that ultimately
shortens life--because Allah
(God) intended for us not to be
nearly balanced, but we are made
to achieve exquisite balance.
The proof that humanity is
imbalanced is the absence of the
three (3) essentials of balance:
Freedom, Justice and Equality.
This is due to the oppression
and mistreatment of people by
one another. It is reflected in
our speech, our walk, our
personal habits, our
interpersonal relationships and
our relationship with Self.
It is a pitiful sight to see
humanity trying to compensate
for the imbalance, each in his
or her own way and not Allah's
Way. We have failed to recognize
Him as the center of our
existence, so we are doomed for
dissatisfaction and
disappointment.
And so, marriage is not
rewarding. It does not provide
contentment because the marriage
consists of two imbalanced parts
instead of one belief and faith
in Allah (God). And so the
husband tries to compensate by
working in his career day and
night; the wife pours herself
into her art and music, etc. Our
job, our pastimes, etc., become
the source of balance and of
course are incapable of
providing balance, so
frustration builds. So the
restoration of balance to the
individual is the key to the
balance of the society.
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GLOSSARY
PLANET One of the non-luminous
bodies of the Solar System that
revolve around the Sun as their
center of motion and their
source of light and life.
ORBIT The path in space along
which a body moves about its
center of attraction. The course
of one's life or range of one's
activities.
BALANCE The state of being in
equilibrium; equipoise;
equality; also, mental
stability, sanity. An instrument
for weighing; the scale by which
deeds and principles are weighed
and destinies are determined; a
symbol of Justice. To bring
into, keep or be in equilibrium;
to keep in due proportion.
MEASURE The extent or dimensions
of anything. See footnote 2407
in the Maulana Muhammad Ali
translation of the Holy Qur'an.
The Arabic word "mizan'
(measure) signifies
justice...the giving of their
due to those who deserve it.
FULCRUM The support on or
against which a lever rests. Any
prop or support.
GRAVITATION (GRAVITY) The force
of mutual attraction between all
bodies, equal to a constant
times the quotient of the
product of the masses of the
bodies divided by the square of
the distance between them; an
act or process caused by this
force. The force of attraction
by which terrestrial bodies tend
to fall toward the center of the
Earth. From the Latin word
"gravis", meaning "heavy".
AXIS The central part of
anything. A line on which
something rotates or around
which something is symmetrically
arranged.
SYMMETRY The balance or beauty
of form or proportion resulting
from the correspondence of
opposite parts in size, shape
and position.
INCLINATION (INCLINE) A set or
bent, especially of the mind or
will, a liking or preference, a
tendency toward a certain
condition. To have a preference
of be disposed towards; to
deviate from the vertical by
slanting, bowing or bending in a
certain direction. To listen
with favor or willingness.
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RECKONING
Count or computation;
calculation; a measuring for the
future; the settlement of
rewards or penalties for any
action (day of reckoning).
Holy Qur'an
CHAPTER 55
Al-Rahman: The Beneficent
SECTION 1: Divine
Beneficence
In the name of Allah, the
Beneficent, the Merciful.
1 The Beneficent
2 Taught the Qur’an.
3 He created man,
4 Taught him expression.
5 The sun and the moon follow
a reckoning,
6 And the herbs and the trees
adore (Him).
7 And the heaven, He raised
it high, and He set up the
measure,
8 That you may not exceed the
measure,
9 And keep up the balance
with equity, nor fall short in
the measure.
10 And the earth, He has set
it for(His)creatures;
11 Therein is fruit and palms
having sheathed clusters,
12 And the grain with
(its)husk and fragrance.
13 Which then of the bounties
of your Lord will you deny?
Part 27 DIVINE
BENEFICENCE
14 He created man from dry
claylike earthen vessels,
15 And He created the jinn of
flame of fire.
16 Which then of the bounties
of your Lord will you deny?
17 Lord of the two Easts, and
Lord of the two Wests.
18 Which then of the bounties
of your Lord will you deny?
19 He has made the two seas
to flow freely — they meet::
20 Between them is a barrier
which they cannot pass.
21 Which then of the bounties
of your Lord will you deny?
22 There come forth from them
both, pearls large and small.
23 Which then of the bounties
of your Lord will you deny?
24 And His are the ships
reared aloft in the sea like
mountains.
25 Which then of the bounties
of your Lord will you deny?
SECTION 2: Judgment of
the Guilty
26 Everyone on it passes away
—
27 And there endures forever
the person of thy Lord, the Lord
of glory and honour.
28 Which then of the bounties
of your Lord will you deny?
29 All those in the heavens
and the earth ask of Him. Every
moment He is in a state (of
glory).
30 Which then of the bounties
of your Lord will you deny?
31 Soon shall We apply
Ourselves to you, O you two
armies.
32 Which then of the bounties
of your Lord will you deny?
33 O assembly of jinn and
men, if you are able to pass
through the regions of the
heavens and the earth, then pass
through. You cannot pass through
but with authority.
Part 27 JUDGMENT OF THE
GUILTY
34 Which then of the bounties
of your Lord will you deny?
35 The flames of fire and
sparks of brass will be sent
upon you, then you will not be
able to defend yourselves.
36 Which then of the bounties
of your Lord will you deny?
37 So when the heaven is rent
asunder, so it becomes red like
red hide.
38 Which then of the bounties
of your Lord will you deny?
39 So on that day neither man
nor jinni will be asked about
his sin.
40 Which then of the bounties
of your Lord will you deny?
41 The guilty will be known
by their marks, so they shall be
seized by the forelocks and the
feet.
42 Which then of the bounties
of your Lord will you deny?
43 This is the hell which the
guilty deny.
44 Round about shall they go
between it and hot, boiling
water.
45 Which then of the bounties
of your Lord will you deny?
SECTION 3: Reward of the
Righteous
46 And for him who fears to
stand before his Lord are two
Gardens.
47 Which then of the bounties
of your Lord will you deny?
48 Full of varieties.
49 Which then of the bounties
of your Lord will you deny?
50 Therein are two fountains
flowing.
51 Which then of the bounties
of your Lord will you deny?
52 Therein are pairs of every
fruit.
53 Which then of the bounties
of your Lord will you deny?
54 Reclining on beds, whose
inner coverings are of silk
brocade. And the fruits of the
two Gardens are within reach.
55 Which then of the bounties
of your Lord will you deny?
56 Therein are those
restraining their glances, whom
no man nor jinni has touched
before them.
57 Which then of the bounties
of your Lord will you deny?
Part 27 REWARD OF THE
RIGHTEOUS
58 As though they were rubies
and pearls.
59 Which then of the bounties
of your Lord will you deny?
60 Is the reward of goodness
aught but goodness?
61 Which then of the bounties
of your Lord will you deny?
62 And besides those are two
(other)Gardens.
63 Which then of the bounties
of your Lord will you deny?
64 Inclining to blackness.
65 Which then of the bounties
of your Lord will you deny?
66 Therein are two springs
gushing forth.
67 Which then of the bounties
of your Lord will you deny?
68 Therein are fruits and
palms and pomegranates.
69 Which then of the bounties
of your Lord will you deny?
70 Therein are goodly
beautiful ones.
71 Which then of the bounties
of your Lord will you deny?
72 Pure ones confined to
pavilions.
73 Which then of the bounties
of your Lord will you deny?
74 Before them man has not
touched them, nor jinni.
75 Which then of the bounties
of your Lord will you deny?
76 Reclining on green
cushions and beautiful carpets.
77 Which then of the bounties
of your Lord will you deny?
78 Blessed be the name of thy
Lord, the Lord of Glory and
Honour
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Self-Improvement
It is written in the Holy
Qur'an, which is the Book of
Scripture for the Muslims, that
Allah created man to face
difficulties. God has brought us
all onto the Earth to face one
difficulty after another and it
is the facing of these
difficulties and the overcoming
of these difficulties that helps
us to improve our character and
improve ourselves.
Now, the key word is 'to face' a
difficulty. 'To face' a
difficulty means to look at it;
to assess it; to summon the
total strength or our being to
oppose it; to overcome it; to
have a determined, persevering,
courageous spirit to overcome
the difficulty. There is no
difficulty that man is faced
with that man does not have the
ability to overcome, if he will
summon the strength of his being
against that obstacle in the
pathway of his progress.
But, how many of us turn our
backs on difficulties? Whenever
the difficulty comes, we turn
away from it; try to find an
easy road out of a difficult
situation. I am talking to all
of us. How many of you, when a
difficult situation arises in
your life, summon the strength
of your being to stand
resolutely and firmly in the
face of that difficulty to
overcome it? Or, do you turn
away?
Brothers and Sisters, each time
we turn away from the struggle
to overcome difficulty, there
then is deterioration of
character and there is
destruction of the Will --- and
the Will that is within you is
God's gift. It is His Essence
that He gives to man and
anything that deteriorates your
Will destroys your ability to
cope with the problems of life.
Struggle is ordained.
Struggle is ordained by God. God
is not a vicious God. He is a
Loving, a Beneficent and
Merciful God, but He ordains
struggle. Because without
struggle, you cannot bring out
of yourself that which God has
deposited within you. It is
something that has to be brought
out and it is a struggle
overcoming difficulties that
manifest your own gifts and your
own sublime qualities.
Struggle is ordained, but the
Qur'an teaches that 'after
difficulty comes ease.' God
gives you difficulty then He
gives you ease. It is like a
blacksmith, if you will, who is
shaping a piece of steel. He
puts it in the fire then he
beats it and he cools it. This
is the way God forges men and
women of character. He does not
forge you into great men and
women without the fire, the
water and the beating. These are
the difficulties of life; we
must face them; we must overcome
them. All Praise is due to
Allah.
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