Dignity vs. Pride
Pride and Dignity are of two separate descriptions that are used to describe a self appreciation or honorary emotion that lends to our own self-confidence and identity. The opposite of dignity is degradation (and humiliation) something that most people try to avoid at all cost; where Pride is a feeling that one has about oneself. The opposite of pride is shame. ... Unlike the very lowly cost of losing ones dignity, pride has the ability to rebound quickly especially when one is willing to accept responsibility for ones mistakes.
Holy Quran 2:30
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وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ إِنِّى جَاعِلٌ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً ۖ قَالُوٓا۟ أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ ٱلدِّمَآءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
And [mention, O Muhammad to your people], when your Lord said to the angels, "Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority." They said, "Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?" Allah said, "Indeed, I know that which you do not know."
Holy Quran 2:34
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وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ ٱسْجُدُوا۟ لِءَادَمَ فَسَجَدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِبْلِيسَ أَبَىٰ وَٱسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ
And [mention] when We said to the angels, "Prostrate before Adam" {this was not a prostration of worship but to honor man {Adam}}; so they [all the Angels] prostrated, except for Iblees {satan}. He refused and was arrogant and became of the disbelievers.
Adam’s creation signified a new creation that would become “Khalifa” {the word takes its meaning from successional generations; in terms of leadership it means the same as in successive transfer from our Prophet Muhammad s.a.w to those who assume the prophetic model of leadership upon divine laws governing creation}. Since the American “War on Terror” and the demonization of Islam and Arabic terms, the word “Khalifa” is used in media in terms of an aspiring evil empire or the likes. But if you consider very briefly the history of the papal authority...In early times the pope was not just the religious leader, but also the head of state combined. It wasn’t until “The French Revolution” that would put an end to the papal combined power with its 1848 revolution. Rome then shrunk from its papacy held lands, becoming part of unified Italy, and after the battle of Porta Pia in 1870 (the battle led by Pius IX in to maintain his sovereignty over the Papal States) Rome was declared the new capital of Italy.
Therefore, since the history of our prophets established this type of governance over humanity and creation, its quite fair to say that the papal accordance is a stolen identity of this sanctified leadership upon that which the prophets’ themselves instituted by the instructions of Allah; and whom were divinely inspired and validated as prophets {miracles they performed & revelation}; something popes lack in comparison to the powers people bestow upon them {popes}.
A Khalifa or vicegerent is one who exercises the authority delegated to him by his principal {Allah}, and does so in the capacity of a deputy or agent. Hence, whatever authority he possesses is not inherently his own, but is derived from, and circumscribed by, the limits set by his principal {Allah}. A vicegerent is not entitled to do what he pleases, but is obliged to carry out the will of his master. If the vicegerent were either to begin thinking himself the real owner and then started to use the authority delegated to him in whatever manner he pleased, or if he were to acknowledge someone other than the real owner as his lord and master and follow his directions; these would be deemed punishable acts of infidelity and rebellion. Thus, as the verse signifies that all the angels whose jurisdiction embraces the heavens & earth {but for mankind in this world, that part of the universe in which the earth is situated} were ordered to devote themselves to man's service & protection. Since man had been invested with authority on earth {khalifa}, the angels were told that whenever man wanted to make use of the powers with which he had been invested him by Allah, and which Allah of His own will had allowed him to use, they should co-operate with him and enable him to do what is justified for him to do or enact, but also extends over into issues that hang over own heads from persistence in bad choices irrespective of right and wrong, which we are also accountable.
Holy Quran 29:12
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّبِعُوا۟ سَبِيلَنَا وَلْنَحْمِلْ خَطَٰيَٰكُمْ وَمَا هُم بِحَٰمِلِينَ مِنْ خَطَٰيَٰهُم مِّن شَىْءٍ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَٰذِبُونَ
And those who disbelieve say to those who believe, "Follow our way, and we will carry your sins." But they will not carry anything of their sins. Indeed, they are liars.
Holy Quran 29:13
وَلَيَحْمِلُنَّ أَثْقَالَهُمْ وَأَثْقَالًا مَّعَ أَثْقَالِهِمْ ۖ وَلَيُسْـَٔلُنَّ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ عَمَّا كَانُوا۟ يَفْتَرُونَ
But they will surely carry their [own] burdens and [other] burdens along with their burdens {for misguiding others}, and they will surely be questioned on the Day of Resurrection about what they used to invent.
Holy Quran 33:67
وَقَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّآ أَطَعْنَا سَادَتَنَا وَكُبَرَآءَنَا فَأَضَلُّونَا ٱلسَّبِيلَا۠
And they {who enter Hell} will say, "Our Lord, indeed we obeyed our masters {boss/worker relationships} and our dignitaries {people of wealth & power}, and they led us astray from the [right] way.
This can be understood another way with reference to the manner in which government employees are required to work. When a sovereign {Allah} appoints a governor or a magistrate {mankind}, all government employees {angels} under his jurisdiction are then held dutiful towards his orders. But as soon as the sovereign {Allah} indicates to those employees {angels} that his appointed governor or magistrate {mankind} should be barred from his position, the effective authority of the governor or the magistrate {mankind} comes to an abrupt end. In fact, the loyalties to the sovereign {Allah} by those {angels} who work under his appointees {mankind} are never suppressed; because if the sovereign {Allah} were to issue an order that the governor {mankind} be dismissed or imprisoned, the same employees {angels} who were doing his {mankind} bidding would not hesitant in putting their hands on him {mankind} and taking him to prison {hell}. Allah’s order for the angels to prostrate themselves before Adam was of a similar nature. Perhaps, It is possible that “prostration” signifies, ceremonially the fact of their becoming yoked to man's service. At the same time it is also possible that they, were ordered to perform the act of prostration itself as a sign of the envisaged {way for them to see} the relationship between angels and man.
- Pride Feeds our Self-Image
- Dignity Nourishes Us
Holy Quran 2:30
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وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ إِنِّى جَاعِلٌ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً ۖ قَالُوٓا۟ أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ ٱلدِّمَآءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
And [mention, O Muhammad to your people], when your Lord said to the angels, "Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority." They said, "Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?" Allah said, "Indeed, I know that which you do not know."
Holy Quran 2:34
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وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ ٱسْجُدُوا۟ لِءَادَمَ فَسَجَدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِبْلِيسَ أَبَىٰ وَٱسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ
And [mention] when We said to the angels, "Prostrate before Adam" {this was not a prostration of worship but to honor man {Adam}}; so they [all the Angels] prostrated, except for Iblees {satan}. He refused and was arrogant and became of the disbelievers.
Adam’s creation signified a new creation that would become “Khalifa” {the word takes its meaning from successional generations; in terms of leadership it means the same as in successive transfer from our Prophet Muhammad s.a.w to those who assume the prophetic model of leadership upon divine laws governing creation}. Since the American “War on Terror” and the demonization of Islam and Arabic terms, the word “Khalifa” is used in media in terms of an aspiring evil empire or the likes. But if you consider very briefly the history of the papal authority...In early times the pope was not just the religious leader, but also the head of state combined. It wasn’t until “The French Revolution” that would put an end to the papal combined power with its 1848 revolution. Rome then shrunk from its papacy held lands, becoming part of unified Italy, and after the battle of Porta Pia in 1870 (the battle led by Pius IX in to maintain his sovereignty over the Papal States) Rome was declared the new capital of Italy.
Therefore, since the history of our prophets established this type of governance over humanity and creation, its quite fair to say that the papal accordance is a stolen identity of this sanctified leadership upon that which the prophets’ themselves instituted by the instructions of Allah; and whom were divinely inspired and validated as prophets {miracles they performed & revelation}; something popes lack in comparison to the powers people bestow upon them {popes}.
A Khalifa or vicegerent is one who exercises the authority delegated to him by his principal {Allah}, and does so in the capacity of a deputy or agent. Hence, whatever authority he possesses is not inherently his own, but is derived from, and circumscribed by, the limits set by his principal {Allah}. A vicegerent is not entitled to do what he pleases, but is obliged to carry out the will of his master. If the vicegerent were either to begin thinking himself the real owner and then started to use the authority delegated to him in whatever manner he pleased, or if he were to acknowledge someone other than the real owner as his lord and master and follow his directions; these would be deemed punishable acts of infidelity and rebellion. Thus, as the verse signifies that all the angels whose jurisdiction embraces the heavens & earth {but for mankind in this world, that part of the universe in which the earth is situated} were ordered to devote themselves to man's service & protection. Since man had been invested with authority on earth {khalifa}, the angels were told that whenever man wanted to make use of the powers with which he had been invested him by Allah, and which Allah of His own will had allowed him to use, they should co-operate with him and enable him to do what is justified for him to do or enact, but also extends over into issues that hang over own heads from persistence in bad choices irrespective of right and wrong, which we are also accountable.
Holy Quran 29:12
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّبِعُوا۟ سَبِيلَنَا وَلْنَحْمِلْ خَطَٰيَٰكُمْ وَمَا هُم بِحَٰمِلِينَ مِنْ خَطَٰيَٰهُم مِّن شَىْءٍ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَٰذِبُونَ
And those who disbelieve say to those who believe, "Follow our way, and we will carry your sins." But they will not carry anything of their sins. Indeed, they are liars.
Holy Quran 29:13
وَلَيَحْمِلُنَّ أَثْقَالَهُمْ وَأَثْقَالًا مَّعَ أَثْقَالِهِمْ ۖ وَلَيُسْـَٔلُنَّ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ عَمَّا كَانُوا۟ يَفْتَرُونَ
But they will surely carry their [own] burdens and [other] burdens along with their burdens {for misguiding others}, and they will surely be questioned on the Day of Resurrection about what they used to invent.
Holy Quran 33:67
وَقَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّآ أَطَعْنَا سَادَتَنَا وَكُبَرَآءَنَا فَأَضَلُّونَا ٱلسَّبِيلَا۠
And they {who enter Hell} will say, "Our Lord, indeed we obeyed our masters {boss/worker relationships} and our dignitaries {people of wealth & power}, and they led us astray from the [right] way.
This can be understood another way with reference to the manner in which government employees are required to work. When a sovereign {Allah} appoints a governor or a magistrate {mankind}, all government employees {angels} under his jurisdiction are then held dutiful towards his orders. But as soon as the sovereign {Allah} indicates to those employees {angels} that his appointed governor or magistrate {mankind} should be barred from his position, the effective authority of the governor or the magistrate {mankind} comes to an abrupt end. In fact, the loyalties to the sovereign {Allah} by those {angels} who work under his appointees {mankind} are never suppressed; because if the sovereign {Allah} were to issue an order that the governor {mankind} be dismissed or imprisoned, the same employees {angels} who were doing his {mankind} bidding would not hesitant in putting their hands on him {mankind} and taking him to prison {hell}. Allah’s order for the angels to prostrate themselves before Adam was of a similar nature. Perhaps, It is possible that “prostration” signifies, ceremonially the fact of their becoming yoked to man's service. At the same time it is also possible that they, were ordered to perform the act of prostration itself as a sign of the envisaged {way for them to see} the relationship between angels and man.
Dignity is an expression of who we are. It is not about our social status, money, or achievements. We affirm ourselves and maintain self-compassion, whether we experience successes or failures in the world. Our dignity might derive simply from doing our best to live as an ethical human being. It might be based on our capacity for honesty, authenticity, and kindness. We live with a nourishing sense of gentle dignity as we become true to ourselves, honor ourselves as we are.
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- Pride Pumps Up Our Superiority
- Dignity Contains Humility and Gratitude
Because sophistication is always most often attributed to pridefully upholding oneself through entangling oneself within the fabric of what gives us value; but when we are stripped from valued possessions or privileges it becomes fast apparent that we are no different from any other Human-being. In fact, the fear that rushes in upon prideful individuals when stripped of what gives them this false sense of arrogance, can be very humbling and self-correcting when this person realizes that they may be actually worse than the individuals they have judged previously.
Holy Quran 49:11
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يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا يَسْخَرْ قَوْمٌ مِّن قَوْمٍ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَكُونُوا۟ خَيْرًا مِّنْهُمْ وَلَا نِسَآءٌ مِّن نِّسَآءٍ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَكُنَّ خَيْرًا مِّنْهُنَّ ۖ وَلَا تَلْمِزُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَلَا تَنَابَزُوا۟ بِٱلْأَلْقَٰبِ ۖ بِئْسَ ٱلِٱسْمُ ٱلْفُسُوقُ بَعْدَ ٱلْإِيمَٰنِ ۚ وَمَن لَّمْ يَتُبْ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ
O you who have believed, let not a people ridicule [another] people; perhaps they may be better than them; nor let women ridicule [other] women; perhaps they may be better than them. And do not insult one another and do not call each other by [offensive] nicknames. Wretched is the name of disobedience after [one's] faith. And whoever does not repent - then it is those who are the wrongdoers.
Holy Quran 31:18
وَلَا تُصَعِّرْ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَمْشِ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُورٍ
And do not turn your cheek [in contempt] toward people and do not walk through the earth exultantly. Indeed, Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful.
Holy Quran 31:19
وَٱقْصِدْ فِى مَشْيِكَ وَٱغْضُضْ مِن صَوْتِكَ ۚ إِنَّ أَنكَرَ ٱلْأَصْوَٰتِ لَصَوْتُ ٱلْحَمِيرِ
And be moderate in your pace and lower your voice; indeed, the most disagreeable of sounds is the voice of donkeys."
The Quran, in all the ways it amazes, sources all human activity back to the first occurrences of every circumstance or situation humanity might find itself...The creator {Allah} is best suited in explaining to us our human psychology as he created us. The human being, is a complex organism and in order to properly diagnose our issues we must consider our entire being as they overlap in influencing our choices and behavior.
Holy Quran 7:20
فَوَسْوَسَ لَهُمَا ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ لِيُبْدِىَ لَهُمَا مَا وُۥرِىَ عَنْهُمَا مِن سَوْءَٰتِهِمَا وَقَالَ مَا نَهَىٰكُمَا رَبُّكُمَا عَنْ هَٰذِهِ ٱلشَّجَرَةِ إِلَّآ أَن تَكُونَا مَلَكَيْنِ أَوْ تَكُونَا مِنَ ٱلْخَٰلِدِينَ
But Satan whispered to them to make apparent to them that which was concealed from them of their private parts. He said, "Your Lord did not forbid you this tree except that you become angels or become of the immortal."
سيآت ، سوءتهما ،سيئة
Although Adam and Eve were both naked in Paradise as Allah had created them both; they were not comprehensive to their nakedness nor shameful of it, because the state they were upon {prior to eating from the tree} was of a spiritual purity. We should also understand too that Adam was first created in Jannah and dwell ed there as the first human being. Throughout all of Jannah {paradise} he was the only creation like himself, and despite all that he had around him, he felt alone, a condition of the human being when he/she isn’t able to connect or identify with someone like unto themselves. So Allah created his mate and since they lived in Jannah {paradise} their creation {bodies} was different from our earthly body’s because everything in paradise is pure...thus Adam & Eve’s bodies we proportioned for that purity in paradise.
Holy Quran 7:22
فَدَلَّىٰهُمَا بِغُرُورٍ ۚ فَلَمَّا ذَاقَا ٱلشَّجَرَةَ بَدَتْ لَهُمَا سَوْءَٰتُهُمَا وَطَفِقَا يَخْصِفَانِ عَلَيْهِمَا مِن وَرَقِ ٱلْجَنَّةِ ۖ وَنَادَىٰهُمَا رَبُّهُمَآ أَلَمْ أَنْهَكُمَا عَن تِلْكُمَا ٱلشَّجَرَةِ وَأَقُل لَّكُمَآ إِنَّ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنَ لَكُمَا عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ
So he [Satan] made them fall, through deception. And when they tasted of the tree, their private parts became apparent to them, and they began to fasten together over themselves from the leaves of Paradise. And their Lord called to them, "Did I not forbid you from that tree and tell you that Satan is to you a clear enemy?"
After Adam & Eve both ate from the tree the first thing removed from them was their spiritual purity and the innocence that occupied that purity by first becoming humiliated by the lost of the felicity they had. The shame that derives from injured pride often comprises the bulk of our devastation when someone hurts us. Our injury derives from how we think we’re being perceived by the other person. But for Adam & Eve, its was the humiliation they must of felt toward the other creation in Jannah {paradise} with them, like the Angels whom Adam was honored by. Most of all the humiliation that they would both feel towards disobeying Allah.
Holy Quran 7:23
قَالَا رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَآ أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْخَٰسِرِينَ They said, "Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers." Humiliation brings with it the destruction of pride proportionate to the wrong doing, and with that thoughts which activate inner feelings of not being worthy of respect. Pride is easy prey to our inner critic. |
Holy Quran 7:24
قَالَ ٱهْبِطُوا۟ بَعْضُكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ ۖ وَلَكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مُسْتَقَرٌّ وَمَتَٰعٌ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ
[Allah] said, "Descend, being to one another enemies. And for you on the earth is a place of settlement and enjoyment for a time."
As a result, Their {Adam & Eve} purity was lost which also denotes a mental state...as a consequence because of their shared choice to eat from the tree that would lift the veil to their protected felicity, they we banished to the lowest heaven {as-sammawat Dunya, the lowest of the 7 heavens} to the world in which we find ourselves. With a new dwelling, we have a new body created from the substances of our new earthly home, and the spiritual purity our father and mother once had has to be something we seek and find through the guidance Allah has promised us through his prophets, and revelations.
Dignity allows for a courageous and humble vulnerability; Dignity is not so concerned about how others perceive us; it rests securely on how we are holding and viewing ourselves. Unlike puffed up pride, Dignity doesn’t question our worth and value as a person. If someone breaks up with us, it’s a painful loss, but our grieving is complicated by bouts of self-doubt and self-denigration, although we might explore our own actions to see if we contributed to difficulties in the relationship. Yet in still, this is contemplated with dignity and self-respect, especially when one is truthful with oneself.
Pride on the other hand gives away our power. Pride often prevents us from looking at our role in an interpersonal conflict. Instead, we get fixated on blaming, accusing, or attacking whereas Dignity allows us to learn and grow. It’s not undignified to make mistakes. What is undignified is to not learn and grow from them. Pride keeps us spinning our own wheels — and staying painfully stuck towards ways of saving face while avoiding the desperate need to humble oneself and amend the arrogant ambitions acted out.
Differentiating pride from dignity can help orient us toward what nourishes and sustains us. We can’t expect to always hold on to our dignity, but we can practice returning to gently affirm our dignity when we’re succumbing to pride or losing our way. Moving from pride to dignity invites us to continually bring gentleness toward ourselves—accepting and loving ourselves as we are rather than attaching false images to how we think we should be.
Holy Quran 7:26
يَٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ قَدْ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ لِبَاسًا يُوَٰرِى سَوْءَٰتِكُمْ وَرِيشًا ۖ وَلِبَاسُ ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ ءَايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ
O children of Adam, We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts and as adornment. But the clothing of righteousness - that is best. That is from the signs of Allah that perhaps they will remember.
Allah tells us here that he has bestowed upon us clothing {which also means the understanding of fashioning clothing}. Then he [Allah] says, “لِبَاسًا يُوَٰرِى “ to conceal your private parts”. This rahma {mercy} is bestowed upon humanity in order to dignify themselves, first by covering their nakedness. Then secondly he says, “وَرِيشًا “ and as adornment. Dignity is thus given priority to any means by which a person may become prideful...Which is why he {Allah} last states in relevance to clothing, “وَلِبَاسُ ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ” But the clothing of god consciousness {righteous} is better.
Unlike Adam & Eve who were once upon a spiritual purity they couldn’t comprehend their own nudity; we the descendants of them {Adam & Eve} and we are fully aware of our own nakedness as well as the nakedness of others.
Holy Quran 7:27
يَٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ لَا يَفْتِنَنَّكُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ كَمَآ أَخْرَجَ أَبَوَيْكُم مِّنَ ٱلْجَنَّةِ يَنزِعُ عَنْهُمَا لِبَاسَهُمَا لِيُرِيَهُمَا سَوْءَٰتِهِمَآ ۗ إِنَّهُۥ يَرَىٰكُمْ هُوَ وَقَبِيلُهُۥ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا تَرَوْنَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا ٱلشَّيَٰطِينَ أَوْلِيَآءَ لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
O children of Adam, let not Satan tempt you as he removed your parents from Paradise, stripping them of their clothing to show them their private parts. Indeed, he sees you, he and his tribe [Shaiateen], from where you do not see them. Indeed, We have made the devils allies to those who do not believe.
قَالَ ٱهْبِطُوا۟ بَعْضُكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ ۖ وَلَكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مُسْتَقَرٌّ وَمَتَٰعٌ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ
[Allah] said, "Descend, being to one another enemies. And for you on the earth is a place of settlement and enjoyment for a time."
As a result, Their {Adam & Eve} purity was lost which also denotes a mental state...as a consequence because of their shared choice to eat from the tree that would lift the veil to their protected felicity, they we banished to the lowest heaven {as-sammawat Dunya, the lowest of the 7 heavens} to the world in which we find ourselves. With a new dwelling, we have a new body created from the substances of our new earthly home, and the spiritual purity our father and mother once had has to be something we seek and find through the guidance Allah has promised us through his prophets, and revelations.
Dignity allows for a courageous and humble vulnerability; Dignity is not so concerned about how others perceive us; it rests securely on how we are holding and viewing ourselves. Unlike puffed up pride, Dignity doesn’t question our worth and value as a person. If someone breaks up with us, it’s a painful loss, but our grieving is complicated by bouts of self-doubt and self-denigration, although we might explore our own actions to see if we contributed to difficulties in the relationship. Yet in still, this is contemplated with dignity and self-respect, especially when one is truthful with oneself.
Pride on the other hand gives away our power. Pride often prevents us from looking at our role in an interpersonal conflict. Instead, we get fixated on blaming, accusing, or attacking whereas Dignity allows us to learn and grow. It’s not undignified to make mistakes. What is undignified is to not learn and grow from them. Pride keeps us spinning our own wheels — and staying painfully stuck towards ways of saving face while avoiding the desperate need to humble oneself and amend the arrogant ambitions acted out.
Differentiating pride from dignity can help orient us toward what nourishes and sustains us. We can’t expect to always hold on to our dignity, but we can practice returning to gently affirm our dignity when we’re succumbing to pride or losing our way. Moving from pride to dignity invites us to continually bring gentleness toward ourselves—accepting and loving ourselves as we are rather than attaching false images to how we think we should be.
Holy Quran 7:26
يَٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ قَدْ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ لِبَاسًا يُوَٰرِى سَوْءَٰتِكُمْ وَرِيشًا ۖ وَلِبَاسُ ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ ءَايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ
O children of Adam, We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts and as adornment. But the clothing of righteousness - that is best. That is from the signs of Allah that perhaps they will remember.
Allah tells us here that he has bestowed upon us clothing {which also means the understanding of fashioning clothing}. Then he [Allah] says, “لِبَاسًا يُوَٰرِى “ to conceal your private parts”. This rahma {mercy} is bestowed upon humanity in order to dignify themselves, first by covering their nakedness. Then secondly he says, “وَرِيشًا “ and as adornment. Dignity is thus given priority to any means by which a person may become prideful...Which is why he {Allah} last states in relevance to clothing, “وَلِبَاسُ ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ” But the clothing of god consciousness {righteous} is better.
Unlike Adam & Eve who were once upon a spiritual purity they couldn’t comprehend their own nudity; we the descendants of them {Adam & Eve} and we are fully aware of our own nakedness as well as the nakedness of others.
- First, the need to cover oneself is not an artificial urge in man; rather it is an important dictate of human nature. Unlike animals, Allah did not provide man with the protective covering that He provided to animals. Allah has rather endowed man with the natural instincts of modesty and bashfulness. Moreover, the private parts of the body are not only, related to sex, but also constitute 'sawat' that also relates to the exposure of our private parts accompanied with bashfulness. Also, Allah did not provide man with a natural covering in response to man's modesty and bashfulness, but has inspired in him the urge to cover himself. This is in order that man might use his reason to understand the requirements of his nature, use the resources made available by Allah, and provide himself a dress [clothing].
- Second, man instinctively knows that the moral purpose behind the use of dress [clothing] takes precedence over the physical purpose. Hence the idea that man should resort to dress in order to cover his private parts precedes the mention of dress as a means of providing protection and adornment to the human body. In this connection man is altogether different from animals, With regard to the latter, the natural covering that has been granted serves to protect them from the inclemency of weather and also to beautify their bodies. However, that natural covering is altogether unrelated to the purpose of concealing their sexual organs. The exposure of those organs is not a matter of shame for them [animals] and hence their nature is altogether devoid of the urge to cover them. However, as men fall prey to Satanic influences, they develop a false and unhealthy notion about the function of dress. We are then led to believe that the function of dress [clothing] for human beings is no different from that for animals....to protect us from the inclemency of weather and to make our clothing look attractive. As for concealing the private parts of the body, the importance of that function has been belittled by prioritizing the adornment more so than the significance of dignity. For men have been misled into believing that their private parts are, in fact, like other organs of their body. Therefore, Like the case of animals, there is little need for human beings to conceal their sex organs.
- Third, the Qur'an emphasizes that it is not enough for the dress to cover the private parts and to provide protection and adornment to the human body. Man's dress ought to be the dress of piety. This means that a man's dress ought to conceal his private parts. It should also render a man reasonably presentable - the dress being neither too shabby and cheap nor overly expensive and extravagant relative to his financial standing. Nor should dress stink of pride or hauteur, or reflect that pathological mental state in which men prefer characteristically feminine dresses and vice versa: or that the people belonging to one nation mimic people of other nations so as to resemble them, thereby becoming a living emblem of collective humiliation and abasement. The Qur'anic ideal can only be achieved by those who truly believe in the Prophets and sincerely try to follow Allah’s Guidance. For as soon as man decides to reject Allah’s Guidance, Satan assumes his patronage and by one means or another manages to lead him into error after error.
- Fourth, the question of dress constitutes one of the numerous signs of Allah, which is visible virtually throughout the world. When the facts mentioned above are carefully considered it will be quite clear as to why dress ]clothing] is an important sign of Allah as the dignity bestowed upon mankind through our divinely ordained dress code would then manifest in the same spiritual purity our parents {Adam & Eve} experienced in Jannah {paradise}.
Holy Quran 7:27
يَٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ لَا يَفْتِنَنَّكُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ كَمَآ أَخْرَجَ أَبَوَيْكُم مِّنَ ٱلْجَنَّةِ يَنزِعُ عَنْهُمَا لِبَاسَهُمَا لِيُرِيَهُمَا سَوْءَٰتِهِمَآ ۗ إِنَّهُۥ يَرَىٰكُمْ هُوَ وَقَبِيلُهُۥ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا تَرَوْنَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا ٱلشَّيَٰطِينَ أَوْلِيَآءَ لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
O children of Adam, let not Satan tempt you as he removed your parents from Paradise, stripping them of their clothing to show them their private parts. Indeed, he sees you, he and his tribe [Shaiateen], from where you do not see them. Indeed, We have made the devils allies to those who do not believe.
Some regards to Satan in the Israeli-at {stories from the old books of revelation} we find the origin of Lucifer in Old Testament. In the Hebrew, the name Lucifer is translated from the Hebrew word "helel," which means brightness. This designation, referring to Lucifer, is the rendering of the "morning star" or "star of the morning" or "bright star" which is presented in Isaiah. "How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit on the mount of assembly on the heights of Zaphon; I will ascend to the tops of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High’" (Isaiah 14:12-14).
The context of this passage is a referral to the king of Babylon as presented in his pride, splendor and fall. However, it is to the power behind the evil Babylonian king that this is actually addressed. No mortal king would claim that his throne was above that of God or that he was like the Most High. Therefore, the true prideful, power behind the evil Babylonian king is Lucifer, Son of the Morning; SATAN...
Again, Allah calls Satan, Iblees {Iblis} literally means 'thoroughly disappointed; utterly in despair'. In Islamic terminology the word denotes the portion of the jinn who follow Satan in mischief {shaiteen}, in defiance of Allah’s command. As Satan refused to obey and to yoke himself to the service of Adam a.s and his progeny {humanity}; He {satan} instead asked Allah to allow him a term when he might mislead and tempt mankind to evil and error.
Holy Quran 18:50
وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ ٱسْجُدُوا۟ لِءَادَمَ فَسَجَدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِبْلِيسَ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْجِنِّ فَفَسَقَ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِۦٓ ۗ أَفَتَتَّخِذُونَهُۥ وَذُرِّيَّتَهُۥٓ أَوْلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِى وَهُمْ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّۢ ۚ بِئْسَ لِلظَّٰلِمِينَ بَدَلًا
And [mention] when We said to the angels, "Prostrate to Adam," and they prostrated, except for Iblees. He was of the jinn and departed from the command of his Lord. Then will you take him and his descendants as allies other than Me while they are enemies to you? Wretched it is for the wrongdoers as an exchange.
First off Allah makes it clear that Iblîs {Satan} is not a Angel or Fallen-Angel, but rather he is from the race called “JINN”. However, because he was a true worshipper of Allah prior to the creation of Adam a.s, he was given a high rank and give a place among the Angels...This was his station, and because he has lost it by despising what Allah wanted in created man, he is our mortal enemy.
Holy Quran 15:32
قَالَ يَٰٓإِبْلِيسُ مَا لَكَ أَلَّا تَكُونَ مَعَ ٱلسَّٰجِدِينَ
[Allah] said, O Iblees, what is [the matter] with you that you are not with those who prostrate?"
Holy Quran 15:33
قَالَ لَمْ أَكُن لِّأَسْجُدَ لِبَشَرٍ خَلَقْتَهُۥ مِن صَلْصَٰلٍ مِّنْ حَمَإٍ مَّسْنُونٍ
He [Iblis/satan] said, "Never would I prostrate to a human whom You created out of clay from an altered black mud."
Holy Quran 38:75
قَالَ يَٰٓإِبْلِيسُ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَن تَسْجُدَ لِمَا خَلَقْتُ بِيَدَىَّ ۖ أَسْتَكْبَرْتَ أَمْ كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلْعَالِينَ
[Allah] said, "O Iblees, what prevented you from prostrating to that which I created with My hands? Were you arrogant [then], or were you [already] among the haughty?"
Holy Quran 38:76
قَالَ أَنَا۠ خَيْرٌ مِّنْهُ ۖ خَلَقْتَنِى مِن نَّارٍ وَخَلَقْتَهُۥ مِن طِينٍ
He said, "I am better than him. You created me from fire and created him from clay."
The context of this passage is a referral to the king of Babylon as presented in his pride, splendor and fall. However, it is to the power behind the evil Babylonian king that this is actually addressed. No mortal king would claim that his throne was above that of God or that he was like the Most High. Therefore, the true prideful, power behind the evil Babylonian king is Lucifer, Son of the Morning; SATAN...
Again, Allah calls Satan, Iblees {Iblis} literally means 'thoroughly disappointed; utterly in despair'. In Islamic terminology the word denotes the portion of the jinn who follow Satan in mischief {shaiteen}, in defiance of Allah’s command. As Satan refused to obey and to yoke himself to the service of Adam a.s and his progeny {humanity}; He {satan} instead asked Allah to allow him a term when he might mislead and tempt mankind to evil and error.
Holy Quran 18:50
وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ ٱسْجُدُوا۟ لِءَادَمَ فَسَجَدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِبْلِيسَ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْجِنِّ فَفَسَقَ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِۦٓ ۗ أَفَتَتَّخِذُونَهُۥ وَذُرِّيَّتَهُۥٓ أَوْلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِى وَهُمْ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّۢ ۚ بِئْسَ لِلظَّٰلِمِينَ بَدَلًا
And [mention] when We said to the angels, "Prostrate to Adam," and they prostrated, except for Iblees. He was of the jinn and departed from the command of his Lord. Then will you take him and his descendants as allies other than Me while they are enemies to you? Wretched it is for the wrongdoers as an exchange.
First off Allah makes it clear that Iblîs {Satan} is not a Angel or Fallen-Angel, but rather he is from the race called “JINN”. However, because he was a true worshipper of Allah prior to the creation of Adam a.s, he was given a high rank and give a place among the Angels...This was his station, and because he has lost it by despising what Allah wanted in created man, he is our mortal enemy.
Holy Quran 15:32
قَالَ يَٰٓإِبْلِيسُ مَا لَكَ أَلَّا تَكُونَ مَعَ ٱلسَّٰجِدِينَ
[Allah] said, O Iblees, what is [the matter] with you that you are not with those who prostrate?"
Holy Quran 15:33
قَالَ لَمْ أَكُن لِّأَسْجُدَ لِبَشَرٍ خَلَقْتَهُۥ مِن صَلْصَٰلٍ مِّنْ حَمَإٍ مَّسْنُونٍ
He [Iblis/satan] said, "Never would I prostrate to a human whom You created out of clay from an altered black mud."
Holy Quran 38:75
قَالَ يَٰٓإِبْلِيسُ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَن تَسْجُدَ لِمَا خَلَقْتُ بِيَدَىَّ ۖ أَسْتَكْبَرْتَ أَمْ كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلْعَالِينَ
[Allah] said, "O Iblees, what prevented you from prostrating to that which I created with My hands? Were you arrogant [then], or were you [already] among the haughty?"
Holy Quran 38:76
قَالَ أَنَا۠ خَيْرٌ مِّنْهُ ۖ خَلَقْتَنِى مِن نَّارٍ وَخَلَقْتَهُۥ مِن طِينٍ
He said, "I am better than him. You created me from fire and created him from clay."
When pride manifest into systems of Oppression
The Qur’ān was revealed in order to educate a community and establish for it a system and code of life. This community would then carry it to all the corners of the earth in order to educate humanity on the basis of this perfect system freeing humanity from tyranny and servitude towards other men. Hence the Qur’ān was revealed one part at a time, according to the practical needs of that community and the circumstances attending its first formative period. Education and the moulding of a nation and a community require time as well as practical experience.
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Holy Quran 17:62
قَالَ أَرَءَيْتَكَ هَٰذَا ٱلَّذِى كَرَّمْتَ عَلَىَّ لَئِنْ أَخَّرْتَنِ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ لَأَحْتَنِكَنَّ ذُرِّيَّتَهُۥٓ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
[Iblees] said, "Do You see this one whom You have honored above me {Adam}? If You delay me until the Day of Resurrection, I will surely destroy his descendants, except for a few."
Holy Quran 15:39
قَالَ رَبِّ بِمَآ أَغْوَيْتَنِى لَأُزَيِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَأُغْوِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
[Iblees] said, "My Lord, because You have put me in error, I will surely make [disobedience] attractive to them on earth, and I will mislead them all
That is, I will uproot them from the high position of divine vicegerent which demands steadfastness in obedience. Their removal from that high position is just like the tearing of a tree from its roots. Perhaps the tree and its roots is also a good analogy to explain the difference between the two verses.
- In verse 17:62, Satan says, “I will surely destroy his descendants, except for a few."
- In verse 15:39, Satan says, “I will surely make [disobedience] attractive to them on earth, and I will mislead them all.”
The word “discrimination” means simply distinguishing between one thing and another. When we talk about discrimination as a social issue, we refer to distinguishing between population groups defined by specific characteristics – race, gender, religion, national origin, political opinions, sexual orientation, class – and treating groups differently as a result. In terms of preferences, discrimination can be either positive or negative – you can either discriminate in favor of or against a particular group – discrimination is all too familiar in all societies, but should not be mistaken for racism like that known to be in the U.S. where Caucasians are favored for jobs – often unconsciously – over blacks and Asians; Middle Eastern workers are harassed in Europe, African-Americans are stopped for DWB – driving while black – in large American cities. The poor are often blamed for their poverty, and denied basic services because they aren’t “deserving.” Racism takes on systematic apparatus that helps to solidify discrimination with disenfranchisement meant to prolong the conditions set upon a group according to race or ethnicity.
Satan has disposed us {humanity} because Allah first chose to honor us over all other creation, and secondly because he favored the superiority of his own substance {smokeless fire} over that of Adam {Clay} thinking himself better than use. Even though fire is superior to clay {earth}, its not our substance that makes us better in the eyes of Allah, but rather its our god-consciousness in obedience that makes us better than one-another.
Holy Quran 17:63
قَالَ ٱذْهَبْ فَمَن تَبِعَكَ مِنْهُمْ فَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ جَزَآؤُكُمْ جَزَآءً مَّوْفُورًا
[Allah] said, "Go, for whoever of them follows you, indeed Hell will be the recompense of you - an ample recompense.
Here we get the response of Allah to Satan’s first declaration of destroying us, except a few. Allah says, “its only those who follow you”, these are those who put themselves in danger of destruction. While those of us who fall in error, but quickly repent and amend our ways live to fight another day...
Holy Quran 17:64
وَٱسْتَفْزِزْ مَنِ ٱسْتَطَعْتَ مِنْهُم بِصَوْتِكَ وَأَجْلِبْ عَلَيْهِم بِخَيْلِكَ وَرَجِلِكَ وَشَارِكْهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَوْلَٰدِ وَعِدْهُمْ ۚ وَمَا يَعِدُهُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ إِلَّا غُرُورًا
And incite [to senselessness] whoever you can among them with your voice and assault them with your horses and foot soldiers and become a partner in their wealth and their children and promise them." But Satan does not promise them except delusion.
Tempt with your call {Music, philosophy, media, falsehoods etc. } all whom you wish. Muster against them all your forces - your cavalry and your foot soldiers {from jinn and mankind who work to implement evil}; share with them riches and offspring {reward the evil doers, make them wasteful, and through elicit sexual acts}, and seduce them with rosy promises - and Satan's promise is nothing but a deception - The literal meaning of the Arabic text is: You may sweep away those whom you find superficial and weak minded. Here, Satan has been likened to that robber who assaults a habitation with cavalry and infantry and orders them to rob. The cavalry and the infantry of Satan are those jinns and human beings who are engaged in numerous forms and positions in carrying out his mission.
This is a very meaningful sentence which depicts a true and perfect picture of the relationship between Satan and his followers. On the one hand, Satan becomes a partner with the one who follows him in the earning and spending of his money without putting in any labor for it. On the other hand, he does not become a partner in bearing the consequences of his error, crime and sin. But his foolishness follows his instructions as if he were a partner, or, a stronger party of the two. Again in regard to the children of such a man, the father himself bears the whole burden of bringing them up, but under the misguidance of Satan he trains them in wrong and unmoral ways as if he alone was not their father but Satan.
Satan entices them with false promises of success and entangles them in the snare of false expectations.
Oppression is discrimination carried to its extreme. Oppressed people are not only discriminated against, but are also subject to physical and psychological brutality – and occasionally genocide – sometimes for disobeying or displeasing those in power, sometimes to discourage them and others from trying to change their condition, and sometimes out of pure hatred.
Holy Quran 17:65
إِنَّ عِبَادِى لَيْسَ لَكَ عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَٰنٌ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِرَبِّكَ وَكِيلًا
Indeed, over My [believing] servants there is for you no authority. And sufficient is your Lord as Disposer of affairs.
The distinction between discrimination and oppression is important. In most cases, groups that are discriminated against have some recourse, either under the law or through political action. In many countries, groups that were discriminated against have overcome their situations through preserving, education, organization, economic advancement, or some other avenue. For oppressed people, often the only remedy has been force of some sort – either revolutionary action or outside military or economic intervention.
Thus the Qur’ān was not revealed as a theoretical doctrine or an abstract vision to be used for academic study and polemical {controversial} argument. It was revealed part by part over 23yrs from the time the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w was 40yrs until he reached 63yrs. Its {Quran} culmination also was the conclusion of the prophet’s life (s.a.w). Therefore, the Quran coincided with the life of the prophet (s.a.w), his companions (r.a.), and with living history altogether (another of its miraculous virtues). This was so that it could be implemented gradually during this formative period in correcting a people who had become well accustomed to living according to their desires, from the nakedness Satan had descended them into. This is indeed the reason for its gradual revelation, one part or passage at a time, not a whole scripture or code given at the outset because all at once wouldn’t give people time to change and thus they would reject it entirely due to the overwhelming task of self-correction at the height of their desirous lifestyles.
The first generation of believers {those with the prophet s.a.w} received it {the Quran} in this light. They approached it as directives to be implemented in practice, be they prohibitions, recommendations or obligations. They never approached it as something for moral or intellectual debate like poetry and literature, or for amusement like legends and stories. They allowed it to influence their daily lives to the full, bringing their feelings, perceptions and behavior in line with it, and molding their way of life in accordance with its teachings. They discarded whatever was in conflict with it of their values, norms and practices.
`Abdullāh ibn Mas`ūd, a learned Companion of the Prophet says: “When any of us learnt ten verses of the Qur’ān, one would not try to learn more until we had fully learnt their meaning and how to put them into practice.”
Faith does not belong to anyone who makes concessions in it. It belongs to God who needs no one. Faith does not obtain strength if it is supported by people who do not seek it for its own sake, or who do not accept it as it is. A person who does not wish to sit with people dedicated to God’s cause because he feels himself above them will have nothing to contribute to the Muslim community. Such a person is better left out.
Holy Quran 22:52
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وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ وَلَا نَبِىٍّ إِلَّآ إِذَا تَمَنَّىٰٓ أَلْقَى ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ فِىٓ أُمْنِيَّتِهِۦ فَيَنسَخُ ٱللَّهُ مَا يُلْقِى ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ ثُمَّ يُحْكِمُ ٱللَّهُ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
And We did not send before you any messenger or prophet except that when he spoke [or recited], Satan threw into it [some misunderstanding]. But Allah abolishes that which Satan throws in; then Allah makes precise His verses. And Allah is Knowing and Wise.
Holy Quran 22:53
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لِّيَجْعَلَ مَا يُلْقِى ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ فِتْنَةً لِّلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ وَٱلْقَاسِيَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ لَفِى شِقَاقٍۭ بَعِيدٍ
[That is] so He may make what Satan throws in a trial for those within whose hearts is disease and those hard of heart. And indeed, the wrongdoers are in extreme dissension.
Holy Quran 22:54
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وَلِيَعْلَمَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ أَنَّهُ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ فَيُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِهِۦ فَتُخْبِتَ لَهُۥ قُلُوبُهُمْ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَهَادِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
And so those who were given knowledge may know that it is the truth from your Lord and [therefore] believe in it, and their hearts humbly submit to it. And indeed is Allah the Guide of those who have believed to a straight path.