True Muslims/Submitters: The Believer of Ya-Seen

"Set forth to them, by way of a parable, the (story of) the Companions of the City. Behold!, there came messengers to it.

When We (first) sent to them two messengers, they rejected them: But We strengthened them with a third: they said, "Truly, we have been senton a mission to you."

The (people) said: "Ye are only men like ourselves; and (Allah) Most Gracious sends no sort of revelation: ye do nothing but lie."

They said: "Our Lord doth know that we have been sent on a mission to you:

"And our duty is only to proclaim the clear Message."

The (people) said: "for us, we augur an evil omen from you: if ye desist not, we will certainly stone you. And a grievous punishment indeed will be inflicted on you by us.

They said: "Your evil omens are with yourselves: (deem ye this an evil omen). If ye are admonished? Nay, but ye are a people transgressing all bounds!"

Then there came running, from the farthest part of the City, a man, saying, "O my people! Obey the messengers:

"Obey those who ask no reward of you (for themselves), and who have themselves received Guidance.

"It would not be reasonable in me if I did not serve Him Who created me, and to Whom ye shall (all) be brought back.

"Shall I take (other) gods besides Him? If (Allah) Most Gracious should intend some adversity for me, of no use whatever will be their intercession for me, nor can they deliver me.

"I would indeed, if I were to do so, be in manifest Error.

"For me, I have faith in the Lord of you (all): listen, then, to me!"

It was said: "Enter thou the Garden(paradise)." He said: "Ah me! Would that my People knew (what I know)!-

"For that my Lord has granted me Forgiveness and has enrolled me among those held in honour!"

And We sent not down against his People, after him, any hosts from heaven, nor was it needful for Us so to do.

It was no more than a single mighty Blast, and behold! they were (like ashes) quenched and silent.

Ah! Alas for (My) Servants! There comes not a messenger to them but they mock him!" Quraan 36(Ya-Seen):13-30

وَاضْرِبْ لَهُم مَّثَلاً أَصْحَابَ الْقَرْيَةِ إِذْ جَاءَهَا الْمُرْسَلُونَ

إِذْ أَرْسَلْنَا إِلَيْهِمُ اثْنَيْنِ فَكَذَّبُوهُمَا فَعَزَّزْنَا بِثَالِثٍ فَقَالُوا إِنَّا إِلَيْكُم مُّرْسَلُونَ

قَالُوا مَا أَنتُمْ إِلاَّ بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُنَا وَمَا أَنزَلَ الرَّحْمَن مِن شَيْءٍ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلاَّ تَكْذِبُونَ

قَالُوا رَبُّنَا يَعْلَمُ إِنَّا إِلَيْكُمْ لَمُرْسَلُونَ

وَمَا عَلَيْنَا إِلاَّ الْبَلاغُ الْمُبِينُ

قَالُوا إِنَّا تَطَيَّرْنَا بِكُمْ لَئِن لَّمْ تَنتَهُوا لَنَرْجُمَنَّكُمْ وَلَيَمَسَّنَّكُم مِّنَّا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

قَالُوا طَائِرُكُمْ مَعَكُمْ أَئِن ذُكِّرْتُم بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ مُّسْرِفُونَ

وَجَاءَ مِنْ أَقْصَى الْمَدِينَةِ رَجُلٌ يَسْعَى قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ اتَّبِعُوا الْمُرْسَلِينَ

اتَّبِعُوا مَن لاَّ يَسْأَلُكُمْ أَجْرًا وَهُم مُّهْتَدُونَ

وَمَا لِي لاَ أَعْبُدُ الَّذِي فَطَرَنِي وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ

أَأَتَّخِذُ مِن دُونِهِ آلِهَةً إِن يُرِدْنِ الرَّحْمَن بِضُرٍّ لاَّ تُغْنِ عَنِّي شَفَاعَتُهُمْ شَيْئًا وَلاَ يُنقِذُونِ

إِنِّي إِذًا لَّفِي ضَلالٍ مُّبِينٍ

إِنِّي آمَنتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ فَاسْمَعُونِ

قِيلَ ادْخُلِ الْجَنَّةَ قَالَ يَا لَيْتَ قَوْمِي يَعْلَمُونَ

بِمَا غَفَرَ لِي رَبِّي وَجَعَلَنِي مِنَ الْمُكْرَمِينَ

وَمَا أَنزَلْنَا عَلَى قَوْمِهِ مِن بَعْدِهِ مِنْ جُندٍ مِّنَ السَّمَاء وَمَا كُنَّا مُنزِلِينَ

إِن كَانَتْ إِلاَّ صَيْحَةً وَاحِدَةً فَإِذَا هُمْ خَامِدُونَ

يَا حَسْرَةً عَلَى الْعِبَادِ مَا يَأْتِيهِم مِّن رَّسُولٍ إِلاَّ كَانُوا بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِؤُون

يس : ١٣-٣٠

How easy life is if we just go with flow! Embraced by the majority, not feeling unusual, no criticism, no suspicious looks, feeling accepted and in harmony, singing along with the rhythm, etc ... That's really smooth! Nothing wrong with it though, as long as that's who you are! Namely, that's who you are from the inside and you are reflecting it on the outside. However, if you are something inside but act something else outside just for the sake of going with the flow, then that life is really senseless! You are basically just denying yourself! Rejecting it! No matter how many people respect you because of the outside, that will never ever even up the disrespect you have towards yourself from the inside!

The verses above are talking about a city that her people were extremely repudiators, they keep denying the Messengers no matter what, that even Allah sent two Messengers first and then a third one later on to support the first two but the people of that city insisted on their denial. Apparently they were awfully fanatics to whatever they were worshiping or practicing as culture; thereby they were threatening the Messengers of death just because of what they were promoting for peacefully! In the heat of that critical moment, suddenly, someone came out of the people to announce his support to the Messengers, he accepted their Message and not only that, he immediately started advocating for it!

Apparently, according to the verses and some Hadiths, the man got executed! He was not afraid to stand alone (obviously) as the only believer besides the Messengers against all his people! He faced off all his city! The man took the risk of believing the Messengers and following the truth even though it would imminently cost him his life! He was the man! He was a true submitter!

---

Chorus
I am not afraid to stand alone….
I am not afraid to stand alone…. If Allah is by my side
I am not afraid to stand alone…. Everything will be alright
I am not afraid to stand alone…. Gonna keep my head up high

Single mother raising her children
Now she's a Muslim
Started praying and wearing a headscarf
Was a healing for her heart

Struggling with no one to lean on
But with prayer she would be strong
Had a job but then she was laid off
Had a better education and it paid off

she was called for a job that she dreamed of
Close by, great pay -she was in love - they said...
They brought her in, told her she's the number one pick
You got the job, but you gotta lose the outfit"

this is a tough position that you put me in
Cause Ive been struggling with my two children
But I'll continue looking for a job again
My faith in my religion now will never bend

Chorus

Peer pressure, they were insisting
And I was resistin
Some days I felt I would give in
Just wanted to fit in

I know when I’m praying and fasting’
They be teasing and laughing
So I called to my Lord for the power
For the strength every day, every hour...

One day there’s a new Muslim teacher
Single mom and the people respect her
Just seeing her strength I get stronger
They can break my will no longer

You don’t see me sweating when they’re jokes're cracking
Never see me cursin’ with my pants saggin’
I aint running yo I’m still standing
I ride with Allah to the very end

Chorus

I am not afraid to stand alone...

now , I’m a tough one, who can bear their blows
The rest play dumb, they don’t dare say no
Scared of being shunned, but its peers they know
But I aint gonna run, I aint scared no more….

Man, these sisters be resolute
Never stressed when the rest say they wasn’t cute
And they get the respect of the other youth
Come best with the dress yo and that’s the truth

These sisters are strong gonna hand it down
So me I’m a brotha gotta stand my ground
I aint gonna shudder, when the gangs around
Peer pressure whatever, its my planet now

Others may fall, I’mma hold my own
With the help of Allah I’ll be strong as stone
And I’mma be brave and let Islam be shown
Cause you I know I not afraid to stand alone

Chorus

True Muslims/Submitters: The Magicians Of Pharaoh

"We sent Moses with our tokens unto Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they repelled them. Now, see the nature of theconsequence for the corrupters!

Moses said: O Pharaoh! Lo! I am a messenger from the Lord of the Worlds,

Approved upon condition that I speak concerning Allah nothing but the truth. I come unto you (lords of Egypt) with a clear proof fromyour Lord. So let the Children of Israel go with me.

(Pharaoh) said: If thou comest with a token, then produce it, if thou art of those who speak the truth.

Then he flung down his staff and lo! it was a serpent manifest;

And he drew forth his hand (from his bosom), and lo! it was white for the beholders.

The chiefs of Pharaoh's people said: Lo! this is some knowing wizard,

Who would expel you from your land. Now what do ye advise?

They said (unto Pharaoh): Put him off (a while) - him and his brother - and send into the cities summoners,

To bring each knowing wizard unto thee.

And the wizards came to Pharaoh, saying: Surely there will be a reward for us if we are victors.

He answered: Yes, and surely ye shall be of those brought near (to me).

They said: O Moses! Either throw (first) or let us be the first throwers?

He said: Throw! And when they threw they cast a spell upon the people's eyes, and overawed them, and produced a mighty spell.

And We inspired Moses (saying): Throw thy staff! And lo! it swallowed up their lying show.

Thus was the Truth vindicated and that which they were doing was made vain.

Thus were they there defeated and brought low.

And the wizards fell down prostrate,

Crying: We believe in the Lord of the Worlds,

The Lord of Moses and Aaron.

Pharaoh said: Ye believe in Him before I give you leave! Lo! this is the plot that ye have plotted in the city that ye may drive itspeople hence. But ye shall come to know!

Surely I shall have your hands and feet cut off upon alternate sides. Then I shall crucify you every one.

They said: Lo! We are about to return unto our Lord!

Thou takest vengeance on us only forasmuch as we believed the tokens of our Lord when they came unto us. Our Lord! Vouchsafe unto ussteadfastness and make us die as men who have surrendered (unto Thee). " Quraan 7:103-126

ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَا مِن بَعْدِهِم مُّوسَى بِآيَاتِنَا إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَئِهِ فَظَلَمُواْ بِهَا فَانظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُفْسِدِينَ

وَقَالَ مُوسَى يَا فِرْعَوْنُ إِنِّي رَسُولٌ مِّن رَّبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

حَقِيقٌ عَلَى أَن لاَّ أَقُولَ عَلَى اللَّهِ إِلاَّ الْحَقَّ قَدْ جِئْتُكُم بِبَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ فَأَرْسِلْ مَعِيَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ

قَالَ إِن كُنتَ جِئْتَ بِآيَةٍ فَأْتِ بِهَا إِن كُنتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ

فَأَلْقَى عَصَاهُ فَإِذَا هِيَ ثُعْبَانٌ مُّبِينٌ

وَنَزَعَ يَدَهُ فَإِذَا هِيَ بَيْضَاء لِلنَّاظِرِينَ

قَالَ الْمَلأُ مِن قَوْمِ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّ هَذَا لَسَاحِرٌ عَلِيمٌ

يُرِيدُ أَن يُخْرِجَكُم مِّنْ أَرْضِكُمْ فَمَاذَا تَأْمُرُونَ

قَالُواْ أَرْجِهْ وَأَخَاهُ وَأَرْسِلْ فِي الْمَدَائِنِ حَاشِرِينَ

يَأْتُوكَ بِكُلِّ سَاحِرٍ عَلِيمٍ

وَجَاءَ السَّحَرَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ قَالُواْ إِنَّ لَنَا لأَجْرًا إِن كُنَّا نَحْنُ الْغَالِبِينَ

قَالَ نَعَمْ وَإِنَّكُمْ لَمِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ

قَالُواْ يَا مُوسَى إِمَّا أَن تُلْقِيَ وَإِمَّا أَن نَّكُونَ نَحْنُ الْمُلْقِينَ

قَالَ أَلْقُواْ فَلَمَّا أَلْقَوْا سَحَرُواْ أَعْيُنَ النَّاسِ وَاسْتَرْهَبُوهُمْ وَجَاؤُوا بِسِحْرٍ عَظِيمٍ

وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَى مُوسَى أَنْ أَلْقِ عَصَاكَ فَإِذَا هِيَ تَلْقَفُ مَا يَأْفِكُونَ

فَوَقَعَ الْحَقُّ وَبَطَلَ مَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ

فَغُلِبُواْ هُنَالِكَ وَانقَلَبُواْ صَاغِرِينَ

وَأُلْقِيَ السَّحَرَةُ سَاجِدِينَ

قَالُواْ آمَنَّا بِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

رَبِّ مُوسَى وَهَارُونَ

قَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ آمَنتُم بِهِ قَبْلَ أَن آذَنَ لَكُمْ إِنَّ هَذَا لَمَكْرٌ مَّكَرْتُمُوهُ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ لِتُخْرِجُواْ مِنْهَا أَهْلَهَا فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ

لأُقَطِّعَنَّ أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُم مِّنْ خِلافٍ ثُمَّ لأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ

قَالُواْ إِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا مُنقَلِبُونَ

وَمَا تَنقِمُ مِنَّا إِلاَّ أَنْ آمَنَّا بِآيَاتِ رَبِّنَا لَمَّا جَاءَتْنَا رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَتَوَفَّنَا مُسْلِمِينَ

الأعراف : ١٠٣-١٢٦

The verses above are talking about the story of Moses with Pharaoh, it also shows the attitude of the magicians of Pharaoh before they witness the miracle of Moses and their attitude afterward.

They were officially invited by the God of their time (what an eminent honor!). They attended as professional magicians to perform and expect a good fortune out of the show and also to maintain closer positions with who claims to be God (Pharaoh) at their time. They performed, so Moses did, once they realised that was real not magic they immediately submitted themselves! Not only that, Pharoah threaten them to cruelly torture them and then kill them but they didn't care! "They said: Lo! We are about to return unto our Lord!"

They were not prophets or messengers or saints! To the contrary, they were professional magicians, probably were even very bad people at the time! In spite of all that, once they realized the truth they submitted to it even though it would cost them their lives! That was a true submission! That was a true Islam!

True Muslims/Submitters: Abraham & Ishmael

"My Lord! Vouchsafe me of the righteous,
So We gave him tidings of a gentle son,
And when (his son) was old enough to walk with him, (Abraham) said: O my dear son, I have seen in a dream that I must sacrifice thee. So look, what thinkest thou? He said: O my father! Do that which thou art commanded. Allah willing, thou shalt find me of the steadfast,
Then, when they had both surrendered (to Allah), and he had flung him down upon his face,
We called unto him: O Abraham!
Thou hast already fulfilled the vision. Lo! thus do We reward the good,
Lo! that verily was a clear test,
Then We ransomed him with a tremendous victim." Quraan 37:100-107

رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ

فَبَشَّرْنَاهُ بِغُلامٍ حَلِيمٍ

فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي أَرَى فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ فَانظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَى قَالَ يَا أَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ سَتَجِدُنِي إِن شَاء اللَّهُ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ

فَلَمَّا أَسْلَمَا وَتَلَّهُ لِلْجَبِينِ

وَنَادَيْنَاهُ أَنْ يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ

قَدْ صَدَّقْتَ الرُّؤْيَا إِنَّا كَذَلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِنِينَ

إِنَّ هَذَا لَهُوَ الْبَلاء الْمُبِينُ

وَفَدَيْنَاهُ بِذِبْحٍ عَظِيمٍ

الصافات : الآيات ١٠٠-١٠٧

Abraham/Ibrahim is a messenger that is well known as the Patriarch of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. He was getting old and yet had no offspring as his first wife Sarah was infertile, thus she offered him to marry her servant Hagar so he can have children. He married Hagar and had his firstborn son Ishmael through her, few years later God informed him that he will have another son through Sarah, he did and called him Isaac.

The verses above is talking about Abraham and how he almost sacrificed his son. Briefly, Abraham was long waiting to have children, finally the Almighty fulfilled his supplication and Abraham became a father of one or two sons. Some years later, he had a vision that he must sacrifice his son, as a messenger he must implement the vision. Thus, he informed his son about the vision and the son gave him the permission to do so. He was just about to slaughter his son, God substituted the son with a sheep!

The man was long waiting to have that son, finally he had him then he was about to slaughter him by his own hands?! How insane was that?! That's totally sane for him because he knew surely that he was a Messenger of the Creator, he knew surely that the vision was a request for him from the Creator so he tried to fulfill it without even arguing or doubting with himself!

However, what's even more inspiring was Ishmael's reaction, Abraham was a prophet at the time, he was the one who had the vision, he was the one who used to communicate with the angels and receive the instruction from God, so his reaction was not too much surprising given the fact he was a prophet, but apparently Ishmael was not a prophet at the time yet he believed in the Messenger of his time who also happened to be his father, so the Messenger (Abraham) informed the follower (Ishmael) about the vision and the follower submitted to it even though it would cost him his life! That's what I call a pure submission/surrender.

Theoretically, at that incident the submission of the follower (Ishmael) who also happened to be the son was greater than the submission of the Messenger (Abraham) who also happened to be the father.



Abraham is considered a Muslim in Quraan but not as a follower of Prophet Mohammad but as a true submitter who submitted and surrendered his will to God/Allah which what Islam (Submission) is all about.

"Abraham was not a Jew, nor yet a Christian; but he was an upright man who had surrendered (to Allah), and he was not of the idolaters. " Quraan 3:67

مَا كَانَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ يَهُودِيًّا وَلاَ نَصْرَانِيًّا وَلَكِن كَانَ حَنِيفًا مُّسْلِمًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
آل عمران : الآية ٦٧

"who had surrendered (to Allah)" in the original verse is equivalent to "Muslim" in Arabic.


"And who forsaketh the religion of Abraham save him who befooleth himself? Verily We chose him in the world, and lo! in the Hereafter he is among the righteous,
When his Lord said unto him: Surrender! he said: I have surrendered to the Lord of the Worlds" Quraan 2:130-131

وَمَن يَرْغَبُ عَن مِّلَّةِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِلاَّ مَن سَفِهَ نَفْسَهُ وَلَقَدِ اصْطَفَيْنَاهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَإِنَّهُ فِي الآخِرَةِ لَمِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ

إِذْ قَالَ لَهُ رَبُّهُ أَسْلِمْ قَالَ أَسْلَمْتُ لِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
البقرة : الآيات ١٣٠-١٣١

Was the son Ishmael or Isaac?
Our brothers in Christianity and Judaism believe he was Isaac, we (Muslims) believe he was probably Ishmael even though there are some sources that also indicate he was Isaac. This is unimportant though, the moral of the story is to show what real 'submission' is all about.