Answer
Wa Alaykum Assalam Dear Daniel,
Thank you again for your question. This is a continuation of Part 1.
Verse 11 of Chapter 13, Ar-Raad, also tells us that our condition depends on the state of our heart, if the heart is sound then it will be content, happy and satisfied and if it is corrupted then it will be dissatisfied, and unhappy. And a happy and satisfied heart does not lose this quality even with few material things of this world, and good or a blessing, in one of the forms, that is contentment, will continue to be with someone while he has a pure heart. Allah tells us what is translated as:
{That is so because Allah will never change a grace which He has bestowed on a people until they change what is in their ownselves.} (Al-Anfal, 8:53)
The key to a better state while being in difficulty is to purify one’s heart and intentions, and be in a state of gratefulness to Allah. Unless that is done, Allah’s help will not come to individuals (or nations).
If you are Muslim, then Allah has guided you. What you need to do now is to strengthen your Iman – degree of certainty of your belief, and to increase your Taqwa – your consciousness of Allah.
I was a practicing Christian, then I realized I wouldn’t find God in the Christian Church so I gave up organized religion. After some 8 years I came to Islam, al-hamdulillah (Thank God). I asked Allah for guidance, putting my forehead on the ground and talking/praying to Him.
After, I said the Shahadah – commitment to Islam I began to worry if I would find something out about Islam that would make me want to go away from it. One night when I couldn’t sleep, in my mind came:
“O you who believe, go not astray from the right path, the path that leads to Allah, the One God, Lord of all Creation.”
Now, I don’t attempt to explain this any further; to me the meaning is clear. I am aware that while revelation has ceased, Wahy (inspiration) still occurs.
My conclusion is, one has to open their heart to the truth in order to have the right relationship with God. If you profess a religion, do you strive to live up to all its teachings? If not, why not? For Islam, Allah will not change the state of a person until they (first) change themselves. By your own admission you are having doubts, so much so, that you are trying to make your faith conditional on being shown “a sign”.
This is similar to the Quraish (the idolaters of Makkah) asking for a sign. Or to the Christians, where Jesus (peace be upon him) is reputed to have answered in the Bible:
[A wicked and adulterous nation asks for a sign. No sign shall be shown to it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah was three days in the belly of the fish so shall the son of man be.] (Matthew 12-39-40)
All this tells us is that something may happen but can we understand it when it does happen? Also, are we conditioned to be receptive when it does happen? Even when a sign does or did come, the succeeding generations refused to believe in it.
For example, after the “Night Journey” of Muhammad (peace be upon him), he described Jerusalem, and he told the Makkans a caravan was coming which they knew nothing about. It is not the Signs that makes one believe.
Consider the signs of Allah, the ayah (verse) or words of the Quran. Do you believe them? When you read the Quran do you open your heart and mind to the truth that is coming from Him? If you do not, how will you recognize a sign from Him?
Don’t be like the desert Arabs who say: “We believe!” Allah says what means:
{The desert Arabs say, we believe. Say, you have no faith; but you (only) say, we have submitted our wills to Allah, for not yet has faith entered your hearts. But if you obey Allah and His Messenger, He will not belittle any of your deeds: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. Only those are believers who have believed in Allah and His Messenger, and have never since doubted, but have striven with their belongings and their persons in the Cause of Allah: such are the sincere ones, Say, What! Will you instruct Allah about your religion? But Allah knows all that is in the heavens and on earth: He has full knowledge of all things. They impress on you as a favor they have embraced Islam. Say, count not your Islam as a favor upon me: No! Allah has conferred a favor upon you that He has guided you to the faith, if you are true and sincere. Certainly Allah knows the secrets of the heavens and the earth; and Allah sees well all that you do.} (Quran 49:14-18)
Believers are also explained in the first eleven verses of Surah (chapter) al-Mu’minun (The Believers).
We would do well to remember that our Iman, degree of certainty of faith is not constant, it fluctuates. And, Allah is continuously testing us: How strong is our faith, how well do we do in the tests we face? Only Allah knows but we will find out on the Day of Judgment.
May Allah grant us a firm faith, may He help us to live as Muslims and cause us to die only in the faith of Islam, Ameen.
I hope this helps address your concern.
Salam and please stay in touch.