 | Dr. Nabil Seyam is director of the Board of Administration of the Islamic Society of Wichita and Co-Founder of the Annoor Islamic School. He was the recipient of the Leader of the Year in 2002 in Wichita and most recently was the recipient of the Community Servant Award by the University United Methodist Church in 2003. Dr. Seyam was selected for the Community Servant Award because of his active role in peace-building and multiculturalism throughout Kansas. He is an adjunct instructor for Pittsburg State University and Wichita State University. He is married and has six children. He can be reached at (316) 630-9222 , by e-mail at nabil@seyam.org, or visit his website at www.seyam.org |
***image1:left***QUESTION: I have heard different scholars say that at the end of time, there will be just one Church. What does this mean?
ANSWER: "Truly, my prayer and my devotions, my life and my death, are (all) for God, the Cherisher of the Worlds." (Holy Qur'an, Al-anam 162)
With the above holy words I would like to make an important clarification. The question of what church is the true church of God cannot be explained in an article. Therefore, a few clarifications have to be made. Muslim loyalty is to God above any and all things. Many people are loyal to just about everything but God, and/or God is not on their priority list. To be loyal to a specific party or church, yet no loyalty to God, would lead to an un-Godly lifestyle. Those who have faith are considerate in their behaviors, aiming to attend the will of God, and remain committed to their people and purpose at any cost. On account of minor benefits, they never leave the righteous path and they demonstrate an unshakable and unswerving loyalty to believers and especially to the leader of believers. God describes the loyalty shown by the believers in the Qur'an as follows:
Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with God: of them some have been true to their vows to the very end, and some still await their end: but they have never changed (their determination) in the least. (Al-Ahzap, 23)
Loyalty keeps all believers who struggle for their faith directed toward one goal. This attribute, the essential characteristic of determination, is vital for any community of believers that is steadfast. A believer would fail to keep his self-respect if even once he/she demonstrated a minor neglect in his/her loyalty. Once one loses self-respect completely, one gradually approaches a point where one loses faith.
Being truthful is one of the most important subjects that a believer should be sensitive to. Yes, this is more important than what church to follow. While informing us about hypocrites who are ever ready to escape their obligations, God bids us to give our attention to the pledge they take in the Qur'an about not turning their backs and accordingly states that such people bear a heavy responsibility. And yet they had already sworn to God not to turn their backs in flight, and a covenant with God must (surely) be answered for. (Al-Ahzap, 15) A pledge made to God is indeed a heavy responsibility. Hence, God commands the believers: Nor sell the covenant of God for a miserable price: for with God is (a prize) far better for you,
if you only knew. (An-Nahl, 95)
No doubt, the most significant sign of loyalty is obedience. Obedience is an essential attribute of believers, as stated in the Qur'an.
It is actually the key to earning the mercy of God, to attaining Heaven and gaining a victory against unbelievers. And obey God and the Messenger, so that you may obtain mercy. (Al-E-Imran, 132) Those are limits set by God: those who obey God and His Messenger will be admitted to Gardens with rivers flowing beneath; to abide therein forever and that will be the supreme achievement. (An-Nisa, 13)
Under all circumstances, believers should be committed to obedience for all time. Hypocrites, too, can be obedient, but only when the conditions are not so tough and demanding. However, in times of difficulty and trouble, only true believers persevere in their obedience. In the Qur'an, God informs us that hypocrites living in the time of the Prophet find the fight for faith to be difficult. However, they
join believers in their struggle when they find that it means "immediate gain and an easy journey". Another of the main attributes of believers is to maintain their obedience in every situation and under all circumstances. Obedience is a sure sign of one's faith in God and his total willingness to be a servant to Him. This is surely the only way to
man's salvation. As God states in Surat' Al-Anfal, 24: "O you who believe! Give your response to God and His Messenger, when He calls you to that which will give you life." The messenger calls man to his
eternal salvation. In another verse God states that the Messenger summons the believers to salvation, freedom, contentment and avoidance of evil.
To summarize, the loyalty with God is the secret to success in this life and the hereafter. If we follow his commands, surely we will be guided. For more information please visit my web site at http://www.seyam.org/