Topic: "Try to be near to Perfection"

[Orthopreacher]

Paul, we know well that Allah is Very Forgiving and Very Generous in Pardon, but should we encourage people to rely on this?

By that do you mean "should we sin because we know God will forgive"?  I would say not.  

However, to rely on God's forgiveness is the very essence of good news.  It is not good news, to me, to tell me that God is sending me these new 84 commandments (arbitrary number) or that God has this step by step formula for me to perform like a recipe and if I mix it correctly then I live, if I mix it wrong then I die.  That is not good news.

Even though I do not encourage sin, I also do not condemn anyone for not being perfect since I know that no man can be perfect and sinless.

ciao
paul

[Sami Yusuf Islam]

By that do you mean "should we sin because we know God will forgive"?  I would say not.  

However, to rely on God's forgiveness is the very essence of good news.  It is not good news, to me, to tell me that God is sending me these new 84 commandments (arbitrary number) or that God has this step by step formula for me to perform like a recipe and if I mix it correctly then I live, if I mix it wrong then I die.  That is not good news.

Even though I do not encourage sin, I also do not condemn anyone for not being perfect since I know that no man can be perfect and sinless.

ciao
paul

Paul.

We do somehow see eye to eye on this.

In brief, Muslims are directed to be in between two extremes:

The first extreme is what we call Al – Iyaass, that is being sure that no matter what I do, Allah would not forgive me and would for sure punish me.

The second extreme is Al- Amn, and you can imagine, this is exactly the opposite, and this is the case of one that drowns in sins being confident that no matter what, God would in anyway forgive him or her and he or she would not be punished.

Every Muslim should find himself or herself in between those two extremes:

Fearing Allah’s punishment, while hoping that He would pardon and forgive His slave…

[Orthopreacher]

Every Muslim should find himself or herself in between those two extremes:

Fearing Allah’s punishment, while hoping that He would pardon and forgive His slave…

I guess we might like to find this middle road, however, I see that our approach is much different.  While I do feel the role of servant is great, I am not only able to approach God as a slave, rather as an adopted, chosen son.  It is through his Spirit that I can cry out from my innermost being Abba, Father. (quickest translation of the Greek word Abba is to say familiar form, English?  Daddy).

ciao
paul

[Sami Yusuf Islam]

Abee is arabic for Daddy...

We do have our great sufi methods Paul , methods that get us closer to the obedience of Allah by teaching us how to love Him and His beloved ones..