Eid Message from Dr. Pasha
“Believers of the World Unite!”
Hot on the Heels of World Day of Fasting,
Dr. Pasha Issues Call for
World Day of God!
Hajj 2012/Eidul Adha 1433
Thursday, October 25, 2012.
Dr. Pasha
World Day of God
Believers of the world unite!
Hindus, Jews, Christians, Muslims and others! Let all of us unite to do something together: something all of which is good and none of which is bad.
Let us all come together to jointly celebrate the World Day of God 2012 on this Eidul Adha, 1433.
That will coincide with Hajj 2012.
And that, I think, is Thursday, October 25, 2012.
For, that is the right thing to do.
For, that is the spirit of the Qur’an, which is God’s own immortal word in this world – in our mortal hands.
That is right! World Day of God!
On Thursday, October 25, 2012: Eidul Adha, 1433.
Jews and Christians Say They Believe in God
Let me explain why and how.
Perhaps – all I am saying is perhaps, nothing more. Perhaps, there is nothing more common or more popular in this entire world than belief in God – One God.
That is to say: God the Almighty; God the Creator; God the Maker and Master of the World.
And God the One Who Gives and Takes Away Life.
And, ultimately, God the one and only!
Jews say they believe in God – One God.
And they have said that forever. And, if you ask me, they have paid quite dearly for saying it.
Christians claim they believe in God – One God. And it doesn’t matter how they come to that point.
Over and above all things, they say, Christians I mean, that is their core belief: One God.
I say, let us take the Christians on their word.
Hindus Say: Aikam Sat!
Hindus argue they too, in their own way, believe in God – One God.
No matter how many other smaller gods they may appear to pay homage to.
And no matter how many different temples they may have set up for each one of them.
For, they say: Truth Is One.
Aikam Sat, they say.
Over and above all these idols, images, statues and deities there is a God, they say: One God.
God of gods, they say: God the Almighty!
The one and only supreme God of all, they say, and they say they refer to him by different names such as Paramatma.
And Isvara.
And Brahman.
And Bhagavan.
And all those different names, they say, mean one and the same thing: God the Almighty!
God the Supreme!
God the One!
And by that we mean, they say, the one and only God that is over and above everything and everyone else.
Aikam Sat, they say.
And that means: “Truth Is One.”
And I say: Let us take the Hindus on their word too.
We are not going to lose this one without a mighty fight: the fight to proclaim that God is one.
And unite humanity on that noble basis, if we can.
We will take from everyone what each can give and then build on it.
If the Hindus say that is what they mean, we are going to take them on their word.
And we are going to proclaim to the whole world that that is what they mean.
And go from there.
Muslims Say They Too Believe in God
Now, here is what I say: Let us take all these people on their word. No matter how they couch, phrase and articulate that word.
Hindus, Jews, Christians, all.
If they all say it is God they believe in, let us all say: Okay, it is God you believe in.
Period! End of discussion.
Who are we to question the veracity of their belief?
And let us proceed from there.
Now, I should think, that is well over 2,000,000,000 (Two Billion) human beings you are looking at, don’t you think so?
And that is close to nearly a third of the human race.
And they all seem to be saying one thing: God Is One.
That is, one way or another they all seem to suggest that they believe in God – one God. Although, we must admit, they seem to be saying it in several different ways.
Some seem to say it loudly, clearly and without any ambiguity whatsoever: There is no God but God.
And they say it in the original Arabic language of the Qur’an – the language and words of God: Laa Ilaaha Illaa Allah!
Those are the Muslims.
Right behind the Muslims come the Jews. But as a matter of historical truth, in chronological order, the Jews come before the Muslims – way before the Muslims.
In fact, the Jews come even before the Christians.
So, we have got to give Jews the credit and honor of historical precedence. And let them fight it out with the Hindus which one of them came first and who came second.
And now let us add to this mix of believers of the Jewish, Hindu and Christian variety, the world’s 1,500,000,000 Muslims.
Because Muslims too claim they believe in God – One God.
And they too, just like the Jews, take quite a bit of pride in their clear-cut, strong and unyielding Monotheism – belief in One God.
Half of Humanity Believes in God
So, here it is: Hindus, Muslims, Jews and Christians, all believe in God.
At least so they all say.
And let us take all of them on face value and do some crude head counting.
Now then, at the end of all this tallying and analysis, what do you have?
You probably have well over one-half of the entire population of the world – 50 percent of the entire human race. And that is, I am quite confident, not a soul less than 3.5 billion people (3,500,000,000) spread in practically every corner of the world.
That is a pretty impressive tally, wouldn’t you say?
Every single one of them repeating, in one form or another, in one language or another, in every nook and cranny of this world, the same single slogan: We Believe in God.
That to me is the greatest and most spectacular wonder that this world has to offer.
That means you can pretty much close your eyes and declare God the winner of this contest, if there ever was a contest: More than half of humanity believes in him. And always has.
God Wins, Hands Down!
No contest.
God has won. Hands down, I must say.
And contrary to the lies some people concocted some years ago with book titles such as God Is Dead, all to sell some books and make some money, contrary to that perverse and evil assertion, God lives.
As he always has and will.
God is alive and well. For, he is God – al-Hayyul Qayyoom: ever-living, perfectly free from all dependencies, infirmities, needs and weaknesses.
For believers in God, I would say, that is not a bad handicap to start out with. Not a bad set of runs on the Big Board – all 3,500,000,000 of them – before you even showed up on the crease or the plate or held a bat in your hand or pretended to swing it.
Not bad: For all these believers in God, not a bad day at all.
Believing in God: What Does It Mean?
Let me now summarize what it is these folks are saying.
They all, mind you in one way or another, as the saying goes, believe God exists.
They believe he made them. They believe he made and owns and runs the world in which they live and operate.
They also believe everything they have was given to them by God, and when the time comes he shall take it all away from them.
So, in principle, they would all like to be on the right side of God – and keep him pleased.
I don’t think anyone would want to dispute any of what I have said thus far. I don’t think so, but who knows – people being people. So up to this point, let us say, we all agree. More or less.
But right at this point we may also say: Let the Fights Begin.
You can have two matches going at the same time – on two different courts if you are thinking of tennis. The Jews and the Muslims can fight it out which one of them is a better believer or a stronger Monotheist.
On the other court, Hindus and Christians can go after each other trying to establish who can get to God faster in the midst of all the icons and images they both have set up in such joyous abundance.
An Easy Way Out
But I have a simple test: a really easy way out. If you say you believe in God, you are a believer in God – period. That is it. That should end the debate.
There isn’t going to be any trial by fire here. Your word is good enough.
Also, there is something else that is important. How good or bad a believer you are. And, whether or not, your actions bear out your beliefs.
But at least for the time being, we must leave that stuff to be sorted out between you and your God.
So, given the fact that at least one half of the world believes in God, I say let us all join hands to celebrate a World Day of God.
That means I am calling on all the Jews, Christians, Hindus and Muslims of the world to jointly declare a common day of celebrating God Almighty – the Maker and Master of the World.
And let us do it on this coming Hajj day – which is celebrated as Eidul Adha all over the world on Thursday, October 25, 2012.
Hajj Unites Us All
Hajj, as well as Eidul Adha, is a celebration of Abraham and Isaac and Ishmael. They are all important Biblical Prophets.
And, guess what, they are all important not only to Jews and Christians, but also to Muslims. And that means every Muslim everywhere.
How is that as a basis – or an excuse if you wish – for a common cause or for some kind of a coming together or meeting of minds as they say?
So, none of them can say no, right?
As for the Hindus, they are some of the most accommodating people in the world when it comes to reaching across the aisle. So, they will be happy to oblige.
What to Do on World Day of God
Here is what I suggest we do on that day: On World Day of God.
- Wake up in the morning – as much before sunrise as you can.
- Brush and clean and wash up.
- Shower and bathe as convenient.
- Wear clean clothes.
You don’t have to, but if you want to put on a new shirt or tie, or wear a new jacket or a new pair of pants, or sport a new skirt or blouse or dress or anything else, just go for it.
Feel good about yourself and about what you are doing: Stepping out of yourself, as it were, to meet your God.
Don’t throw a lot of money getting anything new and expensive, but, hey, if you can afford it why not indulge within the limits of moderation.
And don’t forget, whether you are a Muslim or not, Islam came to teach us all moderation – in practically everything we do.
Find a Clean Place – and Concentrate
Once you are clean and once you have put on fresh, clean clothes, here is what you do:
- Find a clean, quiet and peaceful place.
- Sit or stand in that place for the next 20-30 minutes.
If you can do it before sunrise, that is great. If not, do it whenever you can.
Make sure there are no pictures, images, icons, idols and other such distractions where you are standing.
All the stuff the Bible says you should not have and should not bow down to.
Just a clean place, with a clean floor covering as you see fit – a sheet; a rug; a carpet.
Basically, any type of flooring including cement, tile, wood or something else will do so long as it is clean.
After that:
- Start emptying your head and your heart of all bad things.
- Things such as lust and greed;
- Hate and hostility;
- Anger and covetousness.
- And try and keep all distractions and intrusions at bay.
- And begin to concentrate.
- Concentrate on the name of God: GOD ALMIGHTY!
- The One and Only.
- Concentrate on him, on his name.
Or concentrate on Allah if you prefer it in Arabic.
Allah Is What Everyone Calls Him
Jews, Christians as well as Muslims all refer to God as Allah in Arabic.
God the almighty.
God of love and forgiveness.
God of compassion and grace.
And God of renewal and hope.
One and only God.
And then slowly start chanting:
“No God besides God!”
“No God besides God!”
“No God besides God!”
Those words are from the Old Testament.
And they are also from the New Testament.
And they are also from the Qur’an.
Being from the Old Testament, as those words are, the Jews should love them.
Those words also came out of the mouth of Jesus. So the Christians should love them too.
The Muslims can chant the same words in Arabic if they want:
“Laa Ilaaha Illaa Allah!”
That is directly from the Qur’an.
And it means “No God besides God!”
That is the same message of the Old Testament.
And of the New Testament.
Recaptured here and immortalized in the original divine language of the Quran.
And through the non-stop day-and-night chanting of 1.5 billion Muslims around the world.
Do It for 15-20 Minutes
- Do this for no less than 15-20 minutes.
- Keep up the chant of “No God besides God!” for all of a quarter of an hour plus five minutes or so.
- Don’t turn left or right: Just look straight ahead and down.
- Look down if you are standing.
- Close your eyes if you want to.
- Make sure you don’t talk to anyone.
- Do it alone, all by yourself, if you prefer it that way.
- Or do it with others you are comfortable with.
- But talk to no one but God.
- Concentrate. Concentrate. Concentrate.
Keep in mind you are now talking to God Almighty, your maker and master.
You are calling out his name.
That is why you can’t talk to him and talk to others, all at the same time.
And you are asserting his presence and his glory and his majesty right in his presence.
And you are face to face with him.
And these words – your words – have effect.
They have a life and a power and glory of their own.
This is real big league now.
There is nothing bigger or mightier or more powerful than what you are doing right now: Calling out to God and chanting his name.
You Are Now One with the Universe!
You have now become one with the universe – with all of God’s creation.
For, that is what the entire universe is busy doing: chanting God’s glorious name.
By doing this, you are now establishing a direct connection between yourself and God Almighty on the one hand and between yourself and the rest of God Almighty’s creation on the other hand.
That is what you are doing.
Nothing less.
On the one hand, you are talking to God – one on one, face to face: without intermediaries.
And without translators.
And without intercessors to plead your case.
Or talk in your behalf.
On the other hand, you are teaming up with the rest of the universe in singing God’s praises and in glorifying his name.
Think about Him – and No One Else
Now here is what you need to remind yourself continuously:
Don’t think about yourself.
Just think about HIM – the one whose name you are calling.
Say: He! He! He!
Or say: Hu! Hu! Hu!
Or say: Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!
It is the same thing in the original Arabic language of the Qur’an: God, the Almighty.
Just keep saying He, Hu or Hoo – over and over for the next 10-15 minutes.
Concentrate.
Keep your eyes down or look intently in front of you.
Or close them if you feel better and more focused that way.
Then take a breather of a minute or two.
Then change back to reciting: No God besides God!
Or say it in the original Arabic language of the Qur’an:
“Laa Ilaaha Illaa Allah!”
Chant it how you want. There is no right or wrong way of saying it.
Sing it if you like.
Go into a trance if that state of divine bliss and temporary disconnect or oblivion from your surroundings overtakes you.
Think about Him, Not about You
Don’t think about who you are: Hindu, Jew, Christian or Muslim.
Rich, poor, black, white, man, woman.
Instead focus and concentrate on who HE is: God of All.
God of love.
God of mercy and compassion.
God of forgiveness and reprieve.
God of revival, renewal and regeneration.
Feel and see his presence before you.
Do this for the next 10-15 minutes.
I know some of you may complain 20-30 minutes is a long time. And it is.
But trust me you would need that time.
And you will come to love it.
And, sooner than later, there will come a time when you will not have enough of it and will not want to be without it.
In fact, if you keep it up, there will come a time when you will not be able to rest till you have fed your soul its daily complement of it.
Beware of the Devil!
Here is something or someone you should know: the Devil.
For the first several minutes, the Devil will not let you concentrate.
He will come up with a million distractions to take your mind and heart away from what you are doing.
And from what you are saying.
The Devil will make you remember every little thing you had long forgotten. He will make it come alive in your mind like it was only moments ago.
But you need to be strong – and focus and concentrate.
Concentrate on God.
Concentrate on God who made you.
On God who keeps you alive.
On God who loves you.
On God to whom you shall return when you die.
After the first 10 or 15 minutes of wrestling with the Devil, you will be rolling along beautifully.
God’s grace will descend upon you; his spirit will move you; and his mercy will envelop you.
You Will Never Be the Same Again
You will never be the same man or woman again.
At that point, bring your hands together, blow into the palms of your hands.
And then run your hands on your face, head and all over your body.
Let all of us – every one of us: Hindu, Jew, Christian and Muslim – let us all do this on this coming World Day of God.
On Thursday, October 25, 2012: Eidul Adha, 1433.
On this coming Hajj 2012/1433.
And, maybe, thereafter, everyday if you wish: What is to stop you?
Or wait for the next World Day of God, the following year.
It doesn’t matter when and how you do it.
Just do it!
Repeat This Routine Before You Go to Bed
Oh, yes, something else.
Repeat this routine before you go to bed.
Put some pressure on yourself and make it happen.
You will do yourself a great favor by doing it.
And before you realize it you would have taught yourself a new habit.
A very nice and useful one – that will not only change you but quite possibly also change your world.
What to Do During the Day
I am sure you are asking: What about the rest of the day?
You are saying to yourself: What do I do the whole day, between my morning and evening encounters with God?
Here is what: You make a colossal and firm resolve that at least for that day, and if possible for every single day of your life thereafter, you will do two things.
One, you will tell yourself that the overriding purpose of every one of your acts for that day, and if possible for every single day for the rest of your life, would be to please God: to make your master happy.
Two, proceeding from that basic commitment, you will also strive your utmost to do everything you do keeping in mind the overall good of all of God’s creation.
That is all.
How can you go wrong with any of this?
That is how simple and easy it is: to celebrate World Day of God.
This year.
And every other year thereafter.
God Bless You!
And the world in which you live.
END
© 2012 Syed Husain Pasha
Dr. Pasha is an educator and scholar of exceptional
talent, training and experience. He can be reached at DrSyedPasha [at]
AOL [dot] com or www.IslamicSolutions.com.
