Audio Clip | Realize You Matter to God!

Profile:

• Production: Bayan Ma'navi
• Duration: 04:21
• Source: Self-Awareness: The Beginning of Movement and Empowerment – Session 8 

Transcript:

  A person must never succumb to self-belittlement and self-degradation. Saying things like, "I will never amount to anything," or tearing oneself down. In our narrations, it is stated that whoever says, "I will never reach anywhere," will indeed be deprived of everything. A person must never belittle themselves.

 Many people never rise to engage in intimate whisperings and prayer (munajat) with God simply because they do not consider themselves worthy of being taken seriously. Yes! The intimate friends of God (Awliya) go to God's doorstep and plead, "O Lord, have mercy upon Your abased, humble servant (Irham 'abdak adh-dhalil)." But what does this humility and abasement truly mean? If you view yourself so terribly, considering yourself utterly worthless and wretched, you will never even pray for yourself! You will cease going to God's door altogether; you won't even deem yourself worthy enough to converse with God. Why don't we sincerely go to God's threshold right now, shed tears, and plead for the Reappearance (Zuhur)? Because we tell ourselves, "Who are we in this vast universe anyway?! Who am I? Does God even look at someone like me?" You must never consider yourself insignificant!

 Right now, God is eagerly watching and waiting for me to return, to repent, and to reach Him! When He sees me returning—yes, this is explicitly mentioned in the narrations!—it is as if He has found His lost beloved! I matter to God! My supplication is important before Almighty God. God asks, "What did My servant say? What was his longing regarding the Reappearance?" "He said nothing." "Did God truly ask for my opinion?!" Yes, God seeks your voice and your prayer! Never let that toxic, degrading view of yourself prevail over you.

 You might say, "Sir, aren't we supposed to be humble, not think highly of ourselves, and avoid arrogance?" Well, of course, one must never be arrogant. But my dear friend, trying to achieve greatness through the wrong path—that is arrogance (kibr). Striving to become great is inherently noble. A human being yearns to grow spiritually great so they may become fitting for God and be prepared for meeting Him. It is only pursuing it the wrong way that is destructive. You truly matter in the sight of God.

 "Sir, we are sinners; how could we possibly matter?!" My dear friend! Even if you have not attained spiritual greatness, you are still precious. Even a misbehaving child knows that they matter to their mother. A child who fails an exam worries, "How can I face my mom? She will be heartbroken; she will burst into tears." Yet, we make ourselves feel so wretched, so worthless, and so insignificant, as if no loving mother is waiting to shed tears for us! This is truly tragic. You matter to God. "Sir, we are sinners; how could we matter?!" My dear! You are so significant that when you begin seeking forgiveness (istighfar), Almighty God declares: "Tell My servants that when they seek forgiveness, turn back, and repent toward Me, it is like someone who lost their vital provisions and water in a barren desert and suddenly finds them!" You might wonder, "O Lord, are You in need of us?!" He responds, "I am not in need, yet I have such immense longing for this servant of Mine; his destiny matters dearly to Me!"

 Pharaoh mattered so much to God that He commanded Prophet Moses: "Speak gently to him; he has transgressed and is stubborn, so speak in a way that might persuade him." O Lord, does Pharaoh matter to You or Moses?! You tell Moses to show gentle consideration before Pharaoh! Even a rebellious child knows they still matter to their mother.

 What does Iblis (Satan) whisper to you? He says, "God doesn't even glance at you; He doesn't care." Satan is utterly lying! God is watching every single moment: "Will he return to Me or not?" I matter to God!