Qur'an 20080429

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

13. O mankind! We created you from of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other. Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you, and Allah has full Knowledge, and is Well Acquainted.

14. The desert Arabs say, "We believe." Say, "You have no faith, but you say, 'We have submitted our wills to Allah,' for not yet has Faith entered your hearts. But if you obey Allah and God's Messenger, God will not belittle aught of your deeds, for Allah is Oft-forgiving, most Merciful."

15. Only those are Believers who have believed in Allah and God's 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.

16. Say, "What! Will you instruct Allah about your religion? But Allah knows all that is in the heavens and on earth. Allah has full knowledge of all things."

17. They impress on thee as a favor that they have embraced Islam. Say, "Count not your Islam as a favor upon me. Nay, Allah has conferred a favor upon you that God has guided you to the Faith, if you be true and sincere."

18. Verily Allah knows the secrets of the heavens and the earth, and Allah sees well all that you do.

The Chambers 49:13-18
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You have no faith, but you say, "We have submitted our wills to Allah," for not yet has Faith entered your hearts. But if you obey Allah and God's Messenger, God will not belittle aught of your deeds, for Allah is Oft-forgiving, most Merciful.

What! Will you instruct Allah about your religion? But Allah knows all that is in the heavens and on earth. Allah has full knowledge of all things.

Count not your Islam as a favor upon me. Nay, Allah has conferred a favor upon you that God has guided you to the Faith, if you be true and sincere.

Verse 13 is a confirmation of the various races and nations of humankind, the reason being that we may gain knowledge of and from each other. Righteousness has no gender, race or nation: it is simply the best of humanity. Some of those who profess "faith", just do with words. But if they back up their words with obedience to the laws set forth by Allah in the Qur'an, and the genuine teachings of the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), then Allah will treat them with Mercy.

Sincere righteousness is not just a "leap of faith", but a "leap of faith with all-out-abandon". Ya Allah! You are my Witness! Even in my wanderings, I have never left You, insyaAllah! And the music that You gave me; even in its experimentation, is from data that You granted upon me. I gave You, and the music You gave me, everything I had, until all I have left are the bags I am able to carry on my back. Ya Allah! You are my Witness! Please forgive me for my weakness, for without You, I would have never got this far. The music that You gave me is my mission: please make my mission a success, and please make me conduct my mission with sincere righteousness.