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The First Article
Explains the virtues of acceptance (riza) with verses and hadith.
O esteemed one! Know that the Exalted has, through His grace, taught acceptance to His servants and proclaimed:
“Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Allah. This is the ultimate triumph and gain.” (Ma’idah, 5/119) “Glorify Him both during the night hours and at the edges of the day—that you may be pleased [with Allah].” (Taha, 20/130) "Therein is forgiveness from Allah and acceptance." (Hadid, 57/20) "Their Lord has bestowed upon them mercy and acceptance.” (Tawba, 9/21) “Allah’s acceptance is better than all of it. This is the ultimate triumph!” (Tawba, 9/72) “Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Allah.” (Tawba, 9/100)
These are those who are on the side of Allah. Know well that only those who are on the side of Allah will attain salvation." (Mujadala, 58/22) “O tranquil soul! Be pleased with your Lord, and let Him be pleased with you, as you return to Him.” (Fajr, 89/27-28) "Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Allah. This is what has been spoken for those who fear their Lord." (Bayyina, 98/8)
And in the Sacred Hadith it is said: “O Adam! Whoever does not accept My decree, and does not show patience against the hardships I give him, let him seek another Lord.” “O Adam! Be pleased with what comes from Me so that I may be pleased with you and provide for you with My love.” “O Adam! You desire, and I desire. But ultimately, My will prevails. When you are pleased with My will, I shall grant you what you desire.” “O Adam! There is no healing for you except in accepting My decree. O Adam! I am pleased with your prayers which you perform daily, and you be pleased with the provision which I give you every day. Just as I do not ask for tomorrow’s prayer from you, so do not ask me for tomorrow's provision.” “O Adam! Those servants of Mine who draw near to Me in spirituality (the Near Ones – *muqarrabin*) have not approached Me with anything more beloved than accepting My decree." "Servant! You cannot approach Me with anything more beloved than accepting My decree."
The Exalted and Majestic One said: “Servant, if you are pleased with Me, I will be pleased with you. If you only ask me for what you need, I shall give it to you.” The Exalted and Majestic One said: "Servant, My acceptance is in your submission to My decree. If you submit to My decree, you attain My acceptance."
And the Noble Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) supplicated thus: “O Allah! I desire acceptance [of Your decree].” And he said: “May He have mercy on whoever knows himself, controls his tongue, and is pleased with what has been decreed by his Lord.” And he said: "The Exalted One has servants on earth whose hearts are brighter than the sun, and whose actions resemble those of prophets. There is little and much for them in this world. They have accepted whatever He has ordained for them and found His acceptance." And he said: “The Exalted One has made ease and tranquility in acceptance, and hardship and sorrow in rejecting what has been decreed.” And he said: "Whoever is pleased with the little provision that the Exalted One gives him, Allah will be pleased with him with few deeds." And he said: "Whoever is pleased with the Exalted One, let him know that the Exalted One is also pleased with him."
For the Exalted One has said in the Noble Quran: “Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him.” (Bayyina, 98/8) and has announced that His acceptance precedes the acceptance of His servants.
And he said: "The most excellent and beloved deeds before Allah are to be pleased with Him and to love Him." And he said: “Whoever seeks the pleasure of people at the displeasure of Allah, Allah will despise him and distance people from him. Whoever seeks the pleasure of Allah in rejecting the pleasure of people, Allah will be pleased with him and make people pleased with him.” And he said: "All goodness lies in accepting what has been decreed. If you do not accept it, then be patient, for patience turns into acceptance with time." And he said: “The perfection of faith is attained by accepting what has been decreed and being patient in adversity."
*Nazm* (Poem)
1- Learn the alchemy from the Beloved of God, how pleasing. Accept whatever Allah does, how pleasing.
2- When grief and sorrowful pain come to the heart, accept them as familiar to yourself, how pleasing.
3- The inner thoughts descend into the heart from God, accept all of it with welcome, how pleasing.
4- Grief is a guest; treat it with respect. Thus you will have averted calamities from yourself, how pleasing.
5- May grief not find you except in a state of joy. Do not reject sorrow, know it as a remedy, how pleasing.
6- This grief is blessed, it never diminishes. They say, "Grief is a blessing, a delight for the heart," how pleasing.
7- Do not flee from adversity; do not be an unmanly person to God! The valiant have found bliss through adversity, how pleasing.
*(Translation of the Nazm)*