The Raiment of Righteousness Part One Sura 7:26 al-Araf
Greetings in the name of Allah the most merciful and righteous, oft-forgiving and compassionate. May the ‘Ruh’ Allah be with you as you consider this topic which is exceedingly essential for us to know! “O ye Children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover your shame, as well as to be an adornment to you. But the raiment of righteousness,- that is the best. Such are among the Signs of Allah, that they may receive admonition!” Sura 7:026 Al-Araf Righteousness must be an important topic, since it is mentioned over 70 times in the Honored Qur’an and over 200 times in the Bible. What does ‘righteousness’ mean? A clear definition of this word is: “Purity of heart and rectitude of life; conformity of heart and life to the divine law. Righteousness, as used in Scripture/Qur’an and theology, in which it is chiefly used, is nearly equivalent to holiness, comprehending holy principles and affections of heart, and conformity of life to the divine law. It includes all we call justice, honesty and virtue, with holy affections; in short, it is true religion.” So how do we attain “righteousness”? Do we naturally possess this trait in our lives?
Adam and Eve
Our first parents were blessed with possessing righteousness in the garden. They were made righteous, from creation…it was a gift from heaven, but when they sinned they forfeited the gift of righteousness. In other words, when they listened to the deceptions of Iblis instead of Allah’s Word they fell from righteousness. Now, all of Adam’s descendants have no way to attain to it again, unless given to them by God. We have no goodness in our lives…all our goodness/righteousness was lost when man sinned in the garden. We are totally destitute of righteousness. Neither is there any goodness in our hearts, nor can we merit righteousness, by our good works. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” Injeel Romans 3:10 As mentioned before in the garden of Eden, Adam and his wife, were both righteous. They needed no clothes to cover themselves, as a sign of their righteousness they were covered with a garment of light. The Prophet Daud wrote: “And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.” Zabur Psalms 37:6 Here righteousness is equal to Light. So our first parents wore no artificial clothes, they were dressed in light. When Adam and Eve fell from righteousness, they lost their heavenly covering and they now saw themselves naked and destitute of light. They had listened to Iblis’ lies, and the covering of light left them. In the Honored Qur’an it states… “In the result, they both ate of the tree, and so their nakedness appeared to them: they began to sew together, for their covering, leaves from the Garden: thus did Adam disobey his Lord, and allow himself to be seduced.” Sura 20.121 Ta-Ha When God came looking for them they went into hiding…and tried to cover themselves with leaves, to hide their nakedness. “And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” Taurat Genesis 3:7-10
The Covering of God
In Adam’s naked dilemma, God had to cover him with the skins of beasts. A lamb had to be slain in order for clothes to be fitted for the now naked man and his wife. Blood had to be shed so that man could again have a covering. This all pointed forward to the “Lamb of God” which would one day come to take away the sin of the world. “…Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” Injeel John 1:29 Thus [Isa] Christ was the lamb of God, and it was His blood that was shed so that guilty man could be forgiven of their sin, and once again attain to righteousness. Man could only through Jesus recover his nakedness with the Righteousness of Isa al-Masih, Jesus. The covering of skins were only temporary fixes. Man was given a second chance to obtain that righteousness which was lost. But how would man be able to once again attain to the character of purity which was lost? Man had forfeited his ability to do right. He could never under his own strength do right or be holy in heart. What a dilemma man was in? Where would help come from? God had a plan…in His plan, He would provide that holy covering once again. That covering would come from another man…the second Adam…Christ. “…My soul shall be joyful in my God. For He clothed me with garments of salvation; He put on me the robe of righteousness…”Isaiah 61:10 “Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.” Zabur Psalms 119:142 Righteousness is something we lost but as we submit to God, and believe in Christ, He will again cloth us with it. This is done through Isa whom was sent…notice righteousness is as a robe put on… Ayub, a man from among the truly wisemen of the East said…“I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.” Taurat Job 29:14 “For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and His gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one Man, Jesus Christ.” Injeel Romans 5:17 “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference.” Injeel Romans 3:22 Will you dear reader believe and accept the gift of righteousness from God? It is a gift, and cannot be earned. Otherwise it ceases to be a gift. “It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces towards East or West; but it is righteousness- to believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book [Bible], and the Messengers…” Sura 2.177 Al-Baqara We are told to seek Righteousness. It obviously can be found or else we would not be told to seek for it. “Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.” Zephaniah 2:3 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Injeel Matthew 6:33 “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Injeel Matthew 5:6 It is for all, of every nation…of every person on earth. His promises are certain. “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” Proverbs 14:34 It tells us in the Honored Qur’an that Isa was the gift of a righteous son.[Sura 19:19] “The Noble Qur’an” He maintained his integrity before God and now earned the right to bestow this precious gift upon us who believe in Him. Therefore true good works are a result of the gift of Righteousness given to us. Good deeds which stem from the heart are therefore the fruit of righteousness. Once we posses this gift we have the perfect right to enter into Heaven. So all depends upon obtaining this gift of Righteousness, truly it is like a robe…and we must be clothed with this robe from heaven. Woven in the loom of heaven with no earthly devising. This robe will allow you abundance entrance into the Kingdom of Bliss. “Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength… Isaiah 45:24 Righteousness and law always go together. They cannot be separated. “O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea.” Taurat Isaiah 48:18 “My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.” Zabur Psalms 119:172 “But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. “ Injeel Acts 10:35 “…and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Jeremiah 23:6 In the last days, true Christians and true Muslims will unite and together will sound forth the praise of Allah and will accept His Righteousness. “For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.” Taurat Isaiah 61:11 “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” Daniel 12:3 Today ask Allah that you may be in possession of the covering of Righteousness which comes through Isa.
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