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Rabi’a, female Sufi saint. What do you think of this quote?

One day, Rabi'a was seen running through the streets of Basra carrying a torch in one hand and a bucket of water in the other. When asked what she was doing, she said:

"I want to put out the fires of Hell, and burn down the rewards of Paradise. They block the way to God. I do not want to worship from fear of punishment or for the promise of reward, but simply for the love of God."

What do you think? Do rewards and punishments hinder us from loving God completely?

Update:

I'm to see at least one other person appreciates the beauty of Rabi'a! :)

Update 2:

er.. that should read, "I'm happy to see..."

Update 3:

MJQ: Rabi'a never said "I'm not going to love you because you give me a choice of paradise or punishment, hindering my freedom". Not once. She was an extremely pious woman. I believe you completely missed the point of what she was saying.

9 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Rabi'a was an amazing women. I remember hearing a story about her wanting to make a living spinning thread. One her first day as soon as she started, the machine broke. She took this as sign from God Almighty to shun the world and be absorbed in getting closer to God for the rest of her life.

    I remember our Shaikh telling us this story about Rabi'a. It's a good reminder that seeing and knowing God (Allah) is the greatest reward and pleasure of all. Thank you!

  • 1 decade ago

    How do atheists have any sense of right and wrong despite their disbelief in a hereafter? Can they still lead righteous lives? Would you still help your parents if they didn't have money to give you allowance? Are laws the only thing between you and murder? Is there an X-factor that prevents you from doing evil? Maybe God is her motivation. Beautiful. Wise. Inspirational. Peace.

  • 1 decade ago

    I love Rabi'a. That is beautiful. I totally agree with the quote.

  • MJQ
    Lv 4
    1 decade ago

    It is more important to want there to be a heaven than to want to live forever. It is more important to love God than to love one's self. Being apart from God is punishment. To say to the Lord "I'm not going to love you because you give me a choice of paradise or punishment, hindering my freedom" is the equivalent of sawing off the branch you sit on because you think it's unfair that the branch is part of the tree, and depends on the tree to continue living.

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  • 1 decade ago

    Would you allow your children to do whatever they wanted without reward and punishment?

    Satan is going to hell for what he has done. He wants to take you with him. God will honor your decision but promises a new world free of sin for those who choose. And an ultimate punishment for Satan and his kingdom.

  • 1 decade ago

    humans are humans and need carrots and fear of punishment in order to avoid anarchy...some more evolved perhaps wouldn't need it but the majority do. Hopefully if a person strives one may develop the ability to have a conscience and do things becasue they are right and avoid things becasue they are wrong, but it is a lifelong struggle.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    sounds like a crock.what the hell is she gonna do with a bucket?or is this allegorical?what hinders us from loving God completely is ignorance,pride and obstacles put in your path by the shaitan.rewards and punishments are incentives to get closer to Him.

  • 1 decade ago

    What ever it takes to get them saved, as long as its truth.

  • 5 years ago

    Islam does now not like battle Bukhari :: Book four :: Volume fifty two :: Hadith 269, 268 Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah: The Prophet stated, "War is deceit." Prophet attempts to stops killing blameless men and women: Muslim :: Book 19 : Hadith 4399 It has been narrated at the authority of Abdullah b. Muti' who heard from his father and stated: I heard the Holy Prophet (would possibly peace be upon him) say at the day of the Conquest of Mecca: No Quraishite will probably be killed hound hand and foot from at the present time till the Day of judgment. Prohibit killing with unjust: five: 32. Because of that We ordained for the Children of Israel that if someone killed a character now not in retaliation of homicide, or (and) to unfold mischief within the land - it might be as though he killed all mankind, and if someone stored a existence, it might be as though he stored the lifetime of all mankind. And certainly, there got here to them Our Messengers with transparent proofs, evidences, and indicators, even then after that lots of them endured to exceed the boundaries (e.g. by means of doing oppression unjustly and exceeding past the boundaries set by means of Allah by means of committing the essential sins) within the land!. 6: 151. Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited you from: Join now not whatever in worship with Him; be well and dutiful in your father and mother; kill now not your youngsters considering the fact that of poverty - We furnish sustenance for you and for them; come now not close to Al-Fawâhish (shameful sins, unlawful sexual sex, and many others.) whether or not dedicated brazenly or secretly, and kill now not someone whom Allâh has forbidden, besides for a simply intent (consistent with Islâmic legislation). This He has commanded you you can realise. 17: 33. And don't kill someone which Allah has forbidden, besides for a simply intent. And whoever is killed (deliberately with hostility and oppression and now not by means of mistake), We have given his inheritor the authority [(to call for Qisâs, Law of Equality in punishment or to forgive, or to take Diya (blood cash)]. But allow him now not exceed limits within the subject of taking existence (i.e he must now not kill besides the killer best). Verily, he's helped (by means of the Islamic legislation). 25: sixty eight. And folks that invoke now not every other ilâh (god) in conjunction with Allah, nor kill such existence as Allah has forbidden, besides for simply intent, nor dedicate unlawful sexual sex and whoever does this shall acquire the punishment. Prohibit killing non Muslim with peace contract: eight: seventy two. Verily, folks that believed, and emigrated and strove rough and fought with their estate and their lives within the Cause of Allah as good as folks that gave (them) asylum and aid, - those are (all) allies to 1 one other. And as to people who believed however didn't to migrate (to you O Muhammad SAW), you owe no responsibility of security to them till they to migrate, but when they search your aid in faith, it's your responsibility to aid them besides towards a men and women with whom you will have a treaty of mutual alliance, and Allah is the All-Seer of what you do. nine: four. Except the ones of the Mushrikûn with whom you will have a treaty, and who've now not ultimately failed you in aught, nor have supported someone towards you. So satisfy their treaty to them to the top in their time period. Surely Allah loves Al- Mattaqûn Women/youngsters killing prohibited: Malik :: Book 21 : Hadith 21.three.10 Do now not kill ladies or youngsters or an elderly, susceptible character,Do now not shrink fruit-bearing timber.Do now not spoil an inhabited location. Do now not slaughter sheep or camels besides for meals. Do now not burn bees and don't scatter them. Do now not thieve from the booty, Dawud :: Book 14 : Hadith 2608 Narrated Anas ibn Malik: The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) stated: Go in Allah's title, trusting in Allah, and adhering to the faith of Allah's Apostle. Do now not kill a decrepit historic guy, o a tender boy or girl, or a baby, or a lady; don't be cheating approximately booty, however gather your spoils, do proper and act good, for Allah loves folks that do good. Suicide prohibited: gift of suicide is hell four: 29. O you who think! Eat now not up your estate amongst yourselves unjustly besides it's a alternate among you, by means of mutual consent. And don't kill yourselves (nor kill one one other). Surely, Allah is Most Merciful to you. four: 30. And whoever commits that by way of aggression and injustice, We shall solid him into the Fire, and that's handy for Allah. 39: fifty three. Say: "O 'Ibâdî (My slaves) who've transgressed towards themselves (by means of committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair now not of the Mercy of Allâh, verily Allâh forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. Bukhari :: Book eight :: Volume seventy three :: Hadith seventy three,126 Bukhari :: Book eight :: Volume seventy six :: Hadith 500 Bukhari :: Book eight :: Volume seventy seven :: Hadith 603 , 604 Bukhari :: Book four :: Volume fifty six :: Hadith 669 Bukhari :: Book four :: Volume fifty two :: Hadith 297 Bukhari :: Book two :: Volume 23 :: Hadith 445 ,446 Bukhari :: Book five :: Volume fifty nine :: Hadith 514,515,518 Bukhari :: Book eight :: Volume seventy eight :: Hadith 647 Muslim :: Book a million : Hadith 198[allha hereafter now not speak with him/her[suicider]], 199, 201, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207

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