I got an explanation for what mercy and grace is a long time back which sounded nice. Mercy is the blessings one gets from God even when one has done something bad while Grace is the blessings one gets from God even when one has not done anything good. One can still clarify on what blessings means...the blessings in Mercy can be taken to mean as the cancellation of all sins, a whole-hearted pardon while the blessings in Grace can be taken to mean as the rewards of heaven.
The revolution that is going about in the Islamic world was something to be expected. Just like there was a reform in Christianity during the dark ages or in Hinduism during the British rule, while 911 might be a defining moment for Americans to look into the direction they were heading in an internet age, the current Jasmine revolution is a reforming moment for Islam. Weeds grow around anything over time and if the core ideals of any ideology has to survive, a little bit of rattles on the surface is to be expected and infact welcomed. The Hinduism in India emerged more vibrant and stronger after the weeds of terrible practices were stopped.
But then, Muslims also have a responsibility of being devoted to their book, the Holy Koran. When the Holy Prophet, Mohammad, brought up Islam for the first time to the world, He and His followers forgave their enemies when they were in a strong position. It is to be done not from a holier than thou attitude but from an understanding that everyone is equal and gets an unconditional pardon as soon as one repents. This is the essence of the Mercy that the Holy Koran preaches, which every Muslim has to practise in a time of difficulty as in a revolution.
As to Grace, I read recently that a food item that one gets to eat at home or in a hotel comes from 72 activities that has gone into it. I don't know how the number 72 was arrived at but the actual activities today can very well be still higher. An activity is say, cooking, cutting the vegetables, going to the shop, the transportation of the food item from the source of production etc. So when one gets addicted to the luxurious, mouth watering food items like Pizza or Steaming Idli or Fried Noodles or Delicious Parathas etc., it will do well to be grateful for this...because this is the Grace of God. And I want to add...Muslims in the Arab world, for whatever good they did a long time back, were fortunate to be born in the world of oil, which makes them rich to buy a lifestyle which includes these things. I don't know in what context the 72 virgins in heaven is promised (I don't even know if this is said in the Holy Koran), but Muslims need to be aware that they are already in heaven with the 72 blessings.
Grace and Mercy are two sides of the same coin. Unless one is Merciful, one cannot expect Grace and unless one is Grateful, one cannot be Merciful.
The revolution that is going about in the Islamic world was something to be expected. Just like there was a reform in Christianity during the dark ages or in Hinduism during the British rule, while 911 might be a defining moment for Americans to look into the direction they were heading in an internet age, the current Jasmine revolution is a reforming moment for Islam. Weeds grow around anything over time and if the core ideals of any ideology has to survive, a little bit of rattles on the surface is to be expected and infact welcomed. The Hinduism in India emerged more vibrant and stronger after the weeds of terrible practices were stopped.
But then, Muslims also have a responsibility of being devoted to their book, the Holy Koran. When the Holy Prophet, Mohammad, brought up Islam for the first time to the world, He and His followers forgave their enemies when they were in a strong position. It is to be done not from a holier than thou attitude but from an understanding that everyone is equal and gets an unconditional pardon as soon as one repents. This is the essence of the Mercy that the Holy Koran preaches, which every Muslim has to practise in a time of difficulty as in a revolution.
As to Grace, I read recently that a food item that one gets to eat at home or in a hotel comes from 72 activities that has gone into it. I don't know how the number 72 was arrived at but the actual activities today can very well be still higher. An activity is say, cooking, cutting the vegetables, going to the shop, the transportation of the food item from the source of production etc. So when one gets addicted to the luxurious, mouth watering food items like Pizza or Steaming Idli or Fried Noodles or Delicious Parathas etc., it will do well to be grateful for this...because this is the Grace of God. And I want to add...Muslims in the Arab world, for whatever good they did a long time back, were fortunate to be born in the world of oil, which makes them rich to buy a lifestyle which includes these things. I don't know in what context the 72 virgins in heaven is promised (I don't even know if this is said in the Holy Koran), but Muslims need to be aware that they are already in heaven with the 72 blessings.
Grace and Mercy are two sides of the same coin. Unless one is Merciful, one cannot expect Grace and unless one is Grateful, one cannot be Merciful.
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