Love, valuing, appreciating vs Submission

[robvalue]

Well if someone's gonna cut your head off if you don't worship an invisible man, then you worship it. Until you can get the hell away from those crazy people.

Islam is about controlling people, just like most religions. It's not a free choice to worship if you're being threatened with consequences in this life and the next.

"It's all bullshit" pretty much covers it, and explains why nothing within it makes sense.

[Rayaan]

Submission implies people do it out of a sense of duty. But I don't think this an accurate description of how humans or even Muslims operate.

I view submission as an expression of one's humility and his unique devotedness towards God. So, for me, submission is not just a sense of responsibility. There is definitely an emotional component behind it as well. I think humility is actually greater than love because humility requires that we must know the full extent of our worth before God's infinite grandeur, His perfection, His mercy, and His countless favors upon us, and then make this knowledge a fully ingrained part of lives, both inwardly and outwardly. as best as possible. This, to me, goes far and beyond the feeling of love.

Plus, I don't really see how submission to God signifies an exclusion of love for Him. That's not a sensible way to think of the concept of submission. On the contrary, the Quran itself states that our love for God and His messenger should be greater than the love we have for anything or anyone else:

"Say: If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your kindred, the wealth that you have gained, the commerce in which you fear a decline, and the dwellings in which you delight are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger and striving in His way, then wait until Allah brings His command to pass. And Allah does not guide the rebellious." (Surah 9:24)

Furthermore, the concept of worship in Islam is much more comprehensive than the mere observance of the prescribed rituals. Worship/submission to God is a complete human experience: it starts from the heart, it involves the tongue, and it eventually requires dedication from the entire body. And therefore worship is not restricted to certain rituals only. In the words of Ibn Taymiyyah, "Worship (Ibadah) is a comprehensive term covering everything that God loves and is pleased with - whether saying or actions, outward and inward." In fact, per the Quran, a Muslim is one that is always supposed to be in a state of worship as long as he is alive:

"Say: Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, and my living and my dying are (all) for Allah, Lord of the worlds" (Surah 6:162).

I don't think that such a level of devotion can ever grow in a person's heart without love.

[robvalue]

I don't know how you can ever love someone who is threatening to fuck you up one way or another if you don't do what they say.

[Mystic]

Thank you Rayaan for your response. It makes sense to me.

[Minimalist]

sub·mis·sion (sb-mshn)
n.
1.
a. The act of submitting to the power of another: "Oppression that cannot be overcome does not give rise to revolt but to submission" (Simone Weil).
b. The state of having submitted. See Synonyms at surrender.
2. The state of being submissive or compliant; meekness.

The Online Dictionary

Slaves submit.

[Whateverist]

I'm glad you got a serious response to your question which made sense to you MK. I don't entirely dismiss it myself. I think they are important questions for anyone if you just omit the word "god". What is the proper or most propitious balance between asserting and acquiescing? It reflects on how greatly one should esteem oneself versus what is other. So many of the best things in life are received as gifts from what is more than one's usual, conscious self. Whether you find that in the metaphysics of the cosmos or within the depths of yourself doesn't really matter as much as that you find it at all.

[Mystic]

sub·mis·sion (sb-mshn)
n.
1.
a. The act of submitting to the power of another: "Oppression that cannot be overcome does not give rise to revolt but to submission" (Simone Weil).
b. The state of having submitted. See Synonyms at surrender.
2. The state of being submissive or compliant; meekness.

The Online Dictionary

Slaves submit.

Love of the beloved compels me to be his slave and I take being his slave as an honor.

[Whateverist]

Does sound a little S&M style kinky, at least on the surface.

[thesummerqueen]

Sorry all I could think of when I read the Title was BDSM.

Two pages in, I'm still disappointed. Time to trawl Literotica.

Slaves submit.

Does the slave-Leia costume count?

[paulpablo]

Islam describes the religion of God to be submission to God. But why is that the case? Submission implies it's an act of accepting a duty required by God.

But why should this be the spirit of humans? Why not an act of valuing morality or God? Why not an act of love towards God or goodness or people. Why not of appreciation of God?

Why is the religion described to be submission? Why not love?

In the Bible it is reported the two laws are love of God with all the heart and love of each human like love of yourself.

That makes more sense as a religion and law, then submission. Submission implies people do it out of a sense of duty. But I don't think this an accurate description of how humans or even Muslims operate.

People act out of valuing, loving, appreciating...People connect to the Divine because God means something great to them.

Worship shouldn't be an act of submission, but an act of love.

Why do you think worship should be an act of love and not submission? And why not both?