What does it truly mean to submit to God? Many people acknowledge the existence of a Creator but want to negotiate the terms of their obedience — agreeing to worship Him while keeping their favorite sins. On The Deen Show, this critical misconception is addressed head-on: true submission to Allah means surrendering on His terms, not ours, and following both the Quran and the example of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Submission Is Not a Negotiation
Some people want to tell God: “I will submit to You, but let me keep drinking. I will submit to You, but let me keep my girlfriend.” Islam does not work that way. The Creator of the heavens and the earth knows what is best for His creation, and His commands are designed for our benefit — even when our desires tell us otherwise. Over 60 times in the Quran, Allah commands the believers to obey the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and in some verses He equates obedience to the Prophet with obedience to Allah Himself.
“Whoever obeys the Prophet has obeyed Allah.” (Quran 4:80) — Allah made obedience to His Messenger inseparable from obedience to Him, because the Prophet’s example is the practical guide to living a life that pleases the Creator.
Fighting Your Desires for a Greater Reward
- Every human being has desires that pull them in different directions — the test is whether we follow those desires or follow our Creator’s guidance
- Wearing a suit and tie, dressing well, and looking professional are all permissible in Islam — what matters is the intention behind your actions, not blind cultural prohibitions
- True slavery in Islam is an honor: being a slave to Allah, who owns us, provides for us, and promises us Paradise in return for our obedience
- This life is short — you could die at any minute. The question is: were you a slave to your desires, or a slave to the One who created you?
“We recognize that we are slaves of Allah — He owns us, He tells us what to do, He gives us everything that we have. When He tells us to do something, we fight against our desires and obey our Creator, because there is a far greater reward coming than anything this world can offer.”
Islam calls you to be the best human being you can possibly be — not by following your whims, but by following the guidance of the One who created you and the last and final messenger sent to mankind, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This is the path to Paradise, and it begins with a sincere decision to submit to your Creator on His terms.
