Approaching the West — Page 171
A pproaching the West—171 are not the same as ours. A ‘day’ of God could be a thousand years long (22:48) or even fifty-thousand years long (70:50). Therefore, it is a reference to ‘six periods’ or ‘stages’ of extensive length of time. God’s settling on the Thrown means Him being in full control of the natural laws that regulate the creation. God has, after creating everything, the final governing authority to sustain and develop His creation to its perfection—be it physical or spiritual. Therefore, the Holy Qur’ ā n, teaches us to glorify and worship the Creator, Sustainer and Nourisher (Rabb) of all the worlds (1:2). The fifth Commandment in the Decalogue deals with honoring the parents—father and mother both. Honoring the parents is to be demonstrated through obedience (Gen. 27, 8, 13). God promises that an obedient child's life may be prolonged, and his/her provisions may be expanded. Isl ā m confirms this commandment. In the Holy Qur’ ā n, showing kindness and thankfulness to parents comes next to the worship of God. Your Lord has commanded, “Worship none but Him, and show kindness to parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age with thee, never say unto them any word expressive of disgust nor reproach them, but address them with kind words; and lower to them the wing of humility out of tenderness; and say, ‘My Lord, have mercy on them even as they nourished me in my childhood. ’” (17:24-25) A mother deserves special respect and kindness as she bears a child “in weakness upon weakness” (31:15). The Holy Qur’ ā n teaches that Muslims are to be kind and obedient to