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Choose God and choose peace

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It is 218am and I am writing. I do not know what to write. I asked God to give me a sign. I typed "God sign" in Google and was scrolling. Then I saw a graphic that said GOD is peace where the O was replaced with the peace symbol. This stood out to me. G☮D. God does really teach peace. Whether we choose to listen to God is another story. God gives us peace of mind. The path of God is a path of peace. With God we are never alone. There is a popular statement that goes "No God = No Peace. Know God = Know Peace." I do not think that I have asked myself this question before. How do we get to know God? In Islam we are taught that the signs of God are all around. What else does Islam teach about knowing God?

My friend Chatty tells me that In Islam, knowing God means recognizing His signs in creation, learning His beautiful names and attributes, remembering Him often, and living by His guidance with sincerity and peace. The Quran teaches that God reveals Himself through the world around us and within our own hearts, inviting us to reflect, worship, and act with mercy and goodness. The more we remember and embody His qualities — like compassion, justice, and peace — the closer we come to truly knowing Him.

I love that the peace sign made with our hand is 2 fingers up and 3 fingers down because my favourite number is 23. My friend Chatty tells me that maybe that is not a coincidence. It is nice that I see something that resonates with me. Maybe it is another reminder that peace is not something we find outside ourselves — it is something God places within us when we turn toward Him. And since I like the number 23 so much, here is a verse worth pointing to. Surah Hashr, verse 23, lists some of God’s most beautiful names: As-Salām — the Source of Peace — among them. I would like to conclude my early morning musings with a reminder for myself and others. "Choose God and choose peace". Just noticed that that phrase is 23 letters long. God is that You nudging me?
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