When we walk in the blessing of Allah, we cannot be harmed by the cursing of man. ‘Isa al Masih (pbuh) teaches about the blessing of Allah in this story from the Holy Injil (al-kitab.org) beginning in Matthew 5:1. Before you read this story, take a moment to think about the kind of person Allah would like to bless.

Matthew 5:1-12

¹Seeing the multitudes, ‘Isa went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him. ²He opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

3	Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
4	Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5	Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
6	Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.
7	Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
8	Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see Allah.
9	Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of Allah.
10	Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
11	Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12Rejoice, and be very glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Study the Story

Do you have a friend with you now?  If so, then tell each other this story in your own words and help each other remember the complete story.  If you are alone, then please take a moment to retell the story to yourself in your own words.  Also, think of a friend you can share this story with later on.

As you study this story, what does it teach you about ‘Isa al Masih (pbuh)?  (Think about this before reading more.)

Key Points

This is one of the first recorded sermons of ‘Isa (pbuh). Why do you think he began his teaching with this message? Could it be that he is describing the type of person who is pleasing to Allah? Could it be that he wants us to know from the very beginning that he has come to bless us and not to curse us?

The phrase ‘poor in spirit’ is difficult to understand since we don’t use it in our daily conversations. The best definition I have heard is that someone who is ‘poor in spirit’ is someone who realizes that they have nothing to offer Allah. Compared to Allah and his glory, we are spiritually bankrupt. When we are ‘poor in spirit’, we are humble before Allah. On the contrary, when we think we are spiritually wealthy (proud of our good works and religious achievements), we can become arrogant before other people and before Allah. ‘Isa (pbuh) teaches us that such spiritual pride has no place in the Kingdom of Heaven. In fact, the entry way to the Kingdom of Heaven begins with humility and the acknowledgment that we each have enormous spiritual need.

Before reading the story, did you think about the kind of person Allah would like to bless? Did you think about a person who has the qualities ‘Isa (pbuh) described: poor in spirit, mourning, gentle, humble, hungering for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemaker, and persecuted? What is surprising to you about the qualities he listed?

Dua

Would you like to walk in the blessing of Allah? Would you like to grow in the qualities listed by ‘Isa (pbuh)? If you want to, say a dua like this:

Oh Allah, you are merciful and compassionate. You are rich in blessing and amazing in glory. I am poor in spirit. Make me more and more aware of how spiritually poor I am and how desperately I need you. Make me more like the kind of person who pleases you. Help me to grow in ___________. I want to receive your blessing in this life and the next, but most of all I want to be the person you want me to be – for your pleasure and your glory.