Look through a different pair of glasses. With different people, you may envision different things. You may have a certain perspective in life, but that is unique to you only. You may perceive that a certain race is inferior to another. On the other hand you might view all people as equal. It’s your experience and no one can change it except you.
A person might say some bad words to you, but subjectively, you may perceive it as not a big deal. When you take negativity towards you lightly, that’s when you’ve succeeded. To another person it may cause him to feel a burning sensation in his heart because of the rancor that he has felt. It’s based on each person’s point of view.
Let’s take this a step further. Let’s talk about something larger than life. Let’s talk about something much, much larger than life. And that is the matter of religion. Depending on what you experience, think, feel, and believe, you may or may not believe there is an afterlife. But just because it’s subjective to you doesn’t mean it is objectively true. What I mean is that what you see through your eyes is not necessarily the same as what is true independently, unchanging.
Finally, let’s talk the greatest subject ever, far beyond the confines of life: about God Himself. We are subject to Him, and that is the truth that always exists. But what we perceive through of Him our own minds is even true. That is, if you perceive Allah to be a certain way, He will be that way.
"I am as My servant thinks of Me. I am with him when he remembers Me. If he mentions Me within himself, I mention him within Myself. If he mentions Me in an assembly, I mention him in a better assembly. If he comes near to Me a handspan, I come near to him the distance of a cubit. If he comes near to Me the distance of a cubit, I come near to him the distance of two outspread arms. If he comes to Me walking, I come to him running." –Allah through the words of Prophet Muhammad (SWS)
So subjectively you will see Allah’s wrath or mercy. It depends on how you view Him. Do you think your Lord to be forgiving and merciful? Or do your sins turn you around and make you think He is angry?
You have to be positive subjectively. Our personal perceptions can actually determine many things. They can determine your future, your past, and your present. But if you shift your focus a little bit, things may change. It all depends on you. Looking at life through a clean pair of lenses will make you appreciate life more, and if they are dirtied by the pollution of sins, you may view life negatively. Moreover, you may view you fate negatively.
There is a truth that resonates with person to person. But there is a reality independent of the rest. And that is that everything on Earth is made subject to us. We as humans have a special distinction from the rest of creatures. That is that the life of this world is for us, but not as a means for play and amusement, but as a means to test us whether we would go to the true path of Islam or the path of evil. The grass, the trees, the animals, the crops, the sky, the wind, even the Earth and the sun are all subject to mankind!
“It is He Who hath created for you all things that are on the earth; Moreover His design comprehended the heavens, for He gave order and perfection to the seven firmaments; and of all things He hath perfect knowledge.” (Qu’ran 2:29)
“Allah is He Who created the heavens and the earth and sent down water from the sky, then brought forth with it fruits as a sustenance for you, and He has made the ships subject/of use to you, that they might run their course in the sea by His command, and He has made the rivers subject/of use to you.
And He has made subject/of use to you the sun and the moon pursuing their courses, and He has made subject/of use to you the night and the day.
And He gives you of all that you ask Him; and if you count Allah's favors, you will not be able to number them; most surely man is very unjust, very ungrateful.” (Qu’ran 14:32-34)
If you thought that was amazing, there is something that trumps them all. Through our eyes life is subject to us. But beyond that, ultimately, the absolute unchanging truth is this: that everything is subject to Allah.
“To Him belongs every being that is in the heavens and on earth: all are devoutly obedient to Him.” (Qur'an 30:26)
“Seest thou not that it is Allah Whose praises all being in the heavens and on earth do celebrate, and the birds of the air with wings outspread? Each one knows its own mode of prayer and praise. And Allah knows all that they do.” (Qur'an 24:41)
“Do they not look at Allah's creation even among inanimate things-how their shadows turn round, from the right and the left, prostrating themselves to Allah, and that in the humblest manner? And to Allah doth obeisance all that is in the heavens and the earth, whether moving living creatures or the angels: for none are arrogant before their Lord. They all revere their Lord, high above them, and they do all that they are commanded.” (Qur'an 16:48-50)
Thus, every being not only on Earth, but also in Heaven worships Allah. He is so perfect and beyond our reality that everything, every single being inanimate and animate worships Him perpetually! It is our free will that deters our soul from what it’s meant to do: worship Allah. That is our only true purpose. And for those who achieve the satisfaction of their purpose, aiming for beyond this world, they will be satiated of everything.
Allah is independent of all. Everything is prostration to Him, worshipping him and being devout to Him. He is the Perfection. He is the All-Knowing. And He is the All-Able. He can literally do…anything.
Allah says: “And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” (Qu’ran 51:56)
He doesn’t need us, but we need Him. Thus we as human beings are subject to Allah. We are his slaves. We are servants in dire need of Him, and we turn to Him when calamity befalls us. And we must turn to Him when prosperity is among us. We must serve Him but if we don’t, then He will alienate us, and we will never be helped again. That is, when it is too late to repent, when you are dead—because when you see the angel of death you will have seen proof already, and it would be too late.
Whatever view you have, there is a view independent of that. Remember that our perception is based on our perspective, and it’s how we utilize that perspective that will determine whether our view aligns with the objective truth or not. And we subjectively worship Allah, as it is our duty as humans.