Forces of Nature, Feelings, Calamities
Issue 388 » July 21, 2006 - Jumada-al-Thani 25, 1427
General
| Living the Quran |
Ibrahim
(Abraham)
Some think that this verse means that the forces of nature have been placed under the control of man. Such an assumption leads people to develop a variety of odd ideas. Some even go so far as to say that to achieve mastery over the heavens and the earth is the true end of man's existence. Almost all classical commentators agree that God's having made the natural phenomena 'subservient' to man is a metaphor for His having enabled man to derive lasting benefit from them. God has bound them to laws which are beneficial for mankind. Had sailing in the sea not been subject to any law, it would not have been possible for man to undertake sea voyages. Had the rivers not been subject to any laws, man could not have used them for irrigation. Likewise, had the sun, the moon, the day and the night not been regulated, there could have been no life on earth, let alone any flourishing human civilization. Source: |
| Understanding the Prophet's Life |
| Feelings One should try not to hurt the feelings of others. There are many things which may hurt others' feelings. Temperamental differences in daily life may cause offence. As a matter of principle, every Muslim should try his best not to upset or hurt others. This is the basis of the grave sin of back-biting. For by back-biting one hurts others' feelings. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) directed that in a gathering of three people, two should not whisper among themselves lest it hurt the feelings of the person who is left out. In a large gathering, however, whispering may not cause offence. The Prophet said: "Do not whisper lest it grieve the third person." (Muslim) Reflection on the Islamic moral code makes it clear that the avoidance of hurting the feelings of a Muslim is a fundamental principle. It is a serious offence, as is evident from the Prophet's following observation: "Whoever hurts a Muslim is as guilty as if he hurt Allah." (Tabarani) By the same token, if one pleases a fellow Muslim, it is an act of immense blessing accruing from Allah and His Messenger. The Prophet said: "Whoever fulfills the needs of a member of my community and pleases him indeed pleases me. And on doing so pleases Allah, as a result of which he will enter Paradise." (Bayhaqi) This observation by the Prophet is worth noting, for it details that a Muslim is one who embodies love. One who is not kind and affectionate towards others may hurt someone's feelings. One should therefore exercise caution in cracking jokes lest it offend someone. Source: |
| Blindspot! |
The Wisdom Behind Calamities 1 – To attain true submission and servitude (uboodiyyah) to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Many people are slaves to their whims and desires and are not true slaves of Allah. They say that they are slaves of Allah, but when they are tested they turn on their heels and lose out in this world and in the Hereafter, and that is an evident loss. 2 – Trials prepare the believers to prevail on earth. It was said to Imam al-Shafa’i (may Allah have mercy on him): Which is better, patience or tests or prevailing? He said: Prevailing is the level attained by the Prophets, and there can be no prevailing except after trials. If a person is tried he will become patient, and if he remains patient he will prevail. 3 – Expiation of sins Al-Tirmidhi narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Trials will continue to befall the believing man or woman in himself, his child and his wealth until he meets Allah with no sin on him.” 4 – Attainment of reward and a rise in status Muslim narrated that Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The believer is not harmed by a thorn or anything greater, but Allah will raise him in status thereby, or erase a sin thereby.” 5 – Calamities provide an opportunity to think about one's faults and shortcomings and past mistakes. 6 – Calamity is a lesson in Tawheed, faith and trust in Allah. It shows us in a practical sense who we really are, so we will realize that we are a weak slave, and we have no strength and no power except with our Lord, then we will put our trust in Him in a true sense, and will turn to Him in a true sense, and put aside our position, pride, arrogance, self-admiration and heedlessness, and we will understand that we are poor and in need of our Lord, and we are weak and need to turn to the Most Strong, the Almighty, may He be glorified. 7 – Calamities drive out self-admiration from our hearts and bring them closer to Allah. Ibn al-Qayyim said in Zaad al-Ma’aad (3/477), "In His wisdom, Allah decreed that the Muslims should first taste the bitterness of defeat, despite their great numbers and adequate equipment and strength, so as to humble some people who felt proud." 8 – To demonstrate the true nature of people, for there are people whose virtue is unknown until calamity strikes Al-Fudayl ibn Iyad said, "As long as people are doing fine, their true nature is concealed, but when calamity strikes, their true natures are revealed, so the believer resorts to his faith and the hypocrite resorts to his hypocrisy." 9 – Calamities strengthen people’s resolve. Allah chose for His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) a hard life filled with all kinds of hardship from a young age, in order to prepare him for the great mission that awaited him, which none could bear but the strongest of men, who have gone through hardship and who are tested with calamities and bear them with patience. 10 – Another reason behind calamities and hardship is that a person becomes able to distinguish between true friends and friends who only have their own interests at heart. 11 – Calamities remind us of our sins so that we can repent from them. Calamities offer an opportunity to repent before the greater punishment comes on the Day of Resurrection. If life continues to be easy, a person may become conceited and arrogant, and think that he has no need of Allah, so by His mercy He tests people so that they may return to Him. 12 – Calamities show you the true nature of this world and its transience, and that it is temporary conveniences, and shows us that true life is that which is beyond this world, in a life in which there is no sickness or exhaustion. 13 – Calamities remind us of the great blessings of good health and ease. Calamity shows us in the clearest way the meaning of health and ease that we enjoyed for many years, but did not taste their sweetness or appreciate them fully. Calamities remind us of blessings and the One Who bestows them, and cause us to thank and praise Allah for His blessings. 14 – Longing for Paradise We will never long for Paradise until we taste the bitterness of this world. How can we long for Paradise when we are content with this world? Source: |
