Friday Nasiha

Living The Quran

God's Help
Al Baqara (The Cow) - Chapter 2: Verse 214

'Do you reckon that you will enter Paradise while you have not endured an experience similar to that endured by other communities who came before you? Affliction and adversity befell them and so terribly shaken where they that the Messenger and those who believed with him would exclaim, "When will God's help come?" Surely, God's help is close at hand.'

This verse points to way marks in the history of those following the Straight Path. This path is no easy route. It passes through privations, persecutions, and even sufferings of war to the point where the believers all but cry out, "When will God's help come?" This point when the followers of the Straight Path are convinced that it is only God who gives success, is also the point when God's help is at hand, and which leads on to the final triumph or prosperity in both worlds.

God's support (nasr) is reserved for those who earn it: those who persevere and stand firm to the end in the face of all adversity and misfortune, never wavering but always certain that God's help is on its way. No matter how severe the ordeal may become, true believers will always look to God, and to God alone, for salvation and support.

The dynamic of social and religious struggle reinforces the human spirit and encourages man to rise above his own ego and so emerge purer and stronger, ready to uphold the faith with greater energy and vigour. Thus, believers become a shining role model even for their most ardent adversaries, some of whom are liable to be impressed and join ranks with the believers, as witnessed throughout human history.

But even if this were not the case, something else much greater and much more admirable happens: advocates of God's order are liberated from subordination to any worldly power or temptation. Life and its comforts become of no real consequence, and man assumes control of his world, which can only mean a triumph for humanity and the human spirit as a whole.

The ingredients of success are faith, hard work, sacrifice, and perseverance. With those, victory is guaranteed and the road to greater, everlasting rewards, to eternal bliss, is direct and clear.

Compiled From:
"In the Shade of the Quran" - Syed Qutb, Vol. 1, pp. 250, 251
"The Quran: Annotated Interpretation in Modern English" - Ali Unal, p. 95

From Issue: 650 [Read original issue]

Understanding The Prophet's Life

Good Morals

Abu Dharr, Jundub Bin Junadah, and Abu Abd Al-Rahman, Muadh Bin Jabal, may the Sublime God be pleased with them, said that God’s Messenger, may God’s peace and blessings be upon him and his family, said, “Fear God wherever you are. Follow a bad deed with a good deed—it will erase it. And treat people kindly and with good morals.” [Al-Tirmidhi]

The virtues of Abu-Dharr are plenty. He embraced Islam when God’s Messenger, may God’s peace and blessings be upon him, was in Mecca and the Messenger told him to go back to his people. When the Messenger saw that Abu-Dharr wanted to stay with him and couldn’t leave, he told him, “Fear God wherever you are and follow a bad deed with a good deed—it will erase it.”

The statement of the Prophet, may God’s peace and blessings be upon him, “treat people kindly and with good morals,” means treat people the way you’d like to be treated and be aware that the thing that counts the most is good morals. The Prophet, may God’s peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The one I like the most of you and the one that will sit next to me on the day of Resurrection is the one with the best morals.” Good morals are the attributes of the Prophets, the Messengers, and the best believers. They do not treat people badly who treat them badly. They forgive, pardon, and act graciously.

Compiled From:
"Ibn-Daqiq's Commentary on the Nawawi Forty Hadiths" - Ibn Daqiq

From Issue: 869 [Read original issue]

From Issue: [Read original issue]