Living The Quran
From Issue: 676 [Read full issue]
Fruits of Striving
Al Najm (The Star) - Chapter 53: Verses 39-41
"Man can have nothing but what he strives for. The fruit of his striving will soon come into sight. Then he will be rewarded with a full recompense."
For all committed people the above passage carries an inspiring message. It is especially relevant for institutions engaged in training younger generations, for it contains an elaborate moral code and set of guidelines for the young.
The Promise
Allah has promised man that he will obtain success in his striving. It is emphasized in the Quran that man's efforts will bear fruit. As to the time-scale of gathering the fruit of one's striving, the Quran hints that this may take a very long time. Man is thus told not to despair if he does not gain immediate results. Man is to be credited for much in the world - the vast empires, the rise of various civilizations, the spread and advancement of knowledge, and intellectuals appearing on the public scene. All these are manifestations of man's striving.
Knowledge Without Action
Abstract knowledge alone will neither increase us in power, nor strengthen our situation. Likewise if a brave warrior in possession of ten Indian swords and other weapons was alone in the wilderness, and a great ferocious lion attacked him, do we think the weapons could defend him if they were not used against the lion?
By the same principle, if a man read a hundred thousand theories, they would be of no use to him if he did not try and apply them. Therefore, if we studied a hundred years and collected a thousand books, we would not be prepared for the Mercy of Allah, the Exalted, except by action.
Three Principles to Remember
From this verse three important principles can be derived:
- that every person will get only the fruit of his own deeds;
- that the fruit of one person's deeds cannot be given to another unless he has a share in that deed;
- that none can attain anything in the Hereafter without the desire to strive for it.
Some people wrongly apply these principles to the economic problems of the world and conclude that no person can become the lawful owner of anything except of his or her own earned income. While Islam encourages everyone to work hard to earn their own livelihood, there are provisions, such as Zakat and inheritance laws that allow one person's income to be transferred to others on the basis of their moral and legal entitlement.
Compiled From:
"Guidance from the Holy Quran" - Sayyid Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi, pp. 229, 230
"Dear Beloved Son" - Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali
"Towards Understanding the Quran" - Abul Ala Mawdudi