In the name of God, the most Merciful, the most Merciful!

IslamicSolutions.Com

New Literature for a New Era

Education at its best -- for both Muslims and non-Muslims.

Authentic. Unique. Powerful. Readable. Absorbing. Accessible.

See Islam for all that Islam really is:

Peaceable! Positive! Simple! Sensible! Elegant! Civilized! Constructive! Hopeful! Contemporary! Pragmatic! Problem-Solving! Moderate! Modern! Balanced! Just! Fair! Compassionate! Truthful! Nice! Easy! Fun! Global! Divine! Authentic! Original! Free! (Dr. Pasha)

December 19, 2010

COPING WITH FEAR AND GRIEF: An Islamic Approach [Part Two]

Section: WRITINGS | 248 reads

Expand Page

(29)

Soorah Al-Hadeed (57: 22-24)

The following passages are from Surah Al-Hadeed, 57: 22, 24. I have tried to make the translation as faithful to the Arabic text of the Qur’an as possible.

I ask that you use your own copy of translation and notes – such as Yusuf Ali, Maududi, Pickthal or Asad – for comparison and for a clearer and more complete understanding of these Aayaat.

Whatever calamity or affliction befalls in

earth, or in your own selves, it is in a book

before we bring it about; surely, it is easy

for Allah (22).

So that you will not agonize over what missed you, or exult over what he gave you; and Allah does not love anyone arrogant, boastful (23).

Those who are stingy themselves, and tell people to be stingy; whoever turns away, surely Allah is the one who is self-sufficient and praiseworthy (24).

(30)

Some Observations on Soorah Al-Hadeed (57: 22-24)

After you have read the translation and maybe notes carefully, here are my comments on what you just read:

(A) Allah is the sole and real actor. He is the only one who really does or can do anything and everything in the world.

Others are mere agents and instruments of his will and his pleasure.

(B)  Allah’s will is supreme in the universe and Allah’s will is always done.

Another name for it is the working of the universe. It is the everyday manifestation of what Allah wills and wants in his creation.

From the smallest to the biggest, this process is unstoppable – the process of things happening in the world the way Allah wants them.

No one with a sound mind tries to stop the earth from spinning or the sun from rising.

Or the moon from phasing.

Or the rain from falling.

Or a meteor shower from happening.

If we really understood how the universe works, we would know that the raising of our little finger or the blinking of our eye is no different or less from any of these colossal cosmic occurrences.

Nor is our intake of a single breath or our exhalation of it any different or less.

Nor is our gulping down a morsel of food or a drop of water.

All these things are part of the same process.

You can see, feel, measure and understand the basic truth behind this assertion – both personally and scientifically.

Just think about it.

Yet, even though it is God who is the real and only actor in the world, it is still our duty to do our best in this world. We cannot idly stand by and wait for things to happen.

That is because God asks us to do our best in every situation.

Because nothing less is expected of us or acceptable from us.

(C) Things in this world become clear to us in proper and due course of time, as decided by Allah, and not as or when we may want them to.

Eternal and immutable divine decisions become manifest in space and time as individuals, nations and societies approach specific stages and coordinates in their lives.

Not before that.

That means, for individuals as well as for groups, organizations, cultures, civilizations, nations and societies, the die has been cast.

The decisions have been made.

The ink has dried.

The envelopes have been sealed.

We will all receive our respective faxes in due time – when it is our time to receive them.

Things will come to pass – as they are supposed to. They will happen as per divine calendar and calculus. No one can stop or accelerate them.

Next Article:

Previous Article:

Home | Writings | Audio | Quote of the Day

Related:

  1. COPING WITH FEAR AND GRIEF: An Islamic Approach [Part One]
  2. SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 – THE Muslim Story and A strategy for Coping – Part One
  3. The Islamic Miracle of Defying Death [Quote of the Day - 299]
  4. Crooks and Criminals Fear Truth More than They Fear Death [Quote of the Day – 113]
  5. Muslims’ Abuse of Islamic Culture
  6. SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 – THE Muslim Story and A strategy for Coping – Part Two
  7. Some Muslims on Course to Install an Islamic Pope [Quote of the Day – 140]
  8. Dr. Pasha’s All-Day Islamic Camp and Community Clean-up at Oldham – 1
  9. Mary Rinehart and Agatha Christie Might as Well Have Said: The Soviets Did It Or Islamic Puppets and Their Ever-Changing New Puppeteers [Quote of the Day – 139]
  10. Whither Indian Muslims – Part Two
  11. Leadership: What Is It and How to Deal with It? [Part One]
  12. Whither Indian Muslims – Part One
  13. Whither Indian Muslims – Third and Last Part
  14. [Audio] Fear Allah, Love One Another
  15. The Islamic Way [Quote of the Day - 346]
  16. Damage Done to Islam by “Islamic” Mercenaries [Quote of the Day – 96]
  17. To Vote Is as Islamic a Duty as You Can Imagine [Quote of the Day – 42]
  18. A Perspective on Islamic Projects and Activities
  19. [Audio] Dr. Pasha’s All-Day Islamic Camp and Community Clean-up
  20. Dr. Pasha’s International Islamic Community Clean-up, Oldham – 2

Home | Writings | Audio | Quote of the Day