It’s Trial, Not Punishment
- Sharjeel Ahmad (sharjeel.ahmad@gmail.com)
“Cursed
were the people of the ditch (the story of the Boy and the King). …
They had nothing against them, except that they believed in Allâh, the
Almighty, Worthy of all Praise! … Verily, those who put into trial the
believing men and believing women (by torturing them and burning them),
and then do not turn in repentance, (to Allâh), will have the torment
of Hell, and they will have the punishment of the burning Fire.”
Al Quran :: Surah Al Burooj :: Verses 4, 8, and 10
A
lot of scholars assert the fact that the pitiable condition of Muslims
world over that we witness today is due to the fact that Muslims are
being PUNISHED for their misdeeds. We all at times, gullibly agree to
the same. Perhaps it is not so…
Our Apartment has been blessed with
one endowment that we have a splendid Dars-e-Quran session every
Saturday after Isha. The last one saw a description of Surah Al Burooj,
where the Mufti sb emphasized on this aspect of people propagating and
believing that the Community’s bad times are punishments from the
Almighty. Mufti sb emphasized on various logical reasons to
outstandingly defy and nullify this perception, which actually appealed
to me so much that I am penning down this brief discourse. Mufti sb
emphasized on the following aspects:
1. This Surah was revealed at a time when few Muslims were faced with a
lot of torture and torment from the disbelievers. These verses were a
respite to the Muslims, who were acquainted with the fact that through
the ages, believers have been put to trial, something that will
continue for the remaining days of the world. The believers faced the
trial and torment because “They had nothing against them, except that
they believed in Allâh, the Almighty, Worthy of all Praise!”
Deductively, this implies that the believers have been faced with
torment and trial through the ages, but they had no fault except for
believing in Allah…
2. The
Holy Quran uses the word “trial”, and not punishment, to describe
these torments by the disbelievers. Quran is Divine Word; therefore,
selects the most appropriate words to describe something. The choice of
trial makes it evidently clear that what we perceive as punishment is
not actually punishment. It is TRIAL…
3. Allah has promised the punishment of hellfire for people involved in
tormenting the believers. So, how logical is it to say that the people
who punish the wrongdoers [if we perceive the believers as being
punished for their wrongdoings] are destined for the hellfire abound?
If we perceive the torments to be punishments, it is similar to
perceiving an executioner being punished for carrying out the
executions ordained by the Court of Law!! Definitely, the Devine logic
will never curse and punish someone who punishes wrongdoers and
prohibits wrongdoing; but what the tormenters are doing is definitely
not the same.
4. If
Allah is so forgiving and merciful that He promises to pardon these
tormenters if they repent [even after tormenting the believers for
ages], how can He, the Almighty, be so cruel to the believers to punish
them with such torments at the hands of the disbelievers? Isn’t it
contradictory to believe that on the one hand, Allah offers to pardon
the tormenters if they repent, but ordains punishments for the
believers? A believer is always higher, as per Allah, as compared to a
disbeliever.
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To
conclude, Allah has mentioned at numerous places in the Glorious Quran
that the believers will be put to trial; will be surely put to trial.
Trials could come in any form; monetary, health, unwanted situations,
untoward incidents… We, as believers, need to ensure that our belief
[eemaan] does not give way to these trials under any circumstances,
Insha Allah. We must continue to believe that with each trial, we grow
as more strong and believing Muslims. We must continue to believe that
Allah offers leniency to the disbelievers in their ordeals in this
World; simply to enlarge their Heavenly Torment. Mufti sb observed that
we should not fall prey to the perception that the situations we face
today are due to our wrongdoings; rather we should strive to struggle
in the way of the Truth! We must also believe that we, who face trials,
are fortunate to the extent that Allah puts His best creations to
varying degrees of trials at all times!
“Verily,
those who believe and do righteous good deeds, for them will be Gardens
under which rivers flow (Paradise). That is the great success.” [Al Quran :: Surah Al Burooj :: Verse 11]
(I
have tried my best to put into writing the explanations offered by
Mufti sb; any errors that might have crept in would be my personal
onus. May Allah guide us to the Right Path always, Ameen!)
THE CURRENCY OF JANNAH
Every country has its particular financial currency.
and whoever has more dollars will live that much more comfortably.
Likewise,
the currency of Saudi Arabia is the riyal, and whoever has more riyals
will be that much richer than the o...ne who does not.
The currency of the Hereafter is righteous deeds and no other currency will benefit man after his death.
There
will be no foreign currency exchange where he can change his money for
good deeds like we do here when traveling from country to country. The
person who has more of this currency of good deeds will be in that much
more comfort than the person who does not.
Today we have been given time to amass this currency so that we may be in comfort in the Hereafter.
It will be too late in the grave.
Does man ever stop to reflect on the fact that he is getting old?
The answer is an emphatic no because man always considers himself young in every circumstance.
His youth slips away and man becomes an empty shell but he does not realize this.
He still thinks himself young even when the Angel of Death comes for him.
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