3.40.ABOUNDING MERCY OF GOD (to be continued)

God says

[And so it is] that God imposes suffering on the hypocrites, both men and women, as well as on men and women who ascribe divinity to aught beside Him.* [And so, too, it is] that God turns in His mercy unto the believing men and believing women: for God is indeed much-forgiving, a most gracious. -- Q.33:73
*In other words, on those who offend against what their own reason and conscience would have them do. This suffering whether in this world or in the hereafter, is but a causal consequence of man’s own moral failure and not an arbitrary act of God. (C.f., 2:7 which speaks of God “sealing” the heart of those who are bent on denying the truth.)


Q.21:107-- [O Prophet] We have sent thee as [an evidence of Our] grace towards all the worlds.
Truly a great mercy. The fact is that we knew about God through the Prophet.
He is ‘a Beacon of Light (Q.35:46)’ and ‘best model for everyone (Q.33:21).’ God says, “follow him so that you might find guidance”(7:158), and had asked him to say to mankind: “if you love God, follow me: God will love you and forgive you your sins” (Q.3:31).


Prophet said

“ (God said) I am with My servant as he thinks I am. I am with him when he makes a mention of Me. If he makes a mention of Me to himself, I make mention of him to Myself; and when he makes a mention of Me in an assembly, I make a mention of him in an assembly better than his. And if he comes to Me a hand’s span, I go to him an arm’s length; if he draws close an arm arm’s length, I go to him a fathom. And if he comes to Me walking, I hasten to him.” -- Hadees Quidsi: Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmizi and Ibn Majah. N: Abu Hurairah.

3.39. MAN: THE UNGRATEFUL (concluded)

God says

“[God] who makes most excellent that He creates, and He begins the creation of man out of clay; then He cause him to be begotten out of the essence of a humble fluid; and then fashion him, then breathes into him of His spirit: and (thus, O men,) He endows you with hearing, and sight and feeling as well as understanding: little thanks do you give” -- Q.32:7,8,9

“….few are truly grateful among My servants!” * -- Q.34:13
* Because “truly grateful (to God) is only he who realizes his inability to render adequate thanks to Him” (Zamakhshari).

Indeed, We have shown him the way:* (and it rests with him to prove himself) either grateful or ungrateful” -- Q.76:3
* God has not only endowed man with ‘hearing and sight’, i.e., with reason and the instinctive ability to discern right and wrong, good and evil (90:10), but He also actively guides him by means of the revelation bestowed on the prophets.


Prophet said

‘One who is not grateful to man is not grateful to God.’ -- H: Ahmed and Tirmizi. N: Abu Hurairah.

3.39. MAN: THE UNGRATEFUL (concluded)

God says

“[God] who makes most excellent that He creates, and He begins the creation of man out of clay; then He cause him to be begotten out of the essence of a humble fluid; and then fashion him, then breathes into him of His spirit: and (thus, O men,) He endows you with hearing, and sight and feeling as well as understanding: little thanks do you give” -- Q.32:7,8,9

“….few are truly grateful among My servants!” * -- Q.34:13
* Because “truly grateful (to God) is only he who realizes his inability to render adequate thanks to Him” (Zamakhshari).

Indeed, We have shown him the way:* (and it rests with him to prove himself) either grateful or ungrateful” -- Q.76:3
* God has not only endowed man with ‘hearing and sight’, i.e., with reason and the instinctive ability to discern right and wrong, good and evil (90:10), but He also actively guides him by means of the revelation bestowed on the prophets.


Prophet said

‘One who is not grateful to man is not grateful to God.’ -- H: Ahmed and Tirmizi. N: Abu Hurairah.

3.38. HAJ: THE SIGNIFICANCE

God says

This is [to be borne in mind]. And anyone who honors the symbols set up by God* [shall know that,] verily, these [symbols derive their value] from God-consciousness in the [believers’] hearts. -- Q.22: 32
*This stress on the symbolic character of all the rites connected with the pilgrimage is meant to draw the believer’s attention to the spiritual meaning of those rites, and thus to warn him against making, unthinkably, a sort of fetish of them. The term sha ‘a’ ir comprises all the rites, actions and places connected with the pilgrimage (all of which have a symbolic meaning), and cannot be restricted to any one of them.

In that [God-consciousness] you shall find benefits until a term set [by Him is fulfilled],* and [you shall know that] its goal and end is the Most Ancient House of Worship** -- Q.22:33
*i.e., “until the end of your lives”-- (Baydawi)
**… implying that the realization of God’s Oneness and uniqueness-- symbolized by the Ka’bah (the Most Ancient House of Worship,) -- is the goal and end of all true God-consciousness.


Prophet said

Abu Sayeed-al-Khodri reported: We came out with the Apostle of God for pilgrimage saying “Talbeeh” loudly * – H: Muslim.
* Talbeeh : Man and woman repeatedly saying in chorus, “Here I am O God, here I am! (I confirm that) there is no partner to Thee. Here I am! All praise and all grace belong to Thee, and all dominion is Thine. There is no partner to Thee.”

‘…an accepted pilgrimage has Paradise as reward’ -- H: Bukhari and Muslim. N: Abu Hurairah.