2.38. SILENCE AND REFLECTION (to be continued)

God says

Know that God gives life to the earth after it has been lifeless!*
We have indeed made Our messages clear to you, so that you might use your reason. – Q.57:17
*According to most of the commentators – and particularly, Zamakhshari, Razi and Ibn Kasir – this is a parabolic allusion to the affect of a re-awakening of God-consciousness in hearts that had become deadened by self-satisfaction and false pride.

Verily, man is born with a restless disposition.* --Q.70:19
*Lit., “man has been created restless (haloo ‘an)” – that is endowed with inner restlessness which may equally well drive him to fruitful achievement or to chronic discontent and frustration. In other words, it is the manner in which man utilizes this God-willed endowment that determines whether it shall have a positive or negative character. The subsequent two verses (20 and 21 given below) allude to the latter, while verses 22-25 (given below) show that only true spiritual and moral consciousness can mould that inborn restlessness into a positive force, and thus bring about inner stability and abiding contentment.
Q.70:20, 21: [As a rule] whenever misfortune touches him, he is filled with self-pity,* and whenever good fortune comes to him, he selfishly withholds [from others].
*I.e., combination of concepts of “lacking patience” and “and lamenting over one’s misfortune”, and is therefore contrary of sabr (Jawahari).
Q.70:22-25 : Not so, however, who consciously turn towards God in prayer* [and] who incessantly persevere in their prayer; and in whose possessions there is a due share, acknowledged [by them], for such as ask [for help] and such as are deprived [of what is good in life];**
*This, I believe, is the meaning of the expression
al-musalleen (lit., “the praying ones”), which evidently does not relate to mere ritual of prayer but, rather, as the next verse shows the attitude of mind and the spiritual need underlying it. In this sense it connotes with the statement in verse 19 that “man is born with a restless disposition” which, when rightly used, leads him towards conscious spiritual growth, as well as to freedom from all self-pity and selfishness.
** Sc., “but could not beg” – and this applies to all living creatures, whether human beings or mute animals (Razi), irrespective of whether need is of a physical or emotional nature.

Prophet said

“Be God-conscious wherever you may be; do a virtuous act if an evil act has been committed, as former will undo latter; and behave well with the people”.
– H: Tirmizi. N: Abu Zarr and Mua’z bin Jabal