2.25. CONTENTMENT (to be continued)

God says

Yes, indeed: everyone who surrenders his whole being unto God, and is a doer of good withal, shall have his reward with his Sustainer; and all such need have no fear, and neither shall they grieve. -- Q.2:112

….It is possible that you dislike a thing that is good for you, and that you love anything that is bad for you. But God knows, and you know not. -- Q.2:216

Satan makes them promises and creates vain desires but Satan’s promises are nothing but deception. -- Q.4:120

Know [O men] that the life of this world is but a play and passing delight, and a beautiful show, and [the cause of] your boastful vying with one another,….- Q.57:20 * *

Commenting at length on this passage, Razi makes it clear that life as such is not to be despised, inasmuch as it has been created by God: cf. 38:27 – “ We have not created heaven and earth and all that is between them without meaning and purpose”; and 23:115 – “Did you think that We have created you in mere idle play?” But whereas life in itself is a positive gift of God and – as Razi points out – the potential source of all blessings, it loses this positive quality if it is indulged in recklessly, blindly and with disregard of spiritual values and considerations: in brief, if it is indulged in without any thought of hereafter.

Prophet said

1. “Wealth lies not in being very rich but in self- contentment”– H: Bukhari and Muslim. N: Abu Hurairah.

2. “Blessed is he who is guided to Islam, and whose livelihood is just sufficient and who is contented with it” -- H: Tirmizi. N: Fuzala-b-Ubaid.

3. “Of the beauty of Islam of a man is his giving up what does not concern him.” -- H: Maalik, Ahmed and Tirmizi. N: Ali-b-Husain.

2.24. RELIANCE ON GOD (concluded)

God says

Say (O Prophet): “God is enough for me! In Him [alone] place their trust all who have trust [in His existence].” -- Q.39:38

…. God alone is the Protector [of all that exists], since it is He alone who brings dead to life, and He alone has the power to will anything. -- Q.42:9

…. [Say, therefore:] “Such is God, my Sustainer: In Him I placed my trust, and unto Him do I always turn!” -- Q.42:10

….And unto everyone who is conscious of God, He [always] grants a way out [of unhappiness], and provides for him [and her] in a manner beyond all expectation; and for everyone who places his trust in God, He [alone] is enough….. Q.65:2,3

Reliance on God is not devoid of action, because action is our duty to God. It is action with earnestly praying to Him for help, trusting that the outcome will be based on divine wisdom.

Prophet said

1. “Surely I know a verse (which) if people had followed it would have sufficed them: ‘and whoso is God conscious, He always grants a way for him, and He provides from (sources) he never could imagine’ (Q.65:2,3)” – H: Ahmed and Ibn Majah. N:Abu Zarr.

2. ‘When you are overcome (by grief or anxiety) say: “HASBUNAL LAHU WA NI’AMAL WAKEEL" [Allah (Alone) is sufficient for us – and He is the best Disposer of affairs] Q.3:173 -- Hadith: Abu Daud. Narrator: Arf-b-Malek.

2.24. RELIANCE ON GOD (continued)

God says

As for anyone, be it man or woman – who does righteous deeds, and is a believer withal – him shall We most certainly cause to lead a good life;* and most certainly shall We grant unto such as these their reward according with their best that they ever did. – Q.16:97

* This may relate either to life in this world -- inasmuch as a true believers invariably find happiness in the God-consciousness – or to the happiness which awaits them in the hereafter, or to both.

…. so establish regular prayers, render purifying dues (zakah), and hold fast to God! He is your protector – the best to protect, the best to help! – Q. 23:78

And how many a living creature is there that takes no thought of its own sustenance,* [the while] God provides for it as [He provides] for you – since He alone is all-knowing, all seeing. -- Q.29:60

*I.e., is either too week to fend for itself or (according to Al-Hasan, as quoted by Zamakhshari) does not store up provisions for the marrow.

Prophet said

“If you had relied on God with due reliance, He would have certainly given you provision as He provides to birds who get up hungry in the morning and return with a belly-full at dusk.”-- H: Tirmizi and Ibn Majah. N: Omar-b-al Khattab.

2.24. RELIANCE ON GOD

God says

…. And take council with them in all matters of public concern; then, when thou hast decided upon a course of action, place thy trust in God: for, verily, God loves those who put their trust in Him*. -- Q.3:159*

This injunction, implying government by concent and council, must be regarded as one of the fundamental clauses of Islamic legislation relating to statecraft.

If God helps you, no one can overcome you; but if He should forsake you, who could help you thereafter? In God, then, let the believers place their trust! (3:160)

….“God is enough for us; and how excellent guardian is He!” -- Q.3:173

And God comprehends the hidden reality of the heavens and the earth: for all that exists goes back to Him [as its source]. Worship Him, then, and place your trust in Him alone: for your God is not unmindful of anything that you do. -- Q.11:123

“…. and do not lose hope of God’s life-giving mercy : indeed, none but people who deny the truth can ever lose hope of God’s life-giving mercy.” – Q.12:87

Truly, the command is with God in all things! -- Q.13:31

Prophet said

1. “Seventy thousand of my followers will enter paradise without account: those who do not seek charms*, nor consider bad omens; but on their Lord do they rely”– H: Bukhari and Muslim. N: Ibn Abbas.

*Charms and enchantments which are opposed to Quranic injunctions and which smack of polytheism are quite unlawful. The enchantments which bear the names of Allah or the words of the Quran and Hadis are allowed. (Al-Hadis, vol. 1, page 441, note: 366)

2. 'The last statement of prophet Ibraheem, when he was cast into the fire (of Nimrod and God saved him)., was: "Allah (Alone) is sufficient for me – and He is the best Disposer (of my affairs)" -- H. Bukhari. Narrator: Ibn 'Abbas.

2.23. PARDON

God says

Hold to forgiveness,* and enjoin the doing of what is right; and leave who choose to remain ignorant.** -- Q.7:199 *

i.e., making due allowance for human nature. In accordance with the Qur’anic statements that “man has been created weak” (4:28) and that “God does not burden any human being with more that he is well able to bear” (2:286, 6:152, 7:42, 23:62), the believer is being advised to make due allowance for human nature and not to be too harsh with those who err.

** I.e., those who wilfully remain deaf to moral truths, and not those who are simply unaware of them.

…. let them pardon and forbear [the erring ones]. [For,] do you not desire that God should forgive you your sins God is much- forgiving, most gracious. -- Q.7:199

But (since) good and evil cannot be equal, you repel evil with something that is better – and then, he between whom and you was enmity (may become) as though he had (always) been close (unto you), a true friend! …. Q.41:34,35

But [remember that an attempt at] requiting evil may, too, become an evil: hence, whoever pardons [his foe] and makes peace, his reward rests with God – for, verily, He does not love evildoers. -- Q.42:40

Prophet said

1. “The best of you is he who gets angry slowly, and becomes appeased very soon, and the worst of you is he who gets suddenly angry and becomes appeased very slowly” – Fragment of a Hadis quoted by Tirmizi on the authority of Abu Sayeed al Khodri.

2. Bibi Ayesha said: The Apostle of God did never take revenge for any wrong done to him… – H: Bukhari and Muslim.

3. “Moses, son of Imran, had asked : O my Lord! of Thy servants who is most honorable to Thee? God said: he who pardons when he is in a position of power (to punish)”-- H: Baihaqi. N: Abu Hurairah.

4. When asked to invoke against the polytheists, the Prophet said, “Verily I have not been sent to curse. I have been sent as mercy ”-- H: Muslim. N: Abu Hurairah.

2.22. ANGER

God says

Hence, if it should happen that a prompting from Satan stirs you up* (to blind anger), seek refuge with God: behold, He alone is all-hearing, all-knowing! -- Q.41:36

*Extreme anger is forbidden because in such a state one looses all norms of sane thinking and judgment. Besides, recurrence of it now and then can damage one’s health. However, rightly directed anger results in courage and heroism in a fight for self-defense, for instance.

.…and who, whenever they are moved by anger, readily forgive;” -- Q.42:37

Yet indeed, as for any who defend themselves after having being wronged – no blame whatsoever attaches to them: blame attaches but to those who oppress [other] people and behave outrageously on earth, offending against all right: for them there is greivious suffering in store!But withal, if one is patient in adversity and forgives – this, behold, is indeed something to set one’s heart upon!* -- Q.42: 41- 43

…. [the God-conscious] who spend [in His way] in time of plenty and in time of hardship, and who hold in check their anger, and pardon their fellow-men because God loves the doers of good.; -- Q.3:134

Prophet said

1. “A strong man is not he who would knock done others but the one who can control himself at the time of anger”– H: Bukhari and Muslim. N: Abu Hurairah.

2. “Whoever of you gets angry, let him perform ablution.”-- H: Abu Daud. N: Atiyah-b-Urwah As S’adi.

3. “Whenever any of you gets angry while standing, let him sit down. If it does not help, let him lie down”– H: Ahmed and Tirmizi. N: Abu Zarr.

4. “…. so fear anger. It is a burning coal in the heart of the son of Adam. Have you not seen the swelling of his neck and redness of his eyes?” – H: Tirmizi

5. “Anger is due to Satan’s instigation”--H: Abu Daud. N: Atiya-b-Urivah As-S’adi.

2.21. ENVY (continued)

God says

And never turn thine eyes [with longing] towards whatever splendour of this world’s We may have allowed so many others* to enjoy in order that We might test them thereby: for the sustenance which thy Sustainer provides [for thee] is better and more enduring.** -- Q.20:131

*Lit., “groups [or kinds] of them”. According to most of the commentators, this relates to the deniers of the truth spoken of in preceding passages; but since the above injunction has obviously a wider purport, condemning envy in general, this expression has been rendered as “so many others”. **Implying that whatever God grants a person is an outcome of divine wisdom, and therefore, truly appropriate to the destiny which God has decreed for that person. Alternatively, the phrase may be understood as referring to the life to come and the spiritual sustenance which God bestows upon righteous (here).

….and (I seek refuge with the Sustainer of the rising dawn) from the evil of the envious when he envies. -- Q.113: 5

Prophet said

1. “Whenever any of you turns his looks towards one who has been given more in wealth and physique, let him look towards one who has been given less (than you).” – H: Bukhari and Muslim. N: Abu Hurairah.