Bismihi Ta'ala
Dealing with various cases every day
of our lives, we find something which has become so common is the type of
statements that people utter when they are in difficulties, hardships, pain and
suffering. …There is just no contemplation, no reflection, no thought – just
immediate criticism of Allah Ta’ala’s system and ‘government’ - as we will say.
Some question Allah Ta’ala’s wisdom
and say: ‘What kind of Allah is this that He has done such injustice to me!’ (Na’uzu
Billah)
People actually use these kind of words,
attributing their difficulties to Allah Ta’ala, accusing Him of injustice (Na’uzu Billah). …Yet
who can be more just than Allah Ta’ala?
“Indeed,
Allah does not do injustice, [even] as much as an atom's weight…”
[Surah Nisaa 4 : 40]
Such people only see the outside. They
see what is on the surface. Their ignorance becomes apparent, and sometimes
their arrogance becomes evident.
In English, there is a proverb: Ignorance
is bliss. However, this statement is an ill-considered one. It may be
bliss in this world, but when the veils of the Unseen are lifted, then ‘bliss’
comes to an end. Bliss is then replaced with distress.
And
ignorance is no bliss for the Muslim if it leads him to sins, and if it leads
him to such statements which can even throw him out of Islam, and land him in
Jahannum.
And arrogance is such an evil which
leads the person to believe that he is infallible; that nothing can ‘touch’ him
– and when something does, then the nafs is provoked and he makes such
statements. …As if we have some right to question Allah Ta’ala or criticise
His Decisions.
Why? …Because there is no recognition
of Allah Ta’ala; no knowledge and understanding of the system and the wisdom of
Allah Ta’ala.
By Allah, this worldly life is not to
be taken lightly – as if we are here to just while away our days and do as we
like - and when things go wrong, then we get upset and angry, because our boat
which was sailing smoothly is suddenly lashed by a storm.
We should keep in mind that many a
time, the sins that we have committed in our lives – which we do not even
remember, let alone consider sins – are probably the cause for the museebat
(difficulty). …And this is, indeed, a weakness:
we easily forget our injustices.
Some great injustice could have been
done upon some person. It could have been that many years ago, we were unjust
to someone. The person may have been under our authority or may have been at
our mercy, and we caused great hurt and great grief to the person. It could
have been injustice to parents, or wife, or an employee, a student, a poor
person, even a non-Muslim – we least realize that that injustice will catch up
at some stage in life.
Other sins, Allah Ta’ala forgives. The
person makes Taubah from sins and Allah Ta’ala forgives. However, there are
certain sins, where justice has to be meted out… unless the person asks those
people for forgiveness here. If not, Allah Ta’ala punishes in this world. …Aakhirat
is Aakhirat - but even in this lifetime, punishment
descends very swiftly on injustice – whether it was injustice upon a Muslim or
non-Muslim.
Hazrat Abu Hurairah (RA) has
related that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: Three types of
people’s Duas are not rejected:
- The fasting person when he breaks fast,
- The just ruler
- And the one who is oppressed.
Allah
Ta’ala raises the Dua of the oppressed above the clouds and the doors of heaven
are opened for it and Allah Ta’ala says, “By My Majesty and Honour! I will help
and aid you, even though after few days.”
[Tirmidhi]
So sometimes the difficulty and
calamity is the recompense of our own oppression and injustice.
And
sometimes it is a test. Allah Ta’ala is taking our examination.
…If every student says: “Great injustice is being done to me in the
Matric examination. I have to work so hard, I have to study so much …I have to
burn the midnight oil…”
Will we call that injustice? No!
The student knows and understands
that on that hard work and sacrifice, there will be awards and rewards after he
passes his examination.
Look at the amount of time spent
studying when the person wants to become a doctor, or wants to become an
engineer, or a scientist, or whatever else. …Can we say that that hard work and sacrifice is
injustice?
Others are sleeping early or they are enjoying
themselves at the clubs, cinemas and theatres. And this student has to work so
hard.
The student knows that after the years
of study, he will graduate and his qualifications will place him in a high
bracket of earning. He knows that once he starts earning, he will be able to
afford various material luxuries.
Because of what he hopes to earn and
what he will be able to afford – whether a beautiful car, home, traveling the
world, etc. …which he dreams of, he is prepared to work very hard. No one calls
that injustice.
Allah Ta’ala informs us :
“We will definitely test you with some fear, some
hunger and some loss in your wealth,
in your health and in the fruits.”
[Surah Al-Baqarah 2 : 155]
Allah Ta’ala tests each one of us –
and this is, after all, a world of test – but the test is also within the
capacity of the person to bear:
“Allah
does not obligate anyone beyond his capacity”
[Surah Baqarah 2 : 286]
Whatever the test from Allah Ta’ala,
it is definitely within the capacity of the person to bear. Allah Ta’ala’s Ma’iyyat
(proximity) is with the person who is being tested.
“…Indeed,
Allah is with the patient.”
[Surah Baqarah 2
: 153]
Glad-tidings are given to those
who patiently persevere and pass such tests :
“Give glad-tidings to those who patiently
persevere. And when any trial reaches them,
they say : ‘Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji-oon
(from Allah we have come and to Him is our
return).” They are those on whom are the benefactions of their Lord, and receive
His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided ones.”
[Surah Al-Baqarah 2 :
155/156/157]
If it is an azaab (punishment) from
Allah Ta’ala, the person will not enjoy the Ma’iyyat (closeness) of Allah
Ta’ala. He will not have the love and muhabbat of Allah Ta’ala in that test
because Allah Ta’ala is not on his side. Then that difficulty makes the
person’s life restless, miserable, tightened and narrow and the person cannot
seem to find a way out.
…If he had Taqwa, there would be an exit, a way out of
the problem. Allah Ta’ala alleviates and lightens the person’s test.
‘And for
those who fear Allah, He (ever) prepares a way out, And He provides for him from
(sources) he never could imagine…”
[Surah Talaaq 65 : 2/3]
Had Taqwa been in his life, had he
engendered piety and Allah-fearing in his heart, that same Allah, who sent
the test, will find a way out for him.
Before making rash statements, we should
look into our lives and check if this is a test or an azaab. Do we have Taqwa
or are we living a life of negligence and indifference?
What is the point of making all kinds
of statements, condemning and rejecting everything – when the root cause is our
own disobedience or oppression?
Where are these statements taking the
person? …Certainly not in the direction of solving the problem!
Let us not forget that we are servants
of Allah Ta’ala. We are not an authority over Allah Ta’ala.
Allah Ta’ala has
said:
"He is not questioned of what He does…."
[Surah Al-Ambiyaa
21 : 23]
And:
"…Allah knows and you do not know."
[Surah An-Noor:
24 :19]
Let us recognize our reality and let
us be humble servants. As has been aptly said:
“Allah has created you from dust,
Hence O bondsman,
Adopt an attitude of meekness
and humility like dust!”
May Allah Ta’ala grant us the Taufeeq
of sincere Taubah, of recognizing Him, of loving Him and being obedient to Him.
By Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (Rahmatullahi
‘alayh)
