214- OR DID YOU THINK THAT YOU WILL ENTER THE PARADISE WITHOUT THE LIKE OF WHAT CAME TO THOSE BEFORE YOU COMING TO YOU.  THEY ENCOUNTERED AFFLICTION AND ADVERSITY AND WERE SHAKEN, UNTIL THE MESSENGER AND THOSE WITH HIM SAID: “WHEN SHALL ALLAH’S HELP COME”, INDEED, ALLAH’S HELP IS NEAR. 

There is a very important principle in this Ayah.  This principle involves the way Allah the Highest deals with the believers.  They are always tried and tested.  This is an ongoing policy since the creation of Adam peace upon him and until the Day of Resurrection.  Allah the Highest said: “DID PEOPLE THINK THAT THEY WILL BE LEFT FOR SAYING: WE BELIEVE, WITHOUT BEING TEST * FOR WE HAVE TESTED THOSE BEFORE THEM, SO THAT ALLAH MAY KNOW THOSE WHO ARE TRUTHFUL AND KNOW THE LIARS” (S: 29 A: 2, 3)

Allah’s prophets and messengers and their followers suffered a great deal for their faith and because of their faith.  The early Muslims suffered from the disbelievers while in Makah before migrating first to Abyssinia (Ethiopia) in two waves, then later to Medina.  There were 13 years between the beginning of Islam and Migration to Medina. 

While in Makah, some of the Muslims asked Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him to ask Allah the Highest for help, he said: “Of those before you, there were some who will have the saw put on the middle of their heads and cutting them through to their feet, this not making them turn away from their faith.  And some were combed with iron combs, cutting through between their skin and bone, but this did not make them turn away from their faith” And then he said: “By Allah, this mission is to be completed until the traveler shall travel from Sanaa (in Yemen) to Hadramot, fearing nothing other than Allah and the wolves for it’s sheep, but you people are hurrying”.  (B: Manaeb & D: Jehad; 97 & a: 5; 110,111)

The Muslims migrated from Makah to Medina in secret.  They could not sell their property for they would then attract attention.  Therefore they only carried their family and any thing light they could carry with them, and reached Medina with little money and property. 

In Medina, they were attached by the disbelievers several times, and they had to fight much larger and better equipped armies.  An army of 10 000 men attached Medina and had it under seize, when the number of Muslim men were not much more than a 1000.  The objective of the army was to totally eradicate the Muslims.  The Muslims were shaken then, but Allah’s help was near.  Allah the Highest sent a wind on the disbeliever’s camp which dispersed them, without affecting the Muslims camp.  About this Allah the Highest said: “YOU WHO BELIEVE, REMEMBER ALLAH’S BOUNTY UPON YOU WHEN SOLDIERS CAME TO YOU, AND WE SENT TO THEM WIND AND SOLDIERS YOU DID NOT SEE, AND ALLAH KNOWS AND SEES ALL THINGS * THEY CAME TO YOU FROM ABOVE YOU AND FROM BENEATH YOU, AND AS YOUR EYES BLURRED, AND YOUR HEARTS LEAPT UP TO YOUR THROATS, AND YOU HAD VARIOUS THOUGHTS CONCERNING ALLAH * IT IS THEN THAT THE BELIEVERS WERE TRIED AND WERE SEVERELY SHAKEN”. (S: 33 A: 9-11)

 These trials and tests will continue until the Day of Resurrection.  At some times, the believers shall be tried to the limits of human endurance.  Yet Allah the Highest promises the sincere believers His help and assistance.  He also said: “VERILY, WITH DIFFICULTY COMES RELIEF * WITH DIFFICULTY COMES RELIEF”.  (S: 96 A: 5, 6)

This is a very important time for us to remember this.  The Muslims are under attack from every one and from all sides.  Muslim lands are invaded in Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq, Kashmir, and Chechnya.  Other countries are under threat and our enemies are waiting for an excuse or for the right time to attack them.  More and more people show their hatred and aggressive intentions towards us.  Our best defense is our Faith in Allah, patience and perseverance, and Allah the Highest shall not abandon the believers for this is His promise to us, and Allah always fulfills His promise.

B: Bukhari   M: Muslim    Mal: Malek   A: Ahmed   D: Abu Dawood     

 Da: Daremy       Ma: Ibn Magah            N: Nesae          T: Termezi  

213- MANKIND WAS ONE NATION, AND THEN ALLAH SENT THE PROPHETS WITH GLADE TIDINGS AND WARNINGS, AND SENT THEM THE BOOK WITH THE TRUTH TO RULE OUT IN PEOPLE’S DISPUTES.  ONLY THOSE WHO WERE GIVEN THE BOOK DISPUTED ABOUT IT, AFTER CLEAR SIGNS CAME TO THEM, IN INJUSTICE TO EACH OTHER.  ALLAH GUIDES THE BELIEVERS TO THE TRUTH CONCERNING THEIR DISPUTES, BY HIS PERMISSION, FOR ALLAH GUIDES THOSE HE DESIRES TO THE STRAIGHT PATH.

Mankind originated from Adam peace upon him, who was a prophet of Allah.  When Allah the Highest sent him and Eve down from the Garden, Allah promised to send them those who guide them: “WE SAID: GET DOWN FROM IT ALL OF YOU.  WHEN YOU RECEIVE GUIDANCE FROM ME, THOSE WHO FOLLOW MY GUIDANCE, THERE WILL BE NO FEAR UPON THEM, NEITHER WILL THEY BE SADDENED” (S: 2 A: 38)

Allah the Highest fulfilled His promise of sending prophets and messengers to people to:

1-    Deliver Allah’s guidance to people.

2-    Give people good news about the great rewards awaiting them when they believe and do good.

3-    Warn people about the severe punishment if they do not.

We shall not have an excuse, for all guidance has been sent complete.  Allah the Highest said: “MESSENGERS GIVING GOOD NEWS AND WARNINGS, SO THAT MANKIND SHALL NOT HAVE ANY EXCUSE AFTER THE MESSENGERS, FOR ALLAH IS EXALTED IN POWER AND MOST WISE”  (S:4 A:165)

Allah the Highest is just and would not have punished us before sending us the prophets and messengers with guidance first “AND WE WERE NOT TO PUNISH BEFORE SENDING A MESSENGER”.  (S: 17 A: 15)

As all the books sent were lost in part and miswritten except the Quran that remains as it was sent down initially, again fulfilling Allah’s Promise “WE SENT DOWN THE ZEKR (QURAN) AND WE ARE PRESERVING IT”. (S: 15 A: 9)

We find that people go into disputes concerning their faiths, each have evidence from their books of reference, their holy books.  How do we know which evidence are better, which are valid, which are true, and which are correct.  We can only judge according to the validity and authenticity of the evidence, which depends of the validity and authenticity of the source of these evidence and information.  The only Book in our hands at the present day which can be authentically proven not to have been altered or changed in any way is the Quran.  It is the only Book we can seek the truth from if we seek guidance, if we wish to find the truth in these disputes.

Not only the Quran, the Serah (Biography of Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him) and the Hadith (what he said or did) are also reported in books of Hadith and Serah.  Many have high level of authentication like, Bukhari, Muslim, and Mowata Malik. Serah like that by Ibn Is, haq, Ibn Hesham, Al-Rawd Al-Onof, Al-Tabari, Ibn Kathir.  The Muslim scholars took great care in authenticating and validating every thing from the saying, deeds, or life of Mohamed prayer and peace upon him.

We the Muslims have in our hands the most original, and Authenticated References any people of any faith could hope for, Quran, Hadith, and Serah. We need not be in any hesitance or confusion in any dispute, for we have the Truth.

212- THE DISBELIEVERS HAVE BEEN ALLURED BY THIS LOWER LIFE, AND THEY MOCK THE BELIEVERS, WHILE THE PIOUS SHALL BE SUPERIOR TO THEM ON THE DAY OF RESURRECTION, AND ALLAH PROVIDES TO WHOEVER HE WISHES WITHOUT LIMIT.

Allah the Highest describes this life on Earth as the Lower Life.  It is inferior to the Hereafter in every thing, in its pleasures, as well as its displeasures.

The disbelievers are allured by this lower life and by its pleasures as they do not believe in the Hereafter.  Therefore, they have to get all their pleasures in this life.  They fear poverty and death and try to obtain and enjoy all material things before life comes to an end.

They mock the believers for their belief in the Hereafter and their work for it.  The work for the Hereafter seems illogical to the disbelievers, particularly if it at the cost of what they see as enjoying this life and making the most of it.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “He who desires the Hereafter, shall leave pleasures of this life”.  (T: Qeyamah; 24)

Allah the Highest however promises the believers superior status on the Day of Resurrection to the disbelievers.  The believers shall be rewarded by the Paradise and the disbelievers punished by the Fire.  In fact this is a promise that the believers shall have a superior status to the disbelievers from the resurrection on, not just after judgment. 

Some ask about the disbelievers who are kind, charitable, and do good work in this life, will they be rewarded for their deeds?  On Earth, yes, but not in later life, they do not believe in the Hereafter, Judgment, reward and punishment anyway. 

Also Allah the Highest created us to worship Him first of all.  The disbelievers do not worship Allah the Highest; therefore they do not fulfill the first purpose of their creation.  Allah the Highest said: “BUT I DID NOT CREATE MANKING AND JINN FOR OTHER THAN TO WORSHIP ME” (S: 51 A: 56)

Allah the Highest said: “AND THOSE WHO DISBELIEVE, THEIR DEEDS ARE LIKE A MIRAGE IN A DRY DESERT, A THIRSTY PERSON THINKS IT TO BE WATER UNTIL HE REACHES IT, TO FIND IT NOTHING AND FINDS ALLAH THERE AND HE PAYS HIM IN FULL, AND ALLAH IS SWIFT IN RECKONING”.  (S: 24 A: 39)

“AND ALLAH PROVIDES TO WHOEVER HE WISHES WITHOUT LIMIT”

Allah the Highest provides for the believers and the disbelievers.  The disbelievers are provided for in this life, and this is limited by what the life on earth can offer whatever great.  In this life, one is limited by the amount they can eat, drink, do things they enjoy etc.  The provisions of the Hereafter are truly without limit in what we can have, enjoy, do or any thing else.  It has no limits.

Allah the Highest said: “WHOEVER DESIRES THE CROP OF THE HEREAFTER, WE SHALL INCREASE HIS CROP FOR HIM, AND WHOEVER DESIRES THE CROP OF THE LOWER LIFE, WE SHALL GIVE HIM FROM IT BUT THEY WILL HAVE NO SHARE IN THE HEREAFTER”.  (S: 42 A: 20)

Note that Allah the Highest did not promise to increase the crop of the lower life for those who just want it.

Allah the Highest provides for both the believers and the disbelievers in this Lower Life, but only for the believers in the Hereafter.  Allah the Highest said: “FOR HE SHALL REWARD THOSE WHO BELIEVED AND DID RIGHTEOUS DEEDS, THEY WILL BE GRANTED FORGIVENESS AS WELL AS EXCELLENT AND GENEROUS PRIVISIONS”.  (S: 34 A: 4)

We ask Allah the Highest to be among them. Amen.

B: Bukhari   M: Muslim    Mal: Malek   A: Ahmed   D: Abu Dawood     

 Da: Daremy       Ma: Ibn Magah            N: Nesae          T: Termezi  

210- SHALL THEY WAIT UNTIL ALLAH COMES TO THEM IN CANOPIES OF CLOUDS WITH THE ANGELS, ALL ISSUES WILL BE SETTLED, AND EVERY THING WILL RETURN AND BE REFERRED TO ALLAH.

211- ASK THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL HOW MANY CLEAR SIGNS DID WE SEND THEM?   AS FOR THOSE WHO EXCHANGE ALLAH’S BOUNTY AFTER IT HAS REACHED HIM, ALLAH IS STERN IN PUNISHMENT.

Allah the Highest is telling us that the Day of Resurrection can happen at any time.  Allah the Highest did not tell any one about it’s timing, neither prophets nor angels.  “ARE THEY WAITING FOR THE HOUR (DAY OF RESURRECTION) TO COME TO THEM SUDDENLY”? (S: 47 A: 18)

It will not benefit any one, believer or otherwise to do any thing after the clear signs of the Day of Resurrection are with us.  “SHALL THEY WAIT UNTIL THE ANGELS COME TO THEM, OR YOUR LORD COMES OR SOME OF YOUR LORD’S SIGNS COME?  THE DAY SOME OF YOUR LORD’S SIGNS COME, NO SOUL SHALL BENEFIT FROM its BELIEF IF IT DID NOT BELIEVE BEFORE HAND OR EARNED SOME GOODNESS FROM IT’S BELIEF” (S: 6 A: 158)

No repentance or regret will help then, for then it is too late.  That day is a day of accounting, then reward and punishment.  Allah the Highest said: “THAT DAY (DAY OF RESURRECTION) THOSE WHO TRANSGRESSED SHALL NOT BENEFIT FROM THEIR EXCUSES NOT SHALL THEY BE PERMITTED TO REPENT”.  (S: 20 A: 57)

The Day of Resurrection shall happen suddenly and expectedly, and when it happens, it will be too late to do any thing to repent, or do any thing good.  Then it is a bad policy to delay or postpone repenting from doing wrong or to wait until one starts doing right. This applies to Muslims first, as well as non-Muslims.

On the Day of Resurrection, Allah the Highest will come down in Canopies of Clouds accompanied by the angels.  Ibn Jarir Al-Tabari reported in a Hadith about the Day of Resurrection, that Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “Allah the Almighty and Exalted will descend with the angels in Canopies of cloud”.

Allah the Highest is stern in punishment to those who see what is right but do not do it, and those who know what they should do but do not.

This is not a historic reference to the Children of Israel who embraced Islam and wanted to keep some of the Jewish practices, but also Muslims who delay and postpone doing what they should do like praying, Hajj, Fasting, paying Zakah, getting married, stopping doing sinful things like drinking and taking intoxicants. 

One might postpone obedience of Allah the Highest, but suddenly death may arrive at any time, and the Day of Resurrection may arrive at any time, and we do not know when shall either one arrives.

208- YOU WHO BELIEVE, ENTER INTO ISLAM AND PEACE ALL OF YOU, AND DO NOT FOLLOW THE FOOTSTEPS OF SATAN, FOR HE IS YOUR CLEAR ENEMY.

209- BUT IF YOU FALL INTO SINS AFTER THE CLEAR AYAHS HAVE COME TO YOU, THEN KNOW THAT ALLAH IS MOST EXALTED IN POWER AND MOST WISE.

Some of the Jews of Medina embraced Islam.  Yet some of them wanted to keep some of the Jewish practices like reciting Torah and keeping the Sabbath.  In the mean time they practice Islam as in praying, fasting etc as the rest of the Muslims.  Allah the Highest is telling them that there is no alternative to this Faith and Religion if they want to follow the Right Path; otherwise they are following Satan’s footsteps.  He is our enemy for he made an oath to misguide us “HE (SATAN) SAID: “BY YOUR MIGHT HOOD, I SHALL MIDGUIDETHEM ALL"   (S: 38 A: 82)

Allah the Highest told us again that we are to treat Satan and His ways as enemy, for we do not see him or hear him, but feel his whisper in our hearts and minds “SATAN IS YOUR ENEMY; SO TAKE HIM FOR AN ENEMY”.  (S: 35 A: 6)

Whenever we feel the thoughts coming from the whisper of Satan into our hearts tempting us to do wrong, then we should ask Allah for His protection and rescue from Satan and the rescue will come. This is because Allah the Highest said: “IF A PULL FROM SATAN AFFECTS YOU (TAKING YOU HIS WAY) THEN ASK FOR ALLAH’S PROTECTION, FOR HE HEARS AND KNOWS ALL THINGS”.  (S: 7 A: 200)

Allah the Highest the Most Exalted in Power, but in the mean time Most Wise in the use of this power, is able to protect those who ask for His protection.  Also is able to punish those who disobey him.

Many of us try to wear many incompatible hats, so to speak.  So one might try to earn his living working in a night club or selling alcoholic drinks, in the mean time try to be a good Muslim.  This person might square doing these things with themselves by saying that they are following the religion, but this is something else.  They are then like the Jews who tried to follow Islam as well some Jewish practices.  They should enter fully into Islam if they are sincere in their faith.  We should be aware always of not trying to apply our Religion to some aspects of our lives, but not to the others.

I am not saying that every one of us should be perfect, but should at least strive for it.  One should never see the errors as far as our relationship to Allah the Highest is concerned as being right, trivial, or necessary, for then one will never put them right, or even try to.