We have been looking at Sura Ya-Sin for the past few months, going Ayah by Ayah. Last Week, in looking at 66-70 we were reminded that if God had not given us the power of sight we would stumble about blindly searching for the path (truth). This is a metaphor for our inner sight. God has given us sight in the form of our intellect and our insight, it is up to us to choose to use it or not.
The Quran then goes on to say that if God had wanted, we would be beings that could not change and evolve, that if we made a wrong turn in our lives that we could not back up and decide on a better course. This again, of course, is a metaphor for our lives in which we gain knowledge of the path as we go along it, we evolve as we learn and we are able to turn away from those things which, at one time we had found attractive, when we know that they are wrong for us.
These abilities have been given to us, but it is up to us to use them. Many ayah in the Quran end with a reminder to use our intellect to discern the right path. But it is up to us to take the responsibility and find out what that right path is. It is said that no one can follow the path without a teacher, we do not do this independently, but rather with a guide.
Murshid reminds us about change with a metaphore that after all else has melted away, what is left is gold. And although gold is precious it is a dead thing, and it can ensnare us rather than be a tool that we use. Are we not after the golden heart rather than the metal gold. And gold in this sense can be a metaphore for whatever shiny thing, attracts us of the path. Then we stand still and our evolution stops until we can turn back from it.
Now we begin again in Sura Ya Sin at Ayat 71
أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّا خَلَقْنَا لَهُمْ مِمَّا
عَمِلَتْ أَيْدِينَا أَنْعَامًا فَهُمْ لَهَا مَالِكُونَ036.071
Awa lam yaraw anna khalaqna lahum mimma ‘aamilat aydeena an’aaman fahum laha malikoona
See they not that it is We Who have created for them – among the things which Our hands have fashioned – cattle, which are under their dominion?-
036.072 وَذَلَّلْنَاهَا لَهُمْ فَمِنْهَا رَكُوبُهُمْ وَمِنْهَا يَأْكُلُونَ
Wathallalnaha lahum faminha rakoobuhum waminha ya/kuloona
And that We have subjected them to their use? of them some do carry them and some they eat:
036.073 وَلَهُمْ فِيهَا مَنَافِعُ وَمَشَارِبُ أَفَلا يَشْكُرُونَ
Walahum feeha manafi’au wamasharibu afala yashkuroona
And they have other profits from them besides, and they get milk to drink. Will they not then be grateful?
036.074 وَاتَّخَذُوا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ آلِهَةً لَعَلَّهُمْ يُنْصَرُونَ
Waittakhathoo min dooni Allahi alihatan la’aallahum yunsaroona
Yet they take for worship gods other than Allah, hoping that they might be helped!
Part 2
وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنْ مَنَعَ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ أَنْ
يُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ وَسَعَى فِي خَرَابِهَا
أُولَئِكَ مَا كَانَ لَهُمْ أَنْ يَدْخُلُوهَا إِل
ا خَائِفِينَ لَهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا خِزْيٌ
2:114 وَلَهُمْ فِي الآخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
Waman athlamu mimman mana’aa masajida Allahi an yuthkara feeha ismuhu wasa’aa fee kharabiha ola-ika ma kana lahum an yadkhulooha illa kha-ifeena lahum fee alddunya khizyun walahum fee al-akhirati ‘aathabun ‘aa{th}eemun
Who is more unjust than he who prevents people from the Masajid (places of worship) of Allah , forbids the mention of His name therein, and strives to ruin them ? It is not proper for such people to enter in them except with His fear. For them there is disgrace in this world and grievous punishment in the Hereafter.
Church bombings
Mosque bombings
Now you may think what you want about all this. I am not going to get into the politics of it all from my position here. But I want you to think about two things. One is what we say every day “La haula wa la quete illah billah” There is no power or security except in Allah. And really live it. And when you think about fear and who there is to fear. There is only one to fear so…
The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) never failed to utter these supplications in the evening and in the morning: O Allah, I ask Thee for security in this world and in the Hereafter: O Allah! I ask Thee for forgiveness and security in my religion and my worldly affairs, in my family and my property; O Allah! conceal my faults, and keep me safe from the things which I fear; O Allah! guard me in front of me and behind me, on my right hand and on my left, and from above me: and I seek in Thy greatness from receiving unexpected harm from below me.” That is to say, swallowing by the earth.
Be Careful.
wa allahu alim
وا الله علم
Ihsan Center - Islam From The Heart 