Failure Reminds Of Allah

Darse Quran by Maulana Syed Rizwan Pasha Quadri at Masjide Shujath, Tolichowki, Hyderabad
Published in Muslim Murasu, February 2012

Surah 4, Nisa, Rukoo 5. Here God speaks about our Islah (refinement). “Yuridullah”. Allah’s Wish will certainly succeed. Humans can plan, but cannot be sure about result.
Once two persons came to Ali (rali). One person said that everything is under God’s control and men are capable of nothing. Another person argued that men have been vested with all capabilities. Ali (rali) asked him to raise one leg. Then he asked him to raise the other leg too. “I will fall down”. Ali (rali) explained that human beings can achieve some things but not everything.
“Vama thashaunna illa yasha Allah”. Your plans can go in vain. Allah’s Will is sure to be fulfilled. “Fa iza azamtha fathavakkal alallah” – once you decide, place your trust in Allah. Once Ali (rali) was asked about how he knew Allah. Intimacy with Prophet made me know Allah. I failed many times to achieve what I desired. Each failure brought to my mind that there is One who has control over everything and only His Plans will be carried out.
Verse 26 – Yuridullah; Allah wishes; His wish will surely be realized. “Li Yubayinnalakum” – to explain you clearly.
Explaining Quran is not something that a man can do. This is God’s job. It is only by God’s grace that someone can teach you Quran. It is not individual talent of any person. Allah has given an opportunity to teach Quran.
Verse continues. Sunanan – plural of Sunnath. Ways and lifestyle of men keep changing with age. The style of sleeping, eating, dressing is different while going to school from while going to job. But Allah’s Sunnath, His method, does not change. It is same for all ages. It is the same arrangement for all times. Sun will rise every morning. Moon will follow its schedule. Crops and fruits grow in their seasons.
“Allah wishes to guide you in the path of those who have gone before you”. Allah desires to lead you in the ways of noble people. The obstinacy not to follow anyone is grave mistake. Many Muslims follow Prophet exactly. Following such exalted people is same as following Prophet. We can follow Shafi and Hanafi Imams. Some people are fomenting serious reservations about this. Imams exactly followed Prophet. Arguing that we will follow Prophet directly amounts to insulting pure lives of elders.
“Yathuba alaikum” – Allah turns His attention towards you. There is not a single moment when He is not watchful about you. It is not that only during Shabe Baraath, Shabe Mehraj and Eids, Allah cares for you. Whenever you call Him or return to Him in repentance, Allah answers your prayers. Yathuba is present continuous form. It applies both to present tense and future tense. When a person calls “ya rabbana”, “O God”, Allah answers with “ya abdhi’, “O my servant”.
Allah pays individual attention to each human being. He is happy when humans call Him. One need not shout or cry and create fuss. “udvu rabbakum thalarruvan va kufyathan”-call with humility and in secret. Surah 7, al Araf, verse 55. Call Him from depths of your heart.
We are memorizing Duas and merely doing lip service. Angels are not going to come jumping from heaven. One should pray for real needs. It is narrated in a Hadees that Allah extends His hands in the nights. “yamudhu yadaihi”. This is a chance for those who sinned during day to repent and return to Him. Allah again extends His hands in day to give chance to those who erred in night. We should not let our imagination run with how hand, fingers will look like. Understand the essence of the message. It is inappropriate to argue whether God has hands.
“vallahu aleemun hakeem”. Allah knows all that is in your hearts. Recite “ya aleem” to improve your knowledge. Reciting “ya kabeer” will refine character. Allah is aware of the currents and inclinations of your hearts. But He conceals them, otherwise you will be in ignominy.
Verse 27; “vallahu yuridhu ayyathuba alaikum”. Allah wishes to forgive you. Younus (alai) prayed, “la ilaha illa antha subhanaka inni kunthu minallalimeen”. There is no one worthy of worship but You; You are holy; I have become one among sinners. A person will be moved from sinners list to beloved list once he repents and asks for forgiveness.
Verse continues. “Those who follow their passions want you to drift far away from the right path”. If we turn our backs to Prophet’s Shariath, our needs may be temporarily fulfilled. But it can only result in failure in long term. One will lose both Duniya and Akhirat. Prophet used to sit and eat. This is ibadath. If we stand and eat, we will only get diseases. One should not go to bed very late in the night. But this is the new culture. Prophet’s way is to go to bed early in the night and wake up early in the morning. Deviation from this path will lead to suicides. You will cause your own ruin if you ignore the ways of Prophet.
Verse 28; Allah uses ‘yuridullah’ for the third time in the same Rukoo. Allah wishes to make it easy for you. Laws were stringent for earlier communities. They had to throw away their dress or stitch it afresh if it becomes impure. They had to worship only in mosques. But we can worship in trains and houses. Whole earth is mosque for us.
“Kulikal insana zayifa” – man has been created weak. His powers are of no match to large beasts, winds, oceans and mountains. But Allah has given all creations to be used by men. But whole human society is still pitiable in front of God. Whatever advances we make in science, we are helpless in the face of earthquakes and other natural calamities. Tsunami took away lives of two lakh people. We were speechless in front of God’s power. America claims to be super power. But they are tormented with tornadoes. Allah shows His power to anyone who claims to be powerful. Japan is an advanced country. But they could not stop natural disaster. Namrood claimed that he is God. A mosquito taught him lesson. Rich men also stand in queues for water during famines. People will be running for dry breads thrown from helicopters. Human helplessness will become obvious. Humans do not have any individual power or strength. It is only by God’s grace that a human being can even walk. Visit hospitals and see. It will improve your faith. You will find people who are in bed for months together with nothing but life left in their bodies.
Verse 29 – Do not wrongfully consume wealth. Don’t earn in sinful ways. Cinema CDs, photography, gambling, usury, grabbing should not be sources of income. Commerce is allowed. But the condition is that both buyer and seller should feel satisfied. Transaction should not be forceful with help of henchmen. Halal income is the best amal.
Verse 29 – Do not kill yourself. When a person yearns for more and better quality of life and he fails in it, he falls into depression and this becomes a cause for suicide. Prophet has told that a person committing suicide will face same death repeatedly in hell. Mercy killing is also prohibited. We should not even pray for death. When you see a person in torturous pain, the most you can pray is, “Allah! grant him what is best for him”. Men should never lose hope.
“innama al usri yusrar, innama al usri yusra”. Allah says twice. Relief is guaranteed with problem.
We should not kill others either. That is same as killing oneself.
Verse 30 – If anyone transgresses, hell will be the reward.
Verse 31 – If you stay away from grave sins, Allah will forgive your minor misdeeds. You will dwell in paradise. It is a place of honor. We have to produce tickets to enter any exhibition. One can enter paradise through honest life and pure heart. It is a place of dignity where you will see no ignominy.
Verse 32 – It is God who bestows favors. Do not covet to steal bounties bestowed on others. Knowledge, experience, wealth, all these are bounties from God. It is based on God’s Wisdom. Allah has made you above all other creations. Dog runs in streets with its tongue out. Lizard lives its life sticking to walls. Be grateful to God for what He has made you. Do not get lost in appearances. Allah has hidden many talents inside you. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was born in a village without electricity. He was selling newspapers. He rose to become first citizen of India. Verse 32 – men and women will have what they earn. They will get full reward. Everyone should truthfully do his or her duties. Ask Allah for His bounties.