THE INCONGRUOUS STANCES a RENUNCIATION OF WISDOM

IN THE NAME OF GOD, the MOST GRACIOUS the MOST MERCIFUL

THE INCONGRUOUS STANCES a RENUNCIATION OF WISDOM

BY: WAHBA MAHMOUD DIYAB

-All nature around us and her pageants –and the soul of man within- proclaim the goodness of God. God gave the soul the power of choice and the sense of Right and Wrong. Let man keep it pure and attain Salvation. We start with Surat Al-Shams/the Sun 91:

By the soul and Him who perfected it in proportion. (7)	(وَنَفْسٍ وَمَا سَوَّاهَا (7
Then, He inspired it (the soul) its enlightenment to the wrong and the right. (8)	(فَأَلْهَمَهَا فُجُورَهَا وَتَقْوَاهَا (8
Indeed, he succeeded who purifies it (his soul (. (9)	(قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ زَكَّاهَا (9
And indeed, he failed who corrupted it (his soul). (10)	(وَقَدْ خَابَ مَنْ دَسَّاهَا (10

Notes: ((Verses 7-8-9)-  God makes the soul, and gives it order, proportion and relative perfection in order to adapt it for the particular circumstances in which it may be placed. This is the most precious gift of all to man, the faculty of distinguishing between right and wrong. After the sixth external evidence mentioned in verses 1-6 above, this internal evidence of God’s goodness is mentioned as the greatest of all. By these various tokens man should learn that his success, his prosperity, his salvation depending on himself, on his abilities for keeping his soul pure as God made it; and on the other hand his decline, his perdition depends on him soiling his soul by choosing evil.)

-All mankind are one, and mutual rights must be respected; the sexes must honor each other, sacred are family relationships that rise through marriage and women bearing children. Orphans need especial loving care. See Surat Al-Nisa’ 4:

O’ mankind! Reverence/be pious of your Guardian Lord, Who created you from a single Person [Adam], and from him [Adam], and of like nature, He created his mate/wife (Hauwa-Eve), and from them both He created many/countless men and women [scattered like seeds]. And reverence/be pious/fear God through whom you demand mutual your rights, and [reverence] do not cut the relations/kinship of the wombs –that bore you. Surely, God is an All-Watcher over you.    (1)*

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ مِنْ نَفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالًا كَثِيرًا وَنِسَاءً وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ الَّذِي تَسَاءَلُونَ بِهِ وَالْأَرْحَامَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيبًا (1)

If the conflicting, contesting, and non-performing groups, who are dressed as our leaders, could do some observation, and try to reconsider  that there is something called the PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY; which leads us to understand that God’s commands are not irrational Taboos, but based on the moral law, and conformable to reason. His Way is straight Way, of justice and truth. In unity and faith must we dedicate all our life to His service, and His Alone, to Whom we shall return. As we may see in Surat Al-An’am/the Cattle 6 verse 164:

 

 

Say [O’ Muhammad-PPBUH]: “Shall I seek for (my) Cherisher other than God, when He is the Cherisher of all things (that exists)? Every soul draws the meed of its acts on none but itself; no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another. Your goal in the end is towards God; He will tell you the truth of the things wherein you have been disputed!” (164)

قُلْ أَغَيْرَ اللَّهِ أَبْغِي رَبًّا وَهُوَ رَبُّ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَلَا تَكْسِبُ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ إِلَّا عَلَيْهَا وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَى ثُمَّ إِلَى رَبِّكُمْ مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَيُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ (164)

The doctrine of personal responsibility again. We are fully responsible for our acts ourselves; we cannot transfer the consequences to someone else. Nor can any one vicariously atone for our sins. If people have honest doubts of differences about important questions of religion, they should not start futile disputes. All will be clear in the end. Our duty here is to maintain unity and discipline, and do the duty that comes to us.

Let us also see in Surat Ibrahim/Abraham 14 verse 51:

That God may requite (repay/to bestow) each soul according to its deserts; and verily, God is Swift in calling for reckoning/account. (51)

لِيَجْزِيَ اللَّهُ كُلَّ نَفْسٍ مَا كَسَبَتْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ (51)

(Verse 51)- A/ Its deserts; i.e., according to what it earned by its own acts, good or evil, in its life of probation. B/Swift in calling to account: we can understand this in two significations: (1) let not the wicked think that because God –out of His infinite grace and mercy- grants respite, therefore the retribution will be slow in coming. When the time comes in accordance with God’s Plan and Wisdom, the retribution will come so swiftly that the ungodly will be surprised and they will wish they could get more respite (see verse 44); (2) on the great Day of Reckoning –let it be supposed that- because there will be millions of souls to be judged, is there will be any delay in judgment as in a human tribunal! It will be a new world and beyond the flight of Time. Or if a metaphor from time as we conceive it in this world can be taken, it will all be as it were in the twinkling of an eye (see Surat Al-Nahl 16 verse77). B/ Here is another aspect of the Truth of Unity. God being One, all justice is of one standard, for Truth is one, and we see it as one as soon as the scales of phenomenal diversity fall from our eyes. The one true Reality then emerges. Blessed are those who treasured this Truth in their souls already in their life of probation.

Let us see also in Surat Al-Imran 3 verses 185-188, 198-200:

Every soul shall have a taste of death. And only on the Day of Judgment/Resurrection you shall be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved/removed away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he is indeed will have attained the object [of life]; for the life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception. (185)	كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ وَإِنَّمَا تُوَفَّوْنَ أُجُورَكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَمَنْ زُحْزِحَ عَنِ النَّارِ وَأُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَ وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا مَتَاعُ الْغُرُورِ (185)
You shall certainly be tried and tested in your possessions/wealth and properties, and in your personal selves; and you shall certainly hear much that will grieve you from those who received the Book/Scripture before you (Jews and Christians) and from those who ascribe partners to God/worship many gods. But if you preserve patiently, and be pious/guard against evil; then verily, that will be determining factor in all affairs (that is from the great matters which you must hold on with all your efforts). (186)	لَتُبْلَوُنَّ فِي أَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنْفُسِكُمْ وَلَتَسْمَعُنَّ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ وَمِنَ الَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا أَذًى كَثِيرًا وَإِنْ تَصْبِرُوا وَتَتَّقُوا فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ (186)
And (remember) when God took a Covenant from those who were given the Scripture/Book [Jews and Christians] to make it known and clear to mankind, and not to hide it; But they threw it behind their backs, and purchased with it some miserable gain! And indeed vile was the bargain they made/worst is that which they bought.   (187)	وَإِذْ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِيثَاقَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ لَتُبَيِّنُنَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَكْتُمُونَهُ فَنَبَذُوهُ وَرَاءَ ظُهُورِهِمْ وَاشْتَرَوْا بِهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا فَبِئْسَ مَا يَشْتَرُونَ (187)
Think not that those who rejoice/exult in what they have brought about, and love to be praised for what they have not done, do not think that they can escape/rescued from the penalty/ torment, and for them is indeed grievous penalty/torment. (188)	لَا تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَا أَتَوْا وَيُحِبُّونَ أَنْ يُحْمَدُوا بِمَا لَمْ يَفْعَلُوا فَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّهُمْ بِمَفَازَةٍ مِنَ الْعَذَابِ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ (188)

(Verse 185)- The soul will not die; but the body will give a taste of death to the soul when the soul separates from the body. The soul will then know that this life was but probation. And seeming inequalities will be adjusted finally on the Day of Judgment.                                                           Longfellow’s Psalms of life: “All this worlds fleeting show, for man’s illusion given. The only reality will be when we have attained our final goals.

(Verse 186)- Not wealth and possessions only – or want of them, are the means of our trial. All our personal talents, knowledge, opportunities, and their opposites; in fact everything that happens to us and makes up our personality is a means of our testing. So is our Faith: we shall have to put up for it many insults from those who do not share it.

(Verse 187)- Truth {God’s Message} comes to any man or nation as a matter of sacred trust. It should be broadcasted and published and taught and made clear to all within reach. Privileged priesthood at once erects a barrier. But worse; when such priesthood tampers with the truth, taking what suits it and ignoring the rest, it has sold God’s gift for a miserable ephemeral profit: how miserable, it will learn when Nemesis comes. See Surat Al-Bagara 2 verse 101 and commentary.

(Verse 188)- A searching picture of the worldly is wise. They may cause mischief and misery to others, but gloat over any glory it may bring them! They may trample down God’s Truths, and enthrone false standards of worship. They may take credit for virtues they do not possess and seeming successes that come in spite of their despicable deceptions.

On the other hand, for those who fear their Lord [and being pious] are Gardens with river flowing beneath (Paradise); therein are they to dwell forever. A gift from the Presence of God; and that which is in the Presence of God is the best bliss for the righteous/pious believers. (198)	لَكِنِ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا رَبَّهُمْ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا نُزُلًا مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ وَمَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ لِلْأَبْرَارِ (198)
And there are –certainly- among the People of the Book/Scripture- [Jews and Christians] those who believe in God, and in the revelation [revealed] to you, and in the revelation [revealed] to them, bowing in humility to God; they will not sell the Signs/Verses of God for a miserable price/gain. For them is reward with their Lord. Surely God is swift in account. (199)	وَإِنَّ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ لَمَنْ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْهِمْ خَاشِعِينَ لِلَّهِ لَا يَشْتَرُونَ بِآَيَاتِ اللَّهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا أُولَئِكَ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ (199)
O’ you who believe! Endure/preserve in patience, and constantly vie in such perseverance, be stationed and strengthen each other; and fear God, so that you may prosper/be successful.   (200)	يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا اصْبِرُوا وَصَابِرُوا وَرَابِطُوا وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ (200)

(Verse 200)- The full meaning of (Sabr) is to be understood here as: Patience-Perseverance-Constancy- Self-restraint- refusing to be cowed down. Theses virtues we are to exercise for ourselves and in the relation to others; we are to set an example, so that others may vie with us, and we are to vie with them, lest we fall short; in this way we strengthen each other and bind our mutual relations closer, in our common service to God.

Falaha= Prosperity, here and in other passages is to be understood in a wide sense, including prosperity in our mundane affairs as well as spiritual progress. In both cases it implies happiness and the attainment of our wishes, purified by the love of God.

Also a more –in continuation- perspicuous pictures are revealed in Surat Al-Imran 2 verses 14-77-179-180 for whom he could be admonish:

زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ الشَّهَوَاتِ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ وَالْبَنِينَ وَالْقَنَاطِيرِ الْمُقَنْطَرَةِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَالْفِضَّةِ وَالْخَيْلِ الْمُسَوَّمَةِ وَالْأَنْعَامِ وَالْحَرْثِ ذَلِكَ مَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَاللَّهُ عِنْدَهُ حُسْنُ الْمَآَبِ (14)

Embellished in the eyes of men the love of things they covet; (from) women and sons; heaped-up hoards of gold and silver; and the branded horses (for blood and excellence); and wealth of cattle; and well-tilled land. This is the pleasure of present world’s life, but in the nearness to God is the best of goals- (excellent return to Him).

(V-14) the pleasure of this world are first enumerated: women for love: sons for strength and pride: hoarded riches, which procure all luxuries: the best and finest pedigree horses: cattle, the measure of wealth in the ancient world: and broad acres of well-tilled land. By analogy, we may include –for our mechanized age- machines of all kinds- tractors, motor-cars aero planes, the best internal-combustion engines, etc. etc. in “Heaped-up hoards of gold and silver”, the Arabic word translated Hoards = Qanatir plural of Qintar, which literally means a Talent of 1,200 ounces of gold. That quantity of pure gold would coin into 5,097 sterling gold sovereigns, each containing 123,274 grains of gold 22 crates fine[about year 1932-1937). Heaped hoards of Qanatir would therefore be boundless wealth “as wish can claim”.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَشْتَرُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ وَأَيْمَانِهِمْ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا أُولَئِكَ لَا خَلَاقَ لَهُمْ فِي الْآَخِرَةِ وَلَا يُكَلِّمُهُمُ اللَّهُ وَلَا يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَلَا يُزَكِّيهِمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ (77)

Verily, as for those who vend/sell/purchase the Faith/covenant they owe to God and their own plighted word for small price/gain, they shall have no portion in the Hereafter, neither God will deign to speak to them, or look at them on the Day of Judgment, nor will He cleanse/purify them [of sin], and they shall have a grievous penalty/painful torment.

Verse 77-78) Even on sinners –ordinary sinners- God will look with compassion and mercy; He will speak words of kindness and cleanse them of their sins. But those who are in active rebellion against God and sin against their own light, – what mercy can they expect?

Verily, God will not leave the Believers in the state in which you are now, until He eparates what is evil from what is good. Nor will He disclose to you the secrets of the Unseen. But He chooses of His Apostles (for the purpose) whom He pleases. So believe in God and His Apostles; and certainly if you believe and do right, you have a reward without measure. (179)

مَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيَذَرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَى مَا أَنْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى يَمِيزَ الْخَبِيثَ مِنَ الطَّيِّبِ وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُطْلِعَكُمْ عَلَى الْغَيْبِ وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَجْتَبِي مِنْ رُسُلِهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ فَآَمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَإِنْ تُؤْمِنُوا وَتَتَّقُوا فَلَكُمْ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ (179)

And let not those who covetously withhold of the gifts which God has given them of His Grace, (they) think that it is good for them. Nay! It will be the worset for them; soon shall the things which they covetously withheld be tied to their necks like a twisted collar on the Day of Judgment. And to God belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth; and God is Well-Aquainted with all that you do. (180)

وَلَا يَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ بِمَا آَتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ هُوَ خَيْرًا لَهُمْ بَلْ هُوَ شَرٌّ لَهُمْ سَيُطَوَّقُونَ مَا بَخِلُوا بِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَلِلَّهِ مِيرَاثُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ (180)

A]- The testing of good men by calamities, and evil men by leaving them in the enjoyment of good things is part of the Universal Plan, in which some freedom of choice is left to man. The psychological and subjective test is unfailing, and the separation is effected partly by the operation of the human wills, to which some fredom is allowed. But it must be effected, if only in the interest of the good. B]- man in his weak state would be most miserable if he could see the secrets of the Future or the secrets of the Unseen. But things are revealed to him from time to time as may be expedient for him, by Apostles chosen for the purpose. Our duty is to hold fast by the faith and lead a good life. C]- the gifts are of all kinds: material gifts such as wealth, property, strength of limbs, etc…, or intangible gifts, such as influence, birth in a given set, intellect, skill,, insight, etc…, or spiritual gifts of the highest kind. The spending of all these things (apart from what is necessary for ourselves) for those who need them, is charity, and purifies our own character. The withholding of them (apart from our needs) is similarly greed and selfishness, and is strngly condemned. D]- by an apt metaphor the miser is told that his wealth or other gifts which he hoarded will cling around his neck and do him no good. He will wish he could get rid of them, but he will not be able to do so. According to the Biblical phrase in another connection they will hang like a millstone round his neck (Matt. Xviii-6). The metaphor here is fuller. He hugged his wealth or his gifts about him. They will become like a heavy collar –the badge of slavery- round his neck. They will be tied tight and twisted, and they will give him pain and anguish instead of pleasure. E]- another metaphor is now introduced. Material wealth or property is only called ours during our short life here; it then descends to heirs and heirs until it goes to the ultimate heir, the State. So all gifts are ours in trust only; they ultimately revert to God, to Whom belongs all that is in the heavens or on the earth.