Chapter Fajr – Part 2

Is my emotional tendency influenced by external factors or my real self?  I can only discover it by consciously questioning it.  Human freewill sits on the driver seat and will direct all tools in a way that is appropriate to human nature.  What is external/internal to my human nature?  I have to always question myself and reconsider my position and influences: “I have this tendency and criteria that doing this is right or doing this is wrong.  Is this consistent with the production of my mind or affiliation with my religious source?  Where did I get this idea?  Is it consistent with my human nature?  What I say/feel, is it the desire of the Source of my Existence or my human expecations?  At the end, that desire may be the result of my interpretation according to my expectations.  We read the Quran and we understand what we expect from it (which is a personal interpretation).

What am I expected to say when I read the Quran?  My understanding from this verse/sentence is this.  Any understanding is restricted to the life conditions of a person.  Usually, when we read a sacred text, we say:

Attitude 1: This is what the source says (which is really your conclusion).

Attitude 2: Let me follow it.

Attitude 2 is wrong. Instead, say that this is my interpretation according to my capacity for sure.  Is my understanding influenced by external factors?  Now, consciousness comes in the process.  How do I know that my inner self or feeling is influenced by external factors or my real conscience/reality?  I must be aware that the voice I hear inside me maybe influenced by external factors.  Awareness is important.  At the end of any process, who can be sure that his last decision is right?  No one, except the Creator.  Even the Prophets say that: “if I am informed then I know, otherwise I do not know.  Only my Creator knows it”.

• “O my Creator, I do not know, you know, please guide me.” I submit myself to you and now expecting your help.  Help me! Help me!  I only seek help from you – Ihdi nus siratal mustaqeem – guide me to the straight path.

Without going through the above process, seeking for guidance means nothing.  Example, A farmer asks: “Guide me to make the best produce of my farming”.  The Source of Existence of the farmer would say: “Excuse me farmer! You have never listened to other people’s experiences of producing crop.  Are you cheating Me?  I gave you some abilities which you did not use.  At the last resort of all experiences, you must come to Me and express: “This is what I know as far as my experiences, but I cannot guarantee if that is right.  That is why I seek refuge with you – Auzu billahi minashaitanirrajeem – The last source is you and no one else”.”

That is why the Quran describes itself as a guide to answer my human questions.  We must listen to it and try to benefit from it but be aware that whatever you gather is your interpretation which cannot be the ultimate truth and maybe under the influence of external factors.  To check, I must go to my conscience i.e. uncorrupted human nature.  Did I pollute my nature?  How can I make sure?  I cannot make sure if I am following a sacred text blindly or with a humanist view.  In order to make sure, I must have an unbiased attitude.

Most of us are under stress.  No one has serenity in their existence.  Ask: Am I doing what is expected of me perfectly?  Try to be on the right path, which is difficult but when you realize that you failed to keep on the right path, get back into the right path.  Turning back to your Lord is really repentance.  It does not mean that no one can get to the aim.  We should work to be on the way to perfection and we will always have some defect and shortcomings in our lives.

• Quran reminds us that He have created you with two possibilities and you will be swerving between the two.

Which one is better?  To be on the right track or to be doing something wrong and turning back from it.

Turning back for human beings is more perfect because it is hard to accept one’s mistake i.e. we usually take the defensive position and take a shield to justify ourselves.  Instead, say: “This person told me that I was wrong, let me check”.  When you do something wrong and try to defend it, the ego (or Satan) which is the bad side of human being and external is active.

• Human beings in their creation are perfect (mukarram).
• Satan gives whisperings that is why you swerve from the straight path.
• God did not create you with evil.

Even if you make a mistake, God says that you are a perfect creature.  When you make a mistake, you are misled by Satan.  Hence, keep it external.  If you have bad feelings about anything, use your freewill and conscience: Is this real to my conscience or an external influence?

• Do not be disappointed if you are always following the external factors because you are perfect in your creation.
• Within each of us, God establishes an inner security to trust our creation: “Watch out for external factors that you may take in, you are free.” Trust your creation means to find out perfection in your creation.  That is, analyze every problem within yourself.  Use yourself and say: “This was not in my creation to be evil.  I did not have to listen and follow external factors.”

Always ask: “Am I under the influence of external factors or is it the true of me?”

• As far as I know, I am not really following evil for myself.

If I am occupied by external factors, I should never say that it is part of me.  People often say for example: “I know smoking is wrong, but I cannot stop that.”  If you say that I cannot stop that, then it means that you are saying: “I am bad in my creation.”  It is as if there is a defect in your creation.  If there is a defect in the laptop, it is not the issue of the laptop, rather it is the issue of the Engineer.  Similarly, if there was a defect in your creation, it would be the responsibility of the One who created you with defect.

• In my creation, I am made perfect. Wa karramna Banee Adam (We honored children of Adam (made them perfect.)
• Anything that gets on your way is external.

TRUST YOURSELF!  Keep Satan outside.  Is it easy?  No.  Specially, when you internalize it, then you say that I cannot quit.  That is a negative attitude!  The reason is that you are not consistent with your human qualities given to you and practicing them.  Get on the driver seat and use it according to your human nature (the way that you are created).  The steering wheel is your freewill, you are free to choose which way you want to go.  “I understand that I cannot be perfect, so I need guidance.”

Follow your creation and there is a bonus next to it.  The Maker of the machine/universe gives instruction next to it to teach you how it works in the best way as follows:

1. To find out how machine/my human side works.
2. To find out what He (my Maker) teaches me i.e. how to use my human side.

That is why human beings need guidance which is totally compatible with human nature.  After being broken, the machine does not work.  Any external factor will cause malfunction to the machine i.e. your human nature.

Finally, do not lose trust in yourself!  When you turn back from the wrong option, it makes you an even perfect being. 

• I seek refuge from Satan (external factor), not my soul because soul is perfect.

The following verses we will study have nothing to do with anything from history.  It is mainly describing what was covered above as far as utilizing one’ freewill is concerned.

89:6 “Have you not considered how your Lord dealt with ‘Ad’”

People who misuse their human freewill face the consequence.  Even when someone says that I have fulfilled my duties and let me ask for forgiveness.  God destroys such people because there is a risk of resulting in “religious arrogance”.

89:7 “Iram, the city of lofty mansions”

People who think that their wealth will protect them.  Even by creating palaces with brick walls, no one can be saved from death.

89:8 “the life of which was not created in the lands;”

It is so obvious that nothing is everlasting here.

89:9 “and with Thamud, who hewed the rocks in the valley [into houses.]”

Again, these historical figures are for me to watch out when I have this attitude where I am misusing my human freewill.

89:10 “and the powerful Pharaoh [owner of the stakes]

Even Pharaoh was perfect in his creation, but he distorted his human nature.

89:11 “all these transgressed beyond bounds in the lands,”

There are signs in creation that make us realize that we are going against our human nature which is Divine inspiration.

89:12 “and spread much corruption there.”

When people are concerned with personal gains only or to collect capital for the sake of one’s nation, they become tyrant and exploit other people’s feelings and humanity.

89:13 “and therefore your Lord let lose upon them a scourge of suffering”

With all the above attitude, no one can gain Eternal happiness in this life (also in the next which is an extension and replica of this life).

89:14 “surely your Lord is ever watchful.”

The Source of your existence and the Owner of the universe knows of what you conceal in your heart.  In other words, the Creator of this universe does not leave you alone for any of your doings.