Section Al A’raf – Part 45

We will continue studying verses from section A’raf (Cognizant) of the Quran and look into the following few verses as describing the conversation between Moses and God:

قَالَ يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ إِنِّى ٱصْطَفَيْتُكَ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ بِرِسَـٰلَـٰتِى وَبِكَلَـٰمِى فَخُذْ مَآ ءَاتَيْتُكَ وَكُن مِّنَ ٱلشَّـٰكِرِينَ

7:144 [God] said, “Moses, I have chosen you above all people by virtue of the messages which I have entrusted to you and by virtue of My speaking [to you]. Hold on to what I have given you, and be among the grateful.”

I should relate this verse to myself based on the methodology of benefitting from the verse. Since I am reading this verse, I have to see that God is telling me that I have been chosen with the virtue of His message and the virtue of His speaking to me. To be chosen can be taken as becoming a better person. The only way I can become a better individual is by getting the message, assimilating it within myself and practicing the message by living it. 

I cannot be chosen when I don’t get the message. It is only by virtue of the message do I get chosen. It is not the case that God has chosen me and blessed me with His message similar to the case of a prophet of God receiving the revelation, but I am reminded that since I am aware of the message I need to assimilate it in my life. This is not the context of what the Quran meant when it was revealed to the first audience during the time of the Prophet’s life, but now I should think of it in my living conditions as I am reading this message right now. If I want to be a better person, I have to observe the universe and get the meaning out of it, look for an explanation of what this world and my existence mean. If I am convinced with the message then I should assimilate it in my living to become a better person, having a perspective where my feelings are comfortable. Otherwise, I would act on my affected feelings by the values of the society, as I want, according to my free choice, without any guidance.  

According to the teachings of the Quran, a virtuous person is elevated by the guidance of the Quran, he improves his status as a human being; rather than remaining as an animate being. If one who just does whatever comes to his mind to fulfill his desires then that is not virtuous, animals can do much better as they chose the best for themselves without much thinking. As a human being, I have been given free choice which I must use according to the guidance. Without following the guidance from my Creator, I would be living worse than an animal.

Another way of understanding of not being chosen is when I follow my feelings by being a self-centered, arrogant person. I may choose not to follow anyone in my life, why should I as I can do whatever I want? This assumes that one independently exists and is not the result of a conscious Maker which is arrogance, a horrible situation because one distorts his reality. I have to watch out for my egoistic tendencies and must not choose based on those tendencies.

The phrase “فَخُذْ مَآ ءَاتَيْتُكَ وَكُن مِّنَ ٱلشَّـٰكِرِينَ” is translated as “hold on to what I have given you, and be among the grateful”. I have the choice to hold onto the message that I have been given or ignore it. There are many examples that are given that relate to the ones that take the message seriously and those that distort the message or deny it completely. This age is the age of distortion of the message we get from creation, the real disease of this century. Distorting the message within ourselves is less as we see that there are many good people in general. A person knows what is good and what is bad so they watch out for that and there is less distortion. From time to time we do see that someone may display arrogance but most people follow the criteria of good and bad. 

To hold on to the message of the Creator, I have to be aware of His speech. People need to be informed of this message by us. There are many who have not heard the message of the Quran, they need to be introduced. Shame on us for not taking the initiative to convey the message of the Quran to those who have never heard of it. 

In the media, everyone knows that there is a religion called Islam, Hinduism, etc. Have I read the Vedas? No, because I have not been introduced to its teaching in a way that would attract my attention. I am thus unaware of the teachings of Vedas. People may have heard about the religion of Islam and the Quran but they may not have been introduced to it properly. There are levels of introduction, just hearing the name of Islam does not introduce the message to them. Introducing the message by way of our exemplary life, showing the purpose of existing and speaking to them kindly are some of the ways we can employ. There are many ways for us to spread the message.

To be “ٱلشَّـٰكِرِينَ” is translated as those that are grateful, how do we understand this? if I receive something valuable and throw is away, even if I say thank you, am I being grateful? Another example, I eat something given to me by a friend. I thank the person for sharing food with me. While I was eating, I didn’t appreciate the message through the food that I am having. I may say Bismillah, In the name of God but while eating I may just talk about the food and not the message that the food conveys to me. Am I being thankful? I have to be thankful by learning the message, assimilating it, and practicing it. That is being thankful and grateful. The Quran reminds us not only to take the message and be finished with it but apply it and learn to be grateful. Everyday, a new universe is presented to me. I must observe the universe, understand the message in it and make the message a part of my living, which is being grateful.

وَكَتَبْنَا لَهُۥ فِى ٱلْأَلْوَاحِ مِن كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ مَّوْعِظَةًۭ وَتَفْصِيلًۭا لِّكُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ فَخُذْهَا بِقُوَّةٍۢ وَأْمُرْ قَوْمَكَ يَأْخُذُوا۟ بِأَحْسَنِهَا ۚ سَأُو۟رِيكُمْ دَارَ ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ

7:145 We inscribed [the fundamentals] of everything for him in the Tablets which taught and clearly explained everything. [We said,] “Hold on to them with [all your] strength, and tell your people to hold fast to those most excellent teachings [the best of it].” I will show you the end of those who rebel.

We have the Torah today which is much larger than the Quran. How should I understand the Tablets? Tablets are said to be some text written on some pieces of stone. With all the content of Torah, we would need a mountain for all that text to be there. How is prophet Moses going to carry all those pieces of stones? When he was disappointed with his people, prophet Moses is described as breaking those tablets. The tablet is not necessarily that Moses was given some stones at that time with text written on it, it must be something metaphorical. Otherwise, it would have no practical benefit for me. I would say, I am sorry I haven’t received any tablets yet. In another part of the Quran, it is mentioned that the arrogant people were challenging the prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and asked him to bring the book from God that must be physically displayed. Rather than paying attention to the content of the speech of the prophet (pbuh), the arrogant ones are concerned with the physicality of the book. That’s why the tablets being mentioned in the verse must not be understood to be in physical form. I wouldn’t know and should not care what tablets prophet Moses received the message on. For example, I can say that my tablet is my phone which has the Quran application on it whereas another person can say for him it is in paper and book format. We know that the Torah exists and can see that it must have been delivered by prophet Moses in some way.

Have I received the tablet now? Yes, the book form of the message of the Quran is with me, the ones who memorized the Quran are available. By interpreting the word tablet literally does not mean much to me.

The statement “Everything has been inscribed in the tablets” means that the guidelines for understanding the reality of this world is in the message available through either physical or digital means. The message clearly explains the reality of everything so that I can comfortably understand and live accordingly.

The phrase “فَخُذْهَا بِقُوَّةٍۢ” is translated as “Hold on to them with strength”. It means to hold on to the guidelines firmly and carefully, and be serious about the message.

The phrase “  يَأْخُذُوا۟ بِأَحْسَنِهَا ۚ” is translated as “to hold fast to those most excellent teachings” as in the “best of it”, indicating that the best of the message must be paid attention to.  In the message there are some things better than the others. How should I understand this from the message of the Quran? Whatever message cures my spirit, guides me according to the subject that I am interested in now would be the best for me. For example, a thirsty person would prefer water as the best option rather than food. The best message would be whatever provides the answer to my current concerns and questions. 

The phrase “  سَأُو۟رِيكُمْ دَارَ ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ” is translated as “I will show you the end of those who rebel”. Have I seen those that do not follow the message but rebel against it? There are two kinds of people “ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ” translated as rebellious to the message is different from those who do not know or are unaware of the message. Those who are not interested in anything are not rebelling. However, those who reject the message knowingly, notice what is going on within them as they show signs of being antsy, disturbed and aggressive as in argumentative.  I can experience this feeling in myself when going against my reality and not submitting to the reality of this world.

We are aware of the truth but may have some strange expectations. For example, I may rebel against the reality that I am aware of where I know that I shouldn’t do it but I still do it. I may realize afterwards that I shouldn’t have done this or shouldn’t have said this to my loved one. I feel disturbed when I do something wrong, my feelings tell me about the situation.  That is how we can understand the result of those who rebel against the message.

سَأَصْرِفُ عَنْ ءَايَـٰتِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَكَبَّرُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ ٱلْحَقِّ وَإِن يَرَوْا۟ كُلَّ ءَايَةٍۢ لَّا يُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِهَا وَإِن يَرَوْا۟ سَبِيلَ ٱلرُّشْدِ لَا يَتَّخِذُوهُ سَبِيلًۭا وَإِن يَرَوْا۟ سَبِيلَ ٱلْغَىِّ يَتَّخِذُوهُ سَبِيلًۭا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا وَكَانُوا۟ عَنْهَا غَـٰفِلِينَ

7:146 I will turn away from My signs those who act unjustly with arrogance in the land. And even if they were to see every sign, they still would not believe in them. If they see the Right Path, they will not take it. But if they see a crooked path, they will follow it. This is because they denied Our signs and were heedless of them.

We see in the verse that God is speaking that He will be turning away from His signs on those who act unjustly with arrogance in the land. The way to understand this is when I act unjustly with arrogance, then His signs are turned away for me. It is not that He turns away the signs or deprives anyone. By my wrongdoing, I turn away those signs for myself. 

The psychology of denial mentioned in the Quran is that as a result of acting unjustly with arrogance, God is letting me know that I would deprive myself of His signs, that is His rule of creation. For example, when I cut myself, according to the order in creation I will feel the physical pain. As a result of His mercy, God is letting us know to not act unjustly with arrogance. I have to take on the responsibility to be careful in how I act here, not to act unjustly with arrogance and thus will benefit from His signs. 

There are other verses that mention that a stamp has been put on the heart for those that deny the message. It is the same pattern of the psychology of denial that can be applied to such verses as well where when one acts wrongfully is when one would not benefit from God’s message. This is the order of creation and God says “He is not going to change the order, if you choose to ignore the message it is God’s will that you would block yourself from receiving the message. As a result of your choice you will be deprived of God’s mercy.” This is described in the Qur’an’s language as God has put stamp on their hearts. I have to be careful to act justly, not to misuse my feelings, not to distort the meaning in creation, in my being, should never claim that I don’t need guidance from anyone and become an arrogant person.

The phrase “  وَإِن يَرَوْا۟ كُلَّ ءَايَةٍۢ لَّا يُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِهَا ” translated as “even if they were to see every sign, they still would not believe in them”. Arrogance and acting unjustly closes the doors to benefiting from guidance. One way of understanding acting unjustly is in practical terms such as cheating someone or giving something to someone that didn’t deserve to get it. That is correct but limiting the meaning of being unjust. If someone says that this being, for example a squirrel, exists by itself or is a result of some random event, that becomes a big injustice to the reality of that being. This understanding is insulting the creation of the squirrel. Another example, I am putting the Quran at a high position at home, respecting it as a sacred book but never paying attention to the message contained in it to be able to practice it in my life. Is that doing justice to the “Mushaf”, the book that I am respecting?

The phrase ”  وَإِن يَرَوْا۟ سَبِيلَ ٱلرُّشْدِ لَا يَتَّخِذُوهُ سَبِيلًۭا وَإِن يَرَوْا۟ سَبِيلَ ٱلْغَىِّ يَتَّخِذُوهُ سَبِيلًۭا” is translated as “If they see the Right Path, they will not take it. But if they see a crooked path, they will follow it. Why would one follow the crooked path that leads to nowhere? One may be thinking that there is no authority, Supreme Power on that crooked path so that they would not be grateful for everything, respectful to everything; not acknowledging that “they need Your guidance, they are self sufficient”. It is impossible for an arrogant person to accept anyone above them. Inevitable product of arrogance is not acknowledging anyone above them. The arrogant person does not want to submit to any Supreme being and interprets everything in an unjust way.

The phrase “ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا وَكَانُوا۟ عَنْهَا غَـٰفِلِينَ” translated as “This is because they denied Our signs and were heedless of them”. It is not to deny one time but they kept denying. Forgetting once or twice is human but being determined and always trying to escape from the signs in the universe.  The universe says that I am meaningful, created by a conscious Being but yet the arrogant attitude denies this and is heedless to this reality.

وَٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا وَلِقَآءِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ ۚ هَلْ يُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ

7:147 The deeds of those who deny Our signs and the meeting of the Hereafter will be in vain. Will they be rewarded except for what they have done?”

If I take on an attitude of denial of reality, explaining the existence of the universe as a result of “natural” happenings then everything turns into a meaningless being, with no source of hope at all. Nowadays, the real denial of signs is going on in interpreting creation, denying the meaning and purpose of creation, not in denying the message of the Quran directly. The general trend is focused on materiality, generally understanding the universe as “naturally” happening, mostly secular understanding. This results in a secular way of living in this world where the message of the Quran becomes unimportant, probably a clever man’s production. This falls under the same category of denying God’s signs in creation. Denying the reality of the universe leads to denying the Hereafter because one does not see what the universe, human feelings and the messages of the Quran testifies to. They testify to the fact that we are created by an Absolute being. If someone cannot believe in the Absolute being, there is no way for this person to believe in the hereafter. 

The main reason for not believing in the Hereafter lies in disbelieving in the Absoluteness of the Creator. One has to see the signs in creation and conclude that there must be an Absolute Creator; only after this stage can one believe in the hereafter. If someone asks about the hereafter, I must first ask the person what he thinks about this universe, what is the existence of the universe all about? Starting from there, reach the conclusion that the universe needs an Absolute Creator and then continue with the necessity of resurrection and the hereafter. By looking at the signs in creation, can this Creator constantly displaying all these signs in this world not create another world? The signs in the universe and my feelings are evidence that tell me that He must create another world, will create another world.

Why would the deeds go in vain? Without the belief in the hereafter, everyone knows that at the end of their life, all their life’s hard work will not go with them; at the end of the day, my account balance will be zero. When I die, everything in this world is finished. However, if I received the meaning of what this universe represents, if I have elevated my spirit to assimilate the message and physically have been practicing it, then those deeds are accounted for. The saying goes, “death is the great equalizer.” But it can only be a great equalizer for the body only. Death cannot touch our spirit and human values at all. The human spirit is not made of matter and when the body dies it does not die with it. Like water under the freezing degree becomes ice, then the weather gets warmer and the ice melts. This does not mean that the freezing principle of creation has died with the melting ice. Spirit is another kind of principle of creation. Whatever I do, my spirit must be involved, the body will die here but the spirit will continue and be rewarded according to what and how much I have educated myself according to the message of my Creator in this world. That is how my value and human capacity gets elevated.