Section Al A’raf – Part 56

Let us continue with our study of section Araf (Cognizant) with the following verse:

وَقَطَّعْنَـٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ أُمَمًۭا ۖ مِّنْهُمُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحُونَ وَمِنْهُمْ دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ ۖ وَبَلَوْنَـٰهُم بِٱلْحَسَنَـٰتِ وَٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ

7:168 And We divided them into communities on the earth: some of them are righteous and some are otherwise. And We tried them with good things and with evil things, so they might return [to righteousness.]

The first phrase “وَقَطَّعْنَـٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ أُمَمًۭا “, translated as “And We divided them into communities on the earth” is mentioning the reality of this world where human communities are spread out into different groups. It is not the way the current Nations are set which are based on some political and artificial basis. The reality of different regions on earth is the sharing of customs and culture among them which is different from others. The Quran mentions this reality that it is deliberately set up this way by the owner of the universe so that one may get to know one another, help one another, share life experiences, benefit from the experiences of one another. We are all living by this reality so it is not surprising for us. The Qur’an explicitly states this in the following verse that this is God’s plan: “O humanity! Behold, We have created you all out of a male and a female, and have made you into nations and tribes, so that you might come to know one another. Verily, the noblest of you in the sight of God is the one who is most deeply conscious of Him. Behold, God is all-knowing, all-aware.” (49: 13)

The verse continues with “some are righteous and some are otherwise”. This is another reality because we all are given free will to choose right and wrong; but why is God telling me this. Let’s look at the phrase “وَبَلَوْنَـٰهُم بِٱلْحَسَنَـٰتِ وَٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ”, translated as “We tried them with good things and with evil things”. Another question comes: Why does the Creator need to try us? 

The words “balawna” and “fatanna” are usually translated as “ We try” or “We test”. God as my Creator is speaking by saying that I am trying you, meaning that He tests me. I as the reader should be careful and see that I am being tested, I have to see the matter from my perspective, not from the Creator’s perspective. What would the Lord of the universe get by testing me? The test is for me, for my benefit! I have to utilize this test to improve my life, my humanity. This test is an opportunity for me to get education and training, to learn to make correct choices at the right time. 

How about educating me in a good way? Everyone says that education must be given with encouragement in a good way. Encouragement must be done and we expect that to be in a kind way. We forget the human free will which faces two options, and the good and evil options must be given to be trained. How? By creating good things for us, we get happy and are encouraged. We are inclined to always choose happiness. However, we forget that this good thing is given to me and it is not guaranteed. In order to acknowledge that the good things are given to me. I have to be reminded that the good things I receive, their owner is not me but someone else; He is giving me the permission to use them. I am just the consumer of those good things given to me. What would I do if I always receive good things throughout my life? There is a tendency in human character where we develop habits and it reflects on us. We may develop an understanding that receiving the good things is always guaranteed, it becomes normal in my view. This is why once in a while, human beings need to be given another opportunity to learn by the creation of “evil” things, evil is according to human beings. But in reality, their creation is not evil, their existence is for the betterment and improvement of human perfection so that they realize who is giving them the good things. 

For example, if something is created for me that I am enjoying. Suddenly, that creation is taken away from me. I have been healthy for many years, and never got sick in those years. I would never realize that health is such a blessing that I am given. I wouldn’t even notice health as a blessing. I have to acknowledge and thank the giver of health. However, my reality is that for the many years I am given health, I think that is expected. In order to train me, educate me, better my human condition, a disliked condition is created where health is taken away, the opposite condition, sickness is created. Now, when I experience this creation of sickness, I wonder what is going on? I had something very enjoyable and pleasant and I lost it; it was such a blessing that I did not recognize it, I did not know and now it is gone. Who owns it and now who has taken it away? Thus, human beings realize that health is not my property, it is a trust to appreciate the owner of the health. We call the loss of health as something evil because health is good. The creation of illness which we think is evil is actually good. The purpose of the seemingly evil creation is to help me realize, to help me become aware of who I am and who my real owner is. Otherwise I would be claiming that I own myself, that the things belong to me, my life is guaranteed which are all false assumptions. When these evil things according to me are created, my false claims fall apart. The Owner of the things gives us education by creating good things and bad things according to me. The purpose of creation of “evil” things is to help me, to educate me, in order to improve my human side. I become aware as to who I am, what my reality is, and who my Owner is. 

Let’s recall the phrase mentioning that some of them are righteous and some that are not. In order to help all of them, good things and so-called evil things are created so that they may return to righteousness. I have to be careful as I may be righteous or be disobedient towards my Creator; I have two choices. In order to help me understand, both good things and so-called “evil things”are created so that I can learn to be righteous. They serve as a call back to reality, a return to come back to righteousness. These two kinds of creations are for our benefit. I should never rebel, reject or feel offended because the Creator has created something that I dislike which is for my learning. My human nature says that I need this, thank you my Creator for teaching me this way by creating good things and occasionally the evil things that I dislike.

فَخَلَفَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌۭ وَرِثُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ يَأْخُذُونَ عَرَضَ هَـٰذَا ٱلْأَدْنَىٰ وَيَقُولُونَ سَيُغْفَرُ لَنَا وَإِن يَأْتِهِمْ عَرَضٌۭ مِّثْلُهُۥ يَأْخُذُوهُ ۚ أَلَمْ يُؤْخَذْ عَلَيْهِم مِّيثَـٰقُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ أَن لَّا يَقُولُوا۟ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْحَقَّ وَدَرَسُوا۟ مَا فِيهِ ۗ وَٱلدَّارُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةُ خَيْرٌۭ لِّلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ ۗ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ

7:169 And they were succeeded by generations who, although they inherited the Scripture, took the material side of this lower world, saying, ‘We shall be forgiven,’ and indeed if other such material side of this world came their way, they take it again. Was a pledge not taken from them, written in the Scripture, to say nothing but the truth about God? And they have studied its contents well. For those who are mindful of God, the Hereafter is better. ‘Why do you not use your reason?’

What is this material side of this lower world? The word “dunya” comes from the same word as “adna”, meaning the earth. The “dunya” is the lower world and the hereafter is the higher world. The lower world points to the necessary existence of the hereafter. How does the lower world point to the necessary existence of the hereafter? By demonstrating the qualities of its creator that He is an Absolute Being. This universe is a transient existence and for an Absolute Being to create a transient existence is not appropriate for Him. I have to understand who is this creator while living in this world, whether He can create this infinite existence. 

From the previous verses that we studied, we saw that those who rebelled, violated the Sabbath, took the material side of this lower world. They assumed a higher quality to themselves claiming to be a chosen race, we are saved, we are better than others. This is the story of the children of Israel told in the Quran but the purpose of telling me this story must be something to do with me, and is my story. If my creator is narrating an event from the past and telling me now that an event happened in the past is directly related to your problems now. Pay attention to it and find yourself in it. For example, I am going to tell you that once upon a time, there was a nation called the children of Israel. They took pride in themselves rather than following and understanding that they are equally created beings like other beings, they attached superior qualities to themselves. They said that they will be forgiven in the next creation because they are superior creatures. Now, when I listen to such a story, I wonder why am I being told this story? I don’t belong to that group, I cannot prove whether it happened in history or not. If the story is being told to me, it must be related to my present situation. I start thinking that “will I be forgiven in the hereafter because I belong to the community of Muhammad (ummah Muhammad)?” The prophet Muhammad will intercede for his community and I am a member of the community and thus a follower of Muhammad. I have to ask if I am an honest and true follower of prophet Muhammad (pbuh)? Am I truly following his message or just claiming to be a member of his community and take it for granted that I am saved, like the children of Israel claimed that because they are the chosen children of God that they are saved? We should be aware that by myself-claimed identity, I cannot be saved.

If the material side comes again, I take it again. I make the same mistakes again and again. Material side becomes the priority for me in my living. I perform my prayers and fast during Ramadan but my heart is attached to the transient side of this world (lower world). I think that I am secure and safe. I don’t stop making the same mistakes again and again. I end up in the examples given of those that ended up not being righteous.

The phrase “وَدَرَسُوا۟ مَا فِيهِ ۗ وَٱلدَّارُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةُ خَيْرٌۭ لِّلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ ۗ” translated as “They have studied its contents well. For those who are mindful of God, the Hereafter is better.” I should not gossip about anyone else but look at myself. I study the Quran as a Muslim; I learn that the hereafter is better, paradise is for me. All of the Muslims are going to paradise because they believe in God and also the messenger (pbuh) is going to intercede for them. These claims are at the level of reading and knowledge; and this knowledge has not penetrated into my feelings so that I will stop to give priority to the material side of this world. For example, anything that I like such as better technological devices, my property, making delicious food, not remembering who is arranging the things for me, who created the taste in the food? Who created the appetite and hunger for me and then provided the necessary meal to satisfy that appetite?

It is not only by reading and learning the general information from the scripture that I benefit but I have to take it to my heart. Otherwise the learning, knowledge doesn’t help me. Knowledge is necessary but if it remains alone without any attempt to assimilate into my feelings and practical life, it doesn’t help. For example, someone is addicted to smoking. He sees the packs mentioning that smoking kills. The person keeps doing it even after reading it. The message on the pack helps as a reminder but this knowledge must be taken into heart by the one reading “smoking kills”. Taking to heart means that the person will consciously stop smoking.

A point on how to understand the “intercession” of prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in the right way? It is not the body of Muhammad or the “abd” Muhammad, i.e. the worship of Muhammad (pbuh), but the messenger “Rasul” Muhamad (pbuh) will intercede for me if only I follow the message that he (pbuh) brings. His practice and worship are for his own benefit, I have to take his message and apply it in my worship. By being an “abd,” worshiper, he (pbuh) prays for himself. I am expected to follow his example, his exemplary life. I have to follow his prophetic message, practice the sunnah of the prophet that guarantees the intercession.

I have to seriously study the Quran and take it to heart, which is how the followers of prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) message are guaranteed intercession and will be saved.