Section Ya-Seen – Part 5

We will continue to study Section 36 of the Qur’an entitled “Ya-Seen”. We last studied verse 23 and investigated the concept of intercession of anything which is of no help when it is assumed to be the source of existence of anything in this world. Their intercession cannot help as they cannot create anything, cannot give existence to anything where we would benefit from them. We emphasized the point that they are employed by their Creator to become the means to my benefit. For example, the tree is employed by its Creator to bear fruit that I benefit from. The tree cannot create the fruit as it itself needs to be created and sustained.

Another point that we need to discuss is regarding the phrase “إِن يُرِدْنِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ بِضُرٍّۢ” translated as “if the Most Compassionate intends to harm me”. There seems to be a contradiction with the words “ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ”, “the Most Compassionate” and the word “بِضُرٍّۢ” which is “harm.” The words compassion and harm do not seem to go along together. Why would the Most Compassionate intend to harm me? We started this Section by understanding that the morphology of the words, the sentence structures (syntax) have deep meanings which need to be paid attention to. If the Creator of the universe God is Compassionate, then He shouldn’t harm us. 

To understand this, let’s investigate the earlier verse 22 which mentioned “Why should I not worship the One who brought me into being and gave me a purpose and to whom you will be returned”. This is an individual reasoning that is presented as an example to everyone else. Sharing individual experiences and presenting them to the public implies that everyone should have this attitude. Everyone goes through certain experiences that need to be reasoned in terms of relating them to their Creator. For any experience that I go through, I may likely do some intellectual reasoning on it. I must first relate them to my Creator and then can share it with other people. In the verse structure, there is also a shift from individual experience to the public with the phrase stating, “أَعْبُدُ” “I worship” implying the individual and then the latter part of the verse addressing to everyone as “تُرْجَعُونَ “, “You all will be returned to Him”.

In the same pattern, the phrase “إِن يُرِدْنِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ بِضُرٍّۢ”, “if the Most Compassionate intend to harm me?” is something that I must evaluate through my experiences and then convey to others. As a believer in God, I may understand God to be Compassionate but if something happens to me that I do not like, it may come to my mind that He is harming me. Practically, when something happens to us, we give it a label of “harmful thing”, “calamity” or “disaster”. Although, we may be saying “بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ”, “In the name of God the Most Compassionate and Merciful” on a regular basis, we may still label something as “harmful” to us. 

Firstly, what we see in this verse is that  one is experiencing something in their personal life and then expressing their conclusion to the public. It is important that we do that as much as we can. We don’t have to go to a stadium to shout at people but as much as we can with those friends who are willing to listen to us. If one is ready to listen, without being arrogant, kindly share your understanding with them.

Secondly, we should ask “can God harm me?” Many people that witness the events in the world, kids dying from wars and hunger say that where is Mercy, where is God? We should bear in mind that the Qur’an speaks to human beings at their level of experience and capacity. If something is created which I deem as “harm”, that is from my point of view. I should understand that this thing that I see as harmful to me was created by the Creator of the universe which is created out of His Mercy. Why should He create the universe to be harmed? He is not compelled to create the universe or me. However, I am created with certain abilities and the universe is also created; creation is out of Mercy. I should understand that in the existence of what I deem as “harm” is not created to harm me. When I choose the wrong way, something that contradicts my reality, my spiritual state, then this contradiction collides with my body or feelings and turns out to be a “harmful” result for me. I become unhappy with this creation; my psychological state is disturbed. I feel tense and uncomfortable in life. On the other hand, whatever happens, I should see the action as created by its Creator and I must see Mercy in it. I cannot satisfy my feelings by myself. The feelings have no limit at all, how can I satisfy them even if I am given the whole universe? Can I get satisfaction from the created, fleeting, temporary world? We cannot hold onto anything in the universe. This dissatisfaction causes tension in me and burns my feelings from within. My spiritual state experiences the automatic result of my attitude towards the event. When I label it as “wrong” rather than a merciful reminder to me, I will become agitated, uncomfortable in my life. It is obvious that my attitude is wrong as I am not taking the creation of the event as a means of educating and training my being. Even if the event harms my body, health and wealth, their purpose is to educate me, train me to fulfill the purpose in my existence. They are the means to teach me who I am and who my Lord and Owner is. This is the reason that I came to this world where the result should be to know who I am and who my Lord is. I must keep this teaching in mind regardless of what situation I find myself in whether I see it as positive or negative. 

One may be familiar with the expression “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. Ugliness or harm is in the eye of the beholder or observer. How can I say that the children are suffering under the ruins and collapse of buildings from earthquakes. The unbearable feeling of pain is correct. We should distinguish the creation of pain which is real from the creation of the event which is also real but not “ugly”. Feelings are given to me in order not to harm innocent creatures. All of creation are like orphans as far as our treatment of them is concerned where no one protects them. Our feelings tell us that we should not harm anyone. My heart aches at seeing the children suffering; seeing the weaker beings suffering causes more pain in me. The “harm” is in our eye as the observer and not in reality. Let’s say that the child was given death at a very young age before the age of maturity. We should understand that he was given existence and then given death by its Creator who knows what He creates. What is the purpose of existence? To realize who I am and who my Master, Owner is. The child being taken away from life has been chosen as a witness to educate people by its Maker. The child gets directly rewarded as someone who has fully fulfilled his responsibility of existence. That is God’s grace for him but I should learn  from this creation and I must realize my purpose in existence. Through  this example I learn that as this child did not own himself I too do not own myself. It is God’s decision whether to make one a witness or give him more time. The One who created me decides how much life span I need to be given before He takes me back. At the end, everyone is given death by the Creator of Death to go to the next life. We should be careful in not labeling creation as “evil”. We feel pain but we learn from that pain what our purpose in existence is.

Many philosophers have concluded creation is evil based on their materialistic understanding of creation. They say that if the creation was Mercy than this kind of “harm”, “atrocities” should not happen as they do not see the purpose of creation. For the creation of “harm” they say is their obvious sign that this contradicts a conscious Merciful Creator. They say there is no conscious Creator, so they try to find out the way things are created within the universe and give an explanation from within the universe. This has been the case and has been under discussion for centuries starting from the Greek philosophers even before the time of Prophet Jesus which means that this has been a problem for human beings for centuries. From their reasoning about what they call “the problem of evil” we understand there is no way for them to grasp the wisdom in the creation of “harmful things” as long as they insist on claiming that they will analyze existence only within the universe. The only solution for  them is to give consideration to understanding the creation of “harmful things”, if the universe has a conscious Creator. He creates this universe in order to guide conscious human beings to fulfill the purpose of their existence. Then, everything starts making sense. By sticking to their attempt to analyze existence, they have forced themselves to fabricate many speculative terms like “Nature” “natural laws” “chance” and so on, none of which has any reality in existence.

If we carefully study the Qur’an, it is easy to understand that I make interpretations based on my human qualities including feelings. I must remember that the feelings are created and given, i.e. they don’t belong to me. If I feel uncomfortable with the creation of something, then the first thing I must remember is that: “I am feeling this way because that feeling was given to me by my Creator. The same Compassionate Creator has created the event out of His Will without intermediary or with intermediary out of the choice of other people and creatures. For example, predator animals target weaker or vulnerable prey. The material scientists explain this as “natural” to the ecosystem.  When we observe the attacks, we feel pity on the weak animals: “This should not happen!” These are what my feelings tell me which I should connect to my Creator and see His Wisdom. Regarding events based on wrongful human choices, human beings need to keep their free will in check. If they choose to harm people, they follow the order in creation which God promises to create but God holds man responsible for their choices. 

Man must understand that nothing is his property, he has no right to harm anyone or anything. Only the One who owns, has disposal over the property has every right to do what He Wills. I must establish the connection between the unpleasant event and my feelings that reject it, both are created by Him. It is not me who is rebelling but the Creator of this feeling that is rebelling and letting me know that “I created your feelings for you to understand that there must be wisdom in my Merciful Creation. See that everything is My property. Only I reward the innocent with Paradise”. Man should understand that the things don’t belong to him, and no one can reward anyone of the created beings by sending them to Paradise. My actions are within the confines of choosing within the order that I am exposed to with the awareness that the order is set up by my Creator giving me the freedom to choose one way or another. The result created by following the order is also His creation. This teaches me that I have no right, but my Creator has every right to His property. He also has the Power to reward the things He creates. Whereas, my responsibility is not to criticize Him but take my lesson from this  creation.  Also, seemingly unpleasant events happen on very rare occasions to remind us of our reality from another perspective, whereas most of the time, we see the acts of a Merciful Creator taking place in a lovable fashion.

إِنِّىٓ إِذًۭا لَّفِى ضَلَـٰلٍۢ مُّبِينٍ

36:24 “Then I would clearly be in the wrong,

If I don’t worship God alone and if the Most Compassionate creates something that I don’t like where I don’t see His wisdom, then I would clearly be in the wrong. This verse is part of the earlier verse, sharing one’s life experience and realizing their wrong so that I in my life do not wrong myself. If I worship anyone other than God, I will find myself in a harmful position. The feelings given to me act as a warning from my Creator to tell me that I am doing something wrong.

إِنِّىٓ ءَامَنتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ فَٱسْمَعُونِ

36:25 “I do believe in your Lord, so listen to me.”

The phrase “رَبِّكُمْ” is not saying interestingly “my Lord,” but is saying “your Lord”. The individual having the conversation is trying to eliminate any animosity with others, promoting the use of common sense in a friendly empathetic way. We should learn to exercise empathy when conversing with others when sharing our thoughts. We see the same example in the teachings of other prophets such as in the life of prophet Moses speaking to Pharaoh who was full of himself by saying: “Shall I guide you to your Lord?”. This is the way to guide people that the Lord being mentioned is common between us.  We are the creatures of the same Lord; we are not aliens to each other but like brothers coming from the same Source. A small shift in the pronoun by having “your Lord” rather than “my Lord” in the phrase “رَبِّكُمْ” makes a huge difference that teaches me how I should interact with other people. I should not place a dividing barrier on those who oppose my ideas. In the examples of the prophets, we see the usage of phrases such as “oh my people,” meaning that we share the same human nature, custom, and history which makes us all connected: “Listen to me, don’t reject me immediately.”

The Qur’an is beautifully teaching us to be compassionate to one another even if they oppose our ideas. We should never put ourselves aside from other people, including those who hate us, and do not agree with our understanding; as it is in the “us versus others” attitude. The Qur’an says that “when they try to oppose and attack you ideologically, respond back to them by presenting your point of view in a better way, never by physical reaction “Good and evil cannot be equal. Repel evil with what is better and your enemy will become as close as an old and valued friend” (41:34). Some do not take this verse as a warning to discourage debates. However, there is no example in the Qur’an and from the lives of the prophets which encourages debating where people put each other down to boost their egos. Your God and my God is the same God, why are we fighting? You and I belong to the same Owner.

قِيلَ ٱدْخُلِ ٱلْجَنَّةَ ۖ قَالَ يَـٰلَيْتَ قَوْمِى يَعْلَمُونَ

36:26 It was said [to him], “Enter Paradise.” He said, “I wish that my people only knew,

I wish my people only knew what the reality is. The verse mentioning “ٱدْخُلِ ٱلْجَنَّةَ” which is “Enter Paradise” to the person means that he was killed. After leaving this universe he is experiencing the reward he received. The next phrase continues further in expressing his satisfaction and pleasure.

بِمَا غَفَرَ لِى رَبِّى وَجَعَلَنِى مِنَ ٱلْمُكْرَمِينَ

36:27 how my Lord has forgiven me and placed me among the highly honored.

The person is expressing his satisfaction and happiness with his reward from his belief. He had tried to share the truth with others. We shouldn’t be unhappy and displeased to say that “people didn’t listen to me; I have failed by not being successful in my mission.” That may be correct, but we can’t know whether it was my mistake or the people who I was addressing. It is correct that I must investigate my shortcomings to overcome them.

The phrase “غَفَرَ لِى” translated as “has forgiven me” where my Lord has forgiven me. The person is admitting his shortcomings, perhaps mistakes in his mission. In my life, I make mistakes, have shortcomings for which I must seek forgiveness. We can never ever accomplish our mission in this world in its fullest sense as our potential is infinite. I cannot reach the end of my capacity. The prophet (pbuh) advised to always seek forgiveness. I must admit that I have not done enough of what I am capable of in terms of the enormous capacity given to me.

وَمَآ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ مِن جُندٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَمَا كُنَّا مُنزِلِينَ

36:28 After him We did not send any army from heaven against his people, nor did We need to send down any.

We should understand that every creature is a soldier in the army of the universe. Every being acts as a soldier defending God’s rights and is ready to execute what God orders them. Some say that the phrase “مِن جُندٍۢ” translated as army refers to the angels. Yes, if it is meant to refer to the angelic side of the universe. The meaning created beings manifest by bearing witness to their Creator. The Qur’an presents the creation of the universe via angels. Angels receive the command from God and transfer it in a limited form we see as the universe that we experience; they are not the creator of anything. 

From our perspective, the angelic side of the universe is the qualities of the Creator manifested in the universe. This is referred to as the “أسماء الله الحسنى” in the language of the Qur’an, perfect Names or Qualities of God. Originally, the word “الحسنى” means to do something good; the word “حسنى” has the same constant verbal root letters as the word “beauty” has. However, in the context of “ أسماء الله “الحسنى, it refers to the One with the Most “Hasan”, “حَسَن”. We can realize the meaning of “حسنى” from the word “إحسان” that has the same root letters which is described in hadith literature as “worship God even if you see Him but even if you don’t see Him, realize that He sees you. That means He is always present in my existence with the manifestations of His Names, not His essence or personality. In the manifestation of His essence, He is always there with me. This means that in the actions in the universe, God’s names are being manifested. It is not me or the angels that are creating the action or a thing, but the manifestation of the Names of God is executed in the form of created beings. This process is presented to us in the Qur’an as the angels are receiving the command of God which is the manifestation of the Names of God, and executing it. They do perform as they are commanded. The manifestation of Power, Knowledge, Will, Wisdom, Mercy, etc. are being displayed in the universe. Angels receiving the Names of God means that God’s Absolute Names are transformed into created beings. 

Some people say that “جُندٍۢ” army of God refers to the angels destroying the enemy. Creation is taking place from the transforming agent (angels) that receive the command of the Names of God which is executed as the manifestation of the Qualities of God. This execution of the command performs an action that defends the Creator’s Rights: “Only the Most Almighty can create me, nothing else. I am always here to defend the rights of my Creator. You cannot explain my existence in any other way.”

The phrase “مِن جُندٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ” translated as “an army from heaven” which means coming from the Creator of the universe, not from within the created universe. The Creator is manifesting His Names or Qualities in this universe. Symbolically, the word “ٱلسَّمَآءِ” represents the place of manifestation of God’s Names.

The verse implies that “We did not send them any creation which harms or destroys them.” There was no special treatment against them from God that would harm them. The classical commentators mention that God sent destroying angels to the rejectors of the prophets, but these people didn’t deserve it as they didn’t understand the message. Let them enjoy their life temporarily, the enjoyment brings them pain as they are losing it. They pretend to be enjoying their lives so let them be. God does not interfere in our free will and opportunities are given to learn and repent. The Qur’an states that God’s punishment does not exceed what we deserve which is one to one, but His mercy goes beyond what we deserve which is one to many, His favors are extra for believers because of His Mercy. 

إِن كَانَتْ إِلَّا صَيْحَةًۭ وَٰحِدَةًۭ فَإِذَا هُمْ خَـٰمِدُونَ

36:29 All it took was one mighty blast, and they died and became as still and silent as ashes (dead).

The word “خَـٰمِدُونَ” means to be in the process of death which involves laying yourself down, submitting yourself to your Creator because you cannot resist the command of death from your Creator. Death comes unexpectedly, happens immediately, is imminent. The word “صَيْحَةًۭ” translated as “one mighty blast” has been interpreted by some scholars that an army was not needed but one command from God was enough to destroy them. 

What we should understand is that when God’s command comes, it happens at once. The creation of the mighty whole universe and the creation of giving me death is the same for the Absolute Being.