Part 57

Chapter: The Interpretation of the Beginning of Chapter Al-'‘Ankabat

Allah, the Almighty says,

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which means, "AlifLamMim. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur'an, and none but Allah (Alone) knows their

He is Imam Ahmad bin ‘Abdul-Halim bin ‘Abdus-Salam An-Numairy AlHarrany Ad-Dimishqy Al-Hanbaly. Abu Al-'Abbas Taqiy Ad-Din. Passed away

meanings.] Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: "We believe," and will not be tested. And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allah will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars, (although Allah knows all that before putting them to test). Or those who do evil deeds think that they can outstrip Us (i.e. escape Our Punishment)? Evil is that which they judge! Whoever hopes for the Meeting with Allah, then Allah's Term is surely coming. And He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower. And whosoever strives, he strives only for himself. Verily, Allah is free of all wants from the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinns, and all that exists}. Those who believe [in the Oneness of Allah (Monotheism) and in Messenger Muhammad, and do not apostate because of the harm they receive from the polytheists], and do righteous good deeds, surely, We shall remit from them their evil deeds and shall reward them according to the best of that which they used to do. And We have enjoined on man to be good and dutiful to his parents, but if they strive to make you join with Me (in worship) anything (as a partner) of which you have no knowledge, then obey them not. Unto Me is your return, and | shail tell you what you used to do. And for those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah and other items of Faith) and do righteous good deeds, surely, We shall make them enter in (the entrance of) the righteous (i.e. in Paradise). Of mankind are some who say: "We believe in Allah," but if they are made to suffer for the sake of Allah, they consider the trial of mankind as Allah's punishment, and if victory comes from your Lord, (the hypocrites) will say: "Verily! We were with you (helping you)." Is not Allah Best Aware of what is in the breast of the ‘Alamin (mankind and jinns). Verily, Allan knows those who believe, and verily, He knows the hypocrites [i.e. Allah will test the people with good and hard days to discriminate the good from the wicked (although Allah

AL-FAWA'ID : A Collection of Wise Syaings * 343

knows all that before putting them to test)]." (Al-'Ankabdt, 29:111)

And He, the Almighty says,

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which means, “Or think you that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, "When (will come) the Help of Allah?" Yes! Certainly, the Help of Allah is near!" (Al-Baqarah, 2:214)

And He, the Exalted says when He mentioned he who apostatizes and who is obliged,

6D ae we Go BL EO

which means, "Whoever disbelieved in Allah after his belief."

And then He, the Almighty says, 4D te 5 5d Gad |

which means, "Then, verily! Your Lord for those who emigrated after they had been put to trials and thereafter strove hard and fought (for the Cause of Allah) and were patient, verily, your Lord afterward is, Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (An-Nahl,

People receive the Messengers of Allah in one of two ways: either to say: we believe, or refuse to say that and continue to do evil deeds. Whoever among them says: | believe, Allah will test him and make him choose in order to expose him as a liar from the one who is truthful. Whoever refuses to say: | believe, should not think that he can defeat Allah, for there is no one, who can do that. This is His way: He sends Messengers to His creatures and then people accuse them of lying and harm them. Allah, the Almighty says,

which means, "And so We have appointed for every Prophet enemies - Shayatin (devils) among mankind and jinns." (Al-

And He, the Almighty says, 4B Po 1b SY IS oo ald oe Gell HE DUES

which means, "Likewise, no Messenger came to those before them, but they said: "A sorcerer or a madman!" (Adh-Dhariyat,

And He, the Almighty says,

which means, "Nothing is said to you (0 Muhammad) except what was said to the Messengers before you." (Fussilat, 41:43)

Such evil people also harmed and showed enmity toward anyone who believeds in the Messengers and obeyed them. They would afflict the believers with pain and if he did not believe in them, he would be punished and this would be the cause or more and more pain. No doubt, every soul will suffer pain whether they are believers or disbelievers. However the

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believer suffers pain during this Worldly life, and then he will gain the reward in the Hereafter, and the disbeliever gets to enjoy this worldly life but then in the Hereafter he must endure lasting pain.

The Opinion of Ash-Shafi'y Concerning Affliction and Being Given Power

A man asked Ash-Shdfi'y,? "O Abu ‘Abdullah! What is better for man: to be afflicted or to have power?’ Ash-Shafi'y said, 'He will not be given power until he has been afflicted; Allah afflicted Ndh (Noah), Ibrahim (Abraham), Masa (Moses), ‘isa (Jesus), and Muhammad (peace be upon them all) and because they were patient, Allah bestowed power upon them. No one should think that he can avoid pain forever."

Whoever Pleases Allah and Displeases People

This is the great origin of power that the wise man should know. It is human nature that man tries to be civilized. He has to live with people and people have wills and imagination and demand him to agree with them in all matters and if he does not agree, they will harm and torture him and if he agrees with them, he will be tortured and harmed both by them and by others.

Whoever thinks about his situation and those of other people, would find several more situations like these. Every nation that wants to commit adultery, be unjust, and nullify religion, are guilty of committing some prohibited things that Allah has mentioned in the following verse,

He is Muhammad bin Idris bin Al'Abbas bin 'Uthman bin Shafi’ Abu ‘Abdullah. Imam, head of the famous school and one of the four Imams. The famous among his books are Al-Umm, Ar-Risalah, and others. He (may Allah be merciful to him) passed away in 204 A.H. See Tahdhib At-Tahdhib, vol.9, p.25, Tarikh Al-Bukhary Al-Kabir, vol.1, p.42, Al-Jarh wat-Ta’‘dil, vol.7, p.1130, and Siyar Alam An-Nubala’, vol.10, p.s.

346 * AL-FAWA'ID: A Collection of Wise Sayings

ob Galt a Bil By obi Us Ge Hb G esl go Ub >

which means, "Say (O Muhammad): "(But) the things that my Lord has indeed forbidden are Al-Fawahish (great evil sins, every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse, etc.) whether committed openly or secretly, sins (of all kinds), unrighteous oppression, joining partners (in worship) with Allah for which He has given no authority, and saying things about Allah of which you have no knowledge." (AI-A'raf, 7:33)

5 Recorded by At-Tirmidhy, book of asceticism, no.2414.

This applies to whoever supports kings and leaders with their evil aims and whoever supports the people of innovations in their novelties who are supposed to belong to the people of knowledge and religion. Whoever Allah guides and shows him the way, he will never commit prohibited acts and will bear their harm and enmity and then he will receive the reward for his efforts in the Hereafter. As it happened to the Messengers and their followers with those who harmed them and showed them enmity, like the emigrants of this nation and the scientists, worshipers, merchants, and supporters, who were afflicted.