And (remember) when your Lord declared, “If you express gratitude, I will certainly
give you more, but if you are ungrateful,indeed my punishment is severe”.
{ Holy Qur’an / 14:7 }
In this Ayaat, after expounding on the virtue of being grateful (to ALLAH), ALLAH
immediately gives a warning for ingratitude. What greater ingratitude can one
display than Shirk and Kufr, ascribing partners to ALLAH, or even totally denying the
very existence of ALLAH (na’aoozubiLLAH). All this, whilst partaking from the
immeasurable bounties and favours which ALLAH confers upon all of His creation.
“Which of the favours of your Lord can you deny ?” { Holy Qur’an / 55:13 }
The ingratitude of man stems from him having full trust in his own capabilities, or
the ability of creation to fulfil his needs. Put in context, this is like a father, who,
through ALLAH, provides for his child’s needs, then someone, a family member or
friend, comes along and provides for his nafs, with bling bling, in the form of a smart
phone, an expensive watch, lavish gifts, or even a car. To lead man astray, Shaytaan’s
“business model” is rather simple.
Feed his nafs with fancy pleasures, soon he’ll forget the simple treasures.
The greatest pleasure experienced by the Saliheen (pious) is contentment of heart
from regularly engaging in the Thikr (Remembrance) of ALLAH.
“Verily, in the remembrance of ALLAH do hearts find contentment”
{ Holy Qur’an / 13:28 }
At times, by way of deception, we find ourselves succumbing to the apparent joy of
carnal pleasures, which often, is from the misguiding ploys of Shaytaan. This false
sense of joy and elation is designed to remove us from the Remembrance of ALLAH.
Rooted in falsehood and deception, after false elation comes deflation (depression).
When it comes to clinical depression, the country which is often touted to be the
pleasure capital of the world, is the largest consumer of anti-depressants. Ironically,
in spite of being “marketed” as a most progressive nation, it lags behind many in
literacy and social services, leading the world in violent mass shootings, averaging
over 500 mass shootings per year. Almost 2 per day. Drug abuse and dependency in
this country is at another level. Much of these ills result from systematically
establishing a God-less society, on a trajectory of unprecedented hedonism.
The Remembrance of ALLAH/God is a mere after-thought. (na’aoozubiLLAH).
Newton’s first law (of motion) states that every object will remain at rest or in a
uniform state of motion in a straight line, unless compelled to change its state by the
action of an external force.
Every human being is born on the FITRAT (natural inclination) of HAQ (truth)
The ultimate truth is TAUHEED (belief in the Oneness of ALLAH).
Every human being, whether a believer or non-believer, at the moment of being
born immediately starts their “journey” back to ALLAH, traversing along the
Siraat-ul- Mustaqeem (straight line/path), the righteous path of ALLAH.
“…in-naa liLLAHI wa in-naa ilayhi raa ji-oon.”
(To ALLAH belong, and to Him is our return) - { Holy Qur’an / 2:156 }
“Did I not enjoin you O you children of Adam, that you should not worship Satan, for
that he was to you an enemy avowed. And that you should worship Me, (for that)
this was the straight way. But he did lead astray a great multitude of you, did you
not then understand?” - { Holy Qur’an / 36:60-62 }
Were it not for the “external forces” of Satan, all of mankind would have returned to
ALLAH, along the straight path. In some cases, even at birth, Shaytaan immediately
springs into action, evidenced by the fact that, despite being born on the FITRAT of
Haq, many children are raised in households of Baatil (falsehood), misguided onto a
Belief system based on Shirk and/or Kufr. These are in conflict with TAUHEED.
Multitudes are led astray, away from the straight path,(believing in the Oneness of
ALLAH). However, ALLAH has blessed some with the capacity to resist diversion from
His straight path. They are those who constantly engage in the Remembrance of
ALLAH.
“Lo Ibrahim was a nation obedient to ALLAH, by nature upright, and he was not of
the idolaters. Thankful for His bounties, He chose him and He Guided him unto a
straight path”. {Holy Qur’an / 16:120-121}
In science, the tendency to resist changes in motion is called inertia, whilst the
tendency to “go with the flow” is called momentum.
As sane adult Muslims, what ALLAH expects of us is to take the initiative of “inertia”,
and resist all forces of misguidance that may divert us from the Straight Path. We
should try our best to curb our “momentum” of going with the flow of our nafs,
which often leads towards ALLAH’S Displeasure
“…la in Shakartum laazee dan-nakum…”
The Blessed month of Ramadaan has dawned upon us. We should express our
gratitude to ALLAH, that we get to experience this Holy month in a state of Imaan.
It is in this Mubaarak state that we have the capacity to derive full (and maybe even
life changing) benefit from this blessed month. Ramadaan, together with its spiritual
effulgence, brings with it rules, structures and practices, that have the potential to
facilitate with ease, our transition into better Muslims. May ALLAH guide us towards,
and along His straight path. Insha-ALLAH.
I.C.A.N. ( 02 Ramadaan 1446 ) 03 Febuary 2025
PS: ALLAHUM-MA Baarik lanaa fee Rajab wa Shabaan….
With keen anticipation we awaited the arrival of an esteemed “Guest”, that has
brought with it, days of Mercy, Forgiveness, and the hope of safety from Jahannam
and entry into Jannah. With heavy hearts we are faced with its eminent departure,
fearing that due to human weakness, we have not fully capitalised on the profound
benefits that has been presented to us. ALL IS NOT LOST. In these last few dying
moments, ALLAH IS ALWAYS THERE. We have to seize upon this final opportunity to
beg of ALLAH that HE Guides our hearts towards “pressing the elusive Reset Button”,
engaging a spiritual “Reboot” that sees us treading the blessed path, which leads to
ALLAH’S Pleasure. ALLAH GUIDES WHOM HE WILLS.
(May ALLAH include us among the fortunate… Insha-ALLAH)