ALLAH is Our Creator the One who opens seeds and causes soft saplings to grow. In the same way, Allah can open a believer’s chest as true power is in being soft, not harsh. Power is in submitting to the Commands of Allah which allow the believer to be relaxed. Whoever Allah wills to guide, He opens their heart to Islam. But whoever He wills to leave astray, He makes their chest tight and constricted as if they were climbing up into the sky. This is how Allah dooms those who disbelieve. Allah has made the signs clear to those who are mindful. Allah has destroyed many nations for their sins despite the fact Allah had made them more established in the land than the current ones. These nations were replaced by Allah with other peoples. Travel throughout the land and see the fate of the transgressors. Unfortunately people visit such places as sightseeing instead of taking lessons.
Imagine if Allah was to take away our hearing or sight, or seal our hearts, then who else other than Allah could restore it. Imagine if Allah’s punishment was to overwhelm you with or without warning—who would be destroyed other than the wrongdoers. Allah has taken upon Himself to be Merciful. Allah is truly All-Forgiving, Most Merciful. This is how Allah makes signs clear, so the way of the wicked may become distinct. Allah only accepts the repentance of those who commit evil ignorantly or recklessly then repent soon after Allah will pardon them. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise. However, repentance is not accepted from those who knowingly persist in sin until they reach at the stage of dying nor those who die without repentance.
When we come across those who ridicule Allah’s revelations, do not sit with them unless they engage in a different topic. Should Satan make you forget, then once you remember, do not continue to sit with the wrongdoing people. And leave those who take this faith of Islam as mere play and amusement and are deluded by their worldly life. Yet remind them by this Quran, so no one should be ruined for their misdeeds. They will have no protector or intercessor other than Allah. Even if they were to offer every possible ransom, none will be accepted from them. Those are the ones who will be ruined for their misdeeds. They will have a painful punishment.
When we get stuck in darkest times on land and at sea we only call Allah upon with humility, openly and secretly. It is only Allah Who rescues us from such trials and tribulations. With Allah are the keys of the unseen. No one knows them except Him. And He knows what is in the land and sea. Not even a leaf falls without His knowledge, nor a grain in the darkness of the earth or anything green or dry but is written in a perfect Record. But those who deny Allah’s signs will be afflicted with punishment for their rebelliousness. Indeed, the wrongdoers will never succeed. And Allah is the All-Hearing, All-Knowing. Allah has taken upon Himself to be Merciful. No vision can encompass Allah, but He encompasses all vision. Indeed, Allah knows best who has strayed from His Way and who is rightly guided.
Regarding the sacrificial animals, strictly observe the limitations and restrictions enjoined by Allah. All kinds of grazing livestock have been made lawful. Indeed, Allah commands what He wills. Do not make hunting lawful yourself during the state of ihram. Do not violate Allah’s rituals of pilgrimage, the sacred months, the sacrificial animals, the offerings decorated with garlands, nor those pilgrims on their way to the Sacred House seeking their Lord’s bounty and pleasure. When pilgrimage has ended, you are allowed to hunt. So eat only what is slaughtered.
Shun all sins open and secret. Indeed, those who commit a sin will be punished for what they earn. Do not waste, surely Allah does not like the wasteful. Give full measure and weigh with justice. Allah never requires any soul more than what it can afford. Whenever you speak, maintain justice even regarding a close relative. And fulfil your covenant with Allah. Do not come near the wealth of the orphan unless intending to enhance it until they attain maturity. Give orphans their wealth when they reach maturity, worthless possessions should not be exchanged for their valuables, also do not cheat them by mixing their wealth with your own. This would indeed be a great sin. Those who have divided their faith and split into sects their judgment rests only with Allah. And He will inform them of what they used to do. Whoever comes with a good deed will be rewarded tenfold. But whoever comes with a bad deed will be punished for only one. None will be wronged.
— The writer is contributing columnist, based in Islamabad.
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