Surat Al Hijr 6 -11

بِسْمِ ٱللَّـهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

They said, ‘O you, to whom the Reminder has been sent down, you are indeed crazy.(6)

Why do you not bring us the angels should you be truthful?!’ (7 ) 

We do not send down the angels except with due reason, and then they will not be granted any respite. (8) 

Indeed We have sent down the Reminder, and indeed We will preserve it. (9)

Certainly We sent [apostles] before you to former communities, (10) 

and there did not come to them any apostle but that they used to deride him. (11)

Qarai

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Bismillahhir Rahmannir Raheem

Above ayats are quite explicit in themselves – and what is obvious is: the basic mindset has not really changed. We may be living in the computer age: flying supersonic jets, manufacturing organs in factories and sky diving for thrills – but, the human beings have not come very far in actually ‘knowing themselves’.

Who are we? Why are we here? Where have we come from? Where are we going to? Is there a purpose to life?

We are not really troubled by any of these questions. And, even if they do occasionally appear on the screens of our mind, we ‘change page’ and divert ourselves – there is too much happening in our lives at present to be bothered – to be bothered about the great eventuality – that all of us must die and return, perhaps to where we came from.  And that is a great shame.

Prophets, over centuries have tried to guide and educate, to cajole and coax man to think - but the human race has always rebelled – been a non conformist, unfortunately, responding only to the ‘rule of the whip’. We more easily obey a tyrant – the gentle Warner has always been met with derision, disregard and disrespect.

It is important to acknowledge that the Prophets were here only to nudge us in the right direction. Time and time again, Allah (swt) says about the Prophets in the Quran that they are but ‘Warners’. They are here to educate and train us – if we allow them. It is not their responsibility to ‘exercise the whip’. They are to show the way and leave it up to man to ‘think’ and make the right choices. 

And, the mechanism for this is already implanted – all true knowledge is already embedded in our minds – we only have to access it by using our ability to ‘think’ – to open The Book of Truth and read. Man, to be fair, has been doing it – the clear proof being his evolution from being a cave dweller to a space traveller. However, somewhere along the line – progress in this world – which was really, only a means to an end, has become the end in itself. We have ‘forgotten’ that we are only travellers, journeying through this life on earth. There is a greater mission we are on. We have come from somewhere and we will be going forward to someplace else. 

Therefore, NOW, while we are alive, is the time to open up ‘The Book’ saved in the folder our mind, and allow the truth to reveal itself. It is time to ‘remember’. Get off the high horse of heedlessness, liberate from the shackles of self indulgence and use this time – the most precious wealth – to recognise that life in this world is an opportunity to get an ‘upgrade’ in the greater scheme of things.

Subhanallah!

Iltemase dua for the awakening of the Human Intellect

SURAT AL HIJR 1 - 5

بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Alif, Lam, Ra. These are the signs of the Book and a manifest Quran. (1)

Much will the faithless wish that they had been Muslims. (2)

Leave them to eat and enjoy and to be diverted by longings. Soon they will know. (3)

We did not destroy any town but that it had a known term. (4)

No nation can advance its time nor can it defer it.  (5)

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Bismillah Hir Rahmaan nir Raheem

When all is revealed, Inshallah,  – there will be regret from the people who did not submit – those who rebelled, unwilling to acknowledge the truth of the signs that have been sent down over the centuries through the teachings of the Prophets, and through holy scriptures, culminating in the final words: the Holy Quran.

In this world there are numerous diversions – both in terms of seeking sensual pleasures (pleasures for eyes, ears, taste and touch) and desires (longing for these pleasures – perhaps out of reach – yet there to be had) that preoccupy man. And there is opportunity to do both, Allah (swt) has given everyone the time – albeit fixed. And people have been given the power of intellect and freedom of choice on how to use this time. They are free to spend ALL their time enjoying themselves pandering to their whims and desires, wallowing in all the pleasures and excitement this world can provide. 

Soon enough though, they will find out for themselves (a moment of haq ul Yaqeen!). When the truth about the purpose of this life  becomes evident – man will, inevitably, accept that the Quran is the book of Truth and in it all the signs have been manifest for people to take lessons from for centuries. He will acknowledge that nations afore were given a ‘fixed time’ and opportunity to prove themselves;  and this ‘time’, came to an end; and they were annihilated. He will realise that no people can extend their window of life on this earth beyond the prescribed limit.

And then will come the REGRET.  REGRET he cannot escape from. REGRET that is perpetual for eternity.

If only, if only...he had put his time to better use.

An extended discussion on time:

For example – people might think that science is extending its boundaries and new medical advancement means that life’s tenure is extendable. But that is man’s naivety – this ability to use science to rejuvenate himself is also a part of this ‘term’ allowed to man – different peoples over centuries have had different life expectancies, depending on the circumstances and the environment they are living in. Therefore, yes, it is a matter of great pride for man that he has used his intellect to an excellent advantage by speeding his mental evolution; nevertheless, he must recognise that this ability itself is only an ‘opportunity’ resulting from the ‘intellect and freedom of choice’ bestowed on him. He must also, if he is wise, recognise that this ‘progress’ (that is perhaps making him arrogant) is also ‘terminal’ and is subject to ‘fana’. An earthquake, a tsunami, a fire or even a computer virus can bring the progress of this world to an absolute, perhaps irrevocable standstill. The One who has given the opportunity – can take the opportunity away too.

Subhanallah!

Iltemase dua for the awakening of the human intellect.