Surah Al-Mu’minoon
If we think about it, what is the driving force behind anything that we do? It is our desire to succeed. Even small children, playing their innocent little games, want to win. When they grow older and start their studies, what is it that differentiates the “high achievers” from the rest of the class? It is the will to succeed. Allah himself has programmed into our hearts, this sense of competition. Thus we see that people have derived several formulas for success according to their experiences. Books have been written specifically on this subject, and the fact that they have been best sellers, proves how eager we are, to know about the ultimate secret of success. The Miraculous Quran tells us in just a few lines; all that we need to know in order to achieve a glorious, everlasting success. It is Allah’s own formula for us and we should understand it very carefully. The very first Ayat fills us with assurance and conviction: {1} Successful indeed are the believers!!
But who are these believers? The ones who call themselves believers? No, belief is not just an utterance of some fixed amount of words. It is an inner consciousness of Allah which changes your heart and reflects in your speech and in your actions. It makes you turn over to a completely new lifestyle, in which your first and foremost priority, is to please Allah, according to the guidance of Quran and the teachings of his Prophet, Muhammad (s.a.w) The greatest reflection of their faith is in their Salat :
{2} ! "#$% Who are humbly submissive in their prayers,
This humility is in the stillness of their posture, and the inner concentration of their hearts. When they offer salat they are not just making mechanical movements, rather it is their time alone with their Lord. It makes them feel His presence in their life and they feel loved and cherished by the Creator. It is through this intimate contact with Allah, that a believer derives energy to work in Allah’s obedience. So we see that Imaan and Salat go side by side. One is incomplete without the other. The next characteristic that sets them apart is :
{3} &' (% ") ! "#$% * And who turn away from ill speech,
When a believer steps out into the world, all sorts of attractions and distractions assail him. Here Allah tells him; “watch out !! stay away from all that is trivial and unnecessary” Today’s world is literally overflowing with these charming slogans that offer fun and recreation, but one should be careful and avoid all meaningless activities which are time wasting and gain you neither any benefit in this world, nor any points in the hereafter. Its like sitting in a math exam and making a painting for the sake of artistic fulfillment !! what would you call it ? art or foolishness. Similarly, a true believer who wants to be Successful, doesn’t waste even a single moment. He is constantly looking for ways to make the best use of his time:
{4} +) ,-./ ! "#$% * And who are active in deeds of charity.
This includes giving obligatory Zakat, as well as purification of self. They give up bad habits and cultivate positive characteristics in themselves, through constant learning. A complete make over !! Their inner and outer personalities reflect their status as representatives of Allah’s religion on this earth. And now their social behavior:
{5} +01 2*'+3 ! "#$% * And they who guard their private parts.
They protect their chastity and thus save themselves from a lot of trouble and complication. Their life is made pleasurable and peaceful by the boundaries set by Allah. They take their responsibilities and their covenants seriously:
{8} )4 ! )* 56 ! "#$% * And those who are keepers of their trusts and their covenant,
They are highly conscious of their responsibilities towards others because they know that they are going to be answerable for it in the hereafter. Yet they don’t get so entangled by their other duties that they forget their foremost duty towards Allah:
{9} +07# 8) ! "#$% * And those who protect their prayers;
Look at the word Allah has used: protect . What do we protect? our most valuable possessions; something that we can’t afford to lose. Next time when shaitaan makes you see Salat as a burden, remember that its your very own thing that you need to protect by offering it on time and by making sure that all its prerequisites have been taken care of. In one line protection of Salat means to make it the central nucleus of your life in such a way that no other activity takes precedence over it. Allah says such are the people who will inherit the highest level of Paradise: the Firdous:
{10 } +94 ! :; *+ These are they who are the heirs, {11 } * < ! = *> '3 +9'# "#$% Who shall inherit the Paradise; they shall abide therein forever.
Now we must understand here that life in this world is a test. Especially for those who want to compete for Paradise. We see that the most difficult trials were faced by the Prophets. Allah gives here the example of Nuh (a.s) who preached to his people for 950 years and only a handful of people accepted Allah’s message. So after all his efforts he finally called out to Allah for help. Allah says:
4* 5' ?2 @A < 1** < )6B : +3 C D < E <1 *6 D <) FGH " % E : !* " < 9 " <2 *I JK+- " < :+ H 4L.M {27 } +' (L .5E N "#$% GOP * +Q R So We revealed to him, saying: Make the ark before Our eyes and (according to) Our revelation; and when Our command is given and the valley overflows, take into it of every kind a pair, two, and your followers, except those among them against whom the word has gone forth, and do not speak to Me in respect of those who are unjust; surely they shall be drowned.
Now look at Allah’s response. He is not saying: “ok, you can go on vacation now” No! work your way out of it and I will help you along. And not only that but keep praying to me as well , so that you remember that it is my favor on you that I have saved you from those rebellious people:
S$% D% 7 K+R : +3 8) :. "* T5 T #M H @A {28 } U %0 V R " 5.W5 And when you are firmly seated, you and those with you, in the ark, say: All praise is due to Allah who delivered us from the unjust people: {29 } U X ' < T5* Y-4GL Y X /5 Z[.4 K+* And say: O my Lord! Cause me to disembark a blessed alighting, and Thou art the best to cause to alight.
Just imagine yourself in that condition and think what your response would be. How frightening it must be for him. But why did Allah put him through that storm and all? Didn’t Allah love him? Allah says:
{30 } UM G .+- E* \]#^ : @ %E Most surely there are signs in this, and most surely, We do test people.
And then Allah sent other messengers after him and the affluent people had the similar response that we hear nowadays:
{35 } 2' PL +_.5 `0)* `B' M+-* LM @E +_.5 +-# What! does he threaten you that when you are dead and become dust and bones that you shall then be brought forth? {36 } *) ] <! ] <! Impossible, just impossible is that which you are threatened with.
what is their philosophy?
{37 } U9 G B " 75 * < 75* ] 5 < 5L <1 % E ! E There is naught but our life in this world; we die and we live and we shall not be raised again. quite familiar, I would say! look at the way we are planning our lives. Is there any thought of the hereafter? Allah tells us what happened to them:
U %0 V R a ` G ?b+c ! W ZF7 B +d7 <.e $6 {41 } So the punishment overtook them in justice, and We made them as rubbish; so away with the unjust people.
Next Allah tells us about a very important thing that all the messengers had come with the same message of Tauheed (oneness of Allah) but then people made various sects. This is the biggest enemy of Islam: sectarianism, which eats away at the very basis of our unity and strength. Instead of standing together as a single force against the negative influences of the world, we fight against each other and bow down to our enemies for support. What a pity that instead of realizing the truth, each group is proud of its own identity:
{52 } +R. +_LB4 5* Y,1* Yd.+ +_M.+ f$! %E* And surely this religion of yours is one religion and I am your Lord, therefore be careful (of your duty) to Me. {53 } 1' # B \[ /1 hK+- `'BI <B !' %gRM But they cut off their religion among themselves into sects, each part rejoicing in that which is with them.
Allah says, do they think they will succeed this way? No, the successful are those who fear Allah, and even when they do something for Allah they are not proud of it, instead they always feel that they have not done enough, when they think of their return to their Lord:
24 ZB4 8 E .5 id2* B++.* j # "#$% * {60 } And those who give what they give (in alms) while their hearts are full of fear that to their Lord they must return, {61 } +RBH !* ]' <P )4k# :; *+ These hasten to good things and they are foremost in (attaining) them.
The word “Saabiqun” means the forerunners or the winners. Imagine a hundred-meter sprint in the Olympics and the ones who compete for the top ! Do they pause , look here and there? No matter how glamorous the crowds or how blinding the lights of the cameras, they are not conscious of anything except the finishing line. Thus is the focus of a true “momin” his goal is the meeting with His lord. He cannot rest before that nor can he indulge in useless pleasures of the world. As for those who waste this life in vain pursuits, they are going to regret it in the next world. The following verses depict the scene of Judgment Day when the wrong doers will be punished:
{64 } *46 W# ! @E [$ B <' M 5 $ @E 8.M1 Until when We overtake those who lead easy lives among them with punishment, lo! they cry for help. {65 } *'e .Z +_.5E V < *46 W Cry not for succor this day; surely you shall not be given help from Us.
It was not just their ignorance of the Quran but the attitude of arrogance that caused them to receive such a torturous punishment.
{66 } e_ +_BR ) 8) M+_ +_ <) 8 M #j T5- My communications were indeed recited to you, but you used to turn back on your heels, {67 } *'W `'H DB "#'G _M k In arrogance; talking nonsense about the Quran, and left him like one telling fables by night.
Allah has given us all faculties that are needed to recognize the truth, yet we don’t use them for this purpose.
*'+_ l . Y< ,; 6 * 4e B6 * C .k +_ 6l5 S$% !* {78 } And He it is Who made for you the ears and the eyes and the hearts; little is it that you give thanks.
Allah seems to be asking with wonder, “don’t you have any sense?”
+R 4 . * K <% mM D * T< #* < 7# S$% !* {80 } And He it is Who gives life and causes death, and (in) His (control) is the alternation of the night and the day; do you not then understand?
You say you are the intellectuals of the 21 st century yet you say the same words that were said by the disbelievers of eons ago:
{81 } + .*6 Q K b + KB Nay, they say the like of what the ancients said: {82 } +9 G .n `0)* `B' .+-* M $n + They say: What! When we are dead and become dust and bones, shall we then be raised?
Allah tells the prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) to ask the mushriks (disbelievers)
{84 } M+- E < "* o 46 " a K+ Say: “To whom belongs the earth and whoever is in it, if you should know?
They will readily admit that all of this belongs to Allah. Then again ask them:
{86 } <0 p ' L[4* C G.k ]* .k L[.4 " K+ Say: Who is the Lord of the seven heavens and the Lord of the great thrones?
And also ask them:
M+- E D <) 4W# * qW# !* \? aK+- ]+_ f<B " K+ {88} Say: Who is it in Whose hand is the kingdom of all things and Who gives succor, but against Him Succor is not given, if you do but know?
Their answer is the same, and so is Allah’s anger at them:
{89 } *'7 k 8.56 K+ D% + +R<H They will say: (This is) Allah's. Say: Then how are you deceived?
We see that when we make up our minds to follow Allah’s will, then there are several hurdles that start appearing in our way and we begin to lose heart when things get tough. Our family and friends, who used to support us, now become estranged and even hostile in some cases. The only thing that can keep us upright is the remembrance of Allah and the realization that the devil is our worst enemy and he is going to put depressing thoughts in our hearts to make us come back towards our old way of life. The following verses teach us that our job is to be unconditionally good to people, even if their attitude is discouraging.
{96 } +3e# B ) " 75 d;Z<.k "k 1 ! M% B C > Repel evil by what is best; We know best what they describe.
And we should pray to Allah to protect us from the whispers of the devil.
{97 } UO<.l ]/ ! " :B +@) Z[.4 K+* And say: O my Lord! I seek refuge in You from the evil suggestions of the devils; {98 } *'r 7# Z[4 :B +@)* And I seek refuge in You ! O my Lord! from their presence.
This prayer has the effect of a tonic for the heart. At once you will feel a sense of security and strength inside you. Surely Allah’s friendship is the only thing that can help us against the enmity of the devil. Our lifespan is the time in which we should correct our mistakes and make a strong connection with Allah so that he will guide us towards the right way of life. There should be no procrastination here because who knows when our time is up and the call comes from Allah to go back to Him. Therefore, people who are too busy in their worldly life, to make any commitment for Allah’s cause, should read the following verses with open eyes and an open heart and listen to the words of such a person who at the time of death realizes his mistake, but it is too late then to make amends. He cries out:
{99 } 2 4 Z[4 Q ] !1 ?2 @E 8.M1 Until when death overtakes one of them, he says: Send me back, my Lord, send me back; T -' < `7 +K ) a So that I may do good in that which I have left.
But Allah knows him inside out and so He says: +b G# V # 8 E stI 'B n4* "* +n ! id - .5E %- {100 } By no means! it is a (mere) word that he speaks; and before them is a barrier until the day they are raised.
This Surah really puts your focus on the concept of success. In the next two verses, Allah tells us who are the successful ones. Not necessarily those with grand houses or gleaming cars and numerous bank accounts, whom we envy in this world. No! The only thing of any value that day will be the weight of good deeds done purely for the sake of Allah.
{102 } 7 3 ! :; *+6 D#I T+R9 " Then those whose balance (of good deeds) is heavy,- they will attain salvation :
And take a look at the state of the losers:
. 2 k+35 *'k "#$% :; *+6 D#I T%3 "* {103 } * And as for him whose good deeds are light, these are they who shall have lost their souls, abiding in hell {104 } 7 - < !* 4. !2* 3 The fire shall scorch their faces, and they therein shall be in severe affliction.
Allah will ask them that day:
{105 } Ba$_ B M+_ +_ <) 8 M #j "+_ Were not My communications recited to you? But you used to reject them.
And they will admit their fault and will plead for mercy but the time for action is gone, only the consequences remain…….. For eternity. Allah says:
{108 } a_ * < * k Q He shall say: Go away into it and speak not to Me;
What a terrible thing that Allah will not even want to talk to them. Imagine someone saying this to you. How miserable it makes you feel, and how terribly insecure. May Allah forgive us and save us from such misery (ameen) Allah asks us the most important question:
{115 } 2 ' < E +_.5* YbG) +- R .5 M Gk7 What! did you then think that We had created you in vain and that you shall not be returned to Us?
The ultimate truth is that Allah is the one most High, and thus the only one who is worthy of our worship. Just absorb the awesome power of the following words:
{116 } u'_ p ' L[4 ! % E D E LF7 : D% 8 M So exalted be Allah, the True King; no god is there but He, the Lord of the honorable dominion.
This magnificent Surah ends with this beautiful prayer, which is a constant reminder that to be successful in this test of life and death we need two very important things: Allah’s mercy and His forgiveness.
{118 } U 1.' ' < T5* 1 4* '3 c Z[.4 K+* And say: O my Lord! forgive and have mercy, and Thou art the best of the Merciful ones. *****