بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Reading Surah Al-Kahf is something we should look forward to do every Friday. In it there is a story from which we can derive comfort while going through this life. The lesson contained in this story is this "You should have full faith in the wisdom of what is happening in the Divine Factory in accordance with the will of Allah.
As the reality is hidden from you, you are at a loss to understand the wisdom of what is happening, and sometimes if it appears that things are going against you, you cry out, 'How and why has this happened?' The fact is that if the curtain be removed from the "unseen", you would yourselves come to know that what is happening here is for the best. Even if some times it appears that something is going against you, you will see that in the end it also produces some good results for you.
The first story begins "So they set out, until when they had embarked on the ship, al-Khidhr tore it open. [Musa] said, "Have you torn it open to drown its people? You have certainly done a grave thing." (71)
The second story begins “So they set out, until when they met a boy, al-Khidhr killed him. [Musa] said, "Have you killed a pure soul for other than [having killed] a soul? You have certainly done a deplorable thing." (74)”.
The third story begins "So they set out, until when they came to the people of a town, they asked its people for food, but they refused to offer them hospitality. And they found therein a wall about to collapse, so al-Khidhr restored it. [Musa] said, "If you wished, you could have taken for it a payment." (77)
As recorded in the Qur'an, Khidr explained his 3 seemingly bad actions for which Musa couldn't remain patient:
"As for the ship, it belonged to poor people working at sea. So I intended to cause defect in it as there was after them a king who seized every [good] ship by force. (79)"
If it appears to you that Allah is putting you through difficult moments don't be afraid because there is goodness behind it.
"And as for the boy, his parents were believers, and we feared that he would overburden them by transgression and disbelief. (80) So we intended that their Lord should substitute for them one better than him in purity and nearer to mercy. (81)"
There are parents who lost their child, and they keep their deep sorrow for years, while others who witness the death of their children keep praying for them and asking their award from Allah. As a result, these parents are bonded in their relationship with Allah.
"And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the city, and there was beneath it a treasure for them, and their father had been righteous. So your Lord intended that they reach maturity and extract their treasure, as a mercy from your Lord. And I did it not of my own accord.
You too might not know about a treasure that Allah has saved for you because if you take it now you might lose it easily.
The three stories compiled the biggest catastrophes you may face during your life. These are injustice, death, and financial problems. However, if you patiently endure, Allah will reward you the best. Today, you must be sure that Allah wants the best for you. Are you then satisfied with your destiny?
Listen to what Allah says in the Qur'an, which can be translated as, “Allah! Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshiped but He), Al-Hayyul-Qayyum (the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists). Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission? He knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter. And they will never compass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His Kursî extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.” [Al-Baqarah 2:255, also called Ayat-ul-Kursî].
An example of having faith in Allah is Sa'ad Ibn Abi-Waqqas whom the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said about: “O Allah, let him aim his shoot accurately, and accept his Dua'a (supplication)”. Everyone then came to ask for his Dua'a, but he lost his sight in his late years and a young man came to ask him why he would not pray to Allah to return his sight. Sa'ad answered: “Would I ever be dissatisfied with what Allah has accepted for me? I am pleased with my destiny more than I would be pleased with my sight.”
Urwa Ibn Zubayr took his son once to visit the Caliph. When they reached their destination, the boy went to play with the horse outdoors. However, he was soon squashed under its feet and died. His father was sorrowful to hear about this and on the same day his leg was affected and they had to cut it off. People did not know what to pay their condolences about. He smilingly said: “O my Lord, I had four organs, so you took away one and left me three. I had seven children, so you took away one and left me six. If you had taken away some favors, you have also kept some. If you have ceased some blessings, you have given me others. Thanks to you for what you have kept and thanks to you for what you have given.”
Omran Ibn-Qussai, one of the companions, took part in all the battles with the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), and he was lately affected with a sickness that made him unable to walk for ten years. Some of the companions came to visit him crying. Omran asked for the reason, and they answered: “We are crying for the suffering and pain you feel”. Omran said: “This is what Allah has accepted for me, and so I am accepting it too. I can truly feel the angels praying beside me, and from that I know that Allah is not dissatisfied with me. Allah is testing my satisfaction. O Allah, I bear witness that I am satisfied, please accept me among the ones whom you are satisfied with too.”
“...his parents were believers, and we feared that he would overburden them by transgression and disbelief.” [Ql-Kahf 18:81] If you fear for your children after your death, be a righteous person.
Why did this incident specifically happen with Musa and not with any other Messenger?
To exemplify, the ship was saved from the King by scuttling it, and so did his mother cast him into the sea when he was a baby for Allah to show him that He is the only one who can save his life. Moreover, Musa reproached al-Khidr for rebuilding the wall in return for nothing, and one day he irrigated the land of the two daughters of Madyan in return of nothing. Lastly, Musa saw al-Khidr killing a little boy, and Musa himself killed a man before.
It seems as if Allah wants to teach Musa that He is the one that controls his destiny, and that He can repeat certain incidents for him to learn from it.
What did Musa learn from al-Khidr? Is it knowledge? No, but he learnt to be patient and humble.
The four points in this story:
1-The value of knowledge. Keep yourself busy with learning this religion and learn it from a trustworthy teacher with good morals. Don't say "I'm busy with work!" "I have a hard time memorizing the Qur'an!" etc. Remember, “None but shaytan made me forget to remember” (Al-Kahf 18:63) Can shaytan spoil your memory? No, but he keeps you busy with one thing to forget another. When you choose to follow the path of knowledge, Allah exposes a path for you to Paradise.
2-Our knowledge is very little compared to Allah's, like water drop in a sea. We sometimes face difficult situations which we believe are completely to our disadvantage when Allah means our advantage and benefit, this is best demonstrated when Allah brings our own salvation from menace just as He said in Surat Al-Qasas, ”...but when you fear for him, then cast him into the river and fear not, nor grieve. Verily, We shall bring him back to you, and shall make him one of (Our) Messengers.” (Al-Qasas:7).
3-You may sometimes not know the wisdom behind a certain incident that you may dislike while it is of benefit for you,
4-You need patience, a strong determination, and humbleness to succeed in life.
May Allah save us from the trial and tribulations of this life and the next. May Allah grant us patience, strong determination, humbleness, and success in this life and the next. Ameen.
And Allah knows best and He alone grant success.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.
Wassalaam
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