Surah Al Kahf - Ayah 2

Juma Mubarak. Rajab 21, 1442 AH

Words بأسا شديدا has also been interpreted as extremely difficult times when deception will be at its climax i.e fitna of dajjal. In scribe's humble reckoning, if we keep the sequence of Al Kahf stories in view, we are in the later half of phase 3. Story 1 about Tauheed under attack. Atheism is becoming a popular deen since last century. Story 2 about reliance on material means instead of the Creator of these means which has already peaked. Story 3 about fallacious human claim of having too much knowledge is already here. We have been hit & swept by so called information revolution which is phase 3. We as specie are so naive that we confuse information with knowledge, whereas the man who had the knowledge of the Book, claimed & brought throne of Queen Saba much faster than a powerful jinn. So, Googling or Wikipediing & giving pearls of wisdom on almost everything is our misconception about knowledge. And last story of Zulqarnain gives us hints about appearance of Dajjal and his fitna. Time wise, we are almost there. 

When Allah swt warns of punishment, it must be understood that the punishment starts right here in this life and continues in hereafter. Such a poor deal that small span of life that we think is big, gets miserable and severe punishment awaits for us in an unending life in hereafter. 

This problem with our understanding is the greatest deception our eternal enemy can play upon us i.e.deception galore (Dajl). Like, not understanding our purpose of life. Anxieties of material needs resulting in pressures of work translating in poor interpersonal dealings starting from home, relations, friendships, social and professional lives. Resultantly, self-centric life, seclusion, distancing & depression. What happens is that inadvertently, a beautiful gift of Allah swt, this short sojourn on earth, slowly and gradually becomes miserable.Why because the trailer of that severe punishment mentioned in this ayah begins right here and we don't even know of it. 

So what is the way out of this gloomy scenario sketched on this magnificent spring morning? Simple, be thankful. Acknowledge what we've got. Stop counting Bill Gates' billions, start counting his Boss's blessings you have been bestowed upon. This should be the start point and then you may see floodgates of more blessings opening up for you. It is Allah's promise that He (swt) will increase us (in everything Imaan, health, wealth, offspring & so on), only if we are thankful. And the good tidings in second half of the ayah begin. 

Final word, whatever has to happen in hereafter: right or left, pass or fail, good or bad, it will all start here in this life only if we are lucky enough to escape the deceptive snares of our enemy every step of the way. 

Only Allah knows the whole Truth.