Surah Al Kahf - Ayah No 4

Juma Mubarak. A gentle reminder for recitation of Al Kahf or at least its first and last ten Ayahs on this Mubarak day. Although, Allah is privy to the deepest corner of our hearts. He swt knows it all, yet a reliable confidant. It is His mercy that He swt, despite knowing it all, keeps a veil over our failings. Let's take this opportunity & make a prayer, ' Dear Lord, I beg you to veil my failings in this life and shield me from shame in the next in front of Makhlooq'. This is a fair request. However, before we get carried away by our own wishes, the concept of Allah's rights and rights of others may be understood. This is really interesting and totally logical that Allah swt may forgive any oversight towards His obligations but He won't interfere in Human to Human dealings. Allah's mercy shall overpower His wrath and that is our only hope. However, we are not getting away rights of others, hence, the settlement of rights between the Humans is their own problem. Allah swt has made every single being the best of His creation and unique in identity. By giving us this grace, He swt made our salvation conditional with fulfilling rights of other fellow beings. So it seems that when Allah's anger is overcome by His mercy, our further survival on the Day of Judgment is in the hands of fellow beings. We need to keep our balance clear with fellow beings. This life is our only opportunity to do that. 

How do we fulfil this obligation towards fellow human beings? Firstly, keep our thoughts clean about others. Whoever, we come across, we must believe that he/ she is better than us. This absolves us from sin of arrogance/superiority committed by our arch enemy at the time of creation. Secondly, keep forgiving everyone. Say it in their face and ask their forgiveness. Taking opportunity, I ask your wholehearted forgiveness. Thirdly, instead of criticizing, pray for Hidayat of the person or resolution of their/ your own issues. Just these three steps shall make wonderful change in your lives and lives of the ones around you. 

Coming over to today's Ayah No 4, it would be pertinent to look at Ayah 3 & 5 as well to keep the things in context

How can Creator have offspring? Its insulting. Its beyond logic. It didn't go down well with the Creator that his most beloved Prophet Isa Ibn Mariyam (Jesus, son of Mary) was declared son of God or God incarnate in some cases. This is insult of human intellect as well. The one who created Adam AS without father, created Isa AS without father. In his control are the heavens and earth and everything in between them. Since, these are executive instructions of warning to those who mistakenly took Nabi Isa AS as Allah's son, so all we can do is to convey the message and pray for them because in final showdown, our Christian brothers shall stand by us as Jesus Christ shall also descend from heavens to settle the issue with the anti christ. What we need to understand is the hierarchy of the universe. I have drawn a simple sketch for everyone's understanding as under:

 We only know that the Lord of Universe controls everything but with our finite capacity we can't imagine infinite. Hence, we can only identify Allah through this arc of an immense circle way way beyond the limits of our imaginations. Then is His Vicegerents. Top slot goes to Prophet Muhammad PBUH and then the remaining Messengers of Allah. Followed by Shuhada, Siddiqin, Salehin and in the end, common people like us. Though Sibghat Ullah i.e. Colors of Allah shall be visible in each one of His creations but remaining within the confines of distinct hierarchy. It is important that we remain aware of our place in this hierarchy. It will keep us on right spot and right path, and above all, humble. 

Only Allah knows the whole Truth.