Surah Al Kahf- Ayah No 28

Assalam o Alaikum 

Juma Mubarak. Let's seek refuge of The Protector from all evils i.e. iblees, dajjal and their associates in the safest retreat  of Al Kahf (The Cave).

What makes us superior creatures of this universe is thinking faculty, speech and patience or restrain. Patience is the barometer of soul. Physical exercise keeps our body fit whereas, exercising patience keeps our soul fit. Look at all pillars of Islam, the requirement is one of patience. Tauheed demands submission. No me, I or my decision or desire. Everything is routed vertically and done in accordance with laid down rules. Salah, demands leaving warm bed in cold morning and physical cleaning before prostration. Leaving all worldly affairs in the middle of the day and hitting the ground in Sajood. Night does not begin or end without prayers. It all trains us to be patient. Fasting is the most beautiful exercise of soul. Its a break from normal eating routines and restrain till specified time, no matter how enticing is the aroma of freshly cooked food. Zakah is purging of earnings which requires control over self to regulating finances. Hajj is a combo of physical and financial trials. Why so much patience is expected from us? Because we want to meet the eligibility  criteria to live an eternal life in Allah's resort (Jannah) full of bounties. Hence, the only test is patience for Haves and Haves Not and restrain for Haves.

Today's Ayah No 28, lays down a complete code of conduct in times of fitn Al dajjal. 

Firstly, exercise control on desires. Limit the needs. The lesser the needs, the lesser the strains.  Patience could be better exercised in company than alone. Look at the mercy of our Lord that He swt guides us to stick to the company of righteous. 

Ability to resist desiring adornments of life is the theme of this Surah. Why is it necessary? In Surah Ale Imran Allah swt said,' وَ مَا الۡحَیٰوۃُ الدُّنۡیَاۤ اِلَّا مَتَاعُ الۡغُرُوۡرِ',' And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion'. 03:185.

Same message is repeated here and in Ayah 7th and 103rd (7th last Ayah) of Al Kahf. For detailed account on this topic, click on the link below:

http://asadjamal32.blogspot.com/2015/07/deception-and-reality-of-life-al-kahf-7.html?m=1

And how do we avoid falling into the trap of this life's delusions. Three no go areas have been identified to us in the last part of this Ayah. One, the ones made heedless of Allah's remembrance. Note that it's not them who have forgotten Allah, its Allah swt Himself who turned them away from His remembrance due to their conscious and consistent rebellious attitude. الهم لا جعلنا منهم. Two, those who folllow (undue) desire or lust. Undue desire invokes fear. Fear makes us weak. And like Iblees, sons of Adam who follow desire, start making a union of their own. Lastly, those who commit excess and as the adage goes, 'excess of everything is bad'. 

May Allah keep us in the company of those whose hearts are filled and tongues are wet with Allah's remembrance. Who follow not the lust and maintain balance in life by avoiding excess. Ameen