Personal assumptions

I discussed Surah Al-Kahf and the benefits it holds in a general sense, in a previous update. This time, I am analysing its words in a little more depth. As you read the Surah and pay attention to its statements, you may discover that there is a specific point that it comes back to… personal assumptions…

Like with the case regarding the sleepers in the cave…

سورة الكهف ٢٢
سَيَقُولُونَ ثَلَاثَةٌ رَّابِعُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ خَمْسَةٌ سَادِسُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ رَجْمًا بِالْغَيْبِ ۖ وَيَقُولُونَ سَبْعَةٌ وَثَامِنُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ ۚ قُل رَّبِّي أَعْلَمُ بِعِدَّتِهِم مَّا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ ۗ فَلَا تُمَارِ فِيهِمْ إِلَّا مِرَاءً ظَاهِرًا وَلَا تَسْتَفْتِ فِيهِم مِّنْهُمْ أَحَدًا

Surah Al-Kahf 18:22
(Some) say they were three, the dog being the fourth among them; (others) say they were five, the dog being the sixth,- doubtfully guessing at the unknown; (yet others) say they were seven, the dog being the eighth. Say thou: “My Lord knoweth best their number; It is but few that know their (real case).” Enter not, therefore, into controversies concerning them, except on a matter that is clear, nor consult any of them about (the affair of) the Sleepers.

Thinking about a coming event and determining its outcome before it’s even happened, is also an assumption…

سورة الكهف ٢٤-٢٣
وَلَا تَقُولَنَّ لِشَيْءٍ إِنِّي فَاعِلٌ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ غَدًا
إِلَّا أَن يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ ۚ وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ إِذَا نَسِيتَ وَقُلْ عَسَىٰ أَن يَهْدِيَنِ رَبِّي لِأَقْرَبَ مِنْ هَـٰذَا رَشَدًا

Surah Al-Kahf 18:23-24
Nor say of anything, “I shall be sure to do so and so tomorrow”-
Without adding, “So please Allah!” and call thy Lord to mind when thou forgettest, and say, “I hope that my Lord will guide me ever closer (even) than this to the right road.”

Intentions are not steadfast and can change according to the situation. It is the circumstances that guides our hands. Something which is also hinted in Surah Aal-i-Imraan…

سورة آل عمران ١٥٤
يَقُولُونَ لَوْ كَانَ لَنَا مِنَ الْأَمْرِ شَيْءٌ مَّا قُتِلْنَا هَاهُنَا ۗ قُل لَّوْ كُنتُمْ فِي بُيُوتِكُمْ لَبَرَزَ الَّذِينَ كُتِبَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْقَتْلُ إِلَىٰ مَضَاجِعِهِمْ

Surah Aal-i-Imraan 3:154
They say (to themselves): “If we had had anything to do with this affair, We should not have been in the slaughter here.” Say “Even if you had remained in your homes, those for whom death was decreed would certainly have gone forth to the place of their death”

We often judge people on first impressions and/or by circimstances. In many cases, one act of bad judgment can erase an entire history of good… and the one bad act may leave a lasting negative impression which has somehow wiped out a long list of good. We do not know the motive behind it or what that person’s thinking was but we immediately assume things. The best we can do is to consider the person’s good as a counterweight, to determine that this person simply made a mistake. Or perhaps the person is trying to change for the better… but we judge him or her according to past deeds…

سورة ص ٦٣-٦٢
وَقَالُوا مَا لَنَا لَا نَرَىٰ رِجَالًا كُنَّا نَعُدُّهُم مِّنَ الْأَشْرَارِ
أَتَّخَذْنَاهُمْ سِخْرِيًّا أَمْ زَاغَتْ عَنْهُمُ الْأَبْصَارُ

Surah Saad 38:62-63
And they will say: “What has happened to us that we see not men whom we used to number among the bad ones?
“Did we treat them (as such) in ridicule, or have (our) eyes failed to perceive them?”

I published a lengthier input earlier, on judging people by impression, which you can find here. Coming back to Surah Al-Kahf, it gives a clear example on assumption with the man who was blessed with an abundant garden…

سورة الكهف ٣٦-٣٥
وَدَخَلَ جَنَّتَهُ وَهُوَ ظَالِمٌ لِّنَفْسِهِ قَالَ مَا أَظُنُّ أَن تَبِيدَ هَـٰذِهِ أَبَدًا
وَمَا أَظُنُّ السَّاعَةَ قَائِمَةً وَلَئِن رُّدِدتُّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّي لَأَجِدَنَّ خَيْرًا مِّنْهَا مُنقَلَبًا

Surah Al-Kahf 18:35-36
He went into his garden in a state (of mind) unjust to his soul: He said, “I deem not that this will ever perish,
“Nor do I deem that the Hour (of Judgment) will (ever) come: Even if I am brought back to my Lord, I shall surely find (there) something better in exchange.”

Whether we are leaning towards positive or negative, we all tend to assume things far too easily. I feel that one of the most important lessons we can learn in this life is the one we find in Surah Al-Kahf, the one taught to Prophet Musa when he encountered a wise man…

سورة الكهف ٦٨
وَكَيْفَ تَصْبِرُ عَلَىٰ مَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِ خُبْرًا

Surah Al-Kahf 18:68
“And how canst thou have patience about things about which thy understanding is not complete?”