Human independence
سورة فاطر ٤٥
وَلَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ اللَّهُ النَّاسَ بِمَا كَسَبُوا مَا تَرَكَ عَلَىٰ ظَهْرِهَا مِن دَابَّةٍ وَلَـٰكِن يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۖ فَإِذَا جَاءَ أَجَلُهُمْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِعِبَادِهِ بَصِيرًا
Surah Faatir 35:45
If Allah were to punish men according to what they deserve. He would not leave on the back of the (earth) a single living creature: but He gives them respite for a stated Term: when their Term expires, verily Allah has in His sight all His Servants.
To find an aya of this kind, (also Surah An-Nahl 16:61), may perhaps not be too surprising… all things considered, (and in the words of Professor Charles Xavier), sharing the world has never truly been humanity’s defining attribute. However, we also know there are good people in this world… and He would not leave on the back of the (earth) a single living creature takes even the most pious person into account. What offense do all humans have in common that they deserve this fate?
سورة العلق ٧-٦
كَلَّا إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَيَطْغَىٰ
أَن رَّآهُ اسْتَغْنَىٰ
Surah Al-Alaq 96:6-7
Nay, but man doth transgress all bounds,
In that he looketh upon himself as self-sufficient.
We do not really think about it… but in every second of our lives on this Earth… He keeps us alive. Yes, we know it… but there is a difference between knowing something… and truly understanding it…
سورة الواقعة ٨٧-٨٣
فَلَوْلَا إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الْحُلْقُومَ
وَأَنتُمْ حِينَئِذٍ تَنظُرُونَ
وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنكُمْ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تُبْصِرُونَ
فَلَوْلَا إِن كُنتُمْ غَيْرَ مَدِينِينَ
تَرْجِعُونَهَا إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ
سورة الزمر ٤٢
اللَّهُ يَتَوَفَّى الْأَنفُسَ حِينَ مَوْتِهَا وَالَّتِي لَمْ تَمُتْ فِي مَنَامِهَا ۖ فَيُمْسِكُ الَّتِي قَضَىٰ عَلَيْهَا الْمَوْتَ وَيُرْسِلُ الْأُخْرَىٰ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
Surah Al-Waaqia 56:83-87
Then why do ye not (intervene) when (the soul of the dying man) reaches the throat,-
And ye the while (sit) looking on,-
But We are nearer to him than ye, and yet see not,-
Then why do ye not,- If you are exempt from (future) account,-
Call back the soul, if ye are true (in the claim of independence)?
Surah Az-Zumar 39:42
It is Allah that takes the souls (of men) at death; and those that die not (He takes) during their sleep: those on whom He has passed the decree of death, He keeps back (from returning to life), but the rest He sends (to their bodies) for a term appointed verily in this are Signs for those who reflect.
This is a life of distractions, where most of our minds are drawn away to different things in life. Consider a scenario, a discussion… a person might mention something… it makes us remember… our attention is drawn away from the discussion because of what we remember… then we suddenly wake up from the thought when the friend says “hellooo?? Are you there??” Our attention is short, usually on the moment… something in front of us…. or on a task or duty we perform.
In our daily lives, we may not consider and do not fully comprehend… just how dependent we are on Allah… our Creator and Sustainer…
سورة ابراهيم ٣٤
وَآتَاكُم مِّن كُلِّ مَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُ ۚ وَإِن تَعُدُّوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَا ۗ إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَظَلُومٌ كَفَّارٌ
Surah Ibrahim 14:34
And He giveth you of all that ye ask for. But if ye count the favours of Allah, never will ye be able to number them. Verily, man is given up to injustice and ingratitude.
At the end of the day, the recognition of our dependence on Him, our faith in Him… is what is being tested…
سورة البقرة ١٥٥
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ
الَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَالُوا إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ
سورة الزمر ٤٩
فَإِذَا مَسَّ الْإِنسَانَ ضُرٌّ دَعَانَا ثُمَّ إِذَا خَوَّلْنَاهُ نِعْمَةً مِّنَّا قَالَ إِنَّمَا أُوتِيتُهُ عَلَىٰ عِلْمٍ ۚ بَلْ هِيَ فِتْنَةٌ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
سورة الملك ١٢
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُم بِالْغَيْبِ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ كَبِيرٌ
سورة البقرة ١٥٢
فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِي وَلَا تَكْفُرُونِ
Surah Al-Baqara 2:155-156
Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere,
Who say, when afflicted with calamity: “To Allah We belong, and to Him is our return”:-
Surah Az-Zumar 39:49
Now, when trouble touches man, he cries to Us: But when We bestow a favour upon him as from Ourselves, he says, “This has been given to me because of a certain knowledge (I have)!” Nay, but this is but a trial, but most of them understand not!
Surah Al-Mulk 67:12
As for those who fear their Lord unseen, for them is Forgiveness and a great Reward.
Surah Al-Baqara 2:152
Then do ye remember Me; I will remember you. Be grateful to Me, and reject not Faith.