"For the scum disappears like froth cast out........"

قُلۡ مَن رَّبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ قُلِ ٱللَّهُ‌ۚ

قُلۡ أَفَٱتَّخَذۡتُم مِّن دُونِهِۦۤ أَوۡلِيَآءَ لَا يَمۡلِكُونَ

لِأَنفُسِهِمۡ نَفۡعً۬ا وَلَا ضَرًّ۬ا‌ۚ قُلۡ هَلۡ يَسۡتَوِى

ٱلۡأَعۡمَىٰ وَٱلۡبَصِيرُ أَمۡ هَلۡ تَسۡتَوِى ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتُ

وَٱلنُّورُ‌ۗ أَمۡ جَعَلُواْ لِلَّهِ شُرَكَآءَ خَلَقُواْ كَخَلۡقِهِۦ

فَتَشَـٰبَهَ ٱلۡخَلۡقُ عَلَيۡہِمۡ‌ۚ قُلِ ٱللَّهُ خَـٰلِقُ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬

وَهُوَ ٱلۡوَٲحِدُ ٱلۡقَهَّـٰرُأَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً۬

فَسَالَتۡ أَوۡدِيَةُۢ بِقَدَرِهَا فَٱحۡتَمَلَ ٱلسَّيۡلُ زَبَدً۬ا رَّابِيً۬ا‌ۚ

وَمِمَّا يُوقِدُونَ عَلَيۡهِ فِى ٱلنَّارِ ٱبۡتِغَآءَ حِلۡيَةٍ أَوۡ مَتَـٰعٍ۬

زَبَدٌ۬ مِّثۡلُهُ ۥ‌ۚ كَذَٲلِكَ يَضۡرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡحَقَّ وَٱلۡبَـٰطِلَ‌ۚ

فَأَمَّا ٱلزَّبَدُ فَيَذۡهَبُ جُفَآءً۬‌ۖ وَأَمَّا مَا يَنفَعُ ٱلنَّاسَ

فَيَمۡكُثُ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ‌ۚ كَذَٲلِكَ يَضۡرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡأَمۡثَالَ

"Say: "Who is the Lord and Sustainer of the heavens and the earth?" Say: "(It is) Allah." Say: "Do ye then take (for worship) protectors other than Him, such as have no power either for good or for harm to themselves?"

Say: "Are the blind equal with those who see? Or the depths of darkness equal with Light?" Or do they assign to Allah partners who have created (anything) as He has created, so that the creation seemed to them similar?

Say: "Allah is the Creator of all things: He is the One, the Supreme and Irresistible." He sends down water from the skies, and the channels flow, each according to its measure: but the torrent bears away the foam that mounts up to the surface. Even so, from that (ore) which they heat in the fire, to make ornaments or utensils therewith there is a scum likewise. Thus doth Allah (by parables) show forth Truth and Vanity: For the scum disappears like froth cast out; while that which is for the good of mankind remains on the earth. Thus doth Allah set forth parables (similitudes). "

(Qur'an: ar-Ra'ad: 13:16-17)

REFLECTION

The message of Islam invites all to the Truth of the Existence of One God, Allah. Mankind already has that innate pure instinct (Fit-rah sa-lee-ma) to admit this. Ponder then over the creation of the heaven and earth, how it is being created and sustained and not left chaotic and to an uncertain fate - but manifesting order; we would be inclined to concede and attribute this to existence of the Sublime Essence called "Allah" (God's name in Arabic proper noun), although we may not be able to encompass Him with our vision or imagination. This is sensible, rather than denying the presence of a Will, to then insist that these creations are merely the outcome of random chance!

To those who can acknowledge this (existence of a Being called God), they should then consider: "who do you then worship or serve? Whom then do you turn to, seeking solace and protection?" It is in this that some among mankind become unreasonable and irrational, taking things in nature (mere creation, therefore cannot be the Creator let alone the Sustainer) and regard them as though it is God! Things that have no real power to either harm nor benefit them. Look how ridiculous it is that although mankind has made tremendous progress in the mastering rational sciences, yet many are still enslaved by myths, superstitions and absurdities. No wonder that many scientist became atheist, not that they reject the existence of God but rather. they detest the absurd notions or teachings by some religion concerning God. Deep in themselves, they know that there is a Force and a Will, which has created and is Sustaining the Universe. There are also those who are arrogant amongst them, who may claim themselves as the 'god' to mock religion, priding in their ability to 'create' or manipulate and tinker with creations with their sciences!

Discernment is a God-given faculty, and presence of knowledge is also a God-given opportunity. Failure to be sincere and true to oneself; not being humble before truth, and not utilising both these evidences because of pride and self-coceit, is to be unjust to oneself.

Allah, is the One Who reveals this very message. To ascribe laws (as in physics & sciences) to nature, is to attribute Will and Wisdom to things which do not even have any sense or cognition of its own existence. Allah is He Who alone is God, the One, the Supreme, and Irresistable, for all things submit to His decree. Even all the laws in nature are His, which points us to His handiwork and bestowals, His Wisdom and Glory.

Parable of the foam

There are lessons in creation, which teaches us what real value is from those which is worthless. Today, economics may dictate, or fashion and vanity may be the yardstick used by people in determining worth of a person. Allah s.w.t. firstly draws our attention to foam or bubble, present perhaps in the waves in the sea, or in the process of smelting metal ore, layers of foam-like scum also could be observed.

It (foam & scum) is a by-product, an outcome from some activity in the sea or processing of molten metal ore; residual and worthless that pushes to the surface, gaining much attention. The more agitation and turmoil, more will scum and foam become present. Yet, most of it is empty air or wastes that tries to resemble form - albeit for a brief moment, it basks in the limelight trying to represent what it is not. The foam upon the waves is not the actual sea, and the scum in the smelting process is not the metal sought. Still, both catches the attention of any who observes. Oh! how true is its likeness to vanity and ostentations in certain people. Opportunists seeking recognition through the turmoil and confusion. Thriving in doubts and scepticism, rather than true knowledge; they perpetuate more confusion rather than illumination. Grabbing attention wherever they are, yet not really contributing towards anything of worth. Preferring to be mere ornaments devoid of any substance. Alas, their moments are only a fleeting thing that is sure to pass into oblivion. An interesting Arabic saying reads: 'Those who possesses nothing, would be incapable of bringing/giving anything.' (Faa-qidu shay'-laa- yu'-ti).

Now, what is the worth of foam and scum?

فَأَمَّا ٱلزَّبَدُ فَيَذۡهَبُ جُفَآءً۬‌ۖ

"For the scum disappears like froth cast out;"

وَأَمَّا مَا يَنفَعُ ٱلنَّاسَ فَيَمۡكُثُ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ‌ۚ

"while that which is for the good of mankind remains on the earth."

SUBHAA-NALLAH!

There are two important considerations as criteria that could be understood from the above:

(1) that of permanency over temporary (spiritual over temporal); and

(2) it's benefit for the good of mankind over self-vanity.

The consideration and motive should be placed upon permanency, the eternal. Aim and intention focussed towards pleasing the One Who is Eternal (Allah az-za-wa-jal), and not confined to this temporary world. To serve Him is to serve others. This reminds me of a verse in the Qur'an, laying down in succinct but profound way, those which matters most in our life of serving Allah s.w.t. :

وَٱبۡتَغِ فِيمَآ ءَاتَٮٰكَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلدَّارَ ٱلۡأَخِرَةَ‌ۖ

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وَلَا تَنسَ نَصِيبَكَ مِنَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا‌ۖ

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وَأَحۡسِن ڪَمَآ أَحۡسَنَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيۡكَ‌ۖ

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وَلَا تَبۡغِ ٱلۡفَسَادَ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ‌ۖ

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إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ

"But seek, with the (wealth) which Allah has bestowed on thee, the Home of the Hereafter, nor forget thy portion in this world: but do thou good, as Allah has been good to thee, and seek not (occasions for) mischief in the land: for Allah loves not those who do mischief."

(Qur'an: Qasas: 28: 77)

ILAA-HI, ANTA MAQ-SUU-DI WA RIDHAA-KA MAT-LUBI

WaAllaahu a'lam

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