the parable of two men ..................

وَٱضۡرِبۡ لَهُم مَّثَلاً۬ رَّجُلَيۡنِ جَعَلۡنَا لِأَحَدِهِمَا جَنَّتَيۡنِ مِنۡ أَعۡنَـٰبٍ۬ وَحَفَفۡنَـٰهُمَا

بِنَخۡلٍ۬ وَجَعَلۡنَا بَيۡنَہُمَا زَرۡعً۬ا كِلۡتَا ٱلۡجَنَّتَيۡنِ ءَاتَتۡ أُكُلَهَا وَلَمۡ تَظۡلِم مِّنۡهُ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا‌ۚ

وَفَجَّرۡنَا خِلَـٰلَهُمَا نَہَرً۬ا وَكَانَ لَهُ ۥ ثَمَرٌ۬ فَقَالَ لِصَـٰحِبِهِۦ وَهُوَ يُحَاوِرُهُ ۥۤ أَنَا۟ أَكۡثَرُ

مِنكَ مَالاً۬ وَأَعَزُّ نَفَرً۬ا وَدَخَلَ جَنَّتَهُ ۥ وَهُوَ ظَالِمٌ۬ لِّنَفۡسِهِۦ قَالَ مَآ أَظُنُّ أَن تَبِيدَ

هَـٰذِهِۦۤ أَبَدً۬ا وَمَآ أَظُنُّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ قَآٮِٕمَةً۬ وَلَٮِٕن رُّدِدتُّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّى لَأَجِدَنَّ خَيۡرً۬ا

مِّنۡهَا مُنقَلَبً۬ا قَالَ لَهُ ۥ صَاحِبُهُ ۥ وَهُوَ يُحَاوِرُهُ ۥۤ أَكَفَرۡتَ بِٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكَ مِن

تُرَابٍ۬ ثُمَّ مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ۬ ثُمَّ سَوَّٮٰكَ رَجُلاً۬ لَّـٰكِنَّا۟ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ رَبِّى وَلَآ أُشۡرِكُ

بِرَبِّىٓ أَحَدً۬ا وَلَوۡلَآ إِذۡ دَخَلۡتَ جَنَّتَكَ قُلۡتَ مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِٱللَّهِ‌ۚ

إِن تَرَنِ أَنَا۟ أَقَلَّ مِنكَ مَالاً۬ وَوَلَدً۬ا فَعَسَىٰ رَبِّىٓ أَن يُؤۡتِيَنِ خَيۡرً۬ا مِّن

جَنَّتِكَ وَيُرۡسِلَ عَلَيۡہَا حُسۡبَانً۬ا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَتُصۡبِحَ صَعِيدً۬ا

زَلَقًا أَوۡ يُصۡبِحَ مَآؤُهَا غَوۡرً۬ا فَلَن تَسۡتَطِيعَ لَهُ ۥ طَلَبً۬ا وَأُحِيطَ بِثَمَرِهِۦ

فَأَصۡبَحَ يُقَلِّبُ كَفَّيۡهِ عَلَىٰ مَآ أَنفَقَ فِيہَا وَهِىَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِہَا

وَيَقُولُ يَـٰلَيۡتَنِى لَمۡ أُشۡرِكۡ بِرَبِّىٓ أَحَدً۬ا

وَلَمۡ تَكُن لَّهُ ۥ فِئَةٌ۬ يَنصُرُونَهُ ۥ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا كَانَ مُنتَصِرًا

هُنَالِكَ ٱلۡوَلَـٰيَةُ لِلَّهِ ٱلۡحَقِّ‌ۚ هُوَ خَيۡرٌ۬ ثَوَابً۬ا وَخَيۡرٌ عُقۡبً۬ا

"Set forth to them the parable of two men: for one of them We provided two gardens of grapevines and surrounded them with date-palms: in between the two We placed corn-fields. Each of those gardens brought forth its produce, and failed not in the least therein: in the midst of them We caused a river to flow. (Abundant) was the produce this man had: he said to his companion, in the course of a mutual argument: "More wealth have I than you, and more honour and power in (my following of) men."

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."

His companion said to him, in the course of the argument with him: "Dost thou deny Him Who created thee out of dust then out of a sperm-drop, then fashioned thee into a man? "But (I think) for my part that he is Allah, my Lord, and none shall I associate with my Lord. "Why didst thou not, as thou wentest into thy garden, say: `Allah's Will (be done)! There is no power but with Allah!' If thou dost see me less than thee in wealth and sons "It may be that my Lord will give me something better than thy garden, and that He will send on thy garden thunderbolts (by way of reckoning) from heaven, making it (but) slippery sand!― "Or the water of the garden will run off underground so that thou wilt never be able to find it."

So his fruits (and enjoyment) were encompassed (with ruin), and he remained twisting and turning his hands over what he had spent on his property, which had (now) tumbled to pieces to its very foundations, and he could only say "Woe is me! would I had never ascribed partners to my Lord and Cherisher!" Nor had he numbers to help him against Allah, nor was he able to deliver himself. There, the (only) protection comes from Allah, the True One. He is the Best to reward and the Best to give success."

(Qur'an: Kahfi: 18: 32-44)

REFLECTION

The believing Muslims and the unbelievers, although they both live in this world yet, their perspectives, attitudes and how they respond to trials and tribulations in life differ tremendously from each other.

Unbelievers do not believe in Allah, the Absolute One God Who is the Creator and Sustainer of all the worlds. The concept of God (for those unbelievers but with a religion) admit of the existence of a Divine being but that to them, this Supreme Being (which actually refers to Allah) is remote, or too pure and transcendent, such that mankind do not have a direct access and requires intermediaries. To them, the truly Supreme Being does not concern Himself with this world and thus seldom intervene but left it to various forces in creation, malevolent or benign, which may harm or benefit man. Thus they set up dieties, 'gods', 'demi-gods' etc. identified in creations and claimed them to share divinity with God - this is the fatal sin of Shirk (setting up partners or associates to God). Those who claimed to be atheists or agnostics, actually reject the existence of God to rely only upon their own selves; thus they actually diefied themselves - as the highest being in this creation.

Both types of unbelievers, tend to have a short-sighted vision of life. They actually believe more in their own selves rather than the 'gods' that they worship. Many in fact worship their god or dieties in a pragmatic way - i.e. for their diety to fulfill their earthly needs. Even when their religion speaks of after-life, yet many do not really believe in this. This world, here and now is what matters for them; this life here is in fact what they strongly believe in. For them even if there is after-life, they are under the delusion that their worldly achievements can save them there (they hope).

The believing Muslims, on the other hand believe in Allah, the one without partners, the Creator, Sustainer of the worlds Who has power over everything. Nothing can exists nor moves without His leave; and the good and the bad that occur can only occur in His Divine knowledge. Unlike the unbelievers, Muslims sees Allah's intervention in everything. The Good or Bad that occur are meant as a test, and Muslims are convinced of the Eternal Hereafter where those who patiently perservere without loosing Faith in the Qadha' & Qadr of Allah will receive their Reward unfailing. Thus, their attitude in facing the trials and tribulations in lfe, differ very much from the unbelievers. Allah s.w.t. alludes to this in this parable, which actually can be related to our present times:

Parable of the two men

The first man, represents the unbelievers, who in this life were given much bestowals, such that they began to apply these standards condescendingly to belittle the believers in this world who may have lesser than them:

جَعَلۡنَا لِأَحَدِهِمَا جَنَّتَيۡنِ مِنۡ أَعۡنَـٰبٍ۬ وَحَفَفۡنَـٰهُمَا بِنَخۡلٍ۬ وَجَعَلۡنَا بَيۡنَہُمَا زَرۡعً۬ا كِلۡتَا ٱلۡجَنَّتَيۡنِ ءَاتَتۡ أُكُلَهَا وَلَمۡ تَظۡلِم مِّنۡهُ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا‌ۚ وَفَجَّرۡنَا خِلَـٰلَهُمَا نَہَرً۬ا وَكَانَ لَهُ ۥ ثَمَرٌ۬ فَقَالَ لِصَـٰحِبِهِۦ وَهُوَ يُحَاوِرُهُ ۥۤ أَنَا۟ أَكۡثَرُ مِنكَ مَالاً۬ وَأَعَزُّ نَفَرً۬ا

"for one of them We provided two gardens of grapevines and surrounded them with date-palms: in between the two We placed corn-fields. Each of those gardens brought forth its produce, and failed not in the least therein: in the midst of them We caused a river to flow. (Abundant) was the produce this man had: he said to his companion, in the course of a mutual argument: "More wealth have I than you, and more honour and power in (my following of) men."

O how very true! The unbelievers even today, behave haughtily towards Muslims, whom they view as backward. Or for that matter, there are some Muslims (influenced by materialistic standards), they measure the rest of Believers' achievement & attainment in the same language as these unbelievers, whereas they ought to know better that Islamic value of honour & power is not in these! Still some amongst them accuse Believers as people who are foolish, backward, conservative, etc. But Allah reminds the Believing Muslims:

وَلَا تَهِنُواْ وَلَا تَحۡزَنُواْ وَأَنتُمُ ٱلۡأَعۡلَوۡنَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤۡمِنِينَ

"So lose not heart, nor fall into despair: for ye must gain mastery if ye are true in Faith." (Qur'an: Aal-'Imran: 3:139)

وَلِلَّهِ ٱلۡعِزَّةُ وَلِرَسُولِهِۦ وَلِلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱلۡمُنَـٰفِقِينَ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ

" But honour belongs to Allah and His Messenger, and to the Believers; but the Hypocrites know not." (Qur'an: Munafiqun: 63: 8)

The unbelievers, insisting upon using this delusional worldly standards to demean the Believers, they even became convinced of it themselves! They were so amazed at their worldly achievements, thinking that these is real success, these things will endure. They mock at any who reminds them that this world is transitory and will not last. When the message concerning the hereafter sink into them, yet they try to ignore its implication for them by another delusion They console themselves that surely their worldly achievements can still be use to barter & perhap save them in the Hereafter.:

وَدَخَلَ جَنَّتَهُ ۥ وَهُوَ ظَالِمٌ۬ لِّنَفۡسِهِۦ قَالَ مَآ أَظُنُّ أَن تَبِيدَ هَـٰذِهِۦۤ أَبَدً۬ا وَمَآ أَظُنُّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ قَآٮِٕمَةً۬ وَلَٮِٕن رُّدِدتُّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّى لَأَجِدَنَّ خَيۡرً۬ا مِّنۡهَا مُنقَلَبً۬ا

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."

Duty of Believers: to remind and invite to Allah's way

The second man : a believer, engages his neighbour to remind him to the believe in Allah, Who alone is the Divine - having no partner nor associates, unto Whom we ought to be grateful to. He, Allah Who has created us from a lowly fluid and made us into adulthood and has blessed us with much bestowal, ought to be worshipped out of our gratefulness for Him bestowals.

Sensing an attitude of self-conceit, boastfulness and heedless towards God, the Believer reminded his neighbour with the proper attitude, which true Believers do: to always remember with gratitude, Allah s.w.t., the One Who Bestows every favours upon whomsoever He wills. And whenever one has been given more than others, do not forget this lest one become boastful:

وَلَوۡلَآ إِذۡ دَخَلۡتَ جَنَّتَكَ قُلۡتَ مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِٱللَّهِ

"Why didst thou not, as thou wentest into thy garden, say: `Allah's Will (be done)! There is no power but with Allah!' If thou dost see me less than thee in wealth and sons"

And he forwarned his neighbour, that because life is a test, the present state that one may be in may not last. Alas, the Believer's advise was prophetic - in came true and his haughty nighbour lost everything and lamented with regret his boastfulness and delusion. His heedlessness towards Allah s.w.t. caused him to suffer ruin, especially the act of Shirk - thinking that the immense wealth he had, proved that he was on the right path - whereas it was his neighbour, the Believers who was all along on the Right Path.:

فَعَسَىٰ رَبِّىٓ أَن يُؤۡتِيَنِ خَيۡرً۬ا مِّن جَنَّتِكَ وَيُرۡسِلَ عَلَيۡہَا حُسۡبَانً۬ا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَتُصۡبِحَ صَعِيدً۬ا زَلَقًا أَوۡ يُصۡبِحَ مَآؤُهَا غَوۡرً۬ا فَلَن تَسۡتَطِيعَ لَهُ ۥ طَلَبً۬ا وَأُحِيطَ بِثَمَرِهِۦ فَأَصۡبَحَ يُقَلِّبُ كَفَّيۡهِ عَلَىٰ مَآ أَنفَقَ فِيہَا وَهِىَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِہَا وَيَقُولُ يَـٰلَيۡتَنِى لَمۡ أُشۡرِكۡ بِرَبِّىٓ أَحَدً۬ا

"It may be that my Lord will give me something better than thy garden, and that He will send on thy garden thunderbolts (by way of reckoning) from heaven, making it (but) slippery sand!― "Or the water of the garden will run off underground so that thou wilt never be able to find it."

So his fruits (and enjoyment) were encompassed (with ruin), and he remained twisting and turning his hands over what he had spent on his property, which had (now) tumbled to pieces to its very foundations, and he could only say "Woe is me! would I had never ascribed partners to my Lord and Cherisher!"

TURN AWAY FROM NIFAQ & SHIRK TOWARDS TAUHID -TRUE FAITH IN ALLAH S.W.T. & STRIVE IN RIGHTEOUSNESS BEFORE ITS TOO LATE

In this parable, the regret expressed by the unbeliever represents his plight when meeting Allah s.w.t., presumably he had passed on without having repented.

The message of Islam though, promises the message of hope for those who is still alive, that they need not be like this unfortunate person. Allah s.w.t.conveyed this very important message to our Prophet Muhammad s.a.w., the Prophet of Mercy:

قُلۡ يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسۡرَفُواْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ لَا تَقۡنَطُواْ مِن رَّحۡمَةِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغۡفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ وَأَنِيبُوٓاْ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمۡ وَأَسۡلِمُواْ لَهُ ۥ مِن قَبۡلِ أَن يَأۡتِيَكُمُ ٱلۡعَذَابُ ثُمَّ لَا تُنصَرُونَ وَٱتَّبِعُوٓاْ أَحۡسَنَ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكُم مِّن رَّبِّڪُم مِّن قَبۡلِ أَن يَأۡتِيَڪُمُ ٱلۡعَذَابُ بَغۡتَةً۬ وَأَنتُمۡ لَا تَشۡعُرُونَ

Say: "O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

"Turn ye to your Lord (in repentance) and bow to His (Will), before the Penalty comes on you: after that ye shall not be helped.

"And follow the Best of (the courses) revealed to you from your Lord, before the Penalty comes on you of a sudden, while ye perceive not!-- "

(Qur'an: az-Zumar: 39:55)

OUR DO'A

مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِٱللَّهِ‌ۚ

رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحۡمَةً۬ وَهَيِّئۡ لَنَا مِنۡ أَمۡرِنَا رَشَدً۬ا

"Allah's Will (be done)! There is no power but with Allah!"

"Our Lord! Bestow on us Mercy from Thyself, and dispose of our affair for us in the right way!

O ALLAH! Shower Your Saluttions, Blessings & Peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, upon his family & Companions, and upon all those who follow him in benevolence, striving in Your Way, assisting Your Deen, till the Hereafter. Aa-min!

WaAllaahu a'lam

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