بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
What comes to your mind when you think of bliss? Cozy Home? Company of your loved ones? Yes, I can almost see you smile as you think about your beloved parents, spouse, children, and friends. Who is the apple of your eye? What wouldn’t you do to see him/her happy? I know, the whole world means nothing to us when it comes to our beloved.
For most of us, the most loving person is our mother; the person who deserves most respect is our father; the people whom we stand by are our siblings; the greatest people on earth are our like-minded friends; and, our children are most innocent beings! They are the apple of our eyes. They make our little world. We do everything to add color to it. Of course, this doesn’t mean we are rude to others. We are at our best behavior to those around us. But all this could change!
Few months back, when I and my darling seven-year-old son were attempting to memorize verses from Quran, we came across the verses which made us realize the world could be insufficient! Every valuable thing would mean absolutely nothing to us! We wouldn’t be bothered about our dear ones when it comes to SAVING OURSELVES.
Are you wondering what am I speaking about? See for yourself what the verses from Surah Ma’arij (Chapter 70 – Quran) state:
يُبَصَّرُونَهُمْ ۚ يَوَدُّ الْمُجْرِمُ لَوْ يَفْتَدِي مِنْ عَذَابِ يَوْمِئِذٍ بِبَنِيهِ
وَصَاحِبَتِهِ وَأَخِيهِ
وَفَصِيلَتِهِ الَّتِي تُؤْوِيهِ
وَمَن فِي الْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ يُنجِيهِ
كَلَّا ۖ إِنَّهَا لَظَىٰ
They will be shown each other. The criminal will wish that he could be ransomed from the punishment of that Day by his children
And his wife and his brother
And his nearest kindred who shelter him
And whoever is on earth entirely [so] then it could save him.
No! Indeed, it is the Flame [of Hell],
(verses 11 to 15)
The punishment of the Day of Reckoning would be so unbearable that we will try saving ourselves at any cost. Even, if it meant exchanging our place for every being on the Earth! Strangely, here we are ready to commit a sin to please our dear ones or acquire little gain. Even if we are kings and queens ruling the entire world, our kingdom, our royal family and loyal subjects couldn’t save us from the consequences of our sins! What kind of richness are we longing for?
My son was visibly surprised and worried to read the verses. He wondered who will face such a fate. The next few verses portrayed a picture of a disobedient hoarder of wealth. The one who is impatient during adversity and selfish when he is blessed with wealth.
Now like me and you, my son questioned – how can we save ourselves? I read ahead to learn that those who pray (establish prayer) will be safe. Verses that follow explain in detail what such people do:
- Those who are constant in their prayer (Verse 23)
- And those within whose wealth is a known right For the petitioner (one who asks/begs) and the deprived (Verses 24 and 25)
- And those who believe in the Day of Recompense (Verse 26)
- And those who are fearful of the punishment of their Lord (Verse 27)
- And those who guard their chastity. (Verse 29)
- And those who are to their trusts and promises attentive (Verse 32)
- And those who are in their testimonies upright (Verse 33)
- And those who [carefully] maintain their prayer (Verse 34)
- They will be in gardens, honored. (Verse 35)
My son desires to be like the people mentioned above. May Allah make us amidst Musaleen (Those who establish prayer) – Ameen.
I have read this surah and its meaning earlier too. But when I read it with an intention to memorize it, it shook me from within. How carelessly had I scanned through this chapter without pondering upon the weight of the events mentioned in it! At the same time, I couldn’t stop admiring the sequence of the verses – how each verse led to another; how the chapter warned us and showed us a way to escape from Hell. Subahan Allah (Exalted be Allah)
How wretched will be the state of the person who hasn’t bothered to open and understand Quran? May Allah make it easy for us to learn and understand Quran. May we give Quran its due right by practicing what we learn. May we and our loved ones be amidst those in Jannah (paradise). Ameen.
I have not explained the entire chapter here. I have just included the verses which I partly explained my son. Nothing is holding you back from reading the Tafsir (explanation) of this chapter. Go Ahead. Perhaps, you can enlighten us with what you learn.
In the month of Ramadan as I was reading through Quran, this verse from Surah Rad reminded me Surah Ma’arij again:
For those who have responded to their Lord is the best [reward], but those who did not respond to Him – IF THEY HAD ALL THAT IS IN THE EARTH ENTIRELY AND THE LIKE OF IT WITH IT, THEY WOULD [attempt to] RANSOM THEMSELVES THEREBY. Those will have the worst account, and their refuge is Hell, and wretched is the resting place. (Chapter 13; Verse 18)
Even if we have one more world just like this one in our possession, IT CANNOT SAVE US FROM THE HELL FIRE! What good are the wealth and the comfort if we fail to recognize ourselves as His slaves? Is it really worth disobeying Lord for some useless material gain?
Be aware,
We cannot reserve a spot in Heaven in exchange for this world.
- The essence of Ramadan - April 22, 2021
- Day 9 Ramadan 2019 – From the Table to the Bin - May 13, 2019
- Honey Bee – Reflections from the Life of a Friend - March 27, 2019
Please visit http://www.qtafsir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1513&Itemid=126 for the explanation of the chapter.
Masha Allah really amazing .. how much a 7year old can b influenced ..if only we read together the Quran .. As much as we might let them watch cartoons..
May Allah reward u for ur dedication..
Very good lay out & verses r put together well alhamdulillah..
This post is an eye opener and actually makes us think twice about our near and dear ones. It is such an irony that after every salah we pray sincerely for the well being of our loved ones and on the Day of Judgement we are ready to ransom them for our own safety from hell fire. I too think sometimes…as to how will our attitude change to such an extent.
Masha’Allah all your posts truly make you think.
‘How wretched will be the state of the person who hasn’t bothered to open and understand Quran?’ This has reminded me to get back into my Quran tajweed classes and also understand it more in sha Allah
This was such a powerful reminder, thanks so much for sharing! Often times, we forget about the purpose of this duniya and we fail to remember that we are going through a test. At the end of the day, it’s not about pleasing our loved ones, but pleasing HIM.
wow we all need reminders and awakenings like this that are all so close to the hellfire. My family are not Muslim and it really pains me to know they may die non believers and will be punished of the day of judgement but Allah knows best
Dear sister, May Allah guide your family to Islam. Insha Allah your supplications for your family and your concern for them will slowly get them to consider Islam. Let us trust Allah to guide us and those who are close to our heart. Ameen
This is a wonderful post mashaa Allah, I’m so glad to have read it and inshaa Allah benefitted from your reminder. I love where you have said, “Strangely, here we are ready to commit a sin to please our dear ones or acquire little gain.” Such a poignant point. Jazak Allah khair, you have inspired me to read Qur’an with more intent on soaking in the verses and their meanings, and acting upon them inshaa Allah. May Allah save us all from the terrifying Fire. Ameen <3
I love this post it always so well written and just has me thinking. May Allah guide us all and grant us the best of this world and the next Insha-Allah.
Oh!Eye opening post.Thanks for the remainders..May Allah forgive our sins.Aameen