Surah Al Baqarah V.92-103

Tea leaves, palms and tarrot cards

Medihah Hussain(Group Ruqayyah)
In the society we live in black magic is something that is very common. There are horoscopes in every magazine, in columns in newspapers, fortune tellers have their advertising alongside car insurance companies in the local papers. People are paying a lot of money to have their palm or tea leaves read or for someone to flip some cards and guess what will happen to them in the future. We have faith in the work of such people but how much conviction do we have when believing Allah (swt)?
  This part of society reminds me of the verses in this lesson which talk about the reign of Sulaiman (as) and how black magic was prevalent at that time. The people in the society were so fascinated by the black magic that there were books written on them that drew many people towards them. As they were completely going against the idea that Allah is the knower of the unseen Sulaiman(as) then got rid of these books during his time as leader. After the reign of Sulaiman (as) the jinns made stories that Sulaiman (as) was involved in black magic and that is how his kingdom was so powerful.

An act of Satan

Student of Al Huda
These verses really inspired me and there are lots of different lessons that I learnt about life. We are so greedy to have a long life but Allah said that a long life would not benefit you only your deeds can help in the hereafter.
Our deeds can only be good when we follow the Qur’an, the Qur’an is a mercy from Allah. It is like rain which gave us and the earth life. Rain allows for the plants and greens to grow. In the Qur’an Allah told us about everything that we require to live. One of the things we learnt today in class was about the magic that started amongst the people. One thing that really struck me in the era of Sulaiman (as) was that people went to learn magic and they learnt how to separate a husband and wife. I was wondering why they would want to do that and after some time I got my answer. Separation between husband and wife is the most favored deed of satan because the whole society is based upon the relation of husband and wife. If the base of society is not strong then how can the society be strong? Satan is intelligent and he knows what we needs to do. He starts from the base and then everything happens according to his desires. If our enemy is that strong we have to be strong enough so we can fight against his whispers. Do dua and seek refuge from the evil of his work.

A life too long

Student of Al Huda
And you will surely find them the most greedy of people for life [even] more than those who associate others with Allāh. One of them wishes that he could be granted life a thousand years, but it would not remove him in the least from the [coming] punishment that he should be granted life. And Allāh is Seeing of what they do. [Al Baqarah: 96]
Greed- such a common characteristic. We always are stuck on the things that we do not have rather than thinking about what it is that we are blessed with. Allah says those who say they will not be touched by the punishment but they do not wish for death are the most greedy for life.
These people will wish that they could be given a thousand years of life. Imagine a thousand years to live yet Allah says that would not take them any further from the punishment. After those one thousand years would be over the punishment of Allah would still occur and not a small part of the punishment will be lessened.
The lesson to learn from this ayah is that although our life may seem long to us, we never know how long it is. No matter how long we live we will be taken accountable for our actions so we must be careful about how we spend our time.

A Wish for death

Student of Al Huda
The verses made me reflect and ponder upon the blessing of life and the chance that we have to do good.
Say, [O Muhammad], “If the home of the Hereafter with Allāh is for you alone and not the [other] people, then wish for death, if you should be truthful. [Al Baqarah: 94]
Bani Israel thought that as they were the chosen people they would not be entered into hellfire. How can it be the beloved ones of Allah are made to suffer the punishment of hell? The prophet (pbuh) is told to tell them that if they truly believe that they are not going to be made to taste the punishment then why don’t they wish death upon themselves?
This really made me shaken as Allah is telling them if you think you are truthful and that you will not be given punishment then ask for death. What is there to be afraid of if all you will get is the reward of Allah (swt). Is this not the case of us today, as Muslims we believe that as we are chosen then there is no way that we can be given torment. Another common thought is that the fire will only touch us for a while and then we will be saved. So here we have the answer to this thought of ours- wish for death if you really think that you won’t be held accountable.