Ibrahim V.18-34

 

Deeds and Belief

The example of those who disbelieve in their Lord is [that] their deeds are like ashes which the wind blows forcefully on a stormy day; they are unable [to keep] from what they earned a [single] thing. That is what is extreme error. [Ibrahim:18]
In your mind picture a tree that is bare and one day it grows beautiful flowers on it. Once the weather changes they fall to the ground and a forceful wind blows them away. The leaves by now are hard and turn to small bits and are spread throughout the land. Through all of this the tree is left barren once again. This is the example of one who does good deeds while they disbelieve in Allah (swt). We learn from this that it is not good enough to do righteous deeds we must have the belief to go with them.

 

 

Patience Doesn’t Help

And they will come out [for judgement] before Allāh all together, and the weak will say to those who were arrogant, “Indeed, we were your followers, so can you avail us anything against the punishment of Allāh?” They will say, “If Allāh had guided us, we would have guided you. It is all the same for us whether we show intolerance or are patient: there is for us no place of escape.” [Ibrahim:21]
So many times in the Qur’an we are told to be patient upon any difficulty that we face. It is seen as an act of piety that we are patient. However, I was shaken when I read this verse that on the Day of Judgement whether the wrong doers are patient or not they will not be saved from the fire. On that day the people that were followed will let it be known that they do not have any power to change what Allah (swt) will decide.

 

 

Satans Betrayal

And Satan will say when the matter has been concluded, “Indeed, Allāh had promised you the promise of truth. And I promised you, but I betrayed you. But I had no authority over you except that I invited you, and you responded to me. So do not blame me; but blame yourselves. I cannot be called to your aid, nor can you be called to my aid. Indeed, I deny your association of me [with Allāh] before. Indeed, for the wrongdoers is a painful punishment.” [Ibrahim:22]
In this life we take shaitan as our friend so many times but we do not realize that he is actually our enemy. He does not love us, in fact he hates us and that is why he is always leading us astray. We are so fast to follow him in this world and disobey Allah (swt) but even he will dissociate from us in the hereafter.

 

 This verse reminded me of a letter I received in my email:
A LETTER TO YOU FROM SATAN

I saw you yesterday as you began your daily chores.
You awoke without kneeling to pray. As a matter of fact, you
didn’t even bless your meals, or
pray before going to bed last night.
You are so unthankful, I like that about you.
I cannot tell you how glad I am that you have not changed your
way of living, Fool, you are mine.
Remember, you and I have been going steady for years, and
I still don’t love you yet.
As a matter of fact, I hate you, because I hate God.

 

Unjust and Ungrateful

And He gave you from all you asked of Him. And if you should count the favor of Allāh, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, mankind is [generally] most unjust and ungrateful. [Ibrahim:34]
Allah (swt) has truly given two words to sum up the whole characteristics of mankind. Unjust and ungrateful. The number of blessings that we have is too man to be able to count and yet we are always too busy counting the things that we do not have. Have we ever thought about the oxygen, the nature, the sight, the hearing, the ability to walk and talk? We never think about this and this is why Allah (swt) refers to mankind as being unjust and ungrateful.