(6:122) The Parable of the Disbeliever and the Believer
This is an example that Allah has given of the believer who was dead, meaning, wandering in confusion and misguidance. Then, Allah brought life to him, by bringing life to his heart with faith, guiding him to it and guiding him to obeying His Messengers,
[...and made for him light by which to walk among the people...] for he became guided to where he should go and how to remain on the correct path. The light mentioned here is the Qur'an, according to Ibn `Abbas, as Al-`Awfi and Ibn Abi Talhah reported from him. As-Suddi said that the light mentioned here is Islam. Both meanings are correct.
[...Like him who is in the darkness...] of ignorance, desires and various types of deviation,
By saying, “And is one who was dead and We gave him life…” it does not mean that the person was previously physically dead. Rather the hint here is to his spiritual death. A dead thing doesn’t produce anything or grow. A spiritually dead person neither produces good deeds nor grows in his emaan. He is stagnant. And if he continues to live the way he does he will eventually finish off himself like a dead thing decomposes.
How was the person dead? It could be because of his lack of knowledge, due to his practicing Shirk and innovations, having desires or by hiding hypocrisy in his heart.
Then how was he returned to life? By giving him hidayah [guidance] to the right path. He became guided regarding where he should go and how to remain on the correct path.
What does the guided person do with his light? He takes it wherever he goes. Meaning he uses that light to guide his day-to-day matters. But what happens in our case? We have two extremes. One person who studies the Qur’an goes on a complete social boycott to avoid the fitnah and temptations. Another person takes the light with himself when going to the masjid but when he is in a worldly gathering he is a completely different person. When we are standing in prayer or reciting the Qur’an we have humility but when we are in argument with someone our humility and manners are all lost. In the masjid, we will acknowledge the value of time and money but when we are in a shopping mall we are doing the opposite of what we learned.
A guided person doesn’t blindly follow people. His light is the Qur’an. He guides his conduct and ascertains matters through this Source only. Moreover, a guided person doesn’t lock himself up. He lives “among the people” with that light. Imagine you are sitting in your room and that is the only place where there is some light. If you shut your bedroom door will other members of the house get any light? They will be deprived of this resource and would not benefit. When Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala blesses guidance to someone he must share it with others so that they too can benefit.
A person who is in disbelief or ignorance doesn’t want to come out of his darkness. Why? It is because if he is shown the right path he will have to change his behavior; leave a few things and adopt some new things.
“Thus it has been made pleasing to the disbelievers that which they were doing,” means like emaan has been adorned for the believers, ignorance and misguidance appears fair to the unbelievers.
(6:123) Evil Plot of the Leaders of the Criminals and their Subsequent Demise
This trial can be seen as an ongoing spectacle of life. Usually, it is the big people of a community, the rich, the influential, the holders of clout and access who, when they get used to the taste of money, power and recognition, start committing crimes in one or the other form, never bothering to reflect on the ultimate end of what they were doing. The common people become accustomed to following the example set by these big people. They copy them with the conviction that it is good for them and that they are on the obvious road to success. In contrast, there are the blessed prophets and their deputies charged with learning, teaching and preaching. They try to stop people from their evil deeds and warn them of the consequences of what they were doing.
Then, these big people open a front of hostility and conspiracy against them, which is obviously to harass or harm these pious souls, but in the ultimate analysis, the curse of what they do against them recoils back on them alone. And this can happen to them even within their life in the present world.
In every community there are people who are the greatest of criminals. They plot and plan against the Prophets, and those who are on Haq [truth]. In the early days of Islam we saw that the rich and wealthy, those who had status and authority oppressed everyone who accepted Islam. They would beat the new Muslims to death.
Explaining “…the greatest of its criminals to conspire therein…” Ibn `Abbas radhiAllahi `anhu said leadership is given to the wicked ones and they commit evil in it. When they do this, they are destroyed with Allah’s torment. In every nation the elite were made the greatest of criminals. As we see in the time of Prophet Musa `alayhi salaam and Prophet Muhammad sallAllahu `alayhi wa sallam and how they were destroyed in the end.
The statement “…But they conspire not except against themselves, and they perceive [it] not,” means that the harm of their wicked plots as well as misguiding those whom they lead astray, will only strike them.
(6:124) We again read about the Quraysh’s demand for miracles and signs. This time they demand that if Muhammad [sallAllahu `alayhi wa sallam] has been given the Book, we too should be given some sort of revelation. If he has been chosen as the Messenger, we too should be chosen as one. Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala replies to their belligerence by saying, “…Allah is most knowing of where He places His message.”
The unbelievers mocked and criticized Prophet Muhammad’s Prophethood although they admitted to his virtue, honorable lineage, respectable ancestry and purity of household and upbringing. They used to call him “Sadiq” and “Al-Amin” – the truthful, before the revelations began. Prior to accepting Islam when Abu Sufyan was asked by Heraclius, “How honorable is his (the Prophet’s) ancestral lineage?” Abu Sufyan answered, “His ancestry is highly regarded among us.” Heraclius asked, “Do you find that he lied, before he started his mission?” Abu Sufyan replied, “No.” The emperor of Rome relied on the honor and purity of the Prophet to recognize the truth of his Prophethood and what he came with.
Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala says next, “…debasement before Allah and severe punishment for what they used to conspire.” This is a stern threat and sure promise from Allah for those who arrogantly refrain from obeying His Messengers and adhering to what they came with. On the Day of Resurrection, they will suffer humiliation and eternal disgrace before Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala because they were arrogant in the worldly life.
(6:125) When the Heart is Filled with Desires No Khair Reaches It
After talking about the demands of unbelievers Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala talks about His Signs of guidance.
The word yashrah [ÙŠَØ´ْرَØْ] is from the root sheen-ra-ha which literally means “to cut something, to open up, enlarge, expand or uncover”. Meaning when Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala wishes to guide someone He expands his heart to accept Islam, and strengthens his resolve to embrace it. It becomes easy for him to submit to the commands of Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala.
Hakim in al-Mustadrak and Baihaqi in Shu`ab al-Iman report from Abd-Allah ibn Masoud radhiAllahu `anhu when this Ayah was revealed, the Companions of the Prophet sallAllahu `alayhi wa sallam requested him to explain the meaning of Sharh al-Sadr, the opening of the heart for Islam. He said, “Allah puts a light in the heart of a believer through which his heart opens up for the perception, understanding and acceptance of truth.” The Sahabah asked, “Is there a sign which will help recognize the person who has such Sharh al-Sadr?” He said, “Yes. The sign is that ‘Akhirah and its blessings become the object of all his desires. He avoids uncalled-for desires and fleeting enjoyments and starts getting ready for death before it comes.”
Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala says in Surah al-Hujraat Ayah 7, “Allah has endeared to you the faith and has made it pleasing in your hearts and has made hateful to you disbelief, defiance and disobedience. Those are the [rightly] guided.”
Then Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala talks about another condition of the heart. The word dayyiq [ضَÙŠِّقاً] is from the root dad-ya-qaf which means “narrow, choked or overfilled with something”. When Allah wishes to send someone astray his heart closes up. Meaning he is unable to accept guidance, thus being deprived of faith. The bigger your container, the more you can contain. The narrower your container, the lesser you can contain.
Notice that one meaning of the word dayyaq is “overfilled with something”. What is the heart overfilled with? With the desires of dunya. It is already filled. It doesn’t have any room for the love of Allah or Islam.
The word haraja [Øَرَجا] used in the Ayah means “everything gathered at one place”. For example, you gather your entire furniture and put it in the garage. The garage becomes constricted. You can’t access the things inside. And perhaps your car too won’t be able to fit in.
Umar radhiAllahu `anhu once asked a Bedouin as to what the word harajameant. He replied, “[We use] the word haraja for a tree that is in the midst of other trees [meaning surrounded by other trees] and because of that no one can reach it.” `Umar replied, “Such is the heart of a munafiq that no khair reaches it.” This heart is distant and surrounded by desires and deception of dunya. The person has filled his heart with so many things that he doesn’t have time to pray or read the Qur’an and act upon it.
Then it was said, “…as though he were climbing into the sky.” Sa`eed ibn Jubayr commented that in this case, “[Islam] finds every path in his heart impassable.” Ibn `Abbas commented, “Just as the son of Adam [`alayhi salaam] cannot climb up to the sky, Tawheed and faith will not be able to enter his heart, until Allah decides to allow it into his heart.” Imam Abu Ja`far ibn Jareer commented, “This is a parable that Allah has given for the heart of the unbeliever which is completely impassable and closed to faith. Allah says, the example of the unbeliever’s inability to accept faith in his heart and that it is too small to accommodate it, is the example of his inability to climb up to the sky which is beyond his capability and power.”
He makes the heart of whomever He decides to misguide, closed and constricted, He also appoints Shaytan for him and for his likes, those who refused to believe in Allah and His Messenger. Consequently, Shaytan lures and hinders them from the path of Allah.
This is how Allah brings damnation and disgrace upon those who do not believe. For truth, their hearts are not open while to every evil they dash.
(6:126) The Ayah points towards Islam. Meaning that We have legislated for you by Qur’an is Allah’s straight path. It is the path that the Prophet sallAllahu `alayhi wa sallam was on. People who have sound comprehension are the ones who understand what Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala and the Prophet have mentioned. Such people take benefit from the Ayaat of Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala and for them, Allah mentions the reward in Ayah 127:
For them is Paradise. Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala describes Jannah as the Home of Peace because its residents are safe due to their access to the straight path which conforms to the way of the Prophets. And just as their way was not wicked, they earned the abode of peace which is free from all wickedness.
And Allah is their Protector, Supporter and Helper. As a reward for their good deeds, Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala has favored them and been generous with them, and awarded them Paradise.
LESSONS:
– We learn that there are only two types of people either someone is spiritually alive or he is spiritually dead. Therefore, their condition has been mentioned over and over again in the Qur’an.
– A person without knowledge and emaan is dead. If a seed is left in a container without any water or soil, will it produce anything? No, it will dry up and eventually die. And if you bury the seed under the soil and water it daily, what will happen? It will split open and life will come out of it. This is the case of every person’s heart as well. Heart of a person is dead. Then Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala guides the person. Wahi [revelation] has also been called rain. When a person receives the guidance of Allah, he turns into a productive person and produces much khair.
– A person who has been given emaan after being far from Allah it is as though he has been given a new life. Life without Qur’an and life with Qur’an is completely different. Therefore, it is incumbent upon him to thank Allah and never take his knowledge for granted or consider it a burden. It is a blessing from Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala. If he abandons what he learns this life will be replaced with death.
– A person has to make an effort to come out of darkness because it was said, “…who is in darkness never to emerge therefrom…” this indicates he doesn’t want to come out of the ignorance that he is in. This is why many people don’t change even after studying Qur’an. It is because “they don’t want to”. Their ignorance is more pleasing to them.
– A person who plots evil plans is in reality only harming himself.
– A person should neither object to the decree of Allah nor be arrogant in accepting someone else’s superiority. Sometimes it so happens that when Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala honors someone with something that we cannot accept it. We mock, criticize and object. Allah is Aleem. Will He not know who deserves what? Then what’s the point in being jealous or arrogance? Our being jealous or arrogant is not going to change anything, whether it is wealth, status, authority, job promotion, knowledge, marriage, children or any other blessing. Behind every decision of Allah there is wisdom and we should simply accept it.
– Blessings do not only apply to material things as we have learned that sometimes Allah increases people in wealth and other material good so that they may increase in their transgression. Material things are not a criterion to judge someone’s superiority. Knowledge of the Deen is the great blessing. Therefore if Allah chooses someone for His Deen and gives him knowledge then there is a reason behind it. Perhaps that person has the ability or special quality that you don’t have. Allah knows and we know not.
Instead of pointing fingers at others we should look at ourselves. Perhaps in the Sight of Allah we don’t deserve what the other person has been given. We need to check ourselves instead of opposing Allah’s decree.
– When a person doesn’t accept Allah’s decree or displays arrogance against people chosen by Allah, such a person is humiliated and disgraced.
– In this Ayah, we learn about two types of people: one whose heart is open to Islam and other whose heart is constricted. The one whose heart has opened up he loves the word of Allah, and is welcoming to every command. On the other hand, the condition of him whose heart is constricted is such that he gets bored upon hearing the words of Allah. He does not want to listen. His heart becomes tight every time he learns something.
– When a person is constantly concerned about his eternal abode and abstains from the world of deception then it’s a sign that such a person’s heart has been opened up by Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala for guidance. It’s not that he is anti-social but he is not attached to things which is why he finds time to act on the commands of Allah.
– The Qur’an and the path of the Prophet sallAllahu `alayhi wa sallam are the only true guidance. We must hold on to them to receive khair from Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala.
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