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God consciousness (Taqwaa), i.e.
true awareness or consciousness of the Creator-Sustainer,
all around and everywhere, creates a state of connectivity
and communion with the Real (One Who is nearer than the jugular
vein and nearer than one’s own mind).
The devotion to God is direct and pure, without any partner
to Him and without any requirement of intermediary by Him.
There is no cause for despair. Allah’s Mercy is All-Embracing
and available for all who turn to Him.
Al-Faatihah enunciates principles of right conduct
on the Right Path for unity and good of mankind, without division
or deviation. On the basis of this principle it explains that
salvation and success of individuals and nations are results
of devotion to God and righteous living.
Failure is the consequence of deviation from and disbelief
in the Truth (the immutable Law), i.e., salvation and condemnation,
here and Here-after, are determined by the immutable laws.
The
Essential Objectives:The essential objectives
of the presentation of the Quran are indicated in this Surah:
(i) The concept of Oneness of God and His Most Beautiful Best
Attributes, (ii) The Truth of creation and sustenance for
all existence, i.e Oneness of Uluuhiyat and Rubuubiyat, (iii)
Causal nature of worlds-creation i.e., in nature every cause
has an effect, both individual and collective – good
deed resulting in good effect and evil action in evil result,
(iv) Belief in the life Hereafter; particularly the Requital
part of it which provides the moral basis to all action, (v)
Laying down the course to the righteous good life.
Arrangement
of the Surah: Beauty and Wisdom in the arrangement:
After thankful praises and having attention drawn to Rubuubiyah
and Rahmah of Allah, the Surah does not abruptly talk of death,
resurrection, Here-after, punishment, recompense, awe etc.,
although all these aspects are covered in the phrase Yaumud-Diin.
It is left to the individual's own perspective to
reflect upon and form an idea about what could be his position
in the ultimate scenario.
Speaking about Allah as
Himself the Absolute Sovereign-Owner (Maalik) of the Day of
Recompense-Judgement, immediately after introducing Him as the
Lord-Master-Owner of the universes, Who is Ever All Merciful,
Ever All-Beneficent, is reassuring that His Adaalat (Justice)
is covered by His Most Beautiful Attribute of Rahmah, so that
man may proceed further with hope of His Mercy in Judgement,
salvation by Forgiveness and Benevolence in reward. This is
quite distinct from the Jewish concept of God as sheer terror
and the Christian concept of the Atonement. But here the doctrine
of justice is based on Glorious Governance as the aspect of
Rubuubiyah and application of the laws with Mercy for the good
of the mankind.
"The sun and the moon run on their fixed courses,
calculated with measured out stages for each;
And the herbs and the trees , both prostrate themselves,
And the heaven: He (Allah) raised it high,
And He has set up the Balance.
In order that you may not transgress the balance".
55- 5 to 8
Al-Qurtubi said: "Allah has
described Himself by `Ar-Rahmaan, Ar`Rahiim’, after saying
`the Lord of the Aalamiin,' so His statement here includes a
warning, and then an encouragement".
The term `Rabb’ contains the Sovereignty-Authority-Power
of `Rubuubiyah’. Therefore immediately after that, `Ar-Rahman
and Ar-Rahiim’ have been repeated (Although this phrase
was already mentioned in verse No.1 at the beginning, i.e. in
`Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim'). Since man is `weak’
and `impatient’, the repetition seems to be to reassure
him of the limitless Mercy of Allah, to rekindle his faith that
Allah is Oft-Forgiving and to encourage him to return to His
Lord-Master-Sustainer, Who is the Ever All-Merciful Ever All-Benevolent.
It is not only that He forgives but Oft-Forgives with
favours. Muslim has recorded that the Prophet (Peace
be upon him) said:
"If the believer knew what punishment Allah
has, none would have hope in acquiring His Paradise, and if
the disbeliever knew what Mercy Allah has, none will lose hope
of earning His earning."
"Declare unto My (Allah’s) servants ,
that
truly, I am the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
and that
My torment is indeed the most painful torment."
15-49 & 50.
Surely, your Lord (Allah) is swift in retribution
, and
certainly He is Oft-Forgiving , Most Merciful"
6-165 |
