... if you slip

… Legislation is not but for Allah. He has commanded that you worship not except Him. That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know. [12:40]
Mission of the Messengers-XXXV 


Abstract 

Surah al-Baqarah begins with the fact that the Book is a guidance for the pious: those who fear Allah and try to keep their duty. Surah Saad begins with the mention of powerful people who reject the reminder. It also lists powerful men who were outstandingly excellent, pious believers. In between the two extremes, it relates some details about three powerful men who repeatedly turned back to Allah.
We may keep faltering and failing, but if we hold on to the rope of Allah, taking guidance from The Quran, repenting and reforming, we have hope of a beautiful return, Allah willing. 

Or should We treat those who believe and do reformative deeds like those who spread corruption in the earth? Or should We treat the pious like the wicked?

[Al-Quran 38:28; typos & translation edited]

Full Text 

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ادْخُلُوا فِي السِّلْمِ كَافَّةً وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ ۚ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ

فَإِن زَلَلْتُم مِّن بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَتْكُمُ الْبَيِّنَاتُ فَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

هَلْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّا أَن يَأْتِيَهُمُ اللَّهُ فِي ظُلَلٍ مِّنَ الْغَمَامِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ وَقُضِيَ الْأَمْرُ ۚ وَإِلَى اللَّهِ تُرْجَعُ الْأُمُورُ

O you who believe[d]! Enter in submission/Islam completely, and (do) not follow footsteps (of) the Shaitaan. Indeed, he (is) for you an enemy open.

Then if you slip from after [what] came to you (from) the clear proofs, then know that Allah (is) All-Mighty, All-Wise.

Are they waiting [except] that comes to them Allah in (the) shadows of [the] clouds, and the Angels, and is decreed the matter? And to Allah return (all) the matters.

[Al-Quran 2:208-210]

Surah al-Baqarah begins with the fact that the Book is a guidance for the pious: those who fear Allah and try to keep their duty (هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ). The surah narrates to us some of Adam's story which include him being taught all the names by Allah Himself, all angels except Iblis, the Shatiaan, prostrating to Adam, the Khalifah of the Earth, and then:  

وَقُلْنَا يَا آدَمُ اسْكُنْ أَنتَ وَزَوْجُكَ الْجَنَّةَ وَكُلَا مِنْهَا رَغَدًا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمَا وَلَا تَقْرَبَا هَـٰذِهِ الشَّجَرَةَ فَتَكُونَا مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ

فَأَزَلَّهُمَا الشَّيْطَانُ عَنْهَا فَأَخْرَجَهُمَا مِمَّا كَانَا فِيهِ ۖ وَقُلْنَا اهْبِطُوا بَعْضُكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ ۖ وَلَكُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ مُسْتَقَرٌّ وَمَتَاعٌ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ

فَتَلَقَّىٰ آدَمُ مِن رَّبِّهِ كَلِمَاتٍ فَتَابَ عَلَيْهِ ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ

And We said, "O Adam! Dwell you and your spouse (in) Paradise, and [you both] eat from it freely (from) wherever you [both] wish. But do not [you two] approach this [the] tree, lest you [both] be of the wrongdoers."

Then made [both of] them slip the Shaitaan from it, and he got [both of] them out from what they [both] were in [it]. And We said, "Go down (all of you), some of you to others (as) enemy; and for you in the earth (is) a dwelling place and a provision for a period."

Then received Adam from his Lord words, So (his Lord) turned towards him. Indeed He! He (is) the Oft-returning, the Most Merciful.

[Al-Quran 2:35-37; typos edited from translation]

The Deen & Universal Peace 
Surah al-Ara`f and Surah Taha inform us that Adam had disobeyed Allah in pursuit of a desire. The Shaitaan had tempted him with the desire:

• to become angels or immortals (Surah al-Ara`f)
• for immortality and a kingdom that never decays (Surah Taha) 

Surah ar-Rum warns us that there should be no change in the creation of Allah:

فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفًا فِطْرَتَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ اللَّهِ ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

[Al-Quran 30:30]

Allah creates and governs perfectly. To retain the perfection, it is essential to maintain everything as is, free of corruption. There are so many aspects of our life: biological, financial, familial, social, political, legal, etc. where we face choices between what Allah has commanded and other ways of doing things. Submitting to Allah's legislation and commands is essential for any hope to return to The Gardens of Eternity. Our temporal life now is but a test and an opportunity to repent and reform, turning back to Allah in submission. Those who repent and submit can look forward to Immortality and A Kingdom that Never Decays, while those who insist upon their crimes and evil ways will eventually be contained forever in Hell.  The Quran defines the three laws (الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ):

Universal Peace can only be achieved when all criminals are contained, and all acquitted are reformed, and the Deen is entirely Allah's, the True King.



Turning Back to Allah  

ص ۚ وَالْقُرْآنِ ذِي الذِّكْرِ

بَلِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فِي عِزَّةٍ وَشِقَاقٍ

كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّن قَرْنٍ فَنَادَوا وَّلَاتَ حِينَ مَنَاصٍ

Saad. By the Quran full (of) reminder.

Nay, those who disbelieve (are) in self-glory and opposition.

How many We destroyed before them of a generation, then they called out when there (was) no longer time (for) escape.

[Al-Quran 38:1-3]

...

قُلْ مَا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُتَكَلِّفِينَ

إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِّلْعَالَمِينَ

وَلَتَعْلَمُنَّ نَبَأَهُ بَعْدَ حِينٍ

Say, "Not I ask you for it any payment, and not I am of the ones who pretend.

Not it (is) except a Reminder to the worlds.

And surely you will know its information after a time."

[Al-Quran 38:86-88]

Surah Saad begins with the mention of powerful people who reject the reminder. It reminds the reader of powerful leaders of magnificent nations who rejected their messengers and were destroyed. It also cites a list of powerful men who were outstandingly excellent, pious believers: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Ishmael, Elisha and Dhul-Kifl. The former strove only for this dunya, while the latter group's focus was on the remembrance of the permanent home in the Hereafter!

In between the two extremes, it also relates some details about three powerful men who repeatedly turned back to Allah: David, Solomon and Job. The surah concludes with the story of Adam and Iblis, and his being granted permission to mislead for a limited time:

قَالَ رَبِّ فَأَنظِرْنِي إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ

قَالَ فَإِنَّكَ مِنَ الْمُنظَرِينَ

إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الْوَقْتِ الْمَعْلُومِ

قَالَ فَبِعِزَّتِكَ لَأُغْوِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ

إِلَّا عِبَادَكَ مِنْهُمُ الْمُخْلَصِينَ

قَالَ فَالْحَقُّ وَالْحَقَّ أَقُولُ

لَأَمْلَأَنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنكَ وَمِمَّن تَبِعَكَ مِنْهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ

He said, "My Lord! Then give me until (the) Day they are resurrected."

He said, "Then indeed, you (are) of those given respite,

Until (the) Day (of) the time well-known."

He said, 'Then by Thy might I will surely mislead them all.

Except Your slaves among them the chosen ones."

He said, "Then (it is) the truth and the truth I say,

Surely I will fill Hell with you and those who follow you among them all."

[Al-Quran 38:79-85]

The wonderful news is that the chosen ones are those who are able to overcome the tricks of Satan and are able to repent and reform while there is still time! The focus of the narratives is on their earnest repentance and Allah's acceptance of it.


The Responsibility of Khilafat 
The Quran (38:20) mentions David's Kingdom, wisdom and decisive speech (وَشَدَدْنَا مُلْكَهُ وَآتَيْنَاهُ الْحِكْمَةَ وَفَصْلَ الْخِطَابِ). He was asked to judge (Q38:22) between two brothers, one of whom was outwitting the other with his speech (وَعَزَّنِي فِي الْخِطَابِ). David realised that actually it was he who was being tried. Other sources narrate some details, but The Quran is silent on the background of this. However, very eloquently, The Quran informs us that David realised the lesson there was in it for him and he repented:

قَالَ لَقَدْ ظَلَمَكَ بِسُؤَالِ نَعْجَتِكَ إِلَىٰ نِعَاجِهِ ۖ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ الْخُلَطَاءِ لَيَبْغِي بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَقَلِيلٌ مَّا هُمْ ۗ وَظَنَّ دَاوُودُ أَنَّمَا فَتَنَّاهُ فَاسْتَغْفَرَ رَبَّهُ وَخَرَّ رَاكِعًا وَأَنَابَ ۩

فَغَفَرْنَا لَهُ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ ۖ وَإِنَّ لَهُ عِندَنَا لَزُلْفَىٰ وَحُسْنَ مَآبٍ

يَا دَاوُودُ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَاكَ خَلِيفَةً فِي الْأَرْضِ فَاحْكُم بَيْنَ النَّاسِ بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا تَتَّبِعِ الْهَوَىٰ فَيُضِلَّكَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَضِلُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ بِمَا نَسُوا يَوْمَ الْحِسَابِ

He said, "Certainly, he has wronged you by demanding your ewe to his ewes. And indeed, many of the partners certainly oppress some of them [on] another except those who believe and do righteous deeds and few (are) they." And became certain Dawood that We (had) tried him, and he asked forgiveness (of) his Lord and fell down bowing and turned in repentance.

So We forgave for him that. And indeed, for him with Us surely is a near access and a good place of return.

"O Dawood! Indeed, We [We] have made you a vicegerent in the earth, so judge between [the] men in truth and (do) not follow the desire, for it will lead you astray from (the) way (of) Allah. Indeed, those who go astray from (the) way (of) Allah, for them (is) a punishment severe because they forgot (the) Day (of) Account."

[Al-Quran 38:24-26]

Priority of Allah over Everything Else 

وَوَهَبْنَا لِدَاوُودَ سُلَيْمَانَ ۚ نِعْمَ الْعَبْدُ ۖ إِنَّهُ أَوَّابٌ

إِذْ عُرِضَ عَلَيْهِ بِالْعَشِيِّ الصَّافِنَاتُ الْجِيَادُ

فَقَالَ إِنِّي أَحْبَبْتُ حُبَّ الْخَيْرِ عَن ذِكْرِ رَبِّي حَتَّىٰ تَوَارَتْ بِالْحِجَابِ

رُدُّوهَا عَلَيَّ ۖ فَطَفِقَ مَسْحًا بِالسُّوقِ وَالْأَعْنَاقِ

وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا سُلَيْمَانَ وَأَلْقَيْنَا عَلَىٰ كُرْسِيِّهِ جَسَدًا ثُمَّ أَنَابَ

قَالَ رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَهَبْ لِي مُلْكًا لَّا يَنبَغِي لِأَحَدٍ مِّن بَعْدِي ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْوَهَّابُ

فَسَخَّرْنَا لَهُ الرِّيحَ تَجْرِي بِأَمْرِهِ رُخَاءً حَيْثُ أَصَابَ

وَالشَّيَاطِينَ كُلَّ بَنَّاءٍ وَغَوَّاصٍ

وَآخَرِينَ مُقَرَّنِينَ فِي الْأَصْفَادِ

هَـٰذَا عَطَاؤُنَا فَامْنُنْ أَوْ أَمْسِكْ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ

وَإِنَّ لَهُ عِندَنَا لَزُلْفَىٰ وَحُسْنَ مَآبٍ

And We gave to Dawood Sulaiman, an excellent slave. Indeed, he (was) one who repeatedly turned
When were displayed to him in the afternoon excellent bred steeds.

And he said, "Indeed, I [I] preferred (the) love (of) the good over (the) remembrance (of) my Lord." Until they were hidden in the veil;

"Return them to me." Then he began (to) pass (his hand) over the legs and the necks.

And certainly We tried Sulaiman, and We placed on his throne a body; then he turned.

He said, "O my Lord! Forgive me and grant me a kingdom, not (will) belong to anyone after me. Indeed, You [You] (are) the Bestower."

Then We subjected to him the wind to flow by his command, gently, wherever he directed,

And the devils, every builder and diver,

And others bound in chains.

"This (is) Our gift, so grant or withhold without account."

And indeed, for him with Us surely is a near access and a good place of return.

[Al-Quran 38:30-40; typos edited]

Even though an excellent slave of Allah, Solomon was negligent in performing his contact prayers on time, and the love of the good that Allah had bestowed upon him was dearer to him than the timely remembrance of Allah. In spite of realising his negligence, he continued doing what he was doing, till he almost lost his kingdom! It was then that he realised the seriousness and repented, and his Lord bestowed upon him much more than what he was going to lose.


Enduring Suffering with Patience
In the story of Prophet Job, we read his prayer that:

وَاذْكُرْ عَبْدَنَا أَيُّوبَ إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُ أَنِّي مَسَّنِيَ الشَّيْطَانُ بِنُصْبٍ وَعَذَابٍ

ارْكُضْ بِرِجْلِكَ ۖ هَـٰذَا مُغْتَسَلٌ بَارِدٌ وَشَرَابٌ

وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ أَهْلَهُ وَمِثْلَهُم مَّعَهُمْ رَحْمَةً مِّنَّا وَذِكْرَىٰ لِأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ

وَخُذْ بِيَدِكَ ضِغْثًا فَاضْرِب بِّهِ وَلَا تَحْنَثْ ۗ إِنَّا وَجَدْنَاهُ صَابِرًا ۚ نِّعْمَ الْعَبْدُ ۖ إِنَّهُ أَوَّابٌ

And remember Our servant Job, when he called to his Lord, "Indeed, Satan has touched me with hardship and torment."

[So he was told], "Strike [the ground] with your foot; this is a [spring for] a cool bath and drink."

And We granted him his family and a like [number] with them as mercy from Us and a reminder for those of understanding.

[We said], "And take in your hand a bunch [of grass] and strike with it and do not break your oath." Indeed, We found him patient, an excellent servant. Indeed, he was one repeatedly turning back [to Allah ].

[Al-Quran 38:41-44, Translation: Sahih International]

The Bible relates to us that Shaitaan had taken express permission from God to inflict immense suffering upon Job, with permission for everything except to kill him. The Bible informs us that Job was very upright and grateful, and this suffering was not a consequence of any sin committed by Job, but rather to see if he would continue to remain grateful and upright even when experiencing extreme suffering and loss. The Quran informs us that Job endured patiently and he repeatedly turned back to Allah. He was eventually granted a cure and given more than the loss that he had suffered during this trial.  


In David, Solomon, and Job, we have inspirational examples of hope in the Mercy of Allah! We may keep faltering and failing, but if we hold on to the rope of Allah, taking guidance from The Quran and prior scriptures, repenting and reforming, we have hope of a beautiful return, Allah willing.

 وَمَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَاءَ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا بَاطِلًا ۚ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ ظَنُّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ۚ فَوَيْلٌ لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنَ النَّارِ

أَمْ نَجْعَلُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ كَالْمُفْسِدِينَ فِي الْأَرْضِ أَمْ نَجْعَلُ الْمُتَّقِينَ كَالْفُجَّارِ

كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَارَكٌ لِّيَدَّبَّرُوا آيَاتِهِ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ

And not We created the heaven and the earth and whatever (is) between them without purpose. That (is the) assumption (of) those who disbelieve. So woe to those who disbelieve, from the Fire.

Or should We treat those who believe and do reformative deeds like those who spread corruption in the earth? Or should We treat the pious like the wicked?

(This is) a Book We have revealed it to you, blessed (flourishing with knowledge and guidance), that they may ponder (over) its ayaat and may be reminded those of understanding.

[Al-Quran 38:27-29; typos & translation edited]

Credits: 

Arabic text copied from: https://www.searchtruth.com/

Translation copied from: https://www.islamawakened.com/quran/ 

Last updated on:  January 23, 2020