Emotional Capacity & Endurance

The Cow (2:286)

لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا ٱكْتَسَبَتْ ۗ رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَآ إِن نَّسِينَآ أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَآ إِصْرًۭا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِۦ ۖ وَٱعْفُ عَنَّا وَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَٱرْحَمْنَآ ۚ أَنتَ مَوْلَىٰنَا فَٱنصُرْنَا عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ ٢٨٦

Allah does not require of any soul more than what it can afford. All good will be for its own benefit, and all evil will be to its own loss. ˹The believers pray,˺ “Our Lord! Do not punish us if we forget or make a mistake. Our Lord! Do not place a burden on us like the one you placed on those before us. Our Lord! Do not burden us with what we cannot bear. Pardon us, forgive us, and have mercy on us. You are our ˹only˺ Guardian. So grant us victory over the disbelieving people.”

— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran

Allah does not obligate anyone beyond his capacity. For him is what he has earned, and on him what he has incurred.“Our Lord, do not hold us accountable, if we forget or make a mistake, and, Our Lord, do not place on us such a burden as You have placed on those before us, and, Our Lord, do not make us bear a burden for which we have no strength. And pardon us, and grant us forgiveness, and have mercy on us. You are our Lord. So then help us against the disbelieving people.”

— T. Usmani

Allāh does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned. "Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred. Our Lord, and lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people."[1]

— Saheeh International

[1]- Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) concludes this sūrah by directing His servants how to supplicate Him, just as He taught them in Sūrah al-Fātiḥah how to praise Him and ask for guidance.

خدا کسی شخص کو اس کی طاقت سے زیادہ تکلیف نہیں دیتا۔ اچھے کام کرے گا تو اس کو ان کا فائدہ ملے گا برے کرے گا تو اسے ان کا نقصان پہنچے گا۔ اے پروردگار اگر ہم سے بھول یا چوک ہوگئی ہو تو ہم سے مؤاخذہ نہ کیجیو۔ اے پروردگار ہم پر ایسا بوجھ نہ ڈالیو جیسا تو نے ہم سے پہلے لوگوں پر ڈالا تھا۔ اے پروردگار جتنا بوجھ اٹھانے کی ہم میں طاقت نہیں اتنا ہمارے سر پر نہ رکھیو۔ اور (اے پروردگار) ہمارے گناہوں سے درگزر کر اور ہمیں بخش دے۔ اور ہم پر رحم فرما۔ تو ہی ہمارا مالک ہے اور ہم کو کافروں پر غالب فرما

— Fatah Muhammad Jalandhari

اللہ تعالیٰ کسی جان کو اس کی طاقت سے زیاده تکلیف نہیں دیتا، جو نیکی وه کرے وه اس کے لئے اور جو برائی وه کرے وه اس پر ہے، اے ہمارے رب! اگر ہم بھول گئے ہوں یا خطا کی ہو تو ہمیں نہ پکڑنا، اے ہمارے رب! ہم پر وه بوجھ نہ ڈال جو ہم سے پہلے لوگوں پر ڈاﻻ تھا، اے ہمارے رب! ہم پر وه بوجھ نہ ڈال جس کی ہمیں طاقت نہ ہو اور ہم سے درگزر فرما! اور ہمیں بخش دے اور ہم پر رحم کر! تو ہی ہمارا مالک ہے، ہمیں کافروں کی قوم پر غلبہ عطا فرما۔

— Maulana Muhammad Junagarhi

اللہ تعالیٰ نہیں ذمہ دار ٹھہرائے گا کسی جان کو مگر اس کی وسعت کے مطابق اسی جان کے لیے ہے جو اس نے کمایا اور اسی کے اوپر وبال بنے گا جو اس نے ُ برائی کمائی اے ہمارے ربّ ! ہم سے مؤاخذہ نہ فرمانا اگر ہم بھول جائیں یا ہم سے خطا ہوجائے اور اے رب ہمارے ! ہم پر ویسا بوجھ نہ ڈال جیسا تو نے ان لوگوں پر ڈالا تھا جو ہم سے پہلے تھے اور اے رب ہمارے ! ہم پر وہ بوجھ نہ ڈالنا جس کی ہم میں طاقت نہ ہو اور ہم سے درگزر فرماتا رہ ! اور ہمیں بخشتا رہ ! اور ہم پر رحم فرما تو ہمارا مولا ہے پس ہماری مدد فرما کافروں کے مقابلے میں

— بیان القرآن (ڈاکٹر اسرار احمد)

اللہ کسی پر ذمہ داری نہیں ڈالتا مگر اس کی طاقت کے مطابق اس کو ملے گا وہی جو اس نے کمایا اور اس پر پڑے گا وہی جو اس نے کیا اے ہمارے رب، ہم کو نہ پکڑاگر ہم بھولیں یا ہم غلطی کرجائیں  اے ہمارے رب، ہم پر بوجھ نہ ڈال جیسا بوجھ تو نے ڈالا تھا ہم سے اگلوں پر اے ہمارے رب، ہم سے وہ نہ اٹھوا جس کی طاقت ہم کو نہیں  اور درگزر کر ہم سے اور ہم کو بخش دے اورہم پر رحم کر تو ہمارا کار ساز ہے پس انکار کرنے والوں کے مقابل میں ہماری مدد کر

— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

[https://quran.com/2/286]

Surah al-Baqarah begins with the statement that it is a guidance for the muttaqin (Q2:2 (هُدًى لِّلۡمُتَّقِيۡنَۙ‏)).

The last ayat of Surah al-Baqarah ((Q2:286) لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ) begins with the statement that no 'nafs' is 'كَلِّفُ' beyond its 'وُسْعَهَا'. 

The word 'nafs' (نَفْسًا) is variously translated. 

If we must translate the word  'nafs' (نَفْسًا), then I think it should be 'soul' in English, and 'نَفْس' in Urdu. The Hebrew word for 'nafs' is 'nephesh'. The study of the 'nafs' is called 'psychology' in English, and 'نفسیات' in Urdu. 

If we choose to not to translate it, and understand the term as it is used across The Quran, then it becomes clear that this is neither the 'body' nor the 'ruh', but, rather, it is that part of us that demands and desires, and whispers and suggests, enjoys and suffers, and when we are asleep, when it is taken away from us, by Allah, daily, we no longer experience the 'wants' that emotions are linked with. 

Emotion (فُؤَادُ) is the property of the heart (قَلْبِ) to feel (Q28:10, Q32:9, Q67:23). 

Thinking in terms of software and hardware, the body is the hardware, and the nafs is its perception software: when the nafs is installed, the ability to feel emotions, the ability to listen, the ability to see, the ability to taste, the ability of the skin to feel, that is, the programs that enable these faculties are activated. Device Pairing? 

When a person is awake, when its ability to perceive is switched on, when it is required to resist the temptation to react to its perceptions, and hold on to taqwa, endurance is required. Our 'nafs' is in pledge. 

People are tested in various ways: some are given plenty and tested, others are tested through meagre resources. It can be health, wealth, loss of lives, or some other test. 

The Quran makes it clear that each 'nafs' (نَفْسًا) is 'كَلِّفُ' according to the capacity it has. No matter what the 'كَلِّفُ' is, or how it is, each individual 'nafs' (نَفْسًا) has the capacity for it, and the ability to succeed. 

So, what does 'كَلِّفُ' mean? Literally, it translates to 'cost' in English, and 'لاگت' in Urdu. 

The third ayat of Surah al-Baqarah (Q2:3 (وَمِمَّا رَزَقۡنٰهُمۡ يُنۡفِقُوۡنَۙ‏ ٣)) ends on the note that they spend from what 'rizq' they have been given. 

Secular psychology encourages achieving joy through accumulation of that which brings joy. 

The Quran states that the beautiful things that Allah has brought out, they are for the believers, so they should adorn themselves at the Masjid, and eat and drink, but not do israaf (Q7:31-32). 

In Surah al-Baqarah, on the question of how much should one spend on 'infaq', the response is whatever is beyond your needs (Q2:219-220 (... وَيَسۡـــَٔلُوۡنَكَ مَاذَا يُنۡفِقُوۡنَ  قُلِ الۡعَفۡوَ​ؕ كَذٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللّٰهُ لَـكُمُ الۡاٰيٰتِ لَعَلَّکُمۡ تَتَفَكَّرُوۡنَۙ‏ ٢١٩ فِى الدُّنۡيَا وَالۡاٰخِرَةِؕ ...)). 

So, while the believers may enjoy what Allah has blessed them with in this dunya, they must (تَتَفَكَّرُوۡنَۙ‏) regarding their dunya and their akhirah (فِى الدُّنۡيَا وَالۡاٰخِرَةِؕ), investing in their future life, wisely, according to the directives throughout the Quran on spending. 

The 'nafs' (نَفْسًا) wants to accumulate. 

Allah tests the 'nafs' (نَفْسًا) through various trials, yet 'لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا'

So, looking up 'يُكَلِّفُ' and 'وُسْعَهَا': 

يُكَلِّفُ

The triliteral root kāf lām fā (ك ل ف) occurs eight times in the Quran: 

Verb (form II) - to burden

(2:233:18) tukallafu is burdened لَا تُكَلَّفُ نَفْسٌ إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا

(2:286:2) yukallifu burden لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا

(4:84:6) tukallafu are you responsible فَقَاتِلْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ لَا تُكَلَّفُ إِلَّا نَفْسَكَ

(6:152:17) nukallifu We burden لَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا

(7:42:6) nukallifu We burden وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا

(23:62:2) nukallifu We burden وَلَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا وَلَدَيْنَا كِتَابٌ يَنْطِقُ بِالْحَقِّ

(65:7:15) yukallifu burden لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا مَا آتَاهَا

Active participle (form V)

(38:86:10) l-mutakalifīna the ones who pretend قُلْ مَا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُتَكَلِّفِينَ

...

وُسْعَهَا

The triliteral root wāw sīn ʿayn (و س ع) occurs 32 times in the Quran. The following is a part of the results: 

(24:22:6) wal-saʿati and the amplitude of means وَلَا يَأْتَلِ أُولُو الْفَضْلِ مِنْكُمْ وَالسَّعَةِ أَنْ يُؤْتُوا أُولِي الْقُرْبَىٰ

(65:7:3) saʿatin (of) ample means لِيُنْفِقْ ذُو سَعَةٍ مِنْ سَعَتِهِ

(65:7:5) saʿatihi his ample means لِيُنْفِقْ ذُو سَعَةٍ مِنْ سَعَتِهِ

Noun

(2:233:21) wus'ʿahā its capacity لَا تُكَلَّفُ نَفْسٌ إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا

(2:286:6) wus'ʿahā its capacity لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا

(6:152:20) wus'ʿahā (to) its capacity وَأَوْفُوا الْكَيْلَ وَالْمِيزَانَ بِالْقِسْطِ لَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا

(7:42:9) wus'ʿahā (to) its capacity وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا

(23:62:5) wus'ʿahā (to) its capacity وَلَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا وَلَدَيْنَا كِتَابٌ يَنْطِقُ بِالْحَقِّ

Active participle

(2:115:11) wāsiʿun (is) All-Encompassing فَأَيْنَمَا تُوَلُّوا فَثَمَّ وَجْهُ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ

(2:247:42) wāsiʿun (is) All-Encompassing وَاللَّهُ يُؤْتِي مُلْكَهُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ

(2:261:23) wāsiʿun (is) All-Encompassing وَاللَّهُ يُضَاعِفُ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ

(2:268:12) wāsiʿun (is) All-Encompassing وَاللَّهُ يَعِدُكُمْ مَغْفِرَةً مِنْهُ وَفَضْلًا وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ

(3:73:31) wāsiʿun (is) All-Encompassing قُلْ إِنَّ الْفَضْلَ بِيَدِ اللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ

...

We all have been given a 'nafs' (نَفْسًا), and along with it, we have all been given our 'rizq'. Each one of us is individually responsible for how we spend our rizq, on what, and with what intention. 

We need to learn to be responsible Muslims, who are of benefit to society. 

With Quran as our guide, we need to focus on the areas that need focussing, so that we are able to succeed in the final reckoning. 

May we all be blessed with the Gardens of the Hereafter, where every 'nafs' (نفس) will get what it desires, and the emotional state is true joy, bliss, and contentment. 

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Related Post: The Psychology in The Quran 

Related Page: Nafs

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Seeking the Face of Allah

 قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ

اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ

لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ

وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ

Say, "He (is) Allah, the One.

Allah, the Eternal, the Absolute.

Not He begets and not He is begotten.

And not is for Him equivalent any [one]."

[Al-Quran Surah al-Ikhlas]

Abstract

The Bible and The Quran mention the Face of Allah, but we cannot see it. Yet, we need to seek His Face, our one and only Sustainer, if we desire eternal life and hope to flourish.         

Full Text 

וְאַל־תַּסְתֵּ֣ר פָּ֭נֶיךָ מֵֽעַבְדֶּ֑ךָ כִּֽי־צַר־לִ֝֗י מַהֵ֥ר עֲנֵֽנִי׃

And do not hide Your face from Your servant, For I am in distress; answer me quickly.
[The Bible, Psalm 69:17; Translation: New International Version] 

The Bible and The Quran give us some insights about the physical appearance of Allah. In some ayaat, they specifically mention the Face of Allah. According to The Quran:

وَلِلَّهِ الْمَشْرِقُ وَالْمَغْرِبُ فَأَيْنَمَا تُوَلُّوا فَثَمَّ وَجْهُ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ

To God belong the East and the West; whithersoever you turn, there is the Face of God; God is All-embracing, All-knowing.
[Al-Quran 2:115; Translation: Arthur John Arberry] 

Yet, we cannot see Allah's face. When Moses requested to see Allah, he was shown that even a mountain cannot bear the glory of God. The Quran informs us that:

وَمَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَن يُكَلِّمَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَّا وَحْيًا أَوْ مِن وَرَاءِ حِجَابٍ أَوْ يُرْسِلَ رَسُولًا فَيُوحِيَ بِإِذْنِهِ مَا يَشَاءُ إِنَّهُ عَلِيٌّ حَكِيمٌ

And not is for any human لِبَشَرٍ that Allah should speak to him except (by) revelation or from behind a veil or (by) sending a messenger then he reveals by His permission what He wills. Indeed, He (is) Most High, Most Wise.

[Al-Quran 42:51; Translation: Literal (Word by Word), edited (arabic word retained)] 

Bashr (بَشَرٍ) is probably the opposite of Malak (مَلَكَ), as it was one of the temptations Iblis whispered to Adam to tempt him to change himself. 

وَلَا تَدْعُ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا آخَرَ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ كُلُّ شَيْءٍ هَالِكٌ إِلَّا وَجْهَهُ لَهُ الْحُكْمُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ

and do not invoke another god besides God; there is no god except Him. All things will perish except His Face. Judgment belongs to Him, and to Him you will be returned.
[Al-Quran 28:88; Translation: Safi Kaskas] 

The above ayat echoes the commandment of the DEEN:

مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِهِ إِلَّا أَسْمَاءً سَمَّيْتُمُوهَا أَنتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُم مَّا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَانٍ إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ أَمَرَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

Not you worship besides Him but names which you have named, you and your forefathers, not (has) sent down Allah for it any authority. Not (is) the command but for Allah. He has commanded that not you worship but Him Alone. That (is) the religion the right, but most [the] men (do) not know.

[Al-Quran 12:40; Translation: Literal (Word by Word)]

The Quran encourages us to travel in the Earth and observe the ruins of polytheistic civilisations: 

قُلْ سِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَانظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلُ كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُم مُّشْرِكِينَ

Say, "Travel in the earth and see how was (the) end (of) those who (were) before. Most of them were polytheists."
[Al-Quran 30:42; Translation: Literal (Word by Word)]

Everything and everyone is destined to perish except the Face of Allah: 

كُلُّ مَنْ عَلَيْهَا فَانٍ

وَيَبْقَىٰ وَجْهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ

Everyone who (is) on it (will) perish. 
But will remain (the) Face (of) your Lord, (the) Owner (of) Majesty and Honor. 
[Al-Quran 55:26-27; Translation: Literal (Word by Word)]

The Eternal Home

وَالَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا ابْتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ رَبِّهِمْ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَأَنفَقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً وَيَدْرَءُونَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ السَّيِّئَةَ أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ

And those who (are) patient, seeking (the) Face (of) their Lord and establish the prayer and spend from what We have provided them, secretly and publicly and they repel with the good the evil - those for them (is) the final attainment (of) the Home -  

[Al-Quran 13:22; Translation: Literal (Word by Word)] 

How to seek His Face 
The following ayaat guide those who wish to exclusively seek His Face:

لَّيْسَ عَلَيْكَ هُدَاهُمْ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَلِأَنفُسِكُمْ وَمَا تُنفِقُونَ إِلَّا ابْتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ اللَّهِ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ يُوَفَّ إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تُظْلَمُونَ

Thou art not responsible for guiding them; but God guides whomsoever He will. And whatever good you expend is for yourselves, for then you are expending, being desirous only of God's Face; and whatever good you expend shall be repaid to you in full, and you will not be wronged, 

[Al-Quran 2:272; Translation: Arthur John Arberry] 

فَآتِ ذَا الْقُرْبَىٰ حَقَّهُ وَالْمِسْكِينَ وَابْنَ السَّبِيلِ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ

وَمَا آتَيْتُم مِّن رِّبًا لِّيَرْبُوَ فِي أَمْوَالِ النَّاسِ فَلَا يَرْبُو عِندَ اللَّهِ وَمَا آتَيْتُم مِّن زَكَاةٍ تُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُضْعِفُونَ

And give the kinsman his right, and the needy, and the traveller; that is better for those who desire God's Face; those they are the prosperers. 
And what you give in usury, that it may increase upon the people's wealth, increases not with God; but what you give in alms, desiring God's Face, those -- they receive recompense manifold.
[Al-Quran 30:38-39; Translation: Arthur John Arberry] 

إِنَّمَا نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ اللَّهِ لَا نُرِيدُ مِنكُمْ جَزَاءً وَلَا شُكُورًا

'We feed you only for the Face of God; we desire no recompense from you, no thankfulness;
[Al-Quran 76:9; Translation: Arthur John Arberry] 

Warnings  

وَلَا تَطْرُدِ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُم بِالْغَدَاةِ وَالْعَشِيِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُ مَا عَلَيْكَ مِنْ حِسَابِهِم مِّن شَيْءٍ وَمَا مِنْ حِسَابِكَ عَلَيْهِم مِّن شَيْءٍ فَتَطْرُدَهُمْ فَتَكُونَ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ

وَكَذَٰلِكَ فَتَنَّا بَعْضَهُم بِبَعْضٍ لِّيَقُولُوا أَهَٰؤُلَاءِ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّن بَيْنِنَا أَلَيْسَ اللَّهُ بِأَعْلَمَ بِالشَّاكِرِينَ

And do not drive away those who call upon their Lord at morning and evening desiring His countenance; nothing of their account falls upon thee, and nothing of thy account falls upon them, that thou shouldst drive them away, and so become one of the evildoers. 
Even so We have tried some of them by others that they may say, Are these the ones God has been gracious to among us?' Knows not God very well the thankful? 
[Al-Quran 6:52; Translation: Arthur John Arberry]

وَاصْبِرْ نَفْسَكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُم بِالْغَدَاةِ وَالْعَشِيِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُ وَلَا تَعْدُ عَيْنَاكَ عَنْهُمْ تُرِيدُ زِينَةَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَلَا تُطِعْ مَنْ أَغْفَلْنَا قَلْبَهُ عَن ذِكْرِنَا وَاتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ وَكَانَ أَمْرُهُ فُرُطًا

Restrain yourself nafs patiently with those who call on their Lord morning and evening, desiring His face. Do not turn your eyes from them, desiring the attractions of this world. And do not obey someone whose heart We have made neglectful of Our remembrance and who follows his own whims and desires and whose life has transgressed all bounds. 
[Al-Quran 18:28; Translation: Aisha Bewley, edited (in italics)]

Surah al-Ahzaab's last two ayaat inform us that we humans are here on this Earth because The Human volunteered to undertake The Trust, but proved to be unjust and foolish. We hope that Allah, the Acceptor of Repentance, the Most Forgiving, will accept our repentance, forgive us and allow us to see Him, our real Sustainer, our true Lord. Regarding the criminals, Surah al-Mutaffifin informs us that they will be unable to see the Face of Allah even on the Day of Judgement: 

كَلَّا إِنَّهُمْ عَن رَّبِّهِمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ لَّمَحْجُوبُونَ

Verily, from (the Light of) their Lord, that Day, will they be veiled. 
[Al-Quran 83:15; Translation: Yusuf Ali]

So, while Allah, the One and Only, is present, whichever direction we look in, we are unable to see Him, because He does not allow us to see Him. At least, not yet! 

It is true that we can see only a tiny portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Surah an-Noor describes Allah's Noor, His being like a planet, its transparency like a glass, and Allah has created examples of noor, transparent creatures, and transparent creatures with anti-reflective coatings, ..., all giving us every reason to believe The Quran literally, as stated in the Arabic text.  

And why is it important to study this: perhaps so that we can believe for sure in the existence of a Supreme Being, and that we earnestly seek His Face, preparing for the meeting scheduled with our Lord on the Day of Judgement, because our eternal life depends upon His allowing us to dwell in His presence. Only in His presence can we hope to flourish!!!   

We need to seek the Face of Allah, our one and only Sustainer.  

Surah al-Layl (The Night)

92:1 وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَىٰ

92:2 وَالنَّهَارِ إِذَا تَجَلَّىٰ

92:3 وَمَا خَلَقَ الذَّكَرَ وَالْأُنثَىٰ

92:4 إِنَّ سَعْيَكُمْ لَشَتَّىٰ

92:5 فَأَمَّا مَنْ أَعْطَىٰ وَاتَّقَىٰ

92:6 وَصَدَّقَ بِالْحُسْنَىٰ

92:7 فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُ لِلْيُسْرَىٰ

92:8 وَأَمَّا مَن بَخِلَ وَاسْتَغْنَىٰ

92:9 وَكَذَّبَ بِالْحُسْنَىٰ

92:10 فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُ لِلْعُسْرَىٰ

92:11 وَمَا يُغْنِي عَنْهُ مَالُهُ إِذَا تَرَدَّىٰ

92:12 إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا لَلْهُدَىٰ

92:13 وَإِنَّ لَنَا لَلْآخِرَةَ وَالْأُولَىٰ

92:14 فَأَنذَرْتُكُمْ نَارًا تَلَظَّىٰ

92:15 لَا يَصْلَاهَا إِلَّا الْأَشْقَى

92:16 الَّذِي كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ

92:17 وَسَيُجَنَّبُهَا الْأَتْقَى

92:18 الَّذِي يُؤْتِي مَالَهُ يَتَزَكَّىٰ

92:19 وَمَا لِأَحَدٍ عِندَهُ مِن نِّعْمَةٍ تُجْزَىٰ

92:20 إِلَّا ابْتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ رَبِّهِ الْأَعْلَىٰ

92:21 وَلَسَوْفَ يَرْضَىٰ

92:1 By the night when it conceals

92:2 and the day when it reveals

92:3 and the creation of male and female,

92:4 there is a vast difference in your striving.

92:5 As for him who gives out and has taqwa

92:6 and confirms the Good,

92:7 We will pave his way to Ease.

92:8 But as for him who is stingy and self-satisfied,

92:9 and denies the Good,

92:10 We will pave his way to Difficulty.

92:11 His wealth will not help him when he plummets to the depths.

92:12 Assuredly guidance is up to Us

92:13 and both the Last and First belong to Us.

92:14 I have warned you of a Fire which rages,

92:15 in which only the most wretched will roast —

92:16 those who denied and turned away.

92:17 Those with most taqwa will be far removed from it:

92:18 those who give their wealth to purify grow themselves —

92:19 not to repay someone else for a favour done —

92:20 desiring only the Face of their Lord Most High.

92:21 They will certainly be satisfied.

 [Al-Quran 92:1-21; Translation: Aisha Bewley, edited (in italics)]

Last updated on: March 7, 2019