THIS LIFE DOES NOT END WITH DEATH, but is resumed in another life. Dismissal of the idea of the hereafter, or refusal to understand it, betrays a degree of intellectual impotence which does not become the believer. This is what the present surah emphasises very strongly by saying: "He who created death and life, so that He may put you to the test and see whose deeds are the best..." (2); "He created seven heavens, one above the other. You shall find no discrepancies in the Merciful's creation..." (3); "We have adorned the lowest heavens with lantern..."(5).
We see widespread preoccupation in Muslim societies with the material and trivial things in life, and an excessive tendency towards the pursuit of greed and pleasure. Herein lie the causes of the material and spiritual malaise sweeping the Muslim world today.
A believer is more intelligent and more capable of understanding life and the world. According to Islam, belief in God is firmly based on a rational group of the purpose of life and the signs God has establishd all around us. It is sad that Muslims today are trailing behind, with no say or influence over world affairs.
Belief in God has its unique and mysterious way of influencing the human soul, motivating individuals to incredible levels of action and sacrifice. It makes some give up all material pleasures, or sacrifice their lives, for the sake of compliance with God's revelations. Thus the surah promises: "Those who fear their Lord although they cannot see Him shall be forgiven and richly rewarded" (12)
With belief in God and the hereafter comes the power to control, harness, and manage the material resources of the world for the good of humanity. The surah says: "It is He who has made the earth subservient to you, so go about its regions and eat of His provisions, for to Him all shall be resurrected" (15). Man's real future happiness and success are not in this world but in the life to come.
The opening verse in this surah asserts that God has complete sovereignty over the world, while verses in other surahs in the Qur'an affirm that God also controls man's sustenance and well-being, that the destiny of the earth and the heavens is under His power, and that in His supremacy. He has no equal or rival.
Thus God asks the unbelievers:
Are you confident that He who is in heaven would not cause the earth to sink beneath you and shake violently? Or are you confident that He who is in heaven would not shower you with stones? You will soon know the truth of My warning....(16-17).
The Qur'anic expression: "He who is in heaven" is one of several such expressions referring to God's Throne and in no way restricts God's presence to the 'heavens'. His knowledge, hearing, sight, and control reaches every soul and every thing, anywhere in the universe.
God's omnipresence should never be in doubt and it would be impertinent to ask in what form that omnipresence is manifest. this is one of the many facts in our existence that we shall never be able to encompass or comprehend. God is closer to us than our own souls, but we cannot see Him and we shall not be able to conceive the reality of the divine essence or form. All we need to appreciate is our total dependence on His grace, power, and generosity, and the complete insignificance of everything else besides Him.
As it comes to a close, the surah turns to address the unbelievers who wage war against the Prophet and his followers. It asks them about the purpose and wisdom of their aggression if they could not understand God's message and appreciate it. How could they justify their folly?
It asks:
Say (Muhammad), "What would you say if God were to destroy me and those with me or be merciful towards us? Who would protect the unbelievers from a grievous scourge?" Say, "He is the Merciful. We believe in Him and in Him we put our trust, and you shall soon know who is evidently in error." (28-29)
It ends by asking the materialists who deny the existence of God a pertinent question: "Say, 'What if the water you have became inaccessible, who else would provide you with running water?'" (30)
You can cross reference by pointing the stylus sensor on the following verses:
Verses 2, 3, 5 and 12 - page 562
Verses 15, 16-17 - page 563
Verses 28-29, 30 - page 564
The opening verse in this surah asserts that God has complete sovereignty over the world, while verses in other surahs in the Qur'an affirm that God also controls man's sustenance and well-being, that the destiny of the earth and the heavens is under His power, and that in His supremacy. He has no equal or rival.
Thus God asks the unbelievers:
Are you confident that He who is in heaven would not cause the earth to sink beneath you and shake violently? Or are you confident that He who is in heaven would not shower you with stones? You will soon know the truth of My warning....(16-17).
The Qur'anic expression: "He who is in heaven" is one of several such expressions referring to God's Throne and in no way restricts God's presence to the 'heavens'. His knowledge, hearing, sight, and control reaches every soul and every thing, anywhere in the universe.
God's omnipresence should never be in doubt and it would be impertinent to ask in what form that omnipresence is manifest. this is one of the many facts in our existence that we shall never be able to encompass or comprehend. God is closer to us than our own souls, but we cannot see Him and we shall not be able to conceive the reality of the divine essence or form. All we need to appreciate is our total dependence on His grace, power, and generosity, and the complete insignificance of everything else besides Him.
As it comes to a close, the surah turns to address the unbelievers who wage war against the Prophet and his followers. It asks them about the purpose and wisdom of their aggression if they could not understand God's message and appreciate it. How could they justify their folly?
It asks:
Say (Muhammad), "What would you say if God were to destroy me and those with me or be merciful towards us? Who would protect the unbelievers from a grievous scourge?" Say, "He is the Merciful. We believe in Him and in Him we put our trust, and you shall soon know who is evidently in error." (28-29)
It ends by asking the materialists who deny the existence of God a pertinent question: "Say, 'What if the water you have became inaccessible, who else would provide you with running water?'" (30)
You can cross reference by pointing the stylus sensor on the following verses:
Verses 2, 3, 5 and 12 - page 562
Verses 15, 16-17 - page 563
Verses 28-29, 30 - page 564
PROPHET MUHAMMAD S.A.W. said: "I VERY MUCH LIKE THAT EVERYONE OF MY UMMAH CARRIES ALONG SURAH AL-MULK, EMBEDDED IN THEIR CHESTS. A SURAH CONSISTING OF 30 VERSES WHICH SHIELDS AND PROTECTS THE INDIVIDUAL FROM SEVERE PUNISHMENT IN THEIR GRAVES.
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