Explainer, last two tweets: The FreeWill Responsibility given to human individuals ⦁
“They try to frighten thee with other (gods) besides Him! For such as Allah leaves to stray, there can be no guide. And such as Allah doth guide there can be none to lead astray.
~Qur’an [Al Zumar (Crowds)] 39:36-37.
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“Have We not made for him a pair of eyes? And a tongue, and a pair of lips? And shown him the two highways?
~Qur’an [Al Balad (The City)] 90:8-10.
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“And keep thy soul content with those who call on their Lord morning and evening, seeking(2369) His Face; and let not thine eyes pass beyond them, seeking the pomp and glitter of this Life; nor obey any whose heart We have permitted to neglect the remembrance of Us, one who follows his own desires, whose case has gone beyond all bounds.(2370)
Say, “The truth is from your Lord”: Let him who will believe, and let him who will, reject it:(2371) for the wrong-doers We have prepared a Fire whose smoke and flames, like the walls and roof of a tent, will hem them in: if they implore relief they will be granted water like melted brass, that will scald their faces, how dreadful the drink! How uncomfortable a couch to recline on!
As to those who believe and work righteousness, verily We shall not suffer to perish the reward of any who do a righteous deed.(2372)
~Qur’an [Al Kahf (The Cave)] 18:28-30.
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“Allah created the heavens and the earth for just ends, and in order that each soul may find the recompense of what it has earned, and none of them be wronged.(4760)
Then seest thou such(4761) a one as takes as his god his own vain desire? Allah has, knowing him as such, left him astray, and sealed his hearing and his heart and understanding, and put a cover on his sight. Who, then, will guide him after Allah has withdrawn Guidance? Will ye not then receive admonition?
~Qur’an [Al Jathiyah (The Kneeling Down)] 45:22-23.
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Abdullah Yusuf Ali’s notes:
4296 The righteous man will find Allah enough for all the protection he needs, all the rest and peace he craves for, and all the happiness he can imagine. If the evil ones wish to frighten him with false gods, he knows that that is mere superstition. In the case of idols to whom worship is paid, this is easily intelligible. But there are other false gods which men worship—wealth, power, science, selfish desire, and so on. The idea may occur to them: “this is the right course, but what will men say?” or “shall I lose my case if I tell the truth?” or “will it ruin my chances if I denounce sin in high places?” All such false gods will only mislead and leave their victims in the lurch. The worship of them will lose them the Grace of Allah, which wants to guide and comfort all who seek Allah.
4297 On the other hand if anyone holds fast to Allah’s Truth, nothing can mislead or betray him.
4298 Allah’s Power can protect, and will defeat all plots against His Will, as well as punish Evil when it gets beyond bounds.
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6137 The eyes give us the faculty of seeing, and may be taken in both the literal and the metaphorical sense. In the same way the tongue gives us the faculty of tasting in both senses. Along with the lips, it also enables us to speak, to ask for information and seek guidance, and to celebrate the praises of Allah.
6138 The two highways of life are: (1) the steep and difficult path of virtue, which is further described in the verses following, and (2) the easy path of vice and the rejection of Allah, referred to in verses 19-20 below. Allah has given us not only the faculties implied in the eyes, the tongue, and the lips, but also given us the judgement by which we can choose our way; and He has sent us Teachers and Guides, with Revelation, to show us the right and difficult way.
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2369 Cf. 6:52 and n. 870. The true servants of Allah are those whose hearts are turned to Him morning, noon, and night, and who seek not worldly gain, but Allah’s Grace, Allah’s own Self, His presence and nearness. “Face” is the symbol of Personality or Self. Even if they are poor in this world’s goods, their society gives far more inward and spiritual satisfaction than worldly grandeur or worldly attraction.
2370 For those who stray from Allah’s path, Allah’s Grace is ever anxious: it seeks to reclaim them and bring them back to the path. If such a one resists, and follows his own lusts, a point is reached when his case becomes hopeless. Allah’s Grace does not then reach him, and he is abandoned to his pride and insolence. Beware of following the example or advice of such a one or seeking his society, or hankering after his wretched idols.
2371 Our choice in our limited Free will involves a corresponding personal responsibility. We are offered the Truth: again and again it is pressed on our attention. If we reject it, we must take all the terrible consequences which are prefigured in the Fire of Hell. Its flames and roof will completely enclose us like a tent. Ordinarily there is water to quench the heat of thirst: here the only drink will be like molten brass, thick, heavy, burning, sizzling. Before it reaches the mouth of the unfortunates, drops of it will scald their faces as it is poured out.
2372 The righteous will be rewarded, as has been said again and again, beyond their merits: 28:84; 30:39. Not a single good deed of theirs will lose its reward, and the mercy of Allah will blot out their sins.
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4760 The world is so ordered that each soul reaps the fruit of all its activities. If it breaks away from Allah’s Grace, it suffers, but no injustice is done to anyone: on the contrary Allah’s Bounty is always beyond man’s deserts.
4761 If a man follows, not the laws of Allah, which are also the laws of his own pure nature as made by Allah, but the desires of his own distorted self, as shaped by the rebellion of his will, the inevitable consequence will be the withdrawal of Allah’s grace and guidance. His faculties will then be debased, and there will be nothing to guide him, unless he turns in repentance again to Allah.
“They try to frighten thee with other (gods) besides Him! For such as Allah leaves to stray, there can be no guide. And such as Allah doth guide there can be none to lead astray.
~Qur’an [Al Zumar (Crowds)] 39:36-37.
⦁
“Have We not made for him a pair of eyes? And a tongue, and a pair of lips? And shown him the two highways?
~Qur’an [Al Balad (The City)] 90:8-10.
⦁
“And keep thy soul content with those who call on their Lord morning and evening, seeking(2369) His Face; and let not thine eyes pass beyond them, seeking the pomp and glitter of this Life; nor obey any whose heart We have permitted to neglect the remembrance of Us, one who follows his own desires, whose case has gone beyond all bounds.(2370)
Say, “The truth is from your Lord”: Let him who will believe, and let him who will, reject it:(2371) for the wrong-doers We have prepared a Fire whose smoke and flames, like the walls and roof of a tent, will hem them in: if they implore relief they will be granted water like melted brass, that will scald their faces, how dreadful the drink! How uncomfortable a couch to recline on!
As to those who believe and work righteousness, verily We shall not suffer to perish the reward of any who do a righteous deed.(2372)
~Qur’an [Al Kahf (The Cave)] 18:28-30.
⦁
“Allah created the heavens and the earth for just ends, and in order that each soul may find the recompense of what it has earned, and none of them be wronged.(4760)
Then seest thou such(4761) a one as takes as his god his own vain desire? Allah has, knowing him as such, left him astray, and sealed his hearing and his heart and understanding, and put a cover on his sight. Who, then, will guide him after Allah has withdrawn Guidance? Will ye not then receive admonition?
~Qur’an [Al Jathiyah (The Kneeling Down)] 45:22-23.
⦁
Abdullah Yusuf Ali’s notes:
4296 The righteous man will find Allah enough for all the protection he needs, all the rest and peace he craves for, and all the happiness he can imagine. If the evil ones wish to frighten him with false gods, he knows that that is mere superstition. In the case of idols to whom worship is paid, this is easily intelligible. But there are other false gods which men worship—wealth, power, science, selfish desire, and so on. The idea may occur to them: “this is the right course, but what will men say?” or “shall I lose my case if I tell the truth?” or “will it ruin my chances if I denounce sin in high places?” All such false gods will only mislead and leave their victims in the lurch. The worship of them will lose them the Grace of Allah, which wants to guide and comfort all who seek Allah.
4297 On the other hand if anyone holds fast to Allah’s Truth, nothing can mislead or betray him.
4298 Allah’s Power can protect, and will defeat all plots against His Will, as well as punish Evil when it gets beyond bounds.
— — —
6137 The eyes give us the faculty of seeing, and may be taken in both the literal and the metaphorical sense. In the same way the tongue gives us the faculty of tasting in both senses. Along with the lips, it also enables us to speak, to ask for information and seek guidance, and to celebrate the praises of Allah.
6138 The two highways of life are: (1) the steep and difficult path of virtue, which is further described in the verses following, and (2) the easy path of vice and the rejection of Allah, referred to in verses 19-20 below. Allah has given us not only the faculties implied in the eyes, the tongue, and the lips, but also given us the judgement by which we can choose our way; and He has sent us Teachers and Guides, with Revelation, to show us the right and difficult way.
— — —
2369 Cf. 6:52 and n. 870. The true servants of Allah are those whose hearts are turned to Him morning, noon, and night, and who seek not worldly gain, but Allah’s Grace, Allah’s own Self, His presence and nearness. “Face” is the symbol of Personality or Self. Even if they are poor in this world’s goods, their society gives far more inward and spiritual satisfaction than worldly grandeur or worldly attraction.
2370 For those who stray from Allah’s path, Allah’s Grace is ever anxious: it seeks to reclaim them and bring them back to the path. If such a one resists, and follows his own lusts, a point is reached when his case becomes hopeless. Allah’s Grace does not then reach him, and he is abandoned to his pride and insolence. Beware of following the example or advice of such a one or seeking his society, or hankering after his wretched idols.
2371 Our choice in our limited Free will involves a corresponding personal responsibility. We are offered the Truth: again and again it is pressed on our attention. If we reject it, we must take all the terrible consequences which are prefigured in the Fire of Hell. Its flames and roof will completely enclose us like a tent. Ordinarily there is water to quench the heat of thirst: here the only drink will be like molten brass, thick, heavy, burning, sizzling. Before it reaches the mouth of the unfortunates, drops of it will scald their faces as it is poured out.
2372 The righteous will be rewarded, as has been said again and again, beyond their merits: 28:84; 30:39. Not a single good deed of theirs will lose its reward, and the mercy of Allah will blot out their sins.
— — —
4760 The world is so ordered that each soul reaps the fruit of all its activities. If it breaks away from Allah’s Grace, it suffers, but no injustice is done to anyone: on the contrary Allah’s Bounty is always beyond man’s deserts.
4761 If a man follows, not the laws of Allah, which are also the laws of his own pure nature as made by Allah, but the desires of his own distorted self, as shaped by the rebellion of his will, the inevitable consequence will be the withdrawal of Allah’s grace and guidance. His faculties will then be debased, and there will be nothing to guide him, unless he turns in repentance again to Allah.