In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent the Merciful'By the time through the ages! Surely humanity is in a state of loss, except those. who believe and do good deeds; exhort one another to the truth and exhort one another to patience.'- Quran 103: 103 '... The creation of a trial is more grievous sin than murder...' -Prophet MuhammadTODAY'S sermon is not about the destiny that awaits those who purport to defend Islam and Moslems, those whose understanding of Islam permits unwarranted killing of innocent Moslems and non-Moslems as means of seeking redress for perceived injustice. Rather, it is meant to explore and highlight the latent positive meanings in these ugly events for our contemplations.In other words, dear Brethren, since the current events all around the world seem to defy reason, we should be happy to seek solace and comfort in revelation. In this instance, I found the journey, or rather the odyssey of Prophet Musa (upon him be peace) on the ocean highly pertinent.Prophet Musa embarked on his journey based on an inspiration he received from Allah (Quran 18: 60-82). He soon met someone named Khidr, whom Allah had given 'special knowledge,' at a place where 'two rivers meet.'Prophet Musa asked him for permission to accompany him in his travel. Khidr replied, 'you will surely not be able to bear with me. For how can you patiently bear with something you cannot encompass in your knowledge'' But Prophet Musa insisted that he would be patient with his guide. Khidr then allowed him to come with him on condition that he must not question him about anything unless he himself explains it to him.They soon came to a place and found a boat. Khidr picked an axe and damaged the boat by making a hole in it. Prophet Musa immediately objected saying, 'how could you make a hole in it so as to drown the people in the boat' You have certainly done an awful thing.' Khidr then said, 'did I not tell you that you will not be able to patiently bear with me'' Prophet Musa pleaded with him, saying that he forgot the promise.Moving on, they next came to a place where they met a boy, and Khidr killed him. Utterly shocked, Prophet Musa exclaimed, 'what! Have you slain an innocent person without his having slain anyone' Surely you have done a horrible thing.' Khidr replied, 'did I not tell you that you will not be able to patiently bear with me''Once again Prophet Musa pleaded again, saying that if he ever questioned him again about anything, then he would be fully justified in discarding him.Moving further on, they came to a town where they found a wall that was broken and falling apart. Khidr repaired the wall to prevent it from disintegrating. Unable to hold his curiosity, Prophet Musa told Khidr that if he wished, he could have gotten a payment for it. Perhaps he was hoping that Khidr would explain the matter to him without him asking a question.That final comment made Khidr discard Prophet Musa. 'This brings me and you to parting of ways,' he said. 'Now I shall explain to you the true meaning of things about which you could not remain patient.' About the boat, he explained, it belonged to some poor people who earned their livelihood from the river. Nearby, there was an oppressive king who was seizing all boats by force.He damaged the boat so that the king will ignore it. About the boy, his parents were righteous whereas this boy was growing up to be a violent man, who would have oppressed them. It was hoped that Allah would now provide them with a righteous son.Lastly, about the wall, there was some buried treasure in there for two orphan boys left behind by their righteous father. By fixing the wall and preventing it from falling apart and thus exposing the treasure, he gained time for the boys to grow up and recover their property.Before leaving, Khidr made his final comment that none of these was done by his own wish, meaning that he was simply executing Allah's commands.Sayyed Abul Ala Mawdudi is of the opinion that the narration of Prophet Musa's story here is meant to draw humanity's attention to an important fact, that those, who are concerned with the external aspects of things are liable to draw false conclusions from their observations. This happens because humanity is usually not aware of the wisdom underlying the events that take place under Allah's permission or command.Thus we frequently witness the wrong-doers prosper while the innocent suffer hardships, we see those who disobey Allah and commit transgression live in great affluence whereas those, who obey Him face adversities; we wonder when we the wicked enjoy the pleasures of worldly life whereas the virtuous live in misery. Such spectacles are quite common.Not knowing why such things happen, doubts often arise in our minds. Some do proceed from there to disbelieve in the existence of Allah. Those, who consciously disbelieve and are immersed in the perpetration of injustice and oppression equally usually enjoy the assumption that they live in a disordered and chaotic world, a world which has either no sovereign, or if there is any, one who must have become senseless or unjust.Hence, they conclude that people may go about doing what they please, without fearing that they will be called to account. On the other hand, those, who believe in Allah are heart-broken by what they see around them. It also often happens that when such believers are faced with severe tests, their faith is shaken to the core.It was in order to enable Prophet Musa to comprehend the wisdom underlying those events, which usually baffle humanity's perception that Allah slightly lifts the curtain from the reality, which governs the working of the world. In this way, Prophet Musa was able to appreciate that appearances are quite different from the reality; things that happen in our reality have deeper meanings than what they yield to our cognition.According to a Moslem sister, 'our life is like a puzzle. We only see one piece at a time, Allah, the designer, sees the whole beautiful picture put together.'In other words, trials and tribulations are not an end in themselves, rather, they are temporal events and parts of a wider process beyond which lies the reality of something good and desirable.Dear brethren, face to face with these trying times, a time when nobody is secured except he, who enjoys the security of Allah, it becomes necessary that we keep in mind some Prophetic spiritual instruments that could come in handy during these times.Thus I offer the following suggestions to you, cultivate the habit of being in a state of wudu all the time, ensure you read the Quran at least five pages per day and offer the following supplications as many times as possible: Rabbana la ya'ti bilhasanat illa anta, wala yadfau al-sayyi-aati illa anta, wala hawla wala quwwata illa bik (O! Allah.Nobody brings goodness except you, none can ward off evil except you and there is neither power nor strength except in you)(guardianfridayworship@gmail.com)
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