11. IT IS A MUST TO SURRENDER TO THE WISDOM OF THE CREATOR
I have seen many foolish people (mugbafilun) venting anger (saqt) towards their destiny. Some of them developed weaker faith (qila al-imari) by objecting destiny.
Some of them turned away from Islam in disbelief ikujr) because of believing that destiny is foolish play. They say, ‘What use is it for a Creator who is in no need of harming us to create people then have them disintegrate (after death)?’
I responded to some of those who talked about this, ‘I am willing to discuss this issue with you only if you are present minded. If you talk without contemplation and fairness then talking to you is a wasteful exercise. Woe to you! Bring your intellect and listen to what I have to say.
It has been established that Allah is the Owner (al-Malik ), and that the Owner has the right to control what He owns however He wishes. It has also been established that Allah is All-Wise and someone who is wise never acts in vain.
Yet, I know you are not comfortable admitting that Allah is All-Wise. I heard that Jalinous said: ‘I am not sure whether Allah is wise or not.’
He said so because he noticed how things are erected then taken apart in this world. He compared Allah to His creation, for to us tearing something apart after erecting it is meaningless.
We respond, ‘How is it you have determined that taking something apart after erecting it is unwise?
Was not it through your intellect that was subsequently given to you by the Creator?
How then could He grant you perfect intellect yet be deprived of it himself?’
In fact, this was the same problem that Iblls confronted. He put down Allah’s Wisdom (hikmah) using his own intellect (”aql). Had he contemplated (tafakkur) upon the realisation that the Creator of his intellect {‘aql) is Most Wise { aidm in al-‘aql). It is by His wisdom that He created intellects.
If a fair person thinks about this, he will no longer have any doubt. Allah alluded to this when saying:
“Or is it that He has the females and you have the males.” [al-Tur (52):39]
Meaning: He kept the deficient (girls) and gave you the perfect (boys)?
So the only thing we can do is to admit our deficiency and to say:
‘This is the act of a Wise Knowledgeable One, and we do not understand the wisdom behind it.’
[Prophet] Musa {‘alayhias-salam) did not realise the wisdom behind defecting the ship and killing the young boy, yet when Al-Khidr explained to him, he submitted.
So let us be with our Creator like Musa {‘alayhi as-salam) was with Al-Khidr.
Do we not see how nicely prepared food is eaten before it turns into that which we know? We do not object to such things because we understand their overall benefit.
So why can not Allah’s actions have a hidden benefit (,mani) as well that we are unaware of?
The most ignorant of ignorant people {ajhalal-juhal) is a slave who seeks to know the secrets of his master {sirr mawlahu). He must surrender {taslim), not object (i’tirad).
In fact, had the only objective {maqsiid) of the occurrence of strange {‘ajiba) things been to test our submission (to Allah’s Will), it would have been enough.
I have contemplated the objective of death {maqsiidbi’l-mawl). Had there been no death, people would think they had no Creator {al-Khaliq). We do not see Allah, yet after death the soul will realise so many new things. After the soul returns, it will be ready to be near Allah in Paradise {jannah) because of the high level of belief it has gained. It will then deserve to be told:
“Come back to your Lord, Well-pleased (yourself) and well-pleasing unto Him! Enter you, then, among My honoured slaves.” [al-Fajr (89):28-29]
As for a non-believing (kafir) soul, it will continue not to believe after death in spite of seeing all the wonders of Allah, so it will be deserving of punishment. Allah said:
“But if they w ere returned (to the world), they would certainly revert to that which they were forbidden.” [al-An’am (6):28]
We ask Allah for a sound, surrendering mind that understands its limitations and never objects to its Creator. Woe to he who objects. Would his objection repel destiny? He will only benefit shame.
We seek refuge with Allah from being let down.
(Source: al-Hafiz Abu’l-Faraj ibn al-jawzl [d. 597AH] “CAPTURED THOUGHTS being” a translation of his masterpiece ‘Sayd al-K hati
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