There are certain concepts that are ingrained in our fiṭrah—these concepts make it possible for us to reach Allāh; to find Him and to submit to Him.
There are many such concepts, and we witness them in our day to day lives. Such as: The one who gives you, cares for you and loves you deserves gratitude and loyalty. The one who does well deserves praise.
These are concepts that are coded into us and because of this, these are concepts that even a child understands. When a child does a task well, try praising his sibling instead and then watch his reaction. His innate nature will refuse to accept your misguided judgement.
No matter how badly a person strays and his fiṭrah corrupts, these are some realities that remain unchanged and undisputed. What prevents the right reaction, however, is diseases of the heart. Think: Arrogance, pride, ego and so on. Take a look at Sūrat ash-Shuʿarāʾ. Prophet Mūsā a.s. comes to Firʿawn with a new Message, a Message that was in opposition to their belief.
Firʿawn saw this as a provocation and thus, ingratitude and disloyalty from Mūsā, whom he had raised from infancy. The first words out of his mouth were to remind Mūsā of the favours he had over him: Pharaoh said, “Did we not raise you among us as a child, and you stayed several years of your life in our care? And you did the blunder you did; still you are ungrateful.” ash-Shuʿarāʾ:18-19
This was the basic concept that was ingrained in his fiṭrah that he couldn’t deny: The one who does good to you deserves gratitude. He expected gratitude from Mūsā.
Yet, in the same conversation, when Mūsā reminds Firʿawn of the Lord of Creation and of the favours He has over the creation, Firʿawn promptly rejects Him, showing a worse ingratitude that he had accused Mūsā of moments earlier. His fiṭrah knew this concept, but the diseases in his heart prompted him to act indifferently leading him to kufr. Allāh has given all of us the tools that lead us to guidance and eternal delight in the Hereafter, but too often, the diseases that brew in our chests become a barrier in reaching that guidance, and thus people stray.
Pharaoh said, “Did we not raise you among us as a child, and you stayed several years of your life in our care? And you did the blunder you did; still you are ungrateful.” ash-Shuʿarāʾ:18-19
What’s very interesting about this ayah, is that Firawn expected gratitude from Moosa, but really the only reason Moosa landed up in his palace in the first place, was because of his oppressive killing of male babies.
And we see this happens today as well, sometimes countries wage war with or invade other lands and then expect gratitude for whatever humanitarian help they send, or refugees they accept. But they are the ones who caused the need for the aid in the first place!
The Pharaoh was guilty of murdering thousands. Yet, when Prophet Musa claimed the life of a single man by accident, the Pharaoh rebuked him for it, saying:
وَفَعَلْتَ فَعْلَتَكَ الَّتِي فَعَلْتَ " And you did that deed of yours which you did.." (Al-Qur'an, 26:19) Holding people accountable for mistakes that you are far guiltier of has always been the ways of tyrants, oppressors and narcissists.
How impossible you find a task is directly related to how poor your ability to take Allāh's help is. 〰〰〰 فَلَمَّا تَرَاءَى الْجَمْعَانِ قَالَ أَصْحَابُ مُوسَىٰ إِنَّا لَمُدْرَكُونَ And when the two companies saw one another, the companions of Moses said, "Indeed, we are to be overtaken! قَالَ كَلَّا ۖ إِنَّ مَعِيَ رَبِّي سَيَهْدِينِ [Moses] said, "No! Indeed, with me is my Lord; He will guide me." فَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰ أَنِ اضْرِب بِّعَصَاكَ الْبَحْرَ ۖ فَانفَلَقَ فَكَانَ كُلُّ فِرْقٍ كَالطَّوْدِ الْعَظِيمِ Then We inspired to Moses, "Strike with your staff the sea," and it parted, and each portion was like a great towering mountain. {Ash-Shuʿrāʾ:61–63}
~ He Sees... ~ “(Allah) Who sees you when you stand up.” (Qur’an 26:218) ٱلَّذِي يَرَىٰكَ حِينَ تَقُومُ He sees you when you stand in prayer, when you beg Him for your needs, when you complain of your grief… He sees your certainty of Him and your love towards Him. Gems From The Quran Telegram: goo.gl/ZclAR9 Instagram: goo.gl/OaiQD7 Facebook: goo.gl/jJ90YS