Volume 10 Surah 12 - 15 - Enjoy Islam

Ibrahīm (Abraham) | ONE MESSAGE FOR ALL MANKIND
saved them from all this was a great act demonstrating His grace. It should be
remembered with gratitude.
“That was indeed an awesome trial from your Lord.” (Verse 6) Their trial consisted of
the affliction visited on them by Pharaoh. It was a means to test their patience,
resistance, perseverance and determination. Patience does not merely entail enduring
hardship. It is rather endurance without being shaken or mentally defeated, coupled
with the determination to stand up to tyranny until freedom is achieved. Endurance
that only entails tolerating humiliation is not worthy of praise. The Israelites also
experienced the trial of deliverance from tyranny, so as to test their gratitude for
God’s grace, which should be reflected in following the path of His guidance.
Moses continues to explain matters to his people after having reminded them of
the Days of God, and directed them to the ultimate objective of the trial. He tells
them about the reward God attaches to gratitude and His punishment for
ingratitude: “For your Lord had declared: ‘If you are grateful, I shall certainly give you
more; but if you are ungrateful, then My punishment shall be severe indeed.’“ (Verse 7)
It is useful to reflect a little here on this great truth whereby God’s blessings are
increased for the grateful and whereby severe punishment awaits those who adopt
the opposite stance. In the first instance, we feel reassured, since it is a promise by
God, and God always fulfils His promises. It must come to pass. If we want to see it
in practice, and look for its material causes, we need not go very far.
Expressing gratitude for a blessing is evidence of implementing correct standards
in day-to-day life. The proper reward for a blessing, according to sound human
nature, is to be grateful for it. Moreover, a person who thanks God for His blessings
is always watching Him when it comes to making use of such blessings. He shows no
arrogance, and he never puts God’s blessings to foul or evil use. Both qualities add to
the purity of the human soul, and motivate it to further good action that helps such
blessings grow and increase. Thus a grateful person also earns other people’s goodwill,
and they are then ready to help. This reflects on the community as a whole, as
ties within the community are placed on a sound footing. Its wealth increases with
security. God’s promise is however sufficient reassurance for a believer, whether he
understands the causes or not. He knows that God’s promise always comes true.
Denying God’s grace can take many forms. For example, omitting to thank God
for it or refusing to recognize that it is God who has bestowed it, and attributing it to
one’s own knowledge, expertise, hard work, or intelligence, as if these are not part of
the grace God bestows on His servants. It may also take the form of misusing or
abusing God’s blessings, as when these are used to behave arrogantly when dealing
with other people or to satisfy evil or corrupt desires.
The severe punishment threatened here may include being deprived of God’s
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