Volume 10 Surah 12 - 15 - Enjoy Islam

Ibrahīm (Abraham) | GRACE AND GRATITUDE
man and with his time of activity and that of rest. Had there been permanent day or
permanent night, man’s whole functioning would have been destroyed, as would the
whole world around him. His life would have been impossible, inactive and
unproductive.
Yet all that the sūrah portrays consists of general lines that gather glimpses of
God’s blessings. In each line there are countless points. Therefore, a general aspect is
added here without any detail so that it fits with the overall scene: “And He gives you
of everything you ask of Him.” (Verse 34) That includes whatever people ask of wealth,
offspring, health, luxuries and refinements. “Should you try to count God’s blessings,
you will never be able to compute them.” (Verse 34) Indeed they are too many to be
computed by any one person, or by all human beings, for humans are restricted to a
period of time with definite beginning and end. They are also restricted to certain
limits of knowledge within time and space. God’s favours and blessings, however,
are not only numerous, but also unlimited. Hence, they are beyond human
reckoning.
Yet despite all this, human beings adopt false deities and consider them equal to
God. And instead of thanking God for His blessings, they exchange them for
unbelief. Certainly “man is persistent in wrongdoing, totally ungrateful.” (Verse 34)
Passionate Prayer by a Devoted Believer
When man’s conscience is awakened, he looks at the universe around him and
realizes that it is made for his benefit, either directly or through the harmony
between its laws and human life and needs. When he looks around him, he finds it
all made friendly by God’s grace, and by His power and permission it is both helpful
and useful. When man considers and contemplates, he must stand in awe of his
Lord, prostrate himself and express his gratitude. He always looks up to his Lord to
replace with ease any hardship he may be going through, and to preserve any aspect
of grace and happiness he may be enjoying.
The perfect example of a human being who always remembers God and expresses
his gratitude to Him is Abraham, the father of prophets. His truly thankful character
imparts a definite ambience to the whole sūrah, which also reflects God’s grace and
how it is received with gratitude or ingratitude. Abraham is shown here in a scene of
devotion, making a heartfelt appeal to God. His melodious supplication is
inspirational as it rises to God in heaven:
Abraham said: ‘My Lord.’ Make this land secure, and preserve me and my children
from ever worshipping idols. My Lord, they have indeed led many people astray.
Hence, he who follows me belongs to me. As for him who disobeys me, well, You are
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