Quranic Reflections - Islamic School of Stanford

earth mingles with it,” so simply and so quickly and what else “But (later) it
becomes dry and broken pieces, which the winds scatter. And Allah is
Able to do everything” (TMQ, 18:45). The ayah lays out a picture in which
we see quick flashes from the beginning of life to its middle and then to its
end. The stages pass by quickly, and are tied together by the Arabic letter “fa”
(meaning ‘and’) [And …mingles... becomes dry and broken pieces] which
implies quick vanishing and thus refer to the nature of life itself. This life is
passing; do not become attached to it, my brother in Islam, if you really want
to be protected from trials and temptations.
2. Remembering the hereafter: Remember in particular the time you will stand in
front of Allah, The Compeller. It is as if remembering the hereafter is a basic
requirement one should meet in order to be protected from all trials (the trial
of religion as well as that of wealth): “And (remember) the Day We shall
cause the mountains to pass away (like clouds of dust), and you will see
the earth as a leveled plain, and we shall gather them all together so as to
leave not one of them behind” (TMQ, 18:47).
3- Humility
“And they will be set before your Lord in (lines as) rows, (and Allah will
say): “Now indeed, you have come to Us as We created you the first
time…” (TMQ, 18:48).
“And the Book (one’s Record) will be placed (in the right hand for a
believer in the Oneness of Allah, and in the left hand for a disbeliever in
the Oneness of Allah), and you will see the Mujrimun (criminals,
polytheists, sinners), fearful of that which is (recorded) therein. They will
say: “Woe to us! What sort of Book is this that leaves neither a small
thing nor a big thing, but has recorded it with numbers!” And they will
find all that they did, placed before them, and your Lord treats no one
with injustice” (TMQ, 18:49).
To be granted protection from the trial of knowledge, one must be humble first to
Allah (SWT) then in case one is a learner, to the teacher (the example of Musa’s
relation to Al Khidr). This can be found in ayah 69: “Musa said (to Al Khidr)
despite the fact that he was one of the favored Prophets of Allah (SWT) and the only
one to speak with Him directly: “If Allah wills, you will find me patient, and I will
not disobey you in aught.” (TMQ, 18:69). So beware of arrogance which may stem
from the fact that you have high academic degrees, that you have encyclopedic
knowledge or that you have learnt the Qur’an by heart . This may keep you from
being humble to Allah (SWT).
4- Sincerity
The trial of power can be overcome through sincerity and humility to Allah (SWT)
and by attributing one’s power and strength to Him: “(Dhul-Qarnain) said: “This is
a mercy from my Lord…” (TMQ, 18:98).