Surah 1-2 - YasSarNal QuR'aN

Al-Baqarah (The Cow) | THE NATURE OF ISLAMIC SOCIETYcustodians of God’s message in this world. Their reward will be in paradise in thelife to come. It is a fitting reward for their courage in defeating their own selfishnessand greed, resisting all manner of temptation, and refusing to surrender their life anddestiny to any other power or authority except that of God Almighty.Do you reckon that you will enter paradise while you have not suffered like those[believers] who passed away before you? Affliction and adversity befell them, and soterribly shaken were they that the messenger and the believers with him wouldexclaim, ‘When will God’s help come?’ Surely, God’s help is close at hand. (Verse214)With these poignant and profound words, and in this direct manner, Godaddresses the founding community of Islam, drawing their attention to theexperiences of their fellow believers before them who were entrusted with the sametask of establishing the divine code of living on earth. Nevertheless, the message inthese words is timeless. It is directed to all human groups to whom God assigns thathonourable task.It is an awesome experience that drives God’s own Messenger and those who haveaccepted the faith close to despair and makes there cry out with frustration: “ ‘Whenwill God’s help come?’ “It is a picture of great trepidation and unimaginableapprehension that cause a believer’s faith to be tested so severely and shaken in sucha profound manner. However, with determination and steadfastness, God’s help issure to arrive, for “Surely, God’s help is close at hand.”God’s support that ensures victory is reserved for those who earn it: those whopersevere and stand firm to the end in the face of all adversity and misfortune, neverwavering but always certain that God’s help is on its way. No matter how severe theordeal may become, true believers will always look to God, and to God alone, forsalvation and support. By displaying such faith and trust in God, believers aredeservedly rewarded by being admitted into paradise.The dynamic of social and religious struggle reinforces the human spirit andencourages man to rise above his own ego and so emerge purer and stronger, readyto uphold the faith with greater energy and vigour. Thus, believers become a shiningrole model even for their most ardent adversaries, some of whom are liable to beimpressed and join ranks with the believers, as witnessed throughout human history.But even if this were not the case, something else much greater and much moreadmirable happens: advocates of God’s order are liberated from subordination toany worldly power or temptation. Life and its comforts become of no realconsequence, and man assumes control of his world, which can only mean a triumphfor humanity and the human spirit as a whole.268