Children’s Column May 2015
The Qur’an for Young Hearts – 61
Important Notes
1:The translation of the Qur’an being presented here is interpretative. It is meant for children. Those who can understand other translations should better consult them.
2. Parents are advised to hold sessions at home and teach the verses and explanation as given here, and, if they can, add more from Qur’anic commentaries.
3. Answers to exercise below may be attempted. Parents may evaluate them and reward the children suitably.
4. Schools could also include this in their Islamic curriculum.
5. The underlined words have been explained in the Dictionary given below.
Verses from Surah No. 2, Al-Baqarah
[212] Life of this world has been made charming to the unbelievers. So, they make fun of those who have believed (but have no wealth). But those who have become pious will be (far) above them on the Day a new life is started.(In this world) Allah grants(wealth) to anyone He wishes – without measure.
[213] (At one time) People were one community (of believers, but differences arose), so Allah sent Messengers giving good news, and delivering warning. And He sent with them the Book with the truth, so that it may judge among the people in matters where they had differed. But none disagreed with it except those (very people) who had been given it, (and that too) after they had received clear signs. (This they did) out of opposition to each other. Therefore, Allah guided by His will those who had believed to the right way in matters concerning the truth in all matters where they were differing (with each other). And Allah guides to the straight path anyone He wishes.
Understanding the verses
Many people think that if they believe in Islam and do a few good things, like praying a few times a day, or fasting, or saying some du`a, then, they become important in the sight of Allah, and so, Allah must now give them good things in this life.
In other words, they try to do trading with Allah. They seem to say to Allah, “I do good to You, you do go good to me.”
They forget, quite often, that the reward or punishment for good or bad deeds is going to be in the Next Life. It will be too bad if a man was rewarded for his good deeds in this life itself. If that happens, then, can he ask for rewards in the Next Life also?
Actually, this world is of no importance at all. If it shines, it is for the unbelievers. They love this world and work hard to shine it more and more, and then try to getsome for themselves. So, Allah rewards them in this world. Should He not reward those who work hard with nothing in mind but rewards of this world? Will it not be injustice, if they are not rewarded now, for their hard work?
So, because the unbelievers in Allah believe in this world alone, He makes it attractive to them, so that they may get more and more involved in it, and never turn to their Lord, the One God. Actually, they have a dislike for Him. This is the punishment for ignoring Him and loving false gods.
Of course, when the unbelievers shine the world and get some wealth, those who are not working at shining the world, but who are working to shine their personality, do not get as much wealth. When that happens, that is, the unbelievers have wealth, and the believers do not have wealth, the unbelievers laugh and make fun of the believers. They tell them, “See, how clever we are. We are on top of you.” But they do not know that this is a short life of 60-70 years. Another life will follow, which will be zillions of years long, andstill longer. There, the believers will be on top of the unbelievers.
The story of mankind is very old. At the beginning, and after every Prophet’s disbelieving people were destroyed, mankind became one community, all of them believing in One Lord their God, and worshipping Him alone. But then, some people began to get crooked. So, they got divided into believers and unbelievers. But, instead of leaving them to themselves, suffering in this life, Allah in His Kindness sent Messages through Messengers to make them one community of believers.
It was expected that all the people would become one community again, united with their Prophet in belief in One God.
But alas, far from the misguided ones, even among those who were previously believers, some became disbelievers in the new Message. Why did this happen? It happened because the people fell into disputing, arguing, and quarreling with each other. Although, they were given clear signs of what the truth is,this group was opposing that group, and that group was opposing this group, and so on.
But Allah is All-merciful. Despite the people’s disputing, arguing and quarreling, He took special care to guide some people to the truth so that the Truth may not die out completely.
But many stuck to their point. Thus, the number of unbelievers increased. It went on, over centuries and centuries, until entire mankind became unbelievers. Finally, Allah sent Muhammad, peace on him. He converted a large number to believers.
But, once again, out of those who are believers, some take the wrong path and gradually become unbelievers.
Be careful then, that you should be among those who see the truth, but choose to go the other way.
Test of Understanding:
Answer the following:
- What is trading with Allah?
- What is Allah’s rule about the wealth of this world?
- What were the people at start? Were they all believers or unbelievers?
- Why did people of the past not believe in new Messages?
- Who should get this word?
- Why was Muhammad (peace on him) sent?
- Do you see among Muslims those who dispute, argue and quarrel despite knowing what is right and what is wrong?
- How does the number of unbelievers increase?
Dictionary:
- Measure: Count.
- Community: A group of people.
- Involve: Take personal interest in a work.
- Dispute: Disagree without good reason.
(To be continued)
