“…And Allah has full power and control over His Affairs, but most of men know not” 12: 21

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE MOST MERCIFUL

This powerful reminder from Allah indicates how indispensable Allah is in the everyday running of our affairs. Nothing is able to happen without Allah’s Will. This is the ultimate knowledge that we human beings must possess. We seem to forget this.

 وَاللَّهُ غالِبٌ عَلىٰ أَمرِهِ وَلٰكِنَّ أَكثَرَ النّاسِ لا يَعلَمونَ

“…And Allah has full power and control over His Affairs, but most of men know not” 12: 21

Therefore:

1. When we are healthy and able to go to school and study, or seek employment – these Blessings are from Allah’s Mercy to us;
2. When we pass our examinations in school or able to earn money or even have a raise in our salary, they all come from Allah;
3. When we open the fridge and there is food inside, or when we turn on the tap and fresh clean water comes out for us to drink – all comes from Allah;
4. The ability for us to pay our rent and various bills all come from Allah;
5. The fact that we are Muslims and are able to worship Allah also come from Allah Himself.

This verse is a huge statement from Allah to inform us that we should not be arrogant and forget about Who Allows things to happen in our favours at ALL TIMES. WE are sometimes so arrogant that we call into this trap on thinking that things are not happening according to our liking because of other elements or because we have not worked hard enough, and we start to compromise on our Deen in order to fulfil our needs. We must understand that everything comes from Allah – good or bad – and we must acknowledge this and seek the Help of our Creator should we fail to achieve something. In fact, when things which we like did not happen in our favour, sometimes it is because perhaps Allah Knows it is not good for us. But Allah Was the One who controls the end results of all affairs.

وَعَسىٰ أَن تَكرَهوا شَيئًا وَهُوَ خَيرٌ لَكُم ۖ وَعَسىٰ أَن تُحِبّوا شَيئًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَكُم ۗ وَاللَّهُ يَعلَمُ وَأَنتُم لا تَعلَمونَ

“…and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows but you do not know.” 2: 216

Allah again Reminds us about our forgetfulness and shortcomings:

وَآتاكُم مِن كُلِّ ما سَأَلتُموهُ ۚ وَإِن تَعُدّوا نِعمَتَ اللَّهِ لا تُحصوها ۗ إِنَّ الإِنسانَ لَظَلومٌ كَفّارٌ

“ And He gave you of all that you asked for, and if you count the Blessings of Allah, never will you be able to count them. Verily! Man is indeed an extreme wrong-doer, – a disbeliever.” 14: 34

And on many verses of Surah Ar Rahman, Allah Reminded us:

فَبِأَيِّ آلاءِ رَبِّكُما تُكَذِّبانِ

“Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both (jinns and men) deny?”

In surah Al Waqi’ah (56) – Allah Always Questioned the reciters – Who was the One Who did many things:

أَفَرَأَيتُم ما تُمنونَ

أَأَنتُم تَخلُقونَهُ أَم نَحنُ الخالِقونَ

58. Then tell Me (about) the human semen that you emit.

59. Is it you who create it (i.e. make this semen into a perfect human being), or are We the Creator?

أَفَرَأَيتُمُ الماءَ الَّذي تَشرَبونَ

أَأَنتُم أَنزَلتُموهُ مِنَ المُزنِ أَم نَحنُ المُنزِلونَ

لَو نَشاءُ جَعَلناهُ أُجاجًا فَلَولا تَشكُرونَ

68. Tell Me! The water that you drink.

69. Is it you who cause it from the rainclouds to come down, or are We the Causer of it to come down?

70. If We willed, We verily could make it salt (and undrinkable), why then do you not give thanks (to Allah)?

أَفَرَأَيتُمُ النّارَ الَّتي تورونَ

أَأَنتُم أَنشَأتُم شَجَرَتَها أَم نَحنُ المُنشِئونَ

71. Tell Me! The fire which you kindle,

72. Is it you who made the tree thereof to grow, or are We the Grower?

The whole surah on Al Mulk (67) is making you and I think on Who is the Dominion on this earth and in our affairs? Even the last verse should make us think:

قُل أَرَأَيتُم إِن أَصبَحَ ماؤُكُم غَورًا فَمَن يَأتيكُم بِماءٍ مَعينٍ

Say (O Muhammad , peace be upon him): “Tell me! If (all) your water were to be sunk away, who then can supply you with flowing (spring) water?”

• Meaning that if the sand is porous all the way through – no rain water can be collected and there will be difficulties to collect this rain water for us to drink. BUT Allah with His Mercy Created soil of different quality so that rainwater can be collected naturally so that it becomes collected in a reservoir or a pond and rivers.

So, everything is in the control of Allah and we humans play no part in every single things in our lives. We should, of course, put in efforts in our affairs and trust Allah in the outcome of ALL matters, saying:

حَسبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعمَ الوَكيلُ

“…Allah (Alone) is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us).”

Examples in the Qur’an on Allah’s Full Power and Control:

1. Prophet Ibrahim (AS) – when he was thrown in the Fire. He made an important du’a, similar to 3: 173 –

HasbiyAllah, wa ni’mal wakeel – Allah (Alone) is Sufficient for me, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us).”

• The story of Prophet Yunus (AS) – from the time he left the people to the time he was in the belly of the whale.

He made an important du’a –

لا إِلٰهَ إِلّا أَنتَ سُبحانَكَ إِنّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظّالِمينَ

La ilaha illa Anta [none has the right to be worshipped but You (O Allah)], Glorified (and Exalted) are You [above all that (evil) they associate with You]. Truly, I have been of the wrong-doers.”

• Prophet Yusuf (AS) – Who faced different trials WITH ALLAH’S WILL – and due to his patience and istiqomah (steadfastness) – his status was elevated by Allah.

• Prophet Musa (AS) who had to run away from his people and he made an important du’a:

رَبِّ إِنّي لِما أَنزَلتَ إِلَيَّ مِن خَيرٍ فَقيرٌ

 “My Lord! Truly, I am in need of whatever good that You bestow on me!” 28: 24

• The people of the cave the seek refuge in Allah and run away in order to stay away from idol worshipping. Allah of course Protect them and Made them sleep in the cave. An important du’a was made by them:

 رَبَّنا آتِنا مِن لَدُنكَ رَحمَةً وَهَيِّئ لَنا مِن أَمرِنا رَشَدًا

“Our Lord! Bestow on us mercy from Yourself, and facilitate for us our affair in the right way!” 18: 10

Lessons to be learnt from today:

1. Allah controls all of our affairs
2. Trust in Allah – Tawakkul

وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَتَوَكَّلوا إِن كُنتُم مُؤمِنينَ

“…And put your trust in Allah if you are believers indeed” (5: 23)

وَتَوَكَّل عَلَى اللَّهِ ۚ وَكَفىٰ بِاللَّهِ وَكيلًا

And put your trust in Allah, and Sufficient is Allah as a Wakil (Trustee, or Disposer of affairs). 33: 3

• Seek Help in Allah at all times – this must come first and then put efforts after this, NOT THE OTHER WAY

يا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ آمَنُوا استَعينوا بِالصَّبرِ وَالصَّلاةِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصّابِرينَ

 O you who believe! Seek help in patience and As-Salat (the prayer). Truly! Allah is with As-Sabirin (the patient ones, etc.). 2: 153

• Seek a means to get closer to Allah (next week’s talk)

• Make plenty of du’a, for e.g du’a upon leaving house, leaving mosque, du’a before sleeping (last 2 verses of al Baqarah, etc

• Be patient and steadfast on the Deen if we do not achieve our goal or desire in this life.

• Help others to achieve this (enjoin good forbid evil).

• Have good companions

• Protect ourselves from shaytan

1. Constantly ask forgiveness to Allah for our shortcomings and impatience

1. Recite Qur’an with understanding and tadabbur in order to get Guidance.