.

Monday 28 November 2022

Leave those who deluded by worldly life take amusement and diversion as their religion

There are number of verses / Ayats in Qur'an that caution man from living and wasting away their lives in amusement and lewdness for these are diversionary means that Satan uses to take believers away from the path that would ensure an entry ticket into the paradise / Jannah. Yet man is too engrossed in the so-called liveliness and amusement of life that he really doesn't care for such cautions, especially when he is young and his lustful desires are at their best. It is only when one's youth starts to drift by and rationale takes over emotions, one comes to know the true reality of worldly life. It is then he comes to know that this life was but a life of tough tests and trials. Those who controlled their emotions and desires and lived to pass the tests and trials given to them by their Lord, would be the ones who would be among the successful. 
The Prophet, and indeed every Muslim, is commanded to ignore, by word and deed, those who treat religion as a pastime and as idle play. This description applies to anyone who does not give his faith respect by making it the basis of all aspects of his life: worship, beliefs, practices, moral values, and a legal code. It also applies to anyone who describes the principles and legislations of this faith in derogatory terms, such as those who ridicule the concept of believing in the world beyond the reach of human perception, which is an essential part of the Islamic faith. [4]
And such are the people who despite being told the harsh realities of life and the need to cling to their firm faith in Allah, just shy away from such efforts and continue to live a life that pleases them, and not the life that pleases their Lord. 

For such people, the 70th verse of Surah 6. Al An An'am should serve as a warning. Please read the verse below and its explanation by some of the eminent Muslim scholars of all times:

وَذَرِ الَّذِيۡنَ اتَّخَذُوۡا دِيۡنَهُمۡ لَعِبًا وَّلَهۡوًا وَّغَرَّتۡهُمُ الۡحَيٰوةُ الدُّنۡيَا​ وَ ذَكِّرۡ بِهٖۤ اَنۡ تُبۡسَلَ نَفۡسٌ ۢ بِمَا كَسَبَتۡ​ۖ لَـيۡسَ لَهَا مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰهِ وَلِىٌّ وَّلَا شَفِيۡعٌ​ ۚ وَاِنۡ تَعۡدِلۡ كُلَّ عَدۡلٍ لَّا يُؤۡخَذۡ مِنۡهَا​ ؕ اُولٰٓـئِكَ الَّذِيۡنَ اُبۡسِلُوۡا بِمَا كَسَبُوۡا​ ۚ لَهُمۡ شَرَابٌ مِّنۡ حَمِيۡمٍ وَّعَذَابٌ اَ لِيۡمٌۢ بِمَا كَانُوۡا يَكۡفُرُوۡنَ
(6:70) Leave alone those who have made a sport and a pastime of their religion and whom the life of the world has beguiled. But continue to admonish them (with the Qur'an) lest a man should be caught for what he has himself earned for there shall neither be any protector nor intercessor apart from Allah; and though he may offer any conceivable ransom it shall not be accepted from him, for such people have been caught for the deeds that they have themselves earned. Boiling water to drink and a painful chastisement to suffer for their unbelief is what awaits them.

Tafsir Ibn-Kathir
(And leave alone those who take their religion as play and amusement, and are deceived by the life of this world.) The Ayah commands such people to leave, ignore them and give them respite, for soon, they will taste a tremendous torment.

This is why Allah said, (But remind with it) meaning, remind the people with this Qur'an and warn them against Allah's revenge and painful torment on the Day of Resurrection. 

Allah said; (lest a soul Tubsal for that which one has earned,) meaning, so that it is not Tubsal. Ad-Dahhak from Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Al-Hasan and As-Suddi said that Tubsal means, be submissive. Al-Walibi said that Ibn `Abbas said that Tubsal means, `be exposed'. Qatadah said that Tubsal means, `be prevented', Murrah and Ibn Zayd said that it means, `be recompensed', Al-Kalbi said, `be reckoned'. All these statements and expressions are similar, for they all mean exposure to destruction, being kept away from all that is good, and being restrained from attaining what is desired. 

Allah also said; (Every person is restrained by what he has earned. Except those on the Right.) [74:38-39], and (when he will find for himself no protector or intercessor besides Allah,) and,(and even if he offers every ransom, it will not be accepted from him.) meaning, whatever the ransom such people offer, it will not be accepted from them. 

Allah said in a similar statement, (Verily, those who disbelieved, and died while they were disbelievers, the (whole) earth full of gold will not be accepted from anyone of them.) [3:91] 

Allah said here, (Such are they who are given up to destruction because of that which they have earned. For them it will be a drink of boiling water and a painful torment because they used to disbelieve. )

Muhammad Asad Explanation:
(And leave to themselves all those who, beguiled by the life of this world, have made play and passing delights their religion;) The phrase attakhadhu dinahum la'iban wa-lahwan can be understood in either of two ways: (l) "they have made their religion [an object of] play and fun", or (2) "they have made play and fun [or "passing delights"] their religion" - i.e., the main goal of their lives. To my mind, the latter reading is definitely preferable inasmuch as it brings out the fact that many of those who are "beguiled by the life of this world" devote themselves to the pursuit of what the Qur'an describes as "passing delights" - including the pleasures which money and power can provide - with something akin to religious fervour: an attitude of mind which causes them to lose sight of all spiritual and moral values.

(but remind [them] herewith that [in the life to come] every human being shall be held in pledge for whatever wrong he has done, and shall have none to protect him from God, and none to intercede for him; and though he offers any conceivable ransom,) Lit., "though he might [try to] ransom himself with all ransom" - i.e., though he might proffer, after resurrection, any atonement whatever for his past sins.

(it shall not be accepted by him. It is [people such as] these that shall be held in pledge for the wrong they have done; for them there is [in the life to come] a draught of burning despair,) Among the various meanings attributable to the word hamim are the concepts of intense heat as well as of painful cold (Qamus, Taj al-'Arus). In the eschatology of the Qur'an, it invariably refers to the suffering of the sinners in the life to come, and since all Qur'anic references to life after death are, necessarily, allegorical, the term hamim may be rendered as "burning despair".

Yusuf Ali Explanation
Cf. vi 32. where we are told that the life of this world is mere play and amusement, and Religion and the Hereafter are the serious things that require our attention. Worldly people reverse this because they are deceived by the allurements of this life. But their own acts will find them out.

We must never forget our own personal responsibility for all we do, or deceive ourselves by the illusion of vicarious atonement.

Javed Ahmad Ghamidi Explanation:
Stated here is the real reason of their mischief. Imām Amīn Aḥsan Iṣlāḥī writes:
... Their real misconception is that since they are leading a successful life, then their attitude must definitely be correct. They give the life of this world the status of the life to come. This world is not governed by the principle of reward and punishment; on the contrary, it is governed by the principle of trial and test. Here the Almighty has given respite to evil as well together with the truth. To realize their desires, they have regarded evil as their religion and think that this life is all there is and that the attitude they have adopted is correct. They further think that the fate of which the Qur’ān has warned them is a far-fetched threat. (Amīn Aḥsan Iṣlāḥī, Tadabbur-i Qur’ān, vol. 3, 80)
The actual words are: اَنْ تُبْسَلَ نَفْسٌۣ. A word to the effect مخافة (lest) is suppressed beforeاَنۡ in accordance with linguistic principles.

The actual words are: لَهُمْ شَرَابٌ مِّنْ حَمِيْمٍ وَّعَذَابٌ اَلِيْمٌۣ. In other words, their first feast will be boiling water and then they will be consigned to a severe torment. This has been specified by the Qur’ān in verse 93 of Sūrah al-Wāqi‘ah.

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:
This verse re-emphasizes the distinction between the two communities, making several important points.

The Prophet, and indeed every Muslim, is commanded to ignore, by word and deed, those who treat religion as a pastime and as idle play. This description applies to anyone who does not give his faith respect by making it the basis of all aspects of his life: worship, beliefs, practices, moral values, and a legal code. It also applies to anyone who describes the principles and legislations of this faith in derogatory terms, such as those who ridicule the concept of believing in the world beyond the reach of human perception, which is an essential part of the Islamic faith. The same is the case with people who talk disrespectfully of zakat which is one of the pillars upon which the structure of Islam is built, or describe morality and chastity as the values of rural and feudal societies, and those who speak disapprovingly of the Islamic rules of marriage, or describe as fetters the sort of guarantees God has given to Muslim women to help them maintain their chastity. It applies above all to those who deny God’s absolute sovereignty and His authority to legislate for human life in political, social, economic and legal fields, claiming that human beings may legislate for themselves without reference to God’s law. All those are included as ones who `take their religion for a pastime and a sport’. Every Muslim is commanded to stay away from them except to remind them of their duty towards God. They are among the wrongdoers and unbelievers described in this verse as ones who are held in pledge for what they have done’. They are threatened with having to drink boiling water and having to endure painful suffering for their disbelief.

The Prophet, and indeed every Muslim is further instructed to remind these people of God and warn them against being held in pledge and destroyed in consequence of what they have done. They are to be reminded that they cannot enjoy any support against God, and no one can intercede with Him on their behalf. No ransom will be accepted from them. The Qur’anic style here is exceedingly beautiful and effective: “Remind them with this (Qur’an), lest every human being should be held in pledge for whatever he has done, when he shall have none to protect him from God, and none to intercede for him. If he were to offer any conceivable ransom, it shall not be accepted from him.” Every single soul will have to account for itself, without support, and when no ransom is of any use.

As for those who have taken their religion in jest and been beguiled by the life of this world, they are already held in pledge for what they have done. Their doom is sealed: “Those are the ones who are held in pledge for what they have done. Scalding water shall they drink, and grievous suffering awaits them because they were unbelievers.” The scalding water, which boils in their throats and stomachs, and the painful suffering which ensues are a fitting recompense for their ridicule of faith.

Speaking of the unbelievers, God describes them as "Those who take their religion for a pastime and a sport". Is it truly their religion? This description fits perfectly those who declared their acceptance of Islam and then treated their religion as an object of ridicule. There were some people like that to whom the appellation `hypocrites’ was given, but they were in Madinah. Can the same statement apply to unbelievers who did not embrace Islam in the first place? Well, Islam is the religion of all mankind, including those who do not believe in it, since it is the only faith God accepts from human beings ever since the revelation of the message preached by the Prophet Muhammad, the last of all messengers. Hence, anyone who rejects it actually rejects his own faith.

Hence, it is significant that the possessive pronoun is used in the beginning of this verse: “Stay away from those who take their religion for a pastime and a sport.” It is most probably, and God knows best, a reference to the fact that Islam is a religion for all mankind. Whoever makes fun of it, even though he may be an idolater, actually makes fun of his own religion. We probably still need to explain who are meant by the term `idolaters. They are those who claim that any being has a share of God’s attributes. This may take the form of believing in the existence of deities other than God, or offering worship and performing rituals to anyone other than God, or acknowledging the authority to legislate to anyone besides God. Needless to say, the term idolaters also include those who claim for themselves any of these, however strongly they may profess to be Muslims. We should then be clear about who belongs to our faith.

The last point concerns the limits within which it is permissible to sit with the wrongdoers, or idolaters, and those who take religion as an object of fun and ridicule. As we have already mentioned, this is permissible only when it is done to remind them of divine faith and to warn them against disobeying God. It can have no other purpose. Once we realize that they engage in idle talk about God’s revelations or treat them as an object of ridicule we must leave their company immediately. In commenting on this verse, al-Qurtubi explains the rulings mentioned in the Qur’an: “This verse provides an answer in God’s Book to anyone who claims that high standing Imams and their followers may have social contacts with wrongdoers, or may try to protect themselves by pretending to accept their views as correct.”

Our view is that the Qur’anic verse allows mixing with the wrongdoers in order to admonish and warn them, and to correct their erring views. Mixing with them and keeping quiet about what they say and do in order to protect ourselves is unacceptable, because it imparts an impression of accepting falsehood and rejecting the truth. In addition, it deceives people and degrades the divine faith and its advocates. Such a situation is totally unacceptable.

Now you may listen to the following short clipped video to explanation of the aforesaid Ayat by eminent Muslim scholar Nouman Ali Khan:
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'anYou may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
Photo | Tafsir References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs of the Qur'ān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  
In order to augment and add more explanation as already provided, additional input has been interjected from the following sources: 
  • Tafsir Ibn Khatir
  • Muhammad Asad Translation
  • Yusuf Ali Translation
  • Translation Javed Ahmad Ghamidi / Al Mawrid
  • Qur'an Wiki
  • Verse by Verse Qur'an Study Circle
  • Towards Understanding the Quran
In addition, references of other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Twitter Delicious Facebook Digg Stumbleupon Favorites More