In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Beneficent
It is He who has created the night and the day and the sun and the moon: each moves swiftly in its own orbit.
Never have We granted life everlasting to any man before you. Should you yourself die, do they, perchance, hope to live forever?
Every soul shall taste death. We test you all with evil and good by way of trial. To Us you all must return. (The Prophets: 21: 33-35)
The first of these verses concludes references to a number of universal phenomena that are worthy of deep contemplation as they point clearly to the fact of creation and God’s power over everything in the universe. "It is He who has created the night and the day and the sun and the moon: each moves swiftly in its own orbit."
The night and day are two universal phenomena, while the sun and the moon are two great celestial bodies that are closely related to human life on Earth and to life generally. When we contemplate the succession of the day and night and the movement of the sun and the moon, we realize that they are so accurate to admit no defect, and so consistent to allow no failure. Such contemplation is sufficient to guide our hearts and minds to the facts that the law system that applies to them is one, the will governing them is one and their great Maker is one.
This first passage of the Surah, which we have been discussing over the last few weeks, concludes with an outline that links the laws relevant to the creation, formation and sustenance with those relevant to the nature and destiny of human life: "Never have We granted life everlasting to any man before you. Should you yourself die, do they, perchance, hope to live forever? Every soul shall taste death. We test you all with evil and good by way of trial. To Us you all must return."
No human being has ever been granted immortality. Every creature is bound to die, and whatever has a beginning will certainly have an end. If God’s messenger (peace be upon him) will die, could they be granted life everlasting? Since they cannot hope to live forever, why do they not behave like ones who will inevitably taste death? Why do they not reflect and contemplate?
"Every soul shall taste death." This is the law that governs life. It has no exceptions or exemptions. The living, then, must take this into account and prepare themselves for it. This short journey on Earth is bound to come to an end, and its end is the death of every living thing. All shall return to God. But whatever happens to us during this trip through life, whether good or bad, is meant as a test: "We test you all with evil and good by way of trial."
When we speak of a test with something that is evil or hard, we easily understand it. It is a test to show the endurance and patience of the one who is tested, and how unshakable his trust in God, his Lord, is, and how much trust he has in God’s mercy. But a test with good things needs to be explained.
A test with good things is harder indeed, even though it may appear to be easier than a test with hardship. But the fact is that many people are able to endure a test with evil things, but few are those who endure a test with good things. When the test takes the form of sickness and weakness, many are able to endure and withstand the hardship, but when its form is that of good health, strength and ability, then few are those who go through it successfully. They definitely need to restrain the power that works within them.
People may be able to withstand poverty and deprivation, maintaining their dignity in such situations, but few are those who succeed in a test with comforts and affluence. The latter put in front of us a very strong temptation to satisfy all our desires.
Numerous are the ones who cannot be scared or deterred by torture and physical harm. They are not overawed by threats and warnings. By contrast, those who can resist temptations of wealth, position, comforts and desire are far from numerous.
It is not so difficult to tolerate the hardships of struggle and the injuries that one may receive in such a struggle. But it is hard indeed to experience comforts and a care-free life without becoming so keen to maintain it even at the expense of one’s own dignity. Indeed such experience could easily lead to accepting humiliation in order not to lose it.
A test with hardship may arouse within us a keen sense of dignity, encouraging us to resist. Thus, all our powers and faculties will be awaiting the hardship and keen to go through it with success. Affluence, on the other hand, has a calming effect which reduces our awareness of the test we have to go through. Hence, many are those who successfully go through the period of hardship, but when it is time for a test of affluence, they soon fail. This applies to all human beings, except those that God helps and protects. They are the ones described by the Prophet as ending up with what is good in all situations: "Amazing is a believer’s situation, because it all ends up in what is good. This applies to no one other than a believer. If he experiences what is good and pleasing, he will express his gratitude to God and this is good for him. On the other hand, if he experiences hardship, he will patiently persevere and this is good for him." (Related by Muslim)
Hence, to keep on the alert when being tested by affluence and comfort is more important than doing so when we go through a test with hardship. Maintaining a sound relation with God is the best guarantee in all situations.
Next week we will begin commentary on the second passage in this Surah, God willing.