In the name of God, the Merciful, the Beneficent

But people have divided themselves into factions, each delighting in what they have. So, leave them alone, lost in their ignorance, till a time appointed.

Do they think that by all the wealth and offspring We provide for them We hasten to them all that is good? By no means! But they are devoid of perception.

Truly, those who stand in reverent awe of their Lord, and who believe in their Lord’s revelations, and who do not associate any partners with their Lord, and who give away whatever they have to give with their hearts filled with awe, knowing that to their Lord they shall certainly return: these vie with one another in doing good works, and they are the ones who are foremost in them.

(The Believers, Al-Muminoon: 23: 53-61)

So far, the surah has highlighted the fact that God sent the same message to mankind through a long line of prophets and messengers who all preached the basic principle of God’s oneness and the need of mankind to conduct their lives in accordance with His guidance. From Noah to Jesus, every messenger counseled his community to worship God alone and to defer to His judgment on all matters of human life.

All messengers (peace be upon them all) belonged to a single nation, having the same message, kind of worship and following the same direction. But when the messengers had gone, mankind splintered into different groups which could not agree on what line to follow: “But people have divided themselves into factions, each delighting in what they have. So, leave them alone, lost in their ignorance, till a time appointed. Do they think that by all the wealth and offspring We provide for them We hasten to them all that is good? By no means! But they are devoid of perception.”

The fine Qur’anic style puts this whole question into a picture of strong physical movement, showing people in strong conflict, splitting up into factions quarreling over something and pulling it apart. Each faction is thus left with a portion of it, taking it away and delighting with the fact of holding on to it. Hence, no faction thinks of anything other than what it holds. Each goes its separate way, shutting up all inlets so that no ray of light or a breeze of fresh air could come through. All factions thus live in their isolated quarters, busy with what they have, ignorant of everything else.

When this image has been outlined, the surah addresses God’s messenger: “So, leave them alone, lost in their ignorance, till a time appointed.” Let them take their time, preoccupied with their own affairs, until their appointed time inevitably comes, spelling out their destiny.

The surah adds a derisive question that highlights their lack of awareness. They think that the time they have been given, and the wealth and offspring they are allowed to enjoy means that they are favored with blessings. “Do they think that by all the wealth and offspring We provide for them We hasten to them all that is good?” Little do they realize the truth that it is all but a test which they have to go through: “By no means! But they are devoid of perception.” They simply do not perceive the destiny to which they are heading after having enjoyed what they have been given in this life.

By contrast, believers are always on the alert, taking necessary precautions: “Truly, those who stand in reverent awe of their Lord, and who believe in their Lord’s revelations, and who do not associate any partners with their Lord, and who give away whatever they have to give with their hearts filled with awe, knowing that to their Lord they shall certainly return: these vie with one another in doing good works, and they are the ones who are foremost in them.”

Here we see how faith affects hearts, imparting to them a special kind of refinement, sensitivity and a clear aspiration to attain perfection. They are the ones who consider the consequences of their actions. They are always ready and willing to do their duties.

We see that believers are always in awe of their Lord, God-fearing, believing in His revelations and His signs, attributing no share of Godhead to anyone other than Him, fulfilling the duties He requires of them. Beyond all this, they “give away whatever they have to give with their hearts filled with awe, knowing that to their Lord they shall certainly return.” This is a manifestation of their feeling that they fall short of what they should do. It is true that they have done their utmost, but they consider it far from adequate.

Aishah reports that she asked the Prophet about this verse, saying: “Does the expression ‘those who give away whatever they have to give with their hearts filled with awe...’ refer to people who may steal, commit adultery and drink intoxicants but fear God?” He said: “No. It refers to a person who offers prayers, fasts, gives away to charity and at the same time fears God.” (Related by Al-Tirmidhi)

A believer senses God’s care and feels His favors with his every breath and heartbeat. Hence, he thinks that whatever he offers of worship and good action to be too little by comparison. At the same time, every grain in a believer feels God’s greatness and power. With all his faculties he perceives how God regulates everything around him. Hence, he feels in awe of Him. He dreads that he should meet God, having fallen short of fulfilling his duties toward Him, or not given Him what is due to Him of worship or gratitude.

It is these people that vie with one another in doing what is good. They are the ones who hasten to do good deeds, and to be in the lead among those who do good. Their watchful eyes, alert hearts and minds prompt them to do what is required of them.

Theirs is a totally different situation from the others who are lost in their ignorance, thinking that God’s blessings are given to them in particular because they are favored. Their attitude is the same as that of game animals rushing toward bait. This type of people are found everywhere: they are overwhelmed with what they are given of life comforts, distracted from their duties, feeling their own importance. But then they only wake up to their fate when it is too late.

Arab News Islam 2 May 2003