Alif. Lam. Mim. Defeated have been the Byzantines in the lands close-by; yet despite their defeat, they will gain victory within a few years. All power of decision belongs to God before and after. And on that day the believers will rejoice in God’s support. He grants support to whomever He wills. He alone is Almighty, Merciful.
This is God’s promise. Never does God fail to fulfill His promise; but most people do not know it. They only know the outer surface of this world’s life, whereas of the hereafter they remain unaware.
(The Byzantines, Al-Roum: 30: 1-7)
“All power of decision belongs to God before and after. And on that day the believers will rejoice in God’s support.” God’s promise was certainly fulfilled as stated, and the believers rejoiced at the victory granted by God. “He grants support to whomever He wills. He alone is Almighty, Merciful.” Thus the decision is His while His support is granted to whom He chooses. Nothing opposes His will. Indeed His will, which determines the results, is the same as the will that brings about the elements and the causes that leads to these results. Thus, there is no conflict between the desired results and the prevailing circumstances. The laws that operate the whole universe are devised by the same free will. It is this will that has determined that there should be laws of nature that operate without fail, and systems to ensure stability. Both victory and defeat are the results of certain factors that work in accordance with the laws set in operation.
The Islamic faith is very clear and logical. While it makes clear that all power of decision rests with God, it does not exempt people from taking the measures that are normally necessary to bring about practical results. Whether these results take effect is not part of people’s responsibility, because it ultimately belongs to God’s overall design. A Bedouin left his she-camel untied and went into the mosque to pray. As he entered, he said: “I fully rely on God.” The Prophet said to him: “Tie your she-camel and then rely on God.” (Related by Al-Tirmidhi.)
Thus, Islam makes true reliance on God conditional on taking all the necessary measures in any particular situation, knowing that ultimately all decisions are left to Him.
“He grants support to whomever He wills. He alone is Almighty, Merciful.” Victory is thus the result of the power that makes it a reality and the mercy that fulfills what is in the best interests of people. In this way, such a victory is an aspect of mercy for both the victors and the vanquished. God says in the Qur’an: “Had it not been for the fact that God repels one group of people by another, the earth would have been utterly corrupted.” (2: 251) That the earth should remain free of corruption is ultimately good for all, including those who are defeated.
“This is God’s promise. Never does God fail to fulfill His promise; but most people do not know it. They only know the outer surface of this world’s life, whereas of the hereafter they remain unaware.” Such victory has been promised by God, which means that it will certainly come about in real life. For, “never does God fail to fulfill His promise.” The facts of the matter are that His promise issues from His free will and absolute wisdom; He is able to fulfill it, as no power can repel His judgment. Indeed, nothing takes place in the universe except as He wills.
Thus, the fulfillment of God’s promise is part of the overall universal law that is subject to no alteration. Yet, “most people do not know it,” even though they may appear to be great scientists who have a firm grasp and wide scope of knowledge. The fact is that their knowledge is superficial, related to what is apparent in life. It does not extend to basic laws and rules, and cannot comprehend their interrelations: “They only know the outer surface of this world’s life.”
They cannot penetrate any deeper than this outer surface or fathom what lies beyond it. This outer surface of the present life is very limited, even though it may appear to us to be wide and vast. Only a small part of it occupies all their efforts. They cannot learn all that is related to that small part even when they devote their entire lives to it. Still, this world’s life is only a small part of the great universe that is run in accordance with laws and rules operating throughout it all.
A person who cannot relate to the depths of the universe and its operative laws will inevitably fail to see even though he looks. He will only see the outer shape and movement, but will fail to recognize the wisdom behind it or interact with it. Most people fall into this category, because it is only true faith that links what appears on life’s surface with universal secrets. It is only that which gives knowledge its spirit that can look into these secrets. Believers who have such true faith are few among the world’s population. Hence, the great majority of people are incapable of acquiring true knowledge.
“Whereas of the hereafter they remain unaware.” The hereafter is another stage in the chain of creation; it is one of the many pages of the universe. People who do not understand the wisdom of creation or the law governing the universe remain unaware of the life to come, unable to give it its true measure and value. They do not realize that it is a part of the way of the universe and, as such, will never fail.
To be unaware of the hereafter makes all measures such people use inaccurate, and their values suspect. They cannot correctly appreciate life’s events and values. Their knowledge of life remains superficial, incomplete. When anyone takes the hereafter and its life into account, his perspective and the way he looks at all events in this life changes. He realizes that his life on earth is but a short stage in his journey through the universe, and his lot in this present life is but a small portion of his share in the universe. He feels that all events that take place on earth are no more than a brief act in a long play on the universal stage. To base one’s judgment on a short stage, a small portion or a brief act is unwise and can only lead to error.
The person who believes in the life to come and takes it into account will not be able to see eye to eye on anything with someone whose cares and interests are only for this present life. So much so that they will not be able to agree in judging a single event or question. They have two different viewpoints and perspectives; they look at things in different lights. One of them sees only the outer surface of this present life and the other looks at the bonds, laws and rules that are behind things, taking into account not only what we see in our world, but what lies beyond our perception, life and death, the present life and the life to come, and the universe stretching into the limitless. It is to such a great horizon that Islam wants humanity to look up. It is this broad perspective that befits man, the creature God has honored when He placed him in charge of the earth.