Do you not see that the ships sail the sea by God’s blessing, so that He might show you some of His signs? In this there are clear signs indeed for all who are truly patient in adversity and deeply grateful to God. When the waves engulf them like shadows, they call to God, sincere in their faith in Him alone; but as soon as He has brought them safe to land, some of them falter (between faith and unbelief). Yet none could knowingly reject Our revelations except those who are utterly perfidious or hardened unbelievers.
Mankind! Fear your Lord and fear a day when no parent will be of any avail to his child, nor any child will in the least avail his parents! God’s promise is most certainly true. Let not, then, the life of this world delude you, and let not deceptive thoughts about God delude you.(Luqman: 31: 31-33)
The first of these verses cites the ships as they sail through the sea in accordance with the laws of nature God applies to the sea, ships, wind, the earth and the skies. Since He has created all these and given them their respective qualities, He thus enables the ships to sail through the sea without going to the bottom or standing still. Should these qualities be disturbed in any way, the ships will not be able to go into the sea. If disturbance occurs in the density of seawater, or the substances from which the ships are made, or air pressure at water surface, or the water currents, or the wind, or if the temperature goes beyond the level that keeps water in its present form and maintains the water currents and winds at suitable levels, ships would not be able to sail through the sea. But beyond all this, it is God who keeps ships floating on the surface, protecting them against strong waves, tempests and severe weather conditions. None other than God can keep them afloat. They move by God’s grace and blessing, carrying some aspects of God’s grace and His blessings. The Qur’anic statement includes both meanings.
“So that He might show you some of His signs.” These are obvious, available for all to see and contemplate. Anyone can see them. There is no ambiguity or confusion about them. “In this there are clear signs indeed for all who are truly patient in adversity and deeply grateful to God.” These are two conditions that are frequently experienced in life.
But people are neither patient nor grateful. When harm afflicts them, they raise their voices with prayer. When God lifts harm from them, only few are those who are truly grateful. “When the waves engulf them like shadows, they call to God, sincere in their faith in Him alone.” In the face of such danger, with the waves engulfing them from all sides, and their ships rocking in the angry sea like feathers, hearts and souls shed their assumed and delusive power which, in times of ease and comfort, might shield their true nature, severing its links with its Creator. But when all masks are torn and human nature emerges from behind its blinding covers, it acknowledges its Lord and turns to Him in true submission. It abandons all alleged partners, declaring them as false. At such moment of danger, people call to God in earnest, with sincere faith in Him and His oneness.
But “as soon as He has brought them safe to land, some of them are restrained in their attitude.” Security and comfort do not drive them back to carelessness. They remain mindful of God’s bounty and give thanks for it, but they do not do enough to fulfil their duties toward God in thanksgiving. The maximum they show is still restrained.
There are others who deny God’s signs once danger is over and security is felt again. “Yet none could knowingly reject Our revelations except those who are utterly perfidious or hardened unbelievers. Both qualities of treachery and unbelief are described in a superlative degree which fits anyone who disbelieves after having seen all the universal indications and listened to the clear argument of human nature.
Drawing on the great danger presented by a stormy sea and how it puts things in perspective, making them shed their arrogance and listen to the logic of uncorrupted human nature, the surah reminds them of the greater danger, in comparison with which the danger of the sea appears ever so small. This is the danger of the day when all relations are severed, parents and children are separated and kept preoccupied with their own positions; when each soul stands on its own, having no support, unable to call upon anyone for help: “Mankind! Fear your Lord and fear a day when no parent will be of any avail to his child, nor any child will in the least avail his parents! God’s promise is most certainly true. Let not, then, the life of this world delude you, and let not deceptive thoughts about God delude you.”
The horror described here is psychological, measured by its effect on hearts and souls. Nothing severs blood relations and ties between parent and child, and nothing makes everyone preoccupied solely with their own positions unless it be a fear totally unknown to people in their lives. The call to fear God, therefore, comes here at the right time, when people are ready to respond. The issue of the hereafter is presented against the background of such great horror so that hearts will listen.
“God’s promise is most certainly true.” It will never fail. There can be no avoidance of facing this very difficult situation. No one can escape the accurate reckoning and the fair reward, when none can avail another anything.
“Let not, then, the life of this world delude you.” It is full of lure, luxury and comfort, but it is limited in duration, and it is only a test to determine the eventual reward. “And let not deceptive thoughts about God delude you.” Let no comfort, work, or interest delude you. Above all, let no devil tempt you, for there are many devils, such as money, science, life, power, authority, desire, fancy and passion. Each may have its own lure and temptation which could be very deluding. But the fear of God and remembrance of the Day of Judgment should be able to protect believers from all such temptations.