Quran Garden

Session 444

Chapter 3

Verse 117

The example of what they spend in this worldly life is that of a biting wind accompanied by frost that smites the harvest of a people who wronged themselves and devastates it.  God has never wronged them, but they wrong themselves.  (Chapter 3: Verse 117)

Allah describes the actions of the disbelievers in this world as useless, regardless of how good they may appear.  Why?  Because denying or ascribing partners to the Creator - which is treason at the summit- nullifies all actions. 

God paints a picture to help us understand.  It starts with a strong hurricane-like wind.  Allah described a similar wind that struck the people of A'ad.  He says,

A'ad were destroyed by a savage howling wind (69:6)

This type of wind carries with it bitter cold and loud noise.  In other words, it spreads fear and destruction, and as you know, the wind makes cold temperatures much worse.  

God continues, "a biting wind accompanied by frost that smites the harvest of a people who wronged themselves and devastates it." When you hear the word "harvest," crops and healthy food that help us sustain life.  The word "harvest" is translated from the Arabic origin 'Harth.' It is the same word used for ploughing the land.  We loosen the soil, plant seeds, add water, and then wait for pants to grow.  Allah reminds us that He is the One who does the real work: you and I only till the land and drop the seed.  He says,

Consider the seeds you sow in the ground, is it you who make it germinate or are We the Germinator?  If We wished We could have made it broken stubble.  You would then be left devoid of crops, distraught (56:63-66)

God presents an example of a group of non-believers who spent their money for a great cause, such as growing crops to feed people.  Yet, even such fine deed does not benefit them.  He says, "a biting wind accompanied with frost that smites the harvest of a people who wronged themselves and devastates it.  God has never wronged them but they wrong themselves." Such are the consequences of living life without the foundation of faith. 

Allah brought this noble verse after He made clear in the previous one that the wealth and children of the disbelievers will not avail them on the Day of Judgement.  Why?  Because He wants to dispel any suspicion you may have, namely that the wealth spent by the disbelievers for a good cause will earn them a reward with God. 

We had mentioned before that you earn your pay from the one you work for.  We ask: when the disbelievers spend money on good causes -such as feeding the poor and healing the sick- was gratitude for the Lord for these blessings on their mind?  or did they do them to help humanity and gain status?  No doubt it was the later, because they have no faith in anything beyond life.  They do not believe in the existence of a God or a day in which they will be held accountable.  Thus, they will earn their reward here on earth through social recognition, and then earn nothing in the Hereafter.  Isn't that fair?  God says,

The example of what they spend in this the worldly life is that of a biting wind accompanied with frost that smites the harvest of a people who wronged themselves and devastates it.  God has never wronged them but they wrong themselves.  (Chapter 3: Verse 117)

In fact, the Quran is full of such examples to help us understand our faith.  Allah uses examples from the tangible material world to help us understand the intangible events of what will happen in the Hereafter.  God says,  

God brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers when you knew nothing, and endowed you with hearing and eyes and hearts, that you may give thanks.  (16:78)

We know that when an infant starts to perceive his surroundings, the first sense that matures is hearing.  Even an infant who is an hour or two old gets startled by noise, even if he or she cannot see much yet. 

As the child explores the physical world more, he will see fire, touch it and learn that it burns.  He will eat honey, find it sweet, and learn that sweet things taste good.  All perceptions are initially generated from the physical world and learned through the five apparent senses, which are: sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch.  We have many additional abilities that help us perceive things.  For example, suppose there are two bags of the same size and shape in front of you.  Can you tell through your five senses which one is heavier?  No you cannot; however, if you carry a bag in each arm, it would be easy.  Through which sense did you perceive the relative weight of the bags?  It is through muscle tone as the muscle fibers in one arm strained slightly more to carry the heavier bag.  In another example, you enter a shop to buy some clothes.  The seller puts two shirts in from of you, and as soon as you rub the fabric of the shirts between your index finger and thumb, you realize that one is thicker than the other.  Through which sense did you perceive this fraction of a millimetre difference?  Again, you cannot perceive this by sight or touch.  It was through the spatial distance between your fingers.      

Allah put all these means of perception at your disposal.  He says,

God brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers when you knew nothing, and endowed you with hearing and eyes and hearts, that you may give thanks.  (16:78)

Take note that God mentioned hearing and sight –which help us explore the tangible world- before he mentioned the heart which is concerned with intangible emotions and deeper meanings.  Thus, when Allah wants to give you an example for an intangible matter, He brings a tangible one which the senses agree on.  He says,

The example of what they spend in this the worldly life is that of a biting wind accompanied with frost that smites the harvest of a people who wronged themselves and devastates it.

We use the same method in our daily lives.  When a student does not understand the concept of electrical current, the teacher would say, "Let me give you an analogy from something you know.  Think about electricity as water flowing through a hose.  Voltage is the pressure that pushes water through the hose, while current is the diameter of the hose; the wider it is, the more water will flow through."