Quran Garden

Session 459

Chapter 3

Verse 130

A continuation

You who believe, do not consume usurious interest, doubled and redoubled.  Be mindful of God so that you may prosper. (Chapter 3:Verse 130)

In the previous session, we discussed the Quranic style and noted that Allah only spoke of the battle of Uhud in a few verses, then abruptly changed the subject to usurious interest.  Listen to the verses and notice the unexpected shift:

Remember when you left your home at dawn to assign battle positions to the believers: God hears and knows everything.  When two parties of you were about to lose heart, although God was their helper and protector –and in God let the believers put all their trust.  For sure, God had helped you to victory at Badr when you were an irrelevant small force.  So observe your duty to God in due reverence for Him, that you may be thankful.  Remember when you said to the believers, "Will you be satisfied if your Lord reinforces you by sending down three thousand angels?" Yes indeed!  If you are steadfast and mindful of God, and they come at you suddenly, your Lord will reinforce you with five thousand swooping angels.  God only made this as glad tidings for you to comfort your hearts, for victory comes from God alone, the Almighty and All-Wise. And that He might cut off a part of those who disbelieved, or overwhelm them, so they would retreat in utter disappointment.  You have no say in the matter. It is up to Allah to turn to them in mercy or punish them, for indeed they are wrongdoers.  Everything in the heavens and earth belongs to God.  He forgives whoever He will and punishes whoever He will: God is Most Forgiving and Merciful.  You who believe, do not consume usurious interest, doubled and redoubled.  Be mindful of God so that you may prosper. (3:121-130)

The flow of events was interrupted.  If you superficially read the Quran, such a switch makes little sense.  But, for those who take time to study, it is easy to understand the benefits.  The battle of Uhud was lost due to greed as the archers left their battle positions to collect the spoils of war that were not rightfully theirs.  Such are the issues with usury.  Greedy people rush to collect money that is not rightfully theirs and end up losing in this world and the next.  Allah uses historical events and the emotions they arise to teach us lessons far beyond the battlefield.  

There are many examples in the Quran were the flow of verses makes little sense on the first read.  However, upon deeper study, you can find profound and logical bonds between topics which seem unrelated.  Let's look at another example.  God says:

You will not be blamed if you divorce women when you have not yet consummated the marriage or fixed a bride-gift for them.  But make fair provision for them, the rich according to his means and the poor according to his, a provision according to customary and honorable practices.  This is a duty for those who do good.  And, if you divorce your wives before consummating the marriage but after fixing a bride-gift for them, then give them half of what you had previously fixed, unless they waive their right, or unless the one who holds the marriage tie waives the right.  Waiving your right is nearer to godliness, so do not forget to be gracious towards one another: God sees what you do.  Maintain with care the prayers and in particular the middle prayer, and stand devoutly before God.  But, if you are in danger, pray as you are out, walking or riding.  When you are safe again, remember God, for He has taught you what you did not know.  Those of you who die leaving wives behind should make a bequest to their wives of maintenance for a year without them having to leave their homes.  But, if they do leave, you are not to blame for anything they do with themselves with correctness and courtesy.  Allah is Almighty, All-Wise. (2:236-242)

If you read the above verses superficially, you may say, "Why did God talk about prayers in the midst of discussing divorce?  The Aya of 'Maintain with care the prayers and in particular the middle prayer' is out of place!" We answer that Allah interrupted the divorce discussion by mentioning prayers because Islam is a complete way of life.  We all know that divorce is the action of angry people living a chaotic relationship where the husband, wife, and their families are troubled.  But those who understand faith well know that such times are when you need prayers the most.  Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, would turn to prayer when something distressed him.  Likewise, when matters between the husband and wife spiral out of hand, we advise them to resort to prayers to calm down and ask God for help.  Sadly, when people fight, they focus on hate; and the last thing on their minds is prayer.  I challenge you to find a couple who do not have their problems solved or significantly reduced when they sincerely resort to prayer.  Do you now see the wisdom behind injecting the Aya of "Maintain with care the prayers and in particular the middle prayer" while discussing divorce and separation by death?  It is not out of place; rather, it is perfectly positioned.  

So, do not let distress and difficulties pull you away from God; such times are when you need Him the most.  Take the example of a child who is beaten by his classmates at school.  Where does he go?  To his father, because he knows that once his father is in the picture, all the bullies run away!  Shouldn't you turn to your Lord in times of trouble? 

Let's return to the battle of Uhud.  The greedy action of a few Muslim fighters chasing material gains cost the entire Muslim army the battle.  In other words, calamity struck everyone: the archers who did wrong and the other Muslim fighters who did not.  So be careful!  If you desire extra wealth and try to get it through usurious loans, you may end up harming not only yourself but also those you love.  God says:

Beware of discord that harms not only the wrongdoers among you: know that God is severe in His punishment.  (8:25)

You can learn all these lessons and much more by closely studying the Quran.  Had people been mindful of their Lord and turned to prayers during challenging times, the world would have been much better.  Similarly, when the teachings of God are not followed, the world as a whole suffers.  A few people chasing after usuary and illegitimate wealth can bring misery to the whole planet.  God says:

You who believe, be mindful of God: give up any outstanding dues from usury, if you are true believers.  If you do not stop, then be warned of war from God and His Messenger.  You shall have your capital if you repent, and without suffering loss or causing others to suffer loss. (2:278, 279)

Always look at the depth of your actions, not their superficial or immediate results.  Let me give you an example.  Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said, "Whoever would like to see blessing in his provision and an increase in his life should be kind to his family." In other words, fostering good relations with one's kin, like your uncles and in-laws, prolongs life.  But we know that life is limited, and God has set a definitive end to each person's age.  So we ask: do good family ties actually increase your lifespan?  We answer that the fruits of good family ties can be seen not in the number of years, but in your achievements during your time on earth.  Good family relations give depth to your life and leave trails of good that continue to serve you even after death.  Our beloved Muhammad said, "When a human being dies, his deeds end except for three: an ongoing charity, a beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for him." God says:

Do you not see how God strikes an example of a good word: like a good tree, its roots holding firm in the ground and its branches in heaven, yielding constant fruit by its Lord's leave.  God makes such comparisons for people so that they may re?ect. (14:24-25)

A piece of good advice you give to your niece or nephew is like a good tree embedded in their ear.  Each time your niece does an act because of your advice, you earn a reward even after you die.  That is how God gives richness and depth to your years till the Day of Judgment.