Quran Garden

Session 331

Chapter 3

Verses 8 & 9

‘Our Lord, do not let our hearts deviate after You have guided us. Grant us Your mercy: You are the Ever Giving.’ (Chapter 3: Verse 8)

In the previous verse, Allah taught us that when it comes to the Quran, ‘those firmly grounded in knowledge, they say, ‘We believe in it: it is all from our Lord.’ When it comes to Quranic verses that are not entirely clear, true believers follow the advice of our beloved Prophet Muhammad.  He taught us: “The Qur'an was revealed free of contradiction.  Thus, implement whatever of it you understand and believe in whatever of it you do not understand."  Isn’t this the true essence of guidance? Isn’t it something worth hanging-on to? We supplicate: ‘Our Lord, do not let our hearts deviate after You have guided us. Grant us Your mercy: You are the Ever Giving.’

We ask God for the gift of mercy because we know that we are not entitled to mercy.  It is a great privilege not a right.  Why, you may ask? We answer that no creature has a right to anything from God, except for what God grants him or her.  We ask Allah to grant us the mercy to be free from enslavement to our whims and desires.  We ask for sound judgment, and for the strength and wisdom to know right from wrong.   

But you should not assume that your responsibilities stop at studying and understanding God’s teachings.  You also have the responsibility of sharing your knowledge, because this knowledge is the key to the ultimate success in the hereafter.  Thus, in the very next verse, God reminds us to supplicate:

Our Lord, You will gather all people on the Day of which there is no doubt: God never breaks His promise.’ (Chapter 3: Verse 9)

The phrase “Our Lord” is beautiful in its meaning.  It is translated from the Arabic origin ‘Rubbana.’ The root ‘Rub’ or ‘Lord’ means the caretaker who nourishes, educates, and protects.  In the Arabic language, the father is called the Rub of the family.  The same word ‘Rub’ is the root of the word ‘tarbia’ which means to raise and educate a child.  Allah created you from nothing and put the entire universe at your service.  Shouldn’t you be the least bit appreciative and follow His advice? The Lord’s teachings are the sure path to reach your full potential. 

Allah reminds you that this world will come to an end, and as He promised, He will gather all people for Judgment Day.  God never breaks His promises, because anyone who breaks or cannot fulfill a promise is not fit to be God.  Thus, as believers, we pray for the ultimate goal: to be protected against the torment of the Hereafter.

Let’s take a moment to compare our promise to God’s promise.  Allah has perfect ability and complete knowledge.  As for us humans, when we plan to do something in the future, we say: ‘Insha Allah’ or ‘God willing’ Why? Because we do not possess the power or the knowledge to fulfill our promise. God says:

Do not say of anything, ‘I will do that tomorrow’ without adding: ‘God willing.’ And, whenever you forget, remember your Lord and say, ‘May my Lord guide me closer to what is right.’ (18:23-24)

Say for example, that I was planning to sell you my house.  I may say: “meet me at the restaurant down the street tomorrow so we can go over the paperwork.”  You answer with “great; I will bring the check to pay for the house.  See you then.”  Allah wants to protect both of us from the sin of lying; thus, He advises us to add ‘God willing.’  Why, you may ask?  We answer that in the example above, you and I own absolutely none of the variables in the transaction of buying and selling.  Can you guarantee to be alive tomorrow? Neither can I.  Can you guarantee that the restaurant where we are supposed to meet would be open? Maybe by tomorrow you change your mind and decide not to buy the house anymore.  Maybe I get a better offer.  You and I do not have any control over time, place, or even ourselves.  The possibilities for our meeting to fail are endless; thus, it is best to say: “meet me at the restaurant down the street tomorrow so we can go over the paperwork. God willing.”  In this manner, we have added heavenly insurance to our plans.  

Allah, on the other hand, is the possessor of all power and all knowledge.  He has full control over time, place, and creation.  Allah is the ever-constant who is not subject to change.  He is the Almighty who cannot be overcome.  Thus, His promise is the only true promise.  We supplicate:

Our Lord, You will gather all people on the Day of which there is no doubt: God never breaks His promise.’ (Chapter 3: Verse 9)