[إيليا]

The Power of God

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 fulfil 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. 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 fulfils 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 fulfil 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 fulfil His
promise." The facts of the matter are that His promise issues from
His free will and absolute wisdom; He is able to fulfil it, as no
power can repel His judgment. Indeed, nothing takes place in the
universe except as he wills. Thus, the fulfilment 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 honoured when He placed him in
charge of the earth