One Deprived of The Benefits From Fire and Rainstorm- [A Parable On Guidance, Misguidance and Shortsightedness]


In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allaah [The Most High] said:

مَثَلُهُمۡ كَمَثَلِ ٱلَّذِى ٱسۡتَوۡقَدَ نَارً۬ا فَلَمَّآ أَضَآءَتۡ مَا حَوۡلَهُ ۥ ذَهَبَ ٱللَّهُ بِنُورِهِمۡ وَتَرَكَهُمۡ فِى ظُلُمَـٰتٍ۬ لَّا يُبۡصِرُونَ

Their likeness is as the likeness of one who kindled a fire; then, when it lighted all around him, Allah took away their light and left them in darkness. (So) they could not see. [Surah Al-Baqarah. Verse 17]

Allaah [The Most High] informed us about the state of the hypocrites with regards to their share of the revelation and that their state is that of one who kindled a fire, in order to be given light and benefited, because they enter into Islaam and are given light by way of it- benefit from it, receive safety and keep the company of the Muslims. However, when it is the case that their companionship with the Muslims is not based on the light of Islaam in their hearts, it ceased and Allaah took away their light. And Allaah [The Most High] did not say, “Allaah took away their fire” because fire contains both light and flames; rather Allaah took away the light from the fire and left them with the flames and darkness, so they could not see. This is the state of the person who could see guidance, but then became blind in misguidance; the one who knew (the truth) but then rejected it and the one who entered Islaam and then separated his heart from it, so he does not return. And that is why Allaah [The Most High] said: [فَهُمۡ لَا يَرۡجِعُونَ- So they return not (to the Right Path)]. (1)

Allaah [The Most High] said:

أَوۡ كَصَيِّبٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ فِيهِ ظُلُمَـٰتٌ۬ وَرَعۡدٌ۬ وَبَرۡقٌ۬ يَجۡعَلُونَ أَصَـٰبِعَهُمۡ فِىٓ ءَاذَانِہِم مِّنَ ٱلصَّوَٲعِقِ حَذَرَ ٱلۡمَوۡتِ‌ۚ وَٱللَّهُ مُحِيطُۢ بِٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ

Or like a rainstorm from the sky, wherein is darkness, thunder, and lightning. They thrust their fingers in their ears to keep out the stunning thunderclap for fear of death. But Allah ever encompasses the disbelievers (i.e. Allah will gather them all together). [Surah Al-Baqarah. Verse 19]

Allaah [The Most High] likened the hypocrites’ share of the guidance to that of a person who did not receive any share of a rainstorm, except the darkness, thunder and lightning. He has no share of what is around that (i.e. water), such as the source of life it (provides) for the land, the people, the trees and the animals. The darkness, thunder and lightning is not the goal, rather it is a means to receiving the complete benefit from that rainstorm. However, due to the ignorance of an ignorant person, his observation is limited to the darkness, thunder and lightning that is found in that rainstorm, which also necessitates (the presence) of severe cold, disruption of the traveler’s journey and hindering a person from his work. He (i.e. the ignorant person) does not have that insight to make him realise the life that is brought (to the land, the trees, animals etc) and (other) benefits. This is the affair of every short sighted and feeble minded person, whose observation of a tangible difficulty does not go beyond (what he sees so as to realise) the desirable things behind that difficulty. This is the state of affairs of the majority of the creation, except those who are given clear-sightedness. (2)


[Ref 1: An Excerpt from (I’laam Al-Muwaqqi’een 1/200-202. slightly paraphrased]
[Ref 2: بدائع التفسير الجامع لما فسّره الإمام ابن القيم الجوزيّة  Vol 1. Page: 101. Slightly paraphrased]

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