BELIEVER BY CHOICE OR CIRCUMSTANCE? 

Surah 13:19-20

October 6, 2009

opposites: ice and the sun

SURAH Ra’ad 13:19-20

اَفَمَن يَّعلَمُ اَنَّمَا اُنزِلَ اِلَيكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ الحَـقُّ كَمَن هُوَ اَعمى اِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ اُولُوا الاَلبَابِ‏ ﴿۱۹﴾  الَّذِينَ يُوفُونَ بِعَهدِ اللّهِ وَلَا يَنقُضُونَ المِيثَاقَ‏ ﴿۲۰﴾
Is then one who doth know that that which hath been revealed unto these from thy Lord is the Truth, like one who is blind? It is those who are endued with understanding that receive admonition― (19)

Those who fulfill the Covenant of Allah and fail not in their plighted word; (20)
TAFSEER BY DR. FARHAT HASHMI

Background: This Surah is a presentation of contrasts to human beings to extract what is truth and what is false, helping them use their intellect and deductive capabilities to select the Truth and follow it rather than falsehood. Many examples are given in earlier ayahs of kinds of fruit, of taste, etc. Urging humans to select what is best not only in mundane shopping items but in Truth rather than falsehood.
Allah Subhanawataala describes the characteristics of the Believer bound for The Gardens of Jannah the details of which are in the later ayahs, but here is a critical differentiation in the type of Believers and which kind will get his or her abode in Jannah for eternal life.

Allah Subhanawataalla says in these ayahs:

How can one who has ilm (knowledge of Deen) and, believes in it and follows it be equal to the the one who calls himself a believer but does not follow it (is blind) ? They are not equal! Their destinations are different ! and are based on the their recognition of the truth and following the Truth.

There are two types of followers of the truth:
1.    Taqlidi: Those who believe in the truth because they were born into it then followed whatever their forefathers followed.

2.    Shaoori: This group uses his or her intellect, aqal and deductive capacity to understand and then holds fast to the covenant with Allah which was made by the children of Adam (elsewhere in the Quran)

This group has studied and endeavored to gain Ilm (knowledge of Deen) and have discerned the Truth and have chosen to follow it. These are the people who do not break their covenant with God but also do not break the covenant with people. These are the people of Eden (one of the gardens of Paradise)

SHOULD WE REVISE OUR BEHAVIOR TOWARDS REVERTS?
My take:
Perhaps we born Muslims need to be more attentive to the people reverting to Islam, and learn from them, and try to imbue in us their sincerity and purity of heart, instead of trying to patronize them.

Categories: Tafseer · jannah
Tagged: intellect, Surah Ar Rad

 

http://asqfish.wordpress.com/2009/10/06/believer-by-choice-or-circumstance-1319-20/