By Shenaz Makati
Surah Naml
Surah Naml is a Makkan Surah which deals with two main topics- tawhid and how believers can benefit from the knowledge in the Quran.
In the first half of the Surah, Allah (swt) discusses how the only people that can benefit from the knowledge in the Quran are those who accept the realities in this book as the realities of the universe. Allah (swt) specifically refers to the denial of the hereafter as the greatest difficulty that can lie in the path to him-
“Verily, those who believe not in the Hereafter, We have made their deeds fair-seeming to them, so they wander about blindly.” (27:4)
Thereafter, Allah (swt) gives examples of three different characters and how they denied or believed in his signs. The first is the characters of Pharoh, the chiefs of Thamud and the people of Lot. These three characters denied the accountability in the hereafter, and kept on doing their evil deeds until Allah (swt) eventually removed them from their stations.
In the second half of the Surah, Allah (swt) questions the disbelievers about what they believe. Allah (swt) points out the realities of the universe and questions the shirk that they are following. The overarching theme of this Surah is Allah (swt) invitation to worship him and him alone. This surah shows us that accepting faith will be our advantage and rejecting it will only be our disadvantage. For if we wait to see the truth before our eyes, it will be too late, for the truth will only come before our eyes on Judgement Day.
Surah al-Ankabut
One of the issues that Surah Al-Ankabut (the spider) deals with is the persecution that the new converts in Makkah faced. This Surah was sent down to strenghten the believers. Allah(swt) specifically mentions the importance of parents,
“And We have enjoined upon man goodness to parents. But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them. To Me is your return, and I will inform you about what you used to do.” (29:8)
In the new group of muslims, there were young men whose parents were urging them to abandon the Prophet (saws) and this ayah was revealed in order that they may respect their parents and be good to them, even if they did not believe in the Prophet’s message. It is important to note that Allah (swt) still commands respect for our parents even if they are not Muslim. If they are not Muslim, and encourage you to participate in acts that are in conflict with the Oneness of Allah, it is important to note that the only thing we can do is disobey them, but we still have to respect them.
Also, Allah (swt) speaks of those disbelievers who tried to convince the Muslims to abandon the Prophet by stating that they themselves will carry their sins for them. This is answered by the following ayah,
“And those who disbelieve say to those who believe, “Follow our way, and we will carry your sins.” But they will not carry anything of their sins. Indeed, they are liars.” (29:12)
We will be judged for our own actions on the day of judgement, and no one will be answerable for us. It is important for us to remember this when we follow in other’s footsteps, for Allah will show us what we did with our lives on the day of judgement. In the next ayah, Allah (swt) even goes further to remind us that those people who say these lies are not only going to carry their own burden on the day of Judgement, but they are also going to carry the sins of leading others astray.
In a wonderful analogy, Allah (swt) compares those who call upon others beside Allah as those who have taken the home like that of a spider, the frailest and weakest of homes,
“The example of those who take allies other than Allah is like that of the spider who takes a home. And indeed, the weakest of homes is the home of the spider, if they only knew.” (29:41).
The spider’s web is so weak and does not protect from the heat or the cold, and this is the same of a person who takes other gods besides Allah. They will never find security, peace and comfort in their lives until they realize that Allah (swt) is the ultimate protector.
Towards the end of the Surah, Allah (swt) reminds us that this world is short and transient, the real life will begin in the hereafter. At times of trial, those who do not normally call upon Allah do so when they need his help but at times of peace they forget him,
“And when they board a ship, they supplicate Allah , sincere to Him in religion. But when He delivers them to the land, at once they associate others with Him” (29:65)
May Allah (swt) make us of those who always call upon him for help, in easy and difficult times. Ameen.
