When Hardships befall us.

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The Creation established and strong. The Idolaters confess

The verses 2,3, and 4 (subject to various explanations) point towards a rule set that when mankind is subjected to unfavorable events and mishaps and no other source of help is available, he returns to his actual and inherent nature and the fire of recognition of God is reignited. His entire attention is concentrated towards the creator of knowledge and power and all his problems are solved.

At one place it says, “When they are in hardships they invoke their God and beseech him but when the hardship is over and God gives them a taste of his mercy then a group amongst them becomes polytheist or idolater.”

In another place, the Book sets a parable about their difficulties and hardships and discusses the same issue: When they board a ship and are surrounded by the fierce and mammoth waves of the ocean they invoke God and become sincere in religion. But when He guides them safely ashore free from the turmoil they go back to their idolatry.

In yet another place the issue of the danger of hypocrisy is discussed in the words, “It is He who enables you to travel by land and sea; so when you board ships they sail in a favorable breeze, rejoicing thereat.”

 But when the storm suddenly seizes them and river rises and the waves pound the ships from all sides and they see death for the time of losing their lives seems close then they remember God and they invoke Him sincerely.

They vow and say “We will be grateful if we are saved from this hardship.” But when God saves them and they reach the shores safely then they forget the commitment they made to God and start spreading mischief (by adopting polytheism which is a great sin and oppress the weak by their powers.)

“when harm touches man, he cries unto Us then when We grant him a favor he says, “ I have been granted it only on account of my own knowledge” Zumar 49.

This meaning is there in other verses too and one such verse says: “When men suffer affliction they invoke us but when we solve their problem, it seems that they had never invoked Us for they forget everything.” (Surah Yunus Verse 12)

All these five verses express the same truth but each has its own distinct style and beauty. Some verses mention the losses and the hardships like diseases, famine etc while some mention the dangers of the sea like the gigantic waves, the whirlpools, and storms, the dangerous water animals and the fear of the ship losing its way. Some verses mention only the waves and the storm. Some verses mention the solving of their hardships and their return to idolatry. Some verses mention their injustice and oppression together with their rebellion and they have a vast meaning as compared to idolatry.

Some verses state that people refer to the grace of God and the solution of their difficulties as the result of their own efforts. In places the verses mention their idolatry and in some it sys that a particular group reverts to polytheism. This is because the human society is different in composition and stages some are of the first kind and some of the second an some of the third.

Some verses say that they make a covenant with God in the times of their hardships but forget it once they attain a life of ease. Some verses mention only their prayers and their crying out to God. Some instances mention only minor problems (This is inferred by the use of the word “Mass” but in some verse it is said that they invoke God when they fear the loss of their lives. This maybe the condition because of the different kinds of men, some belong to the first kind and some to the other.

The word “Ikhlas” has been predominantly used and it means the rejection of other gods other than the One God. This is the proof that some people worship God despite having a life of leisure but they make partners for Him yet when faced with the angry waves and the storm all these partners are erased from their minds and they are instilled with the worship of the One God and its light.

The interesting point is ( As explained in Tafsir Ruhul Bayan) when the idolaters board the ships they have their idols with them ( it should be remembered that in those days travel by sea was a dangerous affair though it is still now and the logistic help available today was not available then.) When surrounded by the storm they used to throw their idols out into the sea and shout “God O God!” the strange thing was that they used to listen to the irrefutable proofs and argument from the Holy Messenger of Islam but never believed. Yet when surrounded by the storms and hardships they would submit humbly bowing before the One God. We learn that recognition of God in its natural form affects various people in various ways.

The point to note is that the Book warns those who invoke God when in hardship and forget Him in the life of leisure, in a very subtle manner drawing their attention to the doubts and misconceptions in their minds as in Surah Isra Verse 68 that says, “Do you then feel secure that he will not cause a part of the land to swallow you up, or that He will not send against you a violent sand-storm? You shall then find no protector.” (2)

Are their two gods for the land and the sea or that God has power only over the sea but not on the land? It is possible that the land may swallow up your cities by His orders and there be no sign of them left. (3)

 It is often happened that a tornado has lifted the pebbles and the vegetation up in the air and they came back with the rains. It has also occurred that not only a person but an entire caravan of people has been buried under a landslide. Therefore the God who commands the waves of the oceans has the power to kill the people through sandstorms in the desert.

In another place the verse says:

Or do you feel secure that He will not send you back a second time to sea and send a powerful hurricane to drown you because of your disbelief? You will then find no helper against Us!” (Surah Isra Verse 69). Do you feel that this is the last instance when you needed to travel in the sea? How great is your presumption!





1. Ruhul Bayan Vol 2 Page 493
2. Al Isra 68
3. Some years ago there was an earth quake in northern Africa that swallowed up a whole with all its houses and residents. When people went they found no trace of the village.



The Creation established and strong. The Idolaters confess
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