In the words of the late ‘Allamah Iqbal...

In the words of the late ‘Allamah Iqbal: ما زنده به آنيم كه آرام نگيريم موجيم كه آسودگى ما عدم ماست The upsurges of water are in constant motion (on the ocean), however if they were to be stable and calm, then it would cease to be called a wave! When a person looks at the world stage of humanity, he would see the infants are quickly becoming young adults; young adults are quickly becoming seniors; and seniors are being carried to the graveyard!

The regular announcements made within the community of people who have passed away are actually warnings for all human beings! In continuation of the tradition, Miqdad asked, “O' Prophet of Allah! What is the meaning of al-Hudnah”? The Prophet (S) replied, “al-Hudnah means that the transient world is a place of test and examination and a period (which one must pass thorugh) and is a time in which you have been left alone.

Allah (SwT) will not bother with you, and in the face of the sins which you commit and the actions which you perpetrate, He will not immediately punish you.”[^2] After this, the Prophet (S) then issued the following statement which has been mentioned in various books of tradition as an independent saying: فَإِذَا الْـتَبَسَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الأُمُورُ كَقِطَعِ اللَّيْلِ الْمُظْلِمِ فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِالْقُرْآنِ… In this tradition, the Prophet (S) advises us that, “If events come upon you which resemble the darkness of the night (events which are full of terror and fear) then hold on fast to the Qur`an…” But why??

The Prophet (S) answered this question and said, “Because the Qur`an is an intercessor whose intercession is accepted. It is truthful and it is also the one which has confirmed and acknowledged Allah (SwT).

The person who places the Qur`an in front of him (keeps the Qur`an in mind before performing any act) will be guided to Paradise by the Qur`an while the person who throws the Qur`an behind him (and disregards this Book) will be led into the hell fire!” Placing the Qur`an in front and leaving it behind (us) has two meanings: Paying attention to the Qur`an and neglecting the Qur`an.

The Qur`an becomes the teacher of the person and not an instrument for his misuse - the person brings himself to the Qur`an and does not want the Qur`an to 'come to him'. There are some people who, when they have made their final decision in regards to a particular act, then refer to the Qur`an and seek to find a verse which would conform to their ideologies.

✦ ✦ ✦