Qur'anic Reflections

How to deal with failure (part2)

(Read part 1 before this if you haven't already)

So here goes.

Bismillah.

1. Find out the cause for failure :

O you who have believed, do not consume usury, doubled and multiplied, but fear Allah that you may be successful. (3:130)

وَاتَّقُوا النَّارَ الَّتِي أُعِدَّتْ لِلْكَافِرِينَ

And fear the Fire, which has been prepared for the disbelievers. (3:131)

وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ

And obey Allah and the Messenger that you may obtain mercy. (3:132)

It seems strange that Riba (usury) is mentioned here. But if you connect the dots, you see the bigger picture. That's the thing about the Qur'an. It speaks a lot in between the lines and it makes you work for it!

Usury is an evil that stems from one thing-- love for wealth. Love for wealth was the reason the archers on the hill left their places. Allah uses this opportunity to drive home the most important point ie.., never let the dunya spoil your Aakhirah.

Allah also commands us to fear Him and follow the messenger. Lack of Taqwa and not heeding to the words of the Prophet was what caused the Muslim army the losses in the second part of the war.

So love for dunya, lack of Taqwa and disobedience to the messenger led to the failure of Uhud.

Allah explains through examples and this is the perfect way to start one's reform post-failure.

Dissect the situation and examine it keenly. Find your faults intentioned and unintended alike. That's the first step in correcting yourself.

2. Hasten towards Tauba

وَسَارِعُوا إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ

And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous (3:133)

This has two parts : to ask for forgiveneness and to reform oneself.

This is so beautiful. Allah's calling us, asking us to rush to Him. There is not a single verse where He shows His anger at the mistake of the Muslims. And this was a mistake that had caused injuries to the His Most Beloved Prophet!

Yet He doesn't dismiss the ones who messed up. He doesn't tell them they're doomed.

He calls them to His vast forgiveness. Can you imagine that? I've got no more words to describe how absolutely beautiful it is :')

He then gives a list of things for everyone to reform about themselves.

الَّذِينَ يُنْفِقُونَ فِي السَّرَّاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ وَالْكَاظِمِينَ الْغَيْظَ وَالْعَافِينَ عَنِ النَّاسِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ

Who spend [in the cause of Allah ] during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people - and Allah loves the doers of good; (3:134)

وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا فَعَلُوا فَاحِشَةً أَوْ ظَلَمُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ ذَكَرُوا اللَّهَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُوا لِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَمَنْ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَلَمْ يُصِرُّوا عَلَىٰ مَا فَعَلُوا وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ