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Parables of the Qur’an
Episode Sixteen
Amr Khaled
Be Positive
This episode will tackle three short stories that introduce the question: are you a positive person? Are you dynamic or idle? This episode is quite significant to the youth especially those who are burdened with unemployment.
The question is; are you a positive person who will fight to overcome this problem, even though you are not to blame for it, or will you give up and allow circumstances to defeat you? Most people constantly blame life's difficult circumstances and let that deter them from their ambitions and thus they easily give up and become passive.
Psychiatrists state that there are three specific factors that influence a person's decision: the genetic factor, the educational factor and the environmental factor. One may argue; if this is the case how can Allah (SWT) punish people for behaving in a way that is influenced by external factors. The answer is that Allah (SWT) has also given people spiritual, emotional, and mental capabilities that they may use to overcome such factors. One has to use one's mind to adopt a positive attitude to defeat any obstacle as on the Day of Judgment when one will be assessed based on how one used such capabilities in conquering the three factors imposed upon oneself. This is the core of today’s episode; how to convert these capabilities into a positive force that can beat the abovementioned factors. Man's brain comprises of the conscious that thinks, analyzes, and asks questions, and the sub-conscious that cannot differentiate between fact and fiction. Scientifically when an idea moves from the conscious to the sub-conscious, it transcends a mere imagination into a reality that has to be put into effect. Thus, by being passive we are hindering one of Allah's gifts
Allah gives an example of the difference between a positive and a passive attitude, “Allah sets forth (another) Parable of two men: one of them dumb, with no power of any sort: a wearisome burden is he to his master; whichever way he directs him, he brings no good: is such a man equal with one who commands justice, and is on a Straight Way?” (TMQ,16:76)
Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) relates to us the story of the village of sinners that Allah ordered the angels to destroy. The angels defended an obedient person who was among those sinners. Allah however, ordered them to start with him because he had never done anything to change those sinners or prevent them from committing sins. Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) has urged us to enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong to avoid Allah's punishment. Allah also says, “Ye are the best of Peoples, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in Allah. If only the People of the Book had Faith, it were best for them” (TMQ, 3:110)
Enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong is mentioned first before believing in Allah because performing them gives a boost to one’s faith. If one helps a Muslim who is facing an ordeal and releases his/her stress, Allah exempts this person from a major he has committed.
Allah (SWT) placed a universal rule that says, in every place, there is a major force around which everything rotates, and one should seek to be this force at any place one might be. I want to address youth who waste two or three hours daily sitting in coffee shops doing nothing productive instead of planning for their future and the future of their nations under the pretext of unemployment. I want to urge them to move and change their reality and be determined to do so because Allah has made movement and a role for every creature. If those youth do not overcome that state of stagnation, they will definitely feel as strangers in this dynamic world. So, I urge the youth to take action, learn languages or computer skills. Learn a new skill each day, learn to drive a car, interact with people, travel, and move with the flow of life.
The three stories are one of an ant, one of a hoopoe, and one of a man.
The first story:
Allah (SWT) says, “And his hosts were mustered to Sulayman, of the jinn and humankind and birds. So they were duly dispensed. Till, when they came up to the Valley of Ants, an ant said, “O you ants, enter your dwellings so that Sulayman and his hosts would not definitely crush you, (while) they are not aware.” So he smiled broadly, laughing at its speech, and said, “Lord! Dispense me to thank (You) for Your favor wherewith You have favored me and (both) my parents, and to do righteousness that satisfies You, and cause me to enter by Your mercy, among Your righteous bondmen.” (TMQ, 27:17-19)
Solaiman (AS) (Solomon) arranged a huge army for a battle and they were on their way when they encountered a valley of ants. Solaiman (AS) could understand the language of animals, birds, and insects. He heard one courageous ant trying to stop and warn its fellows that there was an army approaching and urging them to seek shelter in their houses so as not to be destroyed. That ant was positive by taking the burden of informing all the others although it could have ran and saved itself alone. Allah related this story in the Qur’an to teach us how to be positive people. See how amazing the Qur’an is; teaching us through such narrations different meanings and concepts! It is noteworthy that the ant was so eloquent. In one simple sentence it made a call, gave an order, gave a prohibition and showed deep knowledge as it was sure that Solaiman’s army would not intentionally hurt them. This was what made Solaiman (AS) laugh at its speech because he admired its positive attitude and how it apologized on his behalf to the rest of the ants by assuring them that he did not mean to intentionally hurt them.
The second story:
Allah (SWT) says, “And he took a muster of the Birds; and he said: "Why is it I see not the Hoopoe? Or is he among the absentees? I will certainly punish him with a severe penalty, or execute him, unless he brings me a clear reason (for absence).” (TMQ, 27:21-22)
Solaiman (AS) used to line up his soldiers every morning and one day he could not see the hoopoe. He inquired about it and when he was sure of its absence he was determined to punish it severely unless it had a plausible excuse. The hoopoe came back because it was sure that Solaiman (AS) would understand. It had heard that there were people worshipping the sun instead of Allah and could not stand this fact so it decided to fly to that place to get certain. It knew that it would miss the morning lines but its target transcended being a mere soldier in the army of Solaiman (AS) unlike hundreds of employees who have become satisfied only by being an idle person and gave up any positive actions or creative thinking.
The third story:
It is in the Surat Yasseen which is in the heart of the Qur’an. Allah sent a village three messengers not only one as usual because it was full of social, economic, and religious problems and it was a major force then.
Allah (SWT) says, “Set forth to them, by way of a parable, the (story of) the Companions of the City. Behold, there came Messengers to it. When We (first) sent to them two Messengers, they rejected them: but We strengthened them with a third: they said, "Truly, we have been sent on a mission to you." The (people) said: "Ye are only men like ourselves; and (Allah) Most Gracious sends no sort of revelation: ye do nothing but lie." They said: "Our Lord doth know that we have been sent on a mission to you: "And our duty is only to proclaim the clear Message." The (people) said: "For us, we augur an evil omen from you: if ye desist not, we will certainly stone you, and a grievous punishment indeed will be inflicted on you by us." hey said: "Your evil omens are with yourselves: (deem ye this an evil omen), if ye are admonished? Nay, but ye are a people transgressing all bounds!” (TMQ, 36:13-19)
The people of the village refused to believe the messengers because they believed that messengers should be angels or have supernatural powers, not just normal human beings.
Allah (SWT) says, “Then there came running, from the farthest part of the city, a man, saying, "O my people! obey the Messengers: "Obey those who ask no reward of you (for themselves), and who have themselves received Guidance. "It would not be reasonable in me if I did not serve Him Who created me, and to Whom ye shall (all) be brought back. "Shall I take (other) gods besides Him? If (Allah) Most Gracious should intend some adversity for me, of no use whatever will be their intercession for me, nor can they deliver me. "I would indeed, if I were to do so, be in manifest Error.” For me, I have Faith in the Lord of you (all): listen, then, to me!" It was said: "Enter thou the Garden." He said: "Ah me! would that my People knew (what I know)! "For that my Lord has granted me Forgiveness and has enrolled me among those held in honor!” (TMQ, 36:20-27)
The man alluded to in these verses was so positive that he came a long way to convince his people to obey the messengers of Allah.
One should stop here and reflect upon one’s passive attitude in changing one’s reality. What have we done to improve the image of Islam in the west? What have we done to defend Islam? Where is our sense of obligation towards our religion?.
The story concentrated on this man more than it did on the three messengers to show this man’s rank according to Allah. It proves to people that da’wah is not confined to messengers and scientists. He told the messengers that he believed them and tried to persuade his people but they killed him. When he was in jannah (paradise) being rewarded for this amazing stance and his positive attitude, he still wished his people could understand the truth and obey the messengers. He loved people and bore no grudge to anyone. His attitude was so rational that he hurt no one while trying to advise them unlike others who become sometimes so harsh on the people they are trying to give advice to. Jannah is truly worth such effort. We all should be positive people and do something to deserve that place in Paradise.
Translated by: The English Convoy – Dar al-Tarjama
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