We think we are perfect, great,
sensible, genius, generous, honest, peacemakers and powerful. Believe it or not
but most of us are cruel, loser and ungrateful. Yes, we commit cruelties on
ourselves first and then others by deliberately committing acts not liked and
prohibited by our Creator.
We emerge losers by deliberately ignoring the divine message and not following
the right path shown to us. We remain ungrateful by not honestly and sincerely
thanking The Creator for the blessings He showers on us in various forms and
ways.
In the families, community and society, most people keep fighting like street
dogs and feel proud in bullying and insulting others. Because hatred breeds
hatred, this way we keep hurting and harming others. We become the slave of our
desires and demands and enemy of each other. This is what we do and achieve.
This is what I keep witnessing now and then.
Mentally sick and extremely cunning people considering themselves something big
and great are making others sick and crazy. Most of them start thinking and
acting like god, prophets, messengers and saints and want the people to hear,
follow and worship them. They start dictating and playing with innocent and
helpless people. Those refusing face the brunt in the shape of emotional and
physical hurt, serious harm, painful death and massive destruction.
The intoxication of wealth, power and position makes them cruel and the
cruelties turn them into ferocious beasts and then they become the worst enemies
of mankind. They turn the world into hell and make the lives of innocent and
helpless people miserable.
They become so powerful and destructive that The Creator’s intervention is
necessitated and The Wrath of God is unleashed on them in various shapes and
forms. We are ungrateful because we keep forgetting the blessings showered on us
in the shape of help, support and protection and The Wrath of God on the
enemies.
We have been given freedom within limits and supremacy but are completely
dependent on The Creator---The Almighty God---Instead of understanding this we
start misusing the freedom and supremacy and ultimately earn punishment,
destruction and hell.
In order to protect ourselves, others, the world, we must benefit from the
tremendous blessings in the shape of powerful divine messages in the original
holy books. Fortunately, The Almighty God has shown us the way to salvation.
Only we need to understand and follow it.
There are many surahs (chapters) and verses in the holy Koran related to the
issues and topics of cruel, loser and ungrateful. I will mention only some,
although all are important. The significance of these verses is that they
contain prayers of the prominent prophets from which we too can benefit
immensely.
As regards divine guidance, conversions, life and death, these are purely
spiritual matters directly commanded by The Almighty God. Although people keep
trying, boast and claim success in this connection but in reality they, human
beings, have nothing to do with it.
Al-Fatiha (Surah/Chapter 1. Verse 1-7): In the name of Allah, the Beneficent,
the Merciful (1) Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, (2) The Beneficent, the
Merciful. (3) Owner of the Day of Judgment, (4) Thee (alone) we worship; Thee
(alone) we ask for help. (5) Show us the straight path, (6) The path of those
whom Thou hast favoured. Not (the path) of those who earn Thine anger nor of
those who go astray. (7)
Al-Anbiya (Surah/Chapter 21. Verse 87-88): And (mention) Dhu'n-Nun, when he went
off in anger and deemed that We had no power over him, but he cried out in the
darkness, saying: There is no God save Thee. Be Thou glorified! Lo! I have been
a wrong-doer. (87) Then we heard his prayer and saved him from the anguish. Thus
we save believers. (88)
Al-Araf (Surah/Chapter 7. Verse 23-26): They said: Our Lord! We have wronged
ourselves. If thou forgive us not and have not mercy on us, surely we are of the
lost! (23) He said: Go down (from hence), one of you a foe unto the other. There
will be for you on earth a habitation and provision for a while. (24) He said:
There shall ye live, and there shall ye die, and thence shall ye be brought
forth. (25) O Children of Adam! We have revealed unto you raiment to conceal
your shame, and splendid vesture, but the raiment of restraint from evil, that
is best. This is of the revelations of Allah, that they may remember (26).
Al-E-Imran (Surah/Chapter 3. Verse 146-148): And with how many a prophet have
there been a number of devoted men who fought (beside him). They quailed not for
aught that befell them in the way of Allah, nor did they weaken, nor were they
brought low. Allah loveth the steadfast. (146) Their cry was only that they
said: Our Lord! forgive us for our sins and wasted efforts, make our foothold
sure, and give us victory over the disbelieving folk. (147) So Allah gave them
the reward of the world and the good reward of the Hereafter. Allah loveth those
whose deeds are good. (148).
Al-Qasas (Surah/Chapter 28. Verse 23-24): And when he came unto the water of
Midian he found there a whole tribe of men, watering. And he found apart from
them two women keeping back (their flocks). He said: What aileth you? The two
said: We cannot give (our flocks) to drink till the shepherds return from the
water; and our father is a very old man. (23) So he watered (their flock) for
them. Then he turned aside into the shade, and said: My Lord! I am needy of
whatever good Thou sendest down for me. (24).
Al-Qamar (Surah/Chapter 54. Verse 9-12): The folk of Noah denied before them,
yea, they denied Our slave and said: A madman; and he was repulsed. (9) So he
cried unto his Lord, saying: I am vanquished, so give help. (10) Then opened We
the gates of heaven with pouring water (11) And caused the earth to gush forth
springs, so that the waters met for a predestined purpose. (12).
Al-Maeda (Surah/Chapter 5. Verse 113-115): (They said:) We wish to eat thereof,
that we may satisfy our hearts and know that thou hast spoken truth to us, and
that thereof we may be witnesses. (113) Jesus, son of Mary, said: O Allah, Lord
of us! Send down for us a table spread with food from heaven, that it may be a
feast for us, for the first of us and for the last of us, and a sign from Thee.
Give us sustenance, for Thou art the Best of Sustainers. (114) Allah said: Lo! I
send it down for you. And whoso disbelieveth of you afterward, him surely will I
punish with a punishment wherewith I have not punished any of (My) creatures.
(115).
Yusuf (Surah/Chapter 12. Verse 100-101): And he placed his parents on the dais
and they fell down before him prostrate, and he said: O my father! This is the
interpretation of my dream of old. My Lord hath made it true, and He hath shown
me kindness, since He took me out of the prison and hath brought you from the
desert after Satan had made strife between me and my brethren. Lo! my Lord is
tender unto whom He will. He is the Knower, the Wise. (100) O my Lord! Thou hast
given me (something) of sovereignty and hast taught me (something) of the
interpretation of events - Creator of the heavens and the earth! Thou art my
Protecting Friend in the world and the Hereafter. Make me to die submissive
(unto Thee), and join me to the righteous. (101).
Al-Tawba (Surah/Chapter 9. Verse 128-129: There hath come unto you a messenger,
(one) of yourselves, unto whom aught that ye are overburdened is grievous, full
of concern for you, for the believers full of pity, merciful. (128) Now, if they
turn away (O Muhammad) say: Allah sufficeth me. There is no God save Him. In Him
have I put my trust, and He is Lord of the Tremendous Throne. (129).
Al-Anbiya (Surah/Chapter 21. Verse 79-83): And We made Solomon to understand
(the case); and unto each of them We gave judgment and knowledge. And we subdued
the hills and the birds to hymn (His) praise along with David. We were the doers
(thereof). (79) And We taught him the art of making garments (of mail) to
protect you in your daring. Are ye then thankful? (80) And unto Solomon (We
subdued) the wind in its raging. It set by His command toward the land which We
had blessed. And of everything We are aware. (81) And of the evil ones (subdued
We unto him) some who dived (for pearls) for him and did other work, and We were
warders unto them. (82) And Job, when he cried unto his Lord, (saying): Lo!
adversity afflicteth me, and Thou art Most Merciful of all who show mercy. (83).
Al-Baqara (Surah/Chapter 2. Verse 285-286): The messenger believeth in that
which hath been revealed unto him from his Lord and (so do) believers. Each one
believeth in Allah and His angels and His scriptures and His messengers - We
make no distinction between any of His messengers - and they say: We hear, and
we obey. (Grant us) Thy forgiveness, our Lord. Unto Thee is the journeying.
(285) Allah tasketh not a soul beyond its scope. For it (is only) that which it
hath earned, and against it (only) that which it hath deserved. Our Lord!
Condemn us not if we forget, or miss the mark! Our Lord! Lay not on us such a
burden as thou didst lay on those before us! Our Lord! Impose not on us that
which we have not the strength to bear! Pardon us, absolve us and have mercy on
us, Thou, our Protector, and give us victory over the disbelieving folk. (286).
Al-Mumenoon (Surah/Chapter 23. Verse 111-118): Lo! I have rewarded them this day
forasmuch as they were steadfast and they verily are the triumphant. (111) He
will say: How long tarried ye in the earth, counting by years? (112) They will
say: We tarried but a day or part of a day. Ask of those who keep count! (113)
He will say: Ye tarried but a little if ye only knew. (114) Deemed ye then that
We had created you for naught, and that ye would not be returned unto Us? (115)
Now Allah be Exalted, the True King! There is no God save Him, the Lord of the
Throne of Grace. (116) He who crieth unto any other god along with Allah hath no
proof thereof. His reckoning is only with his Lord. Lo! disbelievers will not be
successful. (117) And (O Muhammad) say: My Lord! Forgive and have mercy, for
Thou art Best of all who show mercy. (118).
Al-Furqan (Surah/Chapter 25. Verse 71-77): And whosoever repenteth and doeth
good, he verily repenteth toward Allah with true repentance - (71) And those who
will not witness vanity, but when they pass near senseless play, pass by with
dignity. (72) And those who, when they are reminded of the revelations of their
Lord, fall not deaf and blind thereat. (73) And who say: Our Lord! Vouchsafe us
comfort of our wives and of our offspring, and make us patterns for (all) those
who ward off (evil). (74) They will be awarded the high place forasmuch as they
were steadfast, and they will meet therein with welcome and the ward of peace,
(75) Abiding there for ever. Happy is it as abode and station! (76) Say (O
Muhammad, unto the disbelievers): My Lord would not concern Himself with you but
for your prayer. But now ye have denied (the Truth), therefor there will be
judgment. (77).
Ta-Ha (Surah/Chapter 20. Verse 24-27): Go thou unto Pharaoh! Lo! he hath
transgressed (the bounds). (24) (Moses) said: My Lord! relieve my mind (25) And
ease my task for me; (26) And loose a knot from my tongue, (27) That they may
understand my saying. (28) Appoint for me a henchman from my folk, (29) Aaron,
my brother. (30) Confirm my strength with him (31) And let him share my task,
(32) That we may glorify Thee much (33) And much remember Thee. (34) Lo! Thou
art ever Seeing us. (35) He said: Thou art granted thy request, O Moses. (36)
And indeed, another time, already We have shown thee favour, (37).
Al-Isra or Bani Israel (Surah/Chapter 17. Verse 23-24): Thy Lord hath decreed,
that ye worship none save Him, and (that ye show) kindness to parents. If one of
them or both of them attain old age with thee, say not "Fie" unto them nor
repulse them, but speak unto them a gracious word. (23) And lower unto them the
wing of submission through mercy, and say: My Lord! Have mercy on them both as
they did care for me when I was little. (24).
In the above surah/chapter Al-Isra, the importance given to parents is
highlighted. So all those involved in serving seniors and elders in various ways
and through various programs must promote this divine message. This will create
awareness and understanding and significantly help in reducing parents, seniors
and elderly abuse and promote the message of love and care.