Under Allah's Guidance: 2:258

Bismillah
As salaamu alaikum,

So we left off at the beginning of page 43, with aya (verse) 257, "Allah is the protector of those who have faith..." What an awesome comforting verse. But at the same time it was a strict warning and reminder. And afterwards Allah gives us three examples that illustrate its meanings and so many more. But to fully understand the coming examples/ayaat (verses) we'll need a quick recap of the page before and even the first verse on this page.

Remember on the page before we talked about ayas 253-256. We went into how Allah gives different people different gifts. Then came Allah's command to spend from what He has given us. Then Allah explained to us who He is, and some of His characteristics and attributes. The page ended with Allah telling us His established order in the world: There is to be no forcing in matters of faith. The signs are clear. Everyone knows who Allah is and they get to choose for themselves.

Then we have the first aya on the current page 257, 'Allah is the protector of the faithful. From the depth of darkness he leads them forth into the light...' So with all this in mind we continue, remembering all the main points of what we read before, and that Allah gives us sequence and order for a reason. So on with the blessings.

ART THOU NOT aware of that [king] who argued with Abraham about his Sustainer, [simply] because God had granted him kingship?
Lo! Abraham said: "My Sustainer is He who grants life and deals death."
[The king] replied: "I [too] grant life and deal death!"
Said Abraham: "Verily, God causes the sun to rise in the east; cause it, then, to rise in the west!"
Thereupon he who was bent on denying the truth remained dumbfounded: for God does not guide people who [deliberately] do wrong. 2:258

So the aya starts. Keep in mind I'm talking about the arabic. The english interpretations, even my minor word translations, can only be used as a guide, not the real thing. It begins: "...الم تر الى" Meaning, 'Have you seen,' or, 'Have you turned your sight toward,' the one who argued with Ibrahim (peace and blessings upon him) about his Lord.

From this point we are introduced to a new character. Allah doesn't mention a name, therefore the man's name and identity are unimportant. What we need to focus on is what he says and what he is doing. He is debating a prophet concerning Allah. Ibrahim says, 'My Lord gives life and death.' And the mans says, 'I give life and death.' The man doesn't deny the power of Ibrahim's Lord. The mans problem is that he thinks he has as much power as Ibrahims Lord.

In the aya (verse) Allah says that He gave the man a kingdom. There are a few things going on with that point. Firstly, the man has a kingdom, so he's not an average person. Secondly he foolishly attributes his status to his own doing instead of realizing that it is from Allah. And thirdly he wrongly assumes the powers of that position originate from him instead of knowing that Allah is only allowing him to act.

Remember in aya 253, Allah tells us that He gives blessings to some that He doesn't give to others. Here is an example of a blessing that Allah gave, but the man attributes it to himself. So when Ibrahim (pbuh) says, 'My Lord gives life and death,' the man basically says, 'me too.' His folly is that he equates himself with God.

So Ibrahim uses an example that will dispel any illusions this man has. He says, 'Allah raises the sun from the east. You rise it from the west.' The man is بهت speechless, gripping for a reply and finding none. Why doesn't he have a reply? It's simple. He knows he can't make the sun come up from the west. And he knows that whoever in the vicinity is watching knows he can't do that either. One of the Qur'an exegetists says that this debate happened after Ibrahim (pbuh) was thrown in the fire. So whoever is questioning Ibrahim (pbuh) knows that he is no ordinary man.

Debating 101. Don't get lured into tangents. Stay on topic. Ibrahim could have directly crushed the mans delusions in thinking that he could originate life and death, but that was not the point. Ibrahim (pbuh) listened and correctly analyzed and pinpointed the man's problem. The man thought he could do what Allah does. So Ibrahim used a clear obvious example that the man couldn't get around no matter what contortions or acrobatics his mind went through.

And that was the end of that

The aya (verse) ends, 'Allah does not guide the wrongdoing folk.' This doesn't mean if you sin you will not be guided. This means: if you refuse to accept the truth you will not be guided. If you actively and deliberately persist in sinful behavior, that behavior acts as a barrier between you and Allah's guidance. Only when you desist in your wring actions and actively seek light is Allah's guidance reopened to you. And Allah is all-Forgiving, Wise.

When Master Yoda. First gave me this verse I was kind of blown away. I am (hopefully was) most definitely a stubborn person. And this verse silenced me. There was nothing I could say. What can a person say in response to Allah's words? I really had to have an intimate conversation with myself about how this verse revealed a particular bad aspect of my character.

It's not just that Allah said He doesn't guide the people who refuse to be guided. But it was the fact that I plainly saw my character reflected in the arrogance of the man who contended with Ibrahim, peace be upon him. And then I read the last phrase, and the lowliness of my existence became clear. I wanted to hide. But where could I go that Allah wouldn't see me and know me. May Allah forgive me now and always.

I'm only on sura Baqara, the second of 114 chapters. If one aya in Baqara can give me this kind of slap, God only knows what is in store in the next thousand verses. I hope I can handle it. And I pray that we all grow. Especially me. I need it.