تدبر سورة الكهف 7

The trials are dark patches of darkness, which prevent a person from seeing clearly. You need to have a storage of faith before the trial comes. But even the most religious person could forget or not see clearly during the trials, so they need to be reminded. That's why we encourage a dying person to say لا اله الا الله, and give him hope without making his heart attached to the means. 

The hearts of people are different. Some will absorb the فتنة and indulge in it and others will push it away and attach their hearts to Allah. Those who absorb the فتنة will have black hearts and those who strive against themselves and push away the فتنة will be appreciated by Allah. Even if they saw the sky falling they would have complete faith that Allah will protect them. So Allah will pull them out of the فتنة and not even a bad companion could influence them.  

How does one fall into the فتنة of wealth? 

1) Feeling proud of your wealth 

2) Having confidence in it

3) Doubting the Day of Judgement

4) Being confident in yourself; that'll you'll have better on the Day of Judgement.

كبر is a result of عجب. A person first becomes self amazed, then arrogant. The owner of the two gardens also fell into the sin of الأمن من مكر الله. He felt safe from the plotting of Allah when he was positive that his blessings would never leave him, forgetting that everything exists because Allah wills it to. He was deceived by the Dunya.

The Dunya should not be a scale wherewith you measure your happiness and sadness. If you get it you shouldn't become overly excited, and if you don't get it, it shouldn't make you upset.

How do you treat someone who has fallen into this فتنة? 

Verse 37:

"أكفرت"

The owner of the two gardens committed كفر, because he attributed the blessings to himself instead of Allah.

1) تذكر خلق الانسان من تراب 

It's useless to tell someone immersed in the Dunya to desist, because he's already enjoying himself. When someone's always talking about his possessions and wealth, you need to wake him up - remind him of his origin. He is created from sand and a drop of semen - both very lowly, humiliated substances.  

Notice that the companion didn't mention any name of Allah - but spoke about Allah's actions.

Verse 38:

2) تذكير بالتوحيد

Then he uses the name of Allah الرب, which was previously used by the owner of the two gardens. He reminds his companion about Allah, the One who gave him all these blessings. 

When the owner of the two gardens went into severe transgression, the tone of his companion became stronger and angrier - for the sake of Allah. He didn't attack straight away, but the admonition levels up in severity as we read each verse. The Dunya is very deceiving and the one who falls into it needs a wake up call which will shock him awake and pull him out of the quicksand. 

"و لا أشرك بربي أحدا" 

Because الدين هي النعمة الحقيقة. Real honour lies in this statement. 

Verse 39:

3) التذكير بأن هاذا بمشيئة و قوة الله

The companion gives him a solution here. Say ما شاء الله لا قوة الا بالله. 

"ما شاء الله"

Confess that this was by the will of Allah. Do not attribute it to yourself or anyone else. Say ما شاء الله and believe it.

"لا قوة إلا بالله"

1) Attribute the blessing to the power of Allah. 

2) Confess your inability. You have zero power, and your will is associated with the decree of Allah. 

Do not be jealous of anyone because what they possess is by the will and power of Allah. The companion of the owner of the two gardens wasn't jealous, because he knew this. He was happy with the decree of Allah. 

عَنْ أَبِي نَضْرَةَ حَدَّثَنِي مَنْ سَمِعَ خُطْبَةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي وَسَطِ أَيَّامِ التَّشْرِيقِ فَقَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَلَا إِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ وَاحِدٌ وَإِنَّ أَبَاكُمْ وَاحِدٌ أَلَا لَا فَضْلَ لِعَرَبِيٍّ عَلَى أَعْجَمِيٍّ وَلَا لِعَجَمِيٍّ عَلَى عَرَبِيٍّ وَلَا لِأَحْمَرَ عَلَى أَسْوَدَ وَلَا أَسْوَدَ عَلَى أَحْمَرَ إِلَّا بِالتَّقْوَى أَبَلَّغْتُ قَالُوا بَلَّغَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ

Abu Nadrah reported: I heard the sermon of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ during the middle of the day at the end of the pilgrimage. The Prophet said, “O people, your Lord is one and your father Adam is one. There is no virtue of an Arab over a foreigner nor a foreigner over an Arab, and neither white skin over black skin nor black skin over white skin, except by righteousness. Have I not delivered the message?” They said, “The Messenger of Allah has delivered the message.” [Musnad Ahmed]

Verse 40:

4) الله قادر على اعطاء الأفضل للآخرين

The key to success is attributing the blessings to Allah and being grateful to Him, because Allah is able to increase him and give him something better than the two gardens.

5) قدرة الله في أهلاك هاذا المال

Allah is able to destroy the wealth.

The advice of the companion gets stronger and stronger. He says:

a) فعسى ربي أن يؤتين خيرا من جنتك 

Instead of being jealous, ask Allah to grant you what He gave others - even Dunya related matters.

  

b) و يرسل عليها حسبانا من السماء فتصبح صعيدا زلقا

Allah is able to send a torrent of stones causing the garden to become barren, slippery, useless, and deserted, with no hope of retrieving anything.

He is able to destroy your blessings. Don't think that you are the one who preserves your blessings. 

Verse 41:

c) يصبح مآؤها غورا فلن تستطيع له طلبا

Water nourishes the garden. Allah is able to make the water sink deep down into the ground so that it'll be irretrievable and the garden would not survive.

Water is a blessing from Allah. Thank Allah for His blessings, and use His blessings to get closer to Him.