تدبر سورة الكهف 8

بِسْم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Verse 42:

From this result we learn that Allah deals with you according to your actions. The Owner of the two Gardens attributed all the blessings Allah gave him to himself, so all his blessings were taken away in a blink of an eye; because of his Shirk.

The plants and trees were destroyed beyond repair, plucked from the roots, so there was no hope of recovery or regrowth; it was total destruction. And he regretted all the time and money he spent on his gardens.

What's the solution? To be grateful to Allah -> Tawheed

Only Allah can protect your blessings for you. We all have a "Garden" in our lives, which is anything dear to us; whether it is our husband, children, home, etc. Protect it with Tawheed, being grateful to Allah, and attributing all your blessings to Him alone.

We read this Surah once a week, because during the week, this Dunya might make you commit Shirk. Don't let arrogance, greed, jealousy, and all the sicknesses of the heart accumulate and cause you to commit Shirk. And when it happens, the Shaytan prevents you from seeing your actions and words as Shirk, and justifies your wrong actions for you.

We don't need to go through painful experiences to understand this. Everything in life is a test; the closer the relationship, the more intense the trial, so don't attach yourself to anyone but Allah. Possessions and relationships can be a blessing, but depending on how you use and react to them. If you use them as a bridge to move closer to Allah, they become a blessing. So view anything Allah gives you as a way to get to Paradise.

And this was a very strong nurturing from Allah, and only comes after the gentle nurturing has no effect. Knowledge is a very mild form of nurturing. If you don't reform yourself through the Qur'an and Sunnah, the tone becomes stronger. But if you still don't learn your lesson, the last stage is الاستدراج - where Allah opens the door of good things for the sinner. He remains under the impression that Allah is pleased with him, not realizing that this is a form of punishment, because he's buried deeper in disobedience to Allah. 

"و يقول يا ليتني لم أشرك بربي أحدا"

He regretted the Shirk he committed; but he can't redeem his actions.

But don't despair. There's always a U-Turn back to Allah - all you need to do is repent, ask his forgiveness, move on. Live in the present, not the past, and don't worry about the future, because Allah will take care of it. Allah has taken care of providing the big things for us; like the sky, the air we breathe, our hearts, so would he not provide the small things for us? Make استغفار, thank Allah for Hus blessings, and move on, and you'll be able to enjoy life.

He used the name "الربّ" because he understood the nurturing of Allah. Everyone's tested according to their weaknesses; so when you're attached to something, Allah tests you in order for you to realize your folly, so that you don't regret it on the Day of Judgement - when it'll be too late to do anything about it.

The Prophet ﷺ said, 

"نعمتان مغبون فيهما كثير من الناس: الصحة و الفراغ"

Allah didn't give you health and free time merely to enjoy it, but to use it to come closer to Him.

Verse 43:

Purification in the Dunya is easier than in the HellFire. So don't let the blessings of the Dunya make you heedless. Don't let your heart, which was created to worship Allah, be attached to material possessions. Everyone will die one day and visit their graves, so don't waste your time. Use everything Allah gave you in the Dunya, but don't let it enter your heart, let it remain in your hands. This Dunya is a lowly thing in Allah's sight do don't let it be the cause of your happiness and grief. إجعل همك همّا واحدا. 

Make your main concern Allah, and your final destination, and the Dunya will leave your heart.

Malik Ibn Dinar said,

"إن الأبرار تغلى قلوبهم بأعمال البر و إن الفجار تغلى قلوبهم بأعمال الفجور، والله يرى همومكم فانظروا همومكم يرحمكم الله"

Don't trust the Dunya, it's not loyal to you. Don't learn your lesson the hard way. One day it's with you, the next it's gone. Be loyal to Allah and make Him your concern and your companion. Fill your heart with thoughts about Allah. Because: 

Verse 44: