EXCERPTS FROM SURAH

FUSSI'LAT (Surah 41)  

Verily, those who say:  "Allah is our Lord" and are upright, they

will be enhanced by the Angels,

that they will not be afraid nor grieved,

Receive the glad tidings of Paradise

which was promised to you.

We are in charge of you in this life and in the Hereafter,

where you will have whatever you yearn for,

and therein shall be whatever you ask,

a gift from the Oft-Forgiving, the Merciful Lord.

Who speaks better than he who invites to Allah

and works righteously, and declares: I am of the Muslims.

Good and Evil are not alike.  Repel (evil) with what is better, then lo!

he, between whom and you there was enmity,

will become as though he was an intimate friend.

and none is granted this save those who are steadfast,

and none is granted this save those whose good fortune is great

And if Satan incites discord, seek refuge in Allah,

for Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَلائِكَةُ   

ألا تَخَافُوا ولا تَحْزَنُوا

Verily, those who say:  "Allah is our Lord" and are upright, they will be enhanced by the Angels, that they will not be afraid nor grieved,

     To believers Allah is first and foremost, He is the Priority, therefore belief is the essence.

Believers who:

1. are upright, virtuous, and pure,

2. do good deeds and help others,

3. improve conditions around themselves, and

4. call others unto Allah and Islam,

وَأَبْشِرُوا بِالْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ   

Receive the glad tidings of Paradise which was promised to you.

     This Ayah is a continuation of the previous one and it assures the believers that they will be rewarded with Paradise as promised by Allah (swt).

نَحْنُ أَوْلِيَاؤُكُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الآخِرَةِ  

وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَشْتَهِي أَنفُسُكُمْ

We are in charge of you in this life and in the Hereafter, where you will have whatever you yearn for,

and therein shall be whatever you ask, a gift from the Oft-Forgiving, the Merciful Lord.

     This Ayah reiterates Allah's promise.  In Paradise a person will not have to work or struggle to get whatever he wants.  It is his for the asking.  He will be happy.  His heart will be content.

وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ قَوْلاً مِّمَّن دَعَا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا  

 وَقَالَ إِنَّنِي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ

Who speaks better than he who invites to Allah and works righteously, and declares: I am of the Muslims.

     This Ayah portrays the ones who invite others unto Allah and do good deeds, and it praises their commitment in calling for Allah and the works for Him.  Allah knows the difficulties in doing so because He knows the nature of man.

     Allah also knows the great effort and self discipline needed to strive for nearness to Him, and encourages us toward that goal.  Allah knows that to do so the person has to:

1. conquer himself first,

2. establish control through Taq'wa (Allah's-consciousness),

3. make conscious decisions based on Allah's guidance,

4. strive constantly against evil thoughts, feelings, and deeds.

Then, the person will:

1. be a model to others,

2. encourage them to improve and modify, and

3. unite with others for the sake of Allah.

     Such people will work collectively to advance the cause of Islam.

وَلا تَسْتَوِي الْحَسَنَةُ وَلا السَّيِّئَةُ   

ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ فَإِذَا الَّذِي بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُ عَدَاوَةٌ كَأَنَّهُ وَلِيٌّ حَمِيمٌ

Good and Evil are not alike.  Repel (evil) with what is better, then lo!  he, between whom and you there was enmity, will become as though he was an intimate friend.

       A good deed of course cannot be on a par with an evil one.  The two vary in value and in their effects and consequences.  When something bad is done to a believer, it is better for the believer to resolve it by doing a good deed to the offender.  Kind acts will cultivate love and respect, and earn admiration and friendliness.  A true believer will focus on the good, and thus thwart enmity and bitterness.

وَمَا يُلَقَّاهَا إِلاّ الَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا وَمَا يُلَقَّاهَا إِلاّ ذُو حَظٍّ عَظِيمٍ   

and none is granted this save those who are steadfast, and none is granted this save those whose good fortune is great

     Paradise will be Allah's gift for the patient believer.  It is for those who persevere, are patient, understanding, and forgiving, even when they are abused or ill-treated.  This reward is the greatest of good fortune.

وَإِمَّا يَنزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ نَزْغٌ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ   

And if Satan incites discord, seek refuge in Allah, for Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

     Satan works in many devious ways and if a believer finds himself in a discord, or if some trouble is dealt him by others, he should remember Allah and seek refuge in Him.  By so doing a believer receives Allah's support and protection and can feel at peace.

     A believer should resolve a bad deed with a good one if he can, but sometimes he may lose control.  In such situations he ought to remember Allah and take protection in Him.  This gives a sense of control, peace, and comfort.  What the believer can say is:

I seek refuge in Allah from Satan the condemned