Ramadhan Day 19 / Juzz 19
And (remember) the Day when the
Zâlim (wrong-doer, oppressor, polytheist) will bite at his hands, he will say:
"Oh! Would that I had taken a path with the Messenger ( Muhammad SAW).
"Ah! Woe to me! Would that I had never taken so-and-so as a Khalil (an
intimate friend)! "He indeed led me astray from the Reminder (this Qur'ân)
after it had come to me. And Shaitân (Satan) is to man ever a deserter in the
hour of need." (Furqan: 27-29]
In this ayah Allah is talking
about the wrongdoer who will appear on the day of Judgment full of regret and
remorse. He will chew at his hands due to the grief he is feeling and he will
curse himself and wish that he hadn't taken "so and so" as a friend.
Why? Because this 'friend' of his led him astray even after Islam was
proclaimed to him. Allah (swt) revealed these ayahs as they concern an incident
that happened at the time of the Prophet Muhammad (saw). There lived two
friends, Uqbah ibn abi Mueet and Ummayyah Ibn Khalaf. Both of these men were
enemies of Islam, however Ummayyah was a severe enemy and was very harsh in
nature, whilst his friend Uqbah was a generous, hospitable and personable man
who had a habit that whenever he went on travel, on his return he would hold a
feast. He would gather a group of people together and serve them food. There
was one occasion when the Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) was
amongst those that were invited. The meal began and everyone starting eating,
besides the messenger of Allah. Uqbah, being the generous man he was, insisted
to the Prophet to eat. The Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) refused and said
he would not eat until Uqbah declared that "That there is none worthy of
worship but Allah an Muhammad is His messenger". Uqbah felt bad, how could
he invite a guest and let them leave without eating? And so he accepted this
statement.
Word got round and soon reached
his best friend Ummayyah, who approached Uqbah and belittled him by saying:
"How could you leave the religion of your forefathers?!" Ummayyah in
response told him there was no such thing and that he only accepted because he
felt bad. But Ummayyah would not believe him, and told him to prove this and so
he ordered him to spit int he face of the Prophet in public. And so this
unfortunate man, Uqbah went and did what he was told.
So Allah revealed an ayah
regarding Uqbah! That he will stand on the Day of Judgment chewing down harshly
at his hands, wishing he never followed his friend! SubhanAllah! Islam was
penetrating in the heart of Uqbah! Islam was presented to him by the Prophet Muhammad
(Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) himself, yet he refused and followed the way of his
bad friend.
The interesting thing about ayah
28 in this Surah is that Allah says that the man will say, "Ah! Woe to me!
Would that I had never taken so-and-so as a Khalil (an intimate friend)!" - Here
Allah uses the word "Fulaan" meaning "so and so". Allah
uses this to give it a more broad application, which indicates that the ayahs
are not referring only to Uqbah but to us as well. We have all been in some
situation where our friends have had some kind of influence on our ways,
thoughts or actions, and some may be in a position now where they are slipping
away from the deen due to their friends pulling them away and encouraging them
to do the wrong. If you are one of them, just remember Islam is a complete way
of life, a beacon of light, a treasure that should be protected and valued. If
you are around friends that are taking you away from this treasure then leave
them, for their company is dangerous. Find people that will motivate you, help
you, and work with you to be the best in everything. Make friends with those
who inspire you to become BETTER! Who remind you when you forget, as they are
the friends that will hold your hand on this journey of life till you both re
unite in Paradise, inshaAllah.
Remember who you are, a precious
pearl. An honored slave of Allah. Seek out good qualities for this life is but
a temporary abode. Spend time with people who aim high, who don't make you feel
uneasy about yourself, who have the same vision as you.
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