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Favours and tests – lessons from Prophet Suleman (peace be on him)

Favours and tests - lessons from Prophet Suleman (peace be on him)
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April 16, 2022
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In Surah Naml there are plenty of lessons, particularly in the verses when Allah Almighty describes the kingdom of the ants. One ant tells the other to watch out because Suleman (peace be on him) is coming with his troops and they might get trodden on accidentally.

حَتَّىٰ إِذَا أَتَوْا عَلَىٰ وَادِ النَّمْلِ قَالَتْ نَمْلَةٌ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّمْلُ ادْخُلُوا مَسَاكِنَكُمْ لَا يَحْطِمَنَّكُمْ سُلَيْمَانُ وَجُنُودُهُ وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ

Until, when they came upon the Valley of Ants, an ant said, “O ants! Go into your nests, lest Solomon and his troops crush you without noticing.” (27:18)

فَتَبَسَّمَ ضَاحِكًا مِّن قَوْلِهَا وَقَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ وَأَدْخِلْنِي بِرَحْمَتِكَ فِي عِبَادِكَ الصَّالِحِينَ

He smiled and laughed at her words, and said, “My Lord, direct me to be thankful for the blessings you have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and to do good works that please You. And admit me, by Your grace, into the company of Your virtuous servants.” (27:19)

Suleman (peace be on him) understood the language of the ants – this was one of the favours Allah Almighty gave him as a miracle. He could communicate with the animal kingdom including the birds and fish, and also the Jinn.

Allah Almighty gave different messengers different gifts. In our case, Allah has also bestowed us with different gifts. Some of us are good at communicating, others are good at crafts and others at analysis. Do not underestimate the gifts of Allah. Do not look at what others have and feel hard done by.

Allah Almighty has definitely given each one of us a valuable gift – probably many. We need to dig deep inside ourself and recognise these and acknowledge these. Rather than compare ourself with others.

In the story of Suleman and Bilqis, he sent a bird to her with a message to accept Islam. In reply, she sent him some gifts. He was not interested in the gifts, as he wanted her and her people to embrace the truth; he wanted them to submit to Allah, rather than worship the sun.

So when they came to Solomon, he said, “Do you provide me with wealth? But what Allah has given me is better than what He has given you. Rather, it is you who rejoice in your gift. (27:36)

He asked if one of his people could bring her throne to him before she arrived. She was travelling from a considerable distance, such as 1000 miles. A Jinn offered to transport it in around an hour, which would have been faster than an airplane, but another man (an awliya) said he could bring it within the blink of an eye.

What was Suleman’s reply? He said this is a test from Allah to which his response can be to be grateful or ungrateful.

قَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا الْمَلَأُ أَيُّكُمْ يَأْتِينِي بِعَرْشِهَا قَبْلَ أَن يَأْتُونِي مُسْلِمِينَ

He said, “O notables, which one of you will bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?” (27:38)

قَالَ عِفْرِيتٌ مِّنَ الْجِنِّ أَنَا آتِيكَ بِهِ قَبْلَ أَن تَقُومَ مِن مَّقَامِكَ ۖ وَإِنِّي عَلَيْهِ لَقَوِيٌّ أَمِينٌ

An imp of the sprites said, “I will bring it to you before you rise from your seat. I am strong and reliable enough to do it.” (27:39)

قَالَ الَّذِي عِندَهُ عِلْمٌ مِّنَ الْكِتَابِ أَنَا آتِيكَ بِهِ قَبْلَ أَن يَرْتَدَّ إِلَيْكَ طَرْفُكَ ۚ فَلَمَّا رَآهُ مُسْتَقِرًّا عِندَهُ قَالَ هَٰذَا مِن فَضْلِ رَبِّي لِيَبْلُوَنِي أَأَشْكُرُ أَمْ أَكْفُرُ ۖ وَمَن شَكَرَ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِ ۖ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ رَبِّي غَنِيٌّ كَرِيمٌ

He who had knowledge from the Book said, “I will bring it to you before your glance returns to you.” And when he saw it settled before him, he said, “This is from the grace of my Lord, to test me, whether I am grateful or ungrateful. He who is grateful, his gratitude is to his own credit; but he who is ungrateful—my Lord is Independent and Generous.” (27:40)

Suleman (peace be on him) asked Allah to make Him grateful for the favours Allah gave him. Sometimes we think our test is difficulties and hardships, but this is not the only kind of test in life. When Allah gives you power, status or wealth these are also forms of test. Suleman (peace be on him) understood this.

We should always be grateful for the favours Allah gave us – inward favours and outward favours – as they are far beyond our estimation.

If you tried to count Allah’s blessings, you would never be able to number them. Surely Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (16:18)

We should ask Allah to protect and preserve our favours and increase them and enable us to use them in what pleases Him. Ameen

Shaykh Haytham Tamim Tarawih 16

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Shaykh Haytham Tamim is the founder and main teacher of the Utrujj Foundation. He has provided a leading vision for Islamic learning in the UK, which has influenced the way Islamic knowledge is disseminated. He has orchestrated the design and delivery of over 200 unique courses since Utrujj started in 2001. His extensive expertise spans over 30 years across the main Islamic jurisprudence schools of thought. He has studied with some of the foremost scholars in their expertise; he holds some of the highest Ijazahs (certificates) in Quran, Hadith (the Prophetic traditions) and Fiqh (Islamic rulings). His own gift for teaching was evident when he gave his first sermon to a large audience at the age of 17 and went on to serve as a senior lecturer of Islamic transactions and comparative jurisprudence at the Islamic University of Beirut (Shariah College). He has continued to teach; travelling around the UK, Europe and wider afield, and won the 2015 BISCA award (British Imams & Scholars Contributions & Achievements Awards) for Outstanding Contribution to Education and Teaching.

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