Al Hikam 61: Understanding Allah's Wisdom, Ibnu Athoillah

 

Al Hikam 61: Understanding Allah's Wisdom

Bismillahirrahmaanirrahiim

Assalamualaikum wr. wb   

"Those who do not draw near to Allah with His subtlety will be dragged away to remember Allah with a chain of trials."

This word of wisdom explains the wisdom given by Allah to His servants in living life. First we must understand, that God with the power that He has, has given favors and gifts to all his creatures. Muslim/infidel.

Allah does not discriminate in treating His servants. All are graced well and perfectly. It's just that sometimes His creatures don't feel it. Muslims, whether obedient / disobedient to Him, are still given the necessities of life just like other creatures, although in different levels. Even the disbelievers, by Allah are still given the same enjoyment and grace of life as His Muslim creatures. There's no difference.

Here, we can see the generous nature and universal wisdom of God. How great and wise is God. Notice the QS: Al-Isra: 20 which explains the nature of God's infinite love.

To each group, both this group and that group, We give help from the mercy of your Lord. And the mercy of your Lord cannot be hindered. [Surah: Al-Isra:20]

Responding to God's infinite gift, must be with a step of gratitude. Be grateful for all the blessings and realize that they are all from Him. Gratitude is an ideal attitude that we must have in manifesting the blessings and gifts that have been given by Allah. Gratitude is not kufr.

Beings who know themselves and understand their own low, weak, limited, sinful condition, are grateful. We have many sins and are full of mistakes, but God still pours his grace on us. What else to do except be grateful?

On the other hand, human nature is happy and loves anyone who is kind to him. There are even humans who are willing to become slaves to people who have treated themselves well. Fact!

There is a saying of wisdom which reads:

    "The human soul tends to love people who treat themselves well."

When God has treated us well, shouldn't we naturally love and serve Him? But the fact is not always so. The gift that God has given us, sometimes we even reply with an attitude of disobedience, pride, etc.

We are often ignorant, God treats us well, we treat Him badly. We are given favors, we are rewarded with disobedience. But regardless of the conditions, Allah still wants the best for His servants. As long as it's not arrogant.

Creatures who forget Allah,   Allah will remind and awaken themselves with calamities/difficult living conditions. Examples are tested with poverty,   calamities, difficult sustenance, disease, problems,   etc. With the aim that we realize and return to God.

So actually,   the test of life is not a disaster,   but a gift,   because with the test we then realize and   return to God. Don't get carried away. The fact is that some of us will return to Allah after being given a calamity.   Just realized and repented.

When our living conditions are difficult,   there are many problems,   many calamities, etc.,   think about it,   what is wrong with us? What is wrong? Maybe all this time we have been away from God, many sins, disobedience.   So given the calamity,   so that we return to Him. When you are hit by a disaster/many problems,   don't be in a hurry to blame God, maybe we have sinned a lot. Should be introspective.

 However, if after being given pleasure / grace from Him,   we are arrogant, jumawa,   then usually Allah will make istidroj. That istidroj is Allah leaving him in arrogance and   continuing to add pleasure to him. He was not reprimanded. But left. Why is this arrogant person left/istidroj? So that he is further away from Allah,   so that his punishment in the hereafter will be more painful.

Notice the QS: Al-An'am: 44 which explains the omission that Allah has done to his arrogant creatures.

So when they forgot the warning that had been given to them, We also opened all the doors of pleasure for them; so that when they rejoice in what has been given to them, We will suddenly punish them, so at that time they fall silent in despair.   [Surat: Al-An'am: 44]

From here, the words of wisdom at the beginning found their relevance. That when we are far from Him, then Allah will make it difficult for us. Although it also needs to be understood, that the descent of calamities that cause us to be close to God is actually a great gift and blessing.

God's grace there are 2. Dzahir and   inner. The dzahir such as healthy pleasures, sustenance, food, etc. Inner grace is like being hit by a disaster, life's problems, difficult sustenance, all of which cause awareness and return to Him. That's actually a blessing too.

These two kinds of grace are trials from Allah.   Grace of wealth, throne, wealth,   success is a trial.   Shall we be grateful? Disasters, life problems, poverty,   etc. are also trials.   Will we come to our senses and return to Allah because of all these difficulties?

In closing,   consider the following QS: Al-Anbiya ': 35.

Every soul will taste death. We will test you with evil and good as a (true) trial. And to Us you will be returned.

Wassalamualaikum wr. wb