The 63rd Lecture of Wisdom – Lecture of al-Hikam

 

 63rd WISDOM LECTURE AL-HIKAM

Bismillahirrahmaanirrahiim

Assalamualaikum wr. wb   

"You should be afraid if you always get the gift of Allah, while you are still in disobedience to Him, don't let the gift be merely an istidraj from Allah SWT."

This wisdom is actually a complement to the previous wisdom ( Hikmah 62 ). We know Istidraj is a punishment that is slowly given to someone, in the form of an abundance of favors, even though he continues to be in the confines of immorality.

In principle, if the favors given by Allah are not grateful. Then the favor will soon disappear and disappear. While the blessings that are always greeted with gratitude, will definitely continue to grow fertile. This has become a divine formula contained in the Qur'an.

However, not a few people who continue to overflow with favors and he continues to enjoy them. While he was trapped in a crisis of immorality. This is something to watch out for. Because God's gift with a situation like this includes istidraj.

While istijraj is essentially a warning from Allah to His servant, which causes His wrath to descend. Pay attention to the content of the QS verse. al-Qalam: 44 under

So leave (O Muhammad) to Me (the affair) of those who deny this saying (the Quran). Later We will draw them gradually (towards destruction) from a direction they do not know,

This iatidraj does not only occur in personnel, but also covers a larger scope. An easy example is a country whose wealth continues to increase and is abundant. Meanwhile, the government/population are trapped in immorality.

They are far from the Shari'a of Allah, even challenging the Islamic order that has been brought by the world revolutionary, Rasulullah SAW. Then know! That the country's wealth is actually not a blessing, but a punishment that God slowly sends down.

Do we still remember the story of King Pharaoh? The very evil king would not take advice. He has very abundant wealth and even believes that this world is in his power and finally he claims to be God. Not long after, everything owned became no man's property. Because in an instant Allah willed him to sink in the middle of the ocean.

Pay attention to QS. Al-a'raf: The following 137 alludes to Pharaoh

And We give inheritance to the people who have been oppressed, the lands of the eastern part of the earth and its western part which We have blessed them with. And the good word of your Lord (as a promise) has been completed for the Children of Israel because of their patience. And We destroyed what Pharaoh and his people had made and what they had built.

Also think about QS. Al-an'am: 44 following

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.

So how should our attitude be in welcoming Ihsan Allah who always gives us more and more blessings? The attitude that should adorn us is; always feel afraid and anxious that the grace we are enjoying includes istijraj from Allah.

The impetus that can bring about that feeling is self-introspection and always feels wrong or careless in front of Allah SWT . And also believe that the abundance of God's blessings that we receive is far greater than our gratitude to Him .

The important thing that must also be avoided is the feeling of being pretentious to the point that you don't want to introspect yourself, because you feel clean from mistakes and sins. For example, someone said; when I control myself, it turns out that I have obeyed, carried out my obligations to Allah and was grateful for His blessings.

The more a servant knows Allah, the more feelings he will always feel wrong in front of Him. In essence, the believer must be afraid that the blessings that continue to increase around him, are a trial or mere istijraj from Allah.

No wonder, when Sayyidina Umar got a lot of booty during the war, he was very difficult and afraid. Because he was worried, the favors in the form of victory and the spoils were trials and istidraj from Allah SWT.

If we are in our class, does anyone have the same level as Sayyidina Umar above? So that we continue to live in anxiety and thirst, because we feel always careless and reckless and negligent in carrying out obligations. It seems very rare. Because in reality, the majority of us feel special with what we have.

Even forget yourself and do not want to be grateful. They feel that everything they have is purely private, as if they will not be judged in the afterlife. So, let's count ourselves the deeds we do every day. And never be proud or special with what we have. What's more, feel enough with worship that is carried out every day. Cultivate a sense of humiliation in front of Him and always feel guilty to Him. So that we feel thirsty to always pray, glorify and worship Him. May we be showered with His grace and maghfirah! Amen

Wassalamualaikum wr. wb