A commentary on the Contemporary World-4

 

By Bediuzzaman Said Nursi

 

THE DOOR TO HUMAN HAPPINESS

Belief in the All-Mighty Creator and the belief in the Hereafter are alike precious, since it is through them that the mystery of the universe is revealed and the door to human happiness opened. Reliance on the Creator in patience, begging from the Provider in gratitude, and seeking refuge in Him–these are invaluable medicines for the ailments of mankind. To heed the Qur’an, to abide by its laws, to do the prayers and refrain from the major sins (kaba’ir), make up the documents, and passport for the journey to Eternity, both a light for the grave and a provision for the next life. If you want to understand the truth of that, listen to this story full of that of meaning.

Once there was a soldier in the middle of a battlefield who found himself in frightening circumstances. He was wounded in his right and left side; behind him was a lion ready to tear him apart, and ahead of him his friends and comrades were being hanged upon a gallows. And further ahead of him lay the long road into exile.

The soldier was in deep distress and much troubled, when a pious man of wisdom appeared on his right and said to him: ‘Do not despair. I am going give you two talismans, precious phrases. If you use them the lion behind you will become calm and obedient like a horse, and the gallows will become like a swing for your enjoyment. I shall also give you two medicines. If you use them on your wounds they will heal and take on the fragrance of a rose. I shall give you, also, a ticket which will allow you to travel the distance of years in one day. If you have any doubts, try them out and see the truth of what I say.’

The soldier did just as the humble pious man had said, trying out his advice, and finding that it worked, he believed the man and followed everything he had said.

After this, all of a sudden, a deceptive devil of a man appeared on the left and said:

‘Let us enjoy ourselves and listen to music and eat and drink these delicious things.’

Then he asked the soldier: ‘What is that you are mumbling?’

‘A sacred invocation,’ answered the soldier.

‘Leave these complicated issues alone, and let us not spoil our pleasures. What is that in your hands?’

‘A medicine.’

‘Throw it away. There is nothing wrong with you. What is that paper with five seals upon it?’

‘It is a ticket, and a rations card.’

‘Tear them up! How could you think of going anywhere on a beautiful spring day like this?’

In this way the devil of a man tries to deceive and lead the soldier astray. And the soldier will eventually be tempted to follow, for he is human, and humans are subject to deception.

Then suddenly on his right, the soldier hears a voice like a thunderbolt which says: ‘Wake up! Do not be deceived. Say to that devil- ‘If you are able to kill the lion behind me, do so. If you can remove the gallows ahead of me, then do it. If you can heal my wounds, then heal them. If you can arrange it so that I have no need to leave this place, then do it. When we see this done, we can enjoy ourselves. If you cannot, then, be quiet, stupid deceitful man!’

To return to reality:

We see ourselves in the world in the situation of the soldier. The lion is our appointed hour of death. The gallows stand for the separation from friends, one by one, and day after day. The two wounds are: the pain of incapacity (being unable to do something), and the pain and discomfort of poverty.
The long journey goes from the world of spirits to the life of the embryo in the mother’s womb, then to the life in youth, and then the life in old age, then being laid out in the tomb, and the life in the grave up to the day of resurrection, and passage over the bridge of the Sirat to begin the eternal life in the Hereafter. As for the two talismans, they are belief in God and the Hereafter.

So understand this precious phrase ‘Belief in the All-Mighty Creator and belief in the Hereafter’. This precious talisman obtains peace of mind for us, and the Mercy of God, and the lion being unable to act without His permission becomes like an obedient horse. For this reason the pious and learned, those who have a true understanding of death, are not afraid of dying–on the contrary, they wish to die before the time appointed for them.

The passage of time, punctuated by separations from friends (because of death, represented in the story by the gallows), actually becomes, through belief in the Hereafter, a means to see the perpetually renewed and always colorful embroideries of God’s wonderful acts, the miracles of His Power, and the manifestations of His Compassion. Because the ‘mirrors’ which reflect the colors in the sunlight are varied and replaced, the resulting spectacles are even more beautiful.

As to the medicines, one is patience and reliance upon God. What needs the man to fear who, realizing his helplessness, relies upon God who owns the command of Be! and it is? For even in a most frightening situation and in the face of a most awful calamity, he says: ‘We come from God and to Him we return’, and relies upon his Most Compassionate Lord with utmost serenity.

This is why the pious are content with their realization of their helplessness before God, and put all their hopes in God’s decision. Surely there is pleasure in the fear of God. If a one-year old were asked what is the most pleasant thing he knows, he would say, ‘being protected in the warm embrace of my mother, conscious of my weakness and helplessness– instead of being punished as I expected’. However, the sum of compassion possessed by all mothers in the world is only a small spark from the Compassion of God. Because of this, men of perfection take great pleasure in their helplessness and their fear of God and abandoning all
that is in their own powers, they take refuge in God. They make their fear and helplessness a means of intercession before God.

The other medicine is petitioning God with thanksgiving and contentment, and relying upon the mercy of the Generous All-Provider. It is for us to ask, and for God to give. How could the guests of a generous Provider who has laid the whole surface of the earth as a table for them and made the springtime for flowers to put on that table, how could guests of such a One regard their own poverty and helplessness before God as an unbearable burden? They could not. For them their poverty and need become appetite, so they try to increase their poverty–that is why men of perfection are proud of their poverty. (But let this not be misunderstood: the realization of one’s poverty in this context means one’s poverty before God, it does not mean being needy and begging from people.) As for the passport to Eternity, it comprises five times daily prayer, doing the other obligations, and avoiding the major sins. As unanimously agreed by men of discernment and learning, the only way to get a light, some provision and a vehicle for the long journey to Eternity is to abide by the Laws of the Qur’an and to refrain from its prohibitions. Possession of sciences and philosophies and craftsmanship and wisdom alone are not worth much, for these things only light the road as far as the grave.

How important, and easy, and light it is to perform the five prayers and to renounce the seven major sins. If you possess a mind, and it is one that has not been spoilt, then you should be able to understand how important and great is the outcome of doing the prayers and avoiding the sins. Having understood, you will turn to the one astray, and to the one who leads you to stray and sin, and say:

‘lf you can abolish death, do away with impotence and poverty, and close the door on the grave–then show us and let us see. Otherwise, be still and let me listen to the Qur’an explain the universe. Let us become filled with its light. And let us act according to its guidance. For the Qur’an is the truth, since it comes from the Creator–and it speaks the truth, spreading its light everywhere.’

O God, illuminate our hearts with the light of faith and the Qur’an. O God, enrich us with poverty in relation to You. Do not impoverish us with indifference towards You . We have given up our power and strength for Your sake, and taken refuge in Your power and strength, so make us among those who place their trust in You and do not leave us to ourselves. Preserve us with Your preserving. Have mercy on us and all the believers, men and women. Bestow blessings and peace upon our master Muhammad, Your servant and Prophet, Your chosen one and Your intimate friend-the beauty of Your Kingdom: the foremost of Your creation, the focus of Your affection and sun of Your guidance; the tongue of Your proofs: the embodiment of Your compassion; the light of Your creation; the noblest of Your creatures; the lamp of Your Oneness among the multiplicity of Your creatures; the discloser of the mystery of Your creation; the herald of the Kingdom of Your Lordship; the preacher of what pleases you; the proclaimer of the Treasures of Your Names; the instructor of Your servants; the interpreter of Your signs; the mirror of the Beauty of Your Lordship; the circle and compass of our witnessing You and Your making us witnesses; Your beloved one and Your Messenger whom You sent as a mercy to the worlds-and upon his family and his companions together, and upon his brothers among the Prophets and Messengers, and upon Your angels brought near, and upon Your righteous servants. Amen.

R. Nur Collection (Seventh Word)
 

Fountain Magazine: Issue 5 / January - March 1994