Day 30
Walking into the storm
TL;DR:
Day 30 of Be Quranic explores Ayahs 18 and 19 from Surat al-Baqarah, continuing the discussion on the Munafiqeen (hypocrites).
These verses use parables to describe the Munafiqeen's spiritual blindness and deafness, despite being surrounded by guidance.
They compare this to a person in a storm, putting fingers in their ears, thinking they are safe.
The lesson emphasises the importance of being open to truth and guidance, rather than ignoring reality like an ostrich.
Believers are encouraged to accept and practice truth, even when challenging, and to seek Allah's forgiveness for any shortcomings.
Welcome to Day 30 of Be Quranic, where we take short passages from the Quran every day, extract practical lessons from them, and apply them to our daily life to be more Quranic.
InshaAllah, today we continue our study of Surat al-Baqarah, starting from Ayah number 18 and Ayah number 19. Yesterday, we discussed the parable about the Munafiqeen (hypocrites) being like someone trying to light a fire. The moment it is lit and brightens the surroundings, Allah takes away their light. Despite living amidst brightness and guidance, a Munafiq is not guided by it. Allah describes them as deaf, dumb, and blind, not literally but in a spiritual sense, surrounded by truth but refusing to accept it.
Today, Ayah 19 offers another parable. Imagine dark clouds carrying heavy rain, bringing darkness, thunder, and lightning. In this terrifying situation, someone puts their fingers in their ears, thinking they are safe just because they can't hear the storm. This behaviour is likened to an ostrich burying its head in the ground, thinking that if it can't see the danger, it doesn't exist. This is what the Munafiqeen do: they refuse to listen, thinking that ignorance is bliss. By ignoring the truth, they pretend it doesn’t exist, hoping to avoid the troubles it might bring.
The Quran advises against being like an ostrich, ignoring the reality that there is an Akhira (afterlife), accountability, and consequences for our actions in this world. The Munafiqeen ignore these truths, pretending they don't exist, avoiding the messages of the Quran because it might disrupt their lives.
In contrast, a Mu'min (believer) opens their eyes, ears, and, most importantly, their heart to the truth. They accept and practice the truth, even when it is difficult. When Allah commands, we strive to obey to the best of our ability, acknowledging our shortcomings and seeking Allah's forgiveness.
Yes, some commands may be challenging, but we shouldn't close our ears or eyes, or ignore the truth. Accepting it and trying our best to implement it, we say "Samee'na wa ata'na" (We hear and we obey), asking for Allah's forgiveness for our shortcomings. This approach is what Allah desires from us: effort, obedience, and seeking forgiveness for our inevitable human faults.