Basics of Religious Education — Page 58
B ASICS OF R ELIGIOUS E DUCATION - F IFTH E DITION 58 58 58 58 58 devise new things. The verse conveys a great lesson not to forget and be ungrateful to God after every kind of achievement and good fortune. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, man credits himself and forgets God who is the real author of his achievements and who gave him the power, wisdom and strength to sur- mount his difficulties and attain success. This point is brought home in the next verse: (Ar-Rahmaan-ir-Raheem) ‘The Gracious, the Merciful. ’ While man does become the means of achieving success he must bear in mind that he has been enabled to become successful through the beneficence of God who is also Raheem (the Merciful) in rewarding him for his labours. Some times it happens that some unforeseen difficulties arise and the whole labour expended is brought to naught. The next verse is: Maaliki Yaum-id-deen ‘Master of the Day of Judgment’ The word Maalik, the Master) sets up a distinction between the Divine Dispenser of rewards and punishments and an earthly adminis- trator of justice. The latter is a mere judge and he cannot exercise the prerogative of mercy. God however is the Master and He cannot be ac- cused of injustice if He gives an increased reward to the virtuous or shows mercy to the sinner. Having so far dwelt on the principle attributes of Almighty God, the suppli- cant of this prayer, which comprises the first chapter of the Qur’an, now experiences a sudden change and actually begins to experience the pres- ence of God. It is generally the case that when one recalls the special char- acteristics of a person or a thing, then the imagination immediately con- jures up a picture of the same before the thinker. Such is the case here. Up to now God was referred to in the third person, but a lively description of 2. 4 Verse 3 Verse 4 A A A A A LLAH LLAH LLAH LLAH LLAH AND AND AND AND AND THE THE THE THE THE H H H H H OL OL OL OL OLY Y Y Y Y Q Q Q Q Q UR UR UR UR UR ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ AN AN AN AN AN — S — S — S — S — S URAH URAH URAH URAH URAH A A A A A L L L L L -F -F -F -F -F A A A A ATIHA TIHA TIHA TIHA TIHA AND AND AND AND AND C C C C C OMMENT OMMENT OMMENT OMMENT OMMENTAR AR AR AR ARY Y Y Y Y 2. 5 2. 5 2. 5 2. 5 2. 5