The Essence of Islam – Volume III — Page 56
56. Essence of Islam-III beneficence which would impress a true concept of the. Divine Benefactor upon their minds, inasmuch as the dust of exaggerated regard for material means creates a veil which prevents them from observing the full countenance of the Creator of the means. They are thus unable to appreciate the full beauty of the Bountiful. . Their defective comprehension is confused by their regard for the means, and, as they are not able to estimate duly the bounties of God, they do not pay as much attention to Him as would be generated in their minds by a proper appreciation of His favours. Thus, their comprehension is somewhat misty because they put their trust in their own efforts and in the means that are available to them. They also acknowledge formally their obligation towards God on account of His being the. Creator and the Provider. As God Almighty does not require of anyone that which is beyond the limits of his intellectual capacity, He only requires of them an expression of gratitude for His favours. In the verse: إنَّ اللهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ 44 'justice' implies only this kind of obedience. . But above this there is another grade of comprehension which is reached when a person, disregarding the means, clearly observes God's gracious and beneficent hand and emerges completely out of the veils of material means. . At that stage, he realizes the futility and falsity of expressions like: 'I obtained this success through proper irrigation of my fields;' or 'I obtained this success through my own efforts;' or 'I achieved my purpose through the favour of X;' or 'I was saved from ruin by the care of Y. ' 44 'Verily, Allah enjoins justice. '-Al-Naḥl, 16:91 [Publisher]