The Mirror of the Excellences of Islam — Page 133
132 Ā'ĪNA-E-KAMĀLĀT-E-ISLĀM―DĀFI‘UL-WASĀWIS quality of opposing one's self which, in other words, is called zalūmi- yyat is really the most praiseworthy trait of human nature, which even the angels have not been bestowed. The following verse alludes to this very quality as Allah, glorified be His eminence, says: وَحَمَلَهَا الْإِنْسَانُ إِنَّهُ كَانَ ظَلُومًا جَهُولًا ) Meaning that: This quality of zalūmiyyat [oppressiveness] and jahū- liyyat [being neglectful] that is within humans is the reason that they came forward to assume the burden of carrying the trust that can be sustained only by those who possess the ability to oppose and compel their lower self. In short, this quality of being harsh upon one's self is a vehicle that man has been bestowed for attaining the grades of excel- lence and is a most eminent means for achieving the stations of near- ness to God which, due to the strenuous spiritual strivings, manifests itself in the form of the fire of Hell in earlier stages, but which, in the end, ushers one to the bounties of Paradise. In truth, the following verse at another place of the Noble Quran: وَ إِنْ مِنْكُمْ إِلَّا وَارِدُهَا كَانَ عَلَى رَبِّكَ حَتْمًا مَقْضِيَّاتِ ثُمَّ نُنَكّى الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْاوَ نَذَرُ الظَّلِمِينَ فِيهَا جِثِيًّا 2 is also essentially alluding to the same praiseworthy quality of zalū- miyyat, and the translation of the verse is that 'There is not a single one of you who will not have to pass through the fire. This is a prom- ise that your Lord has made incumbent and binding upon Himself. Then, after descending into the fire, We grant salvation to the muttaqin [righteous], but We shall leave the zālimīn—meaning, those who are idolaters and rebellious—in Hell, down upon their knees. ' Here the [definite] article ‘al' [the] that appears at the head of az-zālimin serves 1. Surah al-Aḥzāb, 33:73 [Publisher] 2. Surah Maryam, 19:72–73 [Publisher]