Day 21

Surah Furqan

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Have you (O Muhammad SAW) seen him who has taken as his ilh (god) his own vain
desire? Would you then be a Wakl (a disposer of his affairs or a watcher) over him? (43)

In the previous ayah, Allah says that the disbelievers will soon come to know who is
more misguided. Here He describes the misguided ones.

: A question that Allah is asking Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, didn't you see
them and feel surprised at their situation? You brought guidance and they are
calling you misguided. This is how he SallAllahu alaihi wasallam would get the
firmness. When you deal with the Quran as if it has been revealed unto you, it will
give you confidence and firmness.

In ayah 41, the kafiroon are taking Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wasallam as a mockery.
And in ayah 43, He tells us that they are taking their gods to be their desires.

Ilaah: anything you get attached to, and you love to and you take as a god.

: to adore, admire, attach and to make it a god.

: the thing which you think about all the time.

The desire is more difficult than the idols. Thats why in Islam, we want something,
but we will do what Allah wants. It frees us from the slavery of ourselves. There are
people who eat, sleep, work, everything according to their desires. Allah didn't say
the obey their desires, no, they take it as a god. They can't see anything else. You
can't have power over someone like this.

There are different types of disbelievers. Eg when people do bidah, or they are
extremist, so they are obeying their desires, not following what Allah and His
Messenger SallAllahu alaihiwasallam said. Its very difficult to guide these type of
people. You can't have a control over them. Allah is saying this to Nabi SallAllahu
alaihi wasallam he will not be able to guide them, be a wakeel over them. Nothing
you say will attract them. Eg Qarun, what made him reject people's advice?
Because he made his desires his god.

Wakeel: protector, guard, taking responsibility.

What stops a person from benefiting from the advices? When he is taking his
desires as his gods.

We need to advise these people, but dont take tension about them, because
whatever you say, it will not benefit them. Because their desires have overpowered

them. They don't see that they are on the falsehood.

Everyone doesn't repent. Only the one who thinks he is wrong will repent. IF
someone thinks he isnt wrong, you will never be able to guide him. You find people
who are doing wrong, but they feel guilt in their heart. They will repent some day.

So this is a serious matter. Surah Furqan tells us about the criterion. Why are the
disbelievers behaving like this? Because they have taken their desires as their
gods.

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Or do you think that most of them hear or understand? They are only like cattle; nay,
they are even farther astray from the Path. (i.e. even worst than cattle). (44)

Those kafiroon who have taken their desires as gods. All man made religions,
extremism, bidah are all based on desires.

Do you think that most of them hear or understand? Allah is telling us that we
should doubt this matter. They can't hear beneficial things and can't get a beneficial
understanding. If their desires have overpowered them, nothing will benefit them.
So these two senses have been cancelled from them. If either one is available for
them, it will help them to get guided.

Allah is saying not all those who follow their desires are like that, but most of them.
This is being fair to them.

Humans are like this normally. Eg. A person may desire is to recite surah yaseen
every morning, they don't have a hadeeth but they want to do it. If someone advises
them, they will not want to listen, because they dont want to disturb their peace. If
you tell them, just think about it, they will refuse. Allah gave us a mind to know the

right and wrong. If they will think with their mind, they will know what they are doing
is wrong.

Why did Allah mention about hearing and understanding? Because what makes a
person to be guided? Being a good listener. Eg a person is not Muslim, but they are
listening. This shows the humility of this person. But those who are following their
desires don;t even want to hear. Same for thinking. If you really think with an open
mind, and keep your desires aside, you will accept the truth. Listen even to your
enemy. Humble people will always be guided, and arrogant people will never be
guided.

If we find we are following our desires, we need to show humbleness and listen to
guidance and give it a thought, even if it is against what we like. And you will see
how Allah will guide you. So we live for Allah and for the truth.

Allah is saying those people who have taken their desires as their gods and who
don't hear nor understand are like cattle sheep, goats, etc. (plural). Because they
are blind followers. Notice how ayah 43 starts with a singular and in ayah 44, it
turns into plural. Because the follower of desires advertises for his actions and gets
many followers.

These cattle just blindly follow what the shepherd is telling them to do.

Allah is mocking at those who mock His Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. He
says, even the cattle are better, more guided than them. How?

We can't go and tell people, you are like this animal, first because this is a lie, and
second because this is mocking and making fun. But Allah is the creator and He
knows what is the best example for each person. Therefore the parables are all
different. Some places Allah uses the example of a spider, of a donkey, of zebras,
etc.

In ayah 42, Allah says that when they see the punishment, they will come to know
who is more misguided. And in ayah 44, Allah tells us that they are more misguided
than the cattle.

Why are the cattle better than them? 1. They follow wherever their shepherd is
taking them. Maybe the shepherd is taking them to slaughter them! But at least they
are following the shepherd. They dont have maps. But the people who follow their
desires have been sent guidance and messengers from Allah, yet they still don't
follow.

2. Cattle distinguish between what harms them and what benefits them. They have
instincts given to them from Allah. If they see food, they will come close to it. If they
see fire, or dangerous animals, they run away from them. Humans have not just
instincts but also a mind. But they have given their mind a vacation. We need to use
our mind to lead us to the guidance, to go to Allah Subhanahu wa taala. So the
cattle is better than them and more guided than them.

Why are the people more misguided than the cattle? 1. they dont respond to their
messenger, so they don't listen.

2. they dont differentiate between what is good and what is bad, they don't use their
minds.

Allah gave human beings the ability to listen, to understand, to think. Animals can
understand a little, they can hear sounds, and they have instincts, but they follow
their shepherds.

What stops people from following the Furqan? Blind following of their desires.

Assignment: Repeat these 2 ayaat 7 times.

We want to understand the Quran more and more. Take ayat 45, 46 and 47 and read them
in Arabic or English. Then take a piece of paper and write down what questions come in
your mind.