Surah al-Anbiya , 21...Messengers and Prophets of God..

WHEN IT COME TO RELATING VARIOUS EPISODES from the history of some earlier prophets, the surah does not adopt a chronological or geographic pattern. We saw in Maryam that Abraham is mentioned before Mosses, whereas this surah begins with the story of Moses and his brother Aaron and then turns to Abraham, though he was their predecessor. The reason for this seems to be the fact that Moses had been given the Torah which gave him prominence and distinction. The reference to the Torah serves as a prelude to the reference to the Qur'an itself which is described as " a blessed Reminder that we have revealed: Will ye then reject it?" (50).

We get a glimpse of Abraham as a staunch young believer, challenging the idolators and threatening their gods. 
"They said:" We heard a youth make mention of them, who is called Abraham." " (60). Abraham had  in fact destroyed some of their stone idols, except for the biggest one, and placed a hatchet around its neck, saying to the idolaters, mockingly: " "But this, their chief hath done it. So question them, if they can speak." " (63) .

The surah then talks of Lot, Abraham's nephew and partner in fighting the unbelievers. It says:

And We rescued him and Lot (and brought them) to the land which We have blessed for (all) peoples. (71) And We bestowed upon him Isaac, and Jacob as a grandson. Each of them We made righteous. (72) 

The surah goes on to talk of Noah, then of David and Solomon relating the episode when they differed over a judgement in a certain dispute. It says: "And We made Solomon to understand (the case); and unto each of them We gave judgment and knowledge. And we subdued the hills and the birds to hymn (His) praise along with David. We were the doers (thereof) " (79). The moral of the story is that legitimate differences of opinion are healthy and acceptable, and both sides, regardless of which is right or wrong, receive credit for their endeavor as  long  as their efforts are genuine and sincere. Many Muslims see differences as a threat and a reason for division and condemnation, which is contrary to the spirit and approach of the Qur'an.

The surah makes mention of Job, telling us that he was once a healthy and wealthy man with many children but lost all his wealth and power, and resorted God's help.

And Job, when he cried unto his Lord, (saying): Lo! adversity afflicteth me, and Thou art Most Merciful of all who show mercy. (83) Then We heard his prayer and removed that adversity from which he suffered, and We gave him his household (that he had lost) and the like thereof along with them, a mercy from Our store, and a remembrance for the worshippers; (84)

Other prophets, such as Ishmael, idris [ probably Enoch ], Dhu'lkifli [ probably Ezekiel ], Jonah, Zachariah and John, also suffered ordeals of various kinds and were put to the test, but they turned to none but God for solace and help. When affliction strikes a man he should seek strength and courage from God rather than from other helpless mortals, no matter how strong or powerful they may be.

These account tell us that life does not come easy. Hardship and tribulation are essential ingredients of human endeavor in this world. Those who persevere and resort to God's help are bound to receive it. The trials the prophets had to undergo were part of their training and enhanced their own standing in history and constituted a means of education for their followers. One of the best illustrations of this is to be found in the life of Prophet Jonah who,

... And (mention) Dhu'n-Nun, when he went off in anger and deemed that We had no power over him, but he cried out in the darkness, saying: There is no God save Thee. Be Thou glorified! Lo! I have been a wrong-doer. (87)  Then we heard his prayer and saved him from the anguish. Thus we save believers. (88)


" A Thematic Commentary On The Qur'an "
Shaykh Muhammad al-Ghazali
[ 1917 -1996 ]




Reflection and commentary of Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda :

ayat 50 to ayat 56
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI9Dl6VFiGo



ayat 57 to ayat 70
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS_8umqUfjU




ayat 71 to ayat 73
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4ml8o0T_FA



ayat 78 to 79
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQWrOV6nvZs





ayat 80 to ayat 84
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHVJUogakc4





ayat 85 to ayat 86
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42W_bivYYA8




ayat 89 to ayat 93
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVG_SsQ6ngw




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Personal Anecdote on 'prayers and doa' 
from " Pearls & Gem "
A couple of years back I had an 'intellectual altercation' with someone 'high and mighty and 'diplomatically unreacheable'. I was at a lost as to how to solve my  problem. I prayed the proverbial sunat 'hajat' for several nights. The nights stretched to weeks, then finally a month. At the end of the month, I received an important unexpected phone call at midnight from someone also 'high and mighty' and also in the same 'diplomatically unreacheable' category as the first chap....my problem and 'unhappiness' was solved with that one phone call. 'We' had to work very hard for a year, then the former ' high and mighty ' over the next one year was made to swallow humble pie and to realise with whom he ' deals with ': Life is not just about power' . It is about doing things right and having the ' proper adab '.

Ya Mukalibal Qulub, thabit kalbi...............
[  Oh The One Who changes  hearts.... ]

The power of prayer....when you are stuck with the relative 'unsolvable' , pray, and do not just pray once, do it daily, and for months if need be...
If the 'equation' on the ground does not shift, at least God will shift the 'equation' in your Qalb....insyaallah
Read on :
http://drnikisahak.blogspot.com/2010/09/ridha.html


postscript :

..and if you think one month of night prayer is already too much hassle...just think about the 'nearness to Him' as one of the 'collateral damage'. Not a bad 'side effect' at all.

I have done even much worse. Fifteen years of prayer and doa, some 20 years back. An acquintance 'embezzled' me for a huge [ huge by my poor standard then ] sum of money some 20 years ago. Too embarrasing for me to go 'legal' or to the police. I just prayed for his soul and Allah to change his heart. Even did not missed doing this at every umrah I did in all those years and that was quite many. He did not change. On the fifteenth year, just last year, I changed. I 'halal' whatever he did to me, without even him knowing it. The rest is between him and Him. My 'rezeki' doubled just one month after the 'halal' act. I have not looked back since.

That is the power of prayer and doa for you.....and sabr.

Perhaps another story would not hurt. 
A colleague  of mine confided to me this year he had been nursing one regret. He regretted sending his daughter  to the UK 15 years back at an early age of 16. She is now 30 plus and single and happy with the bright light of London and does not want to come back even though with her degree and experience, she could walk inot any job here. I asked him, " Have you tried praying and asking Allah to change her heart, since you have more or less tried everything else?". He retorted, " Yes Nik, twice a year! Every new year and every Aidil Fitri night ". OMG, I nearly clobbered him. What has every  Gregorian new year  to do with the equation!!
"Pray and doa everyday of the year, man! And if your daughter still dont' come home, at least insyaallah, you can finally accept that, even in London , one can be a good Muslim! "