The Fruit of Ingratitude
PROF G R MALIK
The Quran tells us that people who practise ingratitude vis-à-vis Allah (SWT) are afflicted with want and fear:
Allah cites the instance of a place which was in peace and comfort with sustenance flowing into it easily and abundantly from all directions. Then it turned ungrateful to Allah’s favours and Allah made it experience the garment of hunger and fear for what its people used to do. (16:112)
The Quran does not specify which particular region or people is referred to here. Whatever the learned exegetes have written with respect to it, is extremely valuable and enlightening but it is significant that the text of the Quran leaves the place unidentified, thereby imparting a universal character to the moral-spiritual insight which is communicated. What is stated can be true of any place or any people including us.
What does ingratitude towards Allah’s favours imply? The answer to this question that one gathers from the Quran is that those who do not care about how the Creator wants them to lead their lives, are ingrates. We owe our existence to the Creator and also the maintenance of this existence for which the earth’s lap has been filled with all that we require to fulfil our needs and desires. What ingratitude can be worse than to be heedless to the Creator and Provider of all that we need, and ignore his guidance in individual and collective life? People who live like this can justify their way of life by saying that they can digest their food and have a sound sleep without bothering about the Creator and His pleasure. The Quran describes such people as men “who have hearts and minds wherewith they do not feel and think, eyes wherewith they do not see, and ears wherewith they do not hear; they are like animals, nay worse and more misguided because they are heedless.” (7:179). Divine guidance, says the Quran, is naturally not meant for such people because they do not bother about it:
This is the Book in which is no doubt; it is the Guidance for the God-conscious. (2:2).
Lastupdate on : Thu, 29 Sep 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 29 Sep 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:00:00 IST
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