It is only Allah whose discretion
holds supreme in this world. No one else’s discretion has in reality even
a trace of authority. However, for the sake of trial, Allah has sanctioned
freedom to man, who has been given considerable liberty in an otherwise
completely enslaved existence to see how he uses it: does he opt for the
realistic choice of submitting to Allah’s -- the real Master’s -- will
or does he get carried away by the thrills of his undeserving liberty and,
as a consequence, resort to a rebellious attitude.
Allah has prepared Paradise for those
who despite possessing many options choose to remain optionless; those
who volunteer to fear Allah even on occasions when fear is not seemingly
warranted; those who, despite wielding full authority, surrender all their
authority to Allah.
When such people are provided with
sustenance through the medium of some apparent material source, they acknowledge
that it is in fact Allah Who has arranged it for them. They have the liberty
to be unfair to others, but they check the sinful inclinations of their
liberty for fear of Allah. Opportunities of demonstrating anger, hatred,
and revenge come their way, but they choose to exercise restraint on occasions
of anger and offer forgiveness on occasions of hatred and revenge. Allah
allows them to be praised lavishly by others, but they find solace in remaining
humble. Allah makes them wealthy, but instead of spending their wealth
to satisfy their vain desires, they find it more satisfying to spend their
wealth in His way. They follow the way of Allah instead of following the
way of their own whims; instead of living for their own sake, they live
for the sake of Allah.
The serene world of Paradise is indeed
for such people. They make themselves subservient to Allah with their own
free will; they choose to remain constrained within the divinely ordained
restrictions, despite enjoying the freedom to remain unrestricted.
|