Al-Emran 14-15

Al-Emran 14-15

14- THE LOVE OF PLEASURES HAS BEEN BEAUTIFIED FOR MANKIND; OF WOMEN, CHILDREN, HEAPS OF GOLD AND SILVER, THE BRANDED HORSES, CATTLE AND TILLED LAND.  THESE ARE THE PLEASURES OF THE LOWER LIFE, BUT WITH ALLAH IS THE EXCELLENT DESTINY.

15- SAY: “SHALL I TELL YOU ABOUT WHAT IS BETTER THAN THIS, FOR THE PIOUS THERE ARE GARDENS WITH RIVERS FLOWING UNDERNEATH, WHERE THEY WILL ABIDE FOREVER, AND THEY WILL HAVE PURIFIED WIVES, AND ALLAH’S PLEASURE WITH THEM, FOR ALLAH SEES ALL THAT HIS SLAVES DO.

• In order for life on Earth to continue and prosper, Allah the Highest beautified some things for us and made them enjoyable.  Allah the Highest beautified women for men and men for women, for them to procreate.  Beautified, food, drink, money, land and animals, etc. for they are all essential for life on Earth to continue.
• Allah the Highest never intended for life on Earth to be without pleasure, as long as it is Halal (lawful). Allah the Highest said: “AND ASK FORGIVENESS FROM YOUR LORD AND REPENT TO HIM, HE WILL GIVE YOU PLEASURES UNTIL AN APPOINTED TIME”    (S: 11 A: 3) In fact, Allah the Highest did not forbid pleasures, but made rules for them.  He allowed men and women to enjoy each other, but within marriage, allowed us to earn money, but did not allow stealing or cheating.  
• These pleasures are temptations as well.  They are tests and trials for us, so that we may enjoy them without transgressing beyond the limits.  Allah the Highest said: “AND KNOW THAT YOUR WEALTH AND CHILDREN ARE TEST AND TRIAL FOR YOU, AND ALLAH HAS A GREAT REWARD”  (S:8 A:28)
• There is nothing bad or evil about enjoying the good things in life, within the boundaries Allah the Highest made for us.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “But the lower life on Earth has pleasures to enjoy, and the best of it’s pleasures is a righteous wife” (M:Redaa;59 & Ma:Nekah;5 & A:2;186 & N:Nekah;15) 

In the mean time, women are temptation for men as men are temptation for women.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “No temptation will harm men after me more than women”.  (B:Nekah;17 & M:Zekr;97 & T:Adab;31 & Ma:Fetan;19 & A:5;210)

We can see how true this is.

In general; the pleasures which Allah the Highest beautified for us to enjoy, are our test and trial in the meantime. Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “A man’s temptation and trial is in his wife, wealth, children and neighbours.  He will be forgiven the sins related to them through his Salah, Charity, and enjoining what is right and forbidding what is forbidden”  (B:Sowm; 3 & M:Fetan;9 & T:Fetan;71 & Ma:Fetan;9 & A:5;401)

Our test, trial and temptation are in calamities and afflictions as well as in good fortunes and pleasures.  Good fortunes give us a sense of security which tends to make us forget that bad things may happen.   We tend to feel that good fortunes last, but nothing else.  

The pleasures Allah the Highest stored for us in Paradise are far better, in that:

1. They are eternal and ever lasting.
2. The pleasures in Paradise may be similar in some ways to the pleasures on Earth, they are fare superior and beyond one’s imagination.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said that Allah the Highest said: “I prepared for my righteous slaves, what no eye has seen, no ear heard of and what has never been imagined by a human heart”.  (A:2:213)
3. We have to work to enter Paradise, but do not have to work there to enjoy its pleasures.
4. The Pleasures of Paradise are perfect, in that they are not accompanied by any displeasure.  For example, food does not give distension or discomfort or followed by excretions.  There are no secretions or impurities, one does not have to climb or reach out for fruit on trees etc. 

At the end Allah the Highest reminds us that He sees every thing we do, which will be taken into account in our judgment.

B: Bukhari   M: Muslim    Mal: Malek   A: Ahmed   D: Abu Dawood      

Da: Daremy   Ma: Ibn Magah                   N: Nesae      T: Termezi