Seek The Fadhl Of Allah Ta’ala – Hazrat Moulana Maseehullah Khan Saheb (Nawwarallahu Marqadahu)

This sounds strange. To seek the fadl of Allah Ta’ala was the very reason that you had gone to the masjid. You were sitting in the masjid to seek the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala.
You had obviously gone to seek the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala, and not His displeasure. Al’ayazbillah! How can one even think that one goes to the masjid to seek the displeasure of Allah Ta’ala? This is a fine point being brought to your notice, a point you may not find in the kitabs of tafseer.

Another fine point to bring to your notice: The Arabic fi” is used here, and fi” means “in”. “Spread out IN the earth.” Grammatically the word “ala”, meaning “on”, would appear to be more appropriate. However, the fi” is used in this instance for greater emphasis: Spread out firmly and enthusiastically, on the earth.

0 ye students! 0 ye Ulema Ikram! Hearken! These are points you may or may not come across when perusing the kitabs of tafseer.

But, let us carry on: Spread out for what? To seek the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala. ‘Wabtagu min fadlillah.” – Spread out to seek the fad of Allah Ta’ala.
So, the question arises: “0 Allah! We were sitting in the masjid specifically seeking your fadhl. Tell us, what is this other fadhl that we are being ordered to seek?”
The answer is: This fadhl is your rozi, Fadhl, in this instance, is your rizq (sustenance).

You were under the impression that being in the masjid, engaged in your namaz, your tilawat and your tasbih, was the only means of attaining His fadhl. Not at all. Spreading out on the earth, travelling and toiling, is also seeking the fadhl of Allah Ta’ala. This is also ibadat. So, go forth. Seek your sustenance. “Wabtagu mtn fadhlillah.”

Another question: Why this unusual manner of ordering us to seek our sustenance?
Allah Ta’ala’s answer is: “It must not happen that you seek your rizq forgetful of Me! It must not happen that you immerse yourself in your farming, or your business, or whatever work you are doing, forgetful of Me! And, moreover, that whatever you earn, you come to consider to be the result solely of your own toil and efforts Remember that even the results are through My fadhl, as well as the means: It is I Who have blessed you with an understanding heart, and a brain that can think, and limbs that can work. Have you not stopped to think why the next person has not got what you have? So, is this not My fadhl on you?”

Yet, you consider that what you have earned is solely through your rushing around, through your own efforts, Just like Qarun.
Qarun believed that it was solely through his own knowledge and skills that he had amassed his wealth. Qarun had boasted, “What I have amassed is solely through my own knowledge and expertise. I have taken no help or support, neither from any person nor from that Being Whom you refer to as your Khaliq.”
“Believe as you wish,” was Allah Ta’ala’s response. What happened? Allah Ta’ala’s Wrath descended, and both Qarun and his wealth were destroyed’

Remember, not a single item that we possess is ours. Nay, we ourselves cannot lay a claim to ourselves! We belong to another Being. And if we belong to another Being, it follows that whatever we have in our possession also belongs to that Being.

Do you understand?

Another point to be understood from this ayet is that this world is a world of means – alime asbab: a world related to the utilisation of means to attain a desired objective. In other words, we have to make firm use of the proper and permissible means that Allah Ta’ala has set out, to acquire those objectives which are considered necessary. And thereafter, have hope of success.

As we said, coming to the masjid for namaz is seeking fadhle ilahi. Spreading out on the earth for your rozi is also seeking fadhle ilahi. Look at it this way: In order to seek your rozi your feet have to walk, your hands have to work, and your eyes have to see that work.

These actions of your feet, hands and eyes have a significance no less than the actions of your feet, hands and eyes in going to the masjid and performing your namaz! In both situations, the movements of your feet, hands and eyes are to gain the fadhl of Allah Ta’ala. In both situations you are in ibadat and earning a great reward – thawab and ajr azeem.

Another very subtle point arises here:

In both situations you are earning through the fadhl of Allah Ta’ala. Do not even for a moment consider that what you have earned is due to any excellence within yourself! The walking of your feet, the working of your hands, the looking of your eyes, and the speaking of your tongue, are all through the fadhl of Allah Ta’ala. Do not for a moment consider these to be due to any excellence within yourself, or that any excellence within yourself is the result solely of your own toil and effort. Whatever scholarly accomplishments you may have, or excellence as far as ibadat or taqwa is concerned, do not for a moment think that they are the results of your independent efforts.

We can thus summarise what we have said as follows: Allah Ta’ala says, “In every situation keep your gaze fixed on Me!” Turn your gaze away from yourself, and direct your gaze towards Allah Ta’ala.