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Part of living as a believer is learning to recognize Allah’s profound bounties He has furnished in our lives. At every moment, Allah, the bestower of bounties is a gracious giver; He wants to give and gives to whom He wills.

Introduction

Humankind is restricted in capacity, and an actualization of our foible nature is acknowledging that we are constantly dependent on Allah and supplemented by His divine grace. Though, at times, we may find it difficult to comprehend His fairness in giving each one of us what we deserve.

Everything we have been given is destined by Allah, it is also a fadl from Allah. Meaning, this virtue is something that is extra; bonus earnings, a surplus, out of the generosity of Allah’s grace and His mercy, here and in the hereafter. As He mentioned:

وَٱللَّهُ يَخۡتَصُّ بِرَحۡمَتِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُۚ وَٱللَّهُ ذُو ٱلۡفَضۡلِ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ

But Allah selects for His mercy whom He wills, and Allah is the possessor of great bounty. (2:105)

In understanding the fadl of Allah, we become aware that one person’s bounties can never be equivalent to the other. Allah has complete control over what He has decreed for each person and has planned everything in its proper order, out of His divine wisdom.

When Desires Lead to Dhulm

One of the common tendencies of humankind is to be keenly susceptible to the pleasures of the world and suffocate thoughts with envy by comparing what we have over what others have — to the point that we idealize someone else’s bounties, sometimes even desiring them for ourselves.

The greatest peril of desiring another’s blessings, is that we lose sight of our apportioned share of the numerous bounties bestowed by Allah to us. This destructive trait of being preoccupied with what others may possess in this world, also makes us negligent of our own journey and purpose in life.

When we find such feelings overtaking us, we need to strengthen our frayed-hearts with more iman, and focus on being grateful servants of Allah by increasing our devotion to Him and remembering Him at all times. 

As a reminder, Allah shone His piercing beam of truth on this subject in Surah An-Nisa, by emphasizing:

وَلَا تَتَمَنَّوْا۟ مَا فَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍۢ

And do not wish for that by which Allah has made some of you exceed others (4:32)

It is clear that Allah’s decisions for us throughout our lives, is a fadl, and He is Al-Adl, The utterly just. Allah is not unaware of what He is doing. In a Hadith Qudsi, Allah clearly stated:

يَا عِبَادِي: إنِّي حَرَّمْت الظُّلْمَ عَلَى نَفْسِي، وَجَعَلْته بَيْنَكُمْ مُحَرَّمًا؛ فَلَا تَظَالَمُوا

O My servants! I have forbidden dhulm for Myself, and I have made it forbidden amongst you, so do not oppress one another.

ظلم signifies putting something in a place where it doesn’t belong. It is often translated as injustice or oppression. Having some insight into this fact necessitates a better understanding that even in His Might, Allah forbids injustice for Himself — He will never commit any form of wrong or violate anyone’s rights. It denotes that Allah has justly given everyone what they are deserving of — and whatever is given, can only be connected to His justice. 

In saying which, if we question a person’s bounties, it is as if we are questioning Allah’s decision. And if we deny His favors upon another, it is as if we are denying Allah’s favors and going against Him.  Thus, we should never ever be despaired by Allah’s fadl for others by questioning and denying Him, and turning our backs on His justice.

لَا يُسۡـَٔلُ عَمَّا يَفۡعَلُ وَهُمۡ يُسۡـَٔلُونَ

He is not questioned about what He does, but they will be questioned. (21:23)

Chasing the Everlasting

Allah gives so graciously that we will never be able to enumerate His blessings. Everything we enjoy is from Him and we praise Him for it. We must enjoy His unlimited bounties that He has ordained for us, but we must never be a slave to life’s desires.

There is no need to be weary on account of the absence of anything in this world. In submission to Allah, we will find richness of the heart and become grateful and content with our due portion of bounties given in this world.

As believers, we cannot place value on the illusion of permanence in this world, because we are merely guests in it. Everything on its façade will eventually cease to exist, except for Allah. This is why our greatest aspiration is for our eternal pursuit — the place where we will be permanent residents, receiving Allah’s infinite bounties. 

سَابِقُوٓاْ إِلَىٰ مَغۡفِرَةٖ مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرۡضُهَا كَعَرۡضِ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ أُعِدَّتۡ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ بِٱللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِۦۚ ذَٰلِكَ فَضۡلُ ٱللَّهِ يُؤۡتِيهِ مَن يَشَآءُۚ وَٱللَّهُ ذُو ٱلۡفَضۡلِ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ

So race for your Lord’s forgiveness and a Garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for those who believe in God and His messengers: that is God’s bounty, which He bestows on whoever He pleases. God’s bounty is infinite. (57:21)

For a believer, nothing will be fulfilling until we meet Allah in the everlasting realm that awaits us. Our invitation may come at any moment, so we should keep our vision focused on Him by praising Him and pleasing Him, if we ultimately desire to live an eternity with Him.  

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