A
REJOINDER
To Mr Khushwant Singh
By M. Hanif
Those
who pray for worldly or material gains and to cause harm to
others are only whiling away time at their own peril. No machine
functions on mantras or prayers – an aero plane flies
when it conforms to the laws of flying.
The
second choice, laws of conduct, is essentially a code of righteous
living. Human dignity and rights of individuals, where mercy,
compassion and justice are cornerstones, are enshrined in that
code. The role of prayer is to make an individual God-conscious
and discipline him towards righteousness.
Singh
Saab concedes that there aught to be some power behind the universe.
All reasonable men have to concede to that. What they doubt,
according to the Qur’an, “is the meeting with that
power”.
Just
and Almighty God? Well, His might is evident in the sustaining
of the universe but just, one needs to contemplate and reflect.
In spite of the apparent unequal distribution of wealth and
power, which is again a necessity in the scheme of things as
designed by the Creator, pain and pleasure, I believe, are distributed
in equal measure. I don’t think I need to elaborate on
this aspect of universal equality. Every individual has his
experience of joy and pleasure and also of sorrow and misery.
Now,
let us see what The God has to say.
(57) IT IS WE who
have created you, (O men :) why, then, do you not accept the
truth?
(58) Have you ever considered that seed which you emit.
(59) Is it you who create it – or are We the source of
its creation?
(60) We have indeed decreed that death shall be ever present
among you; but there is nothing to prevent Us
(61) from changing the nature of your existence and bringing
you into being anew in a manner as yet unknown to you.
(62)And since you are indeed aware of the miracle of your coming
into being in the first instance – why, then, do you not
bethink yourselves of Us?
(63) Have you ever considered the seed which you cast upon the
soil?
(64) Is it you who cause it to grow – or are We the cause
of its growth?
(65) [For] were it Our will, We could indeed turn it into chaff,
and you would be left to wonder and to lament, (66) “Verily,
we are ruined!
(67) Nay, but we have been deprived of our livelihood!”
(68) Have you ever considered the water which you drink?
(69) Is it you who cause it to come down from the clouds –
or are We the cause of its coming down?
(70) It comes down sweet – but were it Our will We could
make it burningly salty and bitter; why, then, do you not give
thanks unto Us?
(71) Have you ever considered the fire which you kindle?
(72) Is it you who have brought into being the tree that serves
as its fuel – or are We the cause of its coming into being?
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