Eyes That Cannot See Values

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

The following is part of the text of a speech delivered by Mawlana Wafi’ Muhammad. 

Allah (s.w.t.) Tells us, in the Qur’an, the following, about many human beings: 

سُوۡرَةُ الاٴعرَاف

...لَهُمۡ قُلُوبٌ۬ لَّا يَفۡقَهُونَ بِہَا وَلَهُمۡ أَعۡيُنٌ۬ لَّا يُبۡصِرُونَ بِہَا وَلَهُمۡ ءَاذَانٌ۬ لَّا يَسۡمَعُونَ بِہَآ‌ۚ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ كَٱلۡأَنۡعَـٰمِ بَلۡ هُمۡ أَضَلُّ‌ۚ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡغَـٰفِلُونَ (١٧٩) 

… they have hearts wherewith they understand not, eyes wherewith they see not, and ears wherewith they hear not.  They are like cattle nay more misguided: for they are heedless (of warning). (Surah al-A’araf:179) 

The Qur’an is a beautiful book and it is very comprehensive.  Allah (s.w.t.) Says to us that if all the human beings and jinn were to collaborate their resources to produce a book like it they will not be able to do so; even if they strengthened their resources over and over. 

سُوۡرَةُ بنیٓ اسرآئیل / الإسرَاء

قُل لَّٮِٕنِ ٱجۡتَمَعَتِ ٱلۡإِنسُ وَٱلۡجِنُّ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يَأۡتُواْ بِمِثۡلِ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانِ لَا يَأۡتُونَ بِمِثۡلِهِۦ وَلَوۡ كَانَ بَعۡضُہُمۡ لِبَعۡضٍ۬ ظَهِيرً۬ا (٨٨) 

Say: “If the whole of mankind and jinn were to gather together to produce the like of this Qur’an, they could not produce the like thereof, even if they backed up each other with help and support.” (Surah al-Isra’:88) 

The Message of the Qur’an has many dimensions, and it has so much of other benefits for human beings, that we really cannot comprehend all of it.  There are many shades of meanings in every message of that Great Book; such as literal, moral, spiritual; and any dimension of the meaning we take we will get a message. 

Let us take this simple message that I have just mentioned: Have you seen him who have eyes and cannot see?  The literal meaning is that there are some people with eyes.  Yet, they are unable to see, physically.  If you take a baby now coming into the world, the eyes are opened yet the baby really cannot see.  Firstly, it will see for a very short range, and as the baby grows stronger the sight will also grow until it can see further and further away and then it will begin to associate words with certain people, and shapes, etc. this is for the infant.  So the living infant has eyes but is unable to see. 

There are big people who have eyes and cannot see properly, some are even unable to see short distances away, or unable to read properly; they need glasses to do so.  Sometimes, you see them feeling all around for the glasses.  So when Allah (s.w.t.) Says there are people who have eyes and they cannot see.  If these people do not get help from the glasses they will not be able to see properly. 

While it is correct to say that this verse can refer to the one with some of physical defect in sight, it has a deeper meaning than mere physical sight.  This is because Allah (s.w.t.) Likens the ones who have sight and cannot see to be worse than the cattle.  He Says, “such people are like cattle; nay they are even worse.”  Perhaps, He is Referring to the one who cannot see spiritually and morally; or they are unable to see the purpose of life; or the beauty in Creation. 

So we are supposed to see physically, morally, spiritually; and even aesthetically.  There are some people who can only see the physical value of things; and they cannot see the other values; so that when they look at something it is for physical benefit.  Allah (s.w.t.) Says, some people only look at the physical pleasures of life; women, wealth, and nice transport and such things.  That is all they see.  So some people have eyes and they cannot see all the dimensions of a thing. 

Let us look at the special reason why Allah (s.w.t.) has Brought this particular message to our attention.  Every human being has a personality comprising the physical shell, and the non-physical dimension which is called the soul.  This physical sight can be deceitful at times.  We should try and culture our total personality, so that when we look at something we will see the physical value, we will see the moral value, we will see the spiritual value; we see what is going to benefit us as a member of society; we see what is going to be of value to us in this life as well as in the next. 

We know some people have limitations with the power of sight but with continuous nurturing of our personalities Allah (s.w.t.) can Enlighten us to see more than what is in front of the wall.  We will be able to know a little of what is behind the wall.  One day, when Sayyidina Abu Hafsw ‘Umar ibn al-Khaththab al-Faruq (r.a.) was giving the khuthbah he said, “Turn back,” and those present looked back but did not see anything.  They questioned him afterwards and he told them he saw the Muslim army walking into a trap.  He was not there but was able to see what ordinary people could not see with their normal eyes.  This was verified, because the general of the Muslim army said he heard the voice of Sayyidina ‘Umar (r.a.) commanding him to turn back and he did. 

We must not be like those who only see physical values when they look at things.  Allah (s.w.t.) Tells us that the cattle is better than some people because we can get milk from it, we can ride it, we can get meat from it; so human beings can benefit from it.  While we can get benefit from an animal like the cattle, there are some people in society from whom we only get difficulty and destruction.  They are of no benefit to anyone in any way. 

Our business here this morning is to ask ourselves this question; can I see more than the physical value and benefit of anything in everyday relationship with my fellow human beings?  Do I relate to them only for physical benefit and values?  Or do I want to share with them love and compassion and express and manifest something that Allah (s.w.t.) has Given to human beings which He did not Give to the rest of the creatures? 

Allah (s.w.t.) takes a person stage after stage in the stairway of ascent.  It is called in the Qur’an, thabaqan an thabaq, step by step; so that those who are high up will be able to see more than those who are down.  The person on top of the hill will be able to access a further view.  He will enjoy a cooler breeze and also fresher air.  The one who is at the bottom will only able to see the sides of the hill and could be affected by what is coming from the hill. 

Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) was Taken Up above all Created things, where he had Audience with his Lord and he was able to know Who Allah (s.w.t.) is, so that when he says that I testify there is no God but Allah and no creature deserves to be worshipped except Allah, he said so with certainty; because he saw this first hand. 

Our mission in life is to be different to the other creatures.  We can see the greatness of our Lord in His Creation as well as in ourselves.  Allah (s.w.t.) Created us for a purpose and that is to represent Him here on earth.  We are supposed to display something of the qualities of Allah (s.w.t.) in our personalities, and to pass on that legacy to others. 

Are we doing that?  Or are we just trying to get more and more of this physical world and then die and leave it behind?  Lots of us do not understand this.  One will reach a point in time when he will realise that his wealth or position will not help at all; it will not help us to go on in the next phase of the journey.  We must take note of that and look at it carefully, look at our life everyday and see if we are benefitting ourselves and others. We must remember Allah (s.w.t.) Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ المُزمّل

... وَمَا تُقَدِّمُواْ لِأَنفُسِكُم مِّنۡ خَيۡرٍ۬ تَجِدُوهُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ هُوَ خَيۡرً۬ا وَأَعۡظَمَ أَجۡرً۬ا‌ۚ ... (٢٠) 

… And whatever good you send forth for your souls, you shall find it in Allah’s Presence― yea, better and greater, in Reward ... (Surah al-Muzzammil:20) 

We must never wait until it is too late to repent and realise.  The time is now.  Every human being is special in the Sight of Allah (s.w.t.).  He has Given us intellect and a personality with a soul.  And He Wants us to cultivate this so that we can really realise Who He is.  We will get to know ourselves a little more and realise our purpose in life and we will be able to properly focus on life and our destination.