The Reciprocity of Actions

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

Shaykh ‘Utsman Nuri Tufbas wrote, in “Islam, Spirit & Form”, that it is a simple observation to notice the reciprocity in the following examples: a man tends to punish even the smallest insect for a bite on his body.  On the other hand, a man tends to appreciate even the kindness of an offer of a cup of coffee and the memory of this appreciation can last for years.  Therefore, it is simply unacceptable blindness to expect that unlawful deeds and actions of a man throughout his lifetime will remain unreciprocated before Allah (s.w.t.).  There is the persecution of the oppressor; complaints of the oppressed; blasphemy of the unbeliever, and faith of the believer, in our life on this Earth.  Had there been no Rewards and Punishment for these events and behaviours, not only the Divine Programme that brought all beings under the control and command of men, but also the Creation of men, would have been meaningless.  All of these would have been in conflict with the attribution of Allah (s.w.t.), Who is Just and Fair.  As Allah (s.w.t.) is far away from having any flaws, He is also far away indeed from falling into any such deficiency. 

Thus, in order to emphasise the Day of Reckoning, reward and punishment, Allah (s.w.t.) Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ القِیَامَة

أَيَحۡسَبُ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنُ أَن يُتۡرَكَ سُدًى (٣٦) 

“Does man think that he will be left uncontrolled, (without purpose)?” (Surah al-Qiyamah:36) 

سُوۡرَةُ المؤمنون

أَفَحَسِبۡتُمۡ أَنَّمَا خَلَقۡنَـٰكُمۡ عَبَثً۬ا وَأَنَّكُمۡ إِلَيۡنَا لَا تُرۡجَعُونَ (١١٥) 

“Did you then think that We Created you in jest, and that you would not be brought back to Us (for account)?” (Surah al-Mu’minun:115) 

سُوۡرَةُ الدّخان

وَمَا خَلَقۡنَا ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَمَا بَيۡنَہُمَا لَـٰعِبِينَ (٣٨) 

We Created not the heavens, the earth, and all between them merely in (idle) sport: (Surah ad-Dukhan:38) 

سُوۡرَةُ سَبَإ

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَا تَأۡتِينَا ٱلسَّاعَةُۖ قُلۡ بَلَىٰ وَرَبِّى لَتَأۡتِيَنَّڪُمۡ عَـٰلِمِ ٱلۡغَيۡبِۖ لَا يَعۡزُبُ عَنۡهُ مِثۡقَالُ ذَرَّةٍ۬ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَلَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَآ أَصۡغَرُ مِن ذَٲلِكَ وَلَآ أَڪۡبَرُ إِلَّا فِى ڪِتَـٰبٍ۬ مُّبِينٍ۬ (٣) 

“The Unbelievers say, “Never to us will come the Hour”: Say, “Nay!  But most surely, by my Lord, it will come upon you; - by Him Who Knows the unseen, - from Whom is not hidden the least little atom in the heavens or on earth: Nor is there anything less than that, or greater, but is in the Record Perspicuous.” (Surah Saba:3) 

سُوۡرَةُ النِّسَاء

ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ‌ۚ لَيَجۡمَعَنَّكُمۡ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ لَا رَيۡبَ فِيهِ‌ۗ وَمَنۡ أَصۡدَقُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ حَدِيثً۬ا (٨٧) 

“Allah!  There is no god but He: of a surety He will Gather you together unto the Day of Judgement, about which there is no doubt.  And whose word can be truer than Allah’s?” (Surah an-Nisa’:87) 

سُوۡرَةُ النِّسَاء

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ ءَامِنُواْ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ ٱلَّذِى نَزَّلَ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِۦ وَٱلۡڪِتَـٰبِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ مِن قَبۡلُ‌ۚ وَمَن يَكۡفُرۡ بِٱللَّهِ وَمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَتِهِۦ وَكُتُبِهِۦ وَرُسُلِهِۦ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأَخِرِ فَقَدۡ ضَلَّ ضَلَـٰلاَۢ بَعِيدًا (١٣٦) 

“O ye who believe!  Believe in Allah and His Messenger, and the scripture which He has Sent to His Messenger and the scripture which He Sent to those before (him).  Any who denied Allah, His angels, His Books, His Messengers, and the Day of Judgement, has gone far, far astray.” (Surah an-Nisa’:136) 

سُوۡرَةُ القِیَامَة

فَإِذَا بَرِقَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ (٧) وَخَسَفَ ٱلۡقَمَرُ (٨) وَجُمِعَ ٱلشَّمۡسُ وَٱلۡقَمَرُ (٩) يَقُولُ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنُ يَوۡمَٮِٕذٍ أَيۡنَ ٱلۡمَفَرُّ (١٠) كَلَّا لَا وَزَرَ (١١) إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ يَوۡمَٮِٕذٍ ٱلۡمُسۡتَقَرُّ (١٢) يُنَبَّؤُاْ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنُ يَوۡمَٮِٕذِۭ بِمَا قَدَّمَ وَأَخَّرَ (١٣) 

“He questions, “When is the Day of Resurrection?”  At length, when the sight is dazed, and the Moon is buried in darkness.  And the Sun and Moon are joined together - That Day will Man say, “Where is the refuge?”  By no means!  No place of safety!  Before your Lord (alone), that Day will be the place of rest.  That Day will Man be Told (all) that he put forward, and all that he put back.” (Qiyamah: 7-13)