Surah An-Nisa, Verse 79 and 80

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*Surah An-Nisa, Verse 79:*

مَّا أَصَابَكَ مِنْ حَسَنَةٍ فَمِنَ اللَّهِ وَمَا أَصَابَكَ مِن سَيِّئَةٍ فَمِن نَّفْسِكَ وَأَرْسَلْنَاكَ لِلنَّاسِ رَسُولًا وَكَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ شَهِيدًا

Whatever of good reaches you, is from Allah, but whatever of evil befalls you, is from yourself. And We have sent you (O Muhammad [Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him]) as a Messenger to mankind, and Allah is Sufficient as a Witness.

*COMMENTARY*

To blame a man of God for our misfortunes is doubly unjust. For he comes to save us from misfortune, and it is because we flout him or pay no heed to him, that our own rebellion, brings its own punishment. If we realise this truth we shall be saved from two sins:

1. The sin of injustice to Allāh's Messengers, who come for our good, and not for our harm:

2. The sin of not realising our own shortcomings or rebellion, and thus living in spiritual darkness. If the Message is from Allāh, that carries its own authority: "enough is Allāh for a witness."

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*Surah An-Nisa, Verse 80:*

مَّن يُطِعِ الرَّسُولَ فَقَدْ أَطَاعَ اللَّهَ وَمَن تَوَلَّىٰ فَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَفِيظًا

He who obeys the Messenger (Muhammad [Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him]), has indeed obeyed Allah, but he who turns away, then we have not sent you (O Muhammad [Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him]) as a watcher over them.

*COMMENTARY*

The Messenger was sent to preach, guide, instruct, and show the Way, - not to drive people to good. That is not Allāh's plan, which trains the human Will. The Messenger's duty is therefore to convey the Message of Allāh, in the ways of persuasion that are open to him. If men perversely disobey that Message, they are not disobeying him but they are disobeying Allāh. In the same way those who obey the Message are obeying Allāh. They are not obliging the Messenger: they are merely doing their duty.