To this end we may look at the example of Abu Lahab, Prophet Muhammad’s uncle, when he retorted at Prophet Muhammad [pbuh] for calling him and the others to listen to his sermon on the hill, Allah sent down the following revelation:

Perdition overtake both hands of Abu Lahab, and he will perish. His wealth and what he earns will not avail him. He shall soon burn in fire that flames. [89]

Once we have surrendered to Allah’s Will and achieved tranquility, Allah’s will invite us to join His congregation (of tranquil individuals) and then to His Paradise.

But ah! thou soul at peace! Return unto thy Lord, content in His good pleasure! Enter thou among My bondmen! Enter thou My Garden![90]

It is our contention that the phrase “Enter thou among My bondmen!” refers to the “Realm of Bazakh”. It is the Realm which only souls who are at peace or tranquil are allowed to enter and dwell whilst awaiting Armageddon and Resurrection.

And behind them is a barrier until the day when they are raised.[91]

In this connection Ibnul Qaiyim had written to the effect:

All the souls of the Believers are placed in the vast Realm of Barzakh which is filled with all kinds of richness, luxuries, and wonders. [92]

Thereafter, after the Judgment Day, they are invited into Paradise, “Enter thou My Garden!”.

Lo! I have rewarded them this day for as much as they were steadfast and they verily are the triumphant.[93]

In the above connection, Allah had commanded to the effect:

Is the man who follows the good pleasure of Allah like the man who draws on himself the wrath of Allah, and whose abode is in Hell? A woeful refuge![94]

Their reward is with Allah: Gardens of Eternity beneath which rivers flow; They will dwell therein for ever; Allah well pleased with them, and they with Him: all this for such as fear their Lord and Cherisher.[95]

But best for the righteous is the Home in the Hereafter: will ye not understand? [96]

Once we are clear about Allah’s scheme (see point 2 above), we must steer away from “pitfalls” or from those who will lead us astray.

And do not mix up the truth with the falsehood, nor hide the truth while you know (it). [97]

And when they hear idle talk they turn aside from it and say: We shall have our deeds and you shall have your deeds; peace be on you, we do not desire the ignorant.[98]

And when you see those who enter into false discourses about Our communications, withdraw from them until they enter into some other discourse, and if the Satan causes you to forget, then do not sit after recollection with the unjust people. [99]

And leave those who have taken their religion for a play and an idle sport. [100]

But if they dispute with you, say: I have submitted myself entirely to Allah and (so) every one who follows me; and say to those who have been given the Book and the unlearned people: Do you submit yourselves? So if they submit then indeed they follow the right way; and if they turn back, then upon you is only the delivery of the message and Allah sees the servants. [101]

Be steadfast in our belief (surrendering wholeheartedly to His Will).

Say, “Surely my prayer and my sacrifice and my life and my death are (all) for Allah, the Lord of the worlds.” [102]

Say, “Allah (it is Whom) I serve, being sincere to Him in my obedience.” [103]

They said, “Allah is sufficient for us and most excellent is the Protector.” [104]

And relate to them the story of the two sons of Adam with truth when they both offered an offering, but it was accepted from one of them and was not accepted from the other. He said: I I will most certainly slay you. (The other) said: Allah only accepts from those who guard (against evil). If you will stretch forth your hand towards me to slay me, I am not one to stretch forth my hand towards you to slay you surely I fear Allah, the Lord of the worlds. [105]

Mother of Mariam (mother of Jesus) surrendered the wellbeing of Mariam wholeheartedly to Allah and Allah protected Mariam and her son (Jesus) from the accursed Satans.

So when she brought forth, she said: My Lord! Surely I have brought it forth a female– and Allah knew best what she brought forth– and the male is not like the female, and I have named it Mariam, and I commend her and her offspring into Thy protection from the accursed Satan. [106]

All the son of Adam at the time of birth is disturbed by Satan except Mariam and her son. [107]

By being steadfast in our stand, we may receive Allah’s Grace. To this end,  Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had said that it is not our good deeds which placed us in Paradise but it is Allah’s Grace. With His Grace too, many who are wayward are led back to the fold.

One does not enter into Paradise by one’s good deeds but with His Grace and this too applies to me. [108]

The path to each final destination has been made easy for us to tread. [109]

He inspired it (the soul) to understand what is right and wrong for it. [110]

Once we started doubting the perfection of The Divine Plan then our heart will harden even harder than a rock. Eventually, it will be diseased and Satan(s) triumphant because they have made us forget about Allah and render us ungrateful.

He has created man from Nutfah (mixed drops of male and female sexual discharge), then behold, this same (man) becomes an open opponent. [111]

Then, after that, your hearts were hardened and became as stones or even worse in hardness. And indeed, there are stones out of which rivers gush forth, and indeed, there are of them (stones) which split asunder so that water flows from them, and indeed, there are of them (stones) which fall down for fear of Allâh. And Allâh is not unaware of what you do. [112]

In their hearts is a disease; and Allah has increased their disease and grievous is the penalty they (incur), because they are false (to themselves). [113]

What they used to do has become like rust upon their hearts. [114]

Satan has gained the mastery over them, so he has made them forget the remembrance of Allah; they are the Satan’s party; now surely the Satan’s party are the losers. [115]

They have forsaken Allah, so He has forsaken them. [116]

Once Satans had gained mastery over us, they would lead us astray. Soon, we would be indulging and later believe in fortune-telling, witchcrafts, superstitions, shrines, mediums, soothsayers and others.

O you who believe! intoxicants and games of chance and (sacrificing to) stones set up and (dividing by) arrows are only an uncleanness, the Satan’s work; shun it therefore that you may be successful. [117]

In relation to surrendering oneself wholeheartedly to Allah’s Will, let us view the stand of a well-known Sufi Syeikh Abdul Qadir Al Jilani:

You should surrender and trust Allah wholeheartedly in everything. [118]

You adopt Islam and then submit wholeheartedly to the Will of God. [119]

Those who true to their faith to Allah surrenders all his affairs to God, believe in His sustenance from Him and is certain that whatsoever is to come to him can by no means miss him and that whatsoever misses him can by no means come to him. [120]

You should not depend on yourself in relation to your own needs. You should not protect nor help your own self. Surrender everything to Allah because He has been the Caregiver since time immemorial and forever. He was the One who cared for you when you were in your mothers’ wombs and when you were an infant. [121]

The Bibliography

[89] Al Lahab (111):1-3

[90] Al Fajr (89):28-30

[91] Al Mukminin (23):100 ; “Barrier” refers to the Realm of Bazakh which is a waiting  station for all  peaceful souls whilst waiting for  Armagedon and Resurrection. .

[92] Ibnul Qaiyim, Ruh, 223 (1990).

[93] Al Mukminin (23):111

[94] Ali Imran (3):162

[95] Al Bayinah (98):8

[96] Al A’raaf (7):169

[97] Al Baqarah (2):42; Al Anaam (6):82.

[98] Al Qasash (28):55.

[99] Al Anaam (6):68.

[100] Al Anaam (6):70.

[101] Ali Imran (3):20.

[102] Al Anaam (6):162.

[103] Az Zumar (39):14.

[104] Ali Imran (3):173.

[105] Al Maidah (5):28.

[106] Ali Imran (3):36

[107] Terjemahan Sahih  Muslim Bk. 4, 228 (1994).

[108] Terjemahan Sahih  Muslim Jilid 4, 819 (1994).

[109] Id, 66; Terjemahan Sahih Al Bukhari Bk. 8, 402 (1987).

[110] Asy Syam (91):8.

[111] An Nahl (16):4

[112] Al Baqarah (2):74.

[113] Al Baqarah (2):10.

[114] Al Muthaffifin (83):14.

[115] Mujadalah (58):19

[116] At Taubah (9):67.

[117] Al Maidah (5): 90

[118] Syeikh Abdul Qadir Al Jilani, Futuh Ghaib, 40 (1990)

[119] Syeikh Abdul Qadir Al Jilani, Futuh Ghaib, 189 (1990)

[120] Syeikh Abdul Qadir Al Jilani, Futuh Ghaib, 83 (1990)

[121] Syeikh Abdul Qadir Al Jilani, Futuh Ghaib , 23 (1990)