WE WOULD NORMALLY expect to read this ayah as: ‘But those who believe and do good deeds are the people of the Garden and there they will remain.’
But there comes an unexpected addition interjected within it: ‘and we do not burden any soul more than it can bear.’
It comes after belief and good deeds and before the reward of that ie eternal Jannah.
It is almost as though Allah ﷻ is reassuring us that the belief and good deeds that are required for us to gain His mercy and thereby enter into Jannah are not something beyond our ability.
I often speak to my 17-year-old son about the challenges that his generation faces. One of the ideas that he mentions is that Islam comes across as being too difficult, too restricting, and with too many rules.
I can see why our youth feel this way when the secular way of life severs the human relationship with the Divine, and liberalism coupled with individualism constantly tells them that they are free and that the nafs is king, and that true happiness is to be found in the self-actualisation of those desires.
Submission to Allah, the very meaning of Islam, becomes that much more difficult because it asks you to worship the One who created you and not yourself!
How do we even begin to unravel the corruption that these ideas embed in our youth?
Through constant dua for Allah’s guidance, wisdom, compassion and the ability to discern truth from falsehood and remain on the straight path (which is alluded to in the following ayah).
By constantly reminding ourselves of the purpose of our lives and how limited and weak is the reality of human existence. That it is only Allah ﷻ who can give any consistent and comprehensive meaning to life and provide guidance.
By showing the intellectual and emotional falsity of secularism and the real-life disasters that it leads to for the individual and society as a whole, whilst building the intellectual and emotional truth of Islam.
By committing to small and steady good actions, the amilus salihaat, individually and collectively.
By applying Islam to practically navigate through the fitna and confusion that surrounds us to show that Islam can be lived, and though difficult it may be, it truly isn’t beyond our capacity.
By supporting and joining the work to reestablish the Islamic way of life. At the end of the day, we can only do so much. Until and unless we establish our own way of life that protects, implements and propagates our values (as we saw with the Prophet ﷺ establishing the Madinan state), we will always be at a disadvantage.
By surrounding ourselves with good people who will help us with all the above.
May Allah protect us and make us people of the Garden wherein we will remain. Ameen.
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