The title taken from John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress (which looks mostly inspired by ‘Islamic concepts on matter and spirit’) comes to mind when one ponders over the state of affairs the world over today, as also Surah Al Takathur which reads, ‘Greed for more and more distracts you (from reality) till you reach the grave….’. Man wants to earn more and more so that he may accumulate more and more material things. He is totally immersed in that thought till he dies. At that time he comes to know that whatever was worth accumulating was one thing while what he was bent on accumulating was something else. An increase in worldly goods increases burden of a man’s accountability. But man thinks that ‘this way’ he is adding to ‘his success’.
John Bunyan in his treatise exhorts believers to be ‘hopeful’ and beware of ‘giant despair’.
See the global political scenario. Sometimes under the guise of talks to resolve “the so-called ME crisis” or “the non-existing Iran’s nuclear ambitions” and other times under the guise of “war on terror”, or “human rights and democracy”, the US & Co, hoping to keep the donkey of despairing citizens of the world including their very own, moving with the burden of crony capitalism everywhere.
Can anyone imagine the donkey catching up with the carrot hanging ahead of it? Or believe the leopard to change its spots, how much ever it loves, wishes or wants, to do so?
Such is the possibility, for example, of reconciliation of legitimate rights of Palestinians and the legitimate nuclear energy rights of Iran with Zionist Israel and its puppets, as also the possibility of all men shunning ‘greed for more and more’ until death.
‘Yet had We willed, We could indeed have imposed Our guidance upon every human being: but My word shall come true: ‘I will fill Hell with (sinful) jinns and men all together’ (32:13).
Satan, man’s open enemy, who is given respite till the doomsday to tempt, attack and mislead Adam’s progeny (except His righteous servants), from every direction, ‘….threatens of poverty and commands to avarice, while Allah promises forgiveness from Him and abundance.’ (2:268). It is in fact this Satanic material or economic insecurity at the back of human mind that causes most of the sinful crimes e.g. devouring of interest, and corruptions of all sorts.
On the other hand, Allah considers piety ‘better than all that men amass.’
The conspiracies at all levels to undermine Islam and Islamists (often labelled Jihadists), are certain to bounce back, as Allah declares that “those who oppose Him and His Messenger will be among the most abased.” He has decreed, ‘I and My Messengers shall most certainly prevail’…. You will find no believers in Allah and the Last Day consorting with those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even though they be their fathers… or their close relatives. He has engraved faith on their very hearts and has strengthened them with a spirit of His own…. He is well-pleased with them and they are well-pleased with Him. They are Allah’s party and surely with Allah’s party is victory (58:20-22)”.