By Sikandar Azam
One of the defining characteristics of a person who believes in God’s oneness and moulds his life in strict accordance with His teachings is that he remembers God all the times – when he is happy and is enjoying the pleasures of life as well as when he stands in need of some help – and pays thanks to God for whatsoever He bestows upon him. Contrary to this behaviour, those who do not believe in God and associate partners with Him, turn to God only when they stand in need of getting their wishes fulfilled; for example, when they find their boat is sinking. At such times, they make all pledges to Him to be very much grateful if He would give them such and such thing.But when their wishes are granted, they forget all their pledges made to God and begin to deviate and associate partners with Him.
The Qur’ān (7:189) relates a story of such unbelievers: “When he has consorted with her, she conceives a light burden, which she carries with ease. Then, when she grows heavy, they both appeal to God, their Lord: ‘Grant us a goodly child and we will be truly grateful.’” When this married couple find that the pregnancy is ascertained, they pin their hopes that the newborn will be healthy, pretty, cute, etc.At this critical moment they turn to God acknowledging that He is the only Lord, and appealing to Him to bestow His grace. They do so because they begin to feel that God is indeed the only source of strength, blessings and grace in the whole universe.
But what happens when their wishes are granted and they are blessed with a healthy and pretty child? Do they remain grateful to God, as pledged? No, they do not remain true to the pledges they had made to God. The Qur’ān (7:190) records their ungratefulness: “Yet when He has granted them a goodly child, they associate with Him partners, particularly in respect of what He has granted them.”When such people start to move away from believing in, and worshipping God alone, they can no longer think and reflect properly. This leads them to foolishness and deviation which knows no bounds. They do acknowledge that God is one, at least for some fleeting moments, but follow this acknowledgement with idolatrous practices and deviant behaviour. God does not like this double-dealing; and ultimately they fail to receive the Grace of God.
But the fact remains that God is Exalted and does not stand in need of anything; it does not make any difference to Him whether or not humans thank Him for the blessings and bounties He is bestowing upon them: “Exalted is God above anything people may associate with Him as partners.” (The Qur’ān, 7:190)