A recent blog that I ran across made me think of how we may feel saddened when we think that all of our efforts are in vain. This blog has really interesting discussions about the Qur'an and can be found by using the link at the end of this post.
Who is this brother? What happened to him? Why hasn't he posted since 2008? It is so interesting because we can benefit so much from him yet know no more than his first name. When he last posted in 2008, he probably had no idea that a researcher in 2022 would be studying the Qur'an and learn something from his posts.This reminds me of the following aayaat:
"...that I do not waste the work of any worker among you, whether male or female..." 3:195
"...verily, we do not waste the reward of those who fix things." 7:170
"...and we do not waste the reward of those who do excellence." 12:56
"...verily, we do not waste the reward of those who do excellent work." 18:30
"...and Allah would not waste your faith..." 2:143
"...and that Allah does not waste the reward of the believers." 3:171
"...Allah does not waste the reward of those who do excellence." 9:120
"...and be patient, for verily, Allah does not waste the reward of those who do excellence." 11:115
"Verily, the one who is conscious of Allah and patient, then verily, Allah does not waste the reward of those
who do excellence." 12:90
The Qur'an emphasizes that we shouldn't become discouraged if we don't see immediate results, remembering that our efforts won't be wasted. In addition to the rewards that Allah has in store for us, we can't be sure who, at some point, may benefit from a good seed we have planted.
Allah reminds us: "Say: do your work, and Allah will see your actions, as will His messenger, and the believers..." 9:105
The Qur'an emphasizes that we shouldn't become discouraged if we don't see immediate results, remembering that our efforts won't be wasted. In addition to the rewards that Allah has in store for us, we can't be sure who, at some point, may benefit from a good seed we have planted.
Allah reminds us: "Say: do your work, and Allah will see your actions, as will His messenger, and the believers..." 9:105
This is another good point that our brother's blog reminds us about. When you do the work, not everyone will see it, only those who are looking from a certain perspective. You may not be appreciated by everyone, but that may be because they haven't been given the tools to appreciate you.
Notice in the above ayah that after Allah it is only the messenger and the believers that will see certain things. It is very important here to notice that Allah uses the word al-mu'minoon (the believers) as a noun, and not the oft-repeated Qur'anic phrase alladheena aamanoo (those who have believed), in which faith is referred to as a verb.
This is part of the meticulous Qur'anic style, where an established quality is referred to by using a noun, and a quality that has taken place within a person but may not be consistent and established is referred to as a verb. This is similar to if we said someone is "a writer" vs. "has written". If someone is "a writer" that is a part of who they are all the time. It is a statement of identity. If someone "has written" that means they have carried out the action at some point but that might not be who they are consistently.
Allah clearly distinguishes between alladheena aamanoo (those who have believed) and al-mu'minoon (the believers). Al-mu'minoon, then, are those who actualize the qualities of iman (faith) on a consistent basis, whereas alladheena aamanoo have accepted iman in theory at some point, but may still be struggling to achieve consistency. Allah knows best.
Notice in the above ayah that after Allah it is only the messenger and the believers that will see certain things. It is very important here to notice that Allah uses the word al-mu'minoon (the believers) as a noun, and not the oft-repeated Qur'anic phrase alladheena aamanoo (those who have believed), in which faith is referred to as a verb.
This is part of the meticulous Qur'anic style, where an established quality is referred to by using a noun, and a quality that has taken place within a person but may not be consistent and established is referred to as a verb. This is similar to if we said someone is "a writer" vs. "has written". If someone is "a writer" that is a part of who they are all the time. It is a statement of identity. If someone "has written" that means they have carried out the action at some point but that might not be who they are consistently.
Allah clearly distinguishes between alladheena aamanoo (those who have believed) and al-mu'minoon (the believers). Al-mu'minoon, then, are those who actualize the qualities of iman (faith) on a consistent basis, whereas alladheena aamanoo have accepted iman in theory at some point, but may still be struggling to achieve consistency. Allah knows best.
This helps us make sense of the following ayah:
"And some of them harm the prophet and say 'he is an ear'. (meaning he listens to other people so much his whole being has become an ear - what a compliment if they only knew!) Say: 'he is an ear of goodness for you. (Allah doesn't deny that he listens to people, just clarifies that he listens to what is good - the prophet was a listener!) He believes in Allah, and believes for al-mu'mineen (the believers), and he is a mercy for alladheena aamanoo (those who have believed)..." 9:61
I'm sorry for all the parenthetical statements in my translation, but that ayah contains so much! Please read it carefully if my interjections made it confusing. I intentionally kept a very awkward sounding translation when I said "he believes for al-mu'mineen". That is because I want to explain the intricacy of the Qur'anic text instead of just translating it.
Here, the Qur'an uses the verb yu'minu (to believe/have faith/trust) which is a present tense verb derived from aamana, the same root as aamanoo (have believed) and iman (belief/faith). The Qur'an tells us the prophet directs iman (faith/belief) to Allah and al-mu'mineen. How can this be? The difference is in the preposition. With Allah this ayah says: " yu'minu BI (in) - llah" (he believes IN Allah). When aamana (to believe) is used with "bi" it refers to faith in something in the traditional way that we think of an article of faith. We believe "in" that thing. With al-mu'mineen this ayah says: "yu'minu LI (for) - al-mu'mineen" (he believes FOR the believers).
"And some of them harm the prophet and say 'he is an ear'. (meaning he listens to other people so much his whole being has become an ear - what a compliment if they only knew!) Say: 'he is an ear of goodness for you. (Allah doesn't deny that he listens to people, just clarifies that he listens to what is good - the prophet was a listener!) He believes in Allah, and believes for al-mu'mineen (the believers), and he is a mercy for alladheena aamanoo (those who have believed)..." 9:61
I'm sorry for all the parenthetical statements in my translation, but that ayah contains so much! Please read it carefully if my interjections made it confusing. I intentionally kept a very awkward sounding translation when I said "he believes for al-mu'mineen". That is because I want to explain the intricacy of the Qur'anic text instead of just translating it.
Here, the Qur'an uses the verb yu'minu (to believe/have faith/trust) which is a present tense verb derived from aamana, the same root as aamanoo (have believed) and iman (belief/faith). The Qur'an tells us the prophet directs iman (faith/belief) to Allah and al-mu'mineen. How can this be? The difference is in the preposition. With Allah this ayah says: " yu'minu BI (in) - llah" (he believes IN Allah). When aamana (to believe) is used with "bi" it refers to faith in something in the traditional way that we think of an article of faith. We believe "in" that thing. With al-mu'mineen this ayah says: "yu'minu LI (for) - al-mu'mineen" (he believes FOR the believers).
When the Qur'an uses aamana (to believe) with "li" it means we believe the information that person gives us. We see this usage also in the following ayah: "...and you will not believe FOR US even if we are truthful." 12:17
Taking all this into consideration, we now are in a position to appreciate 9:61: "...he believes FOR the believers, and he is a mercy to those who have believed..." So clear! There are levels to iman. Just because a person says they have believed (alladheema aamanoo) doesn't mean we trust all their information. It is the believers (al-mu'mineen) that the prophet used to listen to and trust what they had to say.
This brings us full circle to 9:105: "Say: do your work, and Allah will see your actions, and so will the messenger, and THE BELIEVERS..." not alladheena aamanoo (those who have believed). Not everyone is on the level to see your work! Do your work and trust that, like the brother discussed above, Allah will make it reach those who are ready for it.
Taking all this into consideration, we now are in a position to appreciate 9:61: "...he believes FOR the believers, and he is a mercy to those who have believed..." So clear! There are levels to iman. Just because a person says they have believed (alladheema aamanoo) doesn't mean we trust all their information. It is the believers (al-mu'mineen) that the prophet used to listen to and trust what they had to say.
This brings us full circle to 9:105: "Say: do your work, and Allah will see your actions, and so will the messenger, and THE BELIEVERS..." not alladheena aamanoo (those who have believed). Not everyone is on the level to see your work! Do your work and trust that, like the brother discussed above, Allah will make it reach those who are ready for it.
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