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diagnosing the problem. Recognizing and acknowledging the problem sets us free and gives us the nerve to change. It helps us look inward rather than outward. Once we are aware of our failings we will then be ready to take corrective measures to rid ourselves of it. Meditation, I find, is a good way to invoke God’s help with the problem, especially if the object of our jealousy is another submitter. This is a disaster in the making. In God’s system no individual must lose anything in order for another person to gain. All are winners and each person is awarded individually. As individuals we have to strive hard to fight jealousy, as our feelings and self-esteem are exposed and challenged; we must be gentle with ourselves and with each other, lest we damage not only our own but also another person’s character. Invoking God’s help to remove all jealousy from our hearts not only brings peace, it helps us become content and happy with what we have rather than continuously obsessing about what we don’t and may never have. God promises that if we seek His help in this matter: [7:43] We will remove all jealousy from their hearts. Rivers will flow beneath them ...” and we know that God’s promise is the truth.
13 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
As believers we have this provision from God and must take full advantage of it, as it is our only hope of getting rid of a disease that can cause a lot of damage to the self and others.
[42:12] To Him belongs absolute control of the heavens and the earth. He is the One who increases the provision for whomever He wills, or reduces it. He is fully aware of all things.
Why does God not enhance the prosperity of everyone and remove the disproportions of wealth? The answer is in [42:27] If GOD increased the provision for His servants, they would transgress on earth. This is why He sends it precisely measured to whomever He wills. He is fully Cognizant and Seer of His servants.
We know that the hallmark of God’s design is consistency and equivalence. However, we see all around us in nature irregularity, discrepancy and unpredictability. Some places get enough rain to cause floods, others no rain – leading to drought. Our shape, form, size, capacities, faculties and abilities are different. God’s grand design of construction is beyond question, and far beyond our comprehension.
God knows there is an inequality and we should not misconstrue and believe that His distribution is unfair. [17:20] For each one of them we provide; we provide those and these from your Lord's bounties. Your Lord's bounties are inexhaustible. Just because someone is more financially secure than another it should not be thought to be God’s special grace on that person. [13:26] GOD is the One who increases the provision for whomever He wills, or withholds it. They have become preoccupied with this life, and this life, compared to the Hereafter, is nil. We have to trust and believe that behind this outward and apparent disproportion rests unseen some important lesson. [30:37] Do they not realize that GOD increases the provision for whomever He wills, or reduces it? These should be lessons for people who believe.
God has foreseen even the enquiries which may crop up as He has made us reasoning beings. The Quran communicates to us giving logical responses to answer such questions. So we can know that God is not an erratic or
whimsical Being. [21:16-17] We did not create the heavens and the earth, and everything between them just for amusement. If we needed amusement, we have initiated it without any of this, if that is what we wanted to do.
As God is Infinitely Wise, there is no past, present and future for Him – He knows every little or large event in our lifetime.
[36:12] We will certainly revive the dead, and we have recorded everything they have done in this life, as well as the consequences that continue after their death. Everything we have counted in a profound record.
God’s will is beyond question (21:23) and no one can choose his time and place of birth or death.
[31:34] With GOD is the knowledge regarding the Hour (end of the world). He is the One who sends down the rain, and He knows the contents of the womb. No soul knows what will happen to it tomorrow, and no one knows in which land he or she will die. GOD is Omniscient, Cognizant.
We are all answerable to God on the completion of the full gamut of life on earth. This loop too is pre-destined for us, kept secret and known only to God. What we should realize is that regardless of what path we undertake in this life, whether we redeem our soul or neglect it, God’s provisions continue to flow unhindered.
[17:18-20] Anyone who chooses this fleeting life as his priority, we will rush to him what we decide to give him, then we commit him to Gehenna, where he suffers forever, despised and defeated. As for those who choose the Hereafter as their priority, and work righteousness, while believing, their efforts will be appreciated. For each one of them we provide; we provide those and these from your Lord's bounties. Your Lord's bounties are inexhaustible.
Provisions Guaranteed [11:6] There is not a creature on earth whose provision is not guaranteed by GOD. And He knows its course and its final destiny. All are recorded in a profound record.