The Twenty-Eighth Flash

Furthermore, harbouring evil suspicions and misinterpreting the actions of others bring punishment even in this world. In accordance with the principle that one reaps what one sows, whoever harbours evil suspicions of others will himself become the object of similar suspicions. Whoever misinterprets the actions of a fellow believer will soon find his own actions similarly misinterpreted, and thus suffer the consequences of his conduct.

Thus, all good and bad qualities of character should be weighed according to this measure.

Through Divine mercy, I hope that those who, in this age, taste and experience the spiritual miraculousness of the Qur’an as manifested through the Risale-i Nur will also experience these spiritual joys and, inshaAllah, will not fall prey to bad qualities of character.

The Second Point

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحٖيمِIn the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَاْلاِنْسَ اِلاَّ لِيَعْبُدُونِI did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. — The Qur’an 51:56

مَاۤ اُرِيدُ مِنْهُمْ مِنْ رِزْقٍ وَمَاۤ اُرِيدُ اَنْ يُطْعِمُونِI do not seek any provision from them, nor do I ask them to feed Me. — The Qur’an 51:57

اِنَّ اللّٰهَ هُوَ الرَّزَّاقُ ذُو الْقُوَّةِ الْمَتِينُIndeed, Allah is the Provider, the Possessor of all strength, the Most Firm. — The Qur’an 51:58

Since the apparent meaning of this noble verse, as explained in many tafsīrsCommentaries and interpretations of the Qur’an that explain its verses, meanings, and teachings., did not seem to reveal the sublime miraculous eloquence of the Qur’an, it occupied my thoughts for a long time. We shall briefly explain three aspects of its most beautiful and exalted meanings, arising from the blessed abundance of the Qur’an.

The First Aspect

Sometimes, in order to honour and exalt His Messenger, Allah attributes to Himself certain matters that, in fact, pertain to the Messenger.

Thus, the meaning of the words, “I have created you to worship Me, not to provide Me with food,” may be understood as follows:

“My Messenger asks of you no reward, wage, or compensation, nor does he ask you to provide him with food in return for fulfilling his duty of prophethood and conveying the command to worship.”

Thus, what is meant here is providing food and sustenance for the Noble Messenger (saw)Sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam (Peace and blessings be upon him). Otherwise, the verse would merely be stating a truth already evident to everyone, which would not accord with the miraculous eloquence of the Qur’an.

The Second Aspect

Because human beings are deeply preoccupied with securing their sustenance, they may imagine that the need to earn a livelihood prevents them from fulfilling their duty of worship, and thus find an excuse for neglecting it. Therefore, the Qur’anic verse declares:

“You have been created for worship; the purpose of your creation is worship.