The Wisdom Behind Allah’s Blessings as They Come and Go

JAKARTA — Sheikh Ibn Ataillah, in his book Al-Hikam, reminds people not to expect Allah’s blessings to remain forever. Nothing in this world is eternal. People must recognise that they are always in need of Allah and will find no true sufficiency if they distance themselves from Him.

“Do not expect Allah’s blessings to endure after His light has been spread out and His secrets have been disclosed to you. You will find everything when you are with Him, but nothing will suffice you if you distance yourself from Him.” (Sheikh Ibn Ataillah, Al-Hikam)

DA Pakih Sati, Lc, compiler and translator of Al-Hikam, explained Sheikh Ataillah’s reasoning for advising against expecting Allah’s blessings to last. Nothing in this world is everlasting, he wrote. Therefore, one should never expect Allah’s blessings to endure, even when His light has been spread out and His secrets have been disclosed.

Do you not see the sun’s journey in everyday life? If the sun were to shine continuously and never set, this would in fact endanger you. Your rest would be disrupted if it remained daytime without ever becoming night.

Allah has placed wisdom in everything. Simply follow the rhythms of the natural world and you will experience their benefits.

Know that you experience the benefits of sunlight only as the sun rises and sets. Allah does not need the worship you perform, or the light within your heart.

The good and bad you do during your life in this world will return to you. You will also bear their consequences. Know that you are greatly in need of Him and cannot live apart from Him.