16. GOD’S BLESSING

16. God’s Blessing ~ 44 ~ That is, even when power is desirable, the movement will begin from the point of character building and individual reform instead of political action. Then God’s general gift is what is shared, more or less by everyone. In principle, it consists of two kinds of things – peaceful circumstances and the easy availability of the necessities of life. This we learn from the following verse of the Qur’an: God has made an example of the city, which was once safe and peaceful. Its provisions used to come in abundance from every quarter: but its people denied the favours of God. Therefore, He afflicted them with famine and fear as a punishment for what they did. (16:112) Two things in this verse are called the blessings of God: peace and provision. It shows that from the worldly point of view these two things are essential for human beings. If a group comes to possess these two things, then it should not wage war for anything else, such as political power. Rather considering those blessings to be sufficient, believers should engage themselves in thanksgiving