Quranic Wisdom

the higher authority—that without God’s blessings you could not achieve anything in this world. In the chapter Al-Qalam (the Pen), the Quran narrates the story of certain horticulturalists who omitted to say Bismillah. This event is referred to in the Quran as follows: We have tried them as we tried the owners of a certain orchard, who vowed to harvest all its fruits the next morning, without saying, ‘If it be God’s will.’ A calamity from your Lord befell the orchard as they slept. And by morning it lay as if it had already been harvested. (68:17- 20) This means that no one can achieve anything in this world without it being God’s will. God is the Lord of this universe. When one says Bismillah, one invokes God to provide His help. This is like seeking the permission of God Almighty. So, saying Bismillah ensures the success of any task in this world. Peace of Mind E veryone has a mind but peace of mind is a rare phenomenon. Everyone wants to live in peace but peace eludes almost everyone. Perhaps it is the greatest problem of the human world. What is the solution to this problem? The Quran gives a solution to this problem in unequivocal terms. It is recorded in the chapter Al-Ra‘d (Thunder): Those who believe and whose hearts find comfort in the remembrance of God—surely in the remembrance of God hearts can find comfort. (13:28) Here ‘remembrance of God’ does not mean that simply reciting the word ‘God’ (Allah) can give you peace of mind. It