[6:125] Whomever GOD wills to guide, He renders his chest wide open to Submission. And whomever He wills to send astray, He renders his chest intolerant and straitened, like one who climbs towards the sky. GOD thus places a curse upon those who refuse to believe.
فَمَن يُرِدِ ٱللَّهُ أَن يَهْدِيَهُۥ يَشْرَحْ صَدْرَهُۥ لِلْإِسْلَـٰمِ وَمَن يُرِدْ أَن يُضِلَّهُۥ يَجْعَلْ صَدْرَهُۥ ضَيِّقًا حَرَجًا كَأَنَّمَا يَصَّعَّدُ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ كَذَٰلِكَ يَجْعَلُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلرِّجْسَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
One of the most formidable birds in the sky is the eagle. Despite this, they are often harassed by other birds like crows, ravens, and magpies. These smaller birds will often mob eagles, dive-bombing them and trying to steal their food. Eagles will typically try to avoid these attacks by flying away or by fighting back. However, if the harassment persists, the eagle may fly to a higher altitude where the smaller birds cannot follow.
When a person’s chest is wide open to Submission, they can reach new heights in their closeness with God, and at these higher elevations, those who desire to send them astray cannot bear to be with them. This creates a barrier of protection for the believers, and within this protection, we are not only closer to God but we are also admitted to the peace that God provides.
[6:126] This is the straight path to your Lord. We have explained the revelations for people who take heed.
(١٢٦) وَهَـٰذَا صِرَٰطُ رَبِّكَ مُسْتَقِيمًا قَدْ فَصَّلْنَا ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَذَّكَّرُونَ
| 1 | wahādhā | وَهَـٰذَا | And this (is) |
| 2 | ṣirāṭu | صِرَٰطُ | (the) path |
| 3 | rabbika | رَبِّكَ | (of) your Lord – |
| 4 | mus’taqīman | مُسْتَقِيمًا | straight and right. |
| 5 | qad | قَدْ | Certainly |
| 6 | faṣṣalnā | فَصَّلْنَا | we clarified / detailed / explained |
| 7 | l-āyāti | ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ | the verses / revelations |
| 8 | liqawmin | لِقَوْمٍ | for a people |
| 9 | yadhakkarūna | يَذَّكَّرُونَ | (who) [they] take heed. |
God calls this the straight path. The term mus’taqim ( مُسْتَقِيمًا ), which is translated as straight, can also be understood as upright. As in this is our upright path to God.
[6:127] They have deserved the abode of peace at their Lord; He is their Lord and Master, as a reward for their works.
(١٢٧) لَهُمْ دَارُ ٱلسَّلَـٰمِ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَهُوَ وَلِيُّهُم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
The words peace ( ٱلسَّلَـٰمِ ) and Submission ( لِلْإِسْلَـٰمِ ) both come from the same root. It is through Submission that we find peace, and God is giving us the formula in these verses. From the root of these words, we also get the words ladder and stairway.
[52:38] Do they climb a ladder that enables them to listen? Let their listeners show their proof.
(٣٨) أَمْ لَهُمْ سُلَّمٌ يَسْتَمِعُونَ فِيهِ فَلْيَأْتِ مُسْتَمِعُهُم بِسُلْطَـٰنٍ مُّبِينٍ
[6:35] If their rejection gets to be too much for you, you should know that even if you dug a tunnel through the earth, or climbed a ladder into the sky, and produced a miracle for them (they still would not believe). Had GOD willed, He could have guided them, unanimously. Therefore, do not behave like the ignorant ones.
(٣٥) وَإِن كَانَ كَبُرَ عَلَيْكَ إِعْرَاضُهُمْ فَإِنِ ٱسْتَطَعْتَ أَن تَبْتَغِىَ نَفَقًا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ أَوْ سُلَّمًا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَتَأْتِيَهُم بِـَٔايَةٍ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَجَمَعَهُمْ عَلَى ٱلْهُدَىٰ فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْجَـٰهِلِينَ
This may indicate that the peace we are striving for requires that we be elevated.
[7:176] Had we willed, we could have elevated him therewith, but he insisted on sticking to the ground, and pursued his own opinions. Thus, he is like the dog; whether you pet him or scold him, he pants. Such is the example of people who reject our proofs. Narrate these narrations, that they may reflect.
وَلَوْ شِئْنَا لَرَفَعْنَـٰهُ بِهَا وَلَـٰكِنَّهُۥٓ أَخْلَدَ إِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱتَّبَعَ هَوَىٰهُ فَمَثَلُهُۥ كَمَثَلِ ٱلْكَلْبِ إِن تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْهِ يَلْهَثْ أَوْ تَتْرُكْهُ يَلْهَث ذَّٰلِكَ مَثَلُ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا فَٱقْصُصِ ٱلْقَصَصَ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
It is by cutting our depednecy with anything in this world and making a connection with God that we find true contentment.
[22:15] If anyone thinks that GOD cannot support him in this life and in the Hereafter, let him turn completely to (his Creator in) heaven, and sever (his dependence on anyone else). He will then see that this plan eliminates anything that bothers him.
(١٥) مَن كَانَ يَظُنُّ أَن لَّن يَنصُرَهُ ٱللَّهُ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ فَلْيَمْدُدْ بِسَبَبٍ إِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ ثُمَّ لْيَقْطَعْ فَلْيَنظُرْ هَلْ يُذْهِبَنَّ كَيْدُهُۥ مَا يَغِيظُ
The verses continue to warn us that if we do not elevate in righteousness, we will only attract the company of the unrighteous.
[6:128] The day will come when He summons all of them (and says): “O you jinns, you have claimed multitudes of humans.” Their human companions will say, “Our Lord, we enjoyed each others’ company until we wasted the life span You had set for us.” He will say, “Hell is your destiny.” They abide therein forever, in accordance with GOD’s will. Your Lord is Wise, Omniscient.
وَيَوْمَ يَحْشُرُهُمْ جَمِيعًا يَـٰمَعْشَرَ ٱلْجِنِّ قَدِ ٱسْتَكْثَرْتُم مِّنَ ٱلْإِنسِ وَقَالَ أَوْلِيَآؤُهُم مِّنَ ٱلْإِنسِ رَبَّنَا ٱسْتَمْتَعَ بَعْضُنَا بِبَعْضٍ وَبَلَغْنَآ أَجَلَنَا ٱلَّذِىٓ أَجَّلْتَ لَنَا قَالَ ٱلنَّارُ مَثْوَىٰكُمْ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ إِلَّا مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ حَكِيمٌ عَلِيمٌ
[6:129] We thus match the wicked to be companions of each other, as a punishment for their transgressions.
وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُوَلِّى بَعْضَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ بَعْضًۢا بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ
[6:130] O you jinns and humans, did you not receive messengers from among you, who narrated to you My revelations, and warned you about the meeting of this day? They will say, “We bear witness against ourselves.” They were totally preoccupied with the worldly life, and they will bear witness against themselves that they were disbelievers.
يَـٰمَعْشَرَ ٱلْجِنِّ وَٱلْإِنسِ أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِّنكُمْ يَقُصُّونَ عَلَيْكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِى وَيُنذِرُونَكُمْ لِقَآءَ يَوْمِكُمْ هَـٰذَا قَالُوا۟ شَهِدْنَا عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِنَا وَغَرَّتْهُمُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَشَهِدُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ كَـٰفِرِينَ
[6:131] This is to show that your Lord never annihilates any community unjustly, while its people are unaware.
ذَٰلِكَ أَن لَّمْ يَكُن رَّبُّكَ مُهْلِكَ ٱلْقُرَىٰ بِظُلْمٍ وَأَهْلُهَا غَـٰفِلُونَ
[6:132] Everyone will attain a rank commensurate with their deeds. Your Lord is never unaware of anything they do.
وَلِكُلٍّ دَرَجَـٰتٌ مِّمَّا عَمِلُوا۟ وَمَا رَبُّكَ بِغَـٰفِلٍ عَمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ
We each choose the path we follow. God tailors each of our paths to optimize our results, but if we fail to recognize this and insist on sticking to our comfort zone close to the ground, then we will never be able to reach our full potential.
Incase you missed it, here is Part 1 of this article.
