Page 87 - The Basic Concepts in the Qur’an

In the Qur’an, one point is repeatedly stressed: now and then pagans also pray to Allah.
However a great difference exists between the prayer of pagans and that of the believers.
The believers turn to Allah under all circumstances. Whether in times of ease or difficulty,
their attitude never changes; they keep praying being conscious of their frailty before Allah.
Pagans, on the other hand, keep themselves constantly distant from Allah. Only hardship
makes them feel their weakness before Allah and leads them to turn to Him. Their prayer said
in times of trouble, is indeed a sincere one. Yet, sooner do things take a turn for the better than
they forget that they prayed for the mercy of Allah and remain ungrateful:
We find several references in the Qur’an to this pagan attitude . Here are some examples:
When misfortune befell man, He cried to Us in all postures- lying down on his side,
or sitting, or standing. But when We relieved his affliction, he went on his way, as if
he had never cried to Us for our help. Thus the deeds of transgressors seem fair in
their eyes!
(Jonah, 12)

When We bestow favours on man, he turns away, and holds himself aloof; but when
evil seizes him, he comes to us and is loud in prayer!
(Fussilat, 51)

When evil befalls man, he prays to his Lord, turning to Him in repentance: but when
He bestows His favour upon him, he forgets what he has cried and prayed for, and he
sets up rivals to Allah, thus leading others away from Allah’s Path. Say, “Enjoy your
blasphemy for a little while: truly, you are one of the Companions of the Fire!”
(Az-Zumar, 8)

Now, when evil befalls man, he cries out to Us: but when We bestow a favour upon
him from Ourself he says, “This has been given to me because of a certain knowledge
I have!” By no means! This is but a trial, but most of them do not understand!
(Az-Zumar, 49)

When evil befalls men, they cry out to their Lord, turning back to Him in repentance:
but when He gives them a taste of His Mercy, behold, some of them pay part-worship
to other gods besides their Lord.
(Al-Room, 33)

In some of the verses, the example of a ship is given. In a sinking ship, man understands
the emergency of his situation and sincerely prays, expressing his repentance and asking for
salvation. This is surely a time of desperation when a person comprehends that no other soul
can save him. It is then that he turns to Allah. However, when Allah rescues him, he again
assumes his former attitude. This is certainly a great distortion of true piety:
It is He Who enables them to travel over land and sea. They board their ships; they set
sail, rejoicing in a favourable wind. Then comes a raging tempest and the waves surge
upon them from all sides, and they think they are being overwhelmed. They cry out to
Allah, sincerely offering their allegiance to Him saying, “If you deliver us from this,
peril, we shall truly show our gratitude!”
But when He delivers them, behold! they transgress insolently in the land in defiance
of right! O mankind! your insolence is against your own souls. Take your enjoyment
in this life: in the end, to Us you shall return, and We shall show you the truth of all
that you have done.
(Jonah, 22-23)