Page 46 - Prayer in the Qur'an

44 PRAYER IN THE QUR'AN

due. I do not think that the Hour is going to come. And if am re-
turned to my Lord, I will definitely find the best reward with
Him." But We will inform those who disbelieve of what they
did and make them suffer a ruthless punishment. When We
grant blessing to a man, he turns away and draws aside but

when any evil touches him, he is full of endless prayers! (Surah
Fussilat: 49-51)
All these verses make mention of people who turn to Allah in
trouble yet grow ungrateful when relieved. As said earlier, this is an
attitude peculiar to idolaters, since the telling character trait of be-
lievers is their turning to Allah under all circumstances. Not only in
times of difficulty, but also during times of ease and welfare, do they
turn to Allah in prayer and glorify Him. They have assured faith in
the fact that only Allah can help them.
Being ungrateful, as in the case of the one who prays to Allah in

the ship but then becomes forgetful when relieved, is every soul's in-
clination. One of the purposes of this Qur'anic story about the ship is
surely to condemn idolaters. However, everyone needs to take
lessons from it and avoid assuming a similar attitude. That is to say,
everyone needs to ponder this example, reconsider their own situa-
tion and sincerely correct their outlook.
Do you, for instance, ever consider your own situation?
Do you pray more strongly when you encounter a hardship, as
in the case of the people in the ocean caught by a storm? Do you turn
to Allah in prayer only when you encounter trouble? Do your
prayers become more sincere in times of trouble? Are you prone

barely to remembering Allah and paying less attention to prayer,
when you are happy and relieved?
If this is the case, then you need to ponder your own situation.