The one who fears standing in the presence of his Rabb shall have two gardens. So which favours of your Rabb do the two of you deny? Both these (gardens) shall be filled with branches. So which favours of your Rabb do the two of you deny? In both (gardens) there shall be two gushing springs. So which favours of your Rabb do the two of you deny? In both there shall be a pair of every fruit. (Qur’ān Ch. 50 V. 46-52)
{وَلِمَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِ جَنَّتَانِ (46) فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ (47) ذَوَاتَا أَفْنَانٍ (48) فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ (49) فِيهِمَا عَيْنَانِ تَجْرِيَانِ (50) فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ (51) فِيهِمَا مِنْ كُلِّ فَاكِهَةٍ زَوْجَانِ (52)} [الرحمن: 46 – 52]
Sayyidi Mawlāna Ashraf ʿAlī Thānvī rahimahullah mentions a delicate point under these ayāt from Surah Rahmān. He mentions that these ayāt tell us about a person who abstains from a sin having fear of Allāh. Allāh mentions that for such a person, there shall be not one but two gardens (jannatān). Within these gardens there are springs and different bounties and boons of Allāh.
But, all that is for a heart that has fear of his Rabb in him. The heart uses that fear to abstain from disobedience to Allah. Alas, what is the stage of our heart? Our hearts and bodies are such that let alone abstaining from the sin; let alone detesting the sin; let alone feeling repulsed of its heinousness; let alone fearing the consequence of it; let alone fearing the displeasure of the Rabb; and let alone recognizing the power and might of Allāh to dispense His displeasure upon us in the hereafter, we feel a sense of accomplishment when we commit the sin.
SubhanAllah, such is the condition of many of us. How many of us actually pride ourselves of the petty theft we do with our work. "I conned him of this much." or "So cunningly I got the ticket for speeding revoked even though I was going 40km/h above the limit." We have those who not only deceive the laws and regulations, rather boast about it as well. There are those who present their nifty tricks of stealth and thievery as a skill!
Mawlāna Ashraf ʿAlī Thānvī rahimahullah mentions that when the heart reaches such a level, then in principle even the tawfīq of Tawbah it taken away. This is because the reality of Tawbah is regret and shame, and these two qualities only remain in the heart for those actions which one considers to be bad. When the sin settles in the heart to such a level that one prides on it, then where can we hope for regret?
-Abuhajira
Adapted from Bayanul Qur’ān
by Mawlāna Ashraf ʿAlī Thānvī rahimahullah