What Is Good Lasts Sura 13 Aya 17 He sends down water from the skies, and the streams flow,

each according to its measure, The flood carries away the debris, which comes up to the surface; Similarly, from the ore, which they heat in the fire to make ornaments or utensils, there is a scum likewise; Thus does God show forth Truth and Falsehood For the scum disappears like dross cast out; while that which is good for mankind remains on the earth; Thus does God set forth parables. There are many different ideas, philosophies, and fashions presented to us every day. How do we decide what to choose? What is good for us, and what is not? This aya gives an important criterion. What is good for us has been here for a long time. God has preserved it for our benefit. What is unwholesome is temporary; it is washed away by time. Go to a bookstore and you will see thousands of titles on display. Most of these books will be forgotten in five years. Only a handful will be talked about in twenty years. The really enlightened works will be popular after the lapse of a century. A few books are still alive even after thousands of years. If you are seeking wisdom, learn from the wisdom of the ages. In addition to the scriptures, these are known as the classics in the major languages. There is a reason why Rumispeaks to the hearts of people even though eight hundred years have passed, or we gain flashes of insight from Plato and Plutarch after twentyfive hundred years and we rejoice in the illumination that the verses of Shakespeare bring to us. This aya validates the value of all scriptures. The Vedas, the Upanishads, the Torah, the Gospels, and all scriptures that have remained alive for thousands of years are here because theycontain information of benefit to mankind. The Quran speaks about it explicitly: He sent down to you the Book with the Truth, confirming what went before it, And He sent down the Torah and the Gospel before this as guidance for mankind and He sent you the criterion. (3:34). We do a disservice to ourselves if we do not learn from the wisdom and guidance that God has preserved in the scriptures. Similarly, the classical music of the different world traditions carries themes that have given solace to mankindgeneration after generation. A piece of music is classical because it has been preserved through the ages. It has the divine imprint that connects with the human soul at its depth. It is important to be patient enough to cultivate a taste in classical music so we can experience its value.

The human brain is a powerful machine. It absorbs what you feed it, processes it, magnifies it tremendously, and gives it back to you. If you feed it only the ordinary stuff that makes up most social conversation, your life will become a massive pool of the ordinary. On the other hand, if you take the initiative to regularly expose your mind to texts of wisdom, your life will, in time, become an extraordinary source of inspiration for yourself and others. Learning of the eternal wisdom requires delaying gratification. If you go for immediate release of tension and quick shots of pleasure, you will find it in the gossip columns of newspapers. But, if you discipline yourself to learn something of lasting value every day, your effort will be rewarded with a pleasure that will be deep and lasting. An example is a child in school who knows that doing homework is important for his future, but the child cannot resist the easy pleasure of watching television all afternoon. His brother is more disciplined, does his homework first every day, and then watches television. Thisdiscipline foreshadows a tremendously more satisfying life for him in comparison with his brother. The wisdom in a scripture is expressed through the language of the person who first experienced it. As it is transmitted, it is mixed up with the language of the less informed. The meaningsand feelings associated with words change from generation to generation. Many people who make an effort to understand the Quran, the Hadith, or other scriptures, are turned off because they dont understand it. Passages in the book appear far removed from our thinking. Literal readings defy common sense or appear to be contradictory. Many give up and leave understanding of the scripture to the scholars. This is an unfortunate but common mistake. Unless you do the work yourself to penetrate through the words, you will not know what they tell you. This experience is similar to learning to appreciate classical music. For the unaccustomed or the one who is used to only the popular tunes, classical music initially carries no appeal. It appears disjointed and unable to hold your attention. But for those who are patient with it and listen to classical pieces again and again, their sublime beauty is gradually and surely revealed. As you persist, you will discover that what makes classical music eternal, or classical books eternal, or classical scenes eternal, are different aspects of the Eternal, which is a name of God. The insight in this aya is useful in choosing your career. Choose your work such that it benefits mankind and your imprint will be preserved after you are no longer on earth. When you plan your work for tomorrow, or next week, or next year, shape it so it brings benefit to as many people as possible. If you are in a career you feel does not contribute to the greater good, you can begin by deliberating creating the intention within yourself to find meaningful work. Think about this new intention every day and it will become deeper. Eventually, it will attract opportunities from the outside for its fulfillment. Consider Prophet Muhammads frequent supplication: God, I seek from you knowledge that is beneficial for mankind. Finding insights that uplift humanity and teaching it to people was the Prophets career. He pursued it diligently, and his words have been preserved on earth. Ideologies, movements, and empires thrive and expand aslong as they serve to raise human awareness and well-being. They are removed from the earth soon after their impact on mankind becomes negative. This law pervades all human history. An example from the last century is provided by the rise and fall of communism. When this philosophy first developed, it served to liberate people from the oppression of feudalism, unrestrained industrialism, and corrupt religious

institutions. It spread quickly to large sections of the world. As it developed into an empire, it eventually became an instrument of control and oppression; it stifled and enslaved, rather than liberated, and soon after, it disappeared. Only what is of benefit to mankind is kept on the earth. Sultan Abdulhameed Posted on Friday, May 21st, 2010 at 2:45 pm