Surah Al-Ankaboot (29) — Ayah 9

(Ayah 9) {وَ الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ … :} That is, if someone’s parents are polytheists, then the believing child will be with the righteous, not with the polytheist parents, because although the parents were very close to him in the world and loved him, their love for him and his love for them was natural, not religious. Whereas true love is religious love, which the parents had with the disbelievers and he had with the people of faith, and on the Day of Resurrection, a person will be with those whom he truly (religiously) loves. Abdullah bin Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that a man came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and asked him: “O Messenger of Allah! What do you say about a person who loves some people but has not yet joined them?” So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ اَلْمَرْءُ مَعَ مَنْ أَحَبَّ ] [ بخاري، الأدب، باب علامۃ الحب في اللہ… : ۶۱۶۹ ] “A person will be with those whom he loves.” And Allah the Exalted said: «{ وَ مَنْ يُّطِعِ اللّٰهَ وَ الرَّسُوْلَ فَاُولٰٓىِٕكَ مَعَ الَّذِيْنَ اَنْعَمَ اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِّنَ النَّبِيّٖنَ وَ الصِّدِّيْقِيْنَ۠ وَ الشُّهَدَآءِ وَ الصّٰلِحِيْنَ وَ حَسُنَ اُولٰٓىِٕكَ رَفِيْقًا } » [ النساء : ۶۹ ] “And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger, then they will be with those upon whom Allah has bestowed favor, of the Prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs, and the righteous. And excellent are those as companions.” Therefore, on the Day of Resurrection, Allah the Exalted will admit him among the righteous, for whose company Allah’s great Prophets used to pray, as Solomon (peace be upon him) prayed: «{ وَ اَدْخِلْنِيْ بِرَحْمَتِكَ فِيْ عِبَادِكَ الصّٰلِحِيْنَ }» [ النمل : ۱۹ ] “And by Your mercy, admit me among Your righteous servants.” And Joseph (peace be upon him) prayed: «{ تَوَفَّنِيْ مُسْلِمًا وَّ اَلْحِقْنِيْ بِالصّٰلِحِيْنَ }» [ یوسف : ۱۰۱ ] “Cause me to die as a Muslim and join me with the righteous.” There is a subtle relevance in admitting these people among the righteous at this point: when, in the case of parents commanding shirk, it was ordered not to obey them, it is obvious that this would naturally create distance and severance between the parents and the child. Allah the Exalted, in exchange for this separation, admitted him among the righteous, so that he may find comfort with them and his heart may be attached. (Ibn Ashur) An example of the comfort granted by Allah the Exalted in exchange for separation from loved ones is the supplication of Asiyah (upon her be peace), who, due to her faith, lost her husband and home, and prayed: «{ رَبِّ ابْنِ لِيْ عِنْدَكَ بَيْتًا فِي الْجَنَّةِ }» [ التحریم : ۱۱ ] “O my Lord! Build for me, near You, a house in Paradise.” In this supplication, the words {’’ عِنْدَكَ ‘‘ } and {’’ بَيْتًا فِي الْجَنَّةِ ‘‘} are noteworthy: in place of Pharaoh, the neighborhood of the Lord Most High, and in place of a house, a house in Paradise—what a beautiful reward. The truth is that for those who remain steadfast in faith and righteous deeds despite the opposition of parents and other relatives, this is a very great reward.