تلك الدار الاخرة نجعلها للذين لا يريدون علوا في الارض ولا فسادا والعاقبة للمتقين

تِلْكَ ٱلدَّارُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةُ نَجْعَلُهَا لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُرِيدُونَ عُلُوًّا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا فَسَادًا ۚ وَٱلْعَـٰقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ

I was learning some things about Mount Everest, and I viewed some stunning photos of marine rocks that were stuck and scattered throughout the peak of the mountain. It was striking to me that the highest point on Earth was once at the bottom of the ocean, and so then I was reminded of the verse:

تِلْكَ ٱلدَّارُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةُ نَجْعَلُهَا لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُرِيدُونَ عُلُوًّا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا فَسَادًا ۚ وَٱلْعَـٰقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ 

"The eternal Home in the Hereafter - We reserve only for those who seek neither exaltedness nor corruption on the earth. And the best ending belongs only to the righteous." (28:83)

In a way, we have to be like those marine rocks, being submerged below the ocean and undergo a gradual process of internal transformation through humility, patience, and trials and hardships. The "best ending" for the righteous is like the peak of Mount Everest, where the marine rocks are. And surely the real best ending is in the next life. But again, those marine rocks were once at the bottom of the ocean.

An example that came to mind is Prophet Yusuf's (peace be upon him) life story. He was literally thrown into a well by his own brothers, and yet later on he forgave them, and eventually Allah made him a Prophet and gave him authority over the entire land of Egypt, after having gone through so many other unimaginable trials. 

Likewise, we may be in a situation where we feel as if we are "stuck in a well" due to the circumstances surrounding us, but in fact it is always Allah who determines our condition. And indeed nothing happens to us without His will and His knowledge of that.

We shouldn't think that so-and-so happened to me because of what this or that person did to me or that some misfortune occured to us because of another person's wrong action, misunderstanding, or even injustice towards us. Those will only lead to ruminative and negative thinking which is not good for us. 

We are definitely going to be tested, sometimes through people and sometimes through events, to find out for ourselves whether or not we are able to forgive others and keep our hearts and minds anchored to our Lord, always aiming to succeed in the ultimate goal which is the true peak of all.

#MountEverest         

I imagine the Prophet (SAW) receiving these verses and I imagine how hearing the story of Musa and Musa AS's confidence and strength in standing before Firawn (a terrifying feat) must've been so comforting to the nabi SAW. I can imagine the sense of comradery to know this is his companion in prophethood who struggled too. Some scholars attribute verse 85 as a promise to the Prophet SAW during hijra that he would return to Mecca.

pray for me I am losing my steadfastness in my faith depression losing control over worldy affairs and religion pray that Allah guides me pls I may be of those who are a hypocrite and blinded by the truth by Allah it may be my only hope if you pray for me

Reflections: Al-Qasas 28:83