Qur'an 20081228

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

165. What! When a single disaster smites you, although you smote with one twice as great, do you say, "Whence is this?" Say, "It is from yourselves, for Allah has Power over all things."

166. What you suffered on the day the two armies met was with the leave of Allah, in order that God might test the believers.

167. And the hypocrites also. These were told, "Come fight in the way of Allah, or drive." They said, "Had we known there would be a fight, we should have certainly followed you." They were that day nearer to unbelief than to faith, saying with their lips what was not in their hearts. But Allah has full knowledge of all they conceal.

The Family of Imran 3:165-167
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It is from yourselves, for Allah has Power over all things.

Being firm and fighting for good is extremely hard, when the apparent rewards for being evil are so tempting. The lesson is that life is short, and the rewards for good come in the Hereafter, and if God Wills, this life also. God is not unjust, it's only that our mortal perception of time is distorted.

Nevertheless, being mortal gives us excuses to bitch and whine. That's why being patient, and persistent with good deeds, translates to great strength.

3:162 Is the man who follows the Good Pleasure of Allah like the man who draws on himself the Wrath of Allah, and whose abode is hell? A woeful refuge!