Al-A'raf 131: When goodness comes to them (abundance), they say; “This is our right.” When a calamity came to them, they would assume Moses and those with him to be ill omened. Know that the ill omen that came upon them is with Allah. But most of them do not know this.

Yes, we have come to verse 131.

What does it say? When good, abundance came to them, they would say: this is our due. If some evil befell them, they would regard Moses and those with him as an ill omen. Know that the ill omen that came to them is from Allah. But most of them do not know this. Yes, with Allah. Because for what everyone did on earth, Allah Almighty will give them the recompense. And in the hereafter, too, well, Allah Almighty will again punish those who, through those afflictions, did not come to their senses, who turned their backs on Him (?), in eternal hell. When good and abundance come to people, they say: these are my due.

That is, I suffered much, I worked hard, well, with these ten fingers, with my nails, well, I wore myself out working, I earned it. Well, this is how much I earned, he says. Yet he does not know that Allah Almighty tests that person with afflictions or with wealth, and since all the doors of mercy are in Allah's hand, he cannot grasp that this abundance given to him was given by his Lord. You credit it to yourself. So in this case, how nicely you make yourself — to yourself, to those around, and to Allah — a witness.

What does it say? When good and abundance come to people: these are my due. I worked hard. With words like 'I already knew it would turn out like this', he forgets Allah's mercy upon him and claims it for himself. When evil touches them, they immediately blame one another. So Pharaoh's people too, when misfortune struck them: it is because of Moses and his people, they say. Although the verses address that time, since people's desires and wishes from the side of the nafs are the same, they cover the people who will come until the Day of Judgement.

Just as such people exist today, they will exist until the Day of Judgement. Allah Almighty showing us the peoples who lived through these events as examples is so that, by reforming our nafs, we know Allah Almighty — our submission to Allah Almighty. As I always say, He holds a light before us. He gives examples from past history. But when we read history, even though in history books we read about the peoples mentioned, we read it like a story. A story. But these events Allah Almighty tells us are told as if they were being lived. Allah Almighty tells them as if they happened in our day. That is how great the difference is.

Allah's verses and people's telling of those past histories are very different.

Know that the ill omen that came to them is with Allah. But most of them do not know this. Among people, too, ill omen, ill omens and such do not exist. These are false beliefs. Allah Almighty has written people's destinies according to their covenants. What will befall people is determined. They say: so-and-so came to so-and-so, or so-and-so was born, and my affairs went wrong. They attach the destiny Allah wrote for people to others. Therefore they fall into sin. But perhaps a person's provision is very abundant. There is abundant provision in that person's destiny. So that he does not suffer want, to his mother or father or the place he goes, Allah Almighty sends his provision in advance.

This is a part of his destiny within the wish this person asked for. If we forget the One who gives these and attach events to people, we fall into sin. So Allah, by saying the ill omen is not from them, it is with Allah, means: according to the deeds people will do within their own destinies, Allah gives them afflictions so that they turn to Him. Doesn't Allah Almighty do the same today? Doesn't He give these non-Muslims afflictions two or three times a year? He does. In fact, He says this in His verse: We give them two or three afflictions a year, so that they remember their Lord. What would it have cost, He says, if they had just turned back.

If they had just prayed, that is, said 'my Lord', He says. What would it have cost? Yes. So Allah, by saying the ill omen is not from them, it is with Allah, means: according to the deeds people will do within their own destinies, Allah lets afflictions come to them so that they turn to Him. But most of them did not know this. As I explained above, most people do not know these things. Blaming the disasters that befall them on one another, they accuse each other. Instead of doing that, if only they would take their heads between their two palms and think. If only they could say: why did this affliction befall us?

If they went to the root of the matter and solved it at the root, that is, if they turned to Allah, they would find the truth. Since they cannot do these things, people keep being worn out by afflictions. And they simply cannot say 'Allah'. Yes, their tongues cannot bring themselves to say 'Allah'.