Overview (Verses 5 - 7)

Who Benefits by Striving
 
The third note the sūrah strikes is that of reassuring those who hope to meet with God and strengthening their bond with Him: “Whoever looks forward with hope to meeting God [let him be ready for it]; for the end set by God is bound to come. He alone hears all and knows all.” (Verse 5) Those who dearly hope to meet God should rest assured. They should wait confidently for the fulfilment of His promise. They can look forward to it provided they do so with certitude. This is an inspiring image: a person of faith cherishing hopes and looking forward to the fulfilment of God’s promise. His aspiration is answered with confirmation of its truth. This is followed by the reassurance that God is fully aware of all their hopes: “He alone hears all and knows all.” (Verse 5)
 
Then the sūrah states to those believers who strive to fulfil the duties of faith, enduring all manner of hardship, that they only strive for themselves and for their own good. By doing so they have set their affairs on the right course. As for God, He needs no one: “Whoever strives hard [for God’s cause] does so for his own good. For certain, God is in no need of anything in all the worlds.” (Verse 6)
 
It is true that God has tested the believers and required them to strive hard so that they could endure adversity with patience, but all this is for their own good. It has ensured their benefit both in this world and in the life to come. Striving, or jihād, reinforces a person’s good elements, expands his horizons, makes him ready to sacrifice his life and possessions, as also enhances his best qualities and abilities. It does all this for the individual who strives, before it brings further benefits to the community of believers, improving its situation, establishing the truth within it, and making goodness overcome evil in its ranks.
 
“Whoever strives hard [for God’s cause] does so for his own good.” Let no one, then, stop midway through this process. Let no one stop to demand a price from God, holding what he did as a favour and feeling that his prize is overdue. God benefits nothing by anyone’s striving. He is in no need of people’s efforts. After all, human beings are weak, barely significant. “God is in no need of anything in all the worlds.” (Verse 6) It is God who grants a favour to those who strive, helping them in their efforts and establishing them in a position of power on earth. Furthermore, He will reward them well in the life to come: “As for those who believe and do righteous deeds, We shall most certainly erase their bad deeds, and shall most certainly reward them in accordance with the best that they ever did.” (Verse 7)
 
Believers should remain reassured of their great reward. Let them, then, remain patient in adversity, fulfilling the requirements of their test, and persevering in their jihād. A great future and a goodly reward await them. This is sufficient for any believer, even though he may not enjoy justice in this present life.