3 conclusions from Surah Al Nisaa

While reading Surah Al Nisa today, I couldn't help but realize 3 things. 

1- لَّا يَسْتَوِي الْقَاعِدُونَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ غَيْرُ أُولِي الضَّرَرِ وَالْمُجَاهِدُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ الْمُجَاهِدِينَ بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ عَلَى الْقَاعِدِينَ دَرَجَةً وَكُلًّا وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الْحُسْنَىٰ وَفَضَّلَ اللَّهُ الْمُجَاهِدِينَ عَلَى الْقَاعِدِينَ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا

Not equal are those believers who sit (at home) and receive no hurt, and those who strive and fight in the cause of Allah with their goods and their persons. Allah hath granted a grade higher to those who strive and fight with their goods and persons than to those who sit (at home). Unto all (in Faith) Hath Allah promised good: But those who strive and fight Hath He distinguished above those who sit (at home) by a special reward,-

Read the Arabic part if you can of this verse. Allah says that he gave preference to those who strive for him over those who do not. By how much? One step, one degree higher. He says just one daraja. Yet in concluding the verse He repeats that He has preferred those who strive verses those who don't one more time, but now He says by "a grand reward". What does that tell you? That God's one step of elevation is not just one step. One step with God equals a magnificent reward. How kind is our Lord!

2- بَشِّرِ الْمُنَافِقِينَ بِأَنَّ لَهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا

To the Hypocrites give the glad tidings that there is for them (but) a grievous penalty;-

This verse is so full of power. God tells the prophet to tell the hypocrites of their punishment. But God didn't just say tell them. He uses the word "Bashir" which is almost always used with good news. It's a gladtiding. Something to look forward to. But here God uses it with something bad. Why? It's a mockery for them. It's as if he is making a total fool out of them. That is powerful. 

3- I couldn't help but realize the ending of many of the verses in this chapter. This chapter is full of rulings placed by God. And in the end of these verses, He gives himself a characteristic. After setting the rule, He then concludes by saying and God is most forgiving most merciful, or God is all knowing and most wise, or God is all seeing and all hearing. As I was reading this chapter, I was seeing the characteristic of God (All knowing and most wise) over and over repeatedly. And at the same time, God concluded the chapter by saying He knows of all things. That kind of got me wondering. But then again, this is the chapter of rulings, and some times to us people, we cannot fully comprehend why that ruling is set, or what's the wisdom behind it. And maybe, just maybe, that is why God reminds us constantly in this chapter that he is after all, the most wise. There is wisdom behind each and every ruling. And not just that, but God also knows what we know not. Thus, these rulings are there for specific reasons that we at many times do not know why. But because we do know that God is all knowing, we trust that they are there solely for our benefit. Thank you ya Allah. Thank you for teaching us and setting these rules to protect us.