Surah Al-Kahf (The Cave): "The Regret Is Not Ours"

As I begin to read the meaning of the introductory verses of Surah Al-Kahf, the foremost instruction I get from Allah is that you should not feel sorry for the idolators i.e. the disbelievers for what they do. This has been instructed to Prophet Mohammad (saww) to convey to his Ummah that was awestruck at the disbelievers of the time. They were saddened, depressed, and often angered because of the idol worship and remarks of disbelief on the Oneness of Allah and the Prophethood of Prophet Mohammad (saww). However, since we know that Islam and the Word of Allah is for all times, we can apply the same instruction on ourselves and know that we are not to regret for the ones who do not believe, our duty is only to convey the message of truth.

فَلَعَلَّكَ بَـخِعٌ نَّفْسَكَ عَلَى ءَاثَـرِهِمْ إِن لَّمْ يُؤْمِنُواْ بِهَـذَا الْحَدِيثِ

Perhaps, you would kill yourself in grief, over their footsteps, because they believe not in this narration.) meaning the Qur'an.

أَسَفاً

in grief

Some beautiful words of advice from Tafsir Ibn Kathir: 

"Do not feel sorry for them, just convey the Message of Allah to them. Whoever goes the right way, then he goes the right way only for the benefit of himself. And whoever goes astray, then he strays at his own loss, so do not destroy yourself in sorrow for them."

Let's apply that to our daily life. There are so many people around us who fall into the category of disbelievers. We know of the non-Muslims who do not believe and we have read infinitely about them. I talk of the Muslims who are disbelievers!

There are friends and relatives around us who disbelieve in the accountability to Allah on the day of judgement. There are those who indulge in various types of shirk i.e. asking religious deities and spiritual entities for their worldly needs, wearing stones and amulets and believing that they would guard them. 

Furthermore, there are those who are ignorant to the word of Allah and make bold claims. I got to hear from a relative, "Covering the head is nowhere in the Quran," and "Interest is legal".

Then there are instances like backbiting, family politics, professional foul play, and open misdemeanors that consequently put us into the states that Allah mentions in Al-Kahf here. 

We are angered, we feel regret for such people, we grieve, and we mourn. This is exactly what Allah instructs us not to do. Our duty is to make a stern and brief correcting statement and then forget about the misdemeanor. Why? Because our job there is done.