Al-Israa (The Night Journey)

67. “And when affliction touches you in the sea, away will go those on whom you call except Him; but as He delivers you to the land, you turn away (from Him); and man is very ungrateful.”

One of the reasons as to why monotheism is inherent in human nature is the fact that man turns to an invisible point to save him when he is caught in distress and despair.

A man, who was an atheist, once asked Imam Sadiq (as) to provide him with a proof for proving the existence of the Lord.

The Imam asked him:

“Have you ever embarked a ship which has been wrecked?” “Yes,”

He answered:

“Only once. We were once ship wrecked and I used a piece of wood.”

The Imam (as) then asked:

“Were you then focusing on a power to save you?”

He answered:

“Yes,”

He (as) continued:

“That very invisible power is the Lord, the Almighty.”

Therefore, when at loss in a sea and winds stop blowing or the sea waves threaten you, etc, all your objects of worship will be forgotten, except the only Lord. in such a circumstance, it is Allah Who can save you, to Whom you appeal and you call on no one else.

However, as you were saved by Him from drowning; and felt safe, you will turn away from Him and refuse to believe in Him and to obey Him being ungrateful, and man does this too often.

The verse says:

“And when affliction touches you in the sea, away will go those on whom you call except Him; but as He delivers you to the land, you turn away (from Him)…”

Certainly, worldly interests are so enticing that man tends to forget everything shortly, after being saved of the affliction and neglecting Allah after being saved is an explicit example of ungratefulness.

The verse continues saying:

“…and man is very ungrateful.”