The Problem Son

Parable of the Prodigal Son. 

Long have I pondered this parable, and long did it puzzle me. That the son who stood by his father with fortitude and help, would be the one found wanting. 

No matter his years of service and dedication. 

I understood that the parable talked of how God loves to forgive, but my mind rebelled against it, even whilst I knew it’s truth from our own body of knowledge. 

That God delights in forgiving, and delights when a person returns back to Him, having previously sinned. 

That is not in doubt. 

But for some reason the parable still did not play true to me, or maybe I was wanting in it’s appreciation. 

Until I pondered further within our own body of knowledge, and then the meaning of it became even more clear to me. 

For God says in the Quran, 

“Blessed is He in Whose hand is the kingdom, and He has power over all things,

Who created death and life that He may try you-- which of you is best in deeds; and He is the Mighty, the Forgiving,”

Surah Mulk, the Dominion v1 & 2. 

When we look at the parable within the context of an Earthly trial, set to see who remains true and is best in deeds, then everything suddenly fits. 

The wayward son returned to his father humbled and repentant, his trial was just that, the manner of his return for he did not return arrogant nor rebellious. And then he himself became a trial for his brother, and in that trial his brother was found wanting, and the truth of who he was, was made clear. That his heart was not good, that he did not stand by his father for his father’s sake but for his own sake. 

And even the prodigal, and profligate, son was a trial for his father. For did he not squander what his father had worked hard to provide. And his father was found true, for he accepted his son back, and accepted his son as he was, and chose to be. He did not chide him, nor rebuke him, but welcomed him. 

 And without doubt if the father had oppressed him, then that would have been an oppression against his son’s soul, and no good could have come from it. The father passed the test, how easy it is for a father who feels he has, and deserves, authority- how easy it is for him to fail. 

The trial of family is indeed a great trial, akin to the trial of wealth. *1

Each of us will face trials, that is a given, just as each of us will die. 

For it is a promise from God, and whilst you can prepare for death, it is more difficult to prepare for the trial that will test you in regards to the thing that you love most. 

At times the trial is not about wealth. 

Sometimes it is about prestige. 

At others it is about envy. 

Still others because you believe you have a right. 

They say that the trial for Khalid (ra) was Umar (ra). And the trial for Abu Haneefa (rh) was that he could not help the people by passing a judgment for three days. 

We should know that the truth of who we are, when we are put to trial, that truth is inescapable once it is made clear. 

And whilst we overlook peoples errors and make excuses for people. When the truth of who a person really is becomes evident then it cannot be so easily erased. 

And in those cases their hearts are not true, no matter how much good it appears they do. 

The mirror of self scrutiny should be with each of us. 

And as God says He is the Mighty in Forgiveness. 

^1 all of our families will have trials and divisions. This is not in doubt. When these occur we should be ready to listen to one another, and the easiest way to give each their space to talk is for both parties to agree to an arbiter, and both parties agree that they will honour whatever the arbiter decides.