There are certain concepts that are ingrained in our fiṭrah—these concepts make it possible for us to reach Allāh; to find Him and to submit to Him.
There are many such concepts, and we witness them in our day to day lives. The one who gives you, cares for you and loves you deserves gratitude and loyalty. The one who does well deserves praise.
These are concepts that are coded into us and because of this, these are concepts that even a child understands. When a child does a task well, try praising his sibling instead and then watch his reaction. His innate nature will refuse to accept your misguided judgement.
No matter how badly a person strays and his fiṭrah corrupts, these are some realities that remain unchanged and undisputed. What prevents the right reaction, however, is diseases of the heart. Think: Arrogance, pride, ego and so on.
Take a look at Sūrat ash-Shuʿarāʾ. Prophet Mūsā a.s. comes to Firʿawn with a new Message, a Message that was in opposition to their belief.
Firʿawn saw this as a provocation and thus, ingratitude and disloyalty from Mūsā, whom he had raised from infancy. The first words out of his mouth were to remind him of the favours he had over Mūsā:
❰Pharaoh said, “Did we not raise you among us as a child, and you stayed several years of your life in our care?
And you did the blunder you did; still you are ungrateful.”❱ ash-Shuʿarāʾ:18-19
This was the basic concept that was ingrained in his fiṭrah that he couldn’t deny: The one who does good to you deserves gratitude. He expected gratitude from Mūsā.
Yet, in the same conversation, when Mūsā reminds Firʿawn of the Lord of Creation and of what the favours He has over the creation, Firʿawn promptly rejects Him, showing a worse ingratitude that he had accused Mūsā of moments earlier.
His fiṭrah knew this concept, but the diseases in his heart prompted him to act indifferently leading him to kufr.
Allāh has given all of us the tools that lead us to guidance and eternal delight in the Hereafter, but too often, the diseases that brew in our chests become a barrier in reaching that guidance, and thus people stray.
May Allāh purify our hearts.
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