The words: “More Sinned Against Than Sinning” are from the mouth of King Lear, from the Tragic Drama “King Lear” by Shakespeare. This tragic drama, is one of the few most popular pieces of world literature.
The story goes like this. At his old age, the King decided to divide his kingdom into three parts for granting these to his Daughters. Before declaring this division of Kingdom, he wanted his daughters to express their love for him i.e. how much they love their father the King Lear. The two elder daughters expressed their love with exorbitant exaggeration as they were clever and cunning. But the youngest daughter Cordelia did not resort to exaggeration and replied that she loves him as much as a daughter should love her father.
He gave lions share of his kingdom to Regan and Goneril but gave nothing to Cordelia.He was now free from the responsibility of running the state affairs. He only selected fifty knights as his body guards. Now he was living with her two elder daughters. But soon they lost patience against pranks of the Knights of King Lear. King Lear left the palace.
“Thrown out of doors by his own daughters, the anguished Lear cries upon the storming heavens to execute justice, since he is now powerless to do so. Having ceded his authority, and been betrayed for it, the king comes to realize that he is but a “poor, infirm, weak, and despis’d old man” (line 20). As the storm beats down on his naked head, he invokes the “dreadful summoners”—the gods who tend to judgment and retribution—but hastily adds that he is himself “More sinn’d against than sinning.” In this pathetic moment, Lear exemplifies in the extreme a possessive parent with ungrateful children, as he chalks up their transgressions on a cosmic balance sheet. The storm seems a manifestation of his fury, and—still clinging to the royal imperative—Lear commands it to strike where he, being weak, cannot.“
Lear:
Close pent-up guilts,
Rive your concealing continents, and cry
These dreadful summoners grace. I am a man
More sinn’d against than sinning.
LINK BETWEEN KING LEAR AND JONAH’S PRAYER
If One thinks that he or she has not committed sin, what for he should supplicate to God to seek Forgiveness.Even beyond this stage one also may have the experience that from their birth to the present stage, they have suffered at the hands of the others than they might have sinned or committed wrongs against others. Lear is also saying the same thing when he utters “More sinn’d against than sinning.
In the Islamic context this Prayer is recommended to everybody even if, it might not be practically applicable to a particular individual.
UNIVERSAL IMPORTANCE OF JONAH’S PRAYER
Jona’s prayer is quoted in Holy Bible and also in Holy Quran. In Islam this considered as the Most Important Prayer under one Category. It is very popular in Muslims. General purport of the prayer is expressing one’s humility and seeking forgiveness of God on the one hand and on the other hand declaring Sanctity of God beyond any doubt. It said that this is a most effective prayer for getting riddance from pain and tribulations of life.
BACKGROUND OF THE PRAYER
The incidents behind this prayer are that Jonah was descended to the 120,000 of people of Nineveh, location of which was about 275 K.M. from Mediterranean. As is usual with prophets, Jonah did abide by the instructions of God and conveyed His message to the populace. Jonah left no stone upturned to convince them of the words of God but in vain. At long last , God conveyed, of course through Jonah, the upcoming scourge descending on the city state of Nineveh on account of their wrongdoings. God instructed Jonah to leave the city of Nineveh because it was under an impending Curse in the shape of certain calamity from God. Jonah left the city and sat on the certain cross-roads, waiting the a “Breaking News” regarding the annihilation of City of Nineveh, from a passerby. A long time passed by. But no passerby came to Jonah and break the much-expected new to him. Jonah became very much disappointed. He suspected as if God has turned back of his promise of scourge.
He did not return to Nineveh because he feared that inhabitants will jeer him and his God. Actually he did not know the facts. It so happened, that when dwellers of the city heard of descending curse they became extremely fearful. They all left their houses and gathered in the outskirts of the city. They collectively cried to God seeking his forgiveness. God granted them the his forgiveness. But Jonah did not know this inner story. When he knew this, he began to feel extremely guilty.
Confounded by the overwhelming odds, now the Jonah was not heading towards his native city but he took his way to some unknown destination. At a certain point of his journey he was travelling on boat. The boat was overloaded and was in danger of sinking. The Sailor announced: “The Most Sinner Must Jump into the Sea”. On those days it was a custom to board off the most sinful lest all the travelers should be drowned. Now Jonah, already feeling guilty, thought the fateful moment has come. He jumped into the sea. I Big Fish swallowed him.
JONAH STARTED RECITATION OF PRAYER
Now Jonah, in the belly of the Big Fish, started reciting his famous prayer: “Oh Allah you are most praiseworthy. Actually, it was Me who was the wrongdoer in the matter”.
God delivers him of his exceptional and historical distress. Thus Jonah’s Prayer became proverbial at least in Jews, Christians and Muslims.
WHAT WAS JONAH’S PRAYER ACCORDING TO BIBLE
Here is what the prayer says: “I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction, and He answered me. Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and You heard my voice. For You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, And the floods surrounded me; all Your billows and Your waves passed over me. Then I said, ‘I have been cast out of Your sight; Yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.’ The waters surrounded me, even to my soul; the deep closed around me; Weeds were wrapped around my head. I went down to the moorings of the mountains; the earth with its bars closed behind me forever; Yet You have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord, my God. When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord; and my prayer went up to You, Into Your holy temple.” (Jonah 2:2-7)
STRATEGICAL NATURE OF JONAH’S PRAYER
What is the nature of a sin? What are the components and constituents if sin? What did Jonah do actually to incur a Sin? He DOUBTED AND SUSPECTED GOD?
IS JONAH’S PRAYER APPLICABLE TO ALL HUMANS?
What if one feels that he is “More Sinned Against Than Sinning”? One alternatively may also be feeling that Even If he is sinner in a series of Sins, he was not the Pioneer? Somebody else originated the chain of sins.
THIS BLOGGER’S CONTRIVANCE TO AVAIL JONAH’S PRAYER
This blogger feels that he falls under the “More Sinned Against Than Sinning” BUT he has devised a work-around drawing benefit from the Idea that Heaven is God’s Consent and Hell God’s Resentment. After one should get the Love of God. And Everything is in God. Recite Jonah’s prayer showing your humility towards God and trusting his words with Utmost Conviction
A SECOND POPULAR PRAYER THAT COMPLEMENTS JONAH’S PRAYER
“Lahol-Wala-Quvvata-Illah-Billah” is a Second popular prayer in Muslim Society. This prayers means “Neither any Advantage can be Got nor any loss can be Avoided Without the Help of God” This is a Full confession and admittance of the Full Control of Allah Almighty. By the way this is a prayer which is recited to make Satan flee, also when one is in Rage (Rage is also A Satan). Also this is a prayer which inmates of Heaven will be reciting.
http://www.enotes.com/shakespeare-quotes/more-sinned-against-than-sinning
http://www.digitaltermpapers.com/b833.htm
http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/3202.htm
http://www.hannahscupboard.com/jonah-prayer.html
http://www.biography.com/people/joan-of-arc-9354756
http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=aa41
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