HOW TO EARN THE RAHMA OF ALLAH SUBHANAWATAALA 7:154-156

Afghan refugee children in Pakistan waiting for water

007.154 
YUSUFALI translation: When the anger of Moses was appeased, he took up the tablets: in the writing thereon was guidance and Mercy for such as fear their Lord.
007.155 
YUSUFALI translation: And Moses chose seventy of his people for Our place of meeting: when they were seized with violent quaking, he prayed: “O my Lord! If it had been Thy will Thou couldst have destroyed, long before, both them and me: wouldst Thou destroy us for the deeds of the foolish ones among us? This is no more than Thy trial: by it Thou causest whom Thou wilt to stray, and Thou leadest whom Thou wilt into the right path. Thou art our Protector: so forgive us and give us Thy mercy; for Thou art the best of those who forgive.
BACKGROUND:
When Musa (AS) was called to Allah to receive the guidance in the form of the tablets of Torah, in his absence he left his brother, gentle Haroon (AS) to watch over the Children of Israel. When Moses (AS) returned he saw that the Children of Israel did not heed Haroon (AS) and built a golden calf and were worshipping it as a God.
When Moses AS gave them Allah’s message, the Children of Israel wanted proof and wanted to see where he got these instructions, so here is where Ayah 155 begins:
Moses AS chose seventy people from the children of Israel to go with him to show them the place where he had received the revelation from Allah SWT at Koh e Toor.
These seventy people were the ones who had not built the calf, but also had not stopped the others from building it and had stood by without stopping the others from committing Shirk.
When the Moses (AS) reached Koh Toor with the seventy people, these people now demanded to “see” Allah SWT. At this time there was an earthquake (violent quaking) and they were destroyed.

(I can imagine how shaken and distraught Moses (AS) must have been to witness such an end of those members of the Children of Israel who had accompanied him through all the trial and tribulations of the flight from the Pharaoh’s cruel regime, and yet he did not rant or rave, nor blame Allah SWT nor complain of all the effort he had made, but addressed Allah SWT with a respectful supplication, and Allah SWT answered him giving him and all of us the formula of how to earn His Rahma).

Tafseer by Farhat Hashmi:
When the seventy people were destroyed Moses (AS) made a dua, he did not complain, in his dua he said: these people and I could have perished earlier, (. i.e. while under Pharaoh, while crossing the Red sea, and later in the desert) with fitna you sometimes make it a reason for hidaya or the fitna can become a reason from pulling away from Allah. You guide those you wish and cause those to stray whom you wish”
Each fitna each trial is a test, which sifts out the people into two groups, they may reach out to Allah in their trial and it places them closer to Allah or they succumb to the whisperings of the shaytan, which causes them to stray away form Allah.
Moses (AS) asks for forgiveness from Allah SWT, and asks for His mercy because He (SWT) is the best of those who forgive.

007.156 
YUSUFALI: “And ordain for us that which is good, in this life and in the Hereafter: for we have turned unto Thee.” He said: “With My punishment I visit whom I will; but My mercy extendeth to all things. That (mercy) I shall ordain for those who do right, and practice regular charity, and those who believe in Our signs; -

Moses AS prayer continues: “And write for us the best (Hasanatan) in this world, we have turned to you”(we have taken hidaya from you

DEFINATIION OF HASANA: The ability to do good ( nailki ki tawfeeq), health and freeing oneself from the desire to please people, not be dependant on people. (Logoh say beniazi, logon ka muhtaj na karna)
“And also give us the best in Akhirah”
Definition of what is best in Akhirah: that which is Allah’s Rada (earning His pleasure) and jannah.

Moses (AS) is praying for himself and the children of Israel, we are often asked to pray for others. A person may pray for others but Allah SWT will listen to those who are themselves making the effort to do good, and not only relying on the duas of others. Passive duas from others without action from self is not sufficient to gain what is in the dua.

Thus Musa AS is praying for all. Allah SWT replies:
“I will give Azaab (retribution) to whom I wish and My Rahma is over everything.  However my rahmat will be written for those:
1.    Who acquire taqwa.
2.     Those who give zakaat
3.     And those who believe in our Signs.(Emaan)

Allah’s Rahma is infinite and widespread and Allah SWT mentions it in many places in the Quran:

Surah al Annam  006.054: When those come to thee who believe in Our signs, Say: “Peace be on you: Your Lord hath inscribed for Himself (the rule of) mercy: verily, if any of you did evil in ignorance, and thereafter repented, and amend (his conduct), lo! He is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

Surah Ghafir 040.007: Those who sustain the Throne (of Allah) and those around it Sing Glory and Praise to their Lord; believe in Him; and implore Forgiveness for those who believe: “Our Lord! Thy Reach is over all things, in Mercy and Knowledge. Forgive, then, those who turn in Repentance, and follow Thy Path; and preserve them from the Penalty of the Blazing Fire!

Surah Kahf 018.058: But your Lord is Most forgiving, full of Mercy. If He were to call them (at once) to account for what they have earned, then surely He would have hastened their punishment: but they have their appointed time, beyond which they will find no refuge.

Al Rahman is Allah’s excellent siffat, and there is an entire Surah about His Rahma titled, Surah Rahman. His Siffat of Rahman is mentioned in the beginning of every surah (except surah tauba)

The Criteria for earning Allah’s Rahmat:

1.TAQWA: Those who fear Allah, not for people who are ghafil, The person with taqwa is conscious, sensitive, careful, aware, the ghafil is uncaring and heedless.

2. ZAKAT: Allah’s rahmat is for those who give, if one wants Rahma from Allah one must GIVE. Zakaat freely. The giving of Zakat is a method to get Allah’s Rahma.
If a nation stops zakat Allah SWT stops the rain there except for animals and birds.

3.THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN ALLAH’S SIGNS (emaan) those who believe in Allah’s words.

What did we learn from thes ayahs?

Musa (AS ) made dua from his heart for all:

How did Allah (SWT) reply? He gave us the criteria for earning His Rahma.. Thus we are given the prescription to earn Allah’s Rahma.