Author: Aijaz

Who are Ahlal Kitab?

Aijaz Uncategorized , , ,

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Most probably the reply you will get when you ask this question ‘Who are ‘Ahlal Kitab?’,  will be ‘Jews and Christians’, although there is an admonition in Al-Quran in 6:156 that you shouldn’t say that Al-Kitab was sent on two groups before us.

Al-Kitab/the Book is one of the attribute of Al-Quran. Al-Quran in book form is Al-Kitab (The book). The people who adhere to this book, should be called Ahlal Kitab/(people of the book) however, the popular conception is that people who do not adhere to this book at present time are Ahlal-Kitab/People of the book as they were given an earlier version of divinely sent book which later was altered by them.

One thing worth mentioning is that no body can alter Allah’s book (6:34). The conception that before this book, other books were sent by Allah which were altered cannot be true because Allah declares that his ‘kalima’/word cannot be changed (6:115). Therefore if the other books were Allah’s books, they could not be altered because Allah protects his ‘kalima’/word and remembrance (15:9). What happened was that these nations put Allah’s book on their back and wrote books with their own hands and attributed those to be from inspiration of God (2:79). These other books even have the names of human authors on them (Gospel by Luke, Mark etc). Whoever adheres to Al-Kitab should therefore be called Ahlal Kitab and not the people who were supposed to have different version of the book at some earlier time. For example as long as the people following prophet Essa adhered to Al-Kitab, they were Ahlal Kitab/People of the Book. However when they put Al-Kitab on their back and instead adopted a book they wrote by themselves, they no longer are Ahlal Kitab. Present day Ahlal Kitab are the people who adhere to The book (however for the majority of them the book keeps collecting dust in their homes in the top shelves. Even when they read it, it is mostly without understanding and very rarely that they adopt its instructions in their lifestyle 7:169).

Ayahs of sura Al-Inam 6:83-90 inform the names of prophets who were given Al-Kitab.

5:47 states that Ahle-Injeel should order with Al-Injeel. This wont be possible unless Al-Injeel is also one of the attribute of the book. (Per religious leaders interpretation, if Al-Injeel is superseded when Al-Quran is revealed, then why this order is in Al-Quran. This would be possible only if Al-Anjeel is not a different book, but an attribute of the same book).

6:156  أَن تَقُولُوا إِنَّمَا أُنزِلَ الْكِتَابُ عَلَىٰ طَائِفَتَيْنِ مِن قَبْلِنَا وَإِن كُنَّا عَن دِرَاسَتِهِمْ لَغَافِلِينَ

‘Do you say surely , Al-Kitab/The book was revealed on the two groups before us, and that we remain unaware about their studies.’

6:34 وَلَقَدْ كُذِّبَتْ رُسُلٌ مِّن قَبْلِكَ فَصَبَرُوا عَلَىٰ مَا كُذِّبُوا وَأُوذُوا حَتَّىٰ أَتَاهُمْ نَصْرُنَا ۚ وَلَا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ ۚ وَلَقَدْ جَاءَكَ مِن نَّبَإِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ

‘Rejected were the messengers before you. With patience they bore their rejection and their persecution, until Our aid reached them; and Words of Allah cannot be altered. Already you have received some account of those messengers.’

5:47  وَلْيَحْكُمْ أَهْلُ الْإِنجِيلِ بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ ۚ وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ

‘Let the people of the Injeel/Gospel  judge/govern by what Allah has revealed therein. If any do fail to judge by what Allah has revealed, they are wrongdoers/Fasiqeen.’

2:213   كَانَ النَّاسُ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً فَبَعَثَ اللَّهُ النَّبِيِّينَ مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ وَأَنزَلَ مَعَهُمُ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ فِيمَا اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ ۚ وَمَا اخْتَلَفَ فِيهِ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ أُوتُوهُ مِن بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَتْهُمُ الْبَيِّنَاتُ بَغْيًا بَيْنَهُمْ ۖ فَهَدَى اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لِمَا اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ بِإِذْنِهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ

‘Mankind was one single nation, and Allah sent prophets with glad tidings and warnings; and with them He sent the book in truth, to judge between mankind in matters wherein they differed; but the people who were given it (the book) did not differ in it except after the clear Signs came to them, to wrong one another (mutual animosity). Allah by His will, guided the believers to the Truth, in matters wherein they differed. For Allah guides whom He wills to a straight path.’

3:113  لَيْسُوا سَوَاءً ۗ مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ أُمَّةٌ قَائِمَةٌ يَتْلُونَ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ آنَاءَ اللَّيْلِ وَهُمْ يَسْجُدُونَ

‘Not all of them are alike. Of the People of the Book are a portion who stand (For the right). They rehearse the ayahs/signs of Allah night long, and they prostrate.’

43:21  أَمْ آتَيْنَاهُمْ كِتَابًا مِّن قَبْلِهِ فَهُم بِهِ مُسْتَمْسِكُونَ

‘Have We given them a book before this, and they are upholding it?’

In below ayat, Allah challenges that if there was a book before it ( before Al-Quran) then bring it forth or bring some remnants of knowledge. Had present day Bible an altered version of Allah’s Book, then it would have been presented as older book and remnant of knowledge as response to this challenge.  So, the below ayat confirms that present day bible is not an altered form of Al-Kitab

46:4   قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُم مَّا تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ أَرُونِي مَاذَا خَلَقُوا مِنَ الْأَرْضِ أَمْ لَهُمْ شِرْكٌ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ ۖ ائْتُونِي بِكِتَابٍ مِّن قَبْلِ هَٰذَا أَوْ أَثَارَةٍ مِّنْ عِلْمٍ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ

Say: “Do you see what it is you call besides Allah? Show me what it is they have created on earth, or have they a share in the heavens. Bring me a book earlier than this, or any remnant of knowledge (you may have), if you are telling the truth!

The Muslims/submitters say whatever was revealed to all the messengers, we don’t differentiate any thing in it. (Cannot say one is superior to another, or some covered local scope and some global; what is revealed to all messengers is one and same thing)

2:2:136-137: قُولُوا آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْنَا وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَالْأَسْبَاطِ وَمَا أُوتِيَ مُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ وَمَا أُوتِيَ النَّبِيُّونَ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُ مُسْلِمُونَ

فَإِنْ آمَنُوا بِمِثْلِ مَا آمَنتُم بِهِ فَقَدِ اهْتَدَوا ۖ وَّإِن تَوَلَّوْا فَإِنَّمَا هُمْ فِي شِقَاقٍ ۖ فَسَيَكْفِيكَهُمُ اللَّهُ ۚ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

Say: “We believe in Allah, and the revelation given to us, and to Ibrahim, Isma’il, Ishaq, Yaqoob, and the tribes, and that given to Moosa and Essa, and that given to (all) prophets from their Lord: we make no difference between any one of it: And we are Muslims/submitters.

So if they believe as you believe, they are indeed on the right path; but if they turn back, it is they who are in schism; but Allah will suffice thee as against them, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.

Part of the ayat 5:5 is presented below which states that food of people who are given the book is lawful to you. Had the people of the book be present day Jews and Christians, then Christians eat Pig meat as well, which is not lawful for Muslims. This is an evidence that people of the book are not Jews and Christians. 

5:5  الْيَوْمَ أُحِلَّ لَكُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتُ ۖ وَطَعَامُ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ حِلٌّ لَّكُمْ وَطَعَامُكُمْ حِلٌّ لَّهُمْ

This day are (all) things good and pure made lawful unto you. The food of the People of the Book is lawful unto you and yours is lawful unto them.

Attributes of Quran

As Allah has 99 beautiful attributes (e.g Rehman, Rahim), so does Al-Quran has several attributes. Some of the attributes of Al-Quran which are mentioned in the book are given below:

  1. Al-Quran,             The Reading
  2. Al-Kitab,              The Book
  3. Al-Furqan,           The  Criteria
  4. At-Taurat,            The Order
  5.  Al-Injeel,             The Good news
  6. Az-Zaboor,          The Piece
  7. Al-Hikma,            The  Wisdom
  8. Al-Wahi,              The Inspiration
  9. An-Noor,              The Light
  10. Ahsan ul Hadith          Best narration
  11. Ahsan ul Qasas           Best of relationship
  12. Al-Moizzatil-hasana    The best of Sermon
  13. Az-Zikr                The  Remembrance
  14. Alwah                  The Tablets
  15. As-Suhuf             The Pages

Notes:

  • The sura or chapters of Al-Kitab are referred in plural form in Quran as books/kutub, for example e.g in 98:2-3.
  • Ayat 2:4, The same book is given to all messengers.

– بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ   The Arabic words ‘Baina Yadaihi’ means ‘between his hands’. Does not mean ‘Before it’ as found in some translations. You read from the book between your hands  and  its understanding is revealed in your Nafs (5:48)

  • 3:65, (sunnat/practice of) Ibrahim a.s (The Idol breaker) is the first step in achieving path of faith and the Book. You cannot attain the sprit of the Book, until you clean yourself of previous Idols held in high esteem in your psyche. After these idols are broken,  Taurat/The Laws of the Book can be incorporated in ones life, and one can advise with Injeel/Glad tiding, light and sermons (5:46).

– As long as the people following prophet Essa (a.s) adhered to the original Al-Kitab, they were Ahlal Kitab/People of the Book. However when they put Al-Kitab on their back and instead adopted a book they wrote by themselves, they no longer are Ahlal Kitab. In the below ayat, Allah is admonishing them not to fabricate things on Allah and desist faith based on concept of trinity.

4:171 يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لَا تَغْلُوا فِي دِينِكُمْ وَلَا تَقُولُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ إِلَّا الْحَقَّ ۚ إِنَّمَا الْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَكَلِمَتُهُ أَلْقَاهَا إِلَىٰ مَرْيَمَ وَرُوحٌ مِّنْهُ ۖ فَآمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ ۖ وَلَا تَقُولُوا ثَلَاثَةٌ ۚ انتَهُوا خَيْرًا لَّكُمْ ۚ إِنَّمَا اللَّهُ إِلَٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ ۖ سُبْحَانَهُ أَن يَكُونَ لَهُ وَلَدٌ ۘ لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ ۗ وَكَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ وَكِيلًا

O People of the Book! Commit no excesses in your judgement. Nor say about Allah but the truth. Christ Jesus the son of Mary, is a messenger of Allah, and His Word, which He bestowed on Mary, and (Essa is) a spirit proceeding from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers. Say not “Three/Trinity”. Desist. It will be better for you. Only Allah is one God. Glory be to Him. (far exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belong all things in the heavens and on earth and enough is Allah as a solicitor.

The people who say that prophet Essa is God are rejectors. 

5:17  لَّقَدْ كَفَرَ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ ۚ قُلْ فَمَن يَمْلِكُ مِنَ اللَّهِ شَيْئًا إِنْ أَرَادَ أَن يُهْلِكَ الْمَسِيحَ ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَأُمَّهُ وَمَن فِي الْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا ۗ وَلِلَّهِ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا ۚ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاءُ ۚ وَاللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

Indeed those people have done kufr/covered who said “Verily, Allah is Christ the son of Mary”, say, “Who then possess the power of anything against Allah, if He indends to kill Christ the son of Mary, his mother, and everyone the earth? For Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between. He creates what He pleases and Allah has power over all things.”

 

Below is a lecture by scholar Mohammad Shaikh on Al-Kitab:

https://www.iipccanada.com/category/english-video-lectures/book-of-allah/

Traweeh Prayers

Aijaz Uncategorized ,

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Related to the previous post of Salat procedure and the conclusion to take Salat format from the Masjid ul Haram; in the month of Ramadan, additional (other than mandatory) late night prayers are offered in Jamat/assembly.

The indication of late night prayers in Jamat/assembly is given in below Ayat 20 of Sura Muzzamil (73);

73:20   إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ أَدْنَىٰ مِن ثُلُثَيِ اللَّيْلِ وَنِصْفَهُ وَثُلُثَهُ وَطَائِفَةٌ مِّنَ الَّذِينَ مَعَكَ ۚ وَاللَّهُ يُقَدِّرُ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ ۚ عَلِمَ أَن لَّن تُحْصُوهُ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ فَاقْرَءُوا مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ ۚ عَلِمَ أَن سَيَكُونُ مِنكُم مَّرْضَىٰ ۙ وَآخَرُونَ يَضْرِبُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ يَبْتَغُونَ مِن فَضْلِ اللَّهِ ۙ وَآخَرُونَ يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ۖ فَاقْرَءُوا مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنْهُ ۚ وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَقْرِضُوا اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا ۚ وَمَا تُقَدِّمُوا لِأَنفُسِكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ تَجِدُوهُ عِندَ اللَّهِ هُوَ خَيْرًا وَأَعْظَمَ أَجْرًا ۚ وَاسْتَغْفِرُوا اللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

Your Lord doth know that thou standest forth (to prayer) nigh two-thirds of the night, or half the night, or a third of the night, and so doth a party of those with thee. But Allah doth appoint night and day in due measure He knoweth that you are unable to keep count thereof. So He hath turned to you (in mercy). Read you, therefore, of the Qur’an as much as may be easy for you. He knoweth that there may be (some) among you in ill-health; others travelling through the land, seeking of Allah’s bounty; yout others fighting in Allah’s Cause, read you, therefore, as much of the Qur’an as may be easy (for you); and establish regular Prayour and give regular Charity; and loan to Allah a Beautiful Loan. And whatever good you send forth for your souls you shall find it in Allah’s Presence,- , better and greater, in Reward and seek you the Grace of Allah. For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Salat Procedure in Quran

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بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

 The System of Salat: How the Quran Establishes the Procedure of ‘Salat’

A common conception is that the Quran does not state a procedure for establishing ‘Salat’ (prayer). However, a careful reading of the Book shows that the entire system — its source, its founder, its physical center, and its permanence — is laid out across a small number of ayahs. The key is to stop looking for a “step-by-step manual” and instead follow the Quran’s own logic: it points to a **living, divinely-maintained system**, not a written checklist because in a check list there will always be room to put more details giving opportunity for the dissuaders to ask further never ending questions about As-Salat format and procedure.

– The First House of Allah, Is Guidance for All Worlds — Its System Does Not Change with changing times

The argument must begin here, because it is the premise that makes everything else binding.

3:96 إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِي بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكًا وَهُدًى لِّلْعَالَمِينَ

“The first house appointed for mankind is that with Bakka, full of blessing and guidance for all worlds.”

The word ‘al-‘Alameen’ (“all worlds”) is decisive. Allah does not describe this House as guidance for one people, one century, or one civilization — it is guidance for **all worlds**, meaning all peoples and all eras.

This is reinforced by a broader Quranic principle: Allah’s established way does not change.

33:62 سُنَّةَ اللَّهِ فِي الَّذِينَ خَلَوْا مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّةِ اللَّهِ تَبْدِيلًا

“[Such is] the established way (Sunnah) of Allah with those who passed before, and you will never find any change in the way of Allah.”

Taken together, these two ayahs establish the foundational logic of this entire post: *whatever system of guidance Allah anchored at this House was not meant to be reinvented, lost, or replaced by any generation. 

Salat Was Never a New Invention — It Was Established Through Every Line of Prophets

If the guidance at this House is truly unchanging, we should expect to find the same institution — as-Salat — running continuously through every prophetic mission, not appearing suddenly with one people or one era. The Quran confirms exactly this.

Ibrahim (as) himself asked to be made an establisher of Salat, along with his descendants:

14:40 رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي ۚ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاءِ

“My Lord, make me an establisher of prayer, and from my descendants. Our Lord, and accept my supplication.”

Ibrahim (a.s), Ishaq (a.s), and Yaqub (a.s) were together made Imams commanded with the same practice:

21:73 وَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ فِعْلَ الْخَيْرَاتِ وَإِقَامَ الصَّلَاةِ وَإِيتَاءَ الزَّكَاةِ ۖ وَكَانُوا لَنَا عَابِدِينَ

“And We made them Imams guiding by Our command, and We inspired to them the doing of good deeds, the establishment of as-Salat, and the giving of az-Zakat; and they were servants of Us.”

Prophet Ismail (a.s) commanded his own household with the same practice:

19:55 وَكَانَ يَأْمُرُ أَهْلَهُ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَالزَّكَاةِ وَكَانَ عِندَ رَبِّهِ مَرْضِيًّا

“And he used to enjoin on his people as-Salat and az-Zakat, and was to his Lord pleasing.”

Prophet Moosa (a.s) was commanded directly by Allah to establish Salat as an act of remembrance:

20:14 إِنَّنِي أَنَا اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدْنِي وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ لِذِكْرِي

“Indeed, I am Allah; there is no god except Me, so worship Me and establish as-Salat for My remembrance.”

The Children of Israel were bound to it by covenant — twice:

2:83 وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ لَا تَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَقُولُوا لِلنَّاسِ حُسْنًا وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّنكُمْ وَأَنتُم مُّعْرِضُونَ

“And [recall] when We took the covenant from the Children of Israel: ‘Serve none but Allah; be good to parents, relatives, orphans, and the needy; speak good to people; and establish as-Salat and give az-Zakat.’ Then you turned away, except a few of you, showing aversion.”

5:12 وَلَقَدْ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِيثَاقَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَبَعَثْنَا مِنْهُمُ اثْنَيْ عَشَرَ نَقِيبًا ۖ وَقَالَ اللَّهُ إِنِّي مَعَكُمْ ۖ لَئِن أَقَمْتُمُ الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَيْتُمُ الزَّكَاةَ وَآمَنتُم بِرُسُلِي وَعَزَّرْتُمُوهُمْ وَأَقْرَضْتُمُ اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا لَّأُكَفِّرَنَّ عَنكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَلَأُدْخِلَنَّكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ ۚ فَمَن كَفَرَ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ مِنكُمْ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ سَوَاءَ السَّبِيلِ

“And Allah had already taken a covenant from the Children of Israel, and We delegated from among them twelve leaders. And Allah said: ‘I am with you if you establish as-Salat and give az-Zakat and believe in My messengers… but whoever among you disbelieves after that has certainly strayed from the soundness of the way.'”

And Prophet Essa (a.s) confirms the same obligation continued to him personally:

19:31 وَجَعَلَنِي مُبَارَكًا أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُ وَأَوْصَانِي بِالصَّلَاةِ وَالزَّكَاةِ مَا دُمْتُ حَيًّا

“And He has made me blessed wherever I am, and has enjoined upon me as-Salat and az-Zakat as long as I remain alive.”

This is not a coincidence of similar wording. It is the Quran’s own evidence that Salat is one continuous institution, carried by Ibrahim to Ismail, Ishaq, Yaqub, the Children of Israel, Moosa, and Essa alike — exactly what we would expect if its guidance, anchored at the first House, never changed.

The Idol-Littered House of Pre-Islamic Legend Contradicts What Allah Says About His Own House

Given this continuity, the popular narrative — that in the era before Islam the Sacred House had fallen into disuse and become filled with idols — cannot be reconciled with the Quran’s own description of that House. These accounts are extra-Quranic historical tales, not statements of the Book, and they stand in direct conflict with what Allah says about His House in His Book of “without doubt.”

Ibrahim (a.s) and Ismail (a.s)  purified the House specifically in preparation for the Aalameen/all worlds to take guidance from this place. So, when people will purify themselves of stories of the past of idols filled house and people doing tawaf around the House in un-clothed state, then they will be ready to take the guidance from the system of as-Salat and Hajj established in the House of Allah. 

2:125 ….وَعَهِدْنَا إِلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ أَن طَهِّرَا بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْعَاكِفِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ

“And We covenanted with Ibrahim and Ismaeel that both of you purify My house for those who go around, and those who intend upon it, and those who bow, prostrate.”

And all of you are ordered to follow the religion of Ibrahim (a.s). It can only make sencse if the Book of Allah and the Practice is preserved for all times for all people and prophets to follow. 

3:95 قُلْ صَدَقَ اللَّهُ ۗ فَاتَّبِعُوا مِلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

“Say: ‘Allah has told the truth. So follow the religion of Ibrahim, inclining toward truth, and he was not of those who associate partners with Allah.'”

If the House was appointed as guidance for all worlds (Argument 1), and if the same system of as-Salat was carried forward unbroken through every subsequent prophet, then a claim that this same House was, in the intervening period, overtaken by idols and its purpose abandoned is not something the Quran itself supports — it is a tale layered onto history, and it cannot stand against what Allah states plainly about His own House.

 Ibrahim (as) is made Imam / leader of all mankind 

Having established that the House carries guidance for mankind, the Quran tells us how it was formally put in place — through Ibrahim (as), appointed directly by Allah as Imam for all mankind.

2:124 وَإِذِ ابْتَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِمَاتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّي جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًا ۖ قَالَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي ۖ قَالَ لَا يَنَالُ عَهْدِي الظَّالِمِينَ

“And when his Lord put Ibrahim to trial with words, thus he completed them. He said: ‘Surely I have made you the Imam/Leader for mankind.’ He said: ‘And from my offspring?’ He said: ‘My covenant shall not reach the oppressors.'”

Immediately after his appointment, Ibrahim was commanded to keep the House purified specifically for those who perform Tawaf and as-Salat:

22:26 وَإِذْ بَوَّأْنَا لِإِبْرَاهِيمَ مَكَانَ الْبَيْتِ أَن لَّا تُشْرِكْ بِي شَيْئًا وَطَهِّرْ بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْقَائِمِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ

“And when We pointed out the place of the house to Ibrahimm: ‘Associate not anything with Me; and purify My house for those who go around, and who stand and bow, prostrate.'”

The ayah names the actual physical postures of Salat — standing, bowing, prostrating — directly tied to this House, under Ibrahim’s covenant.

The Valley of Makkah Was Deliberately Settled for the Purpose of Establishing as-Salat

Ibrahim did not merely purify the House in the abstract — he physically settled his own descendants in that barren valley for one stated purpose:

14:37 رَّبَّنَا إِنِّي أَسْكَنتُ مِن ذُرِّيَّتِي بِوَادٍ غَيْرِ ذِي زَرْعٍ عِندَ بَيْتِكَ الْمُحَرَّمِ رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ فَاجْعَلْ أَفْئِدَةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ تَهْوِي إِلَيْهِمْ وَارْزُقْهُم مِّنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْكُرُونَ

“O our Lord, surely I have settled from my offspring within the valley without cultivation near your Sacred House, O our Lord, so that they establish As-Salat/the Prayer; so make the hearts of people loving towards them, and provide them with fruits, so that they will be thankful.”

The purpose clause — “so that they establish as-Salat” — is unambiguous. The system was rooted in this one place, by design.

The Format of Salat (Musalla) Is to Be Taken from the Place of Ibrahim

Having shown the House is permanent guidance, the specific site where Salat was established, and the site of an unbroken prophetic practice, the Quran now gives the explicit instruction to draw the *procedure itself* from a defined spot within that House:

2:125 وَإِذْ جَعَلْنَا الْبَيْتَ مَثَابَةً لِّلنَّاسِ وَأَمْنًا وَاتَّخِذُوا مِن مَّقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى ۖ وَعَهِدْنَا إِلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ أَن طَهِّرَا بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْعَاكِفِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ

“And when We made the house a place of reward and safety for people, and [said]: ‘Take from the standing-place of Ibraheem, the Musalla .’ And We covenanted with Ibrahim and Ismaeel that both of you purify My house for those who go around, and those who intend upon it (i’tikaf), and those who bow, prostrate.”

*Musalla* here is not simply “a place to pray” — it is the *format/manner of prayer itself*, commanded to all, to be taken from Muqam-e-Ibrahim. 

 Facing the Sacred Mosque Means Connecting to Its System — Not Just Turning One’s Face

The instruction to face the Masjid ul Haram is frequently reduced to a matter of geographic direction. Read alongside the arguments above, it becomes a command to align with the established system, regardless of what alternative practice (different sects) one is coming from.

2:115 وَلِلَّهِ الْمَشْرِقُ وَالْمَغْرِبُ ۚ فَأَيْنَمَا تُوَلُّوا فَثَمَّ وَجْهُ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ

“To Allah belong the East and the West. Wherever you turn, there is the presence of Allah. For Allah is all-Pervading, all-Knowing.”

This rules out the idea that a literal compass direction is, by itself, the point — since Allah’s presence fills every direction. What matters is *what system* you are aligning yourself to when you turn for Salat.

2:150 وَمِنْ حَيْثُ خَرَجْتَ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ ۚ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُ لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَيْكُمْ حُجَّةٌ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْهُمْ فَلَا تَخْشَوْهُمْ وَاخْشَوْنِي وَلِأُتِمَّ نِعْمَتِي عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ

“And from wherever you come out, revert yourself to the intersection/portion of the Sacred Mosque; and wherever you are, revert yourselves to its intersection/portion, that there be no ground of argument against you from the people — except those of them who are bent on wickedness. So do not fear them, but fear Me, and that I may complete My favor on you, that you may be guided.”

The phrase *”from wherever you come out”* addresses someone potentially coming from an alternative system of sectarian Islam, and instructs them to revert specifically to the system anchored at the Sacred Mosque — framed explicitly as a way to remove any Hujjat (argument) people might raise.

Those Who Oppose This System Are Named, and Their “Salat” Is Declared Void

Consistent with a system this clearly defined, the Quran also anticipates opposition to it. Some would claim the guardians of the Sacred Mosque are not rightly guided:

8:34 وَمَا لَهُمْ أَلَّا يُعَذِّبَهُمُ اللَّهُ وَهُمْ يَصُدُّونَ عَنِ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَمَا كَانُوا أَوْلِيَاءَهُ ۚ إِنْ أَوْلِيَاؤُهُ إِلَّا الْمُتَّقُونَ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

“But what plea do they have, that Allah should not punish them, when they are hindering from the Sacred Mosque, while they are not its protectors (Walis)? None can be its protectors except those who guard (the Muttaqin), but most of them do not know.”*

And their alternative form of “prayer” at the House is explicitly disqualified:

8:35 وَمَا كَانَ صَلَاتُهُمْ عِندَ الْبَيْتِ إِلَّا مُكَاءً وَتَصْدِيَةً ۚ فَذُوقُوا الْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ

“Their salat/prayer near the house is nothing but whistling and clapping of hands. ‘Taste you the penalty because you rejected.”

This is a deliberate contrast: the true, established as-Salat versus a counterfeit “prayer” invented by those without rightful authority over the House. The existence of this contrast in the text itself confirms that a genuine, defined system exists — otherwise there would be nothing for a counterfeit to be compared against.

—

Supporting Notes

**Salat is a physical act with a clear start and end.**

فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ الصَّلَاةُ فَانتَشِرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَابْتَغُوا مِن فَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

“And when the Prayer is finished, then may you disperse through the land, and seek of the bounty of Allah, and remember Allah often, that you may prosper.”

**Salat is service to the Lord of the House, not worship of the building.**

106:3 فَلْيَعْبُدُوا رَبَّ هَٰذَا الْبَيْتِ

“Let them serve the Lord of this House.”

**Ritual purification (Wudu) is stipulated before the act of Salat.**

5:6 يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ فَاغْسِلُوا وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى الْمَرَافِقِ وَامْسَحُوا بِرُءُوسِكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى الْكَعْبَيْنِ

“O you who believe! When you stand for Salah/Prayer, wash your faces and your hands to the elbows, wipe your heads, and (wash) your feet to the ankles…”

—

Conclusion: The Logical Chain

– The first House is guidance for **all worlds** — and Allah’s way does not change (3:96, 33:62). Whatever was established there remains valid today.
– Salat was never introduced anew — it runs unbroken through Ibrahim, Ismail, Ishaq, Yaqub, the Children of Israel, Musa, and Isa (14:40, 21:73, 19:55, 20:14, 2:83, 5:12, 19:31).
– Because that continuity is affirmed by the Quran itself, the popular tale of an idol-filled House abandoning its purpose before Islam conflicts with Allah’s own description of the House and of Ibrahim’s nature (22:26, 3:95).
– Ibrahim (as) was made Imam and commanded to purify the House specifically for those performing Tawaf and Salat (2:124, 22:26).
– Ibrahim physically settled his descendants in Makkah for the explicit purpose of establishing Salat (14:37). If Salat is a different institution than ritual salat, then what is that system which must be copied from the non agricultural valley of Bakka/Makkah?
– The exact *format* of Salat (Musalla) is to be taken from the Maqam-e-Ibrahim within that House (2:125).
– Facing the Sacred Mosque is a command to connect to this system — from wherever one comes — not a mere directional gesture (2:115, 2:150).
– Those who dispute the Mosque’s rightful guardianship, and their invented alternative to Salat, are explicitly named and rejected (8:34–35).

The Quran, therefore, does not fail to give a procedure for Salat — it gives something logically prior and stronger: it names the **permanent, divinely-anchored source** of that procedure, shows it was never interrupted across the prophets, and instructs every believer, in every era, to draw their practice from it.

***

**Further Study:**
For a deeper dive into the Quranic evidence for Salat, watch the full lecture here: [IIPC TV – The System of Salat]

Details Salat post:

As-Salat / The Prayers

Kaaba and Makkah, identification in Quran

Status of ‘Poetry’ in Quran

Aijaz Uncategorized ,

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Many people are fascinated by religious poetry. However, the Quran does not speak highly of the poets and does not make distinction between type of poetry. Therefore, we cannot say that what Quran says about poetry, excludes such and such type of poetry. For those who may have great fascination with poetry and poets especially religious poetry, this may be a strong Ilah (which hinders to act on Allah’s command) and they may devise some justification to cover/reject below ayahs. The ayahs below describe that Quran is not poetry; poetry is not worthy for the messenger (pbuh); Instigators descend on poets and the poets follows their instigators.

26:221- 226

هَلْ أُنَبِّئُكُمْ عَلَىٰ مَن تَنَزَّلُ الشَّيَاطِين تَنَزَّلُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ أَفَّاكٍ أَثِيمٍ

يُلْقُونَ السَّمْعَ وَأَكْثَرُهُمْ كَاذِبُونَ

وَالشُّعَرَاءُ يَتَّبِعُهُمُ الْغَاوُونَ  أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّهُمْ فِي كُلِّ وَادٍ يَهِيمُونَ

وَأَنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ مَا لَا يَفْعَلُونَ

“Shall I give you the news on whom the Shayateen/satans descend? They descend on every liar, wicked person. They pour forth in the hearing and the majority of them are liars. And on poets (The satans descend), who follow their strayers. Don’t you see that they wander distracted in every valley? And what they say they do not practice?”

This Quran is not poetry nor its should be accompanied by the saying of a poet. But many will not believe that:

69:41 وَمَا هُوَ بِقَوْلِ شَاعِرٍ ۚ قَلِيلًا مَّا تُؤْمِنُونَ

“It is not with the saying of a poet: little it is you believe!”

Poetry is not worthy of the Messenger (pbuh);

36:69   وَمَا عَلَّمْنَاهُ الشِّعْرَ وَمَا يَنبَغِي لَهُ ۚ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ وَقُرْآنٌ مُّبِينٌ

“We have not instructed the (Prophet) in poetry, nor it (poetry) is worthy of him, this is but only remembrance/admonition and a clear reading. 

Purity in Deen/judgment required by Allah

Aijaz Uncategorized , , , ,

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

The basic tenet of ‘tawheed’ that every believer says is ‘There is no god/idol but He (Allah), 2:163, and yet Al-Quran declares that the majority of people who believe in Allah associate partners with Him (12:106). There are no false gods or idols but Allah, therefore as soon as we start idolizing any personality (or any fascination/temptation/philosophy) besides Him, the problem starts.

The believers may be well able to avoid physical idols, however are they able to avoid psychological idols as well. Lets have a reality check with ayahs of the Book;

12: 106   وَمَا يُؤْمِنُ أَكْثَرُهُم بِاللَّهِ إِلَّا وَهُم مُّشْرِكُونَ

“And most of them do not believe with Allah without associating (others as partners) with Him!”

Are we holding on to some personalities believing that serving these personalities will bring us nearer to Allah because they are Allah’s beloved. Then please take heed of below ayat:

39:3   أَلَا لِلَّهِ الدِّينُ الْخَالِصُ ۚ وَالَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ مَا نَعْبُدُهُمْ إِلَّا لِيُقَرِّبُونَا إِلَى اللَّهِ زُلْفَىٰ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَهُمْ فِي مَا هُمْ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي مَنْ هُوَ كَاذِبٌ كَفَّارٌ

“Isn’t the Deen (Judgment) purely for Allah ? But those who take protectors (Walis) besides Him (say). “We do-not serve them except that they are nearer to bring us closer to Allah.” Truly Allah will judge between them in what they differ. Verily Allah does not guide him who is a liar, kafir/rejecter/coverer.”

And no one could rightfully be called for help in divine matters except for Allah.

31:30    ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْحَقُّ وَأَنَّ مَا يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ الْبَاطِلُ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْكَبِيرُ

“That is because Allah is the Haq/Truth, and  whoever else they call other than Him is Falsehood; and indeed Allah,- He is the most High, the Greatest”

In addition to the command that do not call any one other than Allah, the below ayat commands not to call anyone with Allah as well, considering them Allah’s favorite so to get intercession from Allah’s favorite people.

72:18  وَأَنَّ الْمَسَاجِدَ لِلَّهِ فَلَا تَدْعُوا مَعَ اللَّهِ أَحَدًا

And the mosques are for Allah. So do not call any one along with Allah

If someone praises and glorifies only Allah in a gathering, do we feel that some others/our favorites should  be glorified and remembered with Allah too, as praising Allah alone is not sufficient. If we feel that, then we should heed the below ayat seriously:

39:45    وَإِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ اشْمَأَزَّتْ قُلُوبُ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْآخِرَةِ ۖ وَإِذَا ذُكِرَ الَّذِينَ مِن دُونِهِ إِذَا هُمْ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ

“When Allah alone is mentioned, the hearts of those who do not believe in the hereafter, are filled with resentment. But when others are mentioned apart from Him, they begin to rejoice. “

Are we following/serving certain list of names for whom Allah has not revealed any authority in His Book, only because our surroundings and our forefathers have been doing the same. This is addressed in below ayat;

53:23   إِنْ هِيَ إِلَّا أَسْمَاءٌ سَمَّيْتُمُوهَا أَنتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُم مَّا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَانٍ ۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهْوَى الْأَنفُسُ ۖ وَلَقَدْ جَاءَهُم مِّن رَّبِّهِمُ الْهُدَىٰ

“They are but names you have named them, you and your fathers, Allah has sent down with it no authority. These people follow nothing but conjecture and what their nafs desire; and surely the guidance has come to them from their Lord.”

The people who are called for help in divine matters, are just people like yourself. Allah has not allowed calling anyone as per below ayat. It is only other people who have made you believe that it is rightful to call them.

7:194     إِنَّ الَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ عِبَادٌ أَمْثَالُكُمْ ۖ فَادْعُوهُمْ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا لَكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ

“Verily those whom you call upon besides Allah are servants like you. Call upon them, and let them respond to you, if you are (indeed) truthful!”

Allah asks a question in below ayat, is Allah not sufficient for his servant?

39:36    أَلَيْسَ اللَّهُ بِكَافٍ عَبْدَهُ ۖ وَيُخَوِّفُونَكَ بِالَّذِينَ مِن دُونِهِ ۚ وَمَن يُضْلِلِ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِنْ هَادٍ

“Is not Allah enough for his servant? But they try to frighten you with others besides Him! for such as Allah leaves to stray, there can be no guide.”

Many people have great fascination with golden words/Zukhrif al Qaul/Aqwale Zareen. They spend much effort in collection, remembrance, authentication of the same. The below ayat states that doing it is like being an enemy to the prophet:

6:112   وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَا لِكُلِّ نَبِيٍّ عَدُوًّا شَيَاطِينَ الْإِنسِ وَالْجِنِّ يُوحِي بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ زُخْرُفَ الْقَوْلِ غُرُورًا ۚ وَلَوْ شَاءَ رَبُّكَ مَا فَعَلُوهُ ۖ فَذَرْهُمْ وَمَا يَفْتَرُونَ

“And likewise ,We have made for every prophet the satans of mankind and the satans of jin an enemy, they inspire golden words on one another, for the purpose of delusion, and if your Lord had willed they would have not done it, so leave them and what they have invented.”

The prophet (pbuh) is ordered to serve Allah in making his Deen i.e all his judgements purely for Allah. 

39:11 قُلْ إِنِّي أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ مُخْلِصًا لَّهُ الدِّينَ

Say, “Indeed, I am commanded to serve Allah with judgment exclusive/pure for Him”.

The prophet (pbuh) declared that he serves Allah with purity in Deen/judgment. In his ‘sunna’ and practice of all prophets, if we don’t follow Allah with purity and exclusivity in our Judgment, then it will be terrible loss we may bring to ourselves and our families. 

39:14-15  قُلِ اللَّهَ أَعْبُدُ مُخْلِصًا لَّهُ دِينِي  فَاعْبُدُوا مَا شِئْتُم مِّن دُونِهِ ۗ قُلْ إِنَّ الْخَاسِرِينَ الَّذِينَ خَسِرُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ وَأَهْلِيهِمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ۗ أَلَا ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْخُسْرَانُ الْمُبِينُ

Say. “It is Allah I serve, purely in my deen/judgment”. “You people serve whatever you (like) besides Him, Say, (but beware) indeed, losers are those who put themselves and their people (close to them) in loss on the day of Judgment. Ah! that is indeed the (real and) evident Loss!

98:5   وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ حُنَفَاءَ وَيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُوا الزَّكَاةَ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ دِينُ الْقَيِّمَةِ

“And they have not been commanded except to serve Allah purely in the Din/Judgment, being true/focused; and to establish Prayers; and to give Zakat; and that is the (rightly) established Deen/ Judgment.”

One of the idols mentioned in Al-Kitab is Sowaa i.e time period/Era.  We shouldn’t be stuck and fascinated with a particular period of time or people of some bygone era in order to avoid pitfall of personality worship, as per below Ayat:

2:141   تِلْكَ أُمَّةٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ ۖ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَلَكُم مَّا كَسَبْتُمْ ۖ وَلَا تُسْأَلُونَ عَمَّا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ

“Those were the people that has passed away. They shall reap the fruit of what they did, and you of what you do! and you will not be questioned of what they did.”

Reduced Earth’s diameter at the Poles

Aijaz Uncategorized

13:41 أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّا نَأْتِي الْأَرْضَ نَنقُصُهَا مِنْ أَطْرَافِهَا ۚ وَاللَّهُ يَحْكُمُ لَا مُعَقِّبَ لِحُكْمِهِ ۚ وَهُوَ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ

Do they not see that We come to the Earth reducing it from its sides/edges? (When) Allah commands, there is none to put back His command, and He is swift in calling to account.

The above ayat indicates that Allah reduces the Earth at its edges. The edges would be poles for a sphere. In fact Earth’s diameter at the equator is 43 Km more than the diameter measured at the poles/edges. This phenomenon is known as ‘Equatorial bulge’ (Source Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equatorial_bulge).

Below except is from site Universe today (http://www.universetoday.com/15055/diameter-of-earth):

Scientists have learned that the Earth is not a perfect sphere. In truth, it is what is known as an “oblate spheroid”, which is a sphere that experiences flattening at the poles.

According to the 2004 Working Group of the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS), Earth experiences a flattening of 0.0033528 at the poles. This flattening is due to Earth’s rotational velocity – a rapid 1,674.4 km/h (1,040.4 mph) – which causes the planet to bulge at the equator.

Equatorial vs Polar Diameter:

Because of this, the diameter of the Earth at the equator is about 43 kilometers (27 mi) larger than the pole-to-pole diameter. As a result, the latest measurements indicate that the Earth has an equatorial diameter of 12,756 km (7926 mi), and a polar diameter of 12713.6 km (7899.86 mi).

Iron (Al-Hadeed)

Aijaz Uncategorized , ,

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

57: 25    لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلَنَا بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَأَنزَلْنَا مَعَهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْمِيزَانَ لِيَقُومَ النَّاسُ بِالْقِسْطِ ۖ وَأَنزَلْنَا الْحَدِيدَ فِيهِ بَأْسٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَلِيَعْلَمَ اللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُ وَرُسُلَهُ بِالْغَيْبِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ

“We sent our messengers with clear signs and sent down with them the Book and the balance (of right and wrong), that people may stand forth in justice; and We sent down the iron, in which is great power, as well as  benefits for mankind, that Allah may test who it is that will help, unseen, Him and His messengers, for Allah is powerful, exalted in might.”

The above ayat 25 of Sura 57, Al-Hadeed, mentions the iron. Two points worth noting about iron are mentioned in above ayat as below:

  1. Iron is sent down on earth
  2. Iron has great strength

1- The fact is that iron is formed on stars . All elements form together inside a star during fusion reactions. When the supernova occurs at the time of death of the star, the iron fragments are blasted into the space. This is how Iron came to earth millions of years ago

2- In terms of nuclear binding energy, Iron and Nickel together called the ‘iron group’ has the highest nuclear binding energy of all the elements of the periodic table. Nuclear binding energy is the energy that would be required to disassemble the nucleus of an atom into its component parts. These component parts are neutrons and protons, which are collectively called nucleons. The binding energy of nuclei is due to the attractive forces that hold these nucleons together. Since most nuclei would require the expenditure of energy to separate them into individual protons and neutrons.

If new binding energy is available when light nuclei fuse, or when heavy nuclei split, either process can result in release of this binding energy. This energy may be made available as nuclear energy and can be used to produce electricity as in (nuclear power) or in a nuclear weapon. The nuclear binding energies and forces are on the order of a million times greater than the electron binding energies of light atoms like hydrogen.[1]

The stability of a nucleus is determined by how much Nuclear binding energy it has per nucleon (proton or neutron). The more binding energy in a nucleus, the harder it is to split it apart.

Iron Limit:

Iron is a “special” element because of its nuclear binding energy. The very basic idea is that when you fuse two light elements together, you get a heavier element plus energy. You can do this up to iron. Similarly, if you have a heavy element that undergoes fission and splits into two lighter elements, you also release energy, down to iron. Iron is just in the middle of graph of heavier and lighter elements.

Interestingly, the Sura no. Al-Hadeed (iron) is also Sura no. 57 of total  114 Suras of Quran, i.e in the middle. In addition no. 57 happens to be the atomic mass of one of the isotopes of iron.

The above point gives a hint that the collection and current order of suras in Quran is by divine design as Allah has the responsibility for keeping its integrity. The story in Islamic history, of collection of Quran by companions of Prophet and deciding upon the order of Suras is therefore doubtful. The below Ayat states that the collection of Quran is Allah’s responsibility:

75: 17      إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا جَمْعَهُ وَقُرْآنَهُ

“Surely, upon Us is its collection and its recital.”

Taqleed (To follow)

Aijaz Uncategorized , , ,

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

There is a tendency in some people to hold those people in high esteem, who are supposedly knowledgeable in religious doctrine, and follow them in religious matters. Sectarian labeled Muslims have divided themselves into groups based on which Imam’s teachings they follow.  The people who are followed are usually awarded lofty titles e.g mufti, imam, ayatullah, ulamas, bishop, cardinals, rabbis, etc

These knowledgeable people/Ulamas often write books of religious practice (sharia) and practically for a common man, the religion becomes following this sharia/practice. Little that people know that when they are following this ‘sharia’, they are in effect not following the ‘sharia’ of the Book of Allah but the ‘sharia’ of the religious leaders of their particular sect. While Allah categorically declares the makers of all these ‘sharias’ as the partners who are strictly forbidden in Allah’s religion (42:21).

A majority of ‘Ulamas’ lead people astray from true ‘Deen’/Judgement of Allah (9:34). There is a book of guidance given to everyone (Al-Kitab), however, instead of following this guidance, people like to follow big names in religion who give the impression that common man is unable to pursue the right path on his own and must follow someone knowledgeable in religious matters.

The true believers are basically ‘wali’/protectors of each other as they advise/correct each other with Allah’s ayahs. Its is not always one way traffic for the believers that a more knowledgeable person can correct/advise people and not vice versa.

7:3    اتَّبِعُوا مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا مِن دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ ۗ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَذَكَّرُونَ

Follow, what (the revelation) is sent down on you (people) from your Lord, and do not follow, as Aulia /(spritual) protectors, other than Him. Little among you pay heed to admonition.

Majority of Ulama’s take people’s money and devour it with falsehood. They terrorize people’s hearts for submission to their authority and for extorting money. Also, they propagate their own, mostly sectarian version of religion instead of conveying Allah’s path.

9:34   يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ الْأَحْبَارِ وَالرُّهْبَانِ لَيَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوَالَ النَّاسِ بِالْبَاطِلِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَالَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ الذَّهَبَ وَالْفِضَّةَ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَبَشِّرْهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ

O’ you who believe surely the majority of ‘Ahbar’/the scholars and ‘Rohban’/the terrorists definitely eat the wealth of the people with falsehood and they oppose the way of Allah, and those people who hoard gold and silver (wealth) and they do not spend it in the way of Allah, then give them the tidings of the grievous punishment.

A portion of  ‘Ulamas’ i.e the supposedly knowledgeable religious people give the impression that what they are saying is from the Book of Allah, which actually is not from the Book, it only looks or sounds similar to the Book.

3:78   وَإِنَّ مِنْهُمْ لَفَرِيقًا يَلْوُونَ أَلْسِنَتَهُم بِالْكِتَابِ لِتَحْسَبُوهُ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَمَا هُوَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَيَقُولُونَ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ وَمَا هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ وَيَقُولُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ

There certainly is among them a party who digress their tongues with the Book so that you people may think it  (what they are saying) is from the Book, but it is not from the Book; and they say, “This is from Allah,” but it is not from Allah, and they tell lies towards Allah, and they know it!

6:114   أَفَغَيْرَ اللَّهِ أَبْتَغِي حَكَمًا وَهُوَ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ إِلَيْكُمُ الْكِتَابَ مُفَصَّلًا ۚ وَالَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ مُنَزَّلٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ بِالْحَقِّ ۖ فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُمْتَرِينَ

Say,  shall I seek a judge other than Allah? – when He is Who has sent unto you the Book, explained in detail. Those to whom We have given the Book, know fully well that it has been sent down from your Lord in truth. Thus you never be then of those who doubt.

The above ayat answers and provides reason for the question, why a judge other than Allah, shouldn’t be sought? the reason is because Allah has sent down a detailed book.

2:166-167   إِذْ تَبَرَّأَ الَّذِينَ اتُّبِعُوا مِنَ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوا وَرَأَوُا الْعَذَابَ وَتَقَطَّعَتْ بِهِمُ الْأَسْبَابُ

وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوا لَوْ أَنَّ لَنَا كَرَّةً فَنَتَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُمْ كَمَا تَبَرَّءُوا مِنَّا ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُرِيهِمُ اللَّهُ أَعْمَالَهُمْ حَسَرَاتٍ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ وَمَا هُم بِخَارِجِينَ مِنَ النَّارِ

When those who were followed, cleared themselves from those who followed (them) and they saw the penalty, and all relations between them would be cut off. And those who followed said. “If only we were to return, we would clear ourselves of them, as they have cleared themselves of us.” Likewise Allah shows them (The fruits of) their deeds as (nothing but) regrets for them and there is no way out of the fire for them.

As above ayahs state that those who were following supposedly knowledgeable people, will realize their mistake on the day of judgment.

Then there are religious grand ‘Muftis’ who issue ‘Fatwas’ (religious advice) for various issues and write Books of ‘Sharia’. They give the impression that by following the ‘Fatwa’ or their ‘Sharia’ book, the responsibility will be on the ‘Mufti’, absolving the followers of the responsibility of making that decision. The below ayat covers that issue:

29: 12-13  وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّبِعُوا سَبِيلَنَا وَلْنَحْمِلْ خَطَايَاكُمْ وَمَا هُم بِحَامِلِينَ مِنْ خَطَايَاهُم مِّن شَيْءٍ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ وَلَيَحْمِلُنَّ أَثْقَالَهُمْ وَأَثْقَالًا مَّعَ أَثْقَالِهِمْ ۖ وَلَيُسْأَلُنَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عَمَّا كَانُوا يَفْتَرُونَ

And the people who did Kufr/covered said to the people who believed, “Follow our path, and we will certainly bear the (burden of) your faults.” But they shall not be bearing anything from their faults, certainly they are liars! They will bear their own burdens, and (other) burdens along with their own, and on the day of Judgments they will surely be called to account for what they used to fabricate.

Tauzi ul masail cover

Then on the day of judgment, the followers and followed ones, both will be present and the followers will ask, that we but followed you as you asked us to do. So, is there a way you can help, but alas there will be no help for them.

14:21   وَبَرَزُوا لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًا فَقَالَ الضُّعَفَاءُ لِلَّذِينَ اسْتَكْبَرُوا إِنَّا كُنَّا لَكُمْ تَبَعًا فَهَلْ أَنتُم مُّغْنُونَ عَنَّا مِنْ عَذَابِ اللَّهِ مِن شَيْءٍ ۚ قَالُوا لَوْ هَدَانَا اللَّهُ لَهَدَيْنَاكُمْ ۖ سَوَاءٌ عَلَيْنَا أَجَزِعْنَا أَمْ صَبَرْنَا مَا لَنَا مِن مَّحِيصٍ

They were all presented before Allah together. Thus the weak ones said to those who were arrogant, “We were but your followers; can you spare us anything (at all) from the punishment of Allah?”. They replied, “Had we been on Guidance of Allah, we would have guided you. To us it makes no difference (now) whether we lament or bear with patience. For us there is no way of escape.”

34:33   وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ اسْتُضْعِفُوا لِلَّذِينَ اسْتَكْبَرُوا بَلْ مَكْرُ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ إِذْ تَأْمُرُونَنَا أَن نَّكْفُرَ بِاللَّهِ وَنَجْعَلَ لَهُ أَندَادًا ۚ وَأَسَرُّوا النَّدَامَةَ لَمَّا رَأَوُا الْعَذَابَ وَجَعَلْنَا الْأَغْلَالَ فِي أَعْنَاقِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ۚ هَلْ يُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ

Those who had been weak (lesser in knowledge) will say to the arrogant ones. “Nay! it was (your) day and night plotting when you ordered us to negate Allah and set up rivals to Him!” They will (try to) conceal their shame when they see the punishment. We set up yokes on the necks of the rejecters, will they be retributed anything but what they used to do.

When on the day of judgment, the weaker in knowledge who used to follow the supposedly more knowledgeable religious leader, will disassociate themselves and will complain that you engaged us day and night in your fraud to cover Allah’s ayahs with your fabrications to set up rivals with Allah and make them the center of our hopes and supplications.  

42:21   أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَاءُ شَرَعُوا لَهُم مِّنَ الدِّينِ مَا لَمْ يَأْذَن بِهِ اللَّهُ ۚ وَلَوْلَا كَلِمَةُ الْفَصْلِ لَقُضِيَ بَيْنَهُمْ ۗ وَإِنَّ الظَّالِمِينَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

Do they have partners, who have established ‘Shariat’/ways for them in ‘deen’/judgment? for which Allah never gives His permission? Had it not been for the ‘decisive Word’, the matter would have been settled among them, and for the wrong-doers there is definitely a grievous penalty.

Those people who make ‘Shariat’/Practices, are the ‘Shuraka’/Partners as stated in above ayat.

Quran is Allah’s Book and the saying/Qaul of the Messenger (69:40-46). The Messenger (pbuh) has conveyed Quran to the people not the other Hadith books which are attributed to the Messenger. On the day of Judgment people who followed people with big names, will say wistfully that they should have obeyed Allah and the Messenger, instead of following the their ‘Syeds’ and big names and titles;

33:66-67   يَوْمَ تُقَلَّبُ وُجُوهُهُمْ فِي النَّارِ يَقُولُونَ يَا لَيْتَنَا أَطَعْنَا اللَّهَ وَأَطَعْنَا الرَّسُولَا

وَقَالُوا رَبَّنَا إِنَّا أَطَعْنَا سَادَتَنَا وَكُبَرَاءَنَا فَأَضَلُّونَا السَّبِيلَا

The Day their faces will be turned upside down in the fire, they will say. “Woe to us! Would that we had obeyed Allah and obeyed the messenger!”  And they would say. “Our Lord! Verily We obeyed our Syeds/chiefs and our great ones, and they misled us as from the (right) path.”

The true believers are ‘aualia’s’ i.e backings to one another. It is basically a two way traffic. One can correct the other with the help of ayahs. Believers who back and protect each other for every advise/order they should give reference of relevant ayahs from the Book of Allah. 

9:71   وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ ۚ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللَّهُ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

“The Believers, men and women, some are Wali/protectors of some. They enjoin with what is Maroof( recognized ), and forbid what is Munkar (Not recognized/impostor). they establish prayers, give zakat/justification, and obey Allah and His messenger. On them  Allah will soon pour His mercy, for Allah is Exalted in power, Wise.”

Notes:

Other related Ayas are 10:35, 40:47-48, 16:25

Urdu version of this post on below link:

Quranic perspective on ‘Taqleed’

Groups- Sects

Aijaz Uncategorized , ,

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Some Quranic Arabic words and their meanings to ponder are given below:

Deen دین :  Judgement

Millat  مِلَّةَ : Religion

Islam إِسْلَامُ : Peace

Shia شِيَعًا : Group

Ahlal-Kitab  : Those people who have the Al-Kitab. (Not those who were supposed to have different version of the Book earlier (6:156))

When Allah orders that the Judgment (Deen) in the nearness of Allah is al-Islam, it should mean that when confronted with any situation in life, one should always take that decision which leads to peace and security

3: 19     إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِندَ اللَّهِ الْإِسْلَامُ ۗ وَمَا اخْتَلَفَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ إِلَّا مِن بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَهُمُ الْعِلْمُ بَغْيًا بَيْنَهُمْ ۗ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ

The Deen/judgement in the nearness of Allah is al-Islam (the Peace), nor did the Ahlal-Kitab (People of the Book) differed except to wrong one other, after knowledge had come to them, and if any covers/rejects the signs of Allah, Allah is swift in taking account.

When people gained some knowledge, they started differing among themselves and formed into various groups and sects. Allah’s order was to make their judgement in all situations, of peace and security . People were ordered to hold fast to one Book however they put that Book on their back and started making other books which Allah did not provide, as source of their religious knowledge and guidance. They wrote the other books with their own hands and claimed that these are from inspiration of Allah. Every group takes great pride in what they have. We see that there is one common ‘kalima’ (al-Quran) in all people who believe in Al-Kitab however they differ in practice and beliefs which are detailed in their sectarian books.

Allah does not allow believers to form or join any sect.

6:159      إِنَّ الَّذِينَ فَرَّقُوا دِينَهُمْ وَكَانُوا شِيَعًا لَّسْتَ مِنْهُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ ۚ إِنَّمَا أَمْرُهُمْ إِلَى اللَّهِ ثُمَّ يُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْعَلُونَ

Surely those who differed in their Deen/Judgement and became sects/groups, you (the messenger) does not have anything to do with them, surely their affair is towards Allah, then He will inform them what they used to do.

The groups and sects get their beliefs from the books which Allah has not provided them. These very religious books give rise to the difference in sectarian beliefs. Each sect has different rules and history books and narratives. 

34:44     وَمَا آتَيْنَاهُم مِّن كُتُبٍ يَدْرُسُونَهَا ۖ وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ قَبْلَكَ مِن نَّذِيرٍ

And We have not given them books from which they study, and before you We have not sent towards them from the warner

All the groups and the sectarian people are very happy with what they study and what they have. 

30:32    مِنَ الَّذِينَ فَرَّقُوا دِينَهُمْ وَكَانُوا شِيَعًا ۖ كُلُّ حِزْبٍ بِمَا لَدَيْهِمْ فَرِحُونَ

Those who split up their Deen/Judgement, and become groups/sects,- each party rejoicing in what they have!

The people of the book are advised to come to one Word/’kalima’ which is common among all. Please note there is only one ‘kalima’ which is common to all  present sects in Islam i.e The Quran. You cannot attain any sect if you follow this ‘Kalima’ except being a muslim/submitter to it. It is by following other sectarian books and teachings that the people get their sectarian beliefs;

3:64 قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ تَعَالَوْا إِلَىٰ كَلِمَةٍ سَوَاءٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ أَلَّا نَعْبُدَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ وَلَا نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضًا أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ ۚ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا فَقُولُوا اشْهَدُوا بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ

Say O people of the Book, come to a Word/kalima that is equal between us and you, that we serve none except Allah, that we associate nothing with Him and that we do not take from among ourselves lords other than Allah. If then they turn back say you bear witness that we are Muslims/submitters”

When people form into different groups and sects, then Allah’s punishment comes to them in the form of hatred and fighting which they inflict upon one another.

6:65   قُلْ هُوَ الْقَادِرُ عَلَىٰ أَن يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابًا مِّن فَوْقِكُمْ أَوْ مِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِكُمْ أَوْ يَلْبِسَكُمْ شِيَعًا وَيُذِيقَ بَعْضَكُم بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ ۗ انظُرْ كَيْفَ نُصَرِّفُ الْآيَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَفْقَهُونَ

Say He has the power to appoint over you a punishment from above you or below your feet or clothe you into sects and makes you to taste the harshness of one another. See how We explain the ayahs/signs so that they may understand.

3:103 وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا ۚ وَاذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنتُمْ أَعْدَاءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُم بِنِعْمَتِهِ إِخْوَانًا وَكُنتُمْ عَلَىٰ شَفَا حُفْرَةٍ مِّنَ النَّارِ فَأَنقَذَكُم مِّنْهَا ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ

And hold fast all together with the rope of Allah and do not be divided among yourselves, and remember the favor of Allah on you when you were enemies and He joined your hearts; thus you became brethren with His favor, and you were on the brink of the pit of fire and He saved you from it. Likewise Allah makes His ayahs/signs clear to you that you may be guided.

When the spirit of Allah’s ayahs becomes clear and people accept the order of Allah and leave their sects to be true to the Book of Allah, (the true word of Messenger) and become submitter/muslim to the orders of Allah then all the sectarian hatred vanishes and people turn into brothers.

Notes:

While Quran forbids believers to adopt any sect, one widely believed ‘hadith’ attributed to the messenger (pbuh) is that the messenger (pbuh) said that ‘my nation will be split into seventy two sects and except for one sect all sects will be hell bound’.

The messenger (pbuh) would never have said this as this is bound to give all sectarians a justification to stick to their sects believing that their sect is the one going to Janna. Messenger would exactly say what Allah ordered in Quran, i.e not to adopt any sect.

Religion of Ibrahim (a.s)

Aijaz Uncategorized , , ,

 

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Undoubtedly there are many religions in the world existing today and also a growing number of people not following any religion. What does the Al-Quran say about following a religion and which one? We will see shortly in the light of ayahs/signs of the Book.

The word for religion in Arabic is ملت/‘Millat’. There is another word which is commonly understood to mean religion i.e دين/‘Deen’. However, the context in which ‘Deen’ is used in the Book is ‘judgment’ and not religion.

God instructs every one to follow the religion of Ibrahim (a.s) in ayat 95 of Sura 3 Ale-Imran.

3:95: قُلْ صَدَقَ اللّهُ فَاتَّبِعُواْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

“Say, Allah speaks the truth, so you all, follow the religion of Ibrahim, the true in faith; he was not of the polytheists.”

Then God inspired the messenger (pbuh) to follow the religion of Ibrahim (a.s) in Ayat 123 of Sura 16:

16:123 ثُمَّ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ أَنِ اتَّبِعْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

Then We inspired thee (the Messenger), Follow the religion of Ibrahim, the true in faith, and he was not of the polytheists.

The messenger confirms that Allah has guided him to the straight path of the religion of Ibrahim in ayat 161 of Sura 6, Al-Inam.

6:161 قُلْ إِنَّنِي هَدَانِي رَبِّي إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ دِينًا قِيَمًا مِّلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

Say : ‘Surely my Lord has guided me to a straight path; a judgment established; the religion of true Ibrahim and he was not of the polytheists.’

Was this inspiration to follow the the religion of Ibrahim, a new instruction for the messenger and people? or the same religion and practice was asked to be followed which was the religion and practice of all previous messengers? The following three ayahs will shed light on this question:

41:43 مَا يُقَالُ لَكَ إِلَّا مَا قَدْ قِيلَ لِلرُّسُلِ مِن قَبْلِكَ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَذُو مَغْفِرَةٍ وَذُو عِقَابٍ أَلِيمٍ

“Nothing is said to You (O’ Messenger) that was not said to the messengers before you: verily your Lord has at His command (all) forgiveness as well as the most grievous penalty.”

The ayahs very clearly state that the messenger (pbuh) does not get any thing which the messengers before him did not get. Nothing new is said to him. He also says that he does not bring any new doctrine or practice different from previous messengers before him. 

46:9 قُلْ مَا كُنتُ بِدْعًا مِّنْ الرُّسُلِ وَمَا أَدْرِي مَا يُفْعَلُ بِي وَلَا بِكُمْ إِنْ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَى إِلَيَّ وَمَا أَنَا إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ

Say (O’ Messenger) “I am no bringer of new doctrine among the messengers, nor do I know what will be done with me or with you. I follow but that which is revealed to me by inspiration; I am but a warner open and clear.”

The ‘sharia’ of the messenger (pbuh) is exactly the same which was prescribed for previous messengers such as Nooh (a.s) Ibrahim (a.s), Moosa (a.s) and Essa (a.s). No new ‘sharia’ ever comes. However, this fact is very hard for the associaters to accept despite clear ayat in Quran. They will continue to believe what their associaters keep telling them from sectarian books. 

42:13 شَرَعَ لَكُم مِّنَ الدِّينِ مَا وَصَّى بِهِ نُوحًا وَالَّذِي أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ وَمَا وَصَّيْنَا بِهِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمُوسَى وَعِيسَى أَنْ أَقِيمُوا الدِّينَ وَلَا تَتَفَرَّقُوا فِيهِ كَبُرَ عَلَى الْمُشْرِكِينَ مَا تَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَيْهِ اللَّهُ يَجْتَبِي إِلَيْهِ مَن يَشَاء وَيَهْدِي إِلَيْهِ مَن يُنِيبُ

The ‘Sharia’ in ‘Deen’ that He (Allah) established for you all, is what He enjoined on Nooh and that We inspired to you (the messenger) – and that which We enjoined on Ibrahim, Moosa and Essa: that you all establish the Deen, and make no differentiation therein: to those who join others with Allah, hard is the (way) towards which you call them. Allah chooses to Himself those whom He pleases, and guides to Himself those who turn (to Him).

2:130  وَمَن يَرْغَبُ عَن مِّلَّةِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِلَّا مَن سَفِهَ نَفْسَهُ ۚ وَلَقَدِ اصْطَفَيْنَاهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَإِنَّهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ لَمِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ

and who would forsake the religion of Ibrahim, except one who fools his own ‘nafs’? We have chosen him in this world, and in the Hereafter he will be with the righteous ones.

After you have made it your judgment to follow the religion of Ibrahim (a.s), Allah names you ‘Muslim’ as stated in Aya 78 of Sura Hajj. The father of all ‘Muslims’ is prophet Ibrahim (a.s). This is the same name given to them earlier as well. :

22:78 وَجَاهِدُوا فِي اللَّهِ حَقَّ جِهَادِهِ هُوَ اجْتَبَاكُمْ وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ مِّلَّةَ أَبِيكُمْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ هُوَ سَمَّاكُمُ الْمُسْلِمينَ مِن قَبْلُ وَفِي هَذَا لِيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ شَهِيدًا عَلَيْكُمْ وَتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاء عَلَى النَّاسِ فَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِاللَّهِ هُوَ مَوْلَاكُمْ فَنِعْمَ الْمَوْلَى وَنِعْمَ النَّصِيرُ

And you all strive in Allah as is the right of striving in Him. He has chosen you and He has made no difficulty over you in the deen/judgment ; The religion of your father Ibrahim. And He has named you ‘Muslim’ from before and in this, so the messenger be a witness over you and you be a witness over people. Then establish as-salat and give az-Zakah and hold fast with Allah. He is your Maula/protector so He is the blessed protector and the blessed helper.

If the religion prescribed for believers in the Book is ‘religion of Ibrahim’ then what is ‘Islam’? When Allah says in Quran, that ‘Islam’ is your ‘Deen’ what does this mean? We know that Deen means ‘judgment’ and ‘Islam’ means ‘peace’. Al-Islam means the specific ‘peace’ which you can obtain by implementing Allah’s instructions in your life. So, the statement that Islam is your ‘Deen’  means that in any situation encountered in life, believers response should be the one which achieves ‘peace’ per Quranic instructions. If believers opt for unpeaceful response, their judgment will not be acceptable by Allah. 

3:19  إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِندَ اللَّهِ الْإِسْلَامُ ۗ وَمَا اخْتَلَفَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ إِلَّا مِن بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَهُمُ الْعِلْمُ بَغْيًا بَيْنَهُمْ ۗ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ

The Deen/judgment before Allah is al-Islam (the Peace) nor did the Ahlal-Kitab/People of the Book differed except to wrong each other, after knowledge had come to them, And if any covers/rejects the ayahs of Allah, Allah is swift in taking account.

The above ayahs are very important for believers to understand that Allah’s religion and instructions for mankind do not change with time and messengers. All messenger brought the same message of Allah and the same religion. The name of this religion is Millat-e-Ibrahim or ‘the religion of Ibrahim’. The judgment of believers to obtain peace in life by implementing Allah’s instructions in their life is ‘Al-Islam’. The divisions in mankind began when they start discriminating between the messages brought by different messengers. The statement (kalima) for Muslims i.e submitters to Allah is given below which categorically says that we don’t differentiate among any of messengers and the messages which they brought.  

3:84  قُلْ آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَمَا أُنزِلَ عَلَيْنَا وَمَا أُنزِلَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَالْأَسْبَاطِ وَمَا أُوتِيَ مُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ وَالنَّبِيُّونَ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُ مُسْلِمُونَ

Say we believe in Allah and what is revealed on us and what was revealed on Ibrahim and Ismail and Ishaq and Yaqoob and tribes and what was given to Moosa, Essa and the prophets, is from their Lord. We do not make distinction between any of it and for Him we are Muslims / submitters.

Other related ayahs to this topic are: 60:4, 2:128, 4:26, 2:130, 4:125, 3:67, 2:135, 12:38.

Usage of word ‘Deen’ in Quran:

The Arabic word ‘Deen’ is some time used interchangeably and commonly to mean ‘Religion’. Some people propagate another meaning of it as religion in a broader sense encompassing every aspect of life. When we look closely to all the ayahs in Quran containing this word, the closest meaning we get is ‘Judgment’. Something you evaluate and judge . Some ayahs are presented below in which you can see that this meanings is the closest:

1:4 مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ

Master of the Day of Judgment.

12:76 فَبَدَأَ بِأَوْعِيَتِهِمْ قَبْلَ وِعَاءِ أَخِيهِ ثُمَّ اسْتَخْرَجَهَا مِن وِعَاءِ أَخِيهِ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ كِدْنَا لِيُوسُفَ ۖ مَا كَانَ لِيَأْخُذَ أَخَاهُ فِي دِينِ الْمَلِكِ إِلَّا أَن يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ

So he began (the search) with their baggage, before (he came to) the baggage of his brother, at length he brought it out of his brother’s baggage. Thus did We plan for Yusuf. He could not take his brother by the law/judgment of the king except that Allah willed it

49:16 قُلْ أَتُعَلِّمُونَ اللَّهَ بِدِينِكُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ ۚ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ

Say. Do you inform Allah about your Deen/judgment? And Allah knows all that is in the skies and in the earth. He has full knowledge of all things.

51:6 وَإِنَّ الدِّينَ لَوَاقِعٌ

And verily Judgment must indeed would happen.

95:7 فَمَا يُكَذِّبُكَ بَعْدُ بِالدِّينِ

Then who can, after this, contradict thee, as to the judgment (to come)?

9:29 قَاتِلُوا الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَلَا بِالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَلَا يُحَرِّمُونَ مَا حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَلَا يَدِينُونَ دِينَ الْحَقِّ

Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been made forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor they judge by the judgment of Truth.

3:19 إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِندَ اللَّهِ الْإِسْلَامُ ۗ

The Deen/judgment before Allah is al-Islam (the Peace)

Link to web page, showing occurrence of all instances of ‘د ي ن’ in Quran:

https://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=dyn#(1:4:3)

Hanif:

‘Hanif’ means literary to bend or incline. In Quran it is used in the meaning of attaining the right path i.e ‘leaving the wrong and bending to the right faith or judgement’.

Link showing occurrence of root word ‘ ح ن ف’ in Quran:

https://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=Hnf#(3:95:7)

Urdu translation of this post in below link:

اسلام اور ابراہیم کا مذہب