That is what Allah gives glad tidings to His servants who believe and do righteous deeds. Say. “No reward do I ask of you for this except the love of those near of kin”, and if any one earns any good, We shall give him an increase of good in respect thereof, for Allah is Forgiving, Appreciative.
Quran asks the Prophet (pbuh) to declare that he does not want any return for his services of conveying message of Allah, except that the people love the near ones and do good with them.
After getting this order to love their kinship and as the prophet for Muslims is above their own nafs/soul and his wives are their mothers (33:6) therefore they naturally love prophet’s kinship as well. After seeing this order in Quran, will it be permissible for people to speculate and pass judgments about Prophet’s kinship i.e his near ones, friends and relatives on the basis of history, while Quran orders are for all eternity. A most treacherous plot, Satan can devise here, is for people to segregate his kinship into good and bad people and then start revering the good people in an extreme way and start hating the rest of his kinship, or may be out-casting them from prophet’s kinship according to sectarian history books. In order to hate some of prophet’s close ones, e.g friends and relatives and even his wives, people have to give preference to history over Quran. However, beware in the Hereafter they will be judged by Quran alone. No history book will be available on the Judgment day for them to prove what they were doing was right.
And the earth will shine with the Light of its Lord: The Book will be placed; the prophets and the witnesses will be brought forward and a just decision pronounced between them; and they will not be wronged (in the least).
When Allah declares that the wives of the Prophet are mothers of the believers ,this command is for all times, past and future. Believers are asked not even to utter slightest disrespect to their parents (17:23). Had it been the case that some wives of the Prophet would corrupt (God Forbid) later on, then Allah by His knowledge of future should have known that and therefore would not have given this command in His Book for all eternity to believers to respect prophet’s wives as their mothers .
Your Lord has decreed that you serve none but Him, and that you be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honor.
People should reject these corrupted stories and books which demean Prophet’s relatives and friends. We definitely have to give preference to Book of Allah over hisory books. No history or narration can be given preference over Quran’s orders as per below Ayat.
Such are the Ayats of Allah, which We rehearse to you in Truth; then in what Hadith/narration they will believe after Allah and His Ayas?
The people calling themselves Muslims should not follow the footsteps of Satan (2:168) as Satan practice is to make comparisons on the basis of criteria which is not in Quran. So, Muslims should not make comparisons between prophet dear ones on the basis of history.
Notes:
As the status of Prophet’s wives is higher than other Muslim women, therefore Allah warns them that their punishment, if they do wrong will be double than normal. This is the same case with Prophet. As His position is higher and exemplary therefore if he does wrong, similarly. his punishment will be double as well. This concept is stated in below Ayas:
They had almost led you (the Prophet) away from what has been revealed to you, that you may invent things about Us besides those revealed, then they would have taken you as friend. And If We had not kept you steadfast you had almost leaned towards them. In that case We would have made you taste a double punishment of life and a double of death, and then you would not have been able to find a helper against Us for yourself.
2. A question to ponder. If Salman Rushdie writes now a book about Islamic History and Tasfseer of Quran, how many of the Muslims will give credence to this book? Obviously, no one, as we know that his belief are deviant because he is the author of the book ‘Satanic verses’. Then how come we give credence to the writers of Islamic history books who are the authors of the original ‘Satanic verses’? The earliest two Islamic history books on which all later history books are based, are by authors (Tabari and Ibne Ishaq), who happen to be, also the writers of ‘Satanic verses’. See link (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satanic Verses)
This gives some food for thought, should we believe in the history of Islam from writers who had such type of faith about Messenger of Allah (pbuh).
AbūJaʿfar Muḥammad ibn Jarīr al-Ṭabarī
His most influential and best known works are his Qur’anic commentary known as Tafsir al-Tabari and his historical chronicle Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk (History of the Prophets and Kings), often referred to Tarikh al-Tabari.
The Satanic Verses incident, known as qissat al-gharaniq (Story of the Cranes), is the name given to the occasion on which the IslamicProphet Muhammad is said to have mistaken the words of “satanic suggestion” for divine revelation.[1]
Narratives involving the alleged verses (or verse) can be read in, among other places, the biographies of Muhammad by al-Wāqidī, Ibn Sa’d (who was a scribe of Waqidi) and Ibn Ishaq (as reconstructed by Alfred Guillaume),[2] as well as the tafsir of al-Tabarī. The majority of Muslim scholars have rejected the historicity of the incident on the basis of their weak isnads (chains of transmission) and the incompatibility of the incident with the theological doctrine of ‘isma (Prophetic infallibility, divine protection of Muhammad from mistakes).[1][3] Non-Muslim scholars have largely accepted the historicity.[4]
The first use of the expression ‘Satanic Verses’ is attributed to Sir William Muir (1858).[5] The plural “verses” is usually employed even though the passage in question is only six words in Arabic.
There are numerous accounts reporting the alleged incident, which differ in the construction and detail of the narrative, but they may be broadly collated to produce a basic account.[6] The different versions of the story are all traceable to one single narrator Muhammad ibn Ka’b, who was two generations removed from biographer Ibn Ishaq.[2] In its essential form, the story reports that Muhammad longed to convert his kinsmen and neighbors of Mecca to Islam. As he was reciting these verses of Sūrat an-Najm,[7] considered a revelation from the angel Gabriel,
These are the exalted gharāniq, whose intercession is hoped for. (In Arabic تلك الغرانيق العلى وإن شفاعتهن لترتجى.)
Allāt, al-‘Uzzā and Manāt were three goddesses worshipped by the Meccans. Discerning the meaning of “gharāniq” is difficult, as it is a hapax legomenon (i.e. only used once in the text). Commentators wrote that it meant the cranes. The Arabic word does generally mean a “crane” – appearing in the singular as ghirnīq, ghurnūq, ghirnawq and ghurnayq, and the word has cousin forms in other words for birds, including “raven, crow” and “eagle”.[8]
3. Al-Tabari (d. 310) said in his commentary entitled Jami` al-Bayan fi Tafsir al-Qur’an (30 vols.) Beirut: Dar al-Fikr, 1405/1985, reprint of the Bulaq 1322-1330/1904-1911 ed. vol. 17:
[p. 186] The sayings concerning the interpretation of the verse:
{ Never sent We a messenger or a Prophet before thee but when He recited (the message) Satan proposed (opposition) in respect of that which he recited thereof. But Allah abolisheth that which Satan proposeth. Then Allah establisheth His revelations. Allah is Knower, Wise} (22:52):
It was said that the reason for which this verse was revealed upon the Messenger of Allah – Allah bless and greet him – is that the devil had interjected upon the Prophet’s tongue – Allah bless and greet him – during some of his recitation of the Qur’an as it had been revealed to him by Allah, something which Allah had not revealed. Then this bore heavily on Allah’s Messenger – Allah bless and greet him – who became despondent, whereupon Allah Almighty comforted him by revealing to him the above….
[Then al-Tabari proceeds to narrate reports to that effect, all of them weak, but the collective weight of which suggests authenticity as stated by Ibn Hajar in Fath al-Bari (see below).]
[p. 190] The gist of the interpretation of the verse is: “We never sent before you any Messenger nor Prophet except that, when he uttered Allah’s Book in recitation, or discoursed and spoke, the devil interjected something into what he uttered of Allah’s Book in recitation or into his discourse and speech, { But Allah abolishes that which the devil interjects} , i.e. He removes whatever suggestion the devil interjects upon the Prophet’s tongue and nullifies it.”
[Al-Tabari goes on to state that the verses that follow make explicit the fact that the reason for this incident was to test the belief of those who harbored a disease in their hearts and increase the belief of those who were rightly-guided – and this test continues until our time:
22:53 { That He may make that which the devil proposeth a temptation for those in whose hearts is a disease, and those whose hearts are hardened. Lo! the evil-doers are in open schism.}
22:54 { And that those who have been given knowledge may know that it is the truth from thy Lord, so that they may believe therein and their hearts may submit humbly unto Him. Lo! Allah verily is guiding those who believe unto a right path.}
22:55 { And those who disbelieve will not cease to be in doubt thereof until the Hour come upon them unawares, or there come unto them the doom of a disastrous day.}
22:56 { The Sovereignty on that day will be Allah’s. He will judge between them. Then those who believed and did good works will be in Gardens of Delight,}
22:57 { While those who disbelieved and denied Our revelations, for them will be a shameful doom.} ]
3. There are myths in history which are quite popular that for a certain period of time some members very close to prophet’s family were defamed (Tabarra) systematically by Governments of that time. However, while we cannot vouch whether this historical account is true or not what we can vouch by observing that some people still try to defame some of the prophets friends and family even his wives till this date while lamenting that bad people used to defame Ahle-bait in earlier times under the reign of a certain ruler.
4. Labeled Muslim say that they believe in Quran therefore, they believe in Ayat 46:9 قُلْ مَا كُنتُ بِدْعًا مِّنَ الرُّسُلِ وَمَا أَدْرِي مَا يُفْعَلُ بِي وَلَا بِكُمْ ۖ إِنْ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ وَمَا أَنَا إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ
which asks Messenger to declare that he does not know what will be done with himself and you people, however, on the basis of history they also believe at the same time that the Messenger (pbuh) gave glad tidings to 10 companions for the Jannat in their life times. Then again they believe in Quran in Ayat 4:93 وَمَن يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِنًا مُّتَعَمِّدًا فَجَزَاؤُهُ جَهَنَّمُ خَالِدًا فِيهَا وَغَضِبَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَلَعَنَهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُ عَذَابًا عَظِيمًا which categorically states that whoever kills a believer intentionally will definitely be sent to Hell for all eternity, but then on the basis of history they also believe that out of these 10 companions who were given glad tiding of Jannat, some of them fought with each other later on and even physically killed each other.Therefore, an important point to heed is that the basis of belief/Iman should be Allah’s Book and not the history books.
A person is usually born in a particular religion or sect and the environment and people around him try to make sure that he likes and follows the ideology of the particular faith in which he is born. Then at some point in life, he is presented with the spirit of the ayahs of Allah as a test if he would accept the message of Allah or not. When one accepts the message, it will not be possible for him to remain on his previous direction of faith. This change is termed as the change of Qibla (direction of belief) and it leads towards migration in belief. To change one’s direction of belief is indeed a big challenge and not many people will accept this change even if they see all the ayahs/signs of Al-Kitab 2:145.
Surely those who believe and who migrate (in belief) and jahadoo / they strive with their wealth and with their nafs/psyche in the way of Allah and those who give shelter and help (to them) they are protectors of one another. And those who believe and do not migrate, it is not (a duty) for you to protect them from anything until they migrate (in belief). And if they seek your help in the judgment (i.e. Islam/peace) then (duty) over you is that you help them except over the people there is a covenant (i.e. of not fighting on belief)between you and them. And Allah has insight with what you do.
The people who migrate in belief strive in the path of Allah with their nafs/psyche and money. Those who had already migrated in belief welcome those in the circles of belief and help them, they are called Al-Ansar/the helpers.
The Sabiqoon (earlier ones)- the first of those who migrated (in belief) and the Ansars/helpers, and those who followed them in good deeds,- Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him. For them, He prepared gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein for ever. That is the supreme success/blessing
The people of means among believers are required to help those who migrate in the circle of belief.
Let not those amongst you who have been blessed with abundance and means, refuse to give to their near ones, the poor and those who migrate in Allah’s cause. Let them forgive and overlook, do you not wish that Allah should forgive you? For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
When people migrate in belief and leave their previous belief system, the fools in that previous belief system, say what caused them to change their direction of belief?
The fools among the people will say: ” What has reverted them from their Qiblah/direction (of faith) on which they were?” Say: for Allah is East and West. He guides whom, He wills to a straight path.
To change one’s belief in accordance with Allah’s ayahs, is indeed a big test. Allah only made the previous belief system for people to test, who follows the messenger (The messenger of Allah in Quran ) and not the what the history books claim about the messenger.
Likewise, We made you a balanced nation, that you be a witnesses over people, and the messenger be a witness over yourselves; and We did not made the Qiblah/direction (of faith) you were over it, except that We know those who followed the Messenger from those who would turn over their heels. Surely, it is a great thing, except, for those whom Allah guides and never would Allah make your belief of no effect. Surely, Allah is with people full of Kindness, most Merciful.
The people who are given Al-Kitab, most of them will not follow this direction of belief even if they are shown all signs/ayahs of Al-Kitab. When this knowledge and spirit of Al-Kitab has come to one, then he is not allowed to go back to the previous system of belief.
And even if you were to bring to those who are given the Book all the signs (ayats), they would not follow your Qiblah (direction), nor you are going to follow their Qiblah nor will they follow each other’s Qiblah. If you were to follow their desires after the knowledge has come to you, surely, you would be among the wrong doers.
The one who is touched by the spirit of the Book of Allah and has migrated towards Allah, is the like of being given life from the darkness of death.
Can he who was dead, to whom We gave life, and a light whereby he walks amongst men, be like him who is in the depths of darkness, from which he can never come out? Similarly it is made alluring for the Kafireen/rejecters their own deeds.
The one who migrates towards Allah will find Allah’s blessings in abundance.
He who migrates in the way of Allah, will find in the earth many a refuges, wide and spacious. And who sets out from his home migrating towards Allah and the messenger then death finds him, his reward becomes due with Allah and Allah is forgiving, Merciful.
Verily, when angels take the souls of those who were unjust to their nafs (physche), they say. “In what (plight) were you?” They reply. “We were weak in the earth.” They say. “Was not the earth of Allah spacious enough for you to have migrated?” For such the abode is in Hell,- What an evil abode! – Except for those weak among – men, women, and children – who have no means in their power, nor are guided for the way. For these, hopefully that Allah will forgive and Allah is forgiving and pardoner
The people who do not migrate as they feel week to take on the implication of migration in belief and go against their surroundings, they will be in a difficult position in the hereafter. Only those really weak ones, who do not have the intellectual means and capacity to get guidance, Allah will be able to judge them and hopefully will forgive them.
For the joining/amalgamation of the Quraish, Their joining in journeys in winter and summer,- Let them serve the Lord of this House, The One who feeds them in hunger, and secures them from fear.
The root word (ق ر ش) conveys the meaning of gathering from various places. The Sura Quraish states that for the joining and amalgamation of Quraish in their journeys in winter and summer months, so that they serve the Lord of this House who feeds them in hunger and protects them from fear.
The Quraish should mean the pilgrims/Hajjaj, those people who gather from various places of the world and are joined together in winter and summers months and their hearts are joined in the the cause of performing Hajj and serving the Lord of the House. Quraish could also be the name of a tribe in Arabia, however, as a principle, terms in Quran should be recognized per character traits and descriptions of them given in Quran and not by labels which people put on themselves or others.
Islamic calendar is calculated on the basis of moon positions. Ramadhan and Hajj months are according to lunar calendar. Had they been according to solar calendar, Ramadhan and Hajj would always fall in one season in the Northern Hemisphere and the opposite season in the Southern Hemisphere of the earth.. However, because of lunar calendar the seasons for fasting and Hajj keep on changing i.e some times they fall in summer, sometimes in winter and so on.
In it are clear ayats / signs, the standing position of Ibraheem whoever enters it attains security. and for Allah is Pilgrimage of the House on people, those who can afford the journey but if anyone denies, surely Allah is not in need of any of His beings in the worlds.
The place of Ibrahim, the Idol breaker is established in the House. It is incumbent upon the people who have the means, to perform Hajj of this House of Allah. And who ever rejects, then Allah is not in need of any thing from the worlds.
And when We pointed out the place of the house to Ibraheem “associate not anything with Me; and purify My house for those who go around (do Tawaf), and who stand and bow, prostrate. And proclaim the Pilgrimage to mankind. they will come to thee on foot and riding from all remote places.”
Ibraheem A.S had been entrusted to cleanse the House of Allah of any associations with Him. This House is associated with system of Tawaf and Salat. The systems of Tawaf and Salat are established in the Holy City of Makkah by Sunnat/practice of Allah in all times. See previous post ‘procedure of Salat in Quran’
There are some groups who dissuade people from Salat saying that this is a ritualistic practice invented by ritualistic muslims. Also, there are those groups who prevent people from Hajj, some saying it was a pagan practice adopted by muslims. Others have notions about the House of Allah that in earlier times, it was filled with idols and people used to go round it unclothed. Allah wants His House to be cleansed of these obscene notions. The House of Allah is the first House established on Earth for guidance of mankind for all times. If it were filled with Idols and obscenity how could it be a source of guidance at that time? People should get rid of these notions, and believe that it is the first House established for mankind, source of guidance, all prophets in all times performed Hajj of this House and Hajj was never a pagan practice established in the sacred valley.
Some argue that by Hajj, Allah does not mean the ritualistic practice of going to Makkah and performing Hajj as prescribed in Quran. According to them salat and Hajj have different spiritual meanings and practice established in Masjid ul Haram for Salat and Hajj is not what actually is ordered by Allah. However, Allah says whoever says it and oppose the (system of) Masjid ul Haram is a rejecter.
As to those who have rejected, and would prevent (people) from the Way of Allah, and from the Sacred Mosque, which We have made for (all) people – equal is the dweller there and the visitor from the country – and any whose purpose therein is profanity or wrong-doing – We will cause him to taste a grievous penalty.
The place of Makkah/Masjid ul Haram, is recognizable and associated with the physical signs as well, so that, not to confuse it with any other place on Earth or to consider it as a spiritual place only; Place of Ibrahim A.S 22:26, Signs of Safa and Marwa in Ayat 2:158, a valley of layers where one has to take off shoes 20:12, a non-agricultural valley where fruits are imported from all over 14:37. The process of Hajj is described in Quran e.g 2:197-203 (and other places) and the practice is established in the Sacred valley of Makkha/Bakka.
They are the ones who rejected and prevented you from the Sacred Mosque and the gifts/sacrificial animals, detained from reaching their place. Had there not been believing men and believing women whom ye did not know that ye were trampling down and on whose account a crime would have accrued to you without (your) knowledge, that He may admit to His Mercy whom He will. If they had been apart, We should certainly have punished the Unbelievers among them with a grievous Punishment.
The group who dissuades from Hajj as being a ritualistic practice of going to Makkah; they also cut off the connection of the gift of sacrificial animals with the practice of Hajj. Allah would have punished this group, if it were not that some believing men and women are mixed up with this group.Ayas 2:196 and 22:33 establish the connection of gift of sacrificial animals with the ptactice of Hajj.
The months of Hajj/Pilgrimage are known, so whosoever impose Hajj / Pilgrimage (on himself) in them, so he should not commit obscenity nor commit immoralities and should not engage in arguments in the Hajj / Pilgrimage. And what you do from betterment Allah knows it. And take provision, so surely the best of the provision is to take guard and take guard from Me O’ you who posses the core (to know the essence / spirit of anything).
The Hajis/Pilgrims joined in the joint cause of doing Hajj in the way of the Lord, are required to maintain decorum and discipline of Hajj, by not engaging in arguments and fighting and to be patient and practice endurance and perseverance over the inconveniences encountered in this undertaking.
Notes:
As Allah has several attributes which are known as the beautiful names of Allah and the Book of Allah also has several attributes; similarly the City of Makkah also has attributes such as Bakka (root implying busy place), Umm ul Qura أُمَّ الْقُرَىٰ(mother of dwellings 42:7) etc.
A link to a related lecture about Kaaba and direction of belief is given below:
And such are the parables/examples, We set forth for mankind, but only those can understand them, who have knowledge.
The above ayat states that parables and examples that are set forth in Allah’s Book can be understood with people of knowledge. Let’s review some ayahs in this post, which are some times interpreted based on old dogmas. One such example is that jinns or satan jinns are supernatural creatures wandering the sky and seem to be particularly fond of listening to angles’ meetings and when they do so, are targeted with flaming balls of fires to cast them away. Major problem with this interpretation is that, it is assumed that Satan Jinns are supernatural spiritual beings. As you cannot beat a spiritual being with a stick or any material object, same way you cannot expel or beat a spiritual Jinn with balls of fire.
‘And we pried into the sky; thus we found it filled with strong forces and fires. We indeed, sat there in stations, for hearing; thus any who listens now, finds a flaming fire following him.’
The above is a statement of Jinn nation. It is evident from above ayat, that jinns are people from developed and technologically advanced nations of the world. They have explored the skies and found it to be containing strong forces, extreme heat and energy. The technological advanced nations sends rockets and satellites in space. Those of them who goes in space have to use rockets which are followed by hot burning flames of fire.
We have indeed adorned the lower heaven with planets/stars,- and guarded it against every rebellious satan. They are not the listeners of the high command; and they are bombarded from every side. Repulsed, for they are under a lasting penalty, except one who snatches something away, he is pursued by a piercing flame.
The satans of the Jinns/(technologically advanced nations) are those people with negative personality traits of having racists ideologies which they generally hide (They are called satans because of characteristic of Satan to make discrimination based on bodily appearance). The advanced nations of Jinns seek knowledge about the magnificent Cosmos, including sending space probes in space. The lower sky of the Earth is well protected with atmospheric layers, the earth’s gravitational force and cosmic blasts of radioactive particles in space, which prevents all but only a few of them to venture out into space. Majority of them cannot escape the earth. Only a miniscule few are able to escape into space with the help of expensive equipment which need be well protected against radiations and space risks and are trailed by piercing flames of fire as these equipment burn a lot of fuel to escape Earth’s gravitational pull.
And We have made structures in the sky, and made it an adornment for the on-lookers; And We have guarded them from every out-casted Satan/divergent one. But any that gains a hearing by stealth, is pursued by a flaming bright fire
Again it is mentioned that the sky is well protected and for anyone prying in space to get some knowledge, will be trailed by piercing fire. This is because they will have to use some equipment which will consume a lot of fuel to escape earth’s escape velocity and thereby will leave a trail of piercing fire before it.
And we have adorned the lowest heaven with Lamps, and We have made it (the lower sky) a thing to cast stones at Satans/mischievous ones, and we have prepared for them the scorching penalty
En-route to outer space, astronauts will be bombarded with cosmic radiation: tiny, high-energy atom fragments that whiz through space and can damage body cells. Astronauts venturing in outer space risk all these dangers of radiations, asteroid belt, space junk, objects in space which can hit them and need take good protective measures against them.
Notes:
The ayahs of Quran stating flames of fires following satans are usually visualized as being directed to satans trying to enter Earth via space. However, in fact they are intended for satans trying to escape into space from the Earth. As Quran states that satans are already on earth doing physical work in the era associated with prophet Sulieman (a.s).
16:102: The Rooh ul Qudus has sent down the Message.
26:193: The Rooh ul Ameen came down with the Message
2:97 Jibreal sent the Message down on your heart
2:98 Jibreal and Mikal are mentioned as a pair
From the above mentioned points the following deduction can be made:
A Rooh sent the Message down (Rooh ul Qudus), and a Rooh came down with it (Ruh ul Ameen); Jibreal sent down the message, therefore Jibreal is Ruh ul Qudus. if Jibrael and Mikal are paired then Mikal should be the Rooh which came down with the message i.e Rooh ul Ameen.
Say the Ruh-ul- Qudus/Revered Spirit has revealed it from your Lord with the truth so that to strengthen those who believe and a guidance and good news for muslims/submitters.
Say, whoever is an enemy to Jibrael/Gabriel-for he brings down the (revelation) to your heart by Allah’s will, a confirmation of whats between the hands, and guidance and glad tidings for those who believe,-
From the above two Ayas we know that Ruh ul Qudus is Jibrael.
26:193 نَزَلَ بِهِ الرُّوحُ الْأَمِينُ
Sent down the Ruh-ul-Ameen/Honest Spirit with it.
The Rooh ul Ameen/ The Honest Sprit has been sent down with it (Al-Quran)
Whoever is an enemy to Allah and His angels and His messengers, and Jibrael/Gabriel and Mikal/Michael ,- then! Allah is an enemy to the rejecters.
Jibrael and Mikal are mentioned as pairs in the above Ayat. Considering this pairing of Jibrael and Mikal and that Jibrael is the Rooh ul Qudus, who sent down the message, then the Rooh-ul Ameen who came down with the message, should be Mikal.
Many people think of ‘jinns’ as paranormal creatures who are very different from human beings. Common belief about jinns is that they can become invisible and attain different shapes and forms and even can get inside human bodies to possess them. They are free from material form and can fly in air or space. Their diet is different from humans; they eat bones and sweets. Their life span is different from human life span encompassing hundreds of years, and a plethora of similar fantastic beliefs about jinns.
The root word ج ن ن of ‘jinn’ implies meanings of ‘shielded’ or ‘covered’. In this post we will see what Al-Quran tells us about jinns, and whether the concepts about jinns mentioned above are from Quran or are they from outside of Quran:
Say, “If there were settled, on earth, angels walking about in peace and tranquility, We should certainly have sent them down from the heavens an angel for a messenger.”
The above ayat states a principle that messengers are sent to be an example for their kind. Ayat explains why a human messenger is sent on earth, because humans dwell on earth. Had the earth been inhabited by angels, then definitely an angel would have been sent to live among them and convey the message of God.
And when We turned (O Prophet) towards you, a company from the jinns, so that they hear the Quran. So when they were in it’s presence, they said “Listen quietly!” When it was completed they returned to their people as warners. They said O! Our people, we have heard a book revealed after Moosa, confirming what is between his two hands. It guides towards the truth and the straight way. “O our people, respond to the one who invites (you) to Allah, and believe in him. He will forgive you your faults, and deliver you from a grievous penalty.
The above ayat states that a group of jinns, listened to Al-Quran and when they returned to their nation, they told them that they heard a book revealed after Moosa (a.s). It appears that this group of jinns used to believe in prophet Moosa (a.s).
Say, It has been revealed to me that a company of jinns listened (to the Qur’an). They said, ‘We have really heard a wonderful recital! ‘It gives guidance towards righteousness, and thus we believed therein. We shall not join any with our Lord. ‘And exalted is the majesty of our Lord. He has taken neither a wife nor a son.’ ‘There were some foolish ones among us, who used to utter extravagant lies against Allah’
The above ayahs mention another group of jinns, who listened to Quran and they realized that it is a wonderful recital and it guides towards righteousness. It asks them to be pure monotheist as God does not have wife or a son. The fools of them used to attribute false things upon God. It appears that this group of jinns used to believe in Jesus as son of God, earlier.
From these two sets of ayahs it appears that jinns believe in human messengers. Is it not logical to deduce that if jinns were a different creature other than humans, there would be jinn messengers sent to them instead, as the principle in ayat 17:95 states? However what we see is that jinns believed in human messengers and more-over when they heard Al-Quran they believed in it as the way of guidance. Now, we know that Al-Quran has all instructions for human beings e.g Salat, Zakat, Wadu, Haram/Halal food, and all do’s and don’ts and instructions for conducting life are for humans. For jinns to relate and believe in Quran, would strongly imply that they are not a structurally different creature than human beings.
He created insan/human from sounding clay like pottery, and He created jinns from mixture of fire.
The word in above ayat is ‘Jaan’ and refers to the gentic ancestry of Jinns which gives them their characteristic fiery color which means the race from which they descended from, was of fiery reddish color. As against the ‘Insan’ which was of earthly dark color to begin with. Ayat 15:27 tells us that the race of ‘Jaan’ was before the humans in time-line.
We created insan/human from sounding clay, from mud moulded into shape; and the jann, We had created before, from the fire of a scorching wind.
The above Ayas tells that Jann (the race from which Jinns took most of their genetic material) were created and therefore were existing before ins/humans. The study of human genome and genetic information of current humans and the skeletons found from older times is unfolding many of this information about human origins and their earlier extinct cousins. (one speculation is about another homo species ‘Neanderthal’ which were had a stocky built and lighter skin color and present day non-African homo-sapiens have some small percentage of their genetic materials in them. This human cousin came about and existed earlier than present day homo sapeiens.)
Many among the jinns and men we have made for hell. They have hearts with which they do not understand, eyes with which they do not see, and ears with which they donot hear. They are like cattle,- nay more misguided. for they are heedless (of warning).
The above ayat states that jinns like Ins (humans), have hearts, eyes and ears. So, physically they have organs and body parts like human beings. A strong indication that structurally humans and Jinns are not different.
From the mischief of the whisperer (of Evil), who withdraws. (The same) who whispers into the hearts of mankind,- among jinns and among people.
It is not only jinns who can do evil whisper in the hearts, but humans can do it too. So, in this regard both are same. Therefore, it is not a paranormal capability of jinns that they can go inside a human body. The jinns should be whispering in the hearts, in the same way as Ins/humans do.
And We created you all, then We gave you (all), your shapes; then We said to the angels to bow down to Adam, and they bowed down; except for Iblis; he was not to be of those who bowed down.
This ayat 7:11 informs that Allah has created us all and shaped us before he gave the order to angels to bow down to Adam. It appears that jinns and ins/humans were existing at the time when Allah breathed His spirit into Adam and after breathing His spirit asked angels to bow down to His spirit in Adam.
Of all the jinns and Ins, Allah chooses the one as his khalifa/vicegerent, who has the spirit/ruh of Allah in him. This khalifa/vicegerent with the spirit of Allah in him, does not cause blood shed and violence on earth. Those who do not understand true spirit of Allahs’ words, may understand instructions such as Qital/fighting to be physical fighting, and thereby assume that the khalifa will be doing wars and blood shed on earth. However, Allah dismisses these notions.
And when your Lord said to the angels. “I will create a vicegerent on earth.” They said. “Will You place therein one who will make violence therein and shed blood?- while we do celebrate Your praises and glorify Your Holyness?” He said. “I know what you know not.”
One day, He will gather them all together, (and say). “O you assembly of jinns! Much did you take of ins/humans.” Their friends amongst ins/humans will say. “Our Lord! we made advantage from each other and we reached our term – which You did appoint for us.” He will say. “The fire is your dwelling-place. you will dwell therein for ever, except as Allah wills.” for your Lord is full of wisdom and knowledge.
The jins and ins/humans, benefit with each other and jinns have taken a majority of the ins/humans. The traditional concept of jinns may not fit here, as we don’t see that most of the humans are possessed by jinns and we don’t see jinns and Ins corroborating and benefitting with each other on a mass scale. In fact majority of the people in the world have never seen a jinn in the traditional concept. So, jinns which Quran mentions here, should in all matters of form and structure, be like humans. It could be they may themselves not know that they are jinns. What we also observe is that the advanced nations of the world have subjugated the underdeveloped world by either colonization or by economic domination. Also, because of this domination, the advanced nations influence the less advanced world by their ideas and philosophies which are mostly atheistic or agnostic. So, it appears that Jinns, are that portion of developed and advanced nations of the world whose true personalities are hidden and whose secular ideas and philosophies have dominated over a majority portion of the people of the world. The hidden part is also implied from Ayat 53:32 which uses the work Ajinna for a child who is hidden in his mother’s womb.
“O assembly of jinns and humans! Didn’t messengers came to you from yourselves, relating on to you my ayahs/signs, and warning you of the meeting of this day of yours?” They would say. “We bear witness against ourselves.” It was the life of this world that deceived them. So against themselves will they bear witness that they were indeed kafreen/rejectors.
The above ayat addresses jinns and ins/humans and states that messengers have come amongst both. We saw in the first few sets of ayahs in the above post that jinns read the same Quran and believed in the messengers such as Moses and Jesus. Quran does not mention any jinn messengers. While this ayat states that the messengers came among themselves and related ayahs of Quran to them. While we don’t find any ayahs containing instructions of conducting life for paranormal invisible beings in Quran. This ayat supplements the concept that jinns are not supernatural, unseen creatures different from human beings.
(Jinns said) ‘There were some foolish ones among us, who used to utter extravagant lies against Allah.’ ‘And we used to assume that no human/ins or jinn would say any un-true thing about Allah’. And Indeed there are men among humans/ins who took shelter with men among the jinns, and they increased them in waywardness. ‘And they (came to) think as ye thought, that Allah would not raise up any one (to judgment).
The party of the jinns who believed in Quran after listening and pondering over it, further said that, in our group there were jinns who foolishly said un-true things about God, while we had assumed that no one would be deceiving in matters about God. (This is the same case we observe in people today).
It also appears that Jinns are more developed than humans in technology as the ayat further states that men from the human/ins group take shelter from men in jinn’s group. So, these men from human/ins group then grow more in waywardness. It could be that these men from Ins would copy men from jinn, and would adopt the ideas of the more technological advanced nations of jinns with inclination towards atheistic thoughts and general aversion towards religious beliefs such as the concept of God and afterlife.
‘And we pried into the sky; thus we found it filled with strong forces and fires. ‘We indeed, sat there in stations, for hearing; thus any who listens now finds a flaming fire following him.’
It is evident from above ayahs, that jinns are developed and technologically advanced nations. They have explored the skies and found it to be having strong forces and containing extreme heat and energy. The technological advanced nations send rockets and satellites in space. Any who goes in space has to use rockets which are followed by hot burning flames of fire.
‘And we don’t know whether ill is intended to those on earth, or whether their Lord (really) intends to guide them to right conduct. ‘There are among us some that are righteous, and some to the contrary. We follow divergent paths. ‘But we think that we can by no means frustrate Allah throughout the earth, nor can we frustrate Him by flight. ‘And as for us, since we have listened to the guidance, we have accepted it. and any who believes in his Lord has no fear, either of a short (account) or of any injustice. ‘Amongst us are some that submit their wills (to Allah), and some that swerve from justice. Now those who submit their wills – they have sought out (the path) of right conduct. ‘But those who swerve,- they are (but) fuel for hell-fire’- (and Allah’s message is). “If they had (only) remained on the (right) way, We should certainly have given them water in abundance to drink“
So the group of jinns who accepted the message after listening it, continued their speech; that previously without divine knowledge they did not know actually what the worldly life is about? Among the developed nations people are allowed to follow different paths. However, with increasing advanced knowledge about the Universe, they realized that there is no way that this grand scheme of the Universe can be defeated and escaped from. And when they listened to the message of guidance from the Lord they believed in it that whoever believes in this message of the Lord and corrects his conduct will be led to the right path. Also please note in above Ayahs, water is mentioned as a bounty for jinns
It is He Who formed the earth for (His) creatures. Therein are fruits and date-palms, producing sheathed clusters. Also corn, with (its) leaves and stalk for fodder, and sweet-smelling plants. Then which of the favours of your Lord will you two (kinns and ins) deny?
In sura Rahman the Lord says that Allah made the earth, provided fruits, dates, sweet smelling flowers and crops in it. These are blessings for both jinn and ins. A lot of blessings are mentioned in this sura with a question that which of the blessings you two (jinns and ins) will deny? While we can relate these blessing to humans, we can not relate all these blessings to a non human, non physical mythical creature of Jinn. So, this sura also supports that jinns are no different than ins/human in physical structure.
And they have invented a relationship between Him and the jinns. but the jinns know (quite well) that they have indeed to appear (for judgment)!
While we don’t know of any one making relationship of God with jinns as supernatural non-human beings, however, some royalties were thought to be related to gods, such as Japanese royal family and early Egyptian royals.
O you assembly of jinns and ins/humans! If it be that you have the capacity to pass beyond the zones of the heavens and the earth, then pass! not without authority shall you be able to pass!
Escape velocity which is the speed required to escape earth’s gravitational pull, is applicable to both Jinns and Ins. Does not make jinns any different than Ins/humans in physical characteristics. Also, as earth gravitation pull is much less than black holes, therefore light and energy don’t have any problem in escaping from the earth atmosphere. It implies that jinns would be possessing mass to feel the gravitational pull on them.
And the rejectors will say. “Our Lord! show us those, among jinns and men, who misled us. We shall crush them beneath our feet, so that they become the vilest (before all).”
On the day of judgment the rejecters will be asking God to show them the jinns and ins who have caused them to be misled. We do see that from developed nations there comes a lot of philosophical and atheistic ideas denying existence of God.These ideas are causing a major portion of people therein to stay away from believing in God and hereafter. These ideas from developed nations are imported to all over the world. Otherwise we don’t see in common observation any mythical jinn creature misguiding people from path of Allah.
And the day He will gather them all together, and say to the angels, “Was it you that these men used to serve? They will say, “Glory to You! You are our protector not them. Nay, but they served the jinns, most of them believed in them.”
We don’t have accounts of any nation worshipping/serving the mythical jinn creatures. However, definition of jinns as technologically advanced, developed nations can fit here. As most of the people in modern world serve and believe in secular ideas and philosophies emanating from them.
Jinns and Shiateen with prophet Suleiman (a.s)
The description of reign of king Suleiman (a.s) appears to be the description of an advanced era. For better understanding, lets consider that era similar to modern times in order to relate to these ayahs better:
And to Suleiman (We made) the wind (obedient). Its early morning (stride) was a month’s (journey), and its evening (stride) was a month’s (journey); and We made stream of copper flow for him; and there were jinns that worked in front of him, by the leave of his Lord, and if any of them turned aside from our command, We made him taste the penalty of the blazing fire.
In Suleiman’s reign we can relate to air travel, which made journeys which in earlier times could take months to complete, now can be done in matter of hours. The flow of stream of copper means flow of electrons in copper wires i.e electricity was available to him. And jinns i.e the technological advanced nations were working for him with the leave of Allah. If any of these jinns would try to evade Allah’s orders, he would face punishment.
They worked for him as he desired, in architectural construction, entertainment industry, big boilers, and proportioned templates. “Keep on working, people of David, with thanks! but few of My servants are grateful!”
So these jinns, the developed and technological advanced people worked in constructions, industries, entertainment and innovations. Allah asks them to keep on working and be thankful to the resultant blessings. There is a warning also, that sooner or later when they will become un-thankful then these blessing would be taken away.
Then, when We decreed (Sulieman’s) death, nothing showed them his death except for a creature of earth, who was eating away at his stick/life span. Thus when he fell, it became clear to the jinns, that if they had knowledge of the unseen, they would not have tarried in the humiliating penalty.
The jinns, the technologically advanced people take pride in their knowledge. They feel proud to have mastered many areas of physical sciences. For things that cannot be seen they have developed scientific theories for explanation of these phenomena. Some of them drift towards atheism thinking that belief in God is a silly thing while our knowledge encompasses a lot. However, even with all the advanced knowledge available to them, they still lack basic facts of life and will never be able to comprehend and master life and death. They will always be captives to the rigors and vicissitudes of the worldly life. Can they tell what is that essence when it leaves the body, a fully functional body alive a moment ago, becomes dead while all the organs and ingredients are still intact in the body? The word ‘Minsat’ i.e the staff/stick, in this ayat denotes his lifespan. Prophet Suleiman’s life-span like everybody else, was being eaten away by creature of earth (natural progression towards death of any living being on earth), however the Jinns who are quite knowledgeable and capable otherwise, don’t have knowledge about essence of life and death? These mysteries of life will still remain despite advancement in knowledge.
Traditional concept associated with the ayat 34:14 is that king Suleiman died while leaning on his stick and did not fall until the stick was eaten away by a worm which must be substantial amount of time. When the stick gave way, only then he fell. Till that time nobody knew that he was dead. This concept is ridiculous as a dead man can not lean on a stick after his death, the body will definitely fall right away. Also, in addition to the jinns the king must have his family who cannot remain oblivion to him standing at one place for weeks without eating and drinking and coming to them. Also, a king has a lot of state duties which cannot allow the king to refrain from attending to the affairs of the state even for a short duration without raising concerns of the attendants and Government agencies.
And Suleiman inherited from David/Daud. He said. “O people! We have been taught the logic of flying, we have been given from all things (blessings). this is indeed a manifest grace (from Allah.)”
The technology of air travel and many of the blessings were bestowed on Suleiman (a.s)
And presented to Sulieman were armies of jinns and ins/people and fliers, and they were all kept in order
Suleiman’s reign was on both technological advanced nations of jinns, and on under-developed nations of ins /people and had an air force available to him.
One of the powerful jinn said. “I will bring it to you before you rise from your place. indeed I am powerful and trustworthy.
When Suleiman (a.s) asked his councilors who can bring him the throne of queen of Saba, a very resourceful member of the technological advanced nation of jinns said that he can bring it to him in a matter of hours. Probably he intended to bring it with the help of fast air travel.
Said one who had knowledge of the book. “I will bring it to you within the twinkling of an eye!” Then when (Suleiman) saw it placed firmly before him, he said. “This is by the Grace of my Lord!- to test me whether I am grateful or ungrateful! and if any is grateful, truly his gratitude is (a gain) for his own self; but if any is ungrateful, truly my Lord is free of all needs and is Gracious !”
There was another one in the council with knowledge of the book. With this knowledge this councilor was able to show to Suleiman what he was asking in a matter of seconds. In today’s world that is something which can be accomplished with the help of Internet and hologram.
He (Allah) said: O’ Iblees, what prevented you to prostrate for what I have created with my hands. Did you seek greatness or are you from the higher class? He(Iblees) said. “I am better than him. You have created me from fire, and created him from clay.”
The rejecters/Kafirs among the Jinns are termed as ‘Shiateen’. They are also racist as they discriminate in creations of Allah on self made criteria (e.g fire is better than water or red color is better than black color) minus-ing the ‘Spirit’ of Allah in their comparisons.
So in below ayat it is mentioned that Shiateen (of the Jinns) were in tethers in the reign of King Sulieman. The tethers may not mean actual physical tethers, they could be social and legal taboos not allowing those satans of jinns to show their racism and disdain for humanity per law of the land and if any satan Jinn would disobey and show public racism, he would have faced punishment.
(Submitting to Suleiman were) also the mischievous ones, (including) every kind of builder and diver,- As also others bound in fetters.
While the resourceful Jinn mentioned in 27:39 was trustworthy, Suleiman (a.s), in his reign and control had mischievous ones termed as satans also, who did construction work and diving (diving could be in water and in space). They were however strictly controlled by Suleiman (a.s) and were bound by social and legal taboos as not to show publicly their mischievous characters and racism.
“And likewise ,We have made for every Prophet the satans of mankind and the satans of jinn, 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 invent.”
The satan jinns and ins, have great fascination with golden words/zukhruf al Qaul/Aqwale Zareen. They spend much effort in collection, remembrance, authentication of the same and inspire each other with them.
Summary notes:
Most of the concepts prevalent about jinns are not found in Quran. They are out of Quran which people know from hearsay and other books. When people read the word ‘jinn’ in Quran they automatically assume the conceptual creature they already know from previous knowledge. However, Quran does not mention jinns to be invisible creatures, that they can change shapes and forms, that they can get inside human bodies, that they eat bones and sweets, that they dwell in isolated places etc. Quran do mention that jinns have hearts, ears and eyes, that they believe in human messengers, that when they hear Quran they can relate to it, that messengers were sent amongst them, that they do physical work, art work, construction work etc. They travel in air and space with a blazing fire trailing them probably with the help of some equipment which burns fuel. All the blessings mentioned in Sura Rahman are for both jinns and ins. That they are answerable and will be judged for their deeds as are humans. They can relate to Quran as guidance while Quran has all the instructions for humans such as salat, zakat, wadu, eating, behavior, living etc. They are created as humans to serve Allah (56:51) and to serve Allah, they as well as humans have to serve according to instructions given in Quran. We don’t find any instructions for paranormal creatures which are normally believed to be ‘jinns’ in Quran, therefore this becomes the most convincing point towards the understanding that jinns are in all form and matter like human beings and are not the mythical, invisible creatures people usually think they are. The Ayat which says that jinns are created from fire and humans from clay, is indicating that Jinns are created in fiery red color while Ins are in the earthly color.
Other paranormal creatures may exist in the world which people know as aliens, spirits, demons, devils etc. Few people relate their experiences with these paranormal creatures as well. However, they are not the ‘jinns’ which the Quran describes. The ‘jinns’ which Quran describes are those whose traits and description is given in Quran.
Notes:
Root word of jinn is ج ن ن. This root has meanings of veiled/concealed/covered/hidden/protected, invisible, become dark/posessed, darkness of night, bereft of reason, mad/insane/unsound in mind/intellect, confusedness. Become thick/full-grown/blossom, herbage, garden. Spiritual beings that conceal themselves from the senses (including angels), people who are peerless having no match or equal, a being who is highly potent, sometimes refers to kings because they are concealed from the common folk.
And when, We said to the angels. “Bow down to Adam” and they all bowed down except for Iblis, he refused and was arrogant. He was from the kafireen/rejecters.
Allah ordered the angels to bow down to Adam so they all bowed down except for Iblis. The order to bow down was to angels and they all did so except for one of them who was Iblis. After that he was termed as a rejecter.
And when! We said to the angels, “Bow down for Adam:” they bowed down except Iblis. He was/became from the jinns…..
So Iblis, after he disobeyed the order of the Lord he was termed as rejecter in 2:34 and a jinn in 18:50. He is termed a Jinn, because he hides his true personality of being an enemy to man and poses himself as his well wisher while suggesting evil to man. This would also suggest that as ‘Kafir’ is an adjective, the word ‘Jinn’ could also be an adjective.
The plural form Shiateen/satans refers to the tribe of Satan, i.e his like minded people. Satan took pride on a self made criteria i.e on appearance only of fire being superior to mud. On that self made criterial he thought himself superior to others. The tribe of satans similarly are those racists who take pride and think themselves of being a superior race.
Why jinns mentioned particularly with Suleiman (a.s)?
The mentions of jinns is particularly detailed with the reign of Suleiman (a.s) in Quran. It appears the reign of Suleiman (a.s) is a technologically advanced era, where the advancement in technology happened e.g electricity, air travel, industries, space age, entertainment industry, constructions, innovations etc. Before the era of Suleiman the world may not have seen a clear rise in the number of advanced nations, so we find most mention of jinns in Quran associated with the era of Suleiman (a.s).
A characteristic of advanced nations is to be politically correct even if they have to hide their true feelings about the issue. In some languages a phrase is used e.g he works like a Jinn, meaning, he works tirelessly and able to accomplish a lot more work than normally expected of a person.
As per Quran, Suleiman (a.s) has been granted a kingdom, the grandeur of which cannot be surpassed in present or future. No ruins of any ancient city gives indications of high-rise buildings which we see in present day mega cities, therefore no ancient city that we know today can be a candidate of the kingdom of Suleiman (a.s). A city representing king Suleiman’s kingdom, will have such grandeur which will be unsurpassable in all times to come (38:35).
He (Suleiman) said, “O my Lord! Forgive me, and grant me a kingdom (likes of ) which is not attained by any one after me; for You are the grantor of bounties.
Another point to note is that no history book accounts for traditional mythical creatures of jinns working on a major scale in any era of time. If in such a grand kingdom, jinns worked on a large scale and were part of the state army as well, there has to be interaction of this kingdom with the rest of the world and then there should be accounts of them in other people history. The lack of such accounts reinforces the concept that jinns are not mythical supernatural creatures.
The Era of Suliman A.S could be a representative of the Modern world era. Quran mentions era of Prophet Noah comprising 950 years. Please see previous post ‘Age of prophet Noah’ for detail.
Touch of Satan:
A few people argue the power of Jinns possession is described in Quran with part of Ayat 2:275 which states الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ الرِّبَا لَا يَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَقُومُ الَّذِي يَتَخَبَّطُهُ الشَّيْطَانُ مِنَ الْمَسِّ ( Those who eat Ar-Riba/the increase do not take a stand except like he who stands to madness from the touch of Satan). They argue that since Satan is a Jinn, the touch of Satan is touch of Jinn which can affect make a person loose his senses i.e a Jinn is able to possess and bring him under control. However, the Quran clarifies that Satan’s power on man is just that he can suggest an evil thing to man and it is upto man to accept that evil suggestion or not. Satan has no power to possess a man forcibly. 14:22 وَمَا كَانَ لِيَ عَلَيْكُم مِّن سُلْطَانٍ إِلَّا أَن دَعَوْتُكُمْ فَاسْتَجَبْتُمْ لِ ( and I did not have any authority over you except to invite you, so you accepted my invitation )
Illahs/gods are the ones with whom there is no two-way communication. When you call them they can’t respond to you (46:5, 7:194, 13:14). While, Allah/God does communicate with people through His Book. You get to know about Allah, His orders, His likes and dislikes through His Book. When you don’t know Allah through His Book, Allah is like an Ilah/god to you i.e there is no two way communication with Him. Those people who don’t have communication with Allah, the biggest Illah/god in their minds is Allah/God. While they do say that Allah is their Lord but they don’t know what Allah is asking them to do. They don’t have knowledge of His Book and His message to them. They keep putting their list of desires before Him, however they don’t know what He is asking them to become or act like in order for their supplications to be accepted, so Allah becomes the biggest illah for them.
Because, the majority of people who don’t have knowledge of the Book and therefore don’t know Allah’s message, they fall prey to the syndrome of smaller ilah’s/gods. These smaller ilahs/gods are of various types; an introduction to them is given in previously published post https://topicsfromquran.wordpress.com/2017/08/07/ilahs-false-gods-mentioned-in-al-kitab/ . They can be in the form of emotions, physical idols, non physical idols, Jesus, Mary, Lofty personalities, stories of the past, etc. The first statement of all messengers as stated in the Book, is not to associate smaller illahs/gods with Allah/God. The practice of Ibrahim (a.s) is to break the smaller illah’s/gods so that people can turn towards the real Allah/God. That is termed as the best practice in the eyes of the Lord (60:4). The smaller Illah’s/gods/idols cannot be broken in people nafs/psyche without the leave of Allah as they are so deeply ingrained in people.
Therefore, when Ibrahim (a.s), said that the biggest one has broken the smaller idols, it is not a lie, its actually a true statement. Allah confirms in Quran that Ibrahim is truthful prophet (19:41) although story and history books may tell you that Ibrahim has told 3 lies in his life time. This can not be true in light of Quranic ayat. These stories cannot relate to the fact that when Ibrahim (a.s) broke the Idols of his nation and told them that the Greatest one has done it, he actually means that the smaller illah’s can only be shattered by the leave of Allah (the Biggest Ilah), as they are so deeply ingrained in one’s psyche. Related Quranic ayahs are given below:
And by Allah I will plan for your idols after you will turn your backs.
37:93 فَرَاغَ عَلَيْهِمْ ضَرْبًا بِالْيَمِينِ
So he conned his way on them moving/striking with the right
The illahs are so deeply ingrained in people’s psyche and people are so emotionally attached with them that they cannot be broken head on. You need to strike the illahs from the side. That is not making them realize that it is their illahs who are being targeted, otherwise they will become so emotional that you will not be able to reason with them.
They said! Are you the one who has done this with our gods, O` Ibrahim/Abraham? He said! Instead, the GREAT ONE of them has done it, ask them if they can speak.
Ibrahim (a.s), did not lie. The smaller gods are always shattered in people nafs/phsyche with the leave of Allah. Most people who believe in Allah don’t do so without associating Him with smaller gods (12:106). It is Allah only, who can destroy the ilahs/smaller gods with His mercy.
It is not you who fought them; but it was Allah who fought them. And you did not throw pebbles when you threw them but Allah did threw the pebbles in order that He might test the believers by a gracious trial. Verily Allah hears and knows (all things).
When you act in the way of Allah according to His wishes, actually Allah is getting these done through you.
Indeed there is for you The most beautiful practice in Ibrahim and those with him, when they said to their people: surely , We are clear of you and of whatever you serve besides Allah: We have rejected you, and there has begun, between us and you, enmity and hatred forever, unless you believe in Allah and Him alone……..
Ibrahim (a.s) is the Idol breaker per Quran, and this is a best practice/ Uswatun Hasanah for his followers to do, i.e break ideological idols in the hearts and minds of people and be free from what people serve beside Allah.
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 enemy to the prophet. Mention of the Prophet in the Ayat implies that these Golden words are related to the Prophet:
“And likewise ,We have made for every Prophet the satans of mankind and the satans of jinn, 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 invent.”
When only Allah, is mentioned, the hearts of those who believe not in the Hereafter are filled with aversion; but when other than He (Allah) are mentioned, then they are filled with joy!
Mostly those people who have fascination with the Golden words of big personalities will not like it that only Allah be mentioned and praised in a gathering. They will only be happy when their favorite personalities are mentioned and praised as well.
Al-Quran mentions that the believers do ponder over the universe around them which increases their faith in the Creator. The Creator is the original designer and maker of the universe. As believers discover more and more about the universe, their awe and appreciation for its splendor, its immaculate design and balance, its complexity and its immense power, increases and they can appreciate more the absolute wisdom, knowledge and power of the Creator. The parameters of the cosmos are so meticulously designed that even if one factor or physical property of the matter and energy had differed, the whole universe would have crashed. This extreme care to perfection leads the believers to believe that this is all by the design of the most intelligent being whom people of all religions consider the Creator.
Those who remember Allah, standing, sitting, and lying on their sides, and ponder in the creation of the skies and the earth, (they say). “Our Lord! not for falsehood have you created (all) this! Glory to You! give us salvation from the punishment of the fire.
It is He, who created the skies and the earth in six periods of time, then He firmly established on the throne. He knows what enters within the earth and what comes forth out of it, what comes down from sky and what mounts up to it, and He is with you where-ever you may be, and Allah sees well all that you do.
Assuredly the creation of the skies and the earth is a greater (matter) than the creation of people. Yet most people do not know it.
The scale of the universe is simply enormous beyond the grasp of the normal comprehension. The deeper we look into the universe the farther it extends. There are places in universe whose light has not reached as yet, while light has been travelling from there for more than 14 billions years and light travels at the speed of 300,000 Km per second.
He is who created the seven skies one above another. You will not see any imperfection in the creation of the most Gracious. So turn your vision again. Do you see any flaw?
The above ayat states that the seven skies that Allah has created are built one over the another.
And We send down water from the sky according to a measure, and We cause it to soak in the soil; and We certainly are able to take it away (evaporation etc.)
The two ayahs above mention that the lowest sky is adorned with planets/starts. The water is sent down from sky. We may deduce that the lowest sky is the atmospheric layer of the earth as the atmospheric layer accumulates water vapors to form clouds and make rain on land. The layers of air also make the stars and planets look like glimmering lamps from earth. And also it provides protection against ultra violet rays, radio activity and meteorites entering the earth.
And We have made the heavens, a protective roof, yet do they turn away from its signs.
As the skies are said to be built as layers one upon another, building upon this hierarchy of skies one upon another, one possibility of the seven skies could be in the below given order:
Atmospheric layer of Earth
Solar system
Our Galaxy Milky way
Cluster of Galaxies
Super Cluster
Filament
Universe
Another possibility is that the first sky is the whole universe and there are still 6 additional layers of skies above our cosmos which we are not yet able to see.
Allah is He, who created seven skies and of the earth also the like of it. His orders descends between them so that you may know that Allah has power over all things, and that Allah encompasses, all things in (His) Knowledge
There is a similarity mentioned between the earth and the skies. The similarity is in their structure i.e as skies are built i.e one above another, similarly earth is made of layers one above another. The details of the layers of the Earth are given at the bottom of the post in notes.
By the Sky which is returning/bouncy, and by the Earth of opening/cracking nature
The nature of sky is stated to be returning or bouncy type, which could be pointing either to its cyclical nature (rotation), or it may mean its bouncing nature referring to the space time fabric of universe. The Earth is said to be of opening/cracking nature, may be referring to the cracks which forms between the layers of earth which causes e.g eruptions of volcanoes.
And (He) made the moon, in which is light, and made the sun as a Lamp.
Sun is said to be a lamp, obviously because it burns fuel. The ayat states that He made the Moon in which is light. We see light in the moon which is basically reflected light of the sun. In addition, moon’s inner most core comprising of iron and sulphur, at a temperature of 1600-1700K, would have its own glow as well inside of moon (see in notes below)
What! are you the more severe to create or the skies (above)? Which We have created. He raised its canopy high, thus perfected it. It’s night, He endowed with darkness, and its light He brings out. And the earth, after that He extended. He draw out therefrom its water and its pastures. And the mountains He firmly fixed.
In these ayahs, sequence of creation is mentioned. It is informed that He raised the canopy of the heavens high i.e the heavens were expanded. He brought forth the light of it, that with the expansion from the initial very dense universe, the density decreased to allow the light to travel in the Universe. After that He spread out the earth. (Spreading out does not mean the Earth is flat, would mean He shaped the earth , i.e from very small size in the beginning when Earth and Skies were joined together, the Earth was spread to its present size, i.e to a size of much bigger sphere.). Then He brought forth its water and pastures and fixed mountains on Earth. It means the sequence of creations is that, Allah made first the sky and after that He shaped the Earth.
The Skies and Earth were all joined together in a mixture and then God separated them.
Do not the unbelievers see that the skies and the earth were joined together before We split them asunder We made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe?
Earth was created and shaped out of this mixture, in two periods of time.
Say. Is it that you deny Him who created the earth in two periods of time? And do you join equals with Him? He is the Lord of (all) the Worlds.
Then mountains were fixed on earth, and all provisions were provided on earth. All done in four periods of time. The two periods of time mentioned in Aya 41:9 and four periods of time mentioned 41:10 are concurrent. One information is provided additionally, that these four periods of time are equal in length.
He sets on the (earth), mountains standing firm, above it, and bestowed blessings on it, and set measures/proportion therein for all things for their nourishment, in four periods/intervals of time, equal (time periods)for the (sake of) those who ask
Then He attended towards the sky, and it was smoke/gaseous. He said to it and to the earth. “Come you together, willingly or unwillingly.” Both said. “We do come (together), in willing obedience.”
So, after the sky was shaped, then earth was shaped and provisions on earth were created, and after that He created seven skies out of the sky in two periods of time.
So He completed them as seven skies in two periods/intervals of time, and He assigned/inspired to each sky its command. And We adorned the lower sky with lamps, and (provided it) with guard. Such is the Decree of (Him) the Exalted in Might, Full of Knowledge.
The lowest sky is adorned with stars. If the lowest sky is the atmospheric layer surrounding the earth, it makes the start look like glimmering lamps. Otherwise, from space the stars don’t look to glimmer.
It is He who has created for you all things that are on earth; Then, He attended to the skies, thus made seven skies thereof; and He has knowledge of all things.
The sky, we constructed it with power and it is We who expand it
In the 20th century, the scientific community discovered that the universe is expanding. All the galaxies are moving away from one another. This was against logic as scientists expected that galaxies should be moving closer to one another due to force of gravitation. Allah informs in this Ayat that it is He, who is expanding the Universe.
He it is Who created the skies and the earth in six time periods – and His throne was over the water – that He may test you, which of you is better in conduct. But if you were to say to them, “You shall indeed be raised up after death”, the unbelievers would be sure to say, “This is nothing but obvious sorcery!”
In the above ayat it is mentioned that Allah created the skies and earth in six periods of time and His throne was on water. There is some very latest research which says that in the beginning Earth was covered with Water. So this would be an indication to the young Earth and beginning of life which originated in water. The ‘Arsh’ i.e throne may have different meanings to people, it could be an example of control board, where major decisions are made and orders issued.
Surely in the nearness of Allah the number of the months are twelve months, in the book of Allah the day He created the skies and the earth…
Above is part of ayat of 9:36 in which Allah states that the number of months is 12 from the time period that the earth and skies were created. In order to have months on earth which are cyclical in nature, means that the Moon and Sun should have been established within the same time period as earth. Currently if we google age of earth, moon and sun, all are estimated to be approximately 4.6 billion years. Meaning the solar system and earth, moon and sun were created in approximately the same epoch of time not too far distant in time from each other.
O ye assembly of Jinns and men! If it be ye can pass beyond the zones of the skies and the earth, pass ye! not without authority shall ye be able to pass!
Escape velocity is the minimum speed needed for an object to escape from the gravitational influence of a massive body. The escape velocity from earth is about 40,270 km/h I.e the speed required to escape the earth gravitational pull.
Thus, I swear by the occurrence/falling of stars and indeed it is a mighty adjuration if you but knew,-
The falling of most stars at the end of their lives, happens with a nova or supernova, a mighty release of energy in which a star can briefly outshine entire galaxies and radiate more energy than our sun will in its entire lifetime. This indeed is no small event and worthy of drawings attention of mankind.
The day that We roll up the sky like a scroll rolled up for books. As We started the initial creation, so shall We repeat it. This is a promise upon us, truly shall We fulfill it.
This could be an indication that the universe would end up in ‘BIG CRUNCH’, as the universe expanded in the initial stages, eventually it could compress towards the end of time. (and may be this cycle keeps on repeating)
Descriptions in Quran of the Creation of Universe:
Some people wonder why Allah did not include detailed explanations in the Quran about how He created the universe. The Quran simply states that Allah created the heavens and the earth but does not elaborate on the processes involved. One possible explanation is that humans are familiar with and can only relate to four dimensions: three spatial dimensions and one time dimension.
To illustrate this point, imagine a one-dimensional being created by God. If God informs this being about the existence of three-dimensional creatures who use devices to measure time, such as watches, the one-dimensional creature might ask for an explanation of how these devices are made. However, describing to a one-dimensional being how factories manufacture watches would be futile because they lack the capacity to comprehend a three-dimensional world. The limitations of their perception would render the explanation meaningless.
Similarly, if the universe encompasses more than the dimensions humans can perceive, much of its workings would remain incomprehensible to us. Even if someone were to attempt to describe these additional dimensions, the explanation would likely confuse the vast majority of people. Current scientific theories, such as string theory, suggest that the universe indeed has more dimensions than we can observe. For example, bosonic string theory requires 26 dimensions for mathematical consistency, while superstring theory posits 10 dimensions, and M-theory proposes 11 dimensions.
These theories imply that the universe is far more complex than our limited perception allows us to understand. Therefore, it is plausible that Allah chose not to include intricate details about the universe’s creation in the Quran, as such explanations might be beyond human comprehension and, ultimately, not beneficial for our spiritual guidance.
Structure of the Earth is divided into layers. These layers are both physically and chemically different. The Earth has an outer solid crust, a highly viscousmantle, a liquid outer core, and a solid inner core. (Following is the description of layers and sub layers of Earth):
The crust is the outermost layer of the Earth. It is made of solid rocks. It is mostly made of the lighter elements, silicon, oxygen, aluminium. Because of this, it is known as sial (silicon = Si; aluminium = Al) or felsic.
Lithosphere is the first of the four sub layers which together constitute the Mantle. Mantle is the layer of the Earth right below the crust. It is made mostly of oxygen, silicon and the heavier element magnesium. The uppermost part of the mantle is solid, and forms the base of the crust. It is made of the heavy rock peridotite. The continental and oceanic plates include both the crust proper and this uppermost solid layer of the mantle. Together this mass makes up the lithosphere. The lithosphere plates float on the semi-liquid aesthenosphere below.
Outer core. Earth core is solid iron and nickel, and is about 5000–6000oC. is a liquid layer below the mantle.
Inner core, is the very center of the Earth. It is very hot and, due to the high pressure, it is solid.[1]
Moon’s Inner core:
Moon’s internal structure
Core
In 2010, a reanalysis of the old Apollo seismic data on the deep moonquakes using modern processing methods confirmed that the Moon has an iron rich core with a radius of 330 ± 20 km. The same reanalysis established that the solid inner core made of pure iron has the radius of 240 ± 10 km. The core is surrounded by the partially (10 to 30%) melted layer of the lower mantle with a radius of 480 ± 20 km (thickness ~150 km). These results imply that 40% of the core by volume has solidified. The density of the liquid outer core is about 5 g/cm3 and it could contain as much 6% sulfur by weight. The temperature in the core is probably about 1600–1700 K.[5]
Al-Quran describes an incidence of Moosa A.S and Pharoah, where Moosa A.S and his followers were able to cross a large body of water with the help of a temporary passage, which was made for them with the will of God. However, when the Pharoah and his team tried to use the same passage, the temporary passage was filled with water and they were drowned. As per our observations of the Universe around us, everything follows God’s will. The physical laws created by God are Gods’ will and all His orders are carried out per His Will and per the physical laws created by Him. These laws are also His practice and He does not change His practice.
On account of their arrogance in the land and their plotting of Evil, but the plotting of Evil will harm only its authors. Now are they but looking for the way the earlier people were dealt with? But no change will you find in Allah’s practice. no turning off will you find in Allah’s practice.
When God intends to do any thing, he orders for it and His orders are carried out accordingly. We see that God’s orders are carried out by His practice which are laws of the nature and God does not change His practice.
Then We told Moses by inspiration. “Strike the sea with your rod.” So it divided, and each separate part became like the huge, firm mass of a mountain.
We took the BANI-ISRAEL/Children of Israel across the sea: Pharaoh and his group followed them in insolence and spite. When he (Pharaoh) sensed his drowning, he said ‘ I believe that there is no god except Him whom the Children of Israel believe in: I am of those who are muslims/ submitters’.
The parting of waters of the sea was with the orders of God. The below link explores the possibility of temporary parting of sea water per physical laws with the help of studies conducted with computer simulations.
The Biblical image of Moses raising his arm to part the waters of the Red Sea is one of the most enduring to emerge from the Old Testament. But what has long been thought to be either a fable or a miracle may in fact have happened – as researchers postulate theories as to how and where such an event might have taken place.
Parting the Red Sea: Examining the Possibilities
In 1992, a paper by Doron Nof and Nathan Paldor looked at possible scientific explanations for the parting of the Red Sea as set out in the book of Exodus. They considered two options – a tsunami generated by an earthquake or other event (such as landslide or volcanic eruption) and a mechanism called ‘wind setdown’ in which winds drive back the sea.
Although the Red Sea region is highly seismically active, Nof and Paldor rejected the tsunami as the most likely explanation in favor of the wind setdown, which fits better with the description of the event laid down in Exodus. Wind setdown is the opposite of a storm surge, and occurs when wind (sometimes in combination with tides) drives water abnormally far from the coast.
Nof and Paldor concluded that the Biblical description of an overnight easterly wind at a (not excessive) speed of 20ms-1 would have generated a sea level drop of over 2.5m at the northern end of the Red Sea. Combined with the possible existence of a submarine ridge, this would have allowed the Israelites a land bridge and time to cross.
The destruction of the pursuing Egyptians (a shortcoming of the tsunami model) is also explained by wind setdown. A sudden drop in the wind speed, or a change in the wind direction, would have allowed the waters to rush back rapidly. Nof and Paldorf’s calculations suggest that the dry area could be completely flooded in as little as four minutes, leaving no hope of escape for anyone still on the dried-out ridge.
Red Sea Crossing: Refining the Location With Computer Simulations
In 2010, further work was undertaken on the theoretical possibility of a scientific explanation for the Red Sea crossing. Using computer simulations, Drews and Han focused upon historical topography and considered Nof and Paldor’s proposals. Also following the theory of wind setdown, they considered alternative locations and found what they considered to be a better fit elsewhere.
Rather than the location at the north end of the Red Sea/Gulf of Suez favored by Nof and Paldor, they identified a site on the Mediterranean coast, at the Lake of Tanis. Here, computer modeling demonstrated that the former coastline would, under a wind set-down of 28ms-1, open up a 3-4 kilometer-long land bridge which would remain open for around four hours.
Red Sea Miracle: The Truth?
There are obvious difficulties in drawing a firm conclusion about the passage across the Red Sea. The Bible’s information can be interpreted in different ways and is vague about location. Also, the topography of the Red and Mediterranean Seas and their coasts has changed as sea levels fluctuate over periods of thousands of years.
Scientific research indicates, however, that such an event might have taken place as described purely through the natural mechanisms of wind set-down and a favorable topography. Whether such an event happened at the behest of the Lord, as the Bible maintains, or whether the Israelites were simply very lucky remains, of course, a matter for much greater, and less scientific, debate.
Did you see the one who disputed with Abraham in his Lord, because Allah had granted him Kingdom? Abraham said. “My Lord is He Who Gives life and death.” He said. “I give life and death”. Said Abraham. “But it is Allah who causes the sun to rise from the east, then you cause it to rise from the West.” Thus was he confounded who (in arrogance) rejected faith. Nor does Allah Give guidance to the people unjust.
It is God who created the Universe and firmly established the laws in it. Everything works under the laws established by Him in the Universe. Everybody knows that no entity besides Him, no matter however powerful, can not change any law of the Universe. Any body challenging the authority of God should think, can they change even an iota of His established principles?
Topics from The Book (Al-Kitab) 