Quran

Love for Prophet’s kinship

Aijaz Islam, Quran, Uncategorized , , , ,

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

42:23  ذَٰلِكَ الَّذِي يُبَشِّرُ اللَّهُ عِبَادَهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ ۗ قُل لَّا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا إِلَّا الْمَوَدَّةَ فِي الْقُرْبَىٰ ۗ وَمَن يَقْتَرِفْ حَسَنَةً نَّزِدْ لَهُ فِيهَا حُسْنًا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ شَكُورٌ

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.

39:69  وَأَشْرَقَتِ الْأَرْضُ بِنُورِ رَبِّهَا وَوُضِعَ الْكِتَابُ وَجِيءَ بِالنَّبِيِّينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ وَقُضِيَ بَيْنَهُم بِالْحَقِّ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ

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 .

33:6  النَّبِيُّ أَوْلَىٰ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ وَأَزْوَاجُهُ أُمَّهَاتُهُمْ

The Prophet is closer to the Believers than their own selves, and his wives are their mothers……..

17:23  وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا ۚ إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ الْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَا أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَا أُفٍّ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلًا كَرِيمًا

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.

45:6 تِلْكَ آيَاتُ اللَّهِ نَتْلُوهَا عَلَيْكَ بِالْحَقِّ ۖ فَبِأَيِّ حَدِيثٍ بَعْدَ اللَّهِ وَآيَاتِهِ يُؤْمِنُونَ

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:

  1. 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:

33:30  يَا نِسَاءَ النَّبِيِّ مَن يَأْتِ مِنكُنَّ بِفَاحِشَةٍ مُّبَيِّنَةٍ يُضَاعَفْ لَهَا الْعَذَابُ ضِعْفَيْنِ ۚ وَكَانَ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ يَسِيرًا

O Wives of the Prophet! If any of you were guilty of evident indecent conduct, the Punishment would be doubled to her, and that is easy for Allah.

17:73-75  وَإِن كَادُوا لَيَفْتِنُونَكَ عَنِ الَّذِي أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ لِتَفْتَرِيَ عَلَيْنَا غَيْرَهُ ۖ وَإِذًا لَّاتَّخَذُوكَ خَلِيلًا  وَلَوْلَا أَن ثَبَّتْنَاكَ لَقَدْ كِدتَّ تَرْكَنُ إِلَيْهِمْ شَيْئًا قَلِيلًا  إِذًا لَّأَذَقْنَاكَ ضِعْفَ الْحَيَاةِ وَضِعْفَ الْمَمَاتِ ثُمَّ لَا تَجِدُ لَكَ عَلَيْنَا نَصِيرًا

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).

Abū Jaʿfar 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.

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satanic_Verses

The Satanic Verses incident, known as qissat al-gharaniq (Story of the Cranes), is the name given to the occasion on which the Islamic Prophet 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.
Basic narrative[edit]
See the complete text of Tabarī’s account below
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,
Have you thought of al-Lāt and al-‘Uzzá
and Manāt, the third, the other?
(Sura 53, 19-20)
Satan tempted him to utter the following line:
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]
http://sunnah.org/wp/2014/01/20/z/
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.

Who are Quraish?

Aijaz Islam, Quraish, Quran, Uncategorized ,

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

106-1-4 لِإِيلَافِ قُرَيْشٍ  إِيلَافِهِمْ رِحْلَةَ الشِّتَاءِ وَالصَّيْفِ  فَلْيَعْبُدُوا رَبَّ هَٰذَا الْبَيْتِ  الَّذِي أَطْعَمَهُم مِّن جُوعٍ وَآمَنَهُم مِّنْ خَوْف

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 the same season. 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.

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 first house established for mankind is in Makkah/Bakka, it is a place of Aman/security and guidance.

3:97  فِيهِ آيَاتٌ بَيِّنَاتٌ مَّقَامُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ۖ وَمَن دَخَلَهُ كَانَ آمِنًا ۗ وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا ۚ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ

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.

22:26-27  وَإِذْ بَوَّأْنَا لِإِبْرَاهِيمَ مَكَانَ الْبَيْتِ أَن لَّا تُشْرِكْ بِي شَيْئًا وَطَهِّرْ بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْقَائِمِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ  وَأَذِّن فِي النَّاسِ بِالْحَجِّ يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالًا وَعَلَىٰ كُلِّ ضَامِرٍ يَأْتِينَ مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِيقٍ

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.

22:25  إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَالْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ الَّذِي جَعَلْنَاهُ لِلنَّاسِ سَوَاءً الْعَاكِفُ فِيهِ وَالْبَادِ ۚ وَمَن يُرِدْ فِيهِ بِإِلْحَادٍ بِظُلْمٍ نُّذِقْهُ مِنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ

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.

48:25  هُمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَصَدُّوكُمْ عَنِ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَالْهَدْيَ مَعْكُوفًا أَن يَبْلُغَ مَحِلَّهُ ۚ وَلَوْلَا رِجَالٌ مُّؤْمِنُونَ وَنِسَاءٌ مُّؤْمِنَاتٌ لَّمْ تَعْلَمُوهُمْ أَن تَطَئُوهُمْ فَتُصِيبَكُم مِّنْهُم مَّعَرَّةٌ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ ۖ لِّيُدْخِلَ اللَّهُ فِي رَحْمَتِهِ مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ لَوْ تَزَيَّلُوا لَعَذَّبْنَا الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا

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.

2:197  الْحَجُّ أَشْهُرٌ مَّعْلُومَاتٌ ۚ فَمَن فَرَضَ فِيهِنَّ الْحَجَّ فَلَا رَفَثَ وَلَا فُسُوقَ وَلَا جِدَالَ فِي الْحَجِّ ۗ وَمَا تَفْعَلُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ يَعْلَمْهُ اللَّهُ ۗ وَتَزَوَّدُوا فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الزَّادِ التَّقْوَىٰ ۚ وَاتَّقُونِ يَا أُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ

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:

https://www.iipccanada.com/2017/11/06/kabah-cube-and-qibla-direction-1992/

 

 

Golden Words

Aijaz Islam, Quran, Religion, sprituality ,

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

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:

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 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.”

45:6  تِلْكَ آيَاتُ اللَّهِ نَتْلُوهَا عَلَيْكَ بِالْحَقِّ ۖ فَبِأَيِّ حَدِيثٍ بَعْدَ اللَّهِ وَآيَاتِهِ يُؤْمِنُونَ

These 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?

Allah poses a question, in what Hadith/narration you want to believe after Allah has revealed his Ayas in absolute truth?

10:82  وَيُحِقُّ اللَّهُ الْحَقَّ بِكَلِمَاتِهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُجْرِمُونَ

Allah verifies the truth with His words, even if the criminals dislike it.

Allah speaks the truth and He verifies the truth with His Words, although the criminals dislike it so much.

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

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.

Recognize Groups by their behaviors, not by their labels

Aijaz Jews, Nasara, People of the Book, Quran, Religion, sprituality, Uncategorized, Yahood , , ,

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Al-Kitab mentions several groups of people with certain names or labels, such as Muslims, Jews, Christians, etc. When Al-Kitab introduces these labels it also gives behaviors and character traits of these people. An important point to understand is that when Al-Kitab mentions for example ‘Jews’ it means those people who act according to traits given in Al-Kitab for Jews, and not by what the world calls them or not by what label they put on themselves.

And when Al-Kitab mentions ‘Muslims’, then those people who match the character traits of ‘Muslims’ in Al-Kitab are meant.  The labels that people put on themselves don’t matter. If some people call and label themselves as ‘Muslims’, however, their actions actually match the traits of ‘Jews’ given in the Book, then they are actually ‘Jews’ in the eyes of the Lord. Vice Versa, if some people call and label themselves as ‘Jews’, however they do not match the characteristics of ‘Jews’ in the Book, they are not ‘Jews’ in the eyes of the Lord.

With this point in mind, lets review some of the character traits given in Al-Kitab for  groups and see if we can recognize some of  these behaviors:

Example of  Behaviors in Quran:

People exhibiting the traits of ‘Jews’, believe they are Allah’s favorites excluding all other people. As per their belief, others are not Allah’s favorites

62:6   قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ هَادُوا إِن زَعَمْتُمْ أَنَّكُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ لِلَّهِ مِن دُونِ النَّاسِ فَتَمَنَّوُا الْمَوْتَ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ

Say. “O ye the people who are Jews! If ye think that ye are Aulia/supporters of Allah, to the exclusion of others, then desire for death, if ye are truthful!”

They listen to lies attributed to the Messenger. They listen from people who actually never reached the Messenger. They change the subject of Kalam (saying). They make criteria’s for acceptance or rejection of their fabrications.

5:41  يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ لَا يَحْزُنكَ الَّذِينَ يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْكُفْرِ مِنَ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا آمَنَّا بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَلَمْ تُؤْمِن قُلُوبُهُمْ ۛ وَمِنَ الَّذِينَ هَادُوا ۛ سَمَّاعُونَ لِلْكَذِبِ سَمَّاعُونَ لِقَوْمٍ آخَرِينَ لَمْ يَأْتُوكَ ۖ يُحَرِّفُونَ الْكَلِمَ مِن بَعْدِ مَوَاضِعِهِ ۖ يَقُولُونَ إِنْ أُوتِيتُمْ هَٰذَا فَخُذُوهُ وَإِن لَّمْ تُؤْتَوْهُ فَاحْذَرُوا ۚ وَمَن يُرِدِ اللَّهُ فِتْنَتَهُ فَلَن تَمْلِكَ لَهُ مِنَ اللَّهِ شَيْئًا ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُرِدِ اللَّهُ أَن يُطَهِّرَ قُلُوبَهُمْ ۚ لَهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا خِزْيٌ ۖ وَلَهُمْ فِي الْآخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ

O Mesenger! let not those grieve you, who race into dis-belief. Among those people who say “We believe” with their lips but whose hearts have no faith; and among the Jews,- people who are listeners to lies,- they listen from other party who has never come to you. They change the words from their places. they say, “If you are given this, take it, but if not, avoid!” If Allah intends to indulge any in fitna/temptation, you have no authority in the least for him against Allah. For such – it is not Allah’s will to purify their hearts. For them there is disgrace in this world, and in the Hereafter a heavy punishment.

One of the tool to change the subject and actual intention of Allah’s Kalam/Ayas is to restrict the scope of Ayats with the concept of explaining it with some supposed event in the past.  While Allah declares that only rejecters call Ayas of Al-Quran as ‘tales of the past’ (83:13). They also taunt other people’s Din/Judgment and are rude to them in discussions.

4:46  مِّنَ الَّذِينَ هَادُوا يُحَرِّفُونَ الْكَلِمَ عَن مَّوَاضِعِهِ وَيَقُولُونَ سَمِعْنَا وَعَصَيْنَا وَاسْمَعْ غَيْرَ مُسْمَعٍ وَرَاعِنَا لَيًّا بِأَلْسِنَتِهِمْ وَطَعْنًا فِي الدِّينِ ۚ وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا وَاسْمَعْ وَانظُرْنَا لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَّهُمْ وَأَقْوَمَ وَلَٰكِن لَّعَنَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِكُفْرِهِمْ فَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا

Of the people who are Jews there are those who change the sayings from their subject/ places, and say. “We hear and we disobey”; and ‘You listen’ what is not worth listening; and “Ra’ina”(bear with us); with a twist of their tongues and as a mean of taunting the judgment. If only they had said. “We listened and we obey”; and “You listen”; and “Do look at us”; it would have been better for them, and more proper; but Allah has cursed them for their rejection; and they would not belive except for a very few.

Many of the lawful good things were made unlawful for them. In fact Allah does this in a subtle way. They themselves impose many lawful things as unlawful for them, in their over-zealousness. They obstruct in the way of Allah (by introducing additional orders or actually following other books than Book of Allah)

4:160  فَبِظُلْمٍ مِّنَ الَّذِينَ هَادُوا حَرَّمْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ طَيِّبَاتٍ أُحِلَّتْ لَهُمْ وَبِصَدِّهِمْ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ كَثِيرًا

Because of the injustice of the people from Jews We made unlawful for them the good things which had been lawful for them;- and because of the fact that they hindered a lot from Allah’s Way;-

An important Yahood/Jew trait is given in below Ayat. They eat Riba/The Increase (If you don’t give the prescribed portion in your savings as Zakat, and increase your wealth with that money, this is Al-Riba/The increase. The prescribed portion of Zakat in the light of Quran, is explained in previous post of Zakat/Charity). Interesting point here is that Riba is forbidden on believers (2:278) and the people who eat people’s money with false hood are exposed to be religious scholars in 9:34.

4:161 وَأَخْذِهِمُ الرِّبَا وَقَدْ نُهُوا عَنْهُ وَأَكْلِهِمْ أَمْوَالَ النَّاسِ بِالْبَاطِلِ ۚ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَافِرِينَ مِنْهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا

And they took AR-RIBA / The Increase and without doubt they were prohibited about it. And they ate the wealth of the people with falsehood and We have prepared for the rejecters among them a painful punishment.

The revelations from Allah increases them in their war mongering activities on Earth. As they have been changing the subject and intentions of Ayas per their interpretation. They are always trying to cause war and mischief on Earth and Allah extinguishes whenever they try to ignite fires of war. They are not fond of giving charities. They say that Allah’s hand is tied which also implies that now we have to take action.

5:64  وَقَالَتِ الْيَهُودُ يَدُ اللَّهِ مَغْلُولَةٌ ۚ غُلَّتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَلُعِنُوا بِمَا قَالُوا ۘ بَلْ يَدَاهُ مَبْسُوطَتَانِ يُنفِقُ كَيْفَ يَشَاءُ ۚ وَلَيَزِيدَنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنْهُم مَّا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ طُغْيَانًا وَكُفْرًا ۚ وَأَلْقَيْنَا بَيْنَهُمُ الْعَدَاوَةَ وَالْبَغْضَاءَ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ ۚ كُلَّمَا أَوْقَدُوا نَارًا لِّلْحَرْبِ أَطْفَأَهَا اللَّهُ ۚ وَيَسْعَوْنَ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَسَادًا ۚ وَاللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُفْسِدِينَ

And the yahood / jews say  “that hand of Allah is cuffed / tied up”. Their hands are cuffed / tied up and they are cursed with what they have said. But both His hands are outspread He spends how He wills. And what is revealed to you from your Lord definitely increases the majority amongst them in tyranny (i.e. unjustly harsh, cruel) and rejection. And We have put enmity and hatred amongst them towards the day of resurrection. Whenever they ignite the fire for war Allah extinguishes it and they make an effort in the earth to cause corruption. And Allah does not love those who are mufsedeen / corrupt.

If invited to join any group, tell them that you follow the Religion of True Ibraheem.

2:135  وَقَالُوا كُونُوا هُودًا أَوْ نَصَارَىٰ تَهْتَدُوا ۗ قُلْ بَلْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا ۖ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

And they say : Become Hood(Jews) or Nasara(Christians/Helpers) you would be guided , Say : Instead the Millat(religion) of true IBRAHEEM(Abraham) and he was not from the Polytheists

They think that no one can enter Jannat/Gardens except those who are in their group:

2:111   وَقَالُوا لَن يَدْخُلَ الْجَنَّةَ إِلَّا مَن كَانَ هُودًا أَوْ نَصَارَىٰ ۗ تِلْكَ أَمَانِيُّهُمْ ۗ قُلْ هَاتُوا بُرْهَانَكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِين

And they say. “None shall enter the Gardens unless he be a Jew or a Christian.” Those are their (vain) desires. Say. “Produce your proof if you are truthful.”.

Can you recognize those people who say that people of our group even if they go to Hell, they will only go for a limited period of time for their sins and after that limited time, they will be admitted to eternal gardens. Al-Kitab exposes these people with the below Ayat:

3:23-24  أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا نَصِيبًا مِّنَ الْكِتَابِ يُدْعَوْنَ إِلَىٰ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَتَوَلَّىٰ فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُمْ وَهُم مُّعْرِضُونَ  ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا لَن تَمَسَّنَا النَّارُ إِلَّا أَيَّامًا مَّعْدُودَاتٍ ۖ وَغَرَّهُمْ فِي دِينِهِم مَّا كَانُوا يَفْتَرُونَ

Have you not seen those who have been given a portion of the Book? They are invited to the Book of Allah, so that it orders among them, then a party of them turns back and keep away from it. This is because they say. “The fire shall not touch us but for a few numbered days” and  their forgeries deceive/deviate them from their Din/judgement.

Those people who exhibit the behaviors close to those  we saw in above Ayas to the characteristics of Jews, they will be more in enmity with those who will accept the faith as per Book of Allah.

5:82  لَتَجِدَنَّ أَشَدَّ النَّاسِ عَدَاوَةً لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الْيَهُودَ وَالَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا ۖ وَلَتَجِدَنَّ أَقْرَبَهُم مَّوَدَّةً لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ قَالُوا إِنَّا نَصَارَىٰ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ مِنْهُمْ قِسِّيسِينَ وَرُهْبَانًا وَأَنَّهُمْ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ

Definitely you will find among mankind. stronger in enmity for the believers who are Yahood / jews and those who associate (with Allah) And definitely you will find amongst them nearer in love for the believers, those who say surely we are Nasara / Helpers / Christians. That is because surely amongst them are Qissiseena / clergymen and Rohbaan / the terrorists and they do not seek greatness (i.e. arrogance and pride).

The below Ayat is instructing those believers who accept faith in the light of Ayas of Al-Kitab, not to take as protectors those who exhibit the behaviors of Jews and Christians as per Al-Kitab. This instruction is not for labeled Believers and labeled Jews and Christians.

5:51  يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّخِذُوا الْيَهُودَ وَالنَّصَارَىٰ أَوْلِيَاءَ ۘ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّهُم مِّنكُمْ فَإِنَّهُ مِنْهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ

O you people who believe! Let not the Jews and the Christians be your gaurdians. They are guardians to each other. Any one amongst you who turns to them for guardianship is one of them. Verily Allah doesnot guide a nation of Zalmin/unjust people.

Those groups who think that they must be God’s beloved nation as if His children, must ponder deeply why their group is the punished and miserable one in the world.

5:18  وَقَالَتِ الْيَهُودُ وَالنَّصَارَىٰ نَحْنُ أَبْنَاءُ اللَّهِ وَأَحِبَّاؤُهُ ۚ قُلْ فَلِمَ يُعَذِّبُكُم بِذُنُوبِكُم ۖ بَلْ أَنتُم بَشَرٌ مِّمَّنْ خَلَقَ ۚ يَغْفِرُ لِمَن يَشَاءُ وَيُعَذِّبُ مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَلِلَّهِ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا ۖ وَإِلَيْهِ الْمَصِيرُ

And the Jews and the Christians say: We are the sons of Allah and His beloved ones. Say: Why does He then punishes you for your sins? Nay, you are mortals from among those whom He has created, He forgives whom He pleases and punishes whom He pleases; and for Allah’s is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and what is between them, and to Him is the return.

2:113  وَقَالَتِ الْيَهُودُ لَيْسَتِ النَّصَارَىٰ عَلَىٰ شَيْءٍ وَقَالَتِ النَّصَارَىٰ لَيْسَتِ الْيَهُودُ عَلَىٰ شَيْءٍ وَهُمْ يَتْلُونَ الْكِتَابَ ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ قَالَ الَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ مِثْلَ قَوْلِهِمْ ۚ فَاللَّهُ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فِيمَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ

And the Yahood/Jews say, That Nasara/Christians are not on anything. And the Nasara/Christians say that the Yahood/Jews are not on anything. And both of them are reciting AL-KITAB/THE BOOK. Those people who don’t have knowledge say things similar to their sayings (of Yahood and Nasara); but Allah will judge between them in their differences on the Day of Judgment.

Please note that both Yahood and Nasara recite the Book (Al-Kitab) however they say that the other group or school of thought is not on the right path.

2:120  وَلَن تَرْضَىٰ عَنكَ الْيَهُودُ وَلَا النَّصَارَىٰ حَتَّىٰ تَتَّبِعَ مِلَّتَهُمْ ۗ قُلْ إِنَّ هُدَى اللَّهِ هُوَ الْهُدَىٰ ۗ وَلَئِنِ اتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَاءَهُم بَعْدَ الَّذِي جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ ۙ مَا لَكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ مِن وَلِيٍّ وَلَا نَصِيرٍ

And never will the Yahood(Jews) or the Nasara(Christians) be pleased with you unless you follow their Millat (religion) say : Surely, the guidance is of ALLAH, that is the guidance. And if you are to follow their desires after the knowledge has reached you then you would find neither protector not helper from Allah.

As per Al-Kitab the religion of muslims/submitters is Religion of Ibrahim. The people exhibiting characteristics of Yahood and Nasara will never be pleased with you with this religion. However, after knowledge of Al-Kitab has come to you, you are not to follow their desires in matter of faith.

 9:30  وَقَالَتِ الْيَهُودُ عُزَيْرٌ ابْنُ اللَّهِ وَقَالَتِ النَّصَارَى الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ اللَّهِ ۖ ذَٰلِكَ قَوْلُهُم بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ ۖ يُضَاهِئُونَ قَوْلَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِن قَبْلُ ۚ قَاتَلَهُمُ اللَّهُ ۚ أَنَّىٰ يُؤْفَكُونَ

The Jews call ‘Uzair a son of Allah, and the Christians call Christ the son of Allah. That is a saying from their mouth; (in this) they but imitate what the unbelievers of old used to say. Allah’s curse be on them. how they fabricate lies!

The Christians say that Jesus is the son of God.  Please note that present day labeled Jews in Israel  don’t say ‘Uzair’ to be the son of God. This could be a prophesy for future when some group will start calling him that. However present day labeled Jews in Israel don’t fulfill this characteristic trait.

5:14  وَمِنَ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا إِنَّا نَصَارَىٰ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَهُمْ فَنَسُوا حَظًّا مِّمَّا ذُكِّرُوا بِهِ فَأَغْرَيْنَا بَيْنَهُمُ الْعَدَاوَةَ وَالْبَغْضَاءَ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ ۚ وَسَوْفَ يُنَبِّئُهُمُ اللَّهُ بِمَا كَانُوا يَصْنَعُونَ

From those who said “We are Christians/Helpers”, We did take a covenant, but they forgot a part of the message with which they were made to remember. thus we put enmity and hatred among them till the day of Establishment and soon will Allah inform them what they used to do/make.

For those people who put label of ‘Christians’ on themselves, they forgot a part of the message that was given to them. In Ayat 61:14, with Prophet Essa A.S, they promised to be Helpers of Allah. So, this Ayat is stating that they forgot one part of this covenant, i.e they forgot Allah’s part and are now only helpers of the world. They keep on helping people in the world (Nasara literally means helpers) however Allah and His Book is forgotten by them.

9:107  وَالَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا مَسْجِدًا ضِرَارًا وَكُفْرًا وَتَفْرِيقًا بَيْنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَإِرْصَادًا لِّمَنْ حَارَبَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ مِن قَبْلُ ۚ وَلَيَحْلِفُنَّ إِنْ أَرَدْنَا إِلَّا الْحُسْنَىٰ ۖ وَاللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ

And these (hypocrites) who have taken that mosque as an ambush (i.e. hidden place for sudden attack), for those (yahood / jews) who have been waging war against Allah and His messenger from before, to harm and to reject (i.e. Islam / Peace) and to make divisions between the believers and definitely they swear that our intention is nothing except goodness. And Allah testifies that surely they are definite liars.

One trait of hypocrites is stated in this Ayat, that they have grasped a Mosque, for the purpose of causing differences among believers, and waging gorilla warfare. These people are those who have been waging war with Allah and Messenger since before (see Ayas 2-278-279, those believers who eat Riba/Increase i.e  from the prescribed share of Allah in their savings). They themselves don’t have a reckoning of what they are doing 2:8-9, and they can swear that their intention is all but good.

2:136  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

Say you: “We believe in Allah, and the revelation given to us, and to Ibraheem ( Abraham), Isma’il, Ishaq (Isaac), Yaqoob (Jacob), and the Tribes, and that given to Moosa (Moses) and Essa (Jesus), and that given to (all) prophets from their Lord: we make no difference between any one of it: And we are Muslims/Submitters.

The above Ayat, states an important characteristics of ‘Muslim’ that they say that they don’t differentiate between any of the Messengers, i.e they don’t  say that some are superior to others. The Ayat 2:253 which mentions some as having degrees over others is for Allah and not for Muslims to consider some as superiors to others.

25:73  وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِّرُوا بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِمْ لَمْ يَخِرُّوا عَلَيْهَا صُمًّا وَعُمْيَانًا

And when they are reminded with the ayats / signs of their Lord they do not fall down over them, deaf and blind.

The Muttaqin (the people who take guard), don’t fall over Allah’s Ayas deaf and blind. The do deep pondering over them.

God has created all people. He is the Lord and sustainer of all people in the World. Then why would God punish people who He Himself created in a certain place or community unless they exhibit the behaviors he has warned them not to do.

It may not be that a particular group exhibits characteristics of a trait all the time. It would seem more likely that in every community weather as a whole this community be labeled as Muslim, Jew or Christian, there would be some people within each community behaving like Muslims, Jews, Christians, Hypocrites and Momin/Believers etc. It appears from above review of Ayas, that those people who exhibit fundamentally orthodox frozen minded strict religious behaviors are the ones termed as ‘Jews’ in a community. The people who place humanity and helping others above anything else are termed as ‘Nasara’ of a community. Those who have a love of violence in their heart as a disease, they don’t pay prescribed amount of Zakat, don’t realize that they are the hypocrites in their community. Those who take a balanced approach, don’t fall over Allah’s Ayats blindly without pondering, don’t differentiate between Allah’s revelations and messengers, are the submitters and believers.

Notes:

2:278-279  يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَذَرُوا مَا بَقِيَ مِنَ الرِّبَا إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ  فَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلُوا فَأْذَنُوا بِحَرْبٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ۖ وَإِن تُبْتُمْ فَلَكُمْ رُءُوسُ أَمْوَالِكُمْ لَا تَظْلِمُونَ وَلَا تُظْلَمُونَ

O’ you who believe take guard of Allah and leave off, what remains from AR-RIBA / THE INCREASE , if you are believers. Then if you do not, (leave off, what remains from AR-RIBA / THE INCREASE),so take a notice of war from Allah and His messenger. And if you turn back, so for you are the heads of your wealth. You do not oppress and you will not be oppressed.

Link to lecture about What Quran says about Yahood and Nasara:

https://www.iipccanada.com/2017/10/16/jews-and-christian-2008/

Most people who call themselves Muslims today when they hear the Arabic words “Yahood” & “Nasara” only understand them to refer to the label Jews and Christians. This lecture points out how Allah in the Quran defines the Yahood & Nasara by their character traits and behavior, and also the words itself hold a descriptive meaning which most of us are unaware of and hence are unable to identify these categories of people completely. The exposition through the Ayats of Allah in this lecture details who are the Yahood and Nasara which encompasses more than just those who call themselves Jews & Christians to include anyone who follows their (Jews and Christian) practices (found in their books) and the character traits defined in the Quran regardless of what label they put on themselves

 

Pre-determination of fate?

Aijaz Islam, Quran, Religion, sprituality

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Are we pre-destined to play the roles already written for us in this world and then get good or bad reward for the roles we played according to the fate which was already written for us? Does not seem fair if this would be the case.

Allah has given us permission to be free in our will to carry out actions in our life according to our own decisions. Allah will judge the actions and based on the weightage of good and bad deeds, will decide about our fate in the hereafter. Some people ask, when this is already written what we will be doing in our life, then why we would be responsible for our deeds? The answer to this question is that Allah knows what we will be doing in our life because of his knowledge of future and not because he has already written down the script for us to carry out. He knows because He can see us in past, present and future in time. Otherwise, we are free to act on our will for which permission has been granted by Allah. We are therefore responsible for our actions and will be judged accordingly.

 

 

20:110  يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِهِ عِلْمًا

He (Allah) knows what is before and after them and they shall not compass it with their knowledge.

The above Ayat tells us that Allah knows the past and future. Because of this knowledge of past and future, any thing we are going to do in future could be written down. The below Ayats mention that there is a written record/account of every thing.  

11:6  وَمَا مِن دَابَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا عَلَى اللَّهِ رِزْقُهَا وَيَعْلَمُ مُسْتَقَرَّهَا وَمُسْتَوْدَعَهَا ۚ كُلٌّ فِي كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ

There is no creature on earth but it’s sustenance is the responsibility of Allah. He knows of its destination and its course. All is in a clear writing/book.

13:38  وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلًا مِّن قَبْلِكَ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُمْ أَزْوَاجًا وَذُرِّيَّةً ۚ وَمَا كَانَ لِرَسُولٍ أَن يَأْتِيَ بِآيَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ۗ لِكُلِّ أَجَلٍ كِتَابٌ

We did send Messengers before thee, and appointed for them wives and children. it was never for a Messenger to bring an Ayat/Sign except with Allah’s permission. For each period there is a written (record)

15:4  وَمَا أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَرْيَةٍ إِلَّا وَلَهَا كِتَابٌ مَّعْلُومٌ

Never did We destroy a population that had not a term known and written.

34:3  وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَا تَأْتِينَا السَّاعَةُ ۖ قُلْ بَلَىٰ وَرَبِّي لَتَأْتِيَنَّكُمْ عَالِمِ الْغَيْبِ ۖ لَا يَعْزُبُ عَنْهُ مِثْقَالُ ذَرَّةٍ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَلَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا أَصْغَرُ مِن ذَٰلِكَ وَلَا أَكْبَرُ إِلَّا فِي كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ

The Unbelievers say, “Never to us will come the Hour”. Say, “Nay! but most surely, by my Lord, it will come upon you;- by Him Who knows the unseen,- from Whom is not hidden the least little atom in the heavens or on earth. Nor is there anything less than that, or greater, but is in a clear writing.

 

 

Reproductive fluids mentioned in 86:5-7

Aijaz Islam, Quran, Religion, Uncategorized , ,

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Sura Tariq (86) Ayas 5-7 are given below:

فَلْيَنظُرِ الْإِنسَانُ مِمَّ خُلِقَ  خُلِقَ مِن مَّاءٍ دَافِقٍ  يَخْرُجُ مِن بَيْنِ الصُّلْبِ وَالتَّرَائِبِ

Thus, a human being should see from what he is created! (He is) created from flowing water, which emits from between the loins and the ribs.

Some people have objected to these Ayas, that the understanding does not conform to the current scientific knowledge. However, this objection is because they consider these Ayas as referring solely to male reproduction system.

Before we review these Ayats, please consider meanings of some words and phrases in above Ayas as given below:

‘Sulb’ (ص ل ب) is used in the meaning of ‘Loins’ when referring to one’s progeny. In Ayat 4:23, the word ‘Aslabikum’ is used in the sense of ‘Loins’, وَحَلَائِلُ أَبْنَائِكُمُ الَّذِينَ مِنْ أَصْلَابِكُمْ

As per  Lane Arabic to English Dictionary (page 1712) , this word is used as ‘Loins’ when referring to one’s progeny.

‘Taraib’  mainly refers to the chest and rib bones area for both males and females but mostly for females. See Lane’s dictionary relevant page 301.

So the term ‘Bainas Sulbe wat-traib’ ( بَيْنِ الصُّلْبِ وَالتَّرَائِبِ), would mean between the loins and the chest/rib area. This is the area  where female ‘Uterus’ and ‘ovaries’ are located in females.

We know that both males and females eject reproductive fluids in the reproductive process. The reproductive fluid from male is emitted from ‘Sulb’ (loins) area of male and  in female from ‘Bainas Sulbe wat-traib’ (between loins and ribs) area. It is when both these fluids come together that a human being is created. Only male or female reproductive fluids alone would not create a human, rather when both these fluids come together and a unique ‘droplet’ is created. This happens in the female ‘Taraib’ area. The reference in the said Ayas is therefore, more likely in the context of female uterus which is located between the loins and the ribs.

 

 

Notes:

With reference to the Male reproductive system, the trigger mechanism or point of origin of orgasm is in the sacral nerve root found along the spine, located between the loins and chest area vertically.

Quote from Wikipedia:

 ‘The semen is ejected through the urethra with rhythmic contractions.[4] These rhythmic contractions are part of the male orgasm. They are generated by the bulbospongiosus and pubococcygeus muscles under the control of a spinal reflex at the level of the spinal nerves S2-4 via the pudendal nerve.

 

 

 

 

 

Remedy for Depression- Story of Prophet Ayub A.S

Aijaz Islam, Quran, Religion, sprituality, Uncategorized , , , , , ,

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Al-Quran describes an incident of Prophet Ayub (A.S) where it appears that prophet Ayub at some point of his life was inflicted with psychological problem which he described as a touch of Shaitan. Touch of Shaitan affects your psychology as Ayat 2:275 informs us. Shaitan does not have any control over our body, it effects our thoughts.

Allah prescribes to Prophet Ayub (A.S) to do exercise with foot i.e brisk walking or jogging, use cool water for bathing and drinking. Recognize the root cause of your mental anguish and directly strike on that cause.

The word  ضِغْثًا Zigzan in 38:44 means confusion, bogey, a mishmash of things, and represents the confusion and fears in human psyche which causes mental problem and pains. Allah requires to strike this directly and make a covenant to overcome this problem.

38:41  وَاذْكُرْ عَبْدَنَا أَيُّوبَ إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُ أَنِّي مَسَّنِيَ الشَّيْطَانُ بِنُصْبٍ وَعَذَابٍ

And remember our servant Ayub, When he called to his Lord that “Shaitan/Satan has touched me with a portion and a punishment.”

Please note that the touch of Shaitan affects a person psychology, because Shaitan does not have any physical control over you, it only affects your thoughts.

38:42  ارْكُضْ بِرِجْلِكَ ۖ هَٰذَا مُغْتَسَلٌ بَارِدٌ وَشَرَابٌ

Race with your foot/masculine manners, this is the cool bathing room and drink.

Allah gives the remedy for phychological problems;  Exercise/jog and use cool water for shower and for drinking.

38:44  وَخُذْ بِيَدِكَ ضِغْثًا فَاضْرِب بِّهِ وَلَا تَحْنَثْ ۗ إِنَّا وَجَدْنَاهُ صَابِرًا ۚ نِّعْمَ الْعَبْدُ ۖ إِنَّهُ أَوَّابٌ

“And take the CHIMERA/Bogey with your hand then strike with it, and you do not perjure. Surely We found him patient, blessed is our servant surely he did return.

Hold and recognize the cause of mental anguish/chimera/bogeyman, and strike it directly. Make a covenant of truth with Allah, that you will not be overwhelmed by this chimera again

7:201  إِنَّ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا إِذَا مَسَّهُمْ طَائِفٌ مِّنَ الشَّيْطَانِ تَذَكَّرُوا فَإِذَا هُم مُّبْصِرُونَ

Those who are pious/take guard, when any evil from the satan touches them, they remember (Allah), then they get the insight.

 42:39  وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَهُمُ الْبَغْيُ هُمْ يَنتَصِرُونَ

 And those who, when a wrong reaches them, they help themselves

With the remembrance of Allah, the hearts get satisfaction. If any believer is wronged and hurt and feeling oppressed,  the believer should help himself with the knowledge of the fact that the oppressor who have oppressed him will meet similar fate (by Allah) and will be fully recompensed by Allah for his wrongful acts. And also that the misfortune which has befallen on him, is test by Allah to see how he performs under the adverse circumstances.

The below portion of Ayat 2:275, tells us the touch of Shaitan affects one’s mind.

2:275  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 that he stands to madness from the touch of shaitan / Satan

Notes:

A lecture about Shaitan;

http://iipctvstream.com/eng_satan_old.html

http://iipctvstream.com/urdu_satan.html

Punishment for thieves

Aijaz Islam, Quran, Religion , , , ,

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In Ayat 5:38 Al-Kitab uses the word فَاقْطَعُوا  (with root  ق ط ع ) meaning ‘cut’ for both hands of a male or female thief. It is usually assumed that cut means severance of hands as the punishment of theft. However, lets examine another instance of mention of cutting of hands in Al-Kitab which we find in Ayat 12:31. This Ayat mentions an incident when a group of ladies with knives in their hands , cut their hands when Prophet Yusuf A.S passed in front of them, in awe of his exemplary personality. The same root word قَطَّعْ  ‘Qata’ is used in this Ayat which was used in Ayat 5:38 for theft punishment. No one has any doubt about it that these women actually did not sever their hands. Everybody knows that these ladies suffered a small cut in their hands.

So, we can conclude that cutting of hands in Ayat 5:38 means make a cut (for marking) in both hands of the persons who have committed theft. This mark serves as criminal record. In modern world criminal records are kept for persons involved in criminal activities. This marking which Al-Kitab mentions is serving the same purpose.

5:38  وَالسَّارِقُ وَالسَّارِقَةُ فَاقْطَعُوا أَيْدِيَهُمَا جَزَاءً بِمَا كَسَبَا نَكَالًا مِّنَ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

As to the thief, male or female, cut his or her hands. A punishment for what they earned and exemplary punishment from Allah , and Allah is Exalted in power.

12:31   فَلَمَّا سَمِعَتْ بِمَكْرِهِنَّ أَرْسَلَتْ إِلَيْهِنَّ وَأَعْتَدَتْ لَهُنَّ مُتَّكَأً وَآتَتْ كُلَّ وَاحِدَةٍ مِّنْهُنَّ سِكِّينًا وَقَالَتِ اخْرُجْ عَلَيْهِنَّ ۖ فَلَمَّا رَأَيْنَهُ أَكْبَرْنَهُ وَقَطَّعْنَ أَيْدِيَهُنَّ وَقُلْنَ حَاشَ لِلَّهِ مَا هَٰذَا بَشَرًا إِنْ هَٰذَا إِلَّا مَلَكٌ كَرِيمٌ

When she (Wife of Aziz of Egypt) heard of their (ladies) malicious talk, she sent for them and prepared a sitting for them. She gave each of them a knife and she said (to Joseph), “Come out before them”. When they saw him, they did extol him, and (in their amazement) cut their hands. they said, “Allah preserve us! This is no mortal! this is none other than a noble angel!”

Note:

Another incidence mentioned in Al-Kitab Ayat 12:70-79, suggests the punishment for this crime as per law of the land can be administered, and the punishment will be carried out to the perpetrator of theft.

Even those ultra conservative and orthodox Islamic societies who may still be practicing severing of hands as punishment of theft, they don’t sever both hands, while the Ayat 5:38. mentions both hands. The reason is because, the Spirit of Words of Allah, which Allah has breathed into Adam (38:72) and thus into mankind, enables mankind to recognize that severing of hands is not a rightful punishment for the crime of theft.

Allah informs about the nation of Aad that when they handled people they handled with great strictness. While believers should have mercy and humanity in their hearts. So punishment for a crimes should be commensurate with its’ severity and not overly strict.

26:130  وَإِذَا بَطَشْتُم بَطَشْتُمْ جَبَّارِينَ

“And when you (nation of ‘A’ad’) lay hands (on people), you did it ruthlessly”