Golden Words

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

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?

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.

 

 

Concept of abrogation of Ayahs

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

The traditionalist’s concept of abrogation (نسخ) of ayas of Al-Quran is that some of the ayahs in Al-Quran have been abrogated or superseded by other ayahs. The concept originated from their inability to explain some ayahs of Quran so they termed those ayahs as abrogated and considered ayat 2:106 as the justification of the concept of abrogation of ayahs.

The abrogated ayahs are not indicated in Quran nor in any hadith, the prophet mentioned any ayat to be abrogated or replaced with other ayat. It was later scholars who faced difficulty in explaining certain ayahs in relation to other ayahs, therefore they used the ayat 2:106 as pretext for declaring a number of ayahs as abrogated. Scholars have differed considerably in the number of abrogated ayahs. Some consider the number of abrogated ayahs to be over 500 and some consider it to be less than 10. However, no one dares to strike out from the book, the ayahs they deem abrogated.

The book (Al-Quran) has been sent for all people and for all ages. Is it not impossible for Allah to send a book whose instructions are valid for all times? It does not make sense that ayahs of Al-Quran were abrogated so frequently within a period of 23 years in history, because of changing conditions, and then after 23 years, it was set solid for the rest of eternity. Were all the changes in the world, happening during these 23 years and after that no changes were to occur to warrant further abrogation of ayahs. This concept of abrogation does not hold ground as we know that conditions of the world change all the time.

We will review the concept of abrogation in the light of ayahs of Quran to see if this concept is really about the cancellation of ayahs or it means something else:

11:1   الر ۚ كِتَابٌ أُحْكِمَتْ آيَاتُهُ ثُمَّ فُصِّلَتْ مِن لَّدُنْ حَكِيمٍ خَبِيرٍ

A.L.R. a Book, whose ayahs have been (firmly) established , and then explained,- from One Who is Wise and Well-acquainted.

2:106  مَا نَنسَخْ مِنْ آيَةٍ أَوْ نُنسِهَا نَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ مِّنْهَا أَوْ مِثْلِهَا ۗ أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

What we abrogate/cancel or cause to be forgotten (concepts different from spirit of Allah) from an ayat, We substitute something better or similar. Don’t you know that Allah Has power over all things?

Normally with ayahs there are preconceived notions attached to them. These notions are not from Allah but they are widely known and spread in the society. So Allah, cancels these notions (by other ayahs) and confirms the true spirit/understanding of ayahs. Therefore, what is cancelled from the ayahs, are the things introduced by satan and not the ayahs themselves.

22:52   وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ وَلَا نَبِيٍّ إِلَّا إِذَا تَمَنَّىٰ أَلْقَى الشَّيْطَانُ فِي أُمْنِيَّتِهِ فَيَنسَخُ اللَّهُ مَا يُلْقِي الشَّيْطَانُ ثُمَّ يُحْكِمُ اللَّهُ آيَاتِهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ

And We have not sent  before you a Messenger nor a Prophet except when he wishes, Satan encounters in his wishes. So Allah cancels what Satan encounters, then Allah confirms His ayahs/signs and Allah is knowing, wise.

16:101  وَإِذَا بَدَّلْنَا آيَةً مَّكَانَ آيَةٍ ۙ وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يُنَزِّلُ قَالُوا إِنَّمَا أَنتَ مُفْتَرٍ ۚ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

When We substitute the place of one ayat with another ayat and Allah knows best what He reveals ,- they say, “You are but a forger”. but most of them do not understand.

When the messenger delivers understanding of a certain topic from Al-Quran to the people, he explains it with the help of ayahs from various suras of Al-Quran. The order of these ayahs related to a certain topic is not necessary in their original order in the book. For example if a topic of ‘talaq’ is explained by the messenger, he will explain with the help of ayahs from sura 66 (Al-Talaq), sura 2 (Baqara) and various other suras.  The order of ayahs in this explanation will not be in the order in which they occur in Al-Quran. When this is done and the spirit of the words of Allah related to the said topic is conveyed to people, and if this understanding/spirit is different from people’s previous beliefs, they say that the messenger has invented it himself.

Reproductive fluids mentioned in 86:5-7

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.

 

 

 

 

 

Hadith of Moosa (A.S) and Hoot (Whale)

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Hoot (حوت) means big fish in Arabic. Normally the word is used for whales and dolphins. There is an incident mentioned in Al-Kitab about a Hoot/Whale swallowing prophet Yunus A.S. There is another incident mentioned in Al-Kitab about Prophet Moosa (A.S)and a youth who went on an expedition. The indication they had of their quest was to follow a Hoot/whale uptil the point of merging of two oceans.

18:60  وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِفَتَاهُ لَا أَبْرَحُ حَتَّىٰ أَبْلُغَ مَجْمَعَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ أَوْ أَمْضِيَ حُقُبًا

And when, Moses said to his attendant, “I will not give up until I reach the junction of the two seas or even If I have to spend a long time in travel.”

18:61  فَلَمَّا بَلَغَا مَجْمَعَ بَيْنِهِمَا نَسِيَا حُوتَهُمَا فَاتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ سَرَبًا

But when they both reached the Junction, they forgot (about) their Whale, which took its course in the sea freely.

18:62  فَلَمَّا جَاوَزَا قَالَ لِفَتَاهُ آتِنَا غَدَاءَنَا لَقَدْ لَقِينَا مِن سَفَرِنَا هَٰذَا نَصَبًا

When they had passed on (some distance), Moses said to his attendant. “Bring us our supper; truly we have suffered much fatigue at this (stage of) our journey.”

18:63  قَالَ أَرَأَيْتَ إِذْ أَوَيْنَا إِلَى الصَّخْرَةِ فَإِنِّي نَسِيتُ الْحُوتَ وَمَا أَنسَانِيهُ إِلَّا الشَّيْطَانُ أَنْ أَذْكُرَهُ ۚ وَاتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ عَجَبًا

He replied. “Did you see (what happened) when we betook ourselves to the rock? I did indeed forget (about) the Whale. none but Satan made me forget to tell (you) about it. it took its course through the sea in a marvelous way!”

18:64  قَالَ ذَٰلِكَ مَا كُنَّا نَبْغِ ۚ فَارْتَدَّا عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِمَا قَصَصًا

Moses said. “That was what we were seeking after.” So they went back on their footsteps, following (the path they had come).

18:65  فَوَجَدَا عَبْدًا مِّنْ عِبَادِنَا آتَيْنَاهُ رَحْمَةً مِّنْ عِندِنَا وَعَلَّمْنَاهُ مِن لَّدُنَّا عِلْمًا

So they found one of Our servants, on whom We had bestowed Mercy from Ourselves and whom We had taught knowledge from Our own Presence.

The conventional story associated with above Ayas in Quran is that Moosa and his attendant were on land. They had a cooked fish with them as their meal. After walking for a long time Moosa was tired and asked the attendant to bring the fish for their meal. At that time the attendant told him that when they passed over the rock, the dead fish suddenly became alive and made its way into the water. Moosa told him that was the place they were seeking and they turned back to find that place.

In the above conventional story beside the problem of a cooked fish suddenly becoming alive and jumping in water, another point is that the word Hoot (حوت) is used for big fish like whale and dolphin which people don’t carry for lunches.  The small fish which are eaten are called Samak( سمك) in Arabic. If we ponder over the Ayas only, the scenario which builds up is that Moosa and the youth must be travelling on a boat or ship. They are following a whale or dolphin. Whales do season migration on known routes. They are following the whale which is destined to go to a specific place as part of whale migration. The likely place which fulfills the conditions of the meeting place of two seas is the ‘Strait of Jibralter’. The Strait of Gibraltar is a narrow body of water between Spain and Morocco that connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean.

The points which indicate likely hood of Strait of Jibraltar to be the Moosa’s intended place are given below:

  1. This place has to be the meeting place of two seas or oceans. Strait of Jibralter is the meeting place of Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea
  2. For the term Majma al Beharain (مَجْمَعَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ )The Quran states that there are two large bodies of flowing water (Bahr-ain in Arabic) that meet but do not intermingle because of a “barrier” between them, a barrier that doesn’t prevent meeting but prevents intermingling (Al-Quran 55:19-20). THE ATLANTIC AND THE MEDITERRANEAN MEET BUT DO NOT INTERMIGLE OVER THE GIBRALTAR BECAUSE OF THE “BARRIER”. These two waters keep their distinct salinities separate over the junction.
  3. Another point to indicate the place is the Sakhra (الصَّخْرَةِ ) / Rock mentioned in 18:63. Moosa’s youth told him that the Whale made its way near the Rock, at that point he was distracted. Rock (صَّخْرَةِ) of Jibraltar is an interesting tourist place and a land mark, and a likely candidate to have distracted the youth who was following the whale upto that point.  See link http://www.gettyimages.ca/photos/rock-of-gibraltar?sort=mostpopular&mediatype=photography&phrase=rock%20of%20gibraltar#license
  4. This place is visited by a lot of whales and dolphins and many tourist companies now a days run whale watching tours in this place. See link, http://www.firmm.org/en/

 

 

 

Al-Sabt and Companions of the Al-Sabt/Rest

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Some words related to this topic used in Quran and their meanings are given below:

The word ‘Yom’ (يوم )in Quran is used in two meanings; one is  ‘Day’ and the other is ‘Time period’. In Arabic both meanings are commonly used. Word ‘Hoot’ حوت in Arabic is used for big fish. ‘Sabt’ in Arabic means ‘rest’. The ‘Yom-ul-Sabt’ means ‘Saturday’, however, the word, Yom-ul-Sabt/Saturday is not used in Quran. The word Yasbatoon (يسبتون ) is a verb meaning ‘they rest’. Yoma-Sabtehim ( يَوْمَ سَبْتِهِمْ) means, ‘their rest period’.

Allah tells us about a dwelling which was situated at sea shore.  These people apparently transgressed in their resting habits i.e they exceeded in laziness. Allah has made night for rest and day for work. The mention of big fish in below Ayat is with reference to the times of the day the fishes manifest themselves in the sea. Normally big fishes come in a manifest way during early morning at the sea. So, the ayat tells that when it is the time for the fishes to come in a manifest manner (i.e early morning) these people were still resting and were not at work. And when the fishes were gone, at that time they probably were awake and started their businesses (much later than normal expected time of start of businesses). Al-Sabt in this ayat, does not mean Saturday as normally understood.

7:163  وَاسْأَلْهُمْ عَنِ الْقَرْيَةِ الَّتِي كَانَتْ حَاضِرَةَ الْبَحْرِ إِذْ يَعْدُونَ فِي السَّبْتِ إِذْ تَأْتِيهِمْ حِيتَانُهُمْ يَوْمَ سَبْتِهِمْ شُرَّعًا وَيَوْمَ لَا يَسْبِتُونَ ۙ لَا تَأْتِيهِمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَبْلُوهُم بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْسُقُونَ

Ask them about the town present by the sea, when! they transgressed in (the matter of) ‘the Rest’. Their big fishes did come to them in a manifest manner, at the time of their rest, but at the time they were not resting, they (big fish) did not come. Thus did We test them, for they used to transgress.

7:164-170  وَإِذْ قَالَتْ أُمَّةٌ مِّنْهُمْ لِمَ تَعِظُونَ قَوْمًا ۙ اللَّهُ مُهْلِكُهُمْ أَوْ مُعَذِّبُهُمْ عَذَابًا شَدِيدًا ۖ قَالُوا مَعْذِرَةً إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمْ وَلَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ  فَلَمَّا نَسُوا مَا ذُكِّرُوا بِهِ أَنجَيْنَا الَّذِينَ يَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ السُّوءِ وَأَخَذْنَا الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا بِعَذَابٍ بَئِيسٍ بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْسُقُونَ  فَلَمَّا عَتَوْا عَن مَّا نُهُوا عَنْهُ قُلْنَا لَهُمْ كُونُوا قِرَدَةً خَاسِئِينَ  وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكَ لَيَبْعَثَنَّ عَلَيْهِمْ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ مَن يَسُومُهُمْ سُوءَ الْعَذَابِ ۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَسَرِيعُ الْعِقَابِ ۖ وَإِنَّهُ لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ  وَقَطَّعْنَاهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ أُمَمًا ۖ مِّنْهُمُ الصَّالِحُونَ وَمِنْهُمْ دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ ۖ وَبَلَوْنَاهُم بِالْحَسَنَاتِ وَالسَّيِّئَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ  فَخَلَفَ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ وَرِثُوا الْكِتَابَ يَأْخُذُونَ عَرَضَ هَٰذَا الْأَدْنَىٰ وَيَقُولُونَ سَيُغْفَرُ لَنَا وَإِن يَأْتِهِمْ عَرَضٌ مِّثْلُهُ يَأْخُذُوهُ ۚ أَلَمْ يُؤْخَذْ عَلَيْهِم مِّيثَاقُ الْكِتَابِ أَن لَّا يَقُولُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ إِلَّا الْحَقَّ وَدَرَسُوا مَا فِيهِ ۗ وَالدَّارُ الْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ ۗ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ  وَالَّذِينَ يُمَسِّكُونَ بِالْكِتَابِ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُصْلِحِينَ

When some group of them said. “Why do you preach to a nation whom Allah will destroy or inflict with a terrible punishment?”- they said .” To discharge our duty to your Lord, and perchance they may fear Him.”  Thus when they forgot the warnings with what they had been reminded with, We rescued those who forbade evil; but We caught the wrong-doers with a grievous punishment because they were given to transgression. Thus when they transgressed in their prohibitions, We said to them. “You be despicable monkeys, ” And when your Lord did declare that He would send against them, till the Day of Judgment, those who would afflict them with grievous penalty. No doubt, your Lord is quick in retribution, and He is also forgiving, Most Merciful. We broke them up into sections on this earth. There are among them some that are the righteous, and some other than that. We have tried them with both good and evil, In order that they might turn (to us). After them succeeded a generation, who inherited the Book, but they take (for themselves) the offers of this world, saying (as an excuse). “We will be forgiven.” (Even so), if similar offers came their way, they would (again) seize them. Was not the covenant of the Book taken from them, that they would not ascribe to Allah anything but the truth? and they study what is in the Book. But best for the righteous is the home in the Hereafter. Will ye not understand? As to those who hold fast by the Book and establish regular prayer,- never shall We let go waste the reward of the Saliheen/people who correct themselves. 

When this nation exceeded in their laziness and lethargic work habits, Allah punished them. Save the righteous people among them, He made the wrong doers of them to behave like monkeys. That is they imitate/mimic other people and are not able to take a leadership position in the world.  Further Allah punished them by inflicting upon them such rulers who will always be exploiting them. Allah keeps on trying these people with good and evil so that they may turn to Allah. They were succeeded by a generation who inherited the Book of Allah. In the Book there is a covenant for them not to ascribe anything to Allah except Haq/truth,  but for small gains of the world,  they attribute all sort of untrue stories to Allah. Among them, those who hold fast to the Book and establish salat, Allah will not let waste their reward, though.

2:65  وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمُ الَّذِينَ اعْتَدَوْا مِنكُمْ فِي السَّبْتِ فَقُلْنَا لَهُمْ كُونُوا قِرَدَةً خَاسِئِينَ

And well you knew those amongst you who transgressed in the matter of the Al-Sabt/Rest. We said to them. “You become despicable monkeys.”

2:66  فَجَعَلْنَاهَا نَكَالًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهَا وَمَا خَلْفَهَا وَمَوْعِظَةً لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ

So We made it an example of their own time and for their posterity, and a sermon to those who acquire taqwa/fear of Allah.

Is it too difficult to recognize these people among us who behave like imitating monkeys,lazy and procrastinators, they are despised in the world, persecuted by their own rulers, not able to take leadership role in the world? There will be few among them who hold fast to Book of Allah and prayers, who will be saved by Allah from this punishment.

16:124  إِنَّمَا جُعِلَ السَّبْتُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ ۚ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَيَحْكُمُ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فِيمَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ

The Al-Sabt was made for those who disagreed in this matter; But Allah will judge between them on the Day of Judgment, in what they are differing.

Sabt is a period of rest. However, people who differed and invented several innovations in the name of Sabbath. So, these obligation in the name of Sabbath were made by them on themselves, by differing in the understanding of Al-Sabt. Allah will decide among them on the day of Judgment in the matters in which they differ.

Notes:

Use of word (س ب ت) in Quran:

 25:47  وَهُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ اللَّيْلَ لِبَاسًا وَالنَّوْمَ سُبَاتًا وَجَعَلَ النَّهَارَ نُشُورًا

And this is He, who made the night as a covering for you, and sleep as rest, and He made the day as a Rising.

78:9   وَجَعَلْنَا نَوْمَكُمْ سُبَاتًا

And We made your sleep, rest

Other ayahs  4:47, 4:154,

Hadith of the Cow in Sura Baqara

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Al-Quran mentions an incident of the cow in sura Baqara (2:67-71). In this incident prophet Moosa (a.s) communicated an order of Allah to his people, to slaughter a cow. Apparently this should be a simple thing to do, as obviously it was not the first time they were slaughtering a cow. But instead they adopted an attitude of over inquisitiveness. They started asking a lot of questions about the cow, and even stated their frustration at some point that things are getting confusing for them and they need more and more details about the order, as according to them, Allah’s order was missing in details. In the end, when they finally did what they were asked to do, they ended up doing it in such a way which was very cumbersome for them.

Can we relate this incident in our lives as well. There are a number of things we do in our lives which are fairly normal e.g taking a bath, dining, sleeping and relieving our selves. Do we really need to ask a lot of questions about how to carry out these activities from religious point of view. The religious ‘masail’ books contain a lot of detailed instructions for simple activities. Seems like people who wrote these were watching the prophet (pbuh) even in their most private times to obtain these detailed instructions, while ayat 33:53 gives a clear message to companions not to indulge unnecessary in prophet’s private life. When we relate the incident mentioned in the hadith of Cow in Quran, we can understand that the religion does not put too much obligations on people in terms of everyday ordinary matters. It is when the people become over inquisitive and over zealous, they impose un-necessary hardships on themselves.

The messenger while communicating the spirit of the Book to people relieves them from these self imposed hardships (7:157) by governing them with the ayahs of Quran while cancelling the non Quranic orders and ideas.

2:67-71  وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تَذْبَحُوا بَقَرَةً ۖ قَالُوا أَتَتَّخِذُنَا هُزُوًا ۖ قَالَ أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ الْجَاهِلِينَ -قَالُوا ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا هِيَ ۚ قَالَ إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ لَّا فَارِضٌ وَلَا بِكْرٌ عَوَانٌ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ ۖ فَافْعَلُوا مَا تُؤْمَرُونَ -قَالُوا ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا لَوْنُهَا ۚ قَالَ إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ صَفْرَاءُ فَاقِعٌ لَّوْنُهَا تَسُرُّ النَّاظِرِينَ -قَالُوا ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا هِيَ إِنَّ الْبَقَرَ تَشَابَهَ عَلَيْنَا وَإِنَّا إِن شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَمُهْتَدُونَ -قَالَ إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ لَّا ذَلُولٌ تُثِيرُ الْأَرْضَ وَلَا تَسْقِي الْحَرْثَ مُسَلَّمَةٌ لَّا شِيَةَ فِيهَا ۚ قَالُوا الْآنَ جِئْتَ بِالْحَقِّ ۚ فَذَبَحُوهَا وَمَا كَادُوا يَفْعَلُونَ

And when Moosa said to his people. “Verily, Allah commands you to sacrifice a cow.” They said. “Are you jesting with us?” He said. “Allah save me from becoming an ignorant one!”. They said. “Beseech on our behalf. your Lord to explain to us what  it is (like)!” He said; “He says. The cow should be neither too old nor too young, but of middle age. Now do what you are commanded!”  They said. “Beseech on our behalf your Lord to explain to us its color.” He said. “He says. A fawn-colored cow, pure and rich in tone, an admiration for the onlookers!”  They said. “Beseech on our behalf your Lord to explain to us what she is as to us all cows are alike. If Allah wills, we shall indeed be guided”  He said. “He says. A cow not trained to till the soil or water the fields; sound and without blemish.” They said. “Now you came with the truth.” Then they offered her in sacrifice, although they seemed unlikely to carry this out. 

The prophet (pbuh) actually removes these undue obligations which people have self imposed on themselves and they are over burdened against their weight.

7:157  الَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ الرَّسُولَ النَّبِيَّ الْأُمِّيَّ الَّذِي يَجِدُونَهُ مَكْتُوبًا عِندَهُمْ التَّوْرَاةِ وَالْإِنجِيلِ يَأْمُرُهُم بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَاهُمْ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْخَبَائِثَ وَيَضَعُ عَنْهُمْ إِصْرَهُمْ وَالْأَغْلَالَ الَّتِي كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ فَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِهِ وَعَزَّرُوهُ وَنَصَرُوهُ وَاتَّبَعُوا النُّورَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ مَعَهُ ۙ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ

“Those who follow the messenger, the ummi prophet, whom they find written in what is with them,- in the Taurat and the Injeel;- for he commands them what is just and forbids them what is evil; he allows them as lawful what is good (and pure) and prohibits them from what is bad (and impure); He releases them from their heavy burdens and from the yokes that are upon them. So it is those who believe in him, honor him, help him, and follow the light which is sent down with him,- it is they who will prosper.”

2:106   مَا نَنسَخْ مِنْ آيَةٍ أَوْ نُنسِهَا نَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ مِّنْهَا أَوْ مِثْلِهَا ۗ أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

What we abrogate/cancel or cause to be forgotten (orders other than Allah’s) from an ayat, We substitute something better or similar. Don’t you know that Allah Has power over all things?

The Non Quranic concepts are cancelled and replaced with Allah’s orders with Ayahs.

The below ayat is presented in order to stress the point regarding desirable behavior near prophet’s house and family. Obviously if any one is invited to prophet’s house, he will naturally be interested to know about prophet’s behavior. With this opportunity, people will not definitely be indulging in vain talk, but would be interested to know as much information as possible about the prophet (pbuh).  This is all but natural.  However, the below ayat warns people to refrain from showing too much eagerness about (prophet’s) hadiths i.e petty talks about him, and discussions about his private life. We can reasonably believe that when the companions saw this order, they naturally would have refrained from such behavior. However, we find a lot of narrations about prophet’s private life in history books attributed to prophet’s companions, which should therefore be taken with a grain of salt.

33:53  يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَدْخُلُوا بُيُوتَ النَّبِيِّ إِلَّا أَن يُؤْذَنَ لَكُمْ إِلَىٰ طَعَامٍ غَيْرَ نَاظِرِينَ إِنَاهُ وَلَٰكِنْ إِذَا دُعِيتُمْ فَادْخُلُوا فَإِذَا طَعِمْتُمْ فَانتَشِرُوا وَلَا مُسْتَأْنِسِينَ لِحَدِيثٍ ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكُمْ كَانَ يُؤْذِي النَّبِيَّ فَيَسْتَحْيِي مِنكُمْ ۖ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَسْتَحْيِي مِنَ الْحَقِّ ۚ وَإِذَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُنَّ مَتَاعًا فَاسْأَلُوهُنَّ مِن وَرَاءِ حِجَابٍ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ أَطْهَرُ لِقُلُوبِكُمْ وَقُلُوبِهِنَّ ۚ وَمَا كَانَ لَكُمْ أَن تُؤْذُوا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَلَا أَن تَنكِحُوا أَزْوَاجَهُ مِن بَعْدِهِ أَبَدًا ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكُمْ كَانَ عِندَ اللَّهِ عَظِيمًا

O you who believe! Do not enter the Prophet’s houses,- until leave is granted to you,- for a meal, (and then) not (so early as) to wait for its preparation. but when ye are invited, enter; and when ye have taken your meal, disperse, without showing fondness for hadith/ narration. Such (behavior) persecutes the prophet. He is ashamed to dismiss you, but Allah is not ashamed (to tell you) the truth. And when you ask (his ladies) for anything of value (prophet’s hadith), ask them from behind a screen. that makes for greater purity for your hearts and for theirs. Nor is it right for you that you should persecute Allah’s messenger, or that you should marry his spouses after him at any time. Truly such a thing is in Allah’s sight an enormity (sin).

People usually come with the mind set that following the religion is pure hardship and its instructions are difficult to comprehend. This mind set prevents them from delving deeper and making efforts to get clarity on its commands.  While Allah’s system is actually designed with the intention to reduce hardships and make life better for the followers. A parable could be drawn from the action of Queen of Saba when she was asked to enter a Palace. She thought it was water and she will have to brace through water. As she had made up her mind to follow the order, she prepared herself for entering the water. But later, it turned out that it was not water she had to brace though, instead it was a crystal clear, palace.

27:44   قِيلَ لَهَا ادْخُلِي الصَّرْحَ ۖ فَلَمَّا رَأَتْهُ حَسِبَتْهُ لُجَّةً وَكَشَفَتْ عَن سَاقَيْهَا ۚ قَالَ إِنَّهُ صَرْحٌ مُّمَرَّدٌ مِّن قَوَارِيرَ ۗ قَالَتْ رَبِّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي وَأَسْلَمْتُ مَعَ سُلَيْمَانَ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

She was asked to enter the Palace; but when she saw it, she thought it was a lake of water, and she tucked up her skirts (in preparation to enter the water), . He said. “This is but a palace paved with glass crystals.” She said. “O my Lord! I have indeed wronged my soul. I do (now) submit (in Islam), with Solieman, to the Lord of the Worlds.

2:72-73  وَإِذْ قَتَلْتُمْ نَفْسًا فَادَّارَأْتُمْ فِيهَا ۖ وَاللَّهُ مُخْرِجٌ مَّا كُنتُمْ تَكْتُمُونَ  فَقُلْنَا اضْرِبُوهُ بِبَعْضِهَا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُحْيِي اللَّهُ الْمَوْتَىٰ وَيُرِيكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ

And when you killed a self/nafs and then you differed in this, but Allah was to bring forth what you were hiding. So We said. “Strike it (the body) with a piece of it (nafs/psyche).” In this way Allah brings the dead to life and shows you His ayahs/signs. So that you may understand.

Coming back to the hadith of cow, one who is devoid of Allah’s remembrance is considered dead in the eyes of the Lord (6:122). A person has to strike his Nafs/Psyche in order to bring it out from state of death. ‘Some part of it’ (nafs) in above ayat, would mean here the good part of the Nafs/Psyche. The body should be stricken with the good part of the Nafs/psyche to make the whole self/nafs alive. For example, in fasting/saum the body is deprived or stricken with the nafs to control desires and nurture in oneself the consciousness of Allah.

6:122  أَوَمَن كَانَ مَيْتًا فَأَحْيَيْنَاهُ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُ نُورًا يَمْشِي بِهِ فِي النَّاسِ كَمَن مَّثَلُهُ فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ لَيْسَ بِخَارِجٍ مِّنْهَا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ زُيِّنَ لِلْكَافِرِينَ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ

And the one who was dead, thus We gave him life, and made for him a light, whereby he walks amongst people; can he be like the one who is in the depths of darkness, from which he can never come out? Similiarly it is made alluring for the kafireen/rejecters what they do

link to a lecture explaining killing of Nafs/psychology :   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hM3qXyNBoZQ

Remedy for Depression- Story of Prophet Ayub A.S

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

Response to Blasphemy

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

What should be believers’ response to some one who tries to insult Allah or the Messengers of Allah? Tauheen-Risalat is a hot topic these days as well.  Lets review some of the related ayahs to this topic in Al-Kitab;

25:63   وَعِبَادُ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الَّذِينَ يَمْشُونَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ هَوْنًا وَإِذَا خَاطَبَهُمُ الْجَاهِلُونَ قَالُوا سَلَامًا

And the servants of (Allah) Most Gracious are those who walk on the earth in humility, and when the ignorant ones address them, they say,”Salam/Peace!”

28:55  وَإِذَا سَمِعُوا اللَّغْوَ أَعْرَضُوا عَنْهُ وَقَالُوا لَنَا أَعْمَالُنَا وَلَكُمْ أَعْمَالُكُمْ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ لَا نَبْتَغِي الْجَاهِلِينَ

And when they hear vain talk, they turn away therefrom and say. “To us our deeds, and to you yours; peace be to you. we seek not the ignorant ones.”

It seems that some people were calling the Messenger (PBUH), possessed or crazy (NB). Allah confirmed that the Messenger by the grace of Allah is not that. The instruction to Messenger is to exercise patience on what they say and stay away from these people in a beautiful way.

68:2  مَا أَنتَ بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجْنُونٍ

You are not, by the Grace of your Lord, mad or possessed.

73:10   وَاصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَاهْجُرْهُمْ هَجْرًا جَمِيلًا

And have patience with what they say, and leave them with noble way (dignity).

Note that the instruction to the Messenger are not to kill them, or take revenge but to be patient and leave them with dignity. This should also be the practice of the followers of the Messenger.

4:140  وَقَدْ نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الْكِتَابِ أَنْ إِذَا سَمِعْتُمْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ يُكْفَرُ بِهَا وَيُسْتَهْزَأُ بِهَا فَلَا تَقْعُدُوا مَعَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَخُوضُوا فِي حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِ ۚ إِنَّكُمْ إِذًا مِّثْلُهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ جَامِعُ الْمُنَافِقِينَ وَالْكَافِرِينَ فِي جَهَنَّمَ جَمِيعًا

He has sent down to you in the Book, that when you hear Kufr/Covering of ayahs of Allah and ridicule with (ayahs) then do-not sit with them until they engage in different discourse. if you did, you would be like them. Verily Allah will collect the hypocrites and rejecters in Hell.

6:108   وَلَا تَسُبُّوا الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ فَيَسُبُّوا اللَّهَ عَدْوًا بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ زَيَّنَّا لِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ عَمَلَهُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِم مَّرْجِعُهُمْ فَيُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ

Revile not  those whom they call upon besides Allah, lest they out of spite revile Allah in their ignorance. Thus We have made alluring to each people their doings. In the end will they return to their Lord, and We shall then tell them what they used to do.

It is the non believers who engage in violent response when something is said against their beliefs, not the believers. See the behavior of Ibrahim’s father in below Ayat:

19:46   قَالَ أَرَاغِبٌ أَنتَ عَنْ آلِهَتِي يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ ۖ لَئِن لَّمْ تَنتَهِ لَأَرْجُمَنَّكَ ۖ وَاهْجُرْنِي مَلِيًّا

(The father) replied. “Do you hate my gods, O Abraham? If you forbear not, I will indeed stone you. Now get away from me for a good long while!”

Allah is not oblivious of the blasphemers. Their punishment is on Allah. Its not for the believers to indulge in any unbecoming response.

41:40   إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُلْحِدُونَ فِي آيَاتِنَا لَا يَخْفَوْنَ عَلَيْنَا ۗ أَفَمَن يُلْقَىٰ فِي النَّارِ خَيْرٌ أَم مَّن يَأْتِي آمِنًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ۚ اعْمَلُوا مَا شِئْتُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ

Those who blaspheme in Our Signs are not hidden from Us. Who is better?- he who is cast into the Fire, or he who comes safe through, on the Day of Judgment? Do what you will. verily He sees (clearly) all that you do.

15:94-95 فَاصْدَعْ بِمَا تُؤْمَرُ وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ  إِنَّا كَفَيْنَاكَ الْمُسْتَهْزِئِينَ

So proclaim openly what you have been ordered and turn away from the associators (mushrikeen). We (Allah) is sufficient for those mocking/making fun. 

Allah is sufficient for those who make fun and do mockery of the messenger (p.b.u.h). So their retribution should be left to Allah for full compensation.