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‘Islam’ and ‘Muslim’ in Quran

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بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

The word ‘Islam’ and ‘Muslim’ as generally understood have somewhat different connotation when used in Quran. People generally believe the word ‘Islam’, means a particular religion. Likewise those people who follow this religion of Islam are known as Muslims. However, when used in Quran, the Word ‘Islam’ means ‘Peace’. ‘Al-Islam’ is ‘the Peace’ which Allah asks the believers to obtain as per guidance given in Al-Quran. ‘Al-Islam’ when mentioned in Al-Quran is not a religion but a Judgment (Deen). The word for religion in Arabic is ‘Millat’. The word ‘Deen’ in Arabic means ‘Judgment’ as in (مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ).  ‘Deen’ of ‘Islam’ means, the judgment to choose the way leading to peace. Some important Arabic words and their meanings related to this topic are given below:

Islam :   Peace

Muslim: Submitter

Deen:  Judgment

The Arabic root word ( س ل م  ) conveys meanings of  safety/security/freedom/immunity, to escape, salutation/greeting/peace, deliver/acknowledge, pay in advance, submit, sincerity, humility, submission/conformance/obedience, resign/quit/relinquish, to be in sound condition, well without blemish, gentle/tender/soft/elegant. Solomon/Suleiman.

The Word Islam and Muslim both are from root word (س ل م ). ‘Islam’ is used in Quran  meaning  ‘Peace’. Word ‘Salam’ is used as Peace and as a Greeting. ‘Muslim’ in Quran conveys meanings of ‘Submitter’. When Quran mentions ‘Muslim’ it means, one who submits to the Judgment and Will of Allah, other wise in the language it just means ‘submitter’.

In this post we will review what Al-Quran says about Islam (peace) and Muslim (submitter):

10:25  وَاللَّهُ يَدْعُو إِلَىٰ دَارِ السَّلَامِ وَيَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ

And Allah invites towards the circle of the Peace. He  guides whom He pleases to a way that is straight..

5:16  يَهْدِي بِهِ اللَّهُ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ رِضْوَانَهُ سُبُلَ السَّلَامِ وَيُخْرِجُهُم مِّنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ بِإِذْنِهِ وَيَهْدِيهِمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ

With it (Quran) Allah guides those who seek His good pleasure to ways of the Peace (and safety), and leads them out of darkness, by His will, into the light,- guides them to a path that is straight.

2:208  يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ادْخُلُوا فِي السِّلْمِ كَافَّةً وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ ۚ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ

O’ People who believe, Enter into Peace completely; and follow not the footsteps of Satan for he is an open enemy to you.

61:7  وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ افْتَرَىٰ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ وَهُوَ يُدْعَىٰ إِلَى الْإِسْلَامِ ۚ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ

Who does greater wrong than one who invents falsehood against Allah, even as he is being invited to Al-Islam/the Peace? And Allah guides not those who do wrong.

This is a really thought provoking Ayat. Allah declares who can be a bigger oppressor than he, who is invited towards the Islam/Peace, but he rejects the Peace and prefers a way of violence and warfare as his judgment by inventing lies on Allah. Verily Allah does not guide these people who have love of violence in their hearts. See previous post of non-physical fighting (https://topicsfromquran.com/2018/06/30/non-physical-fighting-2/ ).

3:85  وَمَن يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الْإِسْلَامِ دِينًا فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ

If anyone desire a Deen/judgment other than Al-Islam/the Peace never will be accepted of him and in the hereafter he will be from those who are the losers.

In any situation that one encounters in life, he has to choose the option leading to Peace and security. Any judgment leading to violence, corruption and aggression i.e against peace, is not going to be accepted by Allah.

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; Salam/Peace be to you. we seek not the ignorant.”

6:54  وَإِذَا جَاءَكَ الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِآيَاتِنَا فَقُلْ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ كَتَبَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِ الرَّحْمَةَ ۖ أَنَّهُ مَنْ عَمِلَ مِنكُمْ سُوءًا بِجَهَالَةٍ ثُمَّ تَابَ مِن بَعْدِهِ وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَنَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

When those come to you(The Messenger) who believe in Our Signs, Say. “Salam/Peace be on you. Your Lord has written mercy on His Nafs/self. Such that if any of you did evil in ignorance, and thereafter repented, and amend (his conduct), then verily, He is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

15:45-46  إِنَّ الْمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّاتٍ وَعُيُونٍ  ادْخُلُوهَا بِسَلَامٍ آمِنِينَ

The righteous (will be) amid gardens and fountains (Their greeting will be). “Enter ye here in peace and security.”

19:33  وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَيَّ يَوْمَ وُلِدتُّ وَيَوْمَ أَمُوتُ وَيَوْمَ أُبْعَثُ حَيًّا

(Prophet Essa said) And the Salam/Peace is on me the day I was born , and the day when I die and the day when I shall be raised to life.

47:35  فَلَا تَهِنُوا وَتَدْعُوا إِلَى السَّلْمِ وَأَنتُمُ الْأَعْلَوْنَ وَاللَّهُ مَعَكُمْ وَلَن يَتِرَكُمْ أَعْمَالَكُمْ

Be not disheartened (you believers), and invite towards Peace (ISLAM), you are of the higher rank and Allah is with you, and He will never put you in loss for your (good) deeds.

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

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

The people only differed in mutual enmity, after the Book has been given to them and they acquired knowledge of the Book. The intention for seeking knowledge from the Book should be to get guidance and correct one’s actions, and not to prove each other wrong in matters of knowledge.

Muslims in Quran:

The word ‘Muslim’ is also from the same root word ( س ل م ). It means ‘submitter’. All those who have been submitting to the Will of Allah and His Words, since day one on Earth, are Muslims/submitters to Allah.

2:103  إِذْ قَالَ لَهُ رَبُّهُ أَسْلِمْ ۖ قَالَ أَسْلَمْتُ لِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

When his Lord said to him (Ibraheem). “Submit” He said. “I submit to the Lord of the Worlds.”

3:67  مَا كَانَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ يَهُودِيًّا وَلَا نَصْرَانِيًّا وَلَٰكِن كَانَ حَنِيفًا مُّسْلِمًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

Abraham was not a Jew nor a Christian; but he was true in Faith  Muslim/submitter, and he was not one of the polytheists.

6:161-163  قُلْ إِنَّنِي هَدَانِي رَبِّي إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ دِينًا قِيَمًا مِّلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا ۚ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ  قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ  لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ ۖ وَبِذَٰلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا أَوَّلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ

Say : Surely my Lord has guided me to a Straight way a Judgment established. The Millat (Religion) of true Ibraheem (Abraham) and he was not from the polytheists/associators. Say : Surely my salat and my solitude and my life and my death are for Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. That there is no partner for him,  I am ordered with it and I am the first of Muslim/Submitter.

When the Prophet was guided to the straight path, the Judgment established of the religion of Ibraheem, he did not wait long to submit to this judgment.

39:11-12  قُلْ إِنِّي أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ مُخْلِصًا لَّهُ الدِّينَ  وَأُمِرْتُ لِأَنْ أَكُونَ أَوَّلَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ

Say. “Verily, I am commanded to serve Allah with judgment exclusive/pure for Him”. “And I am commanded to be the first to submit to Allah”

Messenger and the his followers don’t take long to submit, when they get the Spirit of Allah’s Words, which comes after making their judgment pure for Allah.

10:90 وَجَاوَزْنَا بِبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ الْبَحْرَ فَأَتْبَعَهُمْ فِرْعَوْنُ وَجُنُودُهُ بَغْيًا وَعَدْوًا ۖ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا أَدْرَكَهُ الْغَرَقُ قَالَ آمَنتُ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا الَّذِي آمَنَتْ بِهِ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ وَأَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ

We took the Bani Israeel/Children of Israeel across the sea: Pharaoh and his group followed them in insolence and spite. At length, when overwhelmed with the flood, he said: “I believe that there is no god except Him Whom the Children of Israel believe in: and I am of those who are Muslims/Submitters.

When the Pharaoh said he wanted to be a Muslim/Submitter it was too late, i.e it was time to close his account after spending  all his life in opposition to Allah’s Will, and only submitting when he was certain of his doom.

10:72  فَإِن تَوَلَّيْتُمْ فَمَا سَأَلْتُكُم مِّنْ أَجْرٍ ۖ إِنْ أَجْرِيَ إِلَّا عَلَى اللَّهِ ۖ وَأُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ

(Prophet Nooh said) “But if ye turn back. no reward have I asked of you. my reward is only due from Allah, and I have been commanded to be of Muslims/submitters.”

3:83  أَفَغَيْرَ دِينِ اللَّهِ يَبْغُونَ وَلَهُ أَسْلَمَ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ طَوْعًا وَكَرْهًا وَإِلَيْهِ يُرْجَعُونَ

Do they seek Deen/judgment other than of Allah’s. And whosoever is in the skies and earth have willingly or unwillingly submitted to Him and to Him shall they return.

2:132  وَوَصَّىٰ بِهَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بَنِيهِ وَيَعْقُوبُ يَا بَنِيَّ إِنَّ اللَّهَ اصْطَفَىٰ لَكُمُ الدِّينَ فَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ

And this was the legacy that Abraham left to his sons, and so did Jacob; “Oh my sons! Allah has chosen the judgment for you; then die not except you are muslims/submitters (to his judgment).”

27:38  قَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا الْمَلَأُ أَيُّكُمْ يَأْتِينِي بِعَرْشِهَا قَبْلَ أَن يَأْتُونِي مُسْلِمِينَ

He (Solomon) said “Ye chiefs! which of you can bring me her throne before they come to me as muslims/in submission?”

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

And you strive in Allah as the right of striving in Him. He has chosen you and He has made no difficulty over you in the Din/Judgment. The religion of your Father Ibraheem. And He has named you muslim/submitters from before and in this, so the messenger be a witness over you and you be a witness over mankind. Then establish Prayer and give zakah and hold fast with Allah.
He is your Protector (Maula) so He is the blessed Protector and the blessed Helper

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

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

The statement of Muslims is that they don’t differentiate between any of the Messengers of God.

68:35-38  أَفَنَجْعَلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ كَالْمُجْرِمِينَ  مَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ  أَمْ لَكُمْ كِتَابٌ فِيهِ تَدْرُسُونَ  إِنَّ لَكُمْ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُون

Would We make the Muslims/Submitters like the criminals? What is the matter with you? How do you judge? Or for you is a book through which you have taken lesson? In it (the other book), do you find anything you want?

Allah is asking will We make the muslims/submitters to the Will of Allah like criminals? Those who order people to do illegal acts and violence in the name of religion and become criminals certainly are not ordering with the Spirit of the Book of God.

28:53  وَإِذَا يُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ قَالُوا آمَنَّا بِهِ إِنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّنَا إِنَّا كُنَّا مِن قَبْلِهِ مُسْلِمِينَ

And when it is recited to them, they say. “We believe therein, for it is the Truth from our Lord. indeed we have been Muslims/submitters to Allah’s Will from before this.

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

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

The people of the Book are advised to come to one Kalima which is common among all sects. Please note there is only one Kalima which is common to all present sects of Muslims i.e The Quran. You cannot attain any sect if you follow this Kalima. It is by following books other than Quran, the people get their sectarian teachings. When you come to the common Kalima and leave the sectarian teachings behind, then you can hope to become Muslims/submitters to Allah. (Please see previous post on Ahlal-Kitab  https://topicsfromquran.com/2017/03/26/who-are-ahlal-kitab/ )

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

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

By becoming Muslims/submitters to Alalh and leaving behind their sects and sectarian hatred, people become brothers and are saved from the brink of the pit of fire.

49:17  يَمُنُّونَ عَلَيْكَ أَنْ أَسْلَمُوا ۖ قُل لَّا تَمُنُّوا عَلَيَّ إِسْلَامَكُم ۖ بَلِ اللَّهُ يَمُنُّ عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْ هَدَاكُمْ لِلْإِيمَانِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ

They take as a favor on you that they have submitted. Say do not take your Islam/Peace as a favor on me. But, Allah has put a favor on you that He has guided you to the belief, if you are truthful.

Nobody does any favor by their submission to the Allah’s system. It is Allah who has done a favor on those whom He has guided.

2:128  رَبَّنَا وَاجْعَلْنَا مُسْلِمَيْنِ لَكَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِنَا أُمَّةً مُّسْلِمَةً لَّكَ وَأَرِنَا مَنَاسِكَنَا وَتُبْ عَلَيْنَا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ

Our Lord! Make both of us Muslims/submitters for You and from our off spring Muslims/submitters nation for You. And show both of us our places of solitude and turn to us surely, You are Most Oft Returning Most Merciful.

The supplication of Prophets Ibrahim and Ismaeel is to make them and their offsprings, muslims/submitters to Allah.

3:52  فَلَمَّا أَحَسَّ عِيسَىٰ مِنْهُمُ الْكُفْرَ قَالَ مَنْ أَنصَارِي إِلَى اللَّهِ ۖ قَالَ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ نَحْنُ أَنصَارُ اللَّهِ آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَاشْهَدْ بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ

When Essa(Jesus) realized unbelief on their part he said “who will be my helpers to Allah”. Said the companions (disciples). “we are Allahs helpers. We believe In Allah, and you bear witness that we are Muslims(submitters)“.

Notes:

Interesting lectures by Brother Mohammad Shaikh on Islam and Muslims on below links:

https://www.iipccanada.com/2017/11/06/islam-to-attain-peace-2004/

https://www.iipccanada.com/category/english-video-lectures/know-yourself/

 

Lexical Meaning of the Arabic word Silm

 

The signs of the ‘Hour’ in Quran

Aijaz Uncategorized , , , ,

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

The topic about signs of the ‘Hour’ interests many people. Lets review the ayahs related to ‘the Hour’ in Quran:

7:187  يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ السَّاعَةِ أَيَّانَ مُرْسَاهَا ۖ قُلْ إِنَّمَا عِلْمُهَا عِندَ رَبِّي ۖ لَا يُجَلِّيهَا لِوَقْتِهَا إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ ثَقُلَتْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ لَا تَأْتِيكُمْ إِلَّا بَغْتَةً ۗ يَسْأَلُونَكَ كَأَنَّكَ حَفِيٌّ عَنْهَا ۖ قُلْ إِنَّمَا عِلْمُهَا عِندَ اللَّهِ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

They ask thee (the messenger) about the (final) hour – when will be it’s appointed time? Say. “The knowledge thereof is with my Lord. None but He can reveal as to when it will occur. It is heavy on the heavens and the earth. It will come to you, suddenly”. They ask thee as if thou wert eager in search thereof. Say, “The knowledge thereof is with Allah (alone), but most people don’t know.”

The ayat 7:187 states that people asked the messenger (pbuh) about the ‘Hour’. However, messenger’s response to the question was that the knowledge of ‘the Hour’ is with Allah, no one but Allah can reveal its timings. There are however, tons of narrations attributed to the messenger (pbuh) about the final ‘Hour’. This ayat makes these narrations doubtful as the messenger has categorically replied that the knowledge of the ‘Hour’ is only with Allah.

In this post we will see ayahs of Quran, related to the ‘Hour’ as below:

47:18  فَهَلْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّا السَّاعَةَ أَن تَأْتِيَهُم بَغْتَةً ۖ فَقَدْ جَاءَ أَشْرَاطُهَا ۚ فَأَنَّىٰ لَهُمْ إِذَا جَاءَتْهُمْ ذِكْرَاهُمْ

Do they then only wait for the ‘Hour’,- that it should come on them suddenly? But already have come some conditions thereof, and when it (actually) is on them, how can they benefit then by their admonitions?

The ‘Hour’ will arrive suddenly. Some of its conditions will manifest in time. Lets see what are these conditions in Quran.

44:10-11  فَارْتَقِبْ يَوْمَ تَأْتِي السَّمَاءُ بِدُخَانٍ مُّبِينٍ  يَغْشَى النَّاسَ ۖ هَٰذَا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

Then be on the watch for a day when the sky shall come with a smoke plainly visible, enveloping the people. This is a grievous penalty.

Smoke and pollution is en-gulfing people in major industrial cities and causing lots of health problems. Near the ‘Hour’ smoke will become a major problem.

Image result for pollution in cities

30:41  ظَهَرَ الْفَسَادُ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِي النَّاسِ لِيُذِيقَهُم بَعْضَ الَّذِي عَمِلُوا لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ

Violence/Corruption has appeared on land and sea because of deeds of the hands of people, that (Allah) may give them a taste of some of their deeds, in order that they may turn (towards Him)

No land, sea or air is going to be safe because of the weapons of mass destruction mankind has made.

27:82  وَإِذَا وَقَعَ الْقَوْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ أَخْرَجْنَا لَهُمْ دَابَّةً مِّنَ الْأَرْضِ تُكَلِّمُهُمْ أَنَّ النَّاسَ كَانُوا بِآيَاتِنَا لَا يُوقِنُونَ

And when the ‘Word’ is fulfilled on them, We shall bring out for them , a creature from the earth to speak to them, for that mankind did not believe in Our signs.

Creature of earth could be a reference to computer technology, as computer chips are sometimes referred to be made of silica (As in Silicon Valley), an ingredient of sand. With advancement of AI, we will be seeing advanced AI forms such as ‘Siri’ of Apple and ‘Alexa’ of Google, Chat GPT and robots, talking to people intelligently.

Image result for I robot 

In the world of AI, a term ‘Singularity is used which is a hypothetical future point where artificial intelligence surpasses human intelligence, leading to rapid, uncontrollable technological growth through recursive self-improvement, creating superintelligence beyond human comprehension, fundamentally transforming civilization with potentially utopian or catastrophic results. I think at this point when AI will be more intelligent than human, it should be able to recognize that the Universe has a Creator and it has obvious signs which were not recognized with certainty by most humans. There are different predictions about when this may happen, could be around year 2045 AD. 

54:1  اقْتَرَبَتِ السَّاعَةُ وَانشَقَّ الْقَمَرُ

The Hour (of Judgment) is near, and the moon is split.

Could be a prophesy for the future i.e near the Sa’aa/hour the moon will be split (a supernova happening within 30 light-years from Earth could annihilate earth and moon) or could be an expression of a predicament, that in modern times, when information about moon positions is not a secret any more, still in many cities of world, the celebration of Eid will be split among factions of Muslims, i.e they will split in their judgment about the moon’s position and celebrate Eid on different days, while still living in the same city. This is as if the moon is split for them. While it is possible to calculate several hundred years in advance, when a lunar and solar eclipse will happen and in which parts of the World it can be seen. In this age, differences of people’s opinion for normal start of the lunar month is incomprehensible. Allah says that the Moon is for calculation of years and months and for ‘Muwaqeet’/scheduling/calendar (2:189 يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْأَهِلَّةِ ۖ قُلْ هِيَ مَوَاقِيتُ لِلنَّاسِ وَالْحَجِّ ) (They ask thee about the Moon phases. Say,  they are schedules/fixed periods of time for people, and for Hajj).  And in 10:5    (    هُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ الشَّمْسَ ضِيَاءً وَالْقَمَرَ نُورًا وَقَدَّرَهُ مَنَازِلَ لِتَعْلَمُوا عَدَدَ السِّنِينَ وَالْحِسَابَ ۚ ) (It is He Who made the sun to be a shining and the moon to be a light, and measured out stages for it; that you may know the count of years and the calculation...). In the present situation can we schedule any event/meeting with Lunar calendar a few months in advance in different parts of the world? with the uncertainty of date depending upon if the moon will be visible with naked eye or not in these cities?

Image result for moon sighting

21:96  حَتَّىٰ إِذَا فُتِحَتْ يَأْجُوجُ وَمَأْجُوجُ وَهُم مِّن كُلِّ حَدَبٍ يَنسِلُونَ

Until the Gog and Magog, are released, and they swiftly swarm from every height.

The fast moving invaders shall be released. Most probably two nations from the Eastern region, of China/Mongolia/Korea, who will surge into fast moving war. They shall be swift in coming down from heights. (Please see related to topic of Zalqarnain   https://topicsfromquran.com/2018/09/22/zal-qarnain-dual-qarnain/)

The Hour is horrific occurrence that will suddenly overtake mankind. Also, see ayahs 12:107, 22:55, 43:66, also.

6:31  قَدْ خَسِرَ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِلِقَاءِ اللَّهِ ۖ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءَتْهُمُ السَّاعَةُ بَغْتَةً قَالُوا يَا حَسْرَتَنَا عَلَىٰ مَا فَرَّطْنَا فِيهَا وَهُمْ يَحْمِلُونَ أَوْزَارَهُمْ عَلَىٰ ظُهُورِهِمْ ۚ أَلَا سَاءَ مَا يَزِرُونَ

Losers indeed are those who belie meeting with Allah,- until ‘the Hour’ is on them suddenly, and they say. “Ah! woe unto us that we took no heed of it”; for they bear their burdens on their backs, and evil indeed are the burdens that they bear?

The ‘Hour’ is accompanied with a mighty convulsion.

22:1-2  يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ زَلْزَلَةَ السَّاعَةِ شَيْءٌ عَظِيمٌ  يَوْمَ تَرَوْنَهَا تَذْهَلُ كُلُّ مُرْضِعَةٍ عَمَّا أَرْضَعَتْ وَتَضَعُ كُلُّ ذَاتِ حَمْلٍ حَمْلَهَا وَتَرَى النَّاسَ سُكَارَىٰ وَمَا هُم بِسُكَارَىٰ وَلَٰكِنَّ عَذَابَ اللَّهِ شَدِيدٌ

O Mankind! fear your Lord! for the Earth quake/Convulsion of the Hour will be a mighty thing!: The Day ye shall see it, every mother giving suck shall forget her suckling-babe, and every load bearing one shall drop her load. Thou shalt see mankind as if drunk, while they are not drunk. but dreadful is the punishment of Allah.

21:1  اقْتَرَبَ لِلنَّاسِ حِسَابُهُمْ وَهُمْ فِي غَفْلَةٍ مُّعْرِضُونَ

Closer has come to mankind their accountability yet they turn away in oblivion.

Actually the accountability of everyone is as close to a person as his time of death. With every passing second one is getting closer to his appointed time of death. An example is like that of fixed length rope which is slowly burning at one end and getting shorter with passage of time, eventually reaching to its end. Similar, is the life-time of every person, slowly reaching to its end. As soon as one dies, his account is closed and when he will open his eyes again, it will be the time for accountability.

35:37  وَهُمْ يَصْطَرِخُونَ فِيهَا رَبَّنَا أَخْرِجْنَا نَعْمَلْ صَالِحًا غَيْرَ الَّذِي كُنَّا نَعْمَلُ ۚ أَوَلَمْ نُعَمِّرْكُم مَّا يَتَذَكَّرُ فِيهِ مَن تَذَكَّرَ وَجَاءَكُمُ النَّذِيرُ ۖ فَذُوقُوا فَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِن نَّصِيرٍ

Therein will they cry aloud (for assistance). “Our Lord! Bring us out. we shall work righteousness, not the (deeds) we used to do!” – “Did We not give you long enough life-time so that he that should receive admonition? and (moreover) the warner came to you. So taste (the fruits of your deeds). for the wrong-doers there is no helper.”

Those who will be unfortunate to be destined to fire, will cry therein pleading to the Lord to give them a second chance, however, Allah will ask them a question, which we should honestly ask ourselves now, ‘is the life time we have been given on earth, is not enough for one to study Allah’s Book and take heed from it.?”

32:21 وَلَنُذِيقَنَّهُم مِّنَ الْعَذَابِ الْأَدْنَىٰ دُونَ الْعَذَابِ الْأَكْبَرِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ

And indeed We will make them taste of the nearer/smaller penalty  prior to the supreme penalty, in order that they may (repent and) return.

Allah will send smaller calamities with the intention that people mend their ways and heed what wrong they are doing in the world and have a chance to correct themselves before the final calamity falls on them. 

32:22 وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن ذُكِّرَ بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِ ثُمَّ أَعْرَضَ عَنْهَا ۚ إِنَّا مِنَ الْمُجْرِمِينَ مُنتَقِمُونَ

And who does more wrong than one, who is reminded with ayahs/signs of his Lord, and then he turns away from them? Verily from those who transgress We shall exact (due) retribution.

Al-Kitab prophesizes of two big world scale wars.  Not sure if one of them could be the forerunner of the ‘Hour’ or not, however these events will be very stressful indeed for the world and the 2nd event will disfigure the face of Bani Israeel. 

17:4  وَقَضَيْنَا إِلَىٰ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ فِي الْكِتَابِ لَتُفْسِدُنَّ فِي الْأَرْضِ مَرَّتَيْنِ وَلَتَعْلُنَّ عُلُوًّا كَبِيرًا

And We decreed for the Children of Israel in the Book, that twice would they do violence on the earth and be elated with mighty arrogance!

Twice the Bani-Israeel would be involved in great violence on the Earth. 

17:5: فَإِذَا جَاءَ وَعْدُ أُولَاهُمَا بَعَثْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ عِبَادًا لَّنَا أُولِي بَأْسٍ شَدِيدٍ فَجَاسُوا خِلَالَ الدِّيَارِ ۚ وَكَانَ وَعْدًا مَّفْعُولًا

When the first of the promise came to pass, We sent against you, Our servants given to terrible warfare. They entered the very inmost parts of your circles; and it was a promise fulfilled.

The first great violence which is prophesied in Quran is most probably the 2nd World war, in which most countries of the World got engaged.  Bani Israel were the defeated party and the stronger opponent got control of the ‘Mosque’. Then this would mean that the 2nd great violence in which Bani-Israeel would be involved is yet to come and there will again be the involvement of the Mosque. The stronger party will again enter the Mosque and will inflict great destruction on Bani Israeel. 

17:7  إِنْ أَحْسَنتُمْ أَحْسَنتُمْ لِأَنفُسِكُمْ ۖ وَإِنْ أَسَأْتُمْ فَلَهَا ۚ فَإِذَا جَاءَ وَعْدُ الْآخِرَةِ لِيَسُوءُوا وُجُوهَكُمْ وَلِيَدْخُلُوا الْمَسْجِدَ كَمَا دَخَلُوهُ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَلِيُتَبِّرُوا مَا عَلَوْا تَتْبِيرًا

If you do well, you do well for yourselves; if you do evil, (you do it) against yourselves. So when the second of the promise came about, (your adversaries) disfigured your faces, and entered the Mosque as they had entered it the first time to destroy completely what they can muster.

Israeel and Bani Israeel

Aijaz Uncategorized , , , , , ,

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

17:2-3  وَآتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ وَجَعَلْنَاهُ هُدًى لِّبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَلَّا تَتَّخِذُوا مِن دُونِي وَكِيلًا  ذُرِّيَّةَ مَنْ حَمَلْنَا مَعَ نُوحٍ ۚ إِنَّهُ كَانَ عَبْدًا شَكُورًا

And We gave Moosa, Al-Kitab (The Book) and We made it a guidance for Bani-Israeel (Children of Israeel), that you do not hold fast to an advocate other than Me.  (Children of Israel) are the off springs of those whom We carried with Nooh, surely he was a thankful servant.

From the above ayahs of Al-Quran, we come to know that Bani-Israeel are the off-springs of who was/were carried with Nooh (a.s). Therefore as defined by Quran, ‘Israeel’ was carried in the ‘Ark’ associated with prophet Nooh (a.s). Biblical beliefs which have crept into Muslim faith, make people believe that Israeel means Yaqoob (a.s), however, this is not stated in Quran. Instead Quran clearly defines ‘Israeel’ from the above two ayahs. Also, common perception of people when they read the term ‘Bani Israeel’ in Quran, they take it for people labeled as ‘Jews’. In this post, we will review from ayahs of Quran, what does the term ‘Bani Israeel’ mean as per character traits and descriptions given in Quran.

3:93  كُلُّ الطَّعَامِ كَانَ حِلًّا لِّبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ إِلَّا مَا حَرَّمَ إِسْرَائِيلُ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِ مِن قَبْلِ أَن تُنَزَّلَ التَّوْرَاةُ ۗ قُلْ فَأْتُوا بِالتَّوْرَاةِ فَاتْلُوهَا إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ

All food was lawful to the Children of Israeel, except what Israeel made unlawful for itself, before the Taurat/Law was revealed. Say. “Bring the Taurat/Law and recite it, if you are truthful.”

Ayat 5:44 states that All prophets of Allah command with Al-Taurat/The Law (an attribute of Al-Kitab). Israeel the one, who had first hand interaction with the prophet of Allah, had earlier self imposed inhibition with certain foods which were actually lawful to them, before ‘Taurat’ was clarified to them. The Prophet clarifies for them the commands of Allah, and orders them with Taurat/(The Law/Attribute of Al-Kitab) and removes these self imposed yokes from the people (7:157 وَيَضَعُ عَنْهُمْ إِصْرَهُمْ وَالْأَغْلَالَ الَّتِي كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ…  )

45:16  وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحُكْمَ وَالنُّبُوَّةَ وَرَزَقْنَاهُم مِّنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَفَضَّلْنَاهُمْ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ

And without doubt, We gave Childern of Israel,  Al-Kitab (the Book) & Al-Hukm (the Command) & An-Nubuowah (the Prophecy) and We gave them sustenance from the good and We favored them over the worlds.

So, Bani Israeel are the offsprings of the one in the Ark with prophet Nooh (a.s), and prophet commanded with the Book of Allah. These offsprings of Israeel, as long as they hold fast to the Book, the Commandment and Prophet-hood, they are bestowed bounties and given a  prestigious position by Allah, in the world. Those people who don’t have the Book of Allah, His Commandments, nor they believe in all prophets, can not be deemed as ‘Bani-Israeel’.

Which Al-Kitab/The Book was given to Bani Israeel? When Quran mentions ‘The Book’ Al-Kitab, that is the same book as mentioned in Ayat 2:2 ( ذَٰلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ )

10:90 وَجَاوَزْنَا بِبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ الْبَحْرَ فَأَتْبَعَهُمْ فِرْعَوْنُ وَجُنُودُهُ بَغْيًا وَعَدْوًا ۖ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا أَدْرَكَهُ الْغَرَقُ قَالَ آمَنتُ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا الَّذِي آمَنَتْ بِهِ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ وَأَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ

We took the Children of Israeel across the Sea: Pharaoh and his army followed them in rebellion and enmity. Until when he realized the doom/drowning, he said: “I believe that there is no god except Him Whom the Children of Israeel believe in: I am of those who are Muslims/Submitters.

Bani Israeel are the Muslims/submitters as long as following the Prophet. Pharaoh’s wish before being doomed was that ‘I believe with the Bani Israeel and I am with the Muslims’. 

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

When We took a covenant with the Bani-Israeel/Children of Israel that you will serve none but Allah and be good with your parents and with relatives and the orphan and the needy and say to mankind good words and establish Salah/Prayer and give Zakat/Justification then except few from you, turn away avoiding it.

Allah’s covenant with Bani Israeel is to serve none but Allah, be good to parents, relatives, orphans, poor and be fair to mankind. To establish prayers and give zakat/charity. However, very few of the Bani Israeel adhere to these injunctions.

Is it not that the above ayat applicable to those who call themselves Muslims?

2:40-41  يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتِيَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَأَوْفُوا بِعَهْدِي أُوفِ بِعَهْدِكُمْ وَإِيَّايَ فَارْهَبُونِ  وَآمِنُوا بِمَا أَنزَلْتُ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا مَعَكُمْ وَلَا تَكُونُوا أَوَّلَ كَافِرٍ بِهِ ۖ وَلَا تَشْتَرُوا بِآيَاتِي ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا وَإِيَّايَ فَاتَّقُونِ

O Bani Israeel (Children of Israel)! remember the blessing that I have blessed over you and complete your promise with Me and I will complete My promise with you and only from Me you be afraid. And believe with what I have revealed, confirming what is with you (Al-Kitab), and you do not be the first of the rejecters with it. And you do not sell My Ayahs for a little price and only from Me, you take guard/fear.

Previously we learned that Allah has bestowed Bani Israeel with Al-Kitab, the Prophet-hood and the Command. This ayat is reminding them to remember these blessings and believe with what is with them and do not become a rejecter with it as soon as they hear it. And do not sell Allah’s ayahs for a little price. Therefore Bani Israeel are labelled Muslims who are commanded to believe what is with them i.e Allah Book. Bani Israeel cannot be those people who have nothing to do with Allah’s Book. I.e if they adhere to some other book which they believe to be revealed by Allah and it is not actually revealed by Allah or is distorted then they cannot be ‘Bani Israeel’.  

2:42 وَلَا تَلْبِسُوا الْحَقَّ بِالْبَاطِلِ وَتَكْتُمُوا الْحَقَّ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

And do not clothe the truth with falsehood, and do not hide the truth and you know it.

Further the Bani Israeel are advised not to mix the Haq/Truth with false hood. So we know that Haq/Truth is from Allah and if we mix this Haq/Truth with man made stories and in light of these man made stories we devise an understanding of ayahs of Allah which is tantamount to clothing truth with falsehood. 

2:43-44  وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَارْكَعُوا مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَ  أَتَأْمُرُونَ النَّاسَ بِالْبِرِّ وَتَنسَوْنَ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ تَتْلُونَ الْكِتَابَ ۚ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ

And establish Salah/Prayer and give Zakat/Justification and bow with those who bow down. Do you order people with righteousness and you forget yourselves and you recite Al-Kitab so do you not understand.

This Ayat addresses Bani-Israeel and states that they read Al-Kitab/the Book. Is this ayat asking Muslims to establish Salat/prayers and Zakat/Charity as they read Al-Kitab or is it addressing Jews or some other community of the World today? Common perception is that Bani Israeel means Jews. However, where do we find in Quran that Bani-Israeel means Jews? Allah’s Din/Judgment has always been Islam/Peace. All prophets of Allah convey the same message. The nations of all prophets who truly follow them actually follow the same Deen/judgement, the same religion and are actual muslim/submitters to the orders of Allah. Allah asks, don’t you people use your intellect?

5:70  لَقَدْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَأَرْسَلْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ رُسُلًا ۖ كُلَّمَا جَاءَهُمْ رَسُولٌ بِمَا لَا تَهْوَىٰ أَنفُسُهُمْ فَرِيقًا كَذَّبُوا وَفَرِيقًا يَقْتُلُونَ

We took Covenant with Bani-Israeel/Children of Israeel and We send to them Our messengers. Whenever comes to them a messenger with what their nafs/psyche did not desire, some they belied and some they killed.

Allah enjoined salat and zakat on Bani Israeel. In their salat, several times during the day they promise to Allah that, ‘”only You we serve and only from You, we seek help”. However, after making these promises they mix all sort of false-hood with Allah’s Deen/Judgment in the garb of religion, fiqh, sharia etc. Whenever a messenger of Allah comes to them, making clear their mixing of false hood with the truth, they belie the messenger and kill him (kill messenger’s personality, by attributing false history to the messenger, as rejecters cannot kill a messenger of Allah, physically)

5:12    فَبِمَا نَقْضِهِم مِّيثَاقَهُمْ لَعَنَّاهُمْ وَجَعَلْنَا قُلُوبَهُمْ قَاسِيَةً ۖ يُحَرِّفُونَ الْكَلِمَ عَن مَّوَاضِعِهِ ۙ وَنَسُوا حَظًّا مِّمَّا ذُكِّرُوا بِهِ ۚ وَلَا تَزَالُ تَطَّلِعُ عَلَىٰ خَائِنَةٍ مِّنْهُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّنْهُمْ ۖ فَاعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَاصْفَحْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ

Thus because of their breaking of the covenant, We cursed them and We made their hearts hard. They maneuver the Word from its subject and they forgot the portion of what they were reminded with. And you will never cease to get news about their dishonesty barring a few of them, which will not befall you, so pardon them and bear with them, Surely Allah loves the good doers.

When Bani Israeel breaks the covenant, Allah hardens their hearts. Majority of them will remain dishonest. They change the subject of the Word (of Allah) and they forget what they had been made to remember (i.e not to mix anything with Allah and His Word). Most common way to change the subject of the Word of Allah is to bring a piece of history as a story associated with the Ayat of Allah, thus limiting the scope of the Ayat to some story and changing the focus from the actual ayat to that story.   

2:85  ثُمَّ أَنتُمْ هَٰؤُلَاءِ تَقْتُلُونَ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَتُخْرِجُونَ فَرِيقًا مِّنكُم مِّن دِيَارِهِمْ تَظَاهَرُونَ عَلَيْهِم بِالْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ وَإِن يَأْتُوكُمْ أُسَارَىٰ تُفَادُوهُمْ وَهُوَ مُحَرَّمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ إِخْرَاجُهُمْ ۚ أَفَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِبَعْضِ الْكِتَابِ وَتَكْفُرُونَ بِبَعْضٍ ۚ فَمَا جَزَاءُ مَن يَفْعَلُ ذَٰلِكَ مِنكُمْ إِلَّا خِزْيٌ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ أَشَدِّ الْعَذَابِ ۗ وَمَا اللَّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ

Then, here you are, killing your Nafs/selves and expelling a group of your people from their circles, backing them with sin and enmity and if they come to us as captives, you ransom them and it was forbidden over you to expel them (in the first place). So do you believe with a portion of Al-Kitab/The Book and you reject with a portion. So the reward for one who does that amongst you is disgrace in this worldly life and on the day of judgement will return towards the severe punishment and Allah is not unaware about your doings.

This above ayat 2:85, points out to a bad characteristic trait of Bani Israeel. If some sub-groups of them differ in matters of faith with them they expel them out of their circles of faith calling them the likes of heretics in enmity. Then they try hard to bring some of the same expelled group back to their circles of faith by preaching them their ideology. A basic principle which is stated by Quran here is, if some one says I am a ‘Muslim’, no one has the right to expel him out of the circle of faith. Allah is demanding belief on the full Al-Kitab, even though some part of it is against their sectarian teachings. Common observation is that, if some one is presented with an ayat which clashes with his present belief system, he would still will give preference to his belief system and try to distort the meaning of the ayat. Thus Allah questions them that do you believe in part of the Al-Kitab/The Book and reject part of it.

2:211  سَلْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ كَمْ آتَيْنَاهُم مِّنْ آيَةٍ بَيِّنَةٍ ۗ وَمَن يُبَدِّلْ نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ مِن بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَتْهُ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ

Ask the Children of Israeel how many clear ayahs/Signs We have given them. But if any one, after Allah’s favor has come to him, substitutes (something else), Allah is severe in retribution.

How many clear signs have Allah provided to Bani-Israeel? Any who then causes distortion in these ayahs and mixes false hood with them, then Allah is sure going to punish them.

61:6  وَإِذْ قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُم مُّصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَمُبَشِّرًا بِرَسُولٍ يَأْتِي مِن بَعْدِي اسْمُهُ أَحْمَدُ ۖ فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ قَالُوا هَٰذَا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ

And when Essa/Jesus, son of Mary, said, “O Children of Israeel, I am Allah’s messenger to you, confirming the Taurat/law which is between my hands and bringing good news of a messenger to come after me named, Ahmad.”  Then, when he came to them (children of israeel) with clarity (of Ayahs), they said, “This is profound magic.”

In the above ayat, messenger Essa (a.s) is addressing Bani-Israeel and giving them glad tiding of another messenger after him named ‘Ahmed’. If we ponder on this ayat, Essa/Jesus is addressing Bani Israeel, the promise is being made to Bani Israeel of a messenger to come to them after him. Therefore this messenger should be coming to Bani-Israeel as the glad tiding was for them. Then this messenger came to whom? Obviously, he came to Bani Israeel. But when majority of Bani-Israeel will see the clear signs, they will say this is but magic/trickery/falsehood.

46:10  قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِن كَانَ مِنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ وَكَفَرْتُم بِهِ وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌ مِّن بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ عَلَىٰ مِثْلِهِ فَآمَنَ وَاسْتَكْبَرْتُمْ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ

Say do you see, if it is from the nearness of Allah and you reject with it, and a witness from Bani Israeel who witnessed over his example, so he believed and you seek greatness, surely Allah does not guide the people who are oppressors.”

In the ayat 61:6 above, Essa (a.s) was a messenger from Bani Israeel and he gave  witness of another messenger on his example, (i.e of another messenger coming to Bani-Israeel), however, people will still believe some other nation to be ‘Bani Israeel, looking down upon this nation.

26:197  أَوَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُمْ آيَةً أَن يَعْلَمَهُ عُلَمَاءُ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ

Is it not a an ayat/sign for them, that the scholars of the Children of Israeel know it (the Quran).

All scholars of Bani-Israeel know Al-Quran, obviously, as The book is given to Bani-Israeel.

27:76  إِنَّ هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ يَقُصُّ عَلَىٰ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَكْثَرَ الَّذِي هُمْ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ

Indeed, this Quran relates over Bani-Israeel (children of Israel) a lot in which they differ.

Bani-Israeel differ a lot among themselves, and this Quran, shows to them a lot of things in which they differ. All the ayahs in this post are ayahs of Al-Quran on which Children of Israeel differ on interpretation. 

11:48  قِيلَ يَا نُوحُ اهْبِطْ بِسَلَامٍ مِّنَّا وَبَرَكَاتٍ عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَىٰ أُمَمٍ مِّمَّن مَّعَكَ ۚ وَأُمَمٌ سَنُمَتِّعُهُمْ ثُمَّ يَمَسُّهُم مِّنَّا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

It was said “O Nooh! Come down (from the Ark) with peace from Us, and blessing on you and on some of the nations from those with you and (other) nations to whom We shall grant blessings, then a grievous penalty will reach them from Us.”

The nations associated with the Ark of Nooh (a.s), as per Allah’s promise they are bestowed with bounties and subsequently will be held accountable for their bad deeds when they will deviate from The Book, Prophet-hood and Commandments of Allah.

19:58  أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ النَّبِيِّينَ مِن ذُرِّيَّةِ آدَمَ وَمِمَّنْ حَمَلْنَا مَعَ نُوحٍ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّةِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْرَائِيلَ وَمِمَّنْ هَدَيْنَا وَاجْتَبَيْنَا ۚ إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُ الرَّحْمَٰنِ خَرُّوا سُجَّدًا وَبُكِيًّا ۩

Those were among the prophets for whom Allah has blessed from the offspring of Adam and from those whom We carried with Nooh and from the offspring of Ibrahim and Israeel and from those whom We guided and We chose, when the Ayahs/signs of the Most Gracious are recited on them they fall down prostrating, weeping. {Sajda}

The ayat again mentions the nations whom Allah has bestowed his bounties; the prophets from the progeny of Adam, those who were onboard with Nooh (Israeel), and the progenies of Ibrahim and Israeel.

17:4  وَقَضَيْنَا إِلَىٰ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ فِي الْكِتَابِ لَتُفْسِدُنَّ فِي الْأَرْضِ مَرَّتَيْنِ وَلَتَعْلُنَّ عُلُوًّا كَبِيرًا

And We decreed for the Children of Israel in the Book, that twice would they do violence on the earth and be elated with mighty arrogance!

Twice the Bani-Israeel would be involved in great violence on the Earth. 

17:5: فَإِذَا جَاءَ وَعْدُ أُولَاهُمَا بَعَثْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ عِبَادًا لَّنَا أُولِي بَأْسٍ شَدِيدٍ فَجَاسُوا خِلَالَ الدِّيَارِ ۚ وَكَانَ وَعْدًا مَّفْعُولًا

When the first of the promise came to pass, We sent against you, Our servants given to terrible warfare. They entered the very inmost parts of your circles; and it was a promise fulfilled.

The first great violence which is prophesied in Quran is most probably the 2nd World war, in which most countries of the World got engaged.  Bani Israel were the defeated party and the stronger opponent got control of the ‘Mosque’. Then this would mean that the 2nd great violence in which Bani-Israeel would be involved is yet to come and there will again be the involvement of the Mosque. The stronger party will again enter the Mosque and will inflict great destruction on Bani Israeel. 

17:7  إِنْ أَحْسَنتُمْ أَحْسَنتُمْ لِأَنفُسِكُمْ ۖ وَإِنْ أَسَأْتُمْ فَلَهَا ۚ فَإِذَا جَاءَ وَعْدُ الْآخِرَةِ لِيَسُوءُوا وُجُوهَكُمْ وَلِيَدْخُلُوا الْمَسْجِدَ كَمَا دَخَلُوهُ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَلِيُتَبِّرُوا مَا عَلَوْا تَتْبِيرًا

If you do well, you do well for yourselves; if you do evil, (you do it) against yourselves. So when the second of the promise came about, (your adversaries) disfigured your faces, and entered the Mosque as they had entered it the first time to destroy completely what they can muster.

Notes:

An interesting lecture by Brother Mohammad Shaikh about ‘Bani-Israeel’ for identification of Bani-Israeel from verses of Quran:

https://www.iipccanada.com/category/english-video-lectures/know-yourself/

(Lecture in Urdu)

https://www.iipccanada.com/category/urdu-video-lectures/apni-pehchan/

Zal-Qarnain/Dual-Qarnain

Aijaz Uncategorized , , , , ,

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In Sura 18 i.e Kahaf/Cave we learn about a person called Zil-Qarnain (of two Eras):

18:83-88  وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَن ذِي الْقَرْنَيْنِ ۖ قُلْ سَأَتْلُو عَلَيْكُم مِّنْهُ ذِكْرًا  إِنَّا مَكَّنَّا لَهُ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَآتَيْنَاهُ مِن كُلِّ شَيْءٍ سَبَبًا  فَأَتْبَعَ سَبَبًا   حَتَّىٰ إِذَا بَلَغَ مَغْرِبَ الشَّمْسِ وَجَدَهَا تَغْرُبُ فِي عَيْنٍ حَمِئَةٍ وَوَجَدَ عِندَهَا قَوْمًا ۗ قُلْنَا يَا ذَا الْقَرْنَيْنِ إِمَّا أَن تُعَذِّبَ وَإِمَّا أَن تَتَّخِذَ فِيهِمْ حُسْنًا  قَالَ أَمَّا مَن ظَلَمَ فَسَوْفَ نُعَذِّبُهُ ثُمَّ يُرَدُّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِ فَيُعَذِّبُهُ عَذَابًا نُّكْرًاوَأَمَّا مَنْ آمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَلَهُ جَزَاءً الْحُسْنَىٰ ۖ وَسَنَقُولُ لَهُ مِنْ أَمْرِنَا يُسْرًا

They ask you (the Messenger) concerning Zil-Qarnain. Say, “I will rehearse to you something of his story.”  Verily We established for him on the land, and We gave him the means from everything. Thus he followed the means. Until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it setting in a spring of murky water. Near it he found a nation We said. “O Zal-qarnain! either to punish them, or to treat them with kindness.” He said. “Whoever does wrong, we shall punish him, then he will be sent back to his Lord; and He will punish him with a punishment unheard-of and whoever believes, and works righteousness,- he shall have a good reward and our orders to him will be easy.”

Some researchers have the opinion that the route mentioned in above set of ayas, is the one of the silk road networks which was an established route mainly in China, connecting Asia to middle east and Europe in medieval times. Later we see mention of a wall in this story. A great wall, which was built to stop invaders from attacking communities, is also associated with China. So, the setting of this story of Zulqarnain is most probably in the Asian region of China/Mongolia/Korea. There is a muddy stream mentioned in the ayahs. The muddy stream should be a body of water carrying lot of silt so that it appears muddy. In China there exists a river which carries so much silt with it that the people call it ‘the Yellow river’. This river is also known with the name of ‘muddy flow’ by local folks. When Zulqarnain, saw the sun setting in a muddy stream, this should be the place of  the middle to lower reaches of the Yellow River, where it carries the most amount of silt and looks very muddy.

Some people raise objections on this story, stating that does Quran not know that the Sun does not set in a stream of water? However, it is clear from ayahs that Quran talked from  Zalqarnain’s perspective when he saw the Sun setting in a stream of water, as any one would see sun-set over a large body of water. While Quran is clear about orbits of the Sun, which is mentioned in ayat 21:33, that Sun and Moon moves in their respective orbits. Therefore, there is no question about Quran’s insufficient knowledge about the orbit of the Sun. Please see earlier post about facts about Universe mentioned in Quran (https://topicsfromquran.com/2018/05/19/creation-of-skies-and-the-earth/)

Zalqarnain is mentioned as a righteous person, connected with God and also assumed a high position in the world with the means available to him to accomplish a lot. So, his first journey seems to be somewhere in the path of the yellow river in China. He assumed a position of power in that land and was able to enforce God’s will in the land by rewarding the righteous people and punishing the wrong doers.  From there he continued his journey.

18:89-91  ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَ سَبَبًا  حَتَّىٰ إِذَا بَلَغَ مَطْلِعَ الشَّمْسِ وَجَدَهَا تَطْلُعُ عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍ لَّمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُم مِّن دُونِهَا سِتْرًا  كَذَٰلِكَ وَقَدْ أَحَطْنَا بِمَا لَدَيْهِ خُبْرًا

Then he followed a way/means, Until, when he came to the rising of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom We had provided no covering against it (the sun). Like that, and we have encompassed knowledge about him.

Zalqarnain’s next leg of journey is said to be culminating in a place where there was no covering from Sun. This setting would be a desert where there is no shelter from the sun. The likely place is some where in Gobi Desert near China/Mongolia border.

18:92-94  ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَ سَبَبًا  حَتَّىٰ إِذَا بَلَغَ بَيْنَ السَّدَّيْنِ وَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمَا قَوْمًا لَّا يَكَادُونَ يَفْقَهُونَ قَوْلًا  قَالُوا يَا ذَا الْقَرْنَيْنِ إِنَّ يَأْجُوجَ وَمَأْجُوجَ مُفْسِدُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَهَلْ نَجْعَلُ لَكَ خَرْجًا عَلَىٰ أَن تَجْعَلَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمْ سَدًّا

Then he followed a way/means until, when he reached between the two mountains, he found, besides them, a nation who scarcely understood a word. They said. “O Zal-qarnain! the Gog and Magog do great mischief on earth. Shall we then render you a tribute in order that you might erect a barrier between us and them?

Zalqarnain 3rd leg of his journey took him to a place which was between two mountains. The community living there spoke a different language. They communicated to him that through the mountain pass, Gog and Magog, attack their communities intermittently, for pillage and plunder. They were ready to pay tribute to Zalqarnain to make a barrier between the mountains so that Gog and Magog could not cross the barrier to attack them. From the description it seems that Gog and Magog were two tribes whose main occupation was warfare to collect booty. They should be good in fighting and attacking. From another reference in Quran, they were fast moving as well (21:96). Could be somewhat similar to Mangols and Tartar tribes in the earlier centuries who were fast moving attackers. This also gives an indication of the origins of Gogs and Magogs nation described in Quran and a prophesy that they will rise again and cause war near the end of times (21:96-97). A link to a very well researched article by brother Imran Faruqui is given below, which speculates about who could be the present day Gog and Magog. (  http://quransmessage.com/files/Quranic%20Odyssey%20Ch1-2%20v2.37.pdf )

Zalqarnain possessed good knowledge of structural engineering and with the help of manpower and material from this community, he erected a barrier strengthened with molten metal, between them and the attackers, which the attackers were not able to penetrate.

18:95-100 قَالَ مَا مَكَّنِّي فِيهِ رَبِّي خَيْرٌ فَأَعِينُونِي بِقُوَّةٍ أَجْعَلْ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُمْ رَدْمًاآتُونِي زُبَرَ الْحَدِيدِ ۖ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا سَاوَىٰ بَيْنَ الصَّدَفَيْنِ قَالَ انفُخُوا ۖ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَعَلَهُ نَارًا قَالَ آتُونِي أُفْرِغْ عَلَيْهِ قِطْرًا  فَمَا اسْطَاعُوا أَن يَظْهَرُوهُ وَمَا اسْتَطَاعُوا لَهُ نَقْبًا  قَالَ هَٰذَا رَحْمَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّي ۖ فَإِذَا جَاءَ وَعْدُ رَبِّي جَعَلَهُ دَكَّاءَ ۖ وَكَانَ وَعْدُ رَبِّي حَقًّا وَتَرَكْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ يَمُوجُ فِي بَعْضٍ ۖ وَنُفِخَ فِي الصُّورِ فَجَمَعْنَاهُمْ جَمْعًا وَعَرَضْنَا جَهَنَّمَ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلْكَافِرِينَ عَرْضًا

He said. “(The power) in which my Lord has established me is better (than tribute). Help me therefore with strength (labor). I will erect a strong barrier between you and them. “Bring me blocks of iron.” Until when he had filled up the space between the two mountain-sides, He said, “Blow” Then, when he had made it fire, he said. “Bring me, that I may pour over it, molten lead.”  So they were not able to scale it nor could they make a hole in it. He said. “This is a mercy from my Lord. But when the promise of my Lord comes, He will make it into pieces; and the promise of my Lord is true.”  On that day We shall leave them to surge like waves on one another. the trumpet will be blown, and We shall collect them all together. And We shall present Hell that day for Unbelievers to see, all spread out,-

Zulqarnain said that one day this barrier will be gone when the promise of the Lord arrives. This day these fighting nations will surge like waves into one another. That day will be Hell to the unbelievers.

Why Allah related the story of Zal-Qarnain in Quran, probably to help identify the nations of God and Magog and the signs of the Hour, therefore for us to take heed before our account is closed. What lessons we can learn from this narrations, i.e for a ruler or governor to reward people on merit i.e according to the their good or bad actions. To help people who are oppressed without expecting rewards from them.  To block the oppressors in a most peaceful way possible with least bloodshed and violence on earth.

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Courtesy: Google Images

Notes:

The name Zul-Qarnain or Dual-Qurnain in Arabic means ‘one belonging to two eras’. If we search in Quran for people who have lived in two eras, we find mention of a person in Ayat 2:259 who was given death and then raised again after 100 years and then the companions of the cave mentioned in Sura 18,  who were made to sleep in a cave for 309 years. The companions of the cave were sleeping only, while the person in 2:259 was given death and then raised up again. A possibility is that, ‘Zalqarnain’ is the person who is mentioned in Ayat 2:259 as the mention there is of a single person who was dead and then was raised again after 100 years. The Ayat mentions that he is made an Ayat/sign for the mankind. Therefore he should not be an obscure person, he must have accomplished some thing to become a sign for mankind. This person was given knowledge from Allah and this knowledge should have helped him to accomplish a lot. As he had lived in two eras apart by 100 years, he is likely a candidate to be the Zal-Qarnain mentioned in Quran later on in Sura Kahaf.

2:259  أَوْ كَالَّذِي مَرَّ عَلَىٰ قَرْيَةٍ وَهِيَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِهَا قَالَ أَنَّىٰ يُحْيِي هَٰذِهِ اللَّهُ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا ۖ فَأَمَاتَهُ اللَّهُ مِائَةَ عَامٍ ثُمَّ بَعَثَهُ ۖ قَالَ كَمْ لَبِثْتَ ۖ قَالَ لَبِثْتُ يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍ ۖ قَالَ بَل لَّبِثْتَ مِائَةَ عَامٍ فَانظُرْ إِلَىٰ طَعَامِكَ وَشَرَابِكَ لَمْ يَتَسَنَّهْ ۖ وَانظُرْ إِلَىٰ حِمَارِكَ وَلِنَجْعَلَكَ آيَةً لِّلنَّاسِ ۖ وَانظُرْ إِلَى الْعِظَامِ كَيْفَ نُنشِزُهَا ثُمَّ نَكْسُوهَا لَحْمًا ۚ فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ قَالَ أَعْلَمُ أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

Or like the one who passed by a dwelling, all in ruins to its roofs. He said. “Oh! how shall Allah bring it to life, after its death?” thus Allah caused him to die for a hundred years, then raised him up (again). He (Allah) said. “How long did you stay (thus)?” He said. (Perhaps) a day or part of a day.” He said. “No, You have stayed a hundred years; but look at your food and your drink; they did not change; and look at your donkey. And that We may make you a sign for the people, Look further at the bones, how We bring them together and clothe them with flesh.” When this was shown clearly to him, he said. “I know that Allah has power over all things.”

Following the Deen/judgment of Forefathers

Aijaz Uncategorized ,

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

The majority of mankind follow their forefathers in matters of faith. It is very rare that people change their faith on which they were born. Most people make sure that their off-springs too follow their religion or philosophy. Al-Quran declares that majority of people in the world are not thankful or the rightly guided ones. So, if majority of the people in the world are not on the right path and a majority out of these people make sure that their off-springs follow the same path then it means that the majority of the people would lead their off-springs to a deviant path. Most people believe that by a stroke of great luck they were born in the rightly guided faith/sect and the others who follow different faiths, would be in trouble in matters of faith. When a messenger of Allah comes to the people and relate to them the signs of the Lord, these people say that this person wants them to deviate from the path their forefathers have been following.

2:170  وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ اتَّبِعُوا مَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ قَالُوا بَلْ نَتَّبِعُ مَا أَلْفَيْنَا عَلَيْهِ آبَاءَنَا ۗ أَوَلَوْ كَانَ آبَاؤُهُمْ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَهْتَدُونَ

When they are told, “Follow what Allah has revealed,” they say, “We follow only what we found our parents doing.” What if their parents did not understand, and were not guided?

5:104  وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ تَعَالَوْا إِلَىٰ مَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ وَإِلَى الرَّسُولِ قَالُوا حَسْبُنَا مَا وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهِ آبَاءَنَا ۚ أَوَلَوْ كَانَ آبَاؤُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَهْتَدُونَ

When they are told, “Come to what Allah has revealed, and to the messenger (rasool),” they say, “What we found our parents doing is sufficient for us.” What if their parents knew nothing, and were not guided?

31:21  وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ اتَّبِعُوا مَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ قَالُوا بَلْ نَتَّبِعُ مَا وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهِ آبَاءَنَا ۚ أَوَلَوْ كَانَ الشَّيْطَانُ يَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَىٰ عَذَابِ السَّعِيرِ

When they are told, “Follow what Allah has revealed,” they say, “Instead, we follow what we found our parents doing.” What if the devil (Shaitan)  is leading them to the agony of hell?

People when presented with Ayas of Allah, instead of pondering over the Ayas, start doubting the personality of the Messenger. Instead of focusing on the spirit of the message in the Ayas, they attack the personality of the messenger, believing that the messenger is leading them away from what their forefathers have been following.

34:43  وَإِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُنَا بَيِّنَاتٍ قَالُوا مَا هَٰذَا إِلَّا رَجُلٌ يُرِيدُ أَن يَصُدَّكُمْ عَمَّا كَانَ يَعْبُدُ آبَاؤُكُمْ وَقَالُوا مَا هَٰذَا إِلَّا إِفْكٌ مُّفْتَرًى ۚ وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِلْحَقِّ لَمَّا جَاءَهُمْ إِنْ هَٰذَا إِلَّا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ

When our open and clear ayaats/signs are recited to them, they say, “This is simply a man who wants to divert you from what your parents were serving.” They also say, “These are fabricated lies.”  Those who disbelieve say about the truth that came to them, “This is obviously magic.”

Why the people don’t believe in the messenger, because in their minds the messenger is an Idol or a super human/bashar. They cannot perceive the messenger as a normal ‘bashar’/human. While Allah declares that when they say that, in fact they have not valued Allah as it is rightful for Him to be valued.

6:91  وَمَا قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ إِذْ قَالُوا مَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ بَشَرٍ مِّن شَيْءٍ ۗ قُلْ مَنْ أَنزَلَ الْكِتَابَ الَّذِي جَاءَ بِهِ مُوسَىٰ نُورًا وَهُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ ۖ تَجْعَلُونَهُ قَرَاطِيسَ تُبْدُونَهَا وَتُخْفُونَ كَثِيرًا ۖ وَعُلِّمْتُم مَّا لَمْ تَعْلَمُوا أَنتُمْ وَلَا آبَاؤُكُمْ ۖ قُلِ اللَّهُ ۖ ثُمَّ ذَرْهُمْ فِي خَوْضِهِمْ يَلْعَبُونَ

They did not value Allah as He should be valued. When they said, “Allah did not reveal anything to a bashar/human.” Say, “Who then sent down the Book which Moosa brought, with light and guidance for the people?” You made it to pieces of paper, you show something while concealing a lot of it. You were taught what you never knew-you and your parents. Say, “Allah (revealed it),” then leave them in their heedless play.

People in their minds idolize the personality of the messengers as a super human/bashar and this becomes a major contributor to their rejection of messengers and the Spirit of the Book, as they wonder, how can Allah reveal anything on a normal everyday bashar/human.

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

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

Any names which people follow or regard in high esteem, which are not found in Al-Quran, Allah declares that they are but following only list of names which they and their forefathers invented. Allah has revealed no authority for these names.

11:87  قَالُوا يَا شُعَيْبُ أَصَلَاتُكَ تَأْمُرُكَ أَن نَّتْرُكَ مَا يَعْبُدُ آبَاؤُنَا أَوْ أَن نَّفْعَلَ فِي أَمْوَالِنَا مَا نَشَاءُ ۖ إِنَّكَ لَأَنتَ الْحَلِيمُ الرَّشِيدُ

They said, “O Shoaib, does your salaat dictates upon you that we must abandon what our forefathers served, or running our businesses in any manner we choose? Surely, you are known for being clement, wise.”

Example of prophet Shoaib A.S, is cited above. Its very difficult for people to fore-go the practices of their forefathers and their businesses, when it is against the orders of Allah.

28:36  فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُم مُّوسَىٰ بِآيَاتِنَا بَيِّنَاتٍ قَالُوا مَا هَٰذَا إِلَّا سِحْرٌ مُّفْتَرًى وَمَا سَمِعْنَا بِهَٰذَا فِي آبَائِنَا الْأَوَّلِينَ

When Moosa went to them with our Ayaas, clear and profound, they said, “This is but fabricated magic. We have never heard of this from our earlier forefathers.”

Although all messengers bring the same message of Allah (42:13, 46:9, 41:43)and Al-Kitab is given to all prophets (6:83-90), even then people blame that an ordinary bashar/human wants to gain superiorty over them and these things which he tells them, they have not heard from their forefathers.

11:109  فَلَا تَكُ فِي مِرْيَةٍ مِّمَّا يَعْبُدُ هَٰؤُلَاءِ ۚ مَا يَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَعْبُدُ آبَاؤُهُم مِّن قَبْلُ ۚ وَإِنَّا لَمُوَفُّوهُمْ نَصِيبَهُمْ غَيْرَ مَنقُوصٍ

Do not have any doubt regarding what these people serve; they serve exactly as they found their forefathers serving. We will requite them their due share fully, without reduction.

In the above ayat Allah clears doubts which arise when one starts following the Quran…do not be in doubt what the people and their forefathers are serving, it is bound to be false if clear authority is not in Al-Kitab.

43:22  بَلْ قَالُوا إِنَّا وَجَدْنَا آبَاءَنَا عَلَىٰ أُمَّةٍ وَإِنَّا عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِم مُّهْتَدُونَ

The fact is that: they said, “We found our parents carrying on certain practices, and we are guided in their footsteps.”

The people think that by following their forefathers practices they are guided ones.

6:116  وَإِنْ تُطِعْ أَكْثَرَ مَنْ فِي الْأَرْضِ يُضِلُّوكَ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنْ يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ وَإِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَخْرُصُونَ

If you were to follow majority of people on earth, they will lead you away from the way of Allah. They follow nothing but conjecture. they do nothing but fabricate.

But, the majority of the people in the world follow conjectures other than following the Book of Allah.

42:45  وَتَرَاهُمْ يُعْرَضُونَ عَلَيْهَا خَاشِعِينَ مِنَ الذُّلِّ يَنظُرُونَ مِن طَرْفٍ خَفِيٍّ ۗ وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّ الْخَاسِرِينَ الَّذِينَ خَسِرُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ وَأَهْلِيهِمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ۗ أَلَا إِنَّ الظَّالِمِينَ فِي عَذَابٍ مُّقِيمٍ

And thou wilt see them brought forward to the (Penalty), in a humble frame of mind because of (their) disgrace, (and) looking with a stealyour glance. And the believers will say. “Those are indeed in loss, who have given to perdition their own selves and those belonging to them on the Day of Judgment. Behold! Truly the Wrong-doers are in a lasting Penalty!”

The wrong doers will not only be alone in their loss because of their wrong judgment, they would have caused their families and people to be in the loss too, because of their misguiding them.

2:133  أَمْ كُنتُمْ شُهَدَاءَ إِذْ حَضَرَ يَعْقُوبَ الْمَوْتُ إِذْ قَالَ لِبَنِيهِ مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن بَعْدِي قَالُوا نَعْبُدُ إِلَٰهَكَ وَإِلَٰهَ آبَائِكَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ إِلَٰهًا وَاحِدًا وَنَحْنُ لَهُ مُسْلِمُونَ

Were you witness when death appeared before Yaqoob/Jacob? Behold, he said to his sons. “What will you serve after me?” They said. “We shall serve your God and the God of your fathers, of Abraham, Isma’il and Isaac,- the one (True) God. To Him we are muslim/submitters.”

The practice of the messenger is to enjoin on his off-springs not to follow his religion or judgment but to serve Allah and be submitters to Allah.

42:24  أَمْ يَقُولُونَ افْتَرَىٰ عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا ۖ فَإِن يَشَإِ اللَّهُ يَخْتِمْ عَلَىٰ قَلْبِكَ ۗ وَيَمْحُ اللَّهُ الْبَاطِلَ وَيُحِقُّ الْحَقَّ بِكَلِمَاتِهِ ۚ إِنَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ

Do they say, “He has forged a falsehood against Allah”? But if Allah willed, He could seal up your heart. And Allah removes falsehood, and confirms the Haq/Truth by His Words/Kalamat, for He knows well the secrets of hearts.

As, Allah blots out batil/falsehood and confirms the Truth by His Kalamat/Words.

 

 

Why is Al-Kitab the Word of God?

Aijaz Uncategorized , ,

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Of all the religious scriptures in existence today which are considered to be from inspiration of God by their respective followers, Al-Kitab is the only one in which God Himself claims to be the author. No other book within itself claims to be the Word of God. Only their followers claim that they are from inspiration of God. Al-Kitab is the only widely recognized religious book which claims within the book, to be the ‘Word’ of God.

39:1-2  تَنزِيلُ الْكِتَابِ مِنَ اللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَكِيمِ  إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ فَاعْبُدِ اللَّهَ مُخْلِصًا لَّهُ الدِّينَ

The sending down of the Book is from Allah, the Exalted in power, the Wise. Verily, We have sent down the Book to you in Truth, so serve Allah, making the Din/judgment pure for Allah.

2. There is no claimant on authorship of Al-Kitab except God, however, most of the people who don’t believe that Al-Kitab is Word of God, believe that it must have been written by Mohammad (pbuh). Obviously, if it were true, the main purpose of Mohammad would be to obtain glory for himself by pretending a prophet of God. However, what we find in the reading Al-Kitab is that it is all about focusing on God, and not on any personality.  This sort of book would not have been written by any charlatan or fraudster seeking personal glory for himself. Mohammad (pbuh) is mentioned far less times in Al-Kitab than other messengers e.g Moses and Jesus. Compared to them, Mohammad is mentioned only a miniscule amount of time. In fact the prophet has been admonished in the Book at some places. Had Mohammad been the personality type that these people believe him to be and he be after false glory, he would have made himself the center of focus in the Book. Instead we find ‘Mohammad’ mentioned only 4 times in Quran and Ahmed as 1 time and all focus in the Book is on God (https://topicsfromquran.com/2017/03/12/making-dinjudgment-pure-for-allah/). In addition, The hadith books which are supposed to be sayings of Mohammad, can very easily be distinguished separately from Al-Kitab in literally style and content. If Mohammad would not have written Al-Kitab and nobody else claims to be the author of Al-Kitab, then this leads us to the conclusion that this is but the Word of God.

3. In Al-Kitab, Allah promises to protect the Remembrance (Az-Zikr) 15:9. People have put Al-Kitab in paper form (6:91). Again, Al-Kitab is the only religious scripture which does not have an accepted standard version. It is preserved with collective remembrance of the believers.

15:9  إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ

Indeed, We have sent down the Remembrance; and indeed we are the guardians for it.

4. Al-Quran is a reading of Al-Kitab. Allah challenges all mankind to bring one chapter like it, if they doubt that it is the Word of God.

2:23  وَإِن كُنتُمْ فِي رَيْبٍ مِّمَّا نَزَّلْنَا عَلَىٰ عَبْدِنَا فَأْتُوا بِسُورَةٍ مِّن مِّثْلِهِ وَادْعُوا شُهَدَاءَكُم مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ

And if you are in doubt as to what We have revealed to Our servant, then come with a Surah/Chapter like it; and call your witnesses besides Allah if you are truthful.

Linguistically, this book is a literal marvel for all times. No other book in Arabic has attained such linguistic magnificence as Al-Kitab. Nor the challenge in Al-Kitab to bring forth a chapter like it, has been met. The Arabic Grammar rules are derived from Al-Kitab and not vice versa.

5. This book piques the interest of even its opponent who think its false but cannot stay away from it and keep on doing their research in it, however, God increases them in disbelief with their efforts.

2:26  إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَسْتَحْيِي أَن يَضْرِبَ مَثَلًا مَّا بَعُوضَةً فَمَا فَوْقَهَا ۚ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَيَقُولُونَ مَاذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِهَٰذَا مَثَلًا ۘ يُضِلُّ بِهِ كَثِيرًا وَيَهْدِي بِهِ كَثِيرًا ۚ وَمَا يُضِلُّ بِهِ إِلَّا الْفَاسِقِينَ

Allah does not shy away from citing the example of a mosquito, or anything above it. As for those who believe, they know that it is the truth from their Lord. As for the rejecters, they Say: What does Allah intend with this example? He lets many stray by it, and He guides many, but He only lets stray the Fasiqeen/evil-doers.

40:34  وَلَقَدْ جَاءَكُمْ يُوسُفُ مِن قَبْلُ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ فَمَا زِلْتُمْ فِي شَكٍّ مِّمَّا جَاءَكُم بِهِ ۖ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا هَلَكَ قُلْتُمْ لَن يَبْعَثَ اللَّهُ مِن بَعْدِهِ رَسُولًا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُضِلُّ اللَّهُ مَنْ هُوَ مُسْرِفٌ مُّرْتَابٌ

And to you there came Joseph earlier, with clear Signs, but you ever remained in doubt for what he had come for. Till when he died, you said. ‘No messenger will Allah send after him.’ Thus does Allah leave to stray who transgresses and lives in doubt.

6.

4:82  أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ ۚ وَلَوْ كَانَ مِنْ عِندِ غَيْرِ اللَّهِ لَوَجَدُوا فِيهِ اخْتِلَافًا كَثِيرًا

 Do they not consider/ponder The Quran/The Reading if it had been from other than Allah, they would surely have found therein much discrepancy/contradictions.

The True sprit of an ayat of Al-Quran will be that which does not conflict with the understanding/spirit of other ayahs. If the understanding of an ayat does not match with the understanding of other ayahs, it would mean there is a problem in understanding of that ayat and more research is required in its understanding until the it harmonizes with the spirit of other ayahs of Al-Quran.

The other supposedly heavenly books have problems with scientific discoveries and they cannot cope with them. However, with Al-Kitab as more information is known about the universe and earth, it is found that the information is congruent with the facts mentioned in Al-Kitab.

7. No man written book in the world is found to remain relevant and correct after a limited time period after it is written. Any book, no matter how well written it is, will be outdated and will not be relevant any more in a few decades after it is written. Its only the Allah’s Book which is still relevant since it came to mankind uptill now and will be so in future as well.

Notes:

8. Some people ask the question, ‘ What is in this Book by Allah, that cannot be written by an ordinary man?’.  Will give a just a few examples of the answers that no person can dare write, which Allah has written in His Book.

a) no man can dare claim that what he has written in his book, is without any doubt and without any contradictions and this statement will be true for all eternity. 

b) no man can seriously write and claim that he created the sky and it is he who is expanding it.

c) no man can write that he caused the earth and heavens which were bonded together, to be separated and he created all living things living from water.

d) no man can write that he has created the night and the day and the sun and moon and all float in their orbits.

Any body who has just a very small amount of knowledge about the Universe can realize that this requires infinite amount of Power and Wisdom to create and run the Universe we observe. Any body other than the Creater himself who would make such a claim to do similar work will instantly expose himself to be a liar and charlatan and will not be believed by people. Any fraudster who may try to write a book on behalf of the Creator to deceive people cannot make such tall claims that his book will be free of doubt and contradiction for all times to come.   

Descriptions in Quran of the Creation of Universe:

Some people wonder why Allah did not include detailed explanations in the Quran about how He created the universe. The Quran simply states that Allah created the heavens and the earth but does not elaborate on the processes involved. One possible explanation is that humans are familiar with and can only relate to four dimensions: three spatial dimensions and one time dimension.

To illustrate this point, imagine a one-dimensional being created by God. If God informs this being about the existence of three-dimensional creatures who use devices to measure time, such as watches, the one-dimensional creature might ask for an explanation of how these devices are made. However, describing to a one-dimensional being how factories manufacture watches would be futile because they lack the capacity to comprehend a three-dimensional world. The limitations of their perception would render the explanation meaningless.

Similarly, if the universe encompasses more than the dimensions humans can perceive, much of its workings would remain incomprehensible to us. Even if someone were to attempt to describe these additional dimensions, the explanation would likely confuse the vast majority of people. Current scientific theories, such as string theory, suggest that the universe indeed has more dimensions than we can observe. For example, bosonic string theory requires 26 dimensions for mathematical consistency, while superstring theory posits 10 dimensions, and M-theory proposes 11 dimensions.

These theories imply that the universe is far more complex than our limited perception allows us to understand. Therefore, it is plausible that Allah chose not to include intricate details about the universe’s creation in the Quran, as such explanations might be beyond human comprehension and, ultimately, not beneficial for our spiritual guidance.

Suleiman’s invitation to Queen of Saba

Aijaz Uncategorized , , , ,

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Al-Kitab gives an interesting account of communication between Prophet Sulieman A.S and Queen of Saba in Sura Namal, twenty seventh Sura/chapter of Al-Kitab as given below:.

27:20-24  وَتَفَقَّدَ الطَّيْرَ فَقَالَ مَا لِيَ لَا أَرَى الْهُدْهُدَ أَمْ كَانَ مِنَ الْغَائِبِينَ لَأُعَذِّبَنَّهُ عَذَابًا شَدِيدًا أَوْ لَأَذْبَحَنَّهُ أَوْ لَيَأْتِيَنِّي بِسُلْطَانٍ مُّبِينٍ فَمَكَثَ غَيْرَ بَعِيدٍ فَقَالَ أَحَطتُ بِمَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِ وَجِئْتُكَ مِن سَبَإٍ بِنَبَإٍ يَقِينٍ  إِنِّي وَجَدتُّ امْرَأَةً تَمْلِكُهُمْ وَأُوتِيَتْ مِن كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَلَهَا عَرْشٌ عَظِيمٌ وَجَدتُّهَا وَقَوْمَهَا يَسْجُدُونَ لِلشَّمْسِ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ وَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَعْمَالَهُمْ فَصَدَّهُمْ عَنِ السَّبِيلِ فَهُمْ لَا يَهْتَدُونَ

And he (Suleiman/Solomon) inspected the fliers; and he said. “Why is it I don’t see Hudhud? Or is he among the absentees? “I will certainly punish him severely, or slaughter him, unless he bring me a manifest authority.” He (Hudhud) did not take long to come, and said. “I have compassed which you has not compassed, and I have come to you from ‘Saba’ with a certain news. “I found (there) a woman ruling over them and provided with every requisite; and she has a great throne. “I found her and her people worshipping the Sun besides Allah. Satan has made their deeds seem pleasing in their eyes, and has kept them away from the Path,- so they receive no guidance,-

Hudhud represents the intelligence officer of King Suleiman A.S. He informs him of a great Kingdom of Saba, ruled by a female (a symbol of feminism). She and her people are bowing to the Sun, which could be a symbolic way of stating that they bow to things which are manifestly clear. People in the modern world believe in things made clear by laws of Science as opposed to believers who believe in Ghaib/Unseen as well, e.g things which Science does not recognize such as existence of God. Satan has made the people of ‘Saba’ proud of their achievements and has carried them away from the straight path.  Hudhud told prophet Suleiman A.S that this nation of Saba has no chance of returning to Allah’s path as Satan has prevented them from it very effectively

27:27-31 قَالَ سَنَنظُرُ أَصَدَقْتَ أَمْ كُنتَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ  اذْهَب بِّكِتَابِي هَٰذَا فَأَلْقِهْ إِلَيْهِمْ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّ عَنْهُمْ فَانظُرْ مَاذَا يَرْجِعُونَ  قَالَتْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْمَلَأُ إِنِّي أُلْقِيَ إِلَيَّ كِتَابٌ كَرِيمٌ  إِنَّهُ مِن سُلَيْمَانَ وَإِنَّهُ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ  أَلَّا تَعْلُوا عَلَيَّ وَأْتُونِي مُسْلِمِينَ

(Suleiman) said. “Soon shall we see whether you have told the truth or you are from the liars! “Go, with my book/writing, and deliver it to them, then draw back from them, and (wait to) see what answer they return”. (The queen) said. “Ye chiefs! here is delivered to me – a very honourable book/writing. “It is from Sulieman, and it is with the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. “Do not look down upon me, and come to me as muslim/submitter”

As Hudhud told prophet Sulieman A.S, that the nation of Saba has no chance of returning to Allah’s path, Sulieman said, lets see what you predict is right or wrong. Deliver my book/letter to them and see what they come back with. As the letter was delivered to the Queen, she said to her councillors, “A very honorable letter of invitation from Sulieman has been delivered to me, this is an invitation to Allah, the most Gracious, and to come to Sulieman to be a Muslim/submitter”.

  27:32-33  قَالَتْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْمَلَأُ أَفْتُونِي فِي أَمْرِي مَا كُنتُ قَاطِعَةً أَمْرًا حَتَّىٰ تَشْهَدُونِ  قَالُوا نَحْنُ أُولُو قُوَّةٍ وَأُولُو بَأْسٍ شَدِيدٍ وَالْأَمْرُ إِلَيْكِ فَانظُرِي مَاذَا تَأْمُرِينَ

She said. “O’ chiefs! Advise me in (this) my affair. No affair do I firmly decide unless in your presence.”  They said. “We are endued with strength, and given to vehement war, but the command is with you; so consider what you would command.”

She told the councillors that Sulieman has asked not to look down upon him as normally people of advanced nations do stereotype the religious people, meaning  Suleiman’s invitation is different than others towards Allah’s path. The councillors however, advised that we are people of great knowledge and strength. They assumed that Suleiman would be no different than the other religious charlatans who are actually looking for worldly gains, wealth and power so that he can control their wealth and power by becoming their spiritual leader. They advised, however, the matter to be decided by her, so she can test if Suleiman is actually after worldly gains or is truthful in his invitation towards Allah, the most Gracious.

27:34-35  قَالَتْ إِنَّ الْمُلُوكَ إِذَا دَخَلُوا قَرْيَةً أَفْسَدُوهَا وَجَعَلُوا أَعِزَّةَ أَهْلِهَا أَذِلَّةً ۖ وَكَذَٰلِكَ يَفْعَلُونَ  وَإِنِّي مُرْسِلَةٌ إِلَيْهِم بِهَدِيَّةٍ فَنَاظِرَةٌ بِمَ يَرْجِعُ الْمُرْسَلُونَ

She said. “Kings, when they enter a country, despoil it, and make the noblest of its people its meanest thus do they behave. “But I am going to send him a present, and (wait) to see with what (answer) return (my) messengers.” Now when (the embassy) came to Suliemann, he said. “Will ye give me abundance in wealth? But that which Allah has given me is better than that which He has given you! Nay it is ye who rejoice in your gift!

The queen said that normally Kings are after worldly gains and cause wars. She needs to know if Suleiman’s real intention is invitation to Allah’s path, or he may be using Allah’s name as an excuse for his interest in wealth and land. She thought of testing Solomon’s real intention, to send him such a gift of wealth that would have been difficult to be refused by a materialistic person. Then she would know if Sulieman is really interested in Allah’s mission or is he after the wealth of her kingdom.

27:36-37 فَلَمَّا جَاءَ سُلَيْمَانَ قَالَ أَتُمِدُّونَنِ بِمَالٍ فَمَا آتَانِيَ اللَّهُ خَيْرٌ مِّمَّا آتَاكُم بَلْ أَنتُم بِهَدِيَّتِكُمْ تَفْرَحُونَ

ارْجِعْ إِلَيْهِمْ فَلَنَأْتِيَنَّهُم بِجُنُودٍ لَّا قِبَلَ لَهُم بِهَا وَلَنُخْرِجَنَّهُم مِّنْهَا أَذِلَّةً وَهُمْ صَاغِرُونَ

When (the embassy) came to Suleiman, he said. “Will you give me abundance in wealth? But that which Allah has given me is better than that which He has given you! Nay, it is you who rejoice in your gift!”Go back to them, and be sure we shall come to them with such forces as they will never be able to confront. We shall expel them from there in disgrace, and they will feel humbled (indeed).”

When the queen’s gift of wealth came to Suleiman, he told them that he is not interested in wealth as the blessings of Allah that he has are much more in value than money. Sulieman told them if they take pride in their awesome throne/system and advanced knowledge (represented by their worship of Sun) and reject Allah’s message, we will come to them with such forces of reasoning and logic that they would never be able to confront. The likes of these forces they would not have seen or heard before and they will surely be defeated and humbled in front of their own people.

There is no compulsion in Deen judgment of Islam. A prophet of Islam can not force his Deen/judgment on other nations. He is to invite them in the best possible way to the way of the Lord. Attacking with military force to forcefully convert another nation is not lawful for a prophet of God. See instruction of Quran in this post ( https://topicsfromquran.com/2018/03/05/faith-by-force/). The root word of Suleiman is (s l m) which denotes peace. So, Suleiman A.S challenge to Queen of Saba was that your system of governance and life which you think is devoid of God and based on Sun’s worship i.e your belief in explainable phenomena only, we will disprove you in front of your people so that they will loose their trust in you and you will loose control of your people.

27:38  قَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا الْمَلَأُ أَيُّكُمْ يَأْتِينِي بِعَرْشِهَا قَبْلَ أَن يَأْتُونِي مُسْلِمِينَ

He said (to his own men). “O chiefs! which of you can bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?”

The throne represent her system of governance. Sulieman asked his councillors to bring it to him.

27:41  قَالَ نَكِّرُوا لَهَا عَرْشَهَا نَنظُرْ أَتَهْتَدِي أَمْ تَكُونُ مِنَ الَّذِينَ لَا يَهْتَدُونَ

He said. “Transform her throne for her. let us see whether she is guided (to the truth) or is one of those who receive no guidance.”

Sulieman asked to make from her  own system, something strange. In order to see if she can see the faults within her own system and get guidance thereby.

27:42  فَلَمَّا جَاءَتْ قِيلَ أَهَٰكَذَا عَرْشُكِ ۖ قَالَتْ كَأَنَّهُ هُوَ ۚ وَأُوتِينَا الْعِلْمَ مِن قَبْلِهَا وَكُنَّا مُسْلِمِينَ

So when she arrived, she was asked, “Is this your throne?” She said, “It was like that; We were given knowledge, before this, and we have submitted (to Allah).

So, when she arrived and she was shown her own system made into something strange, she was able to recognize the faults of her system and said that she become muslim/submitter to Allah. She already had knowledge about Allah, however, Satan has prevented them from Allah’s path by his reasoning as Satan eludes people with very effective reasoning and argument from both left and right sides (7:17).  

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 Sulieman to the Lord of the Worlds.

People usually come with the mind set that following Islam, is pure hardship and its instructions are difficult to comprehend and adopt. 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.

29:41  مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ كَمَثَلِ الْعَنكَبُوتِ اتَّخَذَتْ بَيْتًا ۖ وَإِنَّ أَوْهَنَ الْبُيُوتِ لَبَيْتُ الْعَنكَبُوتِ ۖ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ

The example of those who take protectors other than Allah is that of the spider, who builds a house; and truly the flimsiest of houses is that of the spider;- if they but knew.

The belief system of an individual can be thought of his psychological house in which he feels protection. This house is made by him from inputs from his environment and brought up. Initially this house is built without knowledge of Allahs’ message and when the truth of Allah’s message comes to one, the initial psychological house is shattered like the house of a spider. Compared to that initial house, the house which is built in the light of Allah’s Ayas is like a crystal clear palace.  

34:15-19  لَقَدْ كَانَ لِسَبَإٍ فِي مَسْكَنِهِمْ آيَةٌ ۖ جَنَّتَانِ عَن يَمِينٍ وَشِمَالٍ ۖ كُلُوا مِن رِّزْقِ رَبِّكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لَهُ ۚ بَلْدَةٌ طَيِّبَةٌ وَرَبٌّ غَفُورٌ  فَأَعْرَضُوا فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ سَيْلَ الْعَرِمِ وَبَدَّلْنَاهُم بِجَنَّتَيْهِمْ جَنَّتَيْنِ ذَوَاتَيْ أُكُلٍ خَمْطٍ وَأَثْلٍ وَشَيْءٍ مِّن سِدْرٍ قَلِيلٍ ذَٰلِكَ جَزَيْنَاهُم بِمَا كَفَرُوا ۖ وَهَلْ نُجَازِي إِلَّا الْكَفُورَ  وَجَعَلْنَا بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ الْقُرَى الَّتِي بَارَكْنَا فِيهَا قُرًى ظَاهِرَةً وَقَدَّرْنَا فِيهَا السَّيْرَ ۖ سِيرُوا فِيهَا لَيَالِيَ وَأَيَّامًا آمِنِينَ فَقَالُوا رَبَّنَا بَاعِدْ بَيْنَ أَسْفَارِنَا وَظَلَمُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ فَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ أَحَادِيثَ وَمَزَّقْنَاهُمْ كُلَّ مُمَزَّقٍ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّكُلِّ صَبَّارٍ شَكُورٍ

There was, for Saba, a Sign in their dwellings- two Gardens, to the right and to the left. “Eat of the Sustenance (provided) by your Lord, and be grateful to Him”. a City fair and nice, and a Forgiving Lord. But they turned away (from Allah), and We sent against them the flash flood, and We converted their two garden (rows) into “gardens” producing bitter fruit, thorny plant, and stunted trees. That was the requital We gave them because they rejected and never do We give (such) requital except to the rejecters. Between them and the Cities on which We had poured our blessings, We had placed Cities in prominent positions, and between them We had appointed stages of journey in due proportion. “Travel therein, secure, by night and by day.” But they said. “Our Lord! Place longer distances between our journeys” and they wronged themselves. Thus, We made them as stories, and We dispersed them all in scattered fragments. Verily in this are Signs for every patient and grateful one. 

The above Ayas give some description of Saba. Their dwellings will always be there as signs of Allah. Previously the two great gardens on left and right side, reduced by flash floods to semi desert.

Notes:

Sometimes you may wonder how can I invite people of very different back grounds towards Quran, while assuming there could be little that they could relate with Quran because of their upbringing in a very different environment away from Islamic teachings. At appropriate time just give them a simple translation of Quran.

27:28-30  اذْهَب بِّكِتَابِي هَٰذَا فَأَلْقِهْ إِلَيْهِمْ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّ عَنْهُمْ فَانظُرْ مَاذَا يَرْجِعُونَ  قَالَتْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْمَلَأُ إِنِّي أُلْقِيَ إِلَيَّ كِتَابٌ كَرِيمٌ  إِنَّهُ مِن سُلَيْمَانَ وَإِنَّهُ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

(Suleiman a.s said ) “Go, with my book/writing, and deliver it to them, then draw back from them, and (wait to) see what answer they return”. (The queen) said. “Ye chiefs! here is delivered to me – a very honorable book/writing. “It is from Suleiman, and it is with the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful”

It is Allah who inspires the Spirit of Words of Al-Quran towards whom he wishes.

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.

What is Migration/Hijrat per Quran?

Aijaz Uncategorized , ,

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

A person is usually born in a particular religion or sect and the environment and people around him try to make sure that he likes and follows the ideology of the particular faith in which he is born. Then at some point in life, he is presented with the spirit of the ayahs of Allah as a test if he would accept the message of Allah or not. When one accepts the message, it will not be possible for him to remain on his previous direction of faith. This change is termed as the change of Qibla (direction of belief) and it leads towards migration in belief. To change one’s direction of belief is indeed a big challenge and not many people will accept this change even if they see all the ayahs/signs of Al-Kitab 2:145.

29:26  فَآمَنَ لَهُ لُوطٌ ۘ وَقَالَ إِنِّي مُهَاجِرٌ إِلَىٰ رَبِّي ۖ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ

And Lut believed him (Ibrahim). He said. “I am migrating towards my Lord. For He is Exalted in Might, and Wise.”

When prophet Lut A.S believed in the message of Allah, he said that I am a migrator towards Allah.

8:72  إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَهَاجَرُوا وَجَاهَدُوا بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَالَّذِينَ آوَوا وَّنَصَرُوا أُولَٰئِكَ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ ۚ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَلَمْ يُهَاجِرُوا مَا لَكُم مِّن وَلَايَتِهِم مِّن شَيْءٍ حَتَّىٰ يُهَاجِرُوا ۚ وَإِنِ اسْتَنصَرُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ فَعَلَيْكُمُ النَّصْرُ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُم مِّيثَاقٌ ۗ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ

Surely those who believe and who migrate (in belief) and jahadoo / they strive with their wealth and with their nafs/psyche in the way of Allah and those who give shelter and help (to them) they are protectors of one another. And those who believe and do not migrate, it is not (a duty) for you to protect them from anything until they migrate (in belief). And if they seek your help in the judgment (i.e. Islam/peace) then (duty) over you is that you help them except over the people there is a covenant (i.e. of not fighting on belief) between you and them. And Allah has insight with what you do.

The people who migrate in belief strive in the path of Allah with their nafs/psyche and money. Those who had already migrated in belief welcome those in the circles of belief and help them, they are called Al-Ansar/the helpers.

9:100  وَالسَّابِقُونَ الْأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالْأَنصَارِ وَالَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُم بِإِحْسَانٍ رَّضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي تَحْتَهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ

The Sabiqoon (earlier ones)- the first of those who migrated (in belief) and the Ansars/helpers, and those who followed them in good deeds,- Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him. For them, He prepared gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein for ever. That is the supreme success/blessing

The people of means among believers are required to help those who migrate in the circle of belief.

24:22  وَلَا يَأْتَلِ أُولُو الْفَضْلِ مِنكُمْ وَالسَّعَةِ أَن يُؤْتُوا أُولِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينَ وَالْمُهَاجِرِينَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ۖ وَلْيَعْفُوا وَلْيَصْفَحُوا ۗ أَلَا تُحِبُّونَ أَن يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

Let not those amongst you who have  been blessed with abundance and means, refuse to give to their near ones, the poor and those who migrate in Allah’s cause. Let them forgive and overlook, do you not wish that Allah should forgive you? For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

When people migrate in belief and leave their previous belief system, the fools in that previous belief system, say what caused them to change their direction of belief?

2:142  سَيَقُولُ السُّفَهَاءُ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَا وَلَّاهُمْ عَن قِبْلَتِهِمُ الَّتِي كَانُوا عَلَيْهَا ۚ قُل لِّلَّهِ الْمَشْرِقُ وَالْمَغْرِبُ ۚ يَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ

The fools among the people will say: ” What has reverted them from their Qiblah/direction (of faith) on which they were?” Say: for Allah is East and West. He guides whom, He wills to a straight path.

To change one’s belief in accordance with Allah’s ayahs, is indeed a big test. Allah only made the previous belief system for people to test, who follows the messenger (The messenger of Allah in Quran ) and not the what the history books claim about the messenger.

2 :143  وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِّتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًا ۗ وَمَا جَعَلْنَا الْقِبْلَةَ الَّتِي كُنتَ عَلَيْهَا إِلَّا لِنَعْلَمَ مَن يَتَّبِعُ الرَّسُولَ مِمَّن يَنقَلِبُ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيْهِ ۚ وَإِن كَانَتْ لَكَبِيرَةً إِلَّا عَلَى الَّذِينَ هَدَى اللَّهُ ۗ وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَانَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِالنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ

Likewise, We made you a balanced nation, that you be a witnesses over people, and the messenger be a witness over yourselves; and We did not made the Qiblah/direction (of faith) you were over it, except that We know those who followed the Messenger from those who would turn over their heels. Surely, it is a great thing, except, for those whom Allah guides and never would Allah make your belief of no effect. Surely, Allah is with people full of Kindness, most Merciful.

The people who are given Al-Kitab, most of them will not follow this direction of belief even if they are shown all signs/ayahs of Al-Kitab. When this knowledge and spirit of Al-Kitab has come to one, then he is not allowed to go back to the previous system of belief.

2:145  وَلَئِنْ أَتَيْتَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ بِكُلِّ آيَةٍ مَّا تَبِعُوا قِبْلَتَكَ ۚ وَمَا أَنتَ بِتَابِعٍ قِبْلَتَهُمْ ۚ وَمَا بَعْضُهُم بِتَابِعٍ قِبْلَةَ بَعْضٍ ۚ وَلَئِنِ اتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَاءَهُم مِّن بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ ۙ إِنَّكَ إِذًا لَّمِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ

And even if you were to bring to those who are given the Book all the signs (ayats), they would not follow your Qiblah (direction), nor you are going to follow their Qiblah nor will they follow each other’s Qiblah. If you were to follow their desires after the knowledge has come to you, surely, you would be among the wrong doers.

The one who is touched by the spirit of the Book of Allah and has migrated towards Allah, is the like of being given life from the darkness of death.

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

Can he who was dead, to whom We gave life, and a light whereby he walks amongst men, be like him who is in the depths of darkness, from which he can never come out? Similarly it is made alluring for the Kafireen/rejecters  their own deeds.

The one who migrates towards Allah will find Allah’s blessings in abundance.

4:100  وَمَن يُهَاجِرْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ يَجِدْ فِي الْأَرْضِ مُرَاغَمًا كَثِيرًا وَسَعَةً ۚ وَمَن يَخْرُجْ مِن بَيْتِهِ مُهَاجِرًا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ثُمَّ يُدْرِكْهُ الْمَوْتُ فَقَدْ وَقَعَ أَجْرُهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ ۗ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا

He who migrates in the way of Allah, will find in the earth many a refuges, wide and spacious. And who sets out from his home migrating towards Allah and the messenger then death finds him, his reward becomes due with Allah and Allah is forgiving, Merciful.

4:97-98  إِنَّ الَّذِينَ تَوَفَّاهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ ظَالِمِي أَنفُسِهِمْ قَالُوا فِيمَ كُنتُمْ ۖ قَالُوا كُنَّا مُسْتَضْعَفِينَ فِي الْأَرْضِ ۚ قَالُوا أَلَمْ تَكُنْ أَرْضُ اللَّهِ وَاسِعَةً فَتُهَاجِرُوا فِيهَا ۚ فَأُولَٰئِكَ مَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَسَاءَتْ مَصِيرًا  إِلَّا الْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ وَالنِّسَاءِ وَالْوِلْدَانِ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ حِيلَةً وَلَا يَهْتَدُونَ سَبِيلًا  فَأُولَٰئِكَ عَسَى اللَّهُ أَن يَعْفُوَ عَنْهُمْ ۚ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَفُوًّا غَفُورًا

Verily, when angels take the souls of those who were unjust to their nafs (physche), they say. “In what (plight) were you?” They reply. “We were weak in the earth.” They say. “Was not the earth of Allah spacious enough for you to have migrated?” For such the abode is in Hell,- What an evil abode! – Except for those weak among – men, women, and children – who have no means in their power, nor are guided for the way. For these, hopefully that Allah will forgive and Allah is forgiving and pardoner

The people who do not migrate as they feel week to take on the implication of migration in belief and go against their surroundings, they will be in a difficult position in the hereafter. Only those really weak ones, who do not have the intellectual means and capacity to get guidance, Allah will be able to judge them and hopefully will forgive them.

Shooting stars or bright flames of fire?

Aijaz Uncategorized , , , , ,

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيم

29:43  وَتِلْكَ الْأَمْثَالُ نَضْرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ ۖ وَمَا يَعْقِلُهَا إِلَّا الْعَالِمُونَ

And such are the parables/examples, We set forth for mankind, but only those can understand them, who have knowledge.

The above ayat states that parables and examples that are set forth in Allah’s Book can be understood with people of knowledge. Let’s review some ayahs in this post, which are some times interpreted based on old dogmas. One such example is that jinns or satan jinns are supernatural creatures wandering the sky and seem to be particularly fond of listening to angles’ meetings and when they do so, are targeted with flaming balls of fires to cast them away. Major problem with this interpretation is that, it is assumed that Satan Jinns are supernatural spiritual beings. As you cannot beat a spiritual being with a stick or any material object, same way you cannot expel or beat a spiritual Jinn with balls of fire.

Some reference reading of the previously published post on ‘Creation of Skies and the Earth ( https://topicsfromquran.wordpress.com/2018/05/19/creation-of-skies-and-the-earth/ ) for understanding what the nearest sky is, and ‘What are Jinns’ (https://topicsfromquran.wordpress.com/2018/06/10/who-are-jinns-as-per-quran/ ) for understanding satan jinns, will be useful.

72:8-9  وَأَنَّا لَمَسْنَا السَّمَاءَ فَوَجَدْنَاهَا مُلِئَتْ حَرَسًا شَدِيدًا وَشُهُبًا  وَأَنَّا كُنَّا نَقْعُدُ مِنْهَا مَقَاعِدَ لِلسَّمْعِ ۖ فَمَن يَسْتَمِعِ الْآنَ يَجِدْ لَهُ شِهَابًا رَّصَدًا

‘And we pried into the sky; thus we found it filled with strong forces and fires. We  indeed, sat there in stations, for hearing; thus any who listens now, finds a flaming fire following him.’

The above is a statement of Jinn nation. It is evident from above ayat, that jinns are people from developed and technologically advanced nations of the world. They have explored the skies and found it to be containing strong forces, extreme heat and energy. The technological advanced nations sends rockets and  satellites in space. Those of them who goes in space have to use rockets which are followed by hot burning flames of fire.

Image result for rocket going into space

37:6-10إِنَّا زَيَّنَّا السَّمَاءَ الدُّنْيَا بِزِينَةٍ الْكَوَاكِبِ  وَحِفْظًا مِّن كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ مَّارِدٍ  لَّا يَسَّمَّعُونَ إِلَى الْمَلَإِ الْأَعْلَىٰ وَيُقْذَفُونَ مِن كُلِّ جَانِبٍ  دُحُورًا ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ وَاصِبٌ  إِلَّا مَنْ خَطِفَ الْخَطْفَةَ فَأَتْبَعَهُ شِهَابٌ ثَاقِبٌ

We have indeed adorned the lower heaven with planets/stars,- and guarded it against every rebellious satan.  They are not the listeners of the high command; and they are bombarded from  every side. Repulsed, for they are under a lasting  penalty, except one who snatches something away, he is pursued by a piercing  flame. 

The satans of the Jinns/(technologically advanced nations) are those people with negative personality traits of having racists ideologies which they generally hide (They are called satans because of characteristic of Satan to make discrimination based on bodily appearance). The advanced nations of Jinns seek knowledge about the magnificent Cosmos, including sending space probes in space. The lower sky of the Earth is well protected with atmospheric layers, the earth’s gravitational force and cosmic blasts of radioactive particles in space, which prevents all but only a few of them to venture out into space.  Majority of them cannot escape the earth. Only a miniscule few are able to escape into space with the help of expensive equipment which need be well protected against radiations and space risks and are trailed by piercing flames of fire as these equipment burn a lot of fuel to escape Earth’s gravitational pull.  

Image result for rocket going into space

 

15:16-18 وَلَقَدْ جَعَلْنَا فِي السَّمَاءِ بُرُوجًا وَزَيَّنَّاهَا لِلنَّاظِرِينَ  وَحَفِظْنَاهَا مِن كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ رَّجِيمٍ  إِلَّا مَنِ اسْتَرَقَ السَّمْعَ فَأَتْبَعَهُ شِهَابٌ مُّبِين

And We have made structures in the sky, and made it an adornment for the on-lookers; And We have guarded them from every out-casted Satan/divergent one. But any that gains a hearing by stealth, is pursued by a flaming bright fire

Again it is mentioned that the sky is well protected and for anyone prying in space to get  some knowledge, will be trailed by piercing fire. This is because they will have to use some equipment which will consume a lot of fuel to escape earth’s escape velocity and thereby will leave a trail of piercing fire before it.

67:5  وَلَقَدْ زَيَّنَّا السَّمَاءَ الدُّنْيَا بِمَصَابِيحَ وَجَعَلْنَاهَا رُجُومًا لِّلشَّيَاطِينِ ۖ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَابَ السَّعِيرٌِ

And we have adorned the lowest heaven with Lamps, and We have made it (the lower sky)  a thing to cast stones at Satans/mischievous ones, and we have prepared for them the scorching penalty

 En-route to outer space, astronauts will be bombarded with cosmic radiation: tiny, high-energy atom fragments that whiz through space and can damage body cells. Astronauts venturing in outer space risk all these dangers of radiations, asteroid belt, space junk, objects in space which can hit them and need take good protective measures against them.

Notes:

The ayahs of Quran stating flames of fires following satans are usually visualized as being directed to satans trying to enter Earth via space. However, in fact they are intended for satans trying to escape into space from the Earth. As Quran states that satans are already on earth doing physical work in the era associated with prophet Sulieman (a.s).