Uncategorized

Hadith of the Cow in Sura Baqara

Aijaz Islam, Religion, sprituality, Uncategorized , ,

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Remedy for Depression- Story of Prophet Ayub A.S

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

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

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

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

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

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

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

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

38:42  ارْكُضْ بِرِجْلِكَ ۖ هَٰذَا مُغْتَسَلٌ بَارِدٌ وَشَرَابٌ

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 42:39  وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَهُمُ الْبَغْيُ هُمْ يَنتَصِرُونَ

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

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

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

2:275  الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ الرِّبَا لَا يَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَقُومُ الَّذِي يَتَخَبَّطُهُ الشَّيْطَانُ مِنَ الْمَسِّ

Those who eat AR-RIBA / THE INCREASE  do not take a stand except like that he stands to madness from the touch of shaitan / Satan

Notes:

A lecture about Shaitan;

http://iipctvstream.com/eng_satan_old.html

http://iipctvstream.com/urdu_satan.html

When is Deen (Judgment) complete?

Aijaz Uncategorized

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Was the Deen completed at a point in time, some 1400/1500 years ago for Muslims? Was the Deen incomplete before that point of time? Was the Deen or religion of Mohammad (pbuh), different in any way, than the Deen of earlier messengers of Allah?

Please note that meaning of ‘Deen’ in Arabic is different from the word ‘Deen’ used in Urdu. In Arabic, Deen means ‘Judgment’, it does not mean religion. The word used for religion in Arabic is ‘Millat’.

Generally people assume ‘Deen’ in this Ayat 5:3 is in the sense of religion. However, this is unlikely as all religious scholars don’t even consider Ayat 5:3 to be last ayat of Quran, therefore a religion cannot be complete when more instructions are yet to come. If we study Quran we will find that there is no difference between what has been revealed to all messengers. All messengers have been given the same shariat. Allah says to the messenger (pbuh) that nothing at all is said to you, which has not been said to previous messengers and the Messenger (pbuh) confirms that he is not a bringer of any new doctrine to people. We can draw a conclusion that Allah’s religion is always complete in all times, it is every individual’s judgment which gets completed at a point in time as he progresses in his journey towards Allah’s path. Your day of completion of  the Deen/Judgment is the day when the rejecters lose hope of your return to your previous direction of belief.

5:3   ۗ الْيَوْمَ يَئِسَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِن دِينِكُمْ فَلَا تَخْشَوْهُمْ وَاخْشَوْنِ ۚ الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا ۚ

This day those who cover (do Kufur) have given up hope from your Deen/judgment so fear them not but fear me. This day I have perfected your Deen/judgment for you and completed My favor upon you and have chosen for you Islam/Peace as your Deen/Judgment.

Most people believe that by a stroke of great luck and by the grace of Almighty, they are  fortunate to be born in their particular sect or religion. If they were born in another sect or religion they would surely be doomed as others are not as rightly guided. However, this is actually a great test for every believer. When the ayahs of Allah are presented to him, he should leave his direction of belief that he was following before and follow the direction of belief of Allah’s ayahs.

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 witness 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 full of kindness and mercy to people.

Whatever your previous direction of belief was, now when the ayahs of Allah come to you, you have to follow the direction of belief as per ayahs. Ayahs are Allah’s Kalam (Words) and Qaul e Rasool (sayings of the Messenger) as per 69:40.

69:40  إِنَّهُ لَقَوْلُ رَسُولٍ كَرِيمٍ

That this (Quran) is verily the saying of an honored Messenger;

Changing one’s direction of belief in the light of Allah’s ayahs is indeed a great test. Those who change their direction are muslims/submitters to Allah’s ayahs and with the start of this process they become muhajir/migrator (leave their previous faith and follow the direction of belief of Allah’s ayahs). Those who don’t leave their previous direction of belief are Ummi (in the same original or motherly state) in which they were born and raised. Nabi al Ummi is the Nabi or prophet who was born with the Allah’s Din and prophet-hood already instilled by Allah as Allah’s ayat/sign.

When you make the decision to change and migrate in the direction of belief of Allah, the people in your surroundings who still adhere to previous faith, will make efforts to bring you back to previous faith. The day that they will lose hope of your return to the previous faith, will be the day that your Deen/judgment will be completed.

Notes:

The term Umiyeen is from root work( ا م م), and it is in the sense of relating to mother, or to be in the original state. When you are at your original state of belief on which you were born, you are an Ummi at that time. When you change your direction of belief (Qibla) with the help of Allah’s ayahs then the process of becoming a submitter/muslim to Allah starts. When the change of direction of belief takes place the foolish ones in your surroundings, will say that what made you change your direction of belief. Your reply should be that Allah, with His ayahs, guides to the straight path.

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.

Related Ayats:

Some related ayahs which indicate that the Din/Judgment, Shariat/Way, Millat/Religion are all the same with all the Messengers for all times. See also the topic ‘Religion of Ibrahim’ in a previous post.

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

Nothing is said to You (Mohammad) that was not said to the Messengers before you: verily you Lord has at his Command (all) forgiveness as well as the most Grievous vengeance.

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

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

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

The same Sharah (Shariat) He has established for you which He enjoined on Nooh- that We have sent by inspiration to you (Mohammad) – and that which We enjoined on Ibraheem, Moosa, and Essa; that you should remain steadfast in Din/Judgement, and make no differentiations therein: to those who join others with Allah, hard is the (way) to which you call them. Allah chooses to Himself those whom He pleases, and guides to Himself those who turn (to Him).

Zakat/Charity ratio in Quran

Aijaz Uncategorized , ,

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

There is a prescribed portion in your wealth which needs to be paid out to the deserving ones. This amount needs to be calculated and paid at regular intervals of time. A certain portion of your wealth that you have saved after expenses does not belong to you. It belongs to Allah and has to be paid to the categories of people prescribed by Allah. We will see the related ayas for calculation and payment of this amount as below;

8:41  وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا غَنِمْتُم مِّن شَيْءٍ فَأَنَّ لِلَّهِ خُمُسَهُ وَلِلرَّسُولِ وَلِذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ إِن كُنتُمْ آمَنتُم بِاللَّهِ وَمَا أَنزَلْنَا عَلَىٰ عَبْدِنَا يَوْمَ الْفُرْقَانِ يَوْمَ الْتَقَى الْجَمْعَانِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

And know that whatever ‘Ghanim’ / Profit / Advantage you get from anything, if you believe in Allah then surely ‘One Fifth’ is for Allah and for the Messenger and for the relatives and for the orphans and for the needy (who are reduced to poverty) and for the sons of the way, and whatever We sent down over Our servant on the day of the division, the day when the two accumulations meet. And Allah has power over everything.

‘Ghanim’ means what ever you gain or save. What ever you save after your expenditures, one fifth of this saving is the portion which needs be paid out as ‘Zakat’. The main categories on which this amount to be spent is Allah, Rasool (which means on the propagation of the Deen/Judgement of Allah and Rasool), the relatives, the orphans, the poor and the sons of the way. This is prescribed to you if you believe in Allah and what has been inspired on His servant on the day of differentiation on which two accumulations meet.

The way to calculate this amount is to establish a period of time and calculate the difference in net worth  from the last time period (This will be the day of differentiation). Calculate the value of current assets (minus liabilities)  and calculate the difference in net worth from last calculation (This is how two accumulations will meet). If you are calculating for the first time, last period’s net worth will be zero.  If there is an increase in net worth, then one fifth of this increase is to be spent on the above mentioned categories.

8:69  فَكُلُوا مِمَّا غَنِمْتُمْ حَلَالًا طَيِّبًا ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

So, enjoy what you have made, lawful and good. but fear Allah. for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

80% of the savings is for to enjoy, it is halal for you after payment of 20% of the prescribed amount.

59:7  مَّا أَفَاءَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْقُرَىٰ فَلِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ وَلِذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ كَيْ لَا يَكُونَ دُولَةً بَيْنَ الْأَغْنِيَاءِ مِنكُمْ ۚ وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانتَهُوا ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ

Whatever Allah has bestowed over His messenger from the people of the cities, it is for Allah and for the Messenger and for the relatives and for the orphans and for the needy (who are reduced to poverty) and for the sons of the way, so that the wealth may not circulate only amongst the rich of your people and whatever the Messenger gives you so take it and whatever He forbids you about it, so desist and take guard from Allah. Surely Allah is strong in punishment

Whatever economic system is established in the society the idea of payment of ‘Zakat’ is that wealth does not circulate only between the rich of the society. There should be a way of flow of wealth from the rich who have been bestowed greater capacity to produce wealth, to the poor.

2:280  وَإِن كَانَ ذُو عُسْرَةٍ فَنَظِرَةٌ إِلَىٰ مَيْسَرَةٍ ۚ وَأَن تَصَدَّقُوا خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۖ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

And if he is in difficulty, then respite is given to him towards easiness and that you give SADQA / CHARITY, that is better for you if you would have known.

If you are short of cash or may be most of your assets are not very liquid leaving you short of cash, you may pay the required amount later when you are in a better financial position. However, the amount to be paid will remain in your books

3:180  وَلَا يَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ بِمَا آتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ هُوَ خَيْرًا لَّهُم ۖ بَلْ هُوَ شَرٌّ لَّهُمْ ۖ سَيُطَوَّقُونَ مَا بَخِلُوا بِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ۗ وَلِلَّهِ مِيرَاثُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ

And let not reckon those who are stingy with what Allah has given them of His Grace, that it is good for them. Instead, it is worse for them. The things with which they were stingy, will be made a yoke for them on the Day of Judgment. For Allah is the heritage of the heavens and the earth; and Allah is aware of what you do.

If you don’t pay this prescribed amount then this is an increase in your wealth which you have made by usurping Allah’s portion. Al-Riba means, the increase.  Eighty percent remaining portion after payment of Zakat was your lawful portion of wealth to be enjoyed. If you increase your wealth by not paying Zakat then this increase is referred as Ar-Riba and because Allah’s and Rasool prescribed portion in your wealth is usurped by you, Allah and Rasool declare war on those believers who don’t pay this amount;

2:278-9  يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَذَرُوا مَا بَقِيَ مِنَ الرِّبَا إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

فَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلُوا فَأْذَنُوا بِحَرْبٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ۖ وَإِن تُبْتُمْ فَلَكُمْ رُءُوسُ أَمْوَالِكُمْ لَا تَظْلِمُونَ وَلَا تُظْلَمُونَ

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

Please note that this war is declared only on believers  as this instruction is directed towards believers.

2:261  مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِي كُلِّ سُنبُلَةٍ مِّائَةُ حَبَّةٍ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يُضَاعِفُ لِمَن يَشَاءُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ

The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like the example of grain that grows seven ears in every ear is 100 grains. And Allah multiplies for whom He wills. And Allah is All spacious, All knowing

When you will spend in Allah’s way from your portion (not from Allah’s portion which does not belong to you in the first place), Allah puts great barakah/growth in that.

2:273   لِلْفُقَرَاءِ الَّذِينَ أُحْصِرُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ ضَرْبًا فِي الْأَرْضِ يَحْسَبُهُمُ الْجَاهِلُ أَغْنِيَاءَ مِنَ التَّعَفُّفِ تَعْرِفُهُم بِسِيمَاهُمْ لَا يَسْأَلُونَ النَّاسَ إِلْحَافًا ۗ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ

It (SADQA / THE CHARITY) is for fuqra / the poor, those who are restricted in the way of Allah, they do not have the means to strike in the earth, the ignorant accounts them as rich from their modesty. You will recognize them with their marks. They do not ask people persistently and whatever you spend from the good then Allah has knowledge of it.

There are people who would not appear poor but they are the needy ones as they do not have the means to strike on earth. They don’t ask people for money. With these traits you should be able to recognize them (that is they don’t have the means to produce money and they don’t ask for money). These people also deserve your charity. Give them in such a way that do not compromise their dignity.

2:219  وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ قُلِ الْعَفْوَ ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمُ الْآيَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ……..’

They ask you concerning what they should spend? Say ‘graciousness/ overlook’ ; likewise Allah clarifies His ayahs/signs to you so that you may ponder.

Be gracious when you spend in the way of Allah. 

17:26-29  وَآتِ ذَا الْقُرْبَىٰ حَقَّهُ وَالْمِسْكِينَ وَابْنَ السَّبِيلِ وَلَا تُبَذِّرْ تَبْذِيرًا  إِنَّ الْمُبَذِّرِينَ كَانُوا إِخْوَانَ الشَّيَاطِينِ ۖ وَكَانَ الشَّيْطَانُ لِرَبِّهِ كَفُورًا  وَإِمَّا تُعْرِضَنَّ عَنْهُمُ ابْتِغَاءَ رَحْمَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكَ تَرْجُوهَا فَقُل لَّهُمْ قَوْلًا مَّيْسُورًا  وَلَا تَجْعَلْ يَدَكَ مَغْلُولَةً إِلَىٰ عُنُقِكَ وَلَا تَبْسُطْهَا كُلَّ الْبَسْطِ فَتَقْعُدَ مَلُومًا مَّحْسُورًا

And give to the relatives their due rights, and to the poor and to the wayfarer. And do not squander (your wealth) in a wasteful manner. Squanderers are the brothers of the satans, and the satan is to his Lord, a rejecter. And even if you have to turn away from them in pursuit of the grace from your Lord which you expect, you speak to them kindly.  Make not your hand tied (like a niggard’s) to your neck, nor stretch it forth to its utmost reach, so that you become blameworthy and destitute.

We need to give the due share prescribed from our wealth to the categories of people (described earlier), If we have to turn them away due to shortage of means at some point, we need to do so while being kind to them. We are advised to be moderate in our spending not to be stingy and at the same time not be spending so graciously as to become a destitute. 

Notes:

The word for ‘interest’ in Arabic is ‘Faida’, not Riba. Riba means increase.

Further study:

Lecture about Zakat and Riba from Br. Mohammad Shaikh:

https://www.iipccanada.com/category/urdu-video-lectures/maal-ka-istamal/

http://iipctvstream.com/eng_justification.html

Response to Blasphemy

Aijaz Islam, Religion, sprituality, Uncategorized , ,

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

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

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

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

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

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

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

68:2  مَا أَنتَ بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجْنُونٍ

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

73:10   وَاصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَاهْجُرْهُمْ هَجْرًا جَمِيلًا

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ilahs (false gods) mentioned in Al-Kitab

Aijaz Uncategorized , , , , , , ,

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

‘Ilahs’ are false gods those which obstruct a person from following Allah’s orders and His straight path. Ilah’s can be physical or psychological.

Allah has granted human beings with wisdom and emotions. The wisdom must control the emotions and it should govern itself as per Allah’s orders . If emotions start controlling wisdom instead, then they have the potential of becoming a person’s ‘ilah’ or false god, which then starts controlling a person.

In human beings certain emotions can become so uncontrollable that they become ilah/idols thus obstructing the person from Allah’s path or commands. For example in some societies, people can murder in the name of honor knowing fully well that murdering is not allowed and they will burn in hell-fire for that crime but the ilah/idol of honor is so strong that it overpowers the person to make him go against Allah’s commands.

Some Quranic Words related to the topic and their meanings:

  • Was(t)an / Autan: Idols
  • Sanam/Asnam:     Idols coupled with love
  • Tamaseel:            Images

Idols mentioned in Quran: (plz note most of them are emotions that are within our psyche/nafs)

  • Wida= Love
  • Laat=   Reproachment/self censuring
  • Manat= Desires
  • Uzza = Honor, Ego
  • Hawa = Desires
  • Yaghos = Helper
  • Nisra = Vulture, to point out weaknesses in others
  • Yaooq = Delayer/ procrastinator
  • Sowaa = time, period
  • Baal   =  Husband
  • Other idols mentioned:
  • Jesus and his mother
  • Jinns (the shielded or covered ones)
  • Ulama and those who strike terror in people hearts

The ilah’s are not only physical stuff, there are psychological ilahs as well. Ayat 12:106 states that majority of people who believe in Allah do so by associating others with Allah.

The best practice to follow is mentioned of Ibrahim (a.s) and his people (60:4). Prophet Ibrahim (a.s)  is the Idol breaker in Quran. We can follow Ibrahim’s practice by breaking the smaller ilah’s of people, so that they can turn to the Biggest one (21:58). The biggest ilah is always Allah/God (The Creator) in everyone’s mind. As long as, there is no communication or only one way communication between Allah and a person, Allah is the biggest ilah in one’s mind. (The person has formed some ideas and concepts from the environment about Allah but he does not know Allah by His Book). Once, two way communication is established i.e one gets to know what Allah is communicating through His Book, about Himself and His orders, the biggest ilah in ones mind can become the real Allah.

Also, prophet Ibrahim (a.s) practice is to strike the people’s ilahs from the side i.e not head on, because people have great affection attached to their ilahs, so striking an ilah head on would put them in an emotional state and then they will not be able to reason and ponder on Allah’s ayahs. Therefore the admonition can work only when the addressees are not in an emotional state of mind. فَذَكِّرْ إِن نَّفَعَتِ الذِّكْرَىٰ  87:9 .

25:43  أَرَأَيْتَ مَنِ اتَّخَذَ إِلَٰهَهُ هَوَاهُ أَفَأَنتَ تَكُونُ عَلَيْهِ وَكِيلًا

Have you seen him who has taken ‘Huwa’ (desire) as his ilah. Would you then be a solicitor/wakil over him.

This is the ilah affecting most people at some time or most of the times of their lives. People become slaves of their desires. Their desires dictate the course of their lives.

37:125 أَتَدْعُونَ بَعْلًا وَتَذَرُونَ أَحْسَنَ الْخَالِقِينَ

“Do you call upon Baal/Husband and forsake the best of Creators,-“

This ilah affects most married women. They spend most of their time thinking about their husband, fearing his dis-favor fearing their security in case they lose their husband.

53:19-20     أَفَرَأَيْتُمُ اللَّاتَ وَالْعُزَّىٰ  وَمَنَاةَ الثَّالِثَةَ الْأُخْرَىٰ

So do you see Laat (Would be) and Uzza (Honour), And Manat ( Longing) third of the other.

71:72-73  وَمَكَرُوا مَكْرًا كُبَّارًا   وَقَالُوا لَا تَذَرُنَّ آلِهَتَكُمْ وَلَا تَذَرُنَّ وَدًّا وَلَا سُوَاعًا وَلَا يَغُوثَ وَيَعُوقَ وَنَسْرًا

And they planned a great scheme. And they said! “don’t leave your gods and don’t leave Wadda (Love) and not Soowa (Time / Hour) and Yaghoos (Seek aid) and Yaooq (Delay) and Nasr (Vulture)

So the disbelievers have made a very elaborate scheme and system to deceive people. They encouraged people to hold on to their false gods. The deities are loaded with Love (Wudda) with brain washing stories instilled since their childhood. There are elaborate stories relating to a certain period of time (Soowa) making people feeling attached to a certain period of time. There are certain super-humans who people think can be rightfully called for help (Yaghoos), while Allah declares that don’t call anyone with him (72:18 and 22:62). There is a tendency in people, of delaying (Yaooq) their inclination towards Allah to a far off time or till retirement, when they think they will get time to study Allah’s Book and correct themselves. People take great interest and pleasure in picking faults (Nasr/Vulture) especially with other sect’s beliefs and practices.

 9:31  اتَّخَذُوا أَحْبَارَهُمْ وَرُهْبَانَهُمْ أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ وَالْمَسِيحَ ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا إِلَٰهًا وَاحِدًا ۖ لَّا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ سُبْحَانَهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ

They have taken other than Allah, their Ahbar / Scholars and their Rohban / Terrorists and the Christ son of Mary as lords. And they were not ordered except to serve one Allah. There is no ilah except Him. He is pure from what they associate (with Him).

‘Personality Worship’ is one of the biggest problem for any religion. Somehow people feel intimated by the Creator God and resort to ‘smaller gods;/ilahs to support them with the Great One. The personalities that can attain the status of infallible ‘illahs’ could be prophets of God, or the clergy persons. Quran puts great emphasis on clarifying that no human is infallible or free of errors so no one to be blindly followed.

Many people take directions and guidance from clergy instead of Allah and His Book,  believing that the specific sect’s clergy in which they were fortunate to be born with, is the rightly guided one. For most of the matters of daily life, their guidance comes from solutions books written by this particular clergy.  Very seldom is that they will take guidance from Allah’s Book instead of solution books from clergy.

12:106  وَمَا يُؤْمِنُ أَكْثَرُهُم بِاللَّهِ إِلَّا وَهُم مُّشْرِكُونَ

And majority of them, do not believe with  Allah without associating (other as partners) with Him!

Majority of the people who believe in Allah, take Allah’s orders but they associate others, with Allah by taking their orders as well (in divine matters)

27:62  أَمَّن يُجِيبُ الْمُضْطَرَّ إِذَا دَعَاهُ وَيَكْشِفُ السُّوءَ وَيَجْعَلُكُمْ خُلَفَاءَ الْأَرْضِ ۗ أَإِلَٰهٌ مَّعَ اللَّهِ ۚ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَذَكَّرُونَ

Who answers the distressed one when he calls upon Him and removes the evil/suffering, and makes you (mankind) inheritors of the earth? (Can there be another) illah/god besides Allah? Little it is that ye heed!

The above ayat states that who is the one who when called upon, responds to the caller and removes the problems of the caller (in divine matters). This is definitely Allah. Any one else who is called upon in divine matters, as ‘mushkil-kusha’ (problem solver), is deemed as an ‘illah’ as per above ayat as Allah asks is there any illah besides Allah who can do that?

Further Study:

A mind boggling lecture by scholar Mohammad Shaikh, describing false gods and how prophet Ibrahim (a.s) breaks Idols in people’s minds;

http://iipctvstream.com/eng_gods_and_Allah.html

http://iipctvstream.com/urdu_gods_and_Allah_old.html

Is capital punishment allowed in Quran?

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

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

The concept of Qasas in Quran is that if some one gets hurt from your actions, then  an equivalent compensation  commensurate with the hurt caused, should be paid to him by you.

An equivalency/relationship between the hurt caused and its appropriate equivalent compensation needs to be established keeping in view the circumstances.  In some societies general guidelines exists, for example, in an accident a person loses his leg, what amount should be paid to him as compensation. The hurts can be physical or psychological, but the same rule apply.

Qasas is absolutely not that if someone hurts your eye, then you should hurt his eye too. If someone commits any bad or cruel act, he will have an equivalent misfortune befallen on him either by the Law of the land punishing the person or  some other physical or psychological misfortune inflicted on him by divine intervention.  The believer who has been wronged by someone, need not take his revenge from the oppressor. He has to take help from this knowledge that the oppressor will get full compensation of his oppression as ordained in the Book. If the believer takes his own revenge then again a similar misfortune will befall on the believer himself as per divine law. For example if someone injures your ear wrongly, then as per divine law a misfortune proportionate to the injuring of your ear, will befall on the person doing it. Either he will get punishment from Law or an equivalent misfortune physical or psychological will befall on him. However, if you take a revenge by injuring his ear as well, then similar misfortune of injuring an ear will befall on you as well.

The believers help heal their psychological wounds with this knowledge if they have been wronged or oppressed. They don’t have to burn in the fire of revenge and hatred as this matter to be left to Allah to take care of. The best course of action is to forgive and let go this matter for divine justice.

5:45  وَكَتَبْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ فِيهَا أَنَّ النَّفْسَ بِالنَّفْسِ وَالْعَيْنَ بِالْعَيْنِ وَالْأَنفَ بِالْأَنفِ وَالْأُذُنَ بِالْأُذُنِ وَالسِّنَّ بِالسِّنِّ وَالْجُرُوحَ قِصَاصٌ ۚ فَمَن تَصَدَّقَ بِهِ فَهُوَ كَفَّارَةٌ لَّهُ ۚ وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ

And we wrote on them in it (Taurat): “Nafs for Nafs, eye for eye, nose for nose, ear for ear, tooth for tooth, and wounds are related.” Thus the one who pays with it, it is an atonement for himself. And if any fail to judge/govern with what Allah has revealed, they are Zalimeen/wrong-doers.

When Al-Kitab mentions ‘an eye for an eye’ it does not mean that you have to take out an eye in compensation of your damaged eye. It means that if you damage some one’s eye, you must pay an equivalent compensation for that wrong doing or otherwise an equivalent form of punishment will befall on you. Ayat 5:45 is sometimes misunderstood in terms of compensation and people think that it means an eye is the compensation of an eye. However if you study Ayat 5:45 and 2:178 together; in the same Arabic syntax in which Ayat 5:45 says an eye for an eye, Ayat 2:178 says a woman for a woman, a slave for a slave. It is evident that if you kill some one’s woman, you will be punished for that crime, not your woman.

2:178  يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْقِصَاصُ فِي الْقَتْلَى ۖ الْحُرُّ بِالْحُرِّ وَالْعَبْدُ بِالْعَبْدِ وَالْأُنثَىٰ بِالْأُنثَىٰ ۚ فَمَنْ عُفِيَ لَهُ مِنْ أَخِيهِ شَيْءٌ فَاتِّبَاعٌ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَأَدَاءٌ إِلَيْهِ بِإِحْسَانٍ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ تَخْفِيفٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ ۗ فَمَنِ اعْتَدَىٰ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ فَلَهُ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

O you who believe! the Qasas is written on you in murder. the free for the free, the slave for the slave, the woman for the woman. But if any remission is made by the brother of the slain, then grant any reasonable demand, and compensate him with handsome gratitude, this is a concession and a mercy from your Lord. After this whoever exceeds the limits shall be in grave penalty.

2:179  وَلَكُمْ فِي الْقِصَاصِ حَيَاةٌ يَا أُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

In Qasas there is Life to you, o ye men of understanding; that ye may restrain yourselves.

Ayat 2:178 says that qasas is written on you which means qasas is mandatory on believers. (same syntax as fasting is written/mandatory on you in Ayat 2:183). However, Quran ordains that qasas is for life not for death in Ayat 2:179. It means that capital punishment is not allowed.  Ayat 17:150 states that the ‘wali’ of the victim should not transgress in killing as he is the helped one ( i.e he will get compensation and help from Allah as well).

17:33  وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ ۗ وَمَن قُتِلَ مَظْلُومًا فَقَدْ جَعَلْنَا لِوَلِيِّهِ سُلْطَانًا فَلَا يُسْرِف فِّي الْقَتْلِ ۖ إِنَّهُ كَانَ مَنصُورًا

Nor take life – which Allah has made sacred – except for just cause. And if anyone is slain wrongfully, we have given his heir authority; let him nor exceed bounds in the matter of taking life; for he is helped one.

42:39  وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَهُمُ الْبَغْيُ هُمْ يَنتَصِرُونَ

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

The believers help themselves when they are wronged from the knowledge of the fact that the oppressor who have oppressed them will meet similar fate (by Allah) i.e fully recompensed by Allah for their wrongful acts.

42:40  وَجَزَاءُ سَيِّئَةٍ سَيِّئَةٌ مِّثْلُهَا ۖ فَمَنْ عَفَا وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَجْرُهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الظَّالِمِينَ

The recompense for a wrong doing is a similar wrong doing (which will be inflicted by Allah). but if a person forgives and makes correction, his reward is due from Allah. for (Allah) does not love those who do wrong.

The point here is that the recompense of the wrong will be inflicted by Allah, therefore taking revenge is not allowed, and the person who forgives with this knowledge, will be compensated by Allah.

42:41  وَلَمَنِ انتَصَرَ بَعْدَ ظُلْمِهِ فَأُولَٰئِكَ مَا عَلَيْهِم مِّن سَبِيلٍ

But indeed if any do help themselves after a wrong (done) to them, against such there is no way.

If the believer retaliate to an oppressor with a similar wrongdoing, then he will be in the same boat, therefore the believers must help themselves with the knowledge that this is not their way of doing things.

42:42  إِنَّمَا السَّبِيلُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ يَظْلِمُونَ النَّاسَ وَيَبْغُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

This way is for those who oppress people and do wrong-doings in the Earth without right, for such there will be a grievous penalty.

42:43  وَلَمَن صَبَرَ وَغَفَرَ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ لَمِنْ عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ

and the one who shows patience and forgive, that would truly be from the great affairs

41:34  وَلَا تَسْتَوِي الْحَسَنَةُ وَلَا السَّيِّئَةُ ۚ ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ فَإِذَا الَّذِي بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُ عَدَاوَةٌ كَأَنَّهُ وَلِيٌّ حَمِيمٌ

Nor is goodness and Evil equal. Repel (Evil) with what is better. Then will he between whom and thee was hatred become as it were your friend and intimate!

Again it is said that that goodness and badness are not equal. The order for the believers is to respond to badness and hurts with something much better. They have to respond the wrongdoing on them with a good response and the result will be end of hatred among former enemies.

Notes:

26:93  مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ هَلْ يَنصُرُونَكُمْ أَوْ يَنتَصِرُونَ

“‘Besides Allah? Can they help you or help themselves?’

The Arabic word Antasar means ‘to help one self’ as evident in above Ayat. This is to illustrate that this word has been translated by all translators as to ‘help one self’ in this Ayat, however, on other occasions in Quran, some of the translators have translated this word as revenge, which is not the case.

16:126  وَإِنْ عَاقَبْتُمْ فَعَاقِبُوا بِمِثْلِ مَا عُوقِبْتُم بِهِ ۖ وَلَئِن صَبَرْتُمْ لَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لِّلصَّابِرِينَ

If ye punish, then punish with the like of that wherewith ye were afflicted. But if ye endure patiently, verily it is better for the patient ones.

If the scope of oppression falls under criminal code, then society and law of the land will follow the criminals. The punishments for any crime should be proportionate to the crime as prevalent in most judicial systems in the world. The oppressed ones should be patient as worldly judicial system takes their time in execution. Even, if the judicial system in the world fails to impart appropriate punishment to the criminals, there is no way that they will escape their due punishment from Allah.

Related links:

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

http://iipctvstream.com/eng_psy_hurts.html

Ar-Rooh/ The Spirit

Aijaz Uncategorized , , , ,

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Ar-Rooh mentioned in Al-Quran is the spirit (understanding) of the Word of Allah. Languages use ‘words’ to convey the understanding or ‘spirit’ behind these ‘words’. Different languages may use different words to convey the same ‘spirit’ behind these words. For example, a message comprising of words ‘bring me water’ can be in any language, however the understanding/meaning behind these words would be the same.  When Al-Quran mentions Ar-Rooh/The spirit it means the spirit of the Word of Allah i.e the true understanding of Al-Quran. It is not the rooh which is commonly used to refer to the essence of life forms. Quran’s Ar-Rooh, (the spirit) is always mentioned in singular form.

Al-Kitab mentions that Allah invokes the spirit (understanding of the Word of Allah) in his khalifa/vicegerent on Earth (15:29). When Mariam, protected her private parts and made a barrier between the (sayings of) people and herself, the spirit of Allah was invoked in her (66:12). The spirit brings the message of Allah; the bringer of the message, is in the form of a human being (19:17).  Allah invokes His spirit in any of His slaves He wishes, and after getting the spirit (of the Word of Allah) this person becomes the warner to people (40:15). Allah invokes the spirit (understanding of the Word of Allah) on the messenger and before the invocation of the spirit, the messenger does not know what is Al-Kitab and what is Eman/belief (42:52). Allah strengthens the Eman/belief in believers with the help of the spirit (58:22). The spirit is called the ameen/honest  so that it does transfers the true understanding of Al-Kitab without any loss of message (26:193). The spirit is also named Al-Qudus i.e the revered spirit (2:253, 16:102).  Another name of the revered spirit is Jibreel. The spirit comes with the order of Allah (17:85). The spirit when it comes with the order of Allah in one night of determination on a person of choice, the understanding of the words of Allah, gained by the person , could be more than what may be possible to achieve in an entire life span of a human being which normally could be around 1000 months/83 years (97:3). All the angels/malaika/Forces of Universe are bowing down to the spirit of Allah except the rebellious one (15:29) who makes comparisons in creations on the basis of self made criterion (38:73-76) and gives arguments from both left and right side for wrongful justifications. (7:17)

40:15   رَفِيعُ الدَّرَجَاتِ ذُو الْعَرْشِ يُلْقِي الرُّوحَ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ لِيُنذِرَ يَوْمَ التَّلَاقِ

“Raised high above ranks, the Lord of the Throne (of Authority), He send by His Command, the spirit  to any of His servants He pleases, that it may warn of the Day of mutual meeting,-“

Only after the spirit of the Word of Allah, is inspired on the messenger, he gets the perception of the book and the belief.

42:52  وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ رُوحًا مِّنْ أَمْرِنَا ۚ مَا كُنتَ تَدْرِي مَا الْكِتَابُ وَلَا الْإِيمَانُ وَلَٰكِن جَعَلْنَاهُ نُورًا نَّهْدِي بِهِ مَن نَّشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا ۚ وَإِنَّكَ لَتَهْدِي إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ

“And Likewise, We inspired on you (the messenger) a spirit from our order, you (the messenger) did not have the perception of what is the book and the belief, but We made it light, We guide with it whom We wish from Our servants. And surely you (The messenger) guides towards the straight path.”

The spirit is honest/ameen as it transfers the true understanding behind the Word of Allah to His messengers.

26:192-4 وَإِنَّهُ لَتَنزِيلُ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ  نَزَلَ بِهِ الرُّوحُ الْأَمِينُ -عَلَىٰ قَلْبِكَ لِتَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُنذِرِينَ

“This is a definitely a revelation of the Lord of the worlds. Sent down with it, is the honest spirit; into your heart, so that you be of the warners.”

The spirit is also ‘revered’ and is called Rooh ul Qudus. Allah makes the believers stead-fast by means of it.

16:102  قُلْ نَزَّلَهُ رُوحُ الْقُدُسِ مِن رَّبِّكَ بِالْحَقِّ لِيُثَبِّتَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَهُدًى وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ

‘Say, the revered spirit has revealed it from your Lord with the truth, to make steadfast those who believe and it is a guidance and good news for submitters.’

Another name for this revered spirit is Jibreel/Gabriel;

2:97  قُلْ مَن كَانَ عَدُوًّا لِّجِبْرِيلَ فَإِنَّهُ نَزَّلَهُ عَلَىٰ قَلْبِكَ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَهُدًى وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

Say, whoever is an enemy to Gabriel-for he has brought it down on your heart by Allah’s will, a confirmation of what is between the hands, and guidance and glad tidings for the believers,-

Mariam/Mary took a barrier between her and the people. After that the spirit appeared for her. The teachings which are not from Allah are normally prevalent in one’s atmosphere and they interfere with one’s ability to recognize the spirit of God. So, an important step is to distance one self from other teachings and focus solely on Allah in order to get His spirit (i.e the spirit of the Words of Allah)

19:17  فَاتَّخَذَتْ مِن دُونِهِمْ حِجَابًا فَأَرْسَلْنَا إِلَيْهَا رُوحَنَا فَتَمَثَّلَ لَهَا بَشَرًا سَوِيًّا

“Thus she took a hijab/veil apart from them, then We sent to her Our Rooh/Spirit. So he was an even example of a human for her. “

The Spirit came to her in a form of a human being i.e a human being with the spirit of the Words of Allah in him.

When the true sprit of the Words of Allah comes to a person, he may find it hard to be true, as it may be quite different from his current belief system. Mariam was also confused at first as she asked Allah’s refuge from the spirit that came to her.

19:18  قَالَتْ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِالرَّحْمَٰنِ مِنكَ إِن كُنتَ تَقِيًّا

She said. “I seek refuge of the most Gracious from you, if you fear (Allah).”

Prophet Essa Ibne Mariam is also called a word and a spirit from Allah.

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

O People of the book! Commit no excess in your judgement, nor say about Allah but the truth. Christ Essa the son of Mariam is a messenger of Allah, and His Word, which He bestowed towards Mariam, and a spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers. Say not “Three/Trinity” , desist. It is better for you. Verily, He is exalted above to have a son for him. To Him belong all things in the heavens and in earth. And enough is Allah as a caretaker.

Prophet Essa ibne Mariam was aided by the revered spirit. 

2: 253  تِلْكَ الرُّسُلُ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ ۘ مِّنْهُم مَّن كَلَّمَ اللَّهُ ۖ وَرَفَعَ بَعْضَهُمْ دَرَجَاتٍ ۚ وَآتَيْنَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَأَيَّدْنَاهُ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ ۗ وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مَا اقْتَتَلَ الَّذِينَ مِن بَعْدِهِم مِّن بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَتْهُمُ الْبَيِّنَاتُ وَلَٰكِنِ اخْتَلَفُوا فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ آمَنَ وَمِنْهُم مَّن كَفَرَ ۚ وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مَا اقْتَتَلُوا وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَفْعَلُ مَا يُرِيدُ

These are the messengers We endowed some above others; Of them Allah spoke (directly); others He raised in ranks; to Essa the son of Mariam We gave clear (Signs), and strengthened him with the revered spirit. If Allah had so willed, succeeding people would not have fought among each other, after clear (Signs) had come to them, but they disagreed (among themselves), some believing and others rejecting. If Allah had so willed, they would not have fought each other; but Allah does what He wills.

Allah invokes His spirit in the bashar/human who He intends to make His khalifa/vicegerent on Earth. The order to all angels is to bow down to His khalifa who has the spirit of (words of) Allah in him.

38:71-72  إِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي خَالِقٌ بَشَرًا مِّن طِينٍ  فَإِذَا سَوَّيْتُهُ وَنَفَخْتُ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِي فَقَعُوا لَهُ سَاجِدِينَ

When your Lord said to the angels; Surely I am creating a human from clay. When I have made him even and breathed into him from My spirit, then you all fall down prostrating for him.”

The rebellious one, who does not bow down to this Allah’s khalifa, tries to justify himself by minusing the spirit of Allah, i.e he alludes only to the body form of khalifa and does not mention the spirit of Allah (which was the reason for the order of bowing down). The rebellious one tries to create confusion in matters of creations of Allah by making comparisons on the basis of self made criterion (e.g fire better than clay). Rebellious one till this day instead of bowing down to khalifa, tries to dissuade by making left and right side arguments, tries to create confusion in matters of creation and making false comparisons.

38:73-76  فَسَجَدَ الْمَلَائِكَةُ كُلُّهُمْ أَجْمَعُونَ إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ اسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ  قَالَ يَا إِبْلِيسُ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَن تَسْجُدَ لِمَا خَلَقْتُ بِيَدَيَّ ۖ أَسْتَكْبَرْتَ أَمْ كُنتَ مِنَ الْعَالِينَ  قَالَ أَنَا خَيْرٌ مِّنْهُ ۖ خَلَقْتَنِي مِن نَّارٍ وَخَلَقْتَهُ مِن طِينٍ

So the angels prostrated, all of them together: Except Iblees, who sought greatness and became from the rejectors. He (Allah) said: O’ Iblees, what prevented you to prostrate to who I have created with my hands. Did you seek greatness or are you from the higher class? he (Iblees) said. “I am better than him, You have created me from fire, and created him from clay.”

The spirit comes with the order of Allah. The knowledge with the man-kind is limited.

17:85  وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الرُّوحِ ۖ قُلِ الرُّوحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّي وَمَا أُوتِيتُم مِّنَ الْعِلْمِ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا

They ask you about the spirit. Say: ” The spirit is from the order of my Lord and you are not given from the knowledge except only a little.”

The sprit is mentioned in singular form in Al-Quran. The below ayat mentions the spirit standing forth with the angles in ranks on a certain day. 

78:38  يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الرُّوحُ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ صَفًّا ۖ لَّا يَتَكَلَّمُونَ إِلَّا مَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُ الرَّحْمَٰنُ وَقَالَ صَوَابًا

The day when the spirit and the angels will stand forth in ranks, none shall speak except any who is permitted by the most Gracious, and will say what is right.

70:4  تَعْرُجُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ إِلَيْهِ فِي يَوْمٍ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُ خَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ

The angels and the spirit ascend unto him in a period/interval of time the measure whereof is fifty thousand years.

This could be at the time of the end of an era when the angels and the spirit ascends towards the Lord.

Notes;

A lecture by scholar Mohammad Shaikh about Rooh in Urdu:

Rooh (2008)

Who are Ahlal Kitab?

Aijaz Uncategorized , , ,

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

43:21  أَمْ آتَيْنَاهُمْ كِتَابًا مِّن قَبْلِهِ فَهُم بِهِ مُسْتَمْسِكُونَ

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Attributes of Quran

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

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

Notes:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

Traweeh Prayers

Aijaz Uncategorized ,

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

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

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

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

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