A person is usually born in a particular religion or sect and the environment and people around him try to make sure that he likes and follows the ideology of the particular faith in which he is born. Then at some point in life, he is presented with the spirit of the ayahs of Allah as a test if he would accept the message of Allah or not. When one accepts the message, it will not be possible for him to remain on his previous direction of faith. This change is termed as the change of Qibla (direction of belief) and it leads towards migration in belief. To change one’s direction of belief is indeed a big challenge and not many people will accept this change even if they see all the ayahs/signs of Al-Kitab 2:145.
Surely those who believe and who migrate (in belief) and jahadoo / they strive with their wealth and with their nafs/psyche in the way of Allah and those who give shelter and help (to them) they are protectors of one another. And those who believe and do not migrate, it is not (a duty) for you to protect them from anything until they migrate (in belief). And if they seek your help in the judgment (i.e. Islam/peace) then (duty) over you is that you help them except over the people there is a covenant (i.e. of not fighting on belief)between you and them. And Allah has insight with what you do.
The people who migrate in belief strive in the path of Allah with their nafs/psyche and money. Those who had already migrated in belief welcome those in the circles of belief and help them, they are called Al-Ansar/the helpers.
The Sabiqoon (earlier ones)- the first of those who migrated (in belief) and the Ansars/helpers, and those who followed them in good deeds,- Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him. For them, He prepared gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein for ever. That is the supreme success/blessing
The people of means among believers are required to help those who migrate in the circle of belief.
Let not those amongst you who have been blessed with abundance and means, refuse to give to their near ones, the poor and those who migrate in Allah’s cause. Let them forgive and overlook, do you not wish that Allah should forgive you? For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
When people migrate in belief and leave their previous belief system, the fools in that previous belief system, say what caused them to change their direction of belief?
The fools among the people will say: ” What has reverted them from their Qiblah/direction (of faith) on which they were?” Say: for Allah is East and West. He guides whom, He wills to a straight path.
To change one’s belief in accordance with Allah’s ayahs, is indeed a big test. Allah only made the previous belief system for people to test, who follows the messenger (The messenger of Allah in Quran ) and not the what the history books claim about the messenger.
Likewise, We made you a balanced nation, that you be a witnesses over people, and the messenger be a witness over yourselves; and We did not made the Qiblah/direction (of faith) you were over it, except that We know those who followed the Messenger from those who would turn over their heels. Surely, it is a great thing, except, for those whom Allah guides and never would Allah make your belief of no effect. Surely, Allah is with people full of Kindness, most Merciful.
The people who are given Al-Kitab, most of them will not follow this direction of belief even if they are shown all signs/ayahs of Al-Kitab. When this knowledge and spirit of Al-Kitab has come to one, then he is not allowed to go back to the previous system of belief.
And even if you were to bring to those who are given the Book all the signs (ayats), they would not follow your Qiblah (direction), nor you are going to follow their Qiblah nor will they follow each other’s Qiblah. If you were to follow their desires after the knowledge has come to you, surely, you would be among the wrong doers.
The one who is touched by the spirit of the Book of Allah and has migrated towards Allah, is the like of being given life from the darkness of death.
Can he who was dead, to whom We gave life, and a light whereby he walks amongst men, be like him who is in the depths of darkness, from which he can never come out? Similarly it is made alluring for the Kafireen/rejecters their own deeds.
The one who migrates towards Allah will find Allah’s blessings in abundance.
He who migrates in the way of Allah, will find in the earth many a refuges, wide and spacious. And who sets out from his home migrating towards Allah and the messenger then death finds him, his reward becomes due with Allah and Allah is forgiving, Merciful.
Verily, when angels take the souls of those who were unjust to their nafs (physche), they say. “In what (plight) were you?” They reply. “We were weak in the earth.” They say. “Was not the earth of Allah spacious enough for you to have migrated?” For such the abode is in Hell,- What an evil abode! – Except for those weak among – men, women, and children – who have no means in their power, nor are guided for the way. For these, hopefully that Allah will forgive and Allah is forgiving and pardoner
The people who do not migrate as they feel week to take on the implication of migration in belief and go against their surroundings, they will be in a difficult position in the hereafter. Only those really weak ones, who do not have the intellectual means and capacity to get guidance, Allah will be able to judge them and hopefully will forgive them.
For the joining/amalgamation of the Quraish, Their joining in journeys in winter and summer,- Let them serve the Lord of this House, The One who feeds them in hunger, and secures them from fear.
The root word (ق ر ش) conveys the meaning of gathering from various places. The Sura Quraish states that for the joining and amalgamation of Quraish in their journeys in winter and summer months, so that they serve the Lord of this House who feeds them in hunger and protects them from fear.
The Quraish should mean the pilgrims/Hajjaj, those people who gather from various places of the world and are joined together in winter and summers months and their hearts are joined in the the cause of performing Hajj and serving the Lord of the House. Quraish could also be the name of a tribe in Arabia, however, as a principle, terms in Quran should be recognized per character traits and descriptions of them given in Quran and not by labels which people put on themselves or others.
Islamic calendar is calculated on the basis of moon positions. Ramadhan and Hajj months are according to lunar calendar. Had they been according to solar calendar, Ramadhan and Hajj would always fall in one season in the Northern Hemisphere and the opposite season in the Southern Hemisphere of the earth.. However, because of lunar calendar the seasons for fasting and Hajj keep on changing i.e some times they fall in summer, sometimes in winter and so on.
In it are clear ayats / signs, the standing position of Ibraheem whoever enters it attains security. and for Allah is Pilgrimage of the House on people, those who can afford the journey but if anyone denies, surely Allah is not in need of any of His beings in the worlds.
The place of Ibrahim, the Idol breaker is established in the House. It is incumbent upon the people who have the means, to perform Hajj of this House of Allah. And who ever rejects, then Allah is not in need of any thing from the worlds.
And when We pointed out the place of the house to Ibraheem “associate not anything with Me; and purify My house for those who go around (do Tawaf), and who stand and bow, prostrate. And proclaim the Pilgrimage to mankind. they will come to thee on foot and riding from all remote places.”
Ibraheem A.S had been entrusted to cleanse the House of Allah of any associations with Him. This House is associated with system of Tawaf and Salat. The systems of Tawaf and Salat are established in the Holy City of Makkah by Sunnat/practice of Allah in all times. See previous post ‘procedure of Salat in Quran’
There are some groups who dissuade people from Salat saying that this is a ritualistic practice invented by ritualistic muslims. Also, there are those groups who prevent people from Hajj, some saying it was a pagan practice adopted by muslims. Others have notions about the House of Allah that in earlier times, it was filled with idols and people used to go round it unclothed. Allah wants His House to be cleansed of these obscene notions. The House of Allah is the first House established on Earth for guidance of mankind for all times. If it were filled with Idols and obscenity how could it be a source of guidance at that time? People should get rid of these notions, and believe that it is the first House established for mankind, source of guidance, all prophets in all times performed Hajj of this House and Hajj was never a pagan practice established in the sacred valley.
Some argue that by Hajj, Allah does not mean the ritualistic practice of going to Makkah and performing Hajj as prescribed in Quran. According to them salat and Hajj have different spiritual meanings and practice established in Masjid ul Haram for Salat and Hajj is not what actually is ordered by Allah. However, Allah says whoever says it and oppose the (system of) Masjid ul Haram is a rejecter.
As to those who have rejected, and would prevent (people) from the Way of Allah, and from the Sacred Mosque, which We have made for (all) people – equal is the dweller there and the visitor from the country – and any whose purpose therein is profanity or wrong-doing – We will cause him to taste a grievous penalty.
The place of Makkah/Masjid ul Haram, is recognizable and associated with the physical signs as well, so that, not to confuse it with any other place on Earth or to consider it as a spiritual place only; Place of Ibrahim A.S 22:26, Signs of Safa and Marwa in Ayat 2:158, a valley of layers where one has to take off shoes 20:12, a non-agricultural valley where fruits are imported from all over 14:37. The process of Hajj is described in Quran e.g 2:197-203 (and other places) and the practice is established in the Sacred valley of Makkha/Bakka.
They are the ones who rejected and prevented you from the Sacred Mosque and the gifts/sacrificial animals, detained from reaching their place. Had there not been believing men and believing women whom ye did not know that ye were trampling down and on whose account a crime would have accrued to you without (your) knowledge, that He may admit to His Mercy whom He will. If they had been apart, We should certainly have punished the Unbelievers among them with a grievous Punishment.
The group who dissuades from Hajj as being a ritualistic practice of going to Makkah; they also cut off the connection of the gift of sacrificial animals with the practice of Hajj. Allah would have punished this group, if it were not that some believing men and women are mixed up with this group.Ayas 2:196 and 22:33 establish the connection of gift of sacrificial animals with the ptactice of Hajj.
The months of Hajj/Pilgrimage are known, so whosoever impose Hajj / Pilgrimage (on himself) in them, so he should not commit obscenity nor commit immoralities and should not engage in arguments in the Hajj / Pilgrimage. And what you do from betterment Allah knows it. And take provision, so surely the best of the provision is to take guard and take guard from Me O’ you who posses the core (to know the essence / spirit of anything).
The Hajis/Pilgrims joined in the joint cause of doing Hajj in the way of the Lord, are required to maintain decorum and discipline of Hajj, by not engaging in arguments and fighting and to be patient and practice endurance and perseverance over the inconveniences encountered in this undertaking.
Notes:
As Allah has several attributes which are known as the beautiful names of Allah and the Book of Allah also has several attributes; similarly the City of Makkah also has attributes such as Bakka (root implying busy place), Umm ul Qura أُمَّ الْقُرَىٰ(mother of dwellings 42:7) etc.
A link to a related lecture about Kaaba and direction of belief is given below:
And such are the parables/examples, We set forth for mankind, but only those can understand them, who have knowledge.
The above ayat states that parables and examples that are set forth in Allah’s Book can be understood with people of knowledge. Let’s review some ayahs in this post, which are some times interpreted based on old dogmas. One such example is that jinns or satan jinns are supernatural creatures wandering the sky and seem to be particularly fond of listening to angles’ meetings and when they do so, are targeted with flaming balls of fires to cast them away. Major problem with this interpretation is that, it is assumed that Satan Jinns are supernatural spiritual beings. As you cannot beat a spiritual being with a stick or any material object, same way you cannot expel or beat a spiritual Jinn with balls of fire.
‘And we pried into the sky; thus we found it filled with strong forces and fires. We indeed, sat there in stations, for hearing; thus any who listens now, finds a flaming fire following him.’
The above is a statement of Jinn nation. It is evident from above ayat, that jinns are people from developed and technologically advanced nations of the world. They have explored the skies and found it to be containing strong forces, extreme heat and energy. The technological advanced nations sends rockets and satellites in space. Those of them who goes in space have to use rockets which are followed by hot burning flames of fire.
We have indeed adorned the lower heaven with planets/stars,- and guarded it against every rebellious satan. They are not the listeners of the high command; and they are bombarded from every side. Repulsed, for they are under a lasting penalty, except one who snatches something away, he is pursued by a piercing flame.
The satans of the Jinns/(technologically advanced nations) are those people with negative personality traits of having racists ideologies which they generally hide (They are called satans because of characteristic of Satan to make discrimination based on bodily appearance). The advanced nations of Jinns seek knowledge about the magnificent Cosmos, including sending space probes in space. The lower sky of the Earth is well protected with atmospheric layers, the earth’s gravitational force and cosmic blasts of radioactive particles in space, which prevents all but only a few of them to venture out into space. Majority of them cannot escape the earth. Only a miniscule few are able to escape into space with the help of expensive equipment which need be well protected against radiations and space risks and are trailed by piercing flames of fire as these equipment burn a lot of fuel to escape Earth’s gravitational pull.
And We have made structures in the sky, and made it an adornment for the on-lookers; And We have guarded them from every out-casted Satan/divergent one. But any that gains a hearing by stealth, is pursued by a flaming bright fire
Again it is mentioned that the sky is well protected and for anyone prying in space to get some knowledge, will be trailed by piercing fire. This is because they will have to use some equipment which will consume a lot of fuel to escape earth’s escape velocity and thereby will leave a trail of piercing fire before it.
And we have adorned the lowest heaven with Lamps, and We have made it (the lower sky) a thing to cast stones at Satans/mischievous ones, and we have prepared for them the scorching penalty
En-route to outer space, astronauts will be bombarded with cosmic radiation: tiny, high-energy atom fragments that whiz through space and can damage body cells. Astronauts venturing in outer space risk all these dangers of radiations, asteroid belt, space junk, objects in space which can hit them and need take good protective measures against them.
Notes:
The ayahs of Quran stating flames of fires following satans are usually visualized as being directed to satans trying to enter Earth via space. However, in fact they are intended for satans trying to escape into space from the Earth. As Quran states that satans are already on earth doing physical work in the era associated with prophet Sulieman (a.s).
16:102: The Rooh ul Qudus has sent down the Message.
26:193: The Rooh ul Ameen came down with the Message
2:97 Jibreal sent the Message down on your heart
2:98 Jibreal and Mikal are mentioned as a pair
From the above mentioned points the following deduction can be made:
A Rooh sent the Message down (Rooh ul Qudus), and a Rooh came down with it (Ruh ul Ameen); Jibreal sent down the message, therefore Jibreal is Ruh ul Qudus. if Jibrael and Mikal are paired then Mikal should be the Rooh which came down with the message i.e Rooh ul Ameen.
Say the Ruh-ul- Qudus/Revered Spirit has revealed it from your Lord with the truth so that to strengthen those who believe and a guidance and good news for muslims/submitters.
Say, whoever is an enemy to Jibrael/Gabriel-for he brings down the (revelation) to your heart by Allah’s will, a confirmation of whats between the hands, and guidance and glad tidings for those who believe,-
From the above two Ayas we know that Ruh ul Qudus is Jibrael.
26:193 نَزَلَ بِهِ الرُّوحُ الْأَمِينُ
Sent down the Ruh-ul-Ameen/Honest Spirit with it.
The Rooh ul Ameen/ The Honest Sprit has been sent down with it (Al-Quran)
Whoever is an enemy to Allah and His angels and His messengers, and Jibrael/Gabriel and Mikal/Michael ,- then! Allah is an enemy to the rejecters.
Jibrael and Mikal are mentioned as pairs in the above Ayat. Considering this pairing of Jibrael and Mikal and that Jibrael is the Rooh ul Qudus, who sent down the message, then the Rooh-ul Ameen who came down with the message, should be Mikal.
Many people think of ‘jinns’ as paranormal creatures who are very different from human beings. Common belief about jinns is that they can become invisible and attain different shapes and forms and even can get inside human bodies to possess them. They are free from material form and can fly in air or space. Their diet is different from humans; they eat bones and sweets. Their life span is different from human life span encompassing hundreds of years, and a plethora of similar fantastic beliefs about jinns.
The root word ج ن ن of ‘jinn’ implies meanings of ‘shielded’ or ‘covered’. In this post we will see what Al-Quran tells us about jinns, and whether the concepts about jinns mentioned above are from Quran or are they from outside of Quran:
Say, “If there were settled, on earth, angels walking about in peace and tranquility, We should certainly have sent them down from the heavens an angel for a messenger.”
The above ayat states a principle that messengers are sent to be an example for their kind. Ayat explains why a human messenger is sent on earth, because humans dwell on earth. Had the earth been inhabited by angels, then definitely an angel would have been sent to live among them and convey the message of God.
And when We turned (O Prophet) towards you, a company from the jinns, so that they hear the Quran. So when they were in it’s presence, they said “Listen quietly!” When it was completed they returned to their people as warners. They said O! Our people, we have heard a book revealed after Moosa, confirming what is between his two hands. It guides towards the truth and the straight way. “O our people, respond to the one who invites (you) to Allah, and believe in him. He will forgive you your faults, and deliver you from a grievous penalty.
The above ayat states that a group of jinns, listened to Al-Quran and when they returned to their nation, they told them that they heard a book revealed after Moosa (a.s). It appears that this group of jinns used to believe in prophet Moosa (a.s).
Say, It has been revealed to me that a company of jinns listened (to the Qur’an). They said, ‘We have really heard a wonderful recital! ‘It gives guidance towards righteousness, and thus we believed therein. We shall not join any with our Lord. ‘And exalted is the majesty of our Lord. He has taken neither a wife nor a son.’ ‘There were some foolish ones among us, who used to utter extravagant lies against Allah’
The above ayahs mention another group of jinns, who listened to Quran and they realized that it is a wonderful recital and it guides towards righteousness. It asks them to be pure monotheist as God does not have wife or a son. The fools of them used to attribute false things upon God. It appears that this group of jinns used to believe in Jesus as son of God, earlier.
From these two sets of ayahs it appears that jinns believe in human messengers. Is it not logical to deduce that if jinns were a different creature other than humans, there would be jinn messengers sent to them instead, as the principle in ayat 17:95 states? However what we see is that jinns believed in human messengers and more-over when they heard Al-Quran they believed in it as the way of guidance. Now, we know that Al-Quran has all instructions for human beings e.g Salat, Zakat, Wadu, Haram/Halal food, and all do’s and don’ts and instructions for conducting life are for humans. For jinns to relate and believe in Quran, would strongly imply that they are not a structurally different creature than human beings.
He created insan/human from sounding clay like pottery, and He created jinns from mixture of fire.
The word in above ayat is ‘Jaan’ and refers to the gentic ancestry of Jinns which gives them their characteristic fiery color which means the race from which they descended from, was of fiery reddish color. As against the ‘Insan’ which was of earthly dark color to begin with. Ayat 15:27 tells us that the race of ‘Jaan’ was before the humans in time-line.
We created insan/human from sounding clay, from mud moulded into shape; and the jann, We had created before, from the fire of a scorching wind.
The above Ayas tells that Jann (the race from which Jinns took most of their genetic material) were created and therefore were existing before ins/humans. The study of human genome and genetic information of current humans and the skeletons found from older times is unfolding many of this information about human origins and their earlier extinct cousins. (one speculation is about another homo species ‘Neanderthal’ which were had a stocky built and lighter skin color and present day non-African homo-sapiens have some small percentage of their genetic materials in them. This human cousin came about and existed earlier than present day homo sapeiens.)
Many among the jinns and men we have made for hell. They have hearts with which they do not understand, eyes with which they do not see, and ears with which they donot hear. They are like cattle,- nay more misguided. for they are heedless (of warning).
The above ayat states that jinns like Ins (humans), have hearts, eyes and ears. So, physically they have organs and body parts like human beings. A strong indication that structurally humans and Jinns are not different.
From the mischief of the whisperer (of Evil), who withdraws. (The same) who whispers into the hearts of mankind,- among jinns and among people.
It is not only jinns who can do evil whisper in the hearts, but humans can do it too. So, in this regard both are same. Therefore, it is not a paranormal capability of jinns that they can go inside a human body. The jinns should be whispering in the hearts, in the same way as Ins/humans do.
And We created you all, then We gave you (all), your shapes; then We said to the angels to bow down to Adam, and they bowed down; except for Iblis; he was not to be of those who bowed down.
This ayat 7:11 informs that Allah has created us all and shaped us before he gave the order to angels to bow down to Adam. It appears that jinns and ins/humans were existing at the time when Allah breathed His spirit into Adam and after breathing His spirit asked angels to bow down to His spirit in Adam.
Of all the jinns and Ins, Allah chooses the one as his khalifa/vicegerent, who has the spirit/ruh of Allah in him. This khalifa/vicegerent with the spirit of Allah in him, does not cause blood shed and violence on earth. Those who do not understand true spirit of Allahs’ words, may understand instructions such as Qital/fighting to be physical fighting, and thereby assume that the khalifa will be doing wars and blood shed on earth. However, Allah dismisses these notions.
And when your Lord said to the angels. “I will create a vicegerent on earth.” They said. “Will You place therein one who will make violence therein and shed blood?- while we do celebrate Your praises and glorify Your Holyness?” He said. “I know what you know not.”
One day, He will gather them all together, (and say). “O you assembly of jinns! Much did you take of ins/humans.” Their friends amongst ins/humans will say. “Our Lord! we made advantage from each other and we reached our term – which You did appoint for us.” He will say. “The fire is your dwelling-place. you will dwell therein for ever, except as Allah wills.” for your Lord is full of wisdom and knowledge.
The jins and ins/humans, benefit with each other and jinns have taken a majority of the ins/humans. The traditional concept of jinns may not fit here, as we don’t see that most of the humans are possessed by jinns and we don’t see jinns and Ins corroborating and benefitting with each other on a mass scale. In fact majority of the people in the world have never seen a jinn in the traditional concept. So, jinns which Quran mentions here, should in all matters of form and structure, be like humans. It could be they may themselves not know that they are jinns. What we also observe is that the advanced nations of the world have subjugated the underdeveloped world by either colonization or by economic domination. Also, because of this domination, the advanced nations influence the less advanced world by their ideas and philosophies which are mostly atheistic or agnostic. So, it appears that Jinns, are that portion of developed and advanced nations of the world whose true personalities are hidden and whose secular ideas and philosophies have dominated over a majority portion of the people of the world. The hidden part is also implied from Ayat 53:32 which uses the work Ajinna for a child who is hidden in his mother’s womb.
“O assembly of jinns and humans! Didn’t messengers came to you from yourselves, relating on to you my ayahs/signs, and warning you of the meeting of this day of yours?” They would say. “We bear witness against ourselves.” It was the life of this world that deceived them. So against themselves will they bear witness that they were indeed kafreen/rejectors.
The above ayat addresses jinns and ins/humans and states that messengers have come amongst both. We saw in the first few sets of ayahs in the above post that jinns read the same Quran and believed in the messengers such as Moses and Jesus. Quran does not mention any jinn messengers. While this ayat states that the messengers came among themselves and related ayahs of Quran to them. While we don’t find any ayahs containing instructions of conducting life for paranormal invisible beings in Quran. This ayat supplements the concept that jinns are not supernatural, unseen creatures different from human beings.
(Jinns said) ‘There were some foolish ones among us, who used to utter extravagant lies against Allah.’ ‘And we used to assume that no human/ins or jinn would say any un-true thing about Allah’. And Indeed there are men among humans/ins who took shelter with men among the jinns, and they increased them in waywardness. ‘And they (came to) think as ye thought, that Allah would not raise up any one (to judgment).
The party of the jinns who believed in Quran after listening and pondering over it, further said that, in our group there were jinns who foolishly said un-true things about God, while we had assumed that no one would be deceiving in matters about God. (This is the same case we observe in people today).
It also appears that Jinns are more developed than humans in technology as the ayat further states that men from the human/ins group take shelter from men in jinn’s group. So, these men from human/ins group then grow more in waywardness. It could be that these men from Ins would copy men from jinn, and would adopt the ideas of the more technological advanced nations of jinns with inclination towards atheistic thoughts and general aversion towards religious beliefs such as the concept of God and afterlife.
‘And we pried into the sky; thus we found it filled with strong forces and fires. ‘We indeed, sat there in stations, for hearing; thus any who listens now finds a flaming fire following him.’
It is evident from above ayahs, that jinns are developed and technologically advanced nations. They have explored the skies and found it to be having strong forces and containing extreme heat and energy. The technological advanced nations send rockets and satellites in space. Any who goes in space has to use rockets which are followed by hot burning flames of fire.
‘And we don’t know whether ill is intended to those on earth, or whether their Lord (really) intends to guide them to right conduct. ‘There are among us some that are righteous, and some to the contrary. We follow divergent paths. ‘But we think that we can by no means frustrate Allah throughout the earth, nor can we frustrate Him by flight. ‘And as for us, since we have listened to the guidance, we have accepted it. and any who believes in his Lord has no fear, either of a short (account) or of any injustice. ‘Amongst us are some that submit their wills (to Allah), and some that swerve from justice. Now those who submit their wills – they have sought out (the path) of right conduct. ‘But those who swerve,- they are (but) fuel for hell-fire’- (and Allah’s message is). “If they had (only) remained on the (right) way, We should certainly have given them water in abundance to drink“
So the group of jinns who accepted the message after listening it, continued their speech; that previously without divine knowledge they did not know actually what the worldly life is about? Among the developed nations people are allowed to follow different paths. However, with increasing advanced knowledge about the Universe, they realized that there is no way that this grand scheme of the Universe can be defeated and escaped from. And when they listened to the message of guidance from the Lord they believed in it that whoever believes in this message of the Lord and corrects his conduct will be led to the right path. Also please note in above Ayahs, water is mentioned as a bounty for jinns
It is He Who formed the earth for (His) creatures. Therein are fruits and date-palms, producing sheathed clusters. Also corn, with (its) leaves and stalk for fodder, and sweet-smelling plants. Then which of the favours of your Lord will you two (kinns and ins) deny?
In sura Rahman the Lord says that Allah made the earth, provided fruits, dates, sweet smelling flowers and crops in it. These are blessings for both jinn and ins. A lot of blessings are mentioned in this sura with a question that which of the blessings you two (jinns and ins) will deny? While we can relate these blessing to humans, we can not relate all these blessings to a non human, non physical mythical creature of Jinn. So, this sura also supports that jinns are no different than ins/human in physical structure.
And they have invented a relationship between Him and the jinns. but the jinns know (quite well) that they have indeed to appear (for judgment)!
While we don’t know of any one making relationship of God with jinns as supernatural non-human beings, however, some royalties were thought to be related to gods, such as Japanese royal family and early Egyptian royals.
O you assembly of jinns and ins/humans! If it be that you have the capacity to pass beyond the zones of the heavens and the earth, then pass! not without authority shall you be able to pass!
Escape velocity which is the speed required to escape earth’s gravitational pull, is applicable to both Jinns and Ins. Does not make jinns any different than Ins/humans in physical characteristics. Also, as earth gravitation pull is much less than black holes, therefore light and energy don’t have any problem in escaping from the earth atmosphere. It implies that jinns would be possessing mass to feel the gravitational pull on them.
And the rejectors will say. “Our Lord! show us those, among jinns and men, who misled us. We shall crush them beneath our feet, so that they become the vilest (before all).”
On the day of judgment the rejecters will be asking God to show them the jinns and ins who have caused them to be misled. We do see that from developed nations there comes a lot of philosophical and atheistic ideas denying existence of God.These ideas are causing a major portion of people therein to stay away from believing in God and hereafter. These ideas from developed nations are imported to all over the world. Otherwise we don’t see in common observation any mythical jinn creature misguiding people from path of Allah.
And the day He will gather them all together, and say to the angels, “Was it you that these men used to serve? They will say, “Glory to You! You are our protector not them. Nay, but they served the jinns, most of them believed in them.”
We don’t have accounts of any nation worshipping/serving the mythical jinn creatures. However, definition of jinns as technologically advanced, developed nations can fit here. As most of the people in modern world serve and believe in secular ideas and philosophies emanating from them.
Jinns and Shiateen with prophet Suleiman (a.s)
The description of reign of king Suleiman (a.s) appears to be the description of an advanced era. For better understanding, lets consider that era similar to modern times in order to relate to these ayahs better:
And to Suleiman (We made) the wind (obedient). Its early morning (stride) was a month’s (journey), and its evening (stride) was a month’s (journey); and We made stream of copper flow for him; and there were jinns that worked in front of him, by the leave of his Lord, and if any of them turned aside from our command, We made him taste the penalty of the blazing fire.
In Suleiman’s reign we can relate to air travel, which made journeys which in earlier times could take months to complete, now can be done in matter of hours. The flow of stream of copper means flow of electrons in copper wires i.e electricity was available to him. And jinns i.e the technological advanced nations were working for him with the leave of Allah. If any of these jinns would try to evade Allah’s orders, he would face punishment.
They worked for him as he desired, in architectural construction, entertainment industry, big boilers, and proportioned templates. “Keep on working, people of David, with thanks! but few of My servants are grateful!”
So these jinns, the developed and technological advanced people worked in constructions, industries, entertainment and innovations. Allah asks them to keep on working and be thankful to the resultant blessings. There is a warning also, that sooner or later when they will become un-thankful then these blessing would be taken away.
Then, when We decreed (Sulieman’s) death, nothing showed them his death except for a creature of earth, who was eating away at his stick/life span. Thus when he fell, it became clear to the jinns, that if they had knowledge of the unseen, they would not have tarried in the humiliating penalty.
The jinns, the technologically advanced people take pride in their knowledge. They feel proud to have mastered many areas of physical sciences. For things that cannot be seen they have developed scientific theories for explanation of these phenomena. Some of them drift towards atheism thinking that belief in God is a silly thing while our knowledge encompasses a lot. However, even with all the advanced knowledge available to them, they still lack basic facts of life and will never be able to comprehend and master life and death. They will always be captives to the rigors and vicissitudes of the worldly life. Can they tell what is that essence when it leaves the body, a fully functional body alive a moment ago, becomes dead while all the organs and ingredients are still intact in the body? The word ‘Minsat’ i.e the staff/stick, in this ayat denotes his lifespan. Prophet Suleiman’s life-span like everybody else, was being eaten away by creature of earth (natural progression towards death of any living being on earth), however the Jinns who are quite knowledgeable and capable otherwise, don’t have knowledge about essence of life and death? These mysteries of life will still remain despite advancement in knowledge.
Traditional concept associated with the ayat 34:14 is that king Suleiman died while leaning on his stick and did not fall until the stick was eaten away by a worm which must be substantial amount of time. When the stick gave way, only then he fell. Till that time nobody knew that he was dead. This concept is ridiculous as a dead man can not lean on a stick after his death, the body will definitely fall right away. Also, in addition to the jinns the king must have his family who cannot remain oblivion to him standing at one place for weeks without eating and drinking and coming to them. Also, a king has a lot of state duties which cannot allow the king to refrain from attending to the affairs of the state even for a short duration without raising concerns of the attendants and Government agencies.
And Suleiman inherited from David/Daud. He said. “O people! We have been taught the logic of flying, we have been given from all things (blessings). this is indeed a manifest grace (from Allah.)”
The technology of air travel and many of the blessings were bestowed on Suleiman (a.s)
And presented to Sulieman were armies of jinns and ins/people and fliers, and they were all kept in order
Suleiman’s reign was on both technological advanced nations of jinns, and on under-developed nations of ins /people and had an air force available to him.
One of the powerful jinn said. “I will bring it to you before you rise from your place. indeed I am powerful and trustworthy.
When Suleiman (a.s) asked his councilors who can bring him the throne of queen of Saba, a very resourceful member of the technological advanced nation of jinns said that he can bring it to him in a matter of hours. Probably he intended to bring it with the help of fast air travel.
Said one who had knowledge of the book. “I will bring it to you within the twinkling of an eye!” Then when (Suleiman) saw it placed firmly before him, he said. “This is by the Grace of my Lord!- to test me whether I am grateful or ungrateful! and if any is grateful, truly his gratitude is (a gain) for his own self; but if any is ungrateful, truly my Lord is free of all needs and is Gracious !”
There was another one in the council with knowledge of the book. With this knowledge this councilor was able to show to Suleiman what he was asking in a matter of seconds. In today’s world that is something which can be accomplished with the help of Internet and hologram.
He (Allah) said: O’ Iblees, what prevented you to prostrate for what I have created with my hands. Did you seek greatness or are you from the higher class? He(Iblees) said. “I am better than him. You have created me from fire, and created him from clay.”
The rejecters/Kafirs among the Jinns are termed as ‘Shiateen’. They are also racist as they discriminate in creations of Allah on self made criteria (e.g fire is better than water or red color is better than black color) minus-ing the ‘Spirit’ of Allah in their comparisons.
So in below ayat it is mentioned that Shiateen (of the Jinns) were in tethers in the reign of King Sulieman. The tethers may not mean actual physical tethers, they could be social and legal taboos not allowing those satans of jinns to show their racism and disdain for humanity per law of the land and if any satan Jinn would disobey and show public racism, he would have faced punishment.
(Submitting to Suleiman were) also the mischievous ones, (including) every kind of builder and diver,- As also others bound in fetters.
While the resourceful Jinn mentioned in 27:39 was trustworthy, Suleiman (a.s), in his reign and control had mischievous ones termed as satans also, who did construction work and diving (diving could be in water and in space). They were however strictly controlled by Suleiman (a.s) and were bound by social and legal taboos as not to show publicly their mischievous characters and racism.
“And likewise ,We have made for every Prophet the satans of mankind and the satans of jinn, an enemy. They inspire golden words on one another, for the purpose of delusion, and if your Lord had willed they would have not done it, so leave them and what they invent.”
The satan jinns and ins, have great fascination with golden words/zukhruf al Qaul/Aqwale Zareen. They spend much effort in collection, remembrance, authentication of the same and inspire each other with them.
Summary notes:
Most of the concepts prevalent about jinns are not found in Quran. They are out of Quran which people know from hearsay and other books. When people read the word ‘jinn’ in Quran they automatically assume the conceptual creature they already know from previous knowledge. However, Quran does not mention jinns to be invisible creatures, that they can change shapes and forms, that they can get inside human bodies, that they eat bones and sweets, that they dwell in isolated places etc. Quran do mention that jinns have hearts, ears and eyes, that they believe in human messengers, that when they hear Quran they can relate to it, that messengers were sent amongst them, that they do physical work, art work, construction work etc. They travel in air and space with a blazing fire trailing them probably with the help of some equipment which burns fuel. All the blessings mentioned in Sura Rahman are for both jinns and ins. That they are answerable and will be judged for their deeds as are humans. They can relate to Quran as guidance while Quran has all the instructions for humans such as salat, zakat, wadu, eating, behavior, living etc. They are created as humans to serve Allah (56:51) and to serve Allah, they as well as humans have to serve according to instructions given in Quran. We don’t find any instructions for paranormal creatures which are normally believed to be ‘jinns’ in Quran, therefore this becomes the most convincing point towards the understanding that jinns are in all form and matter like human beings and are not the mythical, invisible creatures people usually think they are. The Ayat which says that jinns are created from fire and humans from clay, is indicating that Jinns are created in fiery red color while Ins are in the earthly color.
Other paranormal creatures may exist in the world which people know as aliens, spirits, demons, devils etc. Few people relate their experiences with these paranormal creatures as well. However, they are not the ‘jinns’ which the Quran describes. The ‘jinns’ which Quran describes are those whose traits and description is given in Quran.
Notes:
Root word of jinn is ج ن ن. This root has meanings of veiled/concealed/covered/hidden/protected, invisible, become dark/posessed, darkness of night, bereft of reason, mad/insane/unsound in mind/intellect, confusedness. Become thick/full-grown/blossom, herbage, garden. Spiritual beings that conceal themselves from the senses (including angels), people who are peerless having no match or equal, a being who is highly potent, sometimes refers to kings because they are concealed from the common folk.
And when, We said to the angels. “Bow down to Adam” and they all bowed down except for Iblis, he refused and was arrogant. He was from the kafireen/rejecters.
Allah ordered the angels to bow down to Adam so they all bowed down except for Iblis. The order to bow down was to angels and they all did so except for one of them who was Iblis. After that he was termed as a rejecter.
And when! We said to the angels, “Bow down for Adam:” they bowed down except Iblis. He was/became from the jinns…..
So Iblis, after he disobeyed the order of the Lord he was termed as rejecter in 2:34 and a jinn in 18:50. He is termed a Jinn, because he hides his true personality of being an enemy to man and poses himself as his well wisher while suggesting evil to man. This would also suggest that as ‘Kafir’ is an adjective, the word ‘Jinn’ could also be an adjective.
The plural form Shiateen/satans refers to the tribe of Satan, i.e his like minded people. Satan took pride on a self made criteria i.e on appearance only of fire being superior to mud. On that self made criterial he thought himself superior to others. The tribe of satans similarly are those racists who take pride and think themselves of being a superior race.
Why jinns mentioned particularly with Suleiman (a.s)?
The mentions of jinns is particularly detailed with the reign of Suleiman (a.s) in Quran. It appears the reign of Suleiman (a.s) is a technologically advanced era, where the advancement in technology happened e.g electricity, air travel, industries, space age, entertainment industry, constructions, innovations etc. Before the era of Suleiman the world may not have seen a clear rise in the number of advanced nations, so we find most mention of jinns in Quran associated with the era of Suleiman (a.s).
A characteristic of advanced nations is to be politically correct even if they have to hide their true feelings about the issue. In some languages a phrase is used e.g he works like a Jinn, meaning, he works tirelessly and able to accomplish a lot more work than normally expected of a person.
As per Quran, Suleiman (a.s) has been granted a kingdom, the grandeur of which cannot be surpassed in present or future. No ruins of any ancient city gives indications of high-rise buildings which we see in present day mega cities, therefore no ancient city that we know today can be a candidate of the kingdom of Suleiman (a.s). A city representing king Suleiman’s kingdom, will have such grandeur which will be unsurpassable in all times to come (38:35).
He (Suleiman) said, “O my Lord! Forgive me, and grant me a kingdom (likes of ) which is not attained by any one after me; for You are the grantor of bounties.
Another point to note is that no history book accounts for traditional mythical creatures of jinns working on a major scale in any era of time. If in such a grand kingdom, jinns worked on a large scale and were part of the state army as well, there has to be interaction of this kingdom with the rest of the world and then there should be accounts of them in other people history. The lack of such accounts reinforces the concept that jinns are not mythical supernatural creatures.
The Era of Suliman A.S could be a representative of the Modern world era. Quran mentions era of Prophet Noah comprising 950 years. Please see previous post ‘Age of prophet Noah’ for detail.
Touch of Satan:
A few people argue the power of Jinns possession is described in Quran with part of Ayat 2:275 which states الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ الرِّبَا لَا يَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَقُومُ الَّذِي يَتَخَبَّطُهُ الشَّيْطَانُ مِنَ الْمَسِّ ( Those who eat Ar-Riba/the increase do not take a stand except like he who stands to madness from the touch of Satan). They argue that since Satan is a Jinn, the touch of Satan is touch of Jinn which can affect make a person loose his senses i.e a Jinn is able to possess and bring him under control. However, the Quran clarifies that Satan’s power on man is just that he can suggest an evil thing to man and it is upto man to accept that evil suggestion or not. Satan has no power to possess a man forcibly. 14:22 وَمَا كَانَ لِيَ عَلَيْكُم مِّن سُلْطَانٍ إِلَّا أَن دَعَوْتُكُمْ فَاسْتَجَبْتُمْ لِ ( and I did not have any authority over you except to invite you, so you accepted my invitation )
Illahs/gods are the ones with whom there is no two-way communication. When you call them they can’t respond to you (46:5, 7:194, 13:14). While, Allah/God does communicate with people through His Book. You get to know about Allah, His orders, His likes and dislikes through His Book. When you don’t know Allah through His Book, Allah is like an Ilah/god to you i.e there is no two way communication with Him. Those people who don’t have communication with Allah, the biggest Illah/god in their minds is Allah/God. While they do say that Allah is their Lord but they don’t know what Allah is asking them to do. They don’t have knowledge of His Book and His message to them. They keep putting their list of desires before Him, however they don’t know what He is asking them to become or act like in order for their supplications to be accepted, so Allah becomes the biggest illah for them.
Because, the majority of people who don’t have knowledge of the Book and therefore don’t know Allah’s message, they fall prey to the syndrome of smaller ilah’s/gods. These smaller ilahs/gods are of various types; an introduction to them is given in previously published post https://topicsfromquran.wordpress.com/2017/08/07/ilahs-false-gods-mentioned-in-al-kitab/ . They can be in the form of emotions, physical idols, non physical idols, Jesus, Mary, Lofty personalities, stories of the past, etc. The first statement of all messengers as stated in the Book, is not to associate smaller illahs/gods with Allah/God. The practice of Ibrahim (a.s) is to break the smaller illah’s/gods so that people can turn towards the real Allah/God. That is termed as the best practice in the eyes of the Lord (60:4). The smaller Illah’s/gods/idols cannot be broken in people nafs/psyche without the leave of Allah as they are so deeply ingrained in people.
Therefore, when Ibrahim (a.s), said that the biggest one has broken the smaller idols, it is not a lie, its actually a true statement. Allah confirms in Quran that Ibrahim is truthful prophet (19:41) although story and history books may tell you that Ibrahim has told 3 lies in his life time. This can not be true in light of Quranic ayat. These stories cannot relate to the fact that when Ibrahim (a.s) broke the Idols of his nation and told them that the Greatest one has done it, he actually means that the smaller illah’s can only be shattered by the leave of Allah (the Biggest Ilah), as they are so deeply ingrained in one’s psyche. Related Quranic ayahs are given below:
And by Allah I will plan for your idols after you will turn your backs.
37:93 فَرَاغَ عَلَيْهِمْ ضَرْبًا بِالْيَمِينِ
So he conned his way on them moving/striking with the right
The illahs are so deeply ingrained in people’s psyche and people are so emotionally attached with them that they cannot be broken head on. You need to strike the illahs from the side. That is not making them realize that it is their illahs who are being targeted, otherwise they will become so emotional that you will not be able to reason with them.
They said! Are you the one who has done this with our gods, O` Ibrahim/Abraham? He said! Instead, the GREAT ONE of them has done it, ask them if they can speak.
Ibrahim (a.s), did not lie. The smaller gods are always shattered in people nafs/phsyche with the leave of Allah. Most people who believe in Allah don’t do so without associating Him with smaller gods (12:106). It is Allah only, who can destroy the ilahs/smaller gods with His mercy.
It is not you who fought them; but it was Allah who fought them. And you did not throw pebbles when you threw them but Allah did threw the pebbles in order that He might test the believers by a gracious trial. Verily Allah hears and knows (all things).
When you act in the way of Allah according to His wishes, actually Allah is getting these done through you.
Indeed there is for you The most beautiful practice in Ibrahim and those with him, when they said to their people: surely , We are clear of you and of whatever you serve besides Allah: We have rejected you, and there has begun, between us and you, enmity and hatred forever, unless you believe in Allah and Him alone……..
Ibrahim (a.s) is the Idol breaker per Quran, and this is a best practice/ Uswatun Hasanah for his followers to do, i.e break ideological idols in the hearts and minds of people and be free from what people serve beside Allah.
Many people have great fascination with Golden words/Zukhrif al Qaul/Aqwale Zareen. They spend much effort in collection, remembrance, authentication of the same. The below Ayat states that doing it is like being enemy to the prophet. Mention of the Prophet in the Ayat implies that these Golden words are related to the Prophet:
“And likewise ,We have made for every Prophet the satans of mankind and the satans of jinn, an enemy. They inspire golden words on one another, for the purpose of delusion, and if your Lord had willed they would have not done it, so leave them and what they invent.”
When only Allah, is mentioned, the hearts of those who believe not in the Hereafter are filled with aversion; but when other than He (Allah) are mentioned, then they are filled with joy!
Mostly those people who have fascination with the Golden words of big personalities will not like it that only Allah be mentioned and praised in a gathering. They will only be happy when their favorite personalities are mentioned and praised as well.
Al-Quran mentions that the believers do ponder over the universe around them which increases their faith in the Creator. The Creator is the original designer and maker of the universe. As believers discover more and more about the universe, their awe and appreciation for its splendor, its immaculate design and balance, its complexity and its immense power, increases and they can appreciate more the absolute wisdom, knowledge and power of the Creator. The parameters of the cosmos are so meticulously designed that even if one factor or physical property of the matter and energy had differed, the whole universe would have crashed. This extreme care to perfection leads the believers to believe that this is all by the design of the most intelligent being whom people of all religions consider the Creator.
Those who remember Allah, standing, sitting, and lying on their sides, and ponder in the creation of the skies and the earth, (they say). “Our Lord! not for falsehood have you created (all) this! Glory to You! give us salvation from the punishment of the fire.
It is He, who created the skies and the earth in six periods of time, then He firmly established on the throne. He knows what enters within the earth and what comes forth out of it, what comes down from sky and what mounts up to it, and He is with you where-ever you may be, and Allah sees well all that you do.
Assuredly the creation of the skies and the earth is a greater (matter) than the creation of people. Yet most people do not know it.
The scale of the universe is simply enormous beyond the grasp of the normal comprehension. The deeper we look into the universe the farther it extends. There are places in universe whose light has not reached as yet, while light has been travelling from there for more than 14 billions years and light travels at the speed of 300,000 Km per second.
He is who created the seven skies one above another. You will not see any imperfection in the creation of the most Gracious. So turn your vision again. Do you see any flaw?
The above ayat states that the seven skies that Allah has created are built one over the another.
And We send down water from the sky according to a measure, and We cause it to soak in the soil; and We certainly are able to take it away (evaporation etc.)
The two ayahs above mention that the lowest sky is adorned with planets/starts. The water is sent down from sky. We may deduce that the lowest sky is the atmospheric layer of the earth as the atmospheric layer accumulates water vapors to form clouds and make rain on land. The layers of air also make the stars and planets look like glimmering lamps from earth. And also it provides protection against ultra violet rays, radio activity and meteorites entering the earth.
And We have made the heavens, a protective roof, yet do they turn away from its signs.
As the skies are said to be built as layers one upon another, building upon this hierarchy of skies one upon another, one possibility of the seven skies could be in the below given order:
Atmospheric layer of Earth
Solar system
Our Galaxy Milky way
Cluster of Galaxies
Super Cluster
Filament
Universe
Another possibility is that the first sky is the whole universe and there are still 6 additional layers of skies above our cosmos which we are not yet able to see.
Allah is He, who created seven skies and of the earth also the like of it. His orders descends between them so that you may know that Allah has power over all things, and that Allah encompasses, all things in (His) Knowledge
There is a similarity mentioned between the earth and the skies. The similarity is in their structure i.e as skies are built i.e one above another, similarly earth is made of layers one above another. The details of the layers of the Earth are given at the bottom of the post in notes.
By the Sky which is returning/bouncy, and by the Earth of opening/cracking nature
The nature of sky is stated to be returning or bouncy type, which could be pointing either to its cyclical nature (rotation), or it may mean its bouncing nature referring to the space time fabric of universe. The Earth is said to be of opening/cracking nature, may be referring to the cracks which forms between the layers of earth which causes e.g eruptions of volcanoes.
And (He) made the moon, in which is light, and made the sun as a Lamp.
Sun is said to be a lamp, obviously because it burns fuel. The ayat states that He made the Moon in which is light. We see light in the moon which is basically reflected light of the sun. In addition, moon’s inner most core comprising of iron and sulphur, at a temperature of 1600-1700K, would have its own glow as well inside of moon (see in notes below)
What! are you the more severe to create or the skies (above)? Which We have created. He raised its canopy high, thus perfected it. It’s night, He endowed with darkness, and its light He brings out. And the earth, after that He extended. He draw out therefrom its water and its pastures. And the mountains He firmly fixed.
In these ayahs, sequence of creation is mentioned. It is informed that He raised the canopy of the heavens high i.e the heavens were expanded. He brought forth the light of it, that with the expansion from the initial very dense universe, the density decreased to allow the light to travel in the Universe. After that He spread out the earth. (Spreading out does not mean the Earth is flat, would mean He shaped the earth , i.e from very small size in the beginning when Earth and Skies were joined together, the Earth was spread to its present size, i.e to a size of much bigger sphere.). Then He brought forth its water and pastures and fixed mountains on Earth. It means the sequence of creations is that, Allah made first the sky and after that He shaped the Earth.
The Skies and Earth were all joined together in a mixture and then God separated them.
Do not the unbelievers see that the skies and the earth were joined together before We split them asunder We made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe?
Earth was created and shaped out of this mixture, in two periods of time.
Say. Is it that you deny Him who created the earth in two periods of time? And do you join equals with Him? He is the Lord of (all) the Worlds.
Then mountains were fixed on earth, and all provisions were provided on earth. All done in four periods of time. The two periods of time mentioned in Aya 41:9 and four periods of time mentioned 41:10 are concurrent. One information is provided additionally, that these four periods of time are equal in length.
He sets on the (earth), mountains standing firm, above it, and bestowed blessings on it, and set measures/proportion therein for all things for their nourishment, in four periods/intervals of time, equal (time periods)for the (sake of) those who ask
Then He attended towards the sky, and it was smoke/gaseous. He said to it and to the earth. “Come you together, willingly or unwillingly.” Both said. “We do come (together), in willing obedience.”
So, after the sky was shaped, then earth was shaped and provisions on earth were created, and after that He created seven skies out of the sky in two periods of time.
So He completed them as seven skies in two periods/intervals of time, and He assigned/inspired to each sky its command. And We adorned the lower sky with lamps, and (provided it) with guard. Such is the Decree of (Him) the Exalted in Might, Full of Knowledge.
The lowest sky is adorned with stars. If the lowest sky is the atmospheric layer surrounding the earth, it makes the start look like glimmering lamps. Otherwise, from space the stars don’t look to glimmer.
It is He who has created for you all things that are on earth; Then, He attended to the skies, thus made seven skies thereof; and He has knowledge of all things.
The sky, we constructed it with power and it is We who expand it
In the 20th century, the scientific community discovered that the universe is expanding. All the galaxies are moving away from one another. This was against logic as scientists expected that galaxies should be moving closer to one another due to force of gravitation. Allah informs in this Ayat that it is He, who is expanding the Universe.
He it is Who created the skies and the earth in six time periods – and His throne was over the water – that He may test you, which of you is better in conduct. But if you were to say to them, “You shall indeed be raised up after death”, the unbelievers would be sure to say, “This is nothing but obvious sorcery!”
In the above ayat it is mentioned that Allah created the skies and earth in six periods of time and His throne was on water. There is some very latest research which says that in the beginning Earth was covered with Water. So this would be an indication to the young Earth and beginning of life which originated in water. The ‘Arsh’ i.e throne may have different meanings to people, it could be an example of control board, where major decisions are made and orders issued.
Surely in the nearness of Allah the number of the months are twelve months, in the book of Allah the day He created the skies and the earth…
Above is part of ayat of 9:36 in which Allah states that the number of months is 12 from the time period that the earth and skies were created. In order to have months on earth which are cyclical in nature, means that the Moon and Sun should have been established within the same time period as earth. Currently if we google age of earth, moon and sun, all are estimated to be approximately 4.6 billion years. Meaning the solar system and earth, moon and sun were created in approximately the same epoch of time not too far distant in time from each other.
O ye assembly of Jinns and men! If it be ye can pass beyond the zones of the skies and the earth, pass ye! not without authority shall ye be able to pass!
Escape velocity is the minimum speed needed for an object to escape from the gravitational influence of a massive body. The escape velocity from earth is about 40,270 km/h I.e the speed required to escape the earth gravitational pull.
Thus, I swear by the occurrence/falling of stars and indeed it is a mighty adjuration if you but knew,-
The falling of most stars at the end of their lives, happens with a nova or supernova, a mighty release of energy in which a star can briefly outshine entire galaxies and radiate more energy than our sun will in its entire lifetime. This indeed is no small event and worthy of drawings attention of mankind.
The day that We roll up the sky like a scroll rolled up for books. As We started the initial creation, so shall We repeat it. This is a promise upon us, truly shall We fulfill it.
This could be an indication that the universe would end up in ‘BIG CRUNCH’, as the universe expanded in the initial stages, eventually it could compress towards the end of time. (and may be this cycle keeps on repeating)
Descriptions in Quran of the Creation of Universe:
Some people wonder why Allah did not include detailed explanations in the Quran about how He created the universe. The Quran simply states that Allah created the heavens and the earth but does not elaborate on the processes involved. One possible explanation is that humans are familiar with and can only relate to four dimensions: three spatial dimensions and one time dimension.
To illustrate this point, imagine a one-dimensional being created by God. If God informs this being about the existence of three-dimensional creatures who use devices to measure time, such as watches, the one-dimensional creature might ask for an explanation of how these devices are made. However, describing to a one-dimensional being how factories manufacture watches would be futile because they lack the capacity to comprehend a three-dimensional world. The limitations of their perception would render the explanation meaningless.
Similarly, if the universe encompasses more than the dimensions humans can perceive, much of its workings would remain incomprehensible to us. Even if someone were to attempt to describe these additional dimensions, the explanation would likely confuse the vast majority of people. Current scientific theories, such as string theory, suggest that the universe indeed has more dimensions than we can observe. For example, bosonic string theory requires 26 dimensions for mathematical consistency, while superstring theory posits 10 dimensions, and M-theory proposes 11 dimensions.
These theories imply that the universe is far more complex than our limited perception allows us to understand. Therefore, it is plausible that Allah chose not to include intricate details about the universe’s creation in the Quran, as such explanations might be beyond human comprehension and, ultimately, not beneficial for our spiritual guidance.
Structure of the Earth is divided into layers. These layers are both physically and chemically different. The Earth has an outer solid crust, a highly viscousmantle, a liquid outer core, and a solid inner core. (Following is the description of layers and sub layers of Earth):
The crust is the outermost layer of the Earth. It is made of solid rocks. It is mostly made of the lighter elements, silicon, oxygen, aluminium. Because of this, it is known as sial (silicon = Si; aluminium = Al) or felsic.
Lithosphere is the first of the four sub layers which together constitute the Mantle. Mantle is the layer of the Earth right below the crust. It is made mostly of oxygen, silicon and the heavier element magnesium. The uppermost part of the mantle is solid, and forms the base of the crust. It is made of the heavy rock peridotite. The continental and oceanic plates include both the crust proper and this uppermost solid layer of the mantle. Together this mass makes up the lithosphere. The lithosphere plates float on the semi-liquid aesthenosphere below.
Outer core. Earth core is solid iron and nickel, and is about 5000–6000oC. is a liquid layer below the mantle.
Inner core, is the very center of the Earth. It is very hot and, due to the high pressure, it is solid.[1]
Moon’s Inner core:
Moon’s internal structure
Core
In 2010, a reanalysis of the old Apollo seismic data on the deep moonquakes using modern processing methods confirmed that the Moon has an iron rich core with a radius of 330 ± 20 km. The same reanalysis established that the solid inner core made of pure iron has the radius of 240 ± 10 km. The core is surrounded by the partially (10 to 30%) melted layer of the lower mantle with a radius of 480 ± 20 km (thickness ~150 km). These results imply that 40% of the core by volume has solidified. The density of the liquid outer core is about 5 g/cm3 and it could contain as much 6% sulfur by weight. The temperature in the core is probably about 1600–1700 K.[5]
Al-Quran describes an incidence of Moosa A.S and Pharoah, where Moosa A.S and his followers were able to cross a large body of water with the help of a temporary passage, which was made for them with the will of God. However, when the Pharoah and his team tried to use the same passage, the temporary passage was filled with water and they were drowned. As per our observations of the Universe around us, everything follows God’s will. The physical laws created by God are Gods’ will and all His orders are carried out per His Will and per the physical laws created by Him. These laws are also His practice and He does not change His practice.
On account of their arrogance in the land and their plotting of Evil, but the plotting of Evil will harm only its authors. Now are they but looking for the way the earlier people were dealt with? But no change will you find in Allah’s practice. no turning off will you find in Allah’s practice.
When God intends to do any thing, he orders for it and His orders are carried out accordingly. We see that God’s orders are carried out by His practice which are laws of the nature and God does not change His practice.
Then We told Moses by inspiration. “Strike the sea with your rod.” So it divided, and each separate part became like the huge, firm mass of a mountain.
We took the BANI-ISRAEL/Children of Israel across the sea: Pharaoh and his group followed them in insolence and spite. When he (Pharaoh) sensed his drowning, he said ‘ I believe that there is no god except Him whom the Children of Israel believe in: I am of those who are muslims/ submitters’.
The parting of waters of the sea was with the orders of God. The below link explores the possibility of temporary parting of sea water per physical laws with the help of studies conducted with computer simulations.
The Biblical image of Moses raising his arm to part the waters of the Red Sea is one of the most enduring to emerge from the Old Testament. But what has long been thought to be either a fable or a miracle may in fact have happened – as researchers postulate theories as to how and where such an event might have taken place.
Parting the Red Sea: Examining the Possibilities
In 1992, a paper by Doron Nof and Nathan Paldor looked at possible scientific explanations for the parting of the Red Sea as set out in the book of Exodus. They considered two options – a tsunami generated by an earthquake or other event (such as landslide or volcanic eruption) and a mechanism called ‘wind setdown’ in which winds drive back the sea.
Although the Red Sea region is highly seismically active, Nof and Paldor rejected the tsunami as the most likely explanation in favor of the wind setdown, which fits better with the description of the event laid down in Exodus. Wind setdown is the opposite of a storm surge, and occurs when wind (sometimes in combination with tides) drives water abnormally far from the coast.
Nof and Paldor concluded that the Biblical description of an overnight easterly wind at a (not excessive) speed of 20ms-1 would have generated a sea level drop of over 2.5m at the northern end of the Red Sea. Combined with the possible existence of a submarine ridge, this would have allowed the Israelites a land bridge and time to cross.
The destruction of the pursuing Egyptians (a shortcoming of the tsunami model) is also explained by wind setdown. A sudden drop in the wind speed, or a change in the wind direction, would have allowed the waters to rush back rapidly. Nof and Paldorf’s calculations suggest that the dry area could be completely flooded in as little as four minutes, leaving no hope of escape for anyone still on the dried-out ridge.
Red Sea Crossing: Refining the Location With Computer Simulations
In 2010, further work was undertaken on the theoretical possibility of a scientific explanation for the Red Sea crossing. Using computer simulations, Drews and Han focused upon historical topography and considered Nof and Paldor’s proposals. Also following the theory of wind setdown, they considered alternative locations and found what they considered to be a better fit elsewhere.
Rather than the location at the north end of the Red Sea/Gulf of Suez favored by Nof and Paldor, they identified a site on the Mediterranean coast, at the Lake of Tanis. Here, computer modeling demonstrated that the former coastline would, under a wind set-down of 28ms-1, open up a 3-4 kilometer-long land bridge which would remain open for around four hours.
Red Sea Miracle: The Truth?
There are obvious difficulties in drawing a firm conclusion about the passage across the Red Sea. The Bible’s information can be interpreted in different ways and is vague about location. Also, the topography of the Red and Mediterranean Seas and their coasts has changed as sea levels fluctuate over periods of thousands of years.
Scientific research indicates, however, that such an event might have taken place as described purely through the natural mechanisms of wind set-down and a favorable topography. Whether such an event happened at the behest of the Lord, as the Bible maintains, or whether the Israelites were simply very lucky remains, of course, a matter for much greater, and less scientific, debate.
Did you see the one who disputed with Abraham in his Lord, because Allah had granted him Kingdom? Abraham said. “My Lord is He Who Gives life and death.” He said. “I give life and death”. Said Abraham. “But it is Allah who causes the sun to rise from the east, then you cause it to rise from the West.” Thus was he confounded who (in arrogance) rejected faith. Nor does Allah Give guidance to the people unjust.
It is God who created the Universe and firmly established the laws in it. Everything works under the laws established by Him in the Universe. Everybody knows that no entity besides Him, no matter however powerful, can not change any law of the Universe. Any body challenging the authority of God should think, can they change even an iota of His established principles?
Al-Kitab mentions several groups of people with certain names or labels such as Muslims, Jews, Christians, etc. When Al-Kitab introduces these lables it also gives behaviors and character traits of these people. An important point to understand is that when Al-Kitab mentions for example ‘Jews’ it means those people who act according to traits given in Al-Kitab for Jews, and not by what the World calls them or not by what label they put on themselves.
And when Al-Kitab mentions ‘Muslims’, then those people who match the character traits of ‘Muslims’ in Al-Kitab are meant. The labels that people put on themselves don’t matter. If some people call and label themselves as ‘Muslims’, however, their actions actually match the traits of ‘Jews’ given in the Book, then they are actually ‘Jews’ in the eyes of the Lord. Vice Versa, if some people call and label themselves as ‘Jews’, however they do not match the characteristics of ‘Jews’ in the Book, they are not ‘Jews’ in the eyes of the Lord.
With this point in mind, lets review some of the character traits given in Al-Kitab for groups and see if we can recognize some of these behaviors:
Example of Behaviors in Quran:
People exhibiting the traits of ‘Jews’, believe they are Allah’s favorites excluding all other people. As per their belief, others are not Allah’s favorites
Say. “O ye the people who are Jews! If ye think that ye are Aulia/supporters of Allah, to the exclusion of others, then desire for death, if ye are truthful!”
They listen to lies attributed to the Messenger. They listen from people who actually never reached the Messenger. They change the intention of the Kalam (saying). They make criteria’s for acceptance or rejection of their fabrications.
O Mesenger! let not those grieve you, who race into rejection. Among those people who say “We believe” with their lips but whose hearts have no faith; and among the Jews,- people who are listeners to lies,- they listen from other party who has never come to you. They change the words from their places. They say, “If you are given this, take it, but if not, avoid!” If Allah intends to indulge any in fitna/temptation, you have no authority in the least for him against Allah. For such – it is not Allah’s will to purify their hearts. For them there is disgrace in this world, and in the Hereafter a heavy punishment.
One of the tool to change the subject and actual intention of Allah’s Kalam/Ayahs is to restrict the scope of Ayahs with the concept of explaining it with some supposed event in the past. While Allah declares that only rejecters call Ayahs of Al-Quran as ‘tales of the past’ (83:13). They also taunt other people’s Din/Judgment and are rude to them in discussions.
Of the people who are Jews there are those who change the sayings from their subject/ places, and say. “We hear and we disobey”; and ‘You listen’ what is not worth listening; and “Ra’ina”(bear with us); with a twist of their tongues and as a mean of taunting the judgment. If only they had said. “We listened and we obey”; and “You listen”; and “Do look at us”; it would have been better for them, and more proper; but Allah has cursed them for their rejection; and they would not belive except for a very few.
Many of the lawful good things were made unlawful for them. In fact Allah does this in a subtle way. They themselves impose many lawful things as unlawful for them, in their over-zealousness. They obstruct in the way of Allah (by introducing additional orders or actually following other books than Book of Allah)
Because of the injustice of the people from Jews, We made unlawful for them the good things which had been lawful for them;- and because of the fact that they hindered a lot from Allah’s Way;-
An important Yahood/Jew trait is given in below Ayat. They eat Riba/The Increase (If you don’t give the prescribed portion in your savings as Zakat, and increase your wealth with that money, this is Al-Riba/The increase. The prescribed portion of Zakat in the light of Quran, is explained in previous post of Zakat/Charity). Interesting point here is that Riba is forbidden on believers (2:278) and the people who eat people’s money with false hood are exposed to be religious scholars in 9:34.
And they took AR-RIBA / The Increase and without doubt they were prohibited about it. And they ate the wealth of the people with falsehood and We have prepared for the rejecters among them a painful punishment.
The revelations from Allah increases them in their war mongering activities on Earth. As they have been changing the subject and intentions of Ayahs per their interpretation. They are always trying to cause war and mischief on Earth and Allah extinguishes whenever they try to ignite fires of war. They are not fond of giving charities. They say that Allah’s hand is tied which also implies that now we have to take action.
And the yahood / jews say “that hand of Allah is cuffed / tied up”. Their hands are cuffed / tied up and they are cursed with what they have said. But both His (Allah’s) hands are outspread. He spends how He wills. And what is revealed to you from your Lord definitely increases the majority amongst them in tyranny (i.e. unjustly harsh, cruel) and rejection. And We have put enmity and hatred amongst them towards the day of resurrection. Whenever they ignite the fire for war Allah extinguishes it and they make an effort in the earth to cause corruption. And Allah does not love those who are mufsedeen / corrupt.
If invited to join any group, tell them that you follow the Religion of True Ibraheem.
And they say : Become Hood(Jews) or Nasara(Christians/Helpers) you would be guided , Say : Instead the Millat(religion) of true Ibrahim and he was not from the polytheists
They think that no one can enter Jannat/Gardens except those who are in their group:
And they say. “None shall enter the Gardens unless he be a Jew or a Christian.” Those are their (vain) desires. Say. “Produce your proof if you are truthful.”.
Can you recognize those people who say that people of our group even if they go to Hell, they will only go for a limited period of time for their sins and after that limited time, they will be admitted to eternal gardens. Al-Kitab exposes these people with the below Ayat:
Have you not seen those who have been given a portion of the Book? They are invited to the Book of Allah, so that it orders among them, then a party of them turns back and keep away from it. This is because they say. “The fire shall not touch us but for a few numbered days” and their forgeries deceive/deviate them from their Din/judgement.
Those people who exhibit the behaviors close to those we saw in above Ayas to the characteristics of Jews, they will be more in enmity with those who will accept the faith as per Book of Allah.
Definitely you will find among mankind. stronger in enmity for the believers who are Yahood / jews and those who associate (with Allah) And definitely you will find amongst them nearer in love for the believers, those who say surely we are Nasara / Helpers / Christians. That is because surely amongst them are Qissiseena / clergymen and Rohbaan / the terrorists and they do not seek greatness (i.e. arrogance and pride).
The below ayat is instructing those believers who accept faith in the light of Ayahs of Al-Kitab, not to take as protectors those who exhibit the behaviors of Jews and Christians as per Al-Kitab. This instruction is not for labeled Believers and labeled Jews and Christians.
O you people who believe! Let not the Jews and the Christians be your gaurdians. They are guardians to each other. Any one amongst you who turns to them for guardianship is one of them. Verily Allah doesnot guide a nation of Zalmin/unjust people.
Those groups who think that they must be God’s beloved nation as if His children, must ponder deeply why their group is the punished and miserable one in the world.
And the Jews and the Christians say: We are the sons of Allah and His beloved ones. Say: Why does He then punishes you for your sins? Nay, you are mortals from among those whom He has created, He forgives whom He pleases and punishes whom He pleases; and for Allah’s is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and what is between them, and to Him is the return.
And the Yahood/Jews say, That Nasara/Christians are not on anything. And the Nasara/Christians say that the Yahood/Jews are not on anything. And both of them are reciting AL-KITAB/THE BOOK. Those people who don’t have knowledge say things similar to their sayings (of Yahood and Nasara); but Allah will judge between them in their differences on the Day of Judgment.
Please note that both Yahood and Nasara recite the Book (Al-Kitab) however they say that the other group or school of thought is not on the right path.
And never will the Yahood(Jews) or the Nasara(Christians) be pleased with you unless you follow their Millat (religion) say : Surely, the guidance is of ALLAH, that is the guidance. And if you are to follow their desires after the knowledge has reached you then you would find neither protector not helper from Allah.
As per Al-Kitab the religion of muslims/submitters is Religion of Ibrahim. The people exhibiting characteristics of Yahood and Nasara will never be pleased with you with this religion. However, after knowledge of Al-Kitab has come to you, you are not to follow their desires in matter of faith.
The Jews call ‘Uzair a son of Allah, and the Christians call Christ the son of Allah. That is a saying from their mouth; (in this) they but imitate what the unbelievers of old used to say. Allah’s curse be on them. how they fabricate lies!
The Christians say that Jesus is the son of God. Please note that present day labeled Jews in Israel don’t say ‘Uzair’ to be the son of God. This could be a prophesy for future when some group will start calling him that. However present day labeled Jews in Israel don’t fulfill this characteristic trait.
From those who said “We are Christians/Helpers”, We did take a covenant, but they forgot a part of the message with which they were made to remember. thus we put enmity and hatred among them till the day of Establishment and soon will Allah inform them what they used to do/make.
For those people who put label of ‘Christians’ on themselves, they forgot a part of the message that was given to them. In Ayat 61:14, with Prophet Essa (a.s) they promised to be ‘helpers of Allah’. So, this ayat is stating that they forgot one part of this covenant, i.e they forgot Allah’s part and are now only helpers of the world. They keep on helping people in the world (Nasara literally means helpers) however Allah and His Book is forgotten by them.
And these (hypocrites) who have taken that mosque as an ambush (i.e. hidden place for sudden attack), for those (yahood / jews) who have been waging war against Allah and His messenger from before, to harm and to reject (i.e. Islam / Peace) and to make divisions between the believers and definitely they swear that our intention is nothing except goodness. And Allah testifies that surely they are definite liars.
One trait of hypocrites is stated in this ayat, that they have grasped a Mosque, for the purpose of causing differences among believers, and waging gorilla warfare. These people are those who have been waging war with Allah and Messenger since before (see Ayas 2-278-279, those believers who eat Riba/Increase i.e from the prescribed share of Allah in their savings). They themselves don’t have a reckoning of what they are doing 2:8-9, and they can swear that their intention is all but good.
Say you: “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.
The above ayat, states an important characteristics of ‘Muslim’ that they say that they don’t differentiate between any of the messengers, i.e they don’t say that some are superior to others. The ayat 2:253 which mentions some as having degrees over others is for Allah and not for Muslims to consider some as superiors to others.
And when they are reminded with the ayats / signs of their Lord they do not fall down over them, deaf and blind.
The Muttaqin (the people who take guard), don’t fall over Allah’s ayahs deaf and blind. The do deep pondering over them.
God has created all people. He is the Lord and sustainer of all people in the World. Then why would God punish people who He Himself created in a certain place or community unless they exhibit the behaviors he has warned them not to do.
It may not be that a particular group exhibits characteristics of a trait all the time. It would seem more likely that in every community weather as a whole this community be labeled as Muslim, Jew or Christian, there would be some people within each community behaving like Muslims, Jews, Christians, Hypocrites and Momin/Believers etc. It appears from above review of Ayas, that those people who exhibit fundamentally orthodox frozen minded strict religious behaviors are the ones termed as ‘Jews’ in a community. The people who place humanity and helping others above anything else are termed as ‘Nasara’ of a community. Those who have a love of violence in their heart as a disease, they don’t pay prescribed amount of Zakat, don’t realize that they are the hypocrites in their community. Those who take a balanced approach, don’t fall over Allah’s Ayats blindly without pondering, don’t differentiate between Allah’s revelations and messengers, are the submitters and believers.
Ashab ul Aaraf:
‘Ashab ul Aaraf’ are those people who have knowledge of characteristics given in Quran for both people of fire and people of the gardens. These people are able to identify people weather they are headed towards fire or garden from their characteristics.
Between them shall be a veil, and on the heights will be men who would identify every one by their marks. They will call out to the Companions of the Garden, “peace on you”. they would not have entered it (The Gardens), but they would want to.
O’ you who believe take guard of Allah and leave off, what remains from AR-RIBA / THE INCREASE , if you are believers. Then if you do not, (leave off, what remains from AR-RIBA / THE INCREASE),so take a notice of war from Allah and His messenger. And if you turn back, so for you are the heads of your wealth. You do not oppress and you will not be oppressed.
Link to lecture about What Quran says about Yahood and Nasara:
Most people who call themselves Muslims today when they hear the Arabic words “Yahood” & “Nasara” only understand them to refer to the label Jews and Christians. This lecture points out how Allah in the Quran defines the Yahood & Nasara by their character traits and behavior, and also the words itself hold a descriptive meaning which most of us are unaware of and hence are unable to identify these categories of people completely. The exposition through the Ayats of Allah in this lecture details who are the Yahood and Nasara which encompasses more than just those who call themselves Jews & Christians to include anyone who follows their (Jews and Christian) practices (found in their books) and the character traits defined in the Quran regardless of what label they put on themselves
A gist of the views expressed in above clip is given below.
In verse 9:30 of the Qur’an, the name ‘Uzair’ is mentioned, but it should not be equated with the prophet Ezra of the Jewish Bible, as is often translated. The reason is that ‘Uzair’ is an Arabic name (fully declinable), while Ezra is a Hebrew name specific to Jewish tradition. The root of ‘Uzair’ is ع ز ر (ʿ-z-r), which carries the meaning of reverence. It is the diminutive form of ʿĀzar, and like other diminutives in Arabic, it conveys an element of affection—for example, Ḥusayn meaning “little Ḥasan.”
This verse may also be highlighting a recurring trend in religious history: communities with strongly fundamentalist beliefs often begin by showing deep reverence and affection for their pious figures. Over time, that reverence gradually intensifies and may evolve into semi-divine status being attributed to those individuals, as happened with Prophet ʿĪsā (a.s). The process often begins innocently, with metaphorical expressions such as referring to men as “sons of God” without a literal intent. However, as generations pass, the metaphor loses its original nuance, and eventually, the revered figure is elevated to the status of a deity—such as the Christian belief in Jesus as the Son of God.
This phenomenon can also be seen in earlier scriptures, for example in Genesis 6:2: “The sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.”
Job 2:1: “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.”
Topics from The Book (Al-Kitab) 