Al-A'raf ^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^̂^^ ^^^^^̂
Introduction Surah Al-A'raf is the largest Makkan surah in the Holy Qur'an with 24 rukus
and 206 ayaat. It forms a pair with Al-An'aam with respect to the topics and
subjects discussed.
This surah mostly deals with the subjects which are related to the
Hereafter, punishment and Prophethood. Between the first and the sixth
section (rukus) the subject under discussion is the return to Hereafter. Here
the people of Makkah have been given a warning about the consequences of
their wrong attitude and are admonished to accept the message that Prophet
Muhammad (SAW) has been sent with. When this surah was being revealed
the Prophet (SAW) was about to migrate from Makkah to Madinah, thus the
concluding portion of this surah has been directed towards the People of the
Book with whom he was going to come into contact at Madinah. The
discourse upto twenty first section gives a detailed discussion of the past
Prophets, their communities and the punishments meted out to them.
During the course of this the Jews have also been warned of the
consequences of their hypocritical attitude towards the Prophets, for they
professed to believe in Prophet Moses (AS) but they not only disobeyed him
but in fact clung to falsehood.
At the end of the surah, Allah (SWT) has given some instructions to the
Prophet (SAW) and his followers to show patience in dealing with their
enemies and are advised to be very careful and not take any step that might
harm their cause.
(1) "Alif Lam Mim Sad" Refer to ayah 1 of Al-B aqarah.
(2) "(This is the) Book sent down unto you." i.e. This Qur'an is the Book of Allah
(SWT) sent down to you 0 Muhammad (SAW) . "So let not your breast be troubled
about it, that you warn thereby, and a reminder unto the believers." Allah (SWT)
commands His Messenger (SAW) not to show constraint in his heart nor
hesitate in conveying the Qur'an and warn with it. This ayah does not mean
that the Prophet (SAW) had any doubts about this Qur'an; rather the
constraint experienced by him was because of the affectionate concern for
his people. That is why he felt pain when his people would not believe even
after listening to the Holy Qur'an. Instead they would deny him, ridicule,
and make a mockery of Allah's revelations. Thus in this ayah Allah (SWT)
comforts His Prophet (SAW) by instructing him that his only duty is to remind
them of His Message and warn them with this Qur'an and that it is not his
responsibility to see who becomes a Muslim and who rejects faith.
(3) "Follow what has been sent down unto you from your Lord." i.e. the Qur'an and the
Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW) . "And follow not as friends besides Him. Little do you
remember!" i.e. do not follow those who order you to disregard the Messenger
(SAW) or to associate partners with Allah (SWT) . Do not follow other masters
besides Him. But you seldom heed warning.
(4) "And how many towns have We destroyed. Our torment came upon them by night or
while they were sleeping for their afternoon rest." This is the main theme of this
surah i.e. warning the unbelievers about the consequences of their denial
through examples of punishments inflicted upon former generations for
their wrong attitude towards His Messengers and His Message.
(5) "And when Our scourge fell upon them, their only plea was: 'We have indeed been
wicked men'." i.e. when Allah (SWT) inflicted torment upon the wrongdoers,
their only cry was that they admitted their sins and acknowledged that they
were on the wrong path.
(6) "Then surely, We shall question those to whom it was sent and verily, We shall question
the Messengers." This ayah indicates that on the Day of Resurrection Allah
(SWT) will ask His servants as how did they treat His Messengers and how did
they respond to the Messages that He sent them with. Similarly, the
Messengers will also be questioned if they had delivered His Message to their
people or not. That is why at the Farewell Hajj the Prophet (SAW) asked his
companions (RAA), did I convey Allah's message? The companions (RAA)
unanimously replied, "we bear witness that you have conveyed the message
and fulfilled your mission." He raised his finger towards the sky and said,
"O'Allah! Be witness." He repeated it thrice. ' Hence it means that the
Prophet as Allah's (SWT) representative will bear witness to the fact that he
conveyed the message to the Muslims which he was sent with and the
Muslims will bear witness that they conveyed the message to the rest of
Mankind.
(7) "Then surely, We shall recount to them (what they have done) with knowledge, and
indeed We were not absent." This refers to the Book of deeds which will be placed
before them on the Day of Resurrection and they will find therein all that
they did.
(8) "And the weighing on that day will be with justice. So as for those whose scale will be
heavy, they will be the successful." This ayah indicates that the weighing of good
and bad deeds on the Day of Judgment is true and whoever has his good
deeds heavier then he will surely be admitted into Paradise i.e. the ultimate
abode for those who are successful.
(9) "And as for those whose scale are light, they are those who will lose their souls because
they denied and rejected Our revelations." On the other hand, those who will find
their scale lighter with good deeds i.e. heavier with evil deeds, then they
shall find themselves in loss for they had disbelieved in Allah's revelations.
(10) "And surely, We gave you authority on the earth and provided you therein with a
livelihood. Yet, you are seldom thankful." Allah (SWT) has blessed mankind with
ownership and control on this earth. He has made this earth as a place of
comfort and as a means of provision for His servants, so that they should
show gratitude to their Lord. But, human beings are prone to ingratitude
and heedlessness and they show little gratitude to Him.
(11) "And surely, We created you and then gave you shape, then We told the angels,
"Prostrate to Adam", and they prostrated, except 1blees (Satan), he refused to be of those who
prostrate." This ayah describes the creation of Adam (A5) . Allah (5WT) used the
plural in this case, because Adam (A5) is the father of all mankind as He
created the whole human race from this single being. Then Allah (5WT)
commanded the angels to prostrate before Adam (A5) and they all obeyed
their Lord except Iblees who rejected the command of Allah (5WT) and did not
prostrate to Adam (A5). For further commentary on this subject, refer to ayah
34 of Al-B aqarah.
(12) "(Allah) said: "What prevented you that you did not prostrate, when 1 commanded
you?" 1blees said: "1 am better than him, You created me from fire, and him You created from
clay."" The Jinn are created from fire whereas Allah (5WT) created the body of
humans from clay. The Jinn are more like humans, for both are required to
worship Allah (5WT) and follow Islam and both are given the free-will to
exercise. Therefore, like humans they may either be obedient or disobedient
to their Creator. Thus when Allah (5WT) commanded Iblees to prostrate
before Adam (A5) , he became proud and jealous from the superiority given to
the humans as he saw only the lower side of the man (clay) and failed to see
the higher side (soul). Therefore he refused to obey and rejected Allah's
command.
(13) "(Allah) said: "get down from this, it is not for you to be arrogant here. Get out, for you
are of those humiliated and disgraced."" The rebellious nature and arrogance of
Iblees earned him nothing but wrath of Allah (5WT) and was thrown out of
the Paradise.
(14) "(1blees) said: "Allow me respite till the Day they are raised up."" Iblees prayed to
Allah (5WT) to grant him reprieve till the Last Day so that he can prove that
these humans whom Allah (5WT) has chosen above him and all creations, are
disobedient to Allah (5WT) .
(15) "(Allah) said: "You are of those allowed respite."" Allah (SWT) answered his
request and gave him respite till the Day of Judgment. Thus he became a
staunch enemy to Adam (AS) and his progeny and is always planning to
mislead them from the right path. This is the basis of the struggle between
good and evil, truth and falsehood—with Iblees and his followers on one side
and the Allah's servants on the other.
(16) "(1blees) said: "Because You have led me astray, surely 1 will sit in wait against them on
Your Straight Path." i.e. as You have misguided me and expelled me from the
Garden and Your Mercy, likewise I will misguide Your servants whom you
create from amongst the progeny of the one for whom you expelled me i.e.
Adam (AS) . The important point to note here is that Iblees is assigning his
own willful disobedience to Allah (SwT) , whereas in fact his own conduct was
responsible for his degradation.
(17) "Then 1 will spring upon them from before them and behind them, from their right and
from their left, and You will not find most of them as thankful ones."" i.e. I will mislead
Your servants from all sides and directions by raising doubts in them about
their beliefs and causing confusion in their religion, thus luring them to the
path of evil. And most of them will not show gratitude to You but will follow
their desires and the evil ways that I will teach them.
(18) "(Allah) said: "Get out from this (Paradise) disgraced and expelled."" Again in this
ayah Iblees has been commanded to be expelled and banished from the
heavens in a disgraceful manner. Then Allah said: "Whoever of them (mankind)
will follow you, then surely 1 will fill Hell with you all." i.e. whoever amongst the
progeny of Adam (AS) will follow Satan and his evil ways, then he will surely
be thrown into the Hellfire in the Hereafter.
(19) ""And 0 Adam (AS) ! Dwell you and your wife in Paradise, and eat thereof as you both
wish, but approach not this tree otherwise you both will be of the wrongdoers."" This ayah
is already commented upon in ayah 35 of Al-B aqarah.
(20) "Then Satan whispered suggestions to them both in order to uncover that which was
hidden from them of their private parts (before); he said: "Your Lord did not forbid you this
tree save you should become angels or become immortals."" This ayah indicates that
Iblees plotted against Adam (AS) and Eve (AS) and suggested to them
treachery by whispering into their ears. Iblees wanted to make them disobey
their Lord and thus reveal to them the private parts of their bodies that were
hidden from them before. Therefore, he lied to them and told them that the
reason that Allah (SWT) has forbidden them to eat from this tree is because
He does not want them to be like angels or live in this Paradise forever.
(21) "And he (Satan) swore by Allah (SWT) to them both (saying): "Verily, 1 am one of the
sincere well-wishers for you both."" i.e. he tried to persuade them to eat from the
tree and even swore by Allah (SWT) that he is telling them the truth and that
it is in their interest that they must trust him and follow him.
(22) "So he misled them with deception." This indicates the error and disobedience
of Adam (AS) and Eve (AS) cannot be termed as a sin as it only arose from the
misunderstanding produced by the cursed Iblees. "Then when they tasted of the
tree, that which was hidden from them of their shame became manifest to them and they
began to stick together the leaves of Paradise over themselves." i.e. when they ate from
the tree the private parts of their bodies that were hidden from them before
were made visible to them and thus they began to cover themselves with the
leaves of the Paradise trees i.e. making them as a dress. "And their Lord called
out to them (saying): "Did 1 not forbid you that tree and tell you: Verily, Satan is an open
enemy unto you?"" i.e. Allah (SWT) reminded them of His commandment and
His warning to Adam (AS) and Eve (AS) about the enmity and hatred of Iblees
towards them and their offspring.
(23) "They said: "Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. 1f You forgive us not, and bestow
not upon us Your Mercy, we shall certainly be of the losers."" When Adam (AS) and Eve
(AS) committed that act of disobedience, they wanted to repent and return to
Paradise but they could not find the words to use them in their prayers. So
Allah (SWT) bestowed His mercy and blessing on them and taught them these
words, with which they could pray and ask for repentance. Thus Allah (SWT)
pardoned them and accepted their repentance, as we already read in Al-
Baqarah.
This also refutes the false belief of 'The Original Sin' amongst the Christians.
They claim that when Adam (AS) ate from the forbidden tree, Allah (SWT)
became angry and directed punishment onto him; that punishment
continued on Adam's offspring's until the coming of Jesus (AS) . His
crucifixion was to relieve the generations after him from their forefather's
sin. On the other hand, Islam does not accept the belief of 'The Original Sin'
whereby Adam's disobedience to Allah (SWT) has been inherited by all his
descendants. In other words, it does not accept that all human beings on
earth are sinful by birth because of their forefather's sin. Qur'an states that
when Adam (AS) and Eve (AS) sinned, they repented and received Allah's
forgiveness. Muslims believe all newborns are born pure and sinless i.e. on
their Fitrah, and a child does not bear the burden of a sin committed by an
ancestor.
(24) "(Allah) said: "Get down, one of you an enemy to the other. On earth will be a dwelling
place for you and sustenance, for a time."^ This means that Iblees and Adam (AS)
became enemies forever. Iblees prayed to Allah (SWT) to grant him life till the
Last Day so that he can prove that these humans whom Allah (SWT) has
chosen above him and all creations, are disobedient to Allah (SWT) , and thus
he became an enemy to Adam (AS) and his progeny. This is the basis of the
struggle between good and evil, truth and falsehood that has been going on
for centuries and will continue till the appointed time of the Last Doom.
(25) "He said: "Therein you shall live, and therein you shall die, and from it you shall be
brought out."^ When Adam (AS) and Eve (AS) were sent down to earth, they were
told that the earth will be a dwelling place for them for a temporary period of
time. They will live, die and buried in their graves, from which they will then
be resurrected on the Day of Judgment.
(26) "0 Children of Adam (AS) ! We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover yourselves and
as an adornment, and the raiment of righteousness, that is better." This ayah states
that Allah (SWT) has given three kinds of clothing for the children of Adam (AS)
to wear viz. Libas, Rish and Libas of Taqwa. Libas refers to the dress which
is used to cover body parts the uncovering of which is taken as bad and
shameful. Rish refers to the dresses which Allah (SWT) has blessed humans
with for beautification and to make them look handsome. The third kind of
dress mentioned is the dress of Taqwa. This Libas of Taqwa conceals
human weaknesses and moral shortcomings and acts as a spiritual dress of
good deeds and fear of Allah (SWT) . Then Allah (SWT) said: "This is of the
revelations of Allah (SWT) that they may take heed." i.e. He has revealed these signs
as an invitation for the people to understand and recall the primordial
truths.
(27) "0 Children of Adam (AS) ! Let not Satan deceive you, as he got your parents out of
Paradise, stripping them of their raiments, to show them their private parts." Allah (SWT)
warns the children of Adam (AS) that they should guard themselves against
the seduction of Iblees and his followers, lest, he also deceives them like he
did their parents, Adam (AS) and Eve (AS) . "Verily, he and his tribe see you from
where you cannot see them." i.e. the Satan and his followers can see and interact
with the humans just like the angels, while the human beings cannot see
them. The Jinns like the angels can also transform themselves into the
shape of a human being, which makes their deception even more dangerous.
"Verily, We made the devils friends for those who do not believe." i.e. they act as
guardians and supporters of the unbelievers.
(28) "And when they commit a shameful act, they say: "We found our fathers doing it, and
Allah (SWT) has commanded us of it." Say: "Nay, Allah (SWT) never commands what is
shameful. Do you say of Allah (SWT) what you know not?" This ayah refers to one of
the many shameful and absurd customs of the Arabs before the advent of
Islam. The people of Makkah and all those coming for the Pilgrimage would
circumambulate around the Ka'bah naked. Allah (SWT) revealed this ayah to
abolish that shameful custom and refuted their false claim that their elders
and forefathers had been doing this all along and that this is what Allah
(SWT) has told them to do. On the contrary, it was said to them that Allah
(SWT) never commands a shameful act and that they are attributing a lie
against Him without having any proof or evidence for it.
(29) "Say: My Lord has enjoins justice and that you should face Him in every place of
worship." i.e. worship none but Allah (SWT) and face the Ka'bah at Makkah
during all your prayers. But this injunction is not confined to Prayer only,
instead it also means being upright or keeping the orientation straight in all
acts of worship, dealings and transactions. "And invoke Him only making your
religion sincere to Him." i.e. to worship Allah (SWT) , purely and exclusively,
without associating anyone with Him in any capacity. This also indicates
that only formal obedience is not enough for all is in vain without inward
sincerity (Ikhlas). Further, the ayah states: "As He brought you into being, so shall
be your return." This means that it is He Who created you in the first place
and it is He Who will make you rise again on the Day of Judgment.
(30) "A group He has guided and a group deserved to be in error, for they took the devils as
friends instead of Allah (SwF), and think that they are guided." In this ayah Allah (SWT)
has differentiated between those who are misguided and those whom He has
guided. The ayah states that there are some people He has guided to the
straight path while there are others who have fallen into misguidance and
error because they made the devils as their protectors and friends instead of
Him and still thought that they were on the right path. So Allah has justly
left in error.
(31) "0 Children of Adam (AS) ! Dress well every time you pray and eat and drink but waste
not by extravagance, certainly He does not like the extravagant." This ayah again
refutes the false custom of circumambulating around the Ka'bah in a naked
state. Instead Allah (SWT) has commanded the believers to present
themselves in the best of their adornments when going out for prayers in the
mosque, for every place of prostration is a mosque. This also indicates that
covering oneself for Prayer and Tawaf (circumambulation) is what is meant
by adorning oneself to worship Allah (SWT) . However the word adornment is
used rather than the word covering to signify that what is meant is that a
person should adorn himself and not limit it to simply covering. Another of
their false customs attributed to Allah (SWT) was that they would abstain
from eating and drinking during the days of Pilgrimage. But Allah (SWT)
commanded the believers to eat and drink from all pure things that He has
provided for them as long as they abstain from two things viz. eating and
drinking what He has prohibited and indulging in extravagance.
(32) "Say: " Who has forbidden the adoration with clothes given by Allah (SWT), which He has
produced for his slaves, and the things clean and pure for sustenance?"" This ayah is an
admonishment for those who think that good dress and good food made
lawful by Allah (SWT) is unlawful for them. Islam does not teach to live in
tattered rags or torn clothes despite of having the means to adorn
themselves. Therefore an unkempt, dirty and slovenly Faqir cannot claim
sanctity in Islam. Instead, Allah (SWT) says that He has provided and allowed
for the believers the best of clothing, so that they should adorn themselves
and has provided for them good and pure things for food, so that they eat
from them and be grateful to Him. "Say: "They are, in the life of this world, for those
who believe, (and) exclusively for them on the Day of Resurrection."" Allah (SWT)
commanded His Messenger (SAW) to say that even though all these blessings
that He has provided in this earthly life are also enjoyed by the disbelievers
in the Hereafter the disbelievers will have no share in it, for Paradise is
exclusively made for the believers. "Thus We explain the revelations in detail for
people who have knowledge." i.e. He has made His signs and revelations clear
and abolished all the superstitions that were falsely attributed to Him. Allah
makes plain His revelations to men of understanding.
(33) "Say: "(But) the things that my Lord has indeed forbidden are shameful acts whether
committed openly or secretly, sins, unrighteous oppression, joining partners with Allah (SWT)
for which He has given no sanction, and saying things about Allah (SWT) of which you have
no knowledge."" Allah (SWT) commanded His Prophet (SAW) to tell the idolators
the things which He has made unlawful for them. The first thing made
unlawful by Allah (SWT) as described in this ayah is to commit shameful
deeds like adultery, fornication, whoredom etc. whether committed openly or
in secret. Then comes the prohibition for all kinds of sins whether limited to
one personally or which relate to the rights and dealings with others. In the
end Allah (SWT) sternly warns against committing Shirk i.e. joining partners
with Him, and attributing lies against Him.
(34) "And every nation has its appointed term; when their term is reached, neither can they
delay it nor can they advance it an hour. 2 " This means that Allah (SWT) has
determined a fix term for every community on the face of this earth. If they
do not do good and believe during the time of this probation, then when
their term expires they would not be given any respite even for a single
moment nor will the Last hour be delayed. Nor can they go before it.
(35) "O Children of Adam (AS) ! 1f there come to you Messengers from amongst you, reciting
to you My revelations, then whosoever becomes pious and righteous, on them shall be no fear,
nor shall they grieve." This ayah promises reward for those who, when Prophets
of Allah (SWT) come to them with guidance and Divine injunctions, listen to
them carefully and act accordingly with piety and righteousness. They will
be saved from sorrows and grief and they shall have eternal peace and
comfort. They will have nothing to fear or to regret.
(36) "But those who reject Our revelations and treat them with arrogance, they are the
dwellers of the (Hell) Fire, they will abide therein forever." On the other hand, those
who reject His Messengers and disobey His commandments will suffer the
eternal punishment of Hellfire. That is to say, those that deny and scorn
Allah's revelations shall be the people of the Fire, and there they shall
remain for ever.
(37) "Who is more unjust than one who invents a lie against Allah (SWT) or rejects His
revelations? For such their appointed portion will reach them from the Book, until when Our
Messengers come to them to take their souls, they will say: "Where are those whom you used
to invoke and worship besides Allah (SwT)," they will reply, "They have vanished and
deserted us." And they will bear witness against themselves, that they were disbelievers." In
other words, what is being said here is that although the disbelievers who
invent lies and utter falsehood against Allah (SWT) and reject His revelations
are the most unjust and wicked people, yet they get their due share of good
things and life (i.e., the chance of repentance and reformation) during the
probation period in this world. But once that period expires, angels of death
will take their souls out of their bodies and they will be called to account.
They will be asked about the false deities that they used to invoke and
worship besides Allah (SWT) but soon they will realize that the same false
deities have forsaken them and thus they will confess their sin and will
admit that they were unbelievers.
Foot Notes [1]Sahih Muslim 2: 886. [2] Hour in the text expresses indefinite but short period of time—normally a moment.
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Al-Maidah I I I ^^^^^̂
Introduction This is the last of the first group of Madinan surahs which started from
surah Al-Baqarah. Some Scholars believe that it was revealed in 6 A.H , while
others identify it as one of the last surahs to be revealed, as it is reported by
Al-Hakim that Jubayr bin Nufayr said: "I performed Hajj once and visited
Aishah p^A^ and she said to me, "0 Jubayr! Do you read Al-Maidah" I
answered "Yes." She said: "It was the last surah to be revealed. Therefore,
whatever permissible matters you find in it, then consider them permissible.
And whatever impermissible matters you find in it, then consider them
impermissible."" ' Like surah An-Nisa, surah Al-Maidah also carries
instructions for the consolidation of an Islamic Community and secondary
injunctions mostly related to dealings and contracts. The Muslims have
been directed to fulfill their obligations that Allah (SWT) has ordained for
them and they have been admonished over and over again to be just and not
to follow the wrong behavior of their predecessors i.e. the People of the Book.
They are further enjoined to remain steadfast to the Covenant that they had
made with Allah (SWT) and be obedient to Him. The People of the Book have
also been admonished to give up their evil behavior and accept the guidance
and the truth revealed to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) .
(1) "0 you who believe! Fulfill and be true to your obligations." The Arabic word 'Aqd'
literally means tying together. Here all types of covenants, agreements,
promises and treaties are meant whether between man and Allah (SWT) or
His prophets, or between human beings. Thus Allah (SWT) commands His
servants to fulfill all their covenants and treaties, made with Him i.e. refrain
from what He has prohibited and take what He has permitted, with His
Prophets i.e. to have faith in them and follow them, and those made with
their fellow beings, i.e. contracts which bind two persons, two groups or
parties. "Lawful to you (for food) are all the quadruped cattle except that which will be
announced to you" These are the first instructions given concerning the lawful
and unlawful food. All four-legged animals like camels, cows and sheep are
made lawful by Allah (SWT) except for those prohibited in the Qur'an and the
Ahadith of the Prophet (SAW) . Thus believers must eat from the animals that
Allah (SWT) has made lawful for them to eat. Similarly, they should abstain
from eating those animals which He has declared unlawful. This is because
Allah (SWT) knows what is better for His creatures and what can cause them
harm, as He is the one who has created them all and makes what is good
and pure lawful for them and only forbids unclean and impure animals that
may be harmful for them. "But hunting is unlawful when you wear Ihram for
pilgrimage." i.e. even those animals which are lawful to eat in normal
circumstances become unlawful to hunt in the state of Ihram. "Verily, Allah
(SWF) commands that which He wills." i.e. from His infinite knowledge, He knows
what is better for His creatures, so it is better for them to obey Him in all
that He has commanded and refrain from what He has prohibited.
(2) "0 you who believe! Violate not the sanctity of the rites of Allah (SwF), nor of the Sacred
Month." Sha'air or symbols of Allah (SWT) refers to signs or marks by which
something is known to belong to some particular person or a group of
persons, like Safa and Marwa and the station of Abraham (AS) , which have
been described as the signs of Allah (SWT) in surah Al-Baqarah. Thus respect
or honor towards anything which stimulates the remembrance of Allah (SWT)
is a symbol or a sign. In this ayah the symbols of Allah (SWT) refer to the
rituals of Hajj (pilgrimage). Further Allah (SWT) commands the believers not
to violate the sanctity of the Sacred month (Dhul-Hijjah) by refraining from
what He has prohibited in them e.g. killing and fighting. "Nor of the animals
brought for sacrifice, nor the garlanded animals, etc." Allah (SWT) commands the
Muslims not to prevent others from bringing their animals to the Sacred
House for sacrifice, with garlands in their necks to mark them out as sacred.
"Nor the people coming to the Sacred House, seeking the bounty and good pleasure of their
Lord." i.e. do not prevent the pilgrims from entering the Sacred House of
Allah (SWT) , nor stop those who are heading towards the Sacred House to
seek the grace and good pleasure of their Lord. "But when you finish the Ihram,
you may hunt" Permission is being given for hunting once a pilgrim comes out
of the state of Ihram. "And let not the hatred of some people, who (once) hindered you
from the Sacred Mosque, lead you to transgression." The Quraysh prevented the
Muslims from reaching the Sacred House for pilgrimage at the event of
Hudaybiyah. Thus the Muslims returned to Madinah with increase in their
anger and enmity towards the Quraysh. But now when Allah (SWT) has given
the Muslims power over the Quraysh, He commands them not to take
revenge for what happened in the past and that their hatred for them should
not make them transgress Allah's limits and thus turn them away from
justice. "Help one another in righteousness and piety; but do not help one another in sin
and transgression." This is the spirit of justice and righteousness i.e. helping
one another in piety and virtue but not assisting each other in sin and
transgression. "And fear Allah (SWT) . Verily, Allah (SWT) is Severe in punishment."
Although He is the Most-Gracious and the Most-Merciful, He is also severe
in punishment for those who transgress His limits. Have fear of Allah, for
He is stern in retribution.
(3) "Forbidden to you are: the dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and the meat of that
which has been invoked the name of other than Allah (SWT), and that which has been killed by
strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by the goring of horns, and that
which has been (partly) eaten by a wild animal unless you are able to slaughter it" In this
ayah Allah (SWT) commands His servants to refrain from eating those
animals that are made unlawful herein. The first is a dead animal who die
before they are slaughtered but dead animals of the sea are excluded from
the ruling as we have already explained in ayah 173 of Al-Baqarah. Second
is the blood and the flesh of swine whether it is slaughtered or not. Third
are those offerings that are sacrificed in the name of other than Allah (SWT)
or they have been slaughtered for idols etc. Other animals that have been
made unlawful to eat are those who have been strangled to death or died
with a violent blow or have fallen from a high place and died. Another in the
category of animals made unlawful is the gored and those which have been
killed by wild beasts, unless one finds it alive and slaughters it before it
dies. "And that which is sacrificed on stone altars." The altar refers to slabs of rocks
placed around the Ka'bah, which the people of ignorance took as objects of
worship. They named them after their gods and they would bring animals
near the altars and sacrifice them dedicated to these gods. But Allah (SWT)
declared such practices as a type of Shirk and forbade the believers from it.
"(Forbidden) also is the decision by raffling of arrows." The Arabs during the time of
ignorance used to draw arrows for making a decision or for the distribution
of the meat amongst themselves. But Allah (SWT) forbade such practice for
the believers. "All these are sinful acts." This refers to all the prohibitions
mentioned in this ayah. "This day, those who disbelieved have given up all hope of
your religion, so fear them not, but fear Me." After the conquest of Makkah and
almost all of the Arabia, Islamic law prevailed all over the Peninsula.
Thereupon, because of the increase in strength and success of the Muslims,
the disbelievers had lost all hope in eliminating Islam or its followers. Thus
Allah (SWT) commands the Muslims not to fear them, but instead should fear
Allah (SWT) alone i.e. follow His commandments. "This day, I have perfected your
religion for you, completed My Favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your
religion." This ayah was revealed on the day of Arafat of the Last Hajj of the
Holy Prophet (SAW) , in the tenth year of Hjrah. On that great day the divine
blessing and true faith which was to be bequeathed to all human beings in
this world, beginning from Prophet Adam (AS) had reached its perfection
with the Final Messenger, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) . Thus, there is now no
need of a new religion or any other Prophet to be sent after Prophet
Muhammad (SAW) . "But as for him who is forced by severe hunger, with no inclination to
sin, then surely, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." According to this ayah, it is
permissible for a person to take any of the things prohibited by Allah (SWT)
in cases of extreme necessity, provided that he only consumes that much
amount which is necessary for his survival, and he himself is not inclined
to eat what is prohibited. If such is the case then surely Allah (SWT) will
forgive him. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
(4) "They ask you what is lawful for them. Say: "All good and pure things are lawful for
you. And those beasts and birds of prey which you have trained as hounds, training and
teaching them (to catch) in the manner as directed to you by Allah (SWT); so eat of what they
catch for you, but pronounce the Name of Allah (SWT) over it"" Some of the
Companions of the Holy Prophet (SAW) asked him questions regarding lawful
food and the permissibility of training beasts like dogs for hunting
purposes. This ayah gives an answer to that question. Allah (SWT) clarifies
that all pure things that have been mentioned herein are lawful for the
Muslims to eat. Secondly, Allah (SWT) gives permission to train one's beasts
like dogs or falcons to hunt an animal for them, if the following conditions
are met. First is that the beasts should be trained according to the manner
directed by Allah (SWT) i.e. it should be trained in such a manner that when
it catches the prey for you, it brings it back to you and does not start eating
it. The second condition is that when you release the dog or the falcon after
the game, mention the name of Allah (SWT) over it. If these conditions are
met then it becomes lawful to eat and there is no need to slaughter the
animal caught. "And fear Allah (STA/F) . Verily, Allah (STA/F) is Swift in reckoning." i.e. be
mindful of your duty to Allah (SWT) and take whatever He has made
permissible for you, but refrain from what He has prohibited. Surely, He is
swift in taking account of your deeds.
(5) "Made lawful to you this day are all good and pure things." i.e. all kinds of lawful
foods Allah (SWT) has made permissible to eat e.g. meat of slaughtered
eatable animals, milk products, fats, vegetables and fruits, etc. "And the food
of the people of the Book is lawful to you and yours is lawful to them." The meat
slaughtered by the Jews and the Christians has been made lawful for the
Muslims, provided that it is of an animal that Allah (SWT) had made lawful.
Similarly the meat slaughtered by the Muslims can also be presented to the
People of the Book. "(Lawful to you in marriage) are chaste women from the believers
and chaste women from those who were given the Book before your time, when you have
given their dowry, desiring chastity neither committing fornication, nor taking them as
mistresses." Allah (SWT) has made it lawful for the Muslims to marry chaste
women amongst the believers as well as amongst the People of the Book,
provided that they pay their dowry and live in honour with them i.e. their
intention is not to commit fornication or keep them as secret
concubines. "And whosoever rejects faith, then fruitless is his work, and in the Hereafter
he will be among the losers." i.e. whoever disbelieves in the Oneness of Allah (SWT)
and in all the other articles of Faith, then all of their deeds will be in vain
and in the Hereafter he will be amongst the losers.
(6) "0 you who believe! TA/hen you intend to offer the prayer, wash your faces and your
hands (forearms) up to the elbows, rub your heads, and (wash) your feet up to ankles." In
this ayah Allah (SWT) commands the believers to perform ablution before they
pray. Before the start of ablution it is prescribed to make an intention and
say Bismillah (In the name of Allah (SWT)). Then one should start his ablution
by washing his hands and his face. Then he should wash his forearms up to
his elbows. Then he should take some water in his palm and rub his head.
In the end he should wash his feet up to his ankles. "If you are in a state of
impurity, purify yourself." This ayah commands the Muslims to take a bath and
cleanse themselves when in a state of conjugal impurity. "But if you are ill or on
a journey or any of you comes from answering the call of nature, or you have been in contact
with women and you find no water, then take clean earth and rub therewith your faces and
hands." This ayah has already been commented upon in ayah 43 of surah An-
Nisa. "Allah (SWT) does not want to place you in difficulty, but He wants to purify you, and
to complete His Favor on you that you may be thankful." Allah (SWT) does not burden
any human being with more than he can bear. Thus He makes things easier
for His servants, purifies them and bestows His blessings on them, so that
they may show gratefulness.
(7) "And remember Allah's favor upon you and His Covenant with which He bound you
when you said: "We hear and we obey."" This ayah reminds the Muslims of the
blessings of Allah (SWT) and the covenant which He took from them to obey
His commandments and follow His Messenger, when they said "we hear and
we obey." "And fear Allah (SWT). Verily, Allah (SWT) knows the secrets of your hearts." i.e.
be mindful of Allah (SWT) Who knows those who fulfill their covenants and
those who turn away. Have fear of Allah (SWT). He knows of those (thoughts)
in your hearts.
(8) "0 you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah (SWT) and be just witnesses and let not
the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice." Allah (SWT) commands the
Muslims to maintain justice and forbids them not to let enmity and hatred
of others incite them to do injustice. Rather they are commanded to fight
against injustice and tyranny and bear witness for Allah (SWT) i.e. say the
truth whenever a testimony is needed. "Be just: that is nearer to piety, and fear
Allah (SWT) . Verily, Allah (SWT) is Well-Acquainted with what you do." Again Allah (SWT)
states that piety and righteousness is much better than abandoning justice.
And fear Him alone, as He is well aware of all your actions.
(9) "Allah (SWT) has promised those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, that for them
there is forgiveness and a great reward." Those who believed in Allah (SWT) and His
Messengers and did righteous deeds, will have their sins forgiven and will be
admitted into Paradise.
(10) "They who disbelieve and deny our ayat are those who will be the dwellers of the Hell-
fire." On the other hand, those who disbelieved in Allah (SWT) and His
revelations will be thrown into the Hellfire.
(11) "0 you who believe! Remember the favor of Allah (SWT) unto you when some people
desired to stretch out their hands against you, but (Allah (SWT)) withheld their hands from
you." After the battle of the trench the enemies of Islam stretched their
hands again and again against Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and his followers,
especially at the time of treaty of Hudaybiyah. But Allah (SWT) bestowed His
favor upon the Muslims and His Messenger (SAW) and restrained their hands
from them and made the disbelievers powerless. "So fear Allah (SWT) . And in Allah
(SWT) let believers put their trust." Allah (SWT) commands the believers to fear Him
alone and put their whole trust in Him. For if they do so, then Allah (SWT) will
surely help them and protect them against the disbelievers.
(12) "Indeed Allah (SWT) took the covenant from the Children of Israel, and We appointed
twelve leaders among them." This refers to the covenant that Allah (SWT) took from
the Children of Israel that they will follow Allah's revelations and will obey
Him and all His Messengers. For this purpose Allah (SWT) appointed twelve
leaders amongst them, one from each tribe who took this pledge. Similarly,
the number of leaders appointed by the Prophet (SAW) was also twelve, when
he took pledge from the Ansar in Madinah, with three people from the tribe
of Aws and nine from the tribe of Khazraj. "And Allah (SWT) said: "I am with you if
you establish regular prayers and give the obligatory charity and believe in My Messengers;
honor and assist them, and lend to Allah (SWT) a good loan. Verily, I will remit your sins and
admit you to Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise)."" After the covenant,
Allah (SWT) assured them His support and help if they establish regular
prayers, pay their regular obligatory charity and not only believe in His
Messengers, but also support them in establishing Allah's Deen, and spend
generously in its cause. Whoever does this then Allah (SWT) will forgive his
sins and admit him in Paradise. "But if any of you after this, disbelieved, he has
indeed gone astray from the Straight Path." On the contrary, those who break their
covenant have surely strayed from the right path.
(13) "So because of the breach of their covenant, We cursed them, and made their hearts grow
hard. Fhey change the words from their (right) places and have abandoned a good part of the
Message that was sent to them." Allah (SWT) says that He cursed the Children of
Israel and made their hearts so that they do not heed any advice. This was a
punishment because they distorted His revelations and neglected much of
what they were enjoined. "And you will not cease to discover deceit in them, except a
few of them. But forgive them, and overlook." i.e. they always try to deceive the
Muslims and make plots against them, but Allah (SWT) encourages His
believers to forgive them and overlook their misdeeds. "Verily, Allah loves good-
doers". Allah (SWT) loves those who do good.
(14) "And from those who call themselves Christians, We took their covenant, but they have
abandoned a good part of the Message that was sent to them. So We planted amongst them
enmity and hatred till the Day of Resurrection, and Allah will inform them of what they used
to do." This refers to the covenant that Allah (SWT) made with the disciples of
Jesus (AS) that whenever He sends His Last Prophet (SAW), they would follow
him and support him. But they also broke the covenant and neglected much
of what they were enjoined, discarding Allah's Book and disobeying His
Prophet (SAW) . This is why as a punishment Allah (SWT) stirred among them
enmity and hatred for each other, which will last till the Day of Judgment
when Allah will declare to them all that they have done.
(15) "O people of the Book! Now Our Messenger (SAW) has come to you revealing to you
much of that which you used to hide from the Book and passing over much." The Jews
and the Christians used to conceal and distort the true teachings of the
Books given to their Prophets. Then Allah (SWT) sent His Last Messenger (SAW)
explaining to them the true teachings that they used to hide and guiding
them to the truth. "Indeed, there has come to you from Allah (SWF) a light and a plain
Book." Here the light refers to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) i.e. the light of
guidance, and the Book refers to this Qur'an.
(16) "Wherewith Allah (SWF) guides all those who seek His Good Pleasure to ways of peace,
and He brings them out of darkness by His Will unto light and guides them to a Straight
Way." i.e. with this light and Book, Allah (SWT) guides those who seek His
pleasure to the ways of peace. And He brings them out of the darkness of
disbelief and evil into the light of truth. As mentioned earlier in ayah 257 of
surah Al-Baqarah, the light is always mentioned in a singular form while the
darkness in the plural, because disbelief comes in different shades of evil
and sin while there is only one truth.
(17) "Surely, in disbelief are they who say that Allah (SWF) is the Messiah, son of Mary
(AS). Say: " Who then has the least power against Allah (SWF), if He were to destroy the
Messiah, son of Mary (AS), his mother, and all those who are on the earth?" And to Allah
(SWF) belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them. He
creates what He wills. And Allah (SWF) is Able to do all things." Although all the
Prophets of Allah (SWT) have a very high status and are the most honored, yet
they are but men and creations of Allah (SWT) . Christians claim that Jesus
(AS) is God incarnate, but Allah (SWT) refutes them in this ayah and reminds
them of His Sovereignty and that He is the Creator of everything, even Jesus
(AS) and all other creatures. And He is able to do whatever He Wills. Thus, if
He were to destroy Jesus (AS) , or His mother or anyone else, then there is no
one who can stop Him or prevent Him from doing that. He creates what He
wills and has power over all things.
(18) "And the Jews and the Christians say: "We are the children of Allah (SWF) and His loved
ones." Say: "Why then does He punish you for your sins?"" The Jews and the
Christians thought of themselves as the chosen ones and they say they are
the children of Allah (SWT) . But Allah (SWT) commands His Prophet (SAW) to
ask them that if you really are true in your claims that you are His loved
ones then why does He punish you and make you suffer for your crimes.
"Nay, you are but human beings, of those He has created, He forgives whom He wills and He
punishes whom He wills." i.e. you are no different than the rest of His creations,
thus your being Jews or Christians does not make you immune from His
punishment; rather He punishes whom He Wills and He forgives whom He
wills. "And to Allah (SWT) belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all that is
between them, and to Him is the return (of all)." i.e. everything is under His
Supreme control and power and everything is eventually going to return to
him. He has control over the heavens and the earth and all that lies between
them. And all shall return to Him.
Foot Notes [1] Al-Hakim 2 : 311, who said, "It is Sahih according to the criteria of the two Shaikhs (Bukhari and Muslim) and they did not record it."
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(38) "(Allah) will say: "Enter you in the company of nations who have gone before you, of
men and Jinns, into the Fire."" On the Day of Resurrection, Allah (SWT) will say to
those who invented lies against Him and rejected His revelations to enter
into the fire of Hell along with those who belied His revelations from the
previous disbelieving nations. "Every time a new nation enters, it curses its sister
nation, until they are all gathered in the Fire. The last of them will say to the first of them:
" Our Lord! These misled us, so give them a double torment of the Fire."" This refers to
the people of fire who will dispute and curse each other. When they will all
be gathered in Hell, the nation to enter last will curse the previous nations
for they were the first to disbelieve and the later ones just followed them.
Thus they will say to Allah (SWT) to give these earlier generations a double
punishment for they themselves disbelieved and then also misguided us
from the right path. But, "He will say: "For each one there is double, but you know
not."" i.e. each one of you will get a double punishment for as your previous
nations misled you from the right path, so did you misguide your later
generations.
(39) "The first of them will say to the last of them: "You were not better than us, so taste the
penalty of your misdeeds."" i.e. the previous nations would say to the last ones
that you are no different from us for you also misled your later generations
as we did. Therefore, taste the punishment for your misdeeds.
(40) "Verily, those who denied and scorned Our revelations, for them the gates of heaven will
not be opened." This ayah and some Ahadith narrated from the Companions of
the Prophet (RAA) indicate that the gates of the heavens will not be opened for
the soul of the disbelievers. Their souls are taken upto the gate of heaven
but when it does not open for them, they are thrown back from there. Then
Allah (SWT) says: "And they will not enter Paradise until the camel goes through the eye of
the needle." This means that as it is impossible for a camel to pass through
the eye of a needle, similarly it is impossible for the souls of the disbelievers
to enter into Paradise. "Thus do We recompense the criminals." i.e. their only
reward shall be that they remain in Hellfire forever. Thus shall the guilty be
rewarded.
(41) "Theirs will be a bed of Hell (Fire), and over them coverings. Thus do We recompense
the wrongdoers." i.e. their resting place as well as their coverings will be made
up of the fire of Hell. This is how the people who deserve the punishment of
Hell be treated. Thus shall the wicked be rewarded.
(42) "But those who believed, and did righteous deeds - We charge not any person beyond his
scope, such are the dwellers of Paradise. They will abide therein for ever." And conversely,
those who obeyed and followed the injunctions given by Allah (SWT) and
performed good deeds will be the inmates of Paradise and they shall live
therein forever. In the second part of the ayah Allah (SWT) states that He
shall not burden a soul beyond its capacity i.e. He does not ask a person
what is beyond his ability nor will He punish him for what he was not able
to abstain from.
(43) "And We shall remove from their hearts any (mutual) hatred or sense of injury."
Before entering into Paradise, the believers will be cleansed of whatever of
malice they had in their hearts for other believers. If someone had any
grudge or ill-will against anyone, all that will be removed and they will be
rendered free of hatred and animosity before they go to Paradise. "Rivers will
flow beneath them and they will say: "All the praises and thanks be to Allah (SWT), Who has
guided us to this, never could we have found guidance, were it not that Allah (SWT) had
guided us! Indeed, the Messengers of our Lord did come with the truth."" When the
believers enter Paradise and see all the bounties and blessings therein, they
will show their gratitude to their Lord that He guided them to the right path
which made it easy for them to enter Paradise and that if it would not have
been the grace and Mercy of Allah (SWT) , they would not have been sent the
truth through His Messengers and thus they would have never reached
there. "And a voice will cry out to them saying: "This is the Paradise which you have
inherited with your labours."" i.e. you earned His Mercy and thus entered
Paradise because of the good deeds you performed in your terrestrial
existence.
(44) "And the dwellers of Paradise will call out to the dwellers of the Fire (saying): " We have
indeed found true what our Lord had promised us; have you also found true, what your Lord
promised?" They shall say: "Yes." Then a herald will proclaim between them: "The Curse of
Allah (SWT) is on the wrongdoers."" This ayah indicates that the people of
Paradise will tell the people of Hell that they found the promise of blessings
and comforts made by their Lord through His Messenger as true and
absolute, and then they will ask them if the punishment and the severe
torment against which they were warned in this world from their Lord came
to them or not. The people of Hell will admit that certainly the promise was
true. And a herald will cry out among them: 'cursed are the evil-doers'.
(45) "Those who hindered (men) from the Path of Allah (SWT), and would seek to make it
crooked, and they were disbelievers in the Hereafter." The last part of the previous
ayah stated that the curse of Allah (SWT) be upon the evil-doers. Here Allah
(SWT) describes them by stating that these were the ones who prevented
people from following His path and wished that the believers too become
crooked and disbelieve as they have disbelieved and thus deny the reality of
the Hereafter.
(46) "And between them will be a veil and on the heights will be men, who would recognize
all by their marks, they will call out to the dwellers of Paradise, "Peace be on you" and at that
time they will not yet have entered it (Paradise), but they will hope to enter (it) with
certainty." This refers to the people of A'raf. Al-A'raf is a barrier between
Paradise and Hell and its residents will be the ones whose good and bad
deeds will come out to be equal in weight. Their evil deeds prevented them
from entering into Paradise but, because of their good deeds, they will also
have their deliverance from the Hellfire. Therefore, they will be stopped at
this place until the judgment regarding them is over. These people would see
the happenings in Paradise and Hell and would be able to talk and recognize
people on both sides. It is said that they would recognize the people of
Paradise by their white faces and the people of Hell by their black faces.
Then they will call out to the people of Paradise and greet them with hope
that they will also be admitted in Paradise with them.
(47) "And when their eyes will be turned towards the dwellers of the Fire, they will say:
" Our Lord! Place us not with the people who are wrongdoers." Then when they will be
made to see the people of Hell, they will pray to their Lord to save them from
the punishment of Hellfire and do not put them in the company of these
wicked people.
(48) "And the men on the heights will call unto the men, whom they would recognize by
their marks, saying: "Of what benefit to you were your riches and your arrogance against
Faith?"" The people of Al-A'raf will address the people of Hell and admonish
them that today, your wealth and multitude which made you proud and
arrogant in the world have not availed you, for it did not save you from
Hellfire.
(49) "Are they those, of whom you swore that Allah (SWT) would never show them mercy?
"Enter Paradise, no fear shall be on you, nor shall you grieve."" This refers to the
people of Al-A'raf about whom the disbelievers thought that they would
never enter into Paradise. But Allah (SWT) will declare His mercy upon them
and they will be told to enter the Paradise and that they have no fear about
the past and no grief or anxiety about the future.
(50) "And the dwellers of the Fire will call to the dwellers of Paradise: "Pour on us some
water or anything that Allah (SWT) has provided you with." They will say: "Allah (SWT) has
forbidden both of these things to the disbelievers."" This ayah indicates that the
favors of Paradise are prohibited for the people of Hellfire. Allah has
forbidden both to the unbelievers.
(51) ""Who made their religion a pastime and an idle sport and who were beguiled by the
earthly life."" This ayah further describes the disgrace of the people of Hellfire
to whom the favors of Paradise are forbidden. Allah (SWT) says that they were
those who made a mockery of their religion and were deceived by the
attractions and amusements of the life on earth. Thus Allah (SWT) said: "So
this Day We shall forget them as they forgot their meeting of this Day, and as they used to
reject Our revelations." i.e. on the Day of Judgment, Allah (SWT) will treat them
as if He has forgotten them just as they rejected His revelations and forgot
about the Last Day.
(52) "Certainly, We have brought to them a Book which We have explained in detail with
knowledge, - a guidance and a mercy to a people who believe." This refers to the
Glorious Qur'an which Allah (SWT) revealed to His Messenger (SAW) to guide
mankind to the right path, thus leaving no excuse for them on the Day of
Judgment.
(53) "Do they just wait for the final fulfillment of the event? On the Day the event is finally
fulfilled, those who neglected it before will say: "Verily, the Messengers of our Lord did come
with the truth, now are there any intercessors for us that they might intercede on our behalf?
Or could we be sent back so that we might do deeds other than those deeds which we did.""
This ayah describes the state of the disbelievers on the Day of Resurrection.
It states that on that Day, the disbelievers who rejected the truth in this life
will confess their evil deeds and will call out for help. They will wish that
they could return to their earthly life again and perform righteous deeds, so
that they would be saved from the Hellfire. Then Allah (SWT) said: "Verily, they
have lost their souls and that which they used to fabricate has gone away from them." i.e.
they destroyed themselves because of their evil deeds and all those false
deities that they worshipped besides Allah (SWT) abandoned them and could
not save them from the Hellfire.
(54) "Indeed your Lord is Allah (SWT), Who created the heavens and the earth in Six Days."
i.e. it is only Allah (SWT) Who created this universe with such perfection and
keeps it functioning through the wisest of systems. It is said that He created
all this in six days, but the question arises whether these six days means a
time duration equal to six days and nights of our time or they are much
longer than these. Most of the commentators agree that by these six days is
meant six epochs or six long periods. This is also supported by the Qur'an
when it says that the Day of Judgment will be longer than a thousand years
of our time.1 Then Allah (SWT) said: "And then He rose over the Throne." To
understand the meaning of this ayah we should follow the way of the noble
Companions of the Prophet (IAA) who never asked such questions from the
Prophet (SAW) and follow our righteous predecessors such as Imam Malik (IA)
who was once asked about the meaning of this ayah, he replied that we
accept the meaning of Istawa, but without discussing its true essence i.e.,
equating it with ordinary meaning, altering it or denying it. Then, Allah (SWT)
said: "He brings the night as a cover over the day, seeking it rapidly." i.e. through this
alternation of day and night He brings the whole world from light into
darkness and then from darkness into light without the least of delay. "And
He created the sun, the moon and the stars subservient by His Command." i.e. He created
all these heavenly bodies in a state that they are moving in obedience to His
will and Divine command and they show an order which is an evidence of
His constant care and management. "Surely, His is the Creation and
Commandment." This ayah means that creating all this is the work of none but
Him and all is under His command and control. There is also another
explanation for this ayah according to some commentators i.e. creation
through the phenomenon of Khalq (material creation) and Amr
(Commandment)2 . Everything between the heavens and the earth is from
matter and it is termed as Aalam Al-Khalq. Everything that happens in this
realm takes time. The universe took approximately 15 billion years to
develop from the Big Bang and the primitive gaseous state to its present
condition. A fertilized ovum takes forty weeks to grow into a fully developed
human baby. On the other hand, the realm which was created before this
physical realm which is free from matter, is known as Aalam Al-Amr. There
is absolutely no time factor involved in this realm, and things happen
instantaneously: He says: "Be!" and it becomes. This initial act of the
creation of matter out of nothing represents a direct command or Amr of
Allah (SWT) , and, like this act of creation ex nihilo, the Qur'an also suggests
that the angels, human spirits, and the phenomenon of Divine Revelation
also belong to this realm. "Blessed be Allah (SWT), the Lord of the Worlds!" i.e. He is
the Master of perfect power, the sender of blessings and Lord of all the
Worlds.
(55) "Invoke your Lord with humility and in secret." In this ayah Allah (SWT)
commands His servants to supplicate to Him alone in humbleness and
humility i.e. one should appear before Him as weak, modest and humble
with total negation of any pride, dignity and ego. "He likes not the aggressors."
i.e. those who cross the limits in acts of worship and other of His
commandments.
(56) "And do not do mischief on the earth, after it has been set in order." Allah (SWT)
prohibited His servants from creating mischief and disorder through their
sins and disobedience, after He had made this earth good for them and in
proper order. "And invoke Him with fear and hope." This is another dimension of
Dua i.e. to have fear of the Dua remaining unanswered, while on the other
hand, having full hope in His Mercy. "Surely, Allah's Mercy is (ever) near unto the
good-doers." This means that His Mercy is for those who do good, obey His
commandments and abstain from what He has prohibited them from. His
mercy is within reach of the righteous.
(57) "And it is He Who sends the winds as heralds of glad tidings, going before His Mercy
(rain). Till when they have carried a heavy-laden cloud, We drive it to a land that is dead, and
then We cause water to descend thereon. Then We produce every kind of fruit
therewith. Similarly, We shall raise up the dead, so that you may remember." This ayah
describes the blessings that Allah (SWT) provided in nature as a means of
survival for His entire creation. It states that it is He Who brings the heavy
clouds laden with water, riding on the shoulders of wind. They are then
driven to the dead land where the rain falls as much as He wills and then
produces fruit and vegetation from it. The sense of this ayah is that the
Master and Creator who enables dead land to thrive with life again by
sending water from the skies and brings out from it fruits, trees and flowers
can surely raise the human beings from dead. In the end of the ayah, it has
been stated that all these examples have been given so that people take a
lesson from this observation.
(58) "The vegetation of a good soil yields (rich) produce by the Permission of its Lord, and
that which is bad, yields nothing but a little. Thus do We explain variously the revelations for
a people who give thanks." This means that the rain is the same for every town
and land but soils are of two kinds, a good land that yields rich produce and
helps growth when it rains and a barren land which yields poor produce.
Similarly, if the nature of a person is perverted even the Divine Guidance i.e.
the Glorious Qur'an, cannot bring any good out of him, but those who are
grateful to their Lord and are obedient derive benefit from it, for it is only
they who recognize its real worth and value.
From the following discourse begins the description of the mission of
Prophet Noah (AS) and the state of the community to which he was sent.
(59) "Indeed, We sent Noah (AS) to his people and he said: "0 my people! Worship Allah
(SWT) ! You have no other God but Him." " Allah (SWT) sent Noah (AS) to his people as
a Prophet to invite them to worship Him alone without any partners. The
word used here is Ibadah (Worship), which means total obedience to Allah
(SWT) by carrying out what He has commanded with all sincerity,
submissiveness and love. If a person is obedient but not sincere or he is
sincere but not obedient then this will not be accepted of him as Ibadah.
Thus he should worship Allah (SWT) with all humility and submissiveness,
which is the sole purpose of the creation of the Jinn.s and the humans. Then
Noah (AS) warned his people and said: "Certainly, I fear for you the torment of a
Great Day!" i.e. if you do not mend your ways and abandon Shirk. Beware of
the torment of a fateful day.
(60) "The leaders of his people said: "Verily, we see you in plain error."" i.e. all your
ideas and teachings to worship only Allah (SWT) and believe in the Last Day
are nothing but misguidance and you are in clear error.
(61) "He said: "O my people! There is no error in me, but I am a Messenger from the Lord of
the Worlds!" i.e. all I preach to you has been sent to me by Allah (SWT) , the
Lord of all the Worlds, so your accusation that I have gone astray is not
true.
(62) "I convey unto you the Messages of my Lord and give sincere advice to you. And I know
from Allah (SWT) what you know not." Noah (AS) told them that his sole mission
was to convey the message of Allah (SWT) to them, which was in their interest
and for their good and Allah (SWT) gave him the knowledge of things which
they knew not.
(63) " Do you think it strange that there has come to you a Reminder from your Lord through
a man from amongst you, that he may warn you, so that you may fear Allah (SWT) and that
you may receive (His) Mercy?" The people of Noah (AS) thought that Noah (AS) was
only a human, a man like them who ate, slept and walked in the streets like
they did, so how could he be a Messenger of Allah (SWT) . But Allah (SWT)
answered them in this ayah and said that surely it is not strange that He
bestows the status of Prophethood to one of His servants as a Mercy to them
so that he might guide human beings and warn them from His punishment.
(64) "But they belied him, so We saved him and those along with him in the ship, and We
drowned those who belied Our revelations. They were indeed a blind people." The people
of Noah (AS) became blind from the truth and rejected him, thus Allah (SWT)
sent upon them the punishment of Flood which overtook them suddenly and
destroyed all of them except Noah (AS) and those of his followers in the Ark.
After the water receded, the ark came to rest over Mount Judi.. The
occupants of the ark came out and thanked the Lord for their miraculous
survival. They then spread out to inhabit the Earth again with the blessings
of their Lord. Prophet Noah (AS) had three sons. His eldest surviving son
Yafiz went northwest towards Europe and settled there. His descendents are
known as the Japhetic race. His middle son Sam remained in the Middle
East. His descendents are known as the Semitic race. The youngest son Ham
went south west and settled in northern Africa. His descendents are called
the Hamitic race. The Glorious Qur'an only describes the events occurred in
the history of the Semitic nations. The next few ayaat describe the events of
one such Semitic nation, the people of A'ad.
(65) "And to A'ad (We sent) their brother Hud (AS) . He said: "0 my people! Worship Allah
(SWT) ! You have no other God but Him. Will you not fear (Allah)?"" Then after Noah
(AS) , Allah (SWT) sent His Prophet Hud (AS) to the people of A'ad, who also
invited them to worship Allah (SWT) alone without associating any partners
with Him and warned them of the severity and gravity of His punishment
that He sends upon the disbelieving people.
(66) "The leaders of those who disbelieved among his people said: "Verily, we see you in
foolishness, and verily, we think you are one of the liars."" i.e. they said to Noah (AS)
that we see you are misguided and want to misguide us from the path of our
forefathers, so that we abandon worshipping idols and we deem that you are
a liar.
(67) "He said: "0 my people! There is no foolishness in me, but (Iam) a Messenger from the
Lord of the Worlds!" Refer to ayah 61 above.
(68) "I convey unto you the Messages of my Lord, and I am a trustworthy adviser for you."
i.e. my only mission is to convey Allah's Message to you, which is surely in
your interest and for your own good.
(69) " Do you think it strange that there has come to you a Reminder from your Lord through
a man from amongst you that he may warn you?" This is the same argument raised
by the people of Noah (AS) that how can a human being like us be a
Messenger of Allah (SWT) . "And remember that He made you successors after the people
of Noah (AS), and increased you amply in stature. So remember the graces from Allah (SWT),
so that you may be successful." These are the blessings which Allah (SWT)
bestowed on them and made them from among the heirs of Noah (AS) . He
made their lands fertile and gave them rich gardens. He gave them strength
and power so that they construct mansions and palaces to live therein. Allah
(SWT) gave them all these blessings so that they may show gratitude to Him,
for this would have been for their own good.
(70) "They said: "You have come to us that we should worship Allah (SWT) Alone and forsake
that which our fathers used to worship. So bring down the scourge you have threatened us if
you are of the truthful."" i.e. they became so intoxicated in their power and
wealth that instead of showing gratitude to their Lord Who bestowed on
them all these blessings, they paid no heed to His commandments and gave
a reply to Hud (AS) that go ahead and bring upon us the punishment that
you are warning us with.
(71) "He said: "Torment and wrath have already fallen on you from your Lord." i.e. the
punishment of Allah (SWT) that they were looking for is to come soon. "Would
you dispute with me about mere names which you and your forefathers have invented,
without any authority from Allah (SWT) ?" i.e. do you dispute with me over these
idols who have no sense and life and whom you have taken as objects of
worship without having any proof from Allah's revelation to support your
position. "Then wait, I am with you among those who wait."" This is a warning from
Allah's Prophet to his people which means that wait for His decision, for I
will too wait with you.
(72) "So We saved him and those who were with him by a Mercy from Us, and We cut the
roots of (annihilated) those who belied Our revelations, and they were not believers." i.e.
Allah (SWT) sent upon them His punishment because of their rejection and
disbelief in His revelations and destroyed them completely, but He bestowed
His Mercy on Hud (AS) and his followers and saved them from the
punishment.
Prophet Hud (AS) along with his followers then migrated to the north western
part of Arabia where they settled in a city called Hjr. After them came the
people of Thamud. Allah (SWT) gave them power, courage and wealth and they
were very artistically inclined. They were not only skilled in making
mansions in open grounds but also were known to carve out mountains to
make palaces and buildings inside them. These buildings still exist today in
Jordan and Saudi Arabia (Madain Al-Saleh).
(73) "And to Fhamud (We sent) their brother Salih (AS) . He said: "0 my people! Worship
Allah (SWF) ! You have no other God but Him." Afterwards when the worldly wealth
and power made the people of Thamud sway away from the right path, Allah
(SWT) sent them His Prophet Salih (AS) , who like all other Prophets invited
them to worship Him alone without any partners. "Indeed there has come to you a
clear sign from your Lord. Fhis she-camel of Allah (SWF) is a sign unto you; so you leave her
to graze in Allah's earth, and do not molest her, lest a painful torment should seize you."
This miracle was the result of the demand that the disbelievers made to
their Prophet Salih (AS) that if you really are Messenger of Allah (SWT) then
make a strong, healthy and pregnant she-camel come out of the hills. Thus
Salih (AS) prayed to Allah (SWT) , Who answered his prayer and showed them
this miracle. Then Allah (SWT) commanded that the she-camel should be left
alone to eat and drink from wherever she wants and she should not be
harmed, otherwise, they will suffer a painful punishment. When this she-
camel drank from the well from which the people of Thamud used to take
their water, she would drink up all the water in the well. It was decreed that
she would drink from the well one day and the next day will be for the
people of Thamud. They also used to milk her and dill their containers with
it.
(74) "And remember when He made you successors after Aad and gave you habitations in
the land, you build for yourselves palaces in plains, and carve out homes in the
mountains. So remember the graces from Allah (SWF), and do not go about making mischief
on the earth." i.e. 0 people of Thamud you should remember the blessings of
Allah (SWT) that He after the destruction of the people of Aad, gave you the
lands and gardens to settle down and bestowed on you skills to make
palaces in open plains and to carve out mountains to make rooms and
palaces in them. Thus they should remember Him and not become like
those who in their liking for wealth and power become arrogant and make
mischief on earth.
(75) "The leaders of those who were arrogant among his people said to the oppressed among
them who believed: "Do you Know that Salih (AS) is one sent from his Lord." They said: " We
indeed believe in that with which he has been sent."" This is a dialogue between those
who came to believe in Prophet Salih (AS) and those arrogant leaders of
people of Thamud who opposed him and rejected him. The arrogant
disbelievers asked the believers if they really believed that Salih was a
Messenger of Allah (SWT) , and that Salih (AS) is not a liar? Thus the believers
answered them that indeed we believe in all the guidance and truth that he
has brought from Allah (SWT) .
(76) "Those who were arrogant said: "Verily, we disbelieve in that which you believe in.""
i.e. they replied that they reject what the believers had accepted.
(77) "So they killed the she-camel and insolently defied the Commandment of their Lord, and
said: "0 Salih (AS) ! Bring about your threats if you are indeed one of the Messengers."" i.e.
they defied the commandments of their Lord and killed the she-camel. It is
said that there were nine people from the tribe of Thamud, lead by Qudar
who hamstrung the she-camel by cutting her legs with his sword and then
slaughtered her along with her offspring. Then these cruel and wicked
people challenged Prophet Salih (AS) and asked him to bring the scourge if he
indeed was speaking the truth that he is a Messenger of Allah (SWT) .
(78) "So the earthquake seized them, and they lay (dead), prostrate in their homes." Thus,
for their arrogance and defiance, they were destroyed by a dreadful
earthquake from down below the earth, which threw them on the ground,
falling upside down and buried them with their houses and their buildings.
(79) "Then he turned from them, and said: "0 my people! I have indeed conveyed to you the
Message of my Lord, and have given you good advice but you like not good advisers."" It
appears that after Allah (SWT) destroyed the people of Thamud, Prophet Salih
(AS) addressed them and admonished them for defying Him and avoiding
guidance. This address resembles the address of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) ,
hen he said a few words to the dead disbelievers in the Battle of Badr.
(80) "And Lot (AS), when he said to his people: "Do you commit the worst sin such as none
in the world has committed before you?"" This is the story of Lot (AS) . He was the
nephew of Prophet Abraham (AS) . He also became a believer and migrated
along with Abraham (AS) to Syria. Allah (SWT) made Lot (AS) a Prophet and sent
him to Sodom to call its people to worship Him alone and enjoin
righteousness. Prophet Lot (AS) forbad them from their evil practices and
their wickedness. These people were involved in evil acts that none in the
creation had done anything like that before them. They used to approach
men for their sexual gratification instead of females.
(81) " Verily, you practice your lusts on men instead of women. Nay, but you are a people
transgressing beyond bounds." Allah (SWT) has created females to marry men so
that to satisfy their natural desires by a lawful method. But these wicked
people involved themselves in acts of unnatural indecencies, thus crossing
the limits set by Allah (SWT) .
(82) "And the answer of his people was only that they said: "Drive them out of your town,
these are indeed men who want to be pure!"" In response to Prophet Lot's advice, his
people had nothing to answer but tried to expel Lot (AS) and his followers
from their village saying that these people seem to be very pious claiming a
lot of purity for them. Thus they should be thrown out of the town.
(83) "Then We saved him and his family, except his wife; she was of those who remained
behind." Then Allah (SWT) punished the people of this town, but saved the
family of Lot (AS) , who left the town in the night with his family, except for
his wife, who remained behind with her people.
(84) "And We rained down on them a rain (of stones)." i.e. the rain of stones came
from above one over the other. It is also said that every stone was marked,
with the name of the person who was destined to be destroyed with it. Then
in the end Allah (SWT) said: "Then see what was the end of the criminals." Even today
those who use the Arabia-Syria route for their travel can see the signs of an
awful punishment which destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Foot Notes [1] Surah A1-Sajdah (32):5 AND
Surah A1-Ma'arij ('70):4 [2] Surah A1-Baqarah(2): 28
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All remaining amendments done 01 nadeem
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(19) "0 people of the Book! Now has come to you 0ur Messenger (SAW) making (things)
clear unto you, after a break in Messengers, lest you say: "There came unto us no bringer of
glad tidings and no Warner" But now has come unto you a bringer of glad tidings and a
Warner." There has not been a time period when Allah (SWT) did not send His
Messengers to mankind up till Prophet Jesus (AS) . Then He sent His Last
Prophet (SAW) , after whom there will be no Prophet or Messenger, who came
after a long break in the series of Prophets between him and Jesus (AS) . This
interval between the time of Jesus (AS) and the time of Prophet Muhammad
(SAW) is known as Fatrah. Allah (SWT) sent His Final Prophet (SAW) , so that on
the Day of Judgment people should not be able to give an excuse for their
not following Islamic Monotheism and say that no one came to give us good
news or warn us. Thus the Final Messenger (SAW) came to them as one who
brought good tidings for the believers and as a Warner from evil. "And Allah is
Able to do all things." Allah has power all things.
(20) "And (remember) when Moses (AS) said to his people: "0 my people! Remember the
Favor of Allah (SWT) to you, when He made Prophets among you, made you kings, and gave
you what He had not given to any other among the mankind."" There was a continuous
chain of Prophets sent to the Children of Israel. He bestowed on them His
blessings, made them kings and gave them kingdoms which were never
given to anyone of His creatures but they neglected His Prophets and
rejected them. Thus because of their evil deeds and disobedience, there
came a time when there was no Prophet among them and Allah (SWT) made
their enemies overwhelm them, who captured many of them, killed them
and took possession of their lands.
(21) ""0 my people! Enter the holy land which Allah (SWT) has assigned to you, and turn not
back (in flight) for then you will be returned as losers."" Allah (SWT) directed His
Prophet Moses (AS) to lead the Children of Israel to the Promised Land i.e.
Palestine, which had been promised to Abraham (AS) as a land in which the
pious and Allah-fearing of his offspring would live and uphold Allah's law.
Thus Moses (AS) commanded His people to enter the holy land and recapture
it from their enemies; otherwise they themselves will be the losers in the
sight of Allah (SWT) .
(22) "They said: "0 Moses (AS) ! In it are a people of great strength, and we shall never enter
it, till they leave it; when they leave, then we will enter."^ The Children of Israel
refused to enter the Promised Land and gave excuses that our enemy is
strong and vicious and more powerful than us. And therefore we will never
be able to defeat them and we will only enter this city, when they leave.
(23) "Two Allah-fearing men among them on whom Allah (SWT) had bestowed His Grace
said: "Assault them through the gate, for when you are in, victory will be yours, and put
your trust in Allah (SWT) if you are believers indeed."^ The Children of Israel were six
thousand strong but still there was no one amongst them who agreed to
fight for Allah's cause except for two pious, Allah-fearing men. They were
Joshua and Caleb. They encouraged their people to go forward and fight in
Allah's cause, and they said to them that if you obey Allah (SWT) and follow
His commandments then surely He will help you and make you victorious
over your enemies.
(24) "They said: "0 Moses (AS) ! We shall never enter it as long as they are there. So go you
and your Lord and fight, we are sitting right here."^ The Children of Israel showed
cowardice and refused to fight their enemy. They rebelled against Allah's
commandments and committed blasphemy to such an extent that they
replied to Moses (AS) that you and your Lord fight yourself with the enemies
and we are not going to join you.
(25) "He said: "0 my Lord! I have power only over myself and my brother, so separate us
from these rebellious people!"^ After the Children of Israel disobeyed Allah's
commandments and refused to fight, Moses (AS) invoked Allah (SWT) against
them and supplicated to Him to separate him and his brother Aaron (AS)
from these disobedient people.
(26) "Allah (SwT) said: "Therefore it is forbidden to them for forty years; in distraction they
will wander through the land. So be not sorrowful over these rebellious people."" This
refers to the exodus of the Children of Israel. As a punishment for their
cowardice Allah (SWT) let them wander homeless in the desert for forty years
till one full generation of Israelites died and was replaced by a new
generation brought up in the tough conditions of the desert life.
(27) "And recite to them (the Jews) the story of the two sons of Adam in truth; when each
offered a sacrifice, it was accepted from the one but not from the other. The latter said to the
former: "I will surely kill you." The former said: "Verily, Allah accepts only from those who
are pious." This story is about the two sons of Adam (AS) and Eve, Abel and his
brother Cain. Eve used to give birth each time to twins: a boy and a girl.
Allah (SWT) revealed to Adam that he should marry each son to the twin
sister of the other. Adam (AS) instructed his children according to Allah's
(SWT) command, but Cain was displeased with the partner chosen for him, for
Abel's twin-sister was not as beautiful as his own. This attraction caused
Cain to envy his brother Abel and he rebelled against Allah's (SWT) command
by refusing to accept his father's advice. Then to settle the dispute Allah
(SWT) commanded Prophet Adam (AS) that each of his son should offer a
sacrifice, and he whose offering was accepted he will marry with his choice.
Abel offered his best camel, while Cain offered his worst grain. His sacrifice
was not accepted by Allah (SWT) because of his disobedience to his father and
the insincerity in his offering. This enraged Cain even further and he
threatened to kill his brother. But Abel advised his brother that instead of
threatening him he should look into his own mistakes as to why Allah (SWT)
did not accept his sacrifice.
(28) ""If you do stretch your hand against me to kill me, I shall never stretch my hand
against you to kill you, for I fear Allah (SwT); the Lord of the Worlds."" Abel was an
Allah-fearing person and very obedient to His commandments. Thus he
refused to fight Cain even after he had threatened him because he did not
want to hurt his brother and attain Allah's displeasure.
(29) ""Verily, I intend to let you draw my sin on yourself as well as yours, then you will be
one of the dwellers of the Fire, and that is the recompense of the wrongdoers."" Abel
reminded his brother of the consequences of the evil of killing an innocent
person. He warned Cain that if he kills him then he will not only bear the
burden of the sin of the murder but he will also be burdened by his sins,
and thus will become an inmate of Hellfire, which is the punishment for the
wrong-doers.
(30) "So the soul (self) of the other encouraged him to the murder of his brother; he murdered
him and became one of the losers." i.e. his Nafs (inner-self) prompted him to kill his
brother making it seem fair to him, thus he killed him and in the process
ruined his life.
(31) "Then Allah (SWT) sent a crow who scratched the ground to show him to hide the dead
body of his brother. He said: " Woe to me! Am I not even able to be as this crow and to hide
the dead body of my brother?" Then he became one of those who regretted." After killing
his brother, Cain did not know what to do with his corpse. He carried it on
his back wandering from place to place with his conscience saddled with
guilt. Then, Allah (SWT) sent two ravens that began fighting, causing the
death of one. The victorious bird used its beak and claws to dig a hole in the
ground, rolled its victim into it and then covered it. After Cain saw this, he
felt ashamed and regretted of what he had done. He then buried his brother
in the sand and thus it became the first burial of man.
(32) "Because of that We ordained for the Children of Israel that if anyone killed a person not
in retaliation of murder, or (and) to spread mischief in the land - it would be as if he killed all
mankind, and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind." Allah
(SWT) decreed for the Children of Israel that whoever kills an innocent soul
will be as if he has killed the whole of humanity except for the punishment
of murder i.e. Qisas ' , or making mischief in land. Likewise, Allah (SWT)
ordained for them that whoever saved a life, it is as if he saved the whole
humanity. It is stated in Talmud2 that "He who destroys one soul of a human
being, the Scripture considers him as if he destroyed a whole world, and him
who saves one soul of Israel, the Scripture considers him as if he saved a
whole world... "3 In Islam also, the protection of one soul from being killed is
regarded equal to giving life to all humankind. Similarly, the killing of a soul
without any justification is equal to the killing of the entire human race, as
stated in this ayah. Further Allah (SWT) states: "And indeed, there came to them
Our Messengers with clear proofs, evidences, and signs, even then after that many of them
continued to exceed the limits in the land!." Allah (SWT) sent His Messengers to the
Children of Israel one after the other. They came with teachings and clear
evidences of truth, but still they transgressed the limits set by Allah (SWT) by
committing major sins and doing oppression unjustly.
(33) "The recompense of those who wage war against Allah (SWT) and His Messenger and do
mischief in the land is only that they shall be killed or crucified or their hands and their feet
be cut off on the opposite sides, or be exiled from the land. That is their disgrace in this world,
and a great torment is their lots in the Hereafter." This ayah mentions the
punishments for those who oppose Allah's commandments and His
Messenger (SAW) i.e. commit treason against an Islamic state, thus making
mischief on land. These four punishments are applied according to the
gravity of the crime committed viz. execution for committing murder or
becoming an apostate, crucifixion, cutting hands and feet from opposite
sides for the crime of theft and exile from the land. Those who commit these
crimes will be humiliated in this world by these punishments and they will
suffer a grievous punishment in the Hereafter.
(34) "Except for those who repent before you overpower them; in that case, know that Allah
(SWT) is OftForgiving, Most Merciful." This ayah refers to idolators that rebel
against an Islamic state and make mischief in land. It means that the
punishment for such people who repent afterwards is annulled provided
they repent before they are caught by the authorities. Surely Allah (SWT) is
Forgiving and Merciful and He forgives all sins of those who repent.
(35) "O you who believe! Do your duty to Allah (SWT) and fear Him. Seek the means of
approach to Him." In this ayah Allah (SWT) commands His servants to obey Him
sincerely and avoid everything which is against His Will or law and seek the
means of nearness to Him. Allah (SWT) has prescribed for us a number of
types of means to approach Him 4 . The best of which is to call upon Allah
(SWT) by means of His perfect Names such as a Muslim saying in his
supplication: "0 Allah (SWT) I ask you by your Mercy...I ask you being the
Most Gracious..." etc. The proof of this is in the following ayah: "7he most
beautiful names belong to Allah (Sw7 , so call on Him by them... '^ "And strive
hard in His Cause as much as you can. So that you may be successful." Then Allah (SWT)
encourages His servants to do Jihad in His cause and fight against the
enemies of Islam and promises eternal bliss and happiness for those who
obey His commandments.
(36) "Verily, those who disbelieve, if they had all that is in the earth, and as much again
therewith to ransom themselves thereby from the torment on the Day of Resurrection, it
would never be accepted of them, and theirs would be a painful torment." This is the
actual reality of this world, which is close to nothing as compared to the
blessings of the Hereafter. Thus on the Day of Judgment, no amount of
ransom will be accepted from those who rejected faith in order to save
themselves from the grievous punishment of the Hellfire, even if they bring
this earth full of gold or twice as much.
(37) "They will long to get out of the Fire, but they will never get out therefrom, and theirs
will be a lasting torment." i.e. they will never be able to escape the torment of
Hellfire and they will live there forever.
(38) "Cut off the hand of the thief, male or female, as a recompense for that which they
committed, an exemplary punishment from Allah (SwF)." An Islamic state has an
obligation to protect the five essentials of life and ensure that they remain
safe viz. religion, life, honor, mental health and one's property. Thus Islam
protects these essentials of life by means of the punishments which Allah
(SWT) has prescribed to attain peace and security. This ayah describes one of
these punishments prescribed for theft in Islam i.e. to cut off the right hand
of the thief, whether male or female, from the wrist joint, so as to deter
others from committing such crimes. "And Allah (SwF) is All-Powerful, All-Wise."
i.e. Allah (SWT) is All-Powerful to punish whoever He wants in whatever way
He Wills, and He is also All-Wise i.e. He knows what is better for His
servants.
(39) "But whosoever repents after his crime and does righteous good deeds, then verily, Allah
(SWT) will pardon him. Verily, Allah (SWT) is 0ft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." Sometimes a
Muslim may fall into that which Allah (SWT) has forbidden. But Allah (SWT)
says that He is Kind and Merciful to His servants. Thus if anyone repents
sincerely after he has committed the crime, Allah (SWT) will accept his
repentance and forgive him.
(40) "Don't you know that to Allah (SWT) belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth!
He punishes whom He wills and He forgives whom He wills. And Allah (SWT) is Able to do
all things." i.e. Allah (SWT) owns everything and He does what He Wills for His
creatures and no one can question His decision or judgment.
(41) "0 Messenger (SAW) ! Let not those who plung headlong into unbelief grieve you, of such
who say: "We believe" with their mouths but their hearts have no faith." This ayah refers
to the hypocrites who embrace Islam but soon after deviate from belief in
Allah (SWT) and His Messenger (SAW) . They only pretend to be faithful but in
reality they are the bitter enemies of Islam and its followers. "And of the Jews
are men who listen much and eagerly to lies, listen to others who have not come to you." i.e.
there are those amongst Jews who are eager to catch up any lies against
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) . They also attend his gatherings and listen to
what he says, so that they can convey it to his enemies who cannot attend
Prophet's (SAW) gatherings or come near him. "They change the words from their
places; they say, "If you are given this, take it, but if you are not given this, then beware!""
i.e. they distort their books and alter its meanings so that they can hide its
knowledge from their people. Further, whenever they brought their disputes
to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) , they would decide beforehand that they would
accept Prophet's (SAW) decision if it is in their favor, otherwise they will not
accept it and walk away. "And whomsoever Allah (SWT) wants to put in trial; you can
do nothing for him against Allah (SWT). Those are the ones whose hearts Allah (SWT) does not
want to purify; for them there is a disgrace in this world, and in the Hereafter a great
torment." i.e. whoever Allah (SWT) intends to put on trial and error then there
is none who can save him from His punishment, in this world and in the
Hereafter.
(42) "(They like to) listen to falsehood, to devour anything forbidden." i.e. they eagerly
listen and indulge in falsehood so that they can eat what is forbidden for
them e.g. usury and bribes. "So if they come to you, either judge between them, or turn
away from them. If you turn away from them, they cannot hurt you in the least. And if you
judge, judge with justice between them. Verily, Allah (SWT) loves those who act justly."
When the Jews came to the Prophet (SAW) for a judgment, they did not seek
the truth and justice but hoped that some partiality will be shown in favor of
them. Therefore Allah (SWT) says to His Prophet (SAW) that there is no harm
on you O'Muhammad (SAW) if you do not want to adjudicate between them
because of their behavior and partiality, but if you do act as judge, then
judge between them in fairness, for Allah (SWT) loves those who judge with
fairness.
(43) "But how do they come to you for judgement while they have the Torah, in which is the
(plain) judgement of Allah (SWT); yet even after that, they turn away. For they are not (really)
believers." It was reported that this ayah was revealed regarding some Jews
who came to the Prophet (SAW) for a judgment concerning a man and a
women amongst them who committed adultery. The Prophet (SAW) said to
them: "What would you do in this case" They said: "We would humiliate and
expose them." The Prophet recited: "Bring here the Torah and recite it, if you
are truthful." So they brought a man who was blind in one eye and who was
respected among them and said to him, "Read (from the Torah)." So he read
until he reached a certain verse and then covered it with his hand. He was
told, "Remove your hand," and it was the verse about stoning. So that man
said, "0 Muhammad (SAW)! This is the verse about stoning, and we had hid its
knowledge among us." So the Messenger ordered that the two adulterers be
stoned, and they were stoned to death. 6
(44) "Verily, We did send down the Torah, therein was guidance and light, by which the
Prophets, who submitted themselves to Allah's Will, judged the Jews. And the rabbis and the
priests for to them was entrusted the protection of Allah's Book, and they were witnesses
thereto." In this ayah Allah (5WT) praises the Torah which He revealed to His
Prophet Moses (A5) , for the Children of Israel. It contained the guidance and
the light from Allah (5WT) to take them out of the darkness of ignorance and
show them the right path. All the Prophets sent to the Children of Israel
followed the laws of Torah by which they judged the Jews and they did not
deviate from the straight path i.e. they submitted themselves to the Will of
their Lord. Not only the Prophets but also the Rabbis and their Jurists
judged according to the laws of Torah. They were entrusted with its
protection and to be the witnesses of its truth and to testify that they had
made it known to the people. Then Allah (5WT) said: "Therefore fear not men but
fear Me and sell not My revelations for a miserable price." Allah (5WT) commanded the
Children of Israel to fear Him alone and not to distort or conceal what He
has revealed to them in fear of other men or to suit their own desires. "And
whosoever does not judge by what Allah (SWT) has revealed, such are the disbelievers." Along
with the People of the Book, this ayah also applies to those Muslims who do
not follow the Qur'an and judge their matters according to it. There is not a
single Islamic country on the face of this earth today that judges or decides
its matters solely according to what Allah (5WT) has revealed. This ayah
concludes that those who judge or rule according to what Allah (5WT) has
revealed are Muslims and those who do not judge or rule according to what
Allah (5WT) has revealed and distort Allah's revelations then they are Kafiroon
(disbelievers).
(45) "And We ordained therein for them: "Life for life, eye for eye, nose for nose, ear for ear,
tooth for tooth, and for wounds equal punishement."" This ayah indicates that Allah
(5WT) ordained the law of retribution in the Torah as it is in Islam, but the
Jews defied the ruling and refused to accept the divine commandments. "But
if anyone remits the retaliation by way of charity, it shall be for him an expiation." i.e. if
the victim forgives the aggressor and does not retaliate then it becomes an
expiation for his sins and he will have his reward with Allah (5WT) . "And
whosoever does not judge by that which Allah (SWT) has revealed, such are the wrongdoers."
Here this ayah refers to the Jews who do not follow Allah's commandments
and give false judgments. They only follow their lusts and desires and do not
judge their matters according to what Allah (SWT) has revealed to His
Messenger (SAW) . Thus Allah (SWT) says that they are unjust and evildoers
(Zalimoon).
(46) "And in their footsteps, We sent Jesus (AS), son of Mary (AS), confirming the Torah that
had come before him, and We gave him the Injeel, in which was guidance and light and
confirmation of the Torah that had come before it, a guidance and an admonition for the
pious." In the continuous chain of the Prophets sent to the Children of Israel,
Jesus (AS) , son of Mary (AS) was the last one. He was sent to confirm and
verify the truth of Torah and rule by its laws. Allah (SWT) gave him Injeel
which also contained guidance and light to direct people towards the right
path. It was a guidance and admonition for the pious and the righteous and
it came verifying the truth of the previous Scriptures, like the Torah. Jesus
(AS) said that he did not come to abrogate the Torah7 , but to complete it by
going to the spirit of its substance and to get at its essence.
(47) "Let the people of the Injeel judge by what Allah has revealed therein." The
Christians are being warned to judge according to what Allah (SWT) revealed
to them, and believe in all that is present therein including the coming of the
Allah's Last Messenger (SAW) with His Last and final revelation i.e. the
Qur'an. "And whosoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed, such are the
transgressors." Here this ayah specifically refers to the Christians who rebelled
against and abandoned the truth that Allah (SWT) revealed to them through
His Prophet Jesus (AS) . But this ayah does not only apply to the Christians
or the Jews, but to any one, a Muslim or a non-Muslim who does not
submit himself totally to the authority of Allah (SWT) and abandons the truth.
He becomes a disbeliever, a wrongdoer or a transgressor (Fasiq) according
the degree of his disobedience.
(48) "And We have sent down to you the Book in truth, confirming the Scripture that came
before it and to safeguard it." Allah (SWT) revealed this Qur'an to Prophet
Muhammad (SAW) with the truth that it is indeed coming from Him. It came
confirming the truth of all the earlier scriptures, guarding them in truth i.e.
preserving them from distortion and corruption, for it has within it the
teachings of all the previous Books. "So judge between them by what Allah (SWT) has
revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging away from the truth that has come to
you." Allah (SWT) commands His Prophet (SAW) to judge and rule according to
the laws prescribed in the Holy Qur'an and do not judge according to the
desires of these ignorant people, thus diverging away from the truth. "To each
among you, We have prescribed a law and a clear way." Allah (SWT) ordained a law and
a way of life for every Messenger and his nation, and when human thought
and intellect progressed from infancy to maturity reaching its climax, He
revealed His final law and way of life for all mankind to come, to His Last
and Final Messenger, Muhammad (SAW) . "If Allah (SWT) willed, He would have made
you one nation, but that (He) may test you in what He has given you." i.e. if Allah (SWT)
had Willed He would have made all mankind into a single nation with one
language, one religion and one law. But in His perfect Wisdom He divided
mankind into different nations and gave them different laws to govern at
their given time so as to test their abilities and obedience to Him in
everyone's own capacity. He will thus reward them or punish them
accordingly. "So strive as in a race in good deeds. The return of you (all) is to Allah (SWT);
then He will inform you about that in which you used to differ." Allah (SWT) encourages
His servants to vie with one another in doing virtuous and righteous deeds.
And commands them to be always mindful of the fact that your final return
is to Allah (SWT), who will show you the truth of those matters in which you
disputed.
(49) "And so judge between them by what Allah (SWT) has revealed and follow not their vain
desires" This ayah is repeated here to emphasize the importance of this
command. "take heed lest they turn you far away from some of that which Allah (SWT) has
sent down to you." i.e. beware of the Jews who are always in search of an
opportunity to deceive you and wish to turn you away from the truth. "And if
they turn away, then know that Allah's Will is to punish them for some sins of theirs." i.e.
if they disbelieve then know that it is Allah's Will to deviate them from the
truth and scourge them for some of their sins. "And truly, most of men are
transgressors." i.e. majority of the people in the world have rebelled against
Allah's obedience and thus deviated from the truth.
(50) "Do they then seek the judgment of (the Days of) Ignorance." This ayah applies to
all those who seek judgment from laws other then what Allah (SWT) has
prescribed for His servants, defy His commandments and instead follow
their own desires and lusts. In other words every judgment which does not
come from the Book of Allah (SWT) or the Sunnah of His Messenger (SAW) is of
the Jahiliyyah (days of pagan ignorance). "And who is better in judgment than
Allah (S WT) for a people who have firm Faith." Allah (SWT) is the Creator of mankind
and He has the perfect knowledge of everything. Therefore He knows best
what is beneficial for them and what is harmful to them.
Foot Notes [1] Execution for committing deliberate murder. [2] The collection of ancient rabbinic writings consisting of the Mishnah, text of the Oral Law, and the emara, a commentary on the Mishnah, constituting the basis of religious authority in Orthodox Judaism. [3] Talmud, Mishnah Tractate Sanhedrin 4:5 (37a). URL: www.jewishvirtua11ibrarv.org/jsource/Talmud/sarihedrin4.htm1 [4] Cf. Tawassul; Its types and its rulings. By Sheikh Naasiruddeen al-Albanee. [5] Surah Al-A'raf (7) : 180. [6] Sahih Al-Bukhari : 4556. [7] ospel of Matthew 5: 17.
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The series of the stories of Prophets in this surah continues. The following
few ayaat briefly mention Prophet Shuaib (AS) and his people. Then there is a
long passage concerning Prophet Moses (AS) and the Children of Israel. As we
mentioned in the introduction of this surah, the time this surah was
revealed, the Holy Prophet (SAW) was going to migrate from Makkah. Thus a
good portion of the Surah addresses the people of the Book with whom the
Prophet (SAW) was going to come into contact. During the course of the
address to the Jews, the consequences of their hypocritical conduct towards
Prophethood have also been pointed out clearly, for they professed to believe
in Prophet Moses (AS) but in practice opposed his teachings, disobeyed him
and adhered to falsehood and consequently were afflicted with ignominy and
disgrace.
(85) "And to Madyan, (We sent) their brother Shuaib (AS) . He said: "0 my people! Worship
Allah (SWT) ! You have no other God but Him."" From here begins the story of
Prophet Shuaib (AS) and the people of Mad yan. The people of Madyan were
the descendants of Mad yan, the son of Midyan, the son of Prophet Abraham
(AS) . Prophet Shuaib (AS) was also from one of the tribes of Madyan, to whom
he was sent by Allah (SWT) to proclaim His Message. Thus, he called them to
the Oneness of Allah (SWT) like all other Prophets before him. Then he said:
" Verily, a clear prooffrom your Lord has come unto you." This refers to the proofs and
miracles which were manifested through the hands of Prophet Shuaib (AS) .
And he said: "So give full measure and full weight and wrong not men in their things."
i.e. he commanded them not to cheat people in buying and selling and give
full measure and weight and not cause harm to anyone by holding back
what is their due. "And do not mischief on the earth after it has been set in order that will
be better for you, if you are believers." The people of Madyan are being admonished
by Prophet Shuaib (AS) not to disobey the commands of their Lord and not to
transgress the limits that He has set for them, for this is much better for
them.
(86) "And sit not on every road, threatening, and hindering from the Path of Allah those who
believe in Him, seeking to make it crooked." These people would sit on the roads
and streets and would terrorize people, rob them and threaten them of
worse consequences if they believed in Prophet 5huaib (A5) . They would
further twist and misrepresent the Message of Allah (5WT) to turn them away
from His path. Thus they were commanded to abandon such evil acts and it
was said to them: "And remember when you were but few, and He multiplied you. And
see what was the end of the mischief-makers." i.e. you should remember the favors of
Allah (5WT) , Who made you strong when you were weak and then increased
your numbers to make you a large nation. And also remember the fate of the
previous nations who were destroyed for their disobedience to Allah (5WT)
and rejection of His Messengers, like the people of Noah (A5) , A'ad, Thamud
and the people of Lot (A5) . Consider the fate of the evil-doers.
(87) " And if there is a party of you who believes in that with which I have been sent and a
party who do not believe, so be patient until Allah (SWT) judges between us." /n this a yah
Prophet 5huaib (A5) addressed his people that if you become divided
concerning me, and some of you believe in the message that / have brought
while others reject it, then do not make haste and be patient for Allah's
decree will certainly come and He will decide between us and you. "And He is
the Best of judges." i.e. He is surely the best to decide as to who is to be
rewarded for his righteousness among His servants and who deserves His
punishment.
(88) "The chiefs of those who were arrogant among his people said: "We shall certainly drive
you out, 0 Shuaib (AS), and those who have believed with you from our town, or else you (all)
shall return to our religion."" The arrogant chiefs of the people of Mad yan
warned Prophet 5huaib (A5) and his followers that they should revert to the
disbeliever's religion or else they would be expelled from their village. But
Prophet 5huaib (A5) replied to them: "He said: "Even though we hate it!"" i.e. are
you trying to force us to accept your religion, even though we do not like it
and consider it as falsehood.
(89) " We should have invented a lie against Allah (SWT) if we returned to your religion, after
Allah (SWT) has rescued us from it." This is the answer of Prophet Shuaib (AS) to
the chiefs of his people. He told them that after he and his followers had
believed in what Allah (SWT) had revealed to them and after having its
knowledge, reverting to disbelief would mean that the first standpoint was
false and this would be an accusation against Allah (SWT) . Then he said: "And
it is not for us to return to it unless Allah (SWT), our Lord, should will. Our Lord
comprehends all things in His Knowledge. In Allah (SWT) (Alone) we put our trust." i.e. to
succeed in staying away from evil and falsehood is nothing but the grace of
Allah (SWT) , for all matters are referred to Him, Who has the perfect
knowledge of everything. Then Prophet Shuaib (AS) prayed: "Our Lord! Judge
between us and our people in truth, for You are the Best of those who give judgment." i.e.
he prayed for their victory and for the destruction of the disbelievers among
his people.
(90) "The chiefs of those who disbelieved among his people said: "If you follow Shuaib (AS), be
sure then you will be the losers!"" This is the misleading statement of the
disbelieving chiefs of the people of Mad yan to their people, so that they do
not obey and follow Prophet Shuaib (AS) .
(91) "So the earthquake seized them and they lay (dead), prostrate in their homes." This
was the punishment for the disbelievers who expelled Shuaib (AS) and his
followers and rejected him.
(92) "Those who belied Shuaib (AS) became as if they had never dwelt there. Those who belied
Shuaib (AS), they were the losers." i.e. they were destroyed completely and they
themselves were the actual losers.
(93) "Then he turned from them and said: "O my people! I have indeed conveyed my Lord's
Messages unto you and I have given you good advice. Then how can I sorrow for the
disbelieving people."" With punishment for his people in sight, Prophet Shuaib
(AS) felt concerned in his heart because of his affection to his people.
Therefore he turned to them and admonished them for defying Allah's
commandments and avoiding guidance and said to them that he will not feel
grieved for them since they rejected him.
(94) "And We sent no Prophet unto any town, but We seized its people with tribulation and
adversity, so that they might humble themselves." Allah (SWT) tested them with
hardships and afflictions so as to see if the earnest and sincere believers
within them turn to Allah (SWT) and repent on His disobedience or they turn
away. Also refer to ayah 42 of surah Al-A na'am.
(95) "Then We changed the evil for the good, until they increased in number and in wealth,
and said: "Our fathers were touched with evil and with good." So We overtook them
suddenly while they were unaware." Then Allah (SWT) gave them increasing wealth,
children and provisions and opened the world of material comforts for them.
But instead of showing gratitude to their Lord, they became completely lost
in their material desires and said that this suffering and prosperity came to
our fathers too and it has nothing to do with our deeds. Thus while they
became lost in the labyrinth of luxuries, Allah (SWT) seized them suddenly
with a painful punishment.
(96) "And if the people of the towns had believed and had Taqwa (piety), certainly, We
should have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the earth, but they disbelieved. So
We took them for what they used to earn." This ayah indicates that Allah's blessings
do not depend upon one's prosperity and wealth. /nstead, blessings in all
the heavenly and earthly things can only be achieved through faith and
obedience of Allah (SWT) . Thus, this ayah states that if the people to whom
Allah (SWT) had sent His Messengers, would have believed and showed piety,
then He surely would have bestowed upon them His blessings. But they
denied His Messengers and thus they were punished for their disobedience.
(97) "Do the people of the towns feel secure against the coming of Our Punishment by night
while they are asleep?" This refers to the people of the towns living at the time of
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) . This is a warning to the disbelievers among them
that they should not feel secure for themselves from the punishment of Allah
(SWT) which may come to them suddenly while they are asleep.
(98) "Or, do the people of the towns feel secure against the coming of Our Punishment in the
forenoon while they play?" i.e. the punishment of Allah (SWT) may also come to
them suddenly while they are busy in their worldly pursuits.
(99) "Do they then feel secure against Allah's scheming?" i.e. His punishment. "None
feels secure from it except the people who are the losers." This refers to the disbelievers
ho commit evil acts while feeling secure from His wrath and punishment.
(100) "Is it not clear to those who inherit the earth in succession from its possessors, that had
We willed, We would have punished them for their sins." i.e. was it not made clear for
those people who become successors of this earth after Allah (SWT) destroyed
their previous generations that if He wanted He would have punished them
too for their disbelief just like their ancestors. Then Allah (SWT) said: "And We
seal up their hearts so that they hear not?" This means that they have taken no
lesson from the past events, thus Allah (SWT) sealed their hearts and they are
now unable to listen to the truth. So they were left bereft of hearing.
(101) "Those were the towns whose story We relate unto you." i.e. O Muhammad (SAW)
We narrate to you the news of the towns to whom We sent Our Messengers.
"And there came indeed to them their Messengers with clear proofs, but they were not such
as to believe in that which they had rejected before." The Messengers came to them
with miracles and signs from their Lord, but the disbelievers rejected the
truth and obstinately followed the path of ignorance, only because they had
once belied them. "Thus Allah (SWT) does seal up the hearts of the disbelievers." i.e.
because of their rigidity and rejection of the truth.
(102) "And most of them We found not (true) to their covenant, but most of them We found
transgressors." This covenant refers to the Primordial Covenant (Ahd Alast),
which took place before the creation of this material realm i.e. in the realm
of spirits (Aalam-e-Arwah). The covenant was taken from the souls (Arwah)
of the human beings by Allah (SWT) before they were sent to the physical
world. Allah (SWT) said to them: "Am I not your Lord?" Then all the humans
entered into a covenant when they answered "Yes". This will further be
elaborated in ayah 172 of this surah.
(103) "Fhen after them We sent Moses (AS) with 0ur Signs to Pharaoh and his chiefs, but
they wrongfully rejected them." After the five Prophets mentioned in this surah,
Allah (SWT) sent Prophet Moses (AS) with miracles and His Book to proclaim
His Message to Pharaoh and his people. But instead of being grateful to
Allah (SWT) for these miracles and guidance, they rejected His revelations. "So
see how was the end of the mischief-makers." i.e. look how We punished them for
their transgression and think of your own fate if you do the same.
(104) "And Moses (AS) said: "0 Pharaoh! I am a Messenger from the Lord of the Worlds."
(105) "Proper it is for me that I say nothing concerning Allah (SWF) but the truth." Prophet
Moses (AS) further said to Pharaoh that as a Prophet of Allah (SWT) , it is his
duty to convey His message as it is given to him and that his status of
Prophethood does not allow him to ascribe anything but truth to Allah (SWT) .
"Indeed I have come unto you from your Lord with a clear proof." This refers to all the
miracles given to Moses (AS) by Allah (SWT) as a proof of his Prophethood. "So
let the Children of Israel depart along with me." i.e. with all these miracles and signs
as a clear proof of his Prophethood, Pharaoh must believe in them and
release the Children of Israel from his slavery.
(106) "(Pharaoh) said: "If you have come with a sign, show it forth, - if you are one of those
who tell the truth."" i.e. if you really are what you claim then produce a sign or
miracle for us to see.
(107) "Then he (Moses) threw his staff and behold! it was a serpent plain (for all to see). His
staff turned into a big snake that opened its mouth and rushed towards
Pharaoh, who jumped from his throne and sought shelter from Moses (A5) .
(108) "And he drew out his hand, and behold! it was white (with radiance) for the
beholders." This was the second miracle performed by Prophet Moses (A5) at
this occasion.
(109) "The chiefs of the people of Pharaoh said: "This is indeed a skilled enchanter."" After
seeing these great miracles the Pharaoh and his people feared that Moses
(A5) might lure their people to his side with these great signs thus they
plotted against him to pose him as a liar and said to the people that this is
nothing but sorcery.
(110) "He wants to get you out of your land, so what do you advise?" Pharaoh feared
that Moses (A5) could get the people on his side, so that they drive them out
from their land. Therefore, he asked his chiefs for advice.
(111) "They said: "Put him and his brother off (for a time), and send forth heralds to the
cities to collect."
(112) "And bring to you all skilled magicians." i.e. they decided to bring expert
sorcerers from all over the country, who are capable enough to defeat Moses
(A5) .
(113) "And so the sorcerers came to Pharaoh. They said: "Indeed there will be a (good)
reward for us if we are the victors."" /t should be noted that the first thing the
sorcerers demanded from Pharaoh was a reward for their performance as all
worldly people do. On the contrary, the Prophets do not ask for any reward
for they preach and convey the Message only to gain Allah's pleasure.
(114) "He said: "Yes, and moreover you will become my favourites."" Pharaoh assured
them that he will reward them and give them great provisions.
(115) "They said: "0 Moses (AS) ! Either you throw (first), or shall we have the (first)
throw?"" The sorcerers asked Moses (AS) , if he would drop his staff first or
should they throw their first.
(116) "He (Moses) said: "Throw you (first)." So when they threw, they bewitched the eyes of
the people, and struck terror into them, and they displayed a great magic." Then Prophet
Moses (AS) gave them permission to begin and they demonstrated their magic
by bewitching the eyes of the people that made them see their staffs and
strings as snakes. They were terrified by a display of great wonders.
(117) "And We revealed to Moses (AS): "Throw your staff," and behold! It swallowed up
straight away all the false devices which they showed." As soon as Moses (AS) dropped
his staff on the ground, it turned into a great snake that swallowed all the
snakes of the sorcerers.
(118) "Thus the truth prevailed and all their doings proved vain." i.e. the truth
prevailed over falsehood.
(119) "So they were defeated there and put to humiliation." i.e. the Pharaoh and his
magicians were defeated and put to shame.
(120) "And the sorcerers fell down prostrate." The enchanters prostrated themselves in
adoration.
(121) "They said: " We believe in the Lord of the Worlds."
(122) "The Lord of Moses (AS) and Aaron (AS) ." The magicians realized that what
Moses (AS) showed them was not magic and it can only be from Allah (SWT) ,
thus they fell in prostration and became believers.
(123) "Pharaoh said: "You have believed in him before I give you permission. Surely, this is a
plot which you have contrived in the city to drive out its people." /t was an
embarrassing situation for Pharaoh, but he was clever enough to conceal his
state of mind in front of the people and tried to change the situation by
putting the blame back on the sorcerers. He threatened the sorcerers on one
hand that how dare they accept faith without his permission. And on the
other hand, he claimed that this is all a part of a great conspiracy and that
these sorcerers had joined hands with Moses (AS) , so that to gain power over
them and expel them from their land. He further threatened them and said:
"But you shall come to know." i.e. what punishment / give to you.
(124) "Surely, I will cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and then I will
crucify you all." This is the punishment that the Pharaoh threatened the
sorcerers with, if they persist in their rebellion against him.
(125) "They said: "Verily, we are returning to our Lord."" i.e. their belief in Allah (SWT)
became so strong that they were ready to face any threat or punishment
against them. This satisfaction was due to the fact that now this temporary
world had no value in their eyes and they were sure of the meeting with
their Lord and that they shall get eternal bliss in the Hereafter.
(126) " And you take vengeance on us only because we believed in the signs of our Lord when
they reached us!" The sorcerers further said to Pharaoh that you take revenge
from us simply because we have come to believe that the signs and miracles
produced by Moses (AS) are by none other than Allah (SWT) . Then they prayed:
"Our Lord! Pour out on us patience, and cause us to die as Muslims." i.e. make us firm
in our religion, lest we should turn back to disbelief and falsehood and make
us die as Muslims even if we are punished and tortured to death.
(127) "The chiefs of Pharaoh's people said: "Will you leave Moses (AS) and his people to
spread mischief in the land, and to abandon you and your gods?"" With these great
signs in sight that Allah (SWT) showed to Pharaoh and his people, his chiefs
became frightened and worried of the fact that people will start following
Prophet Moses (AS) and forsake their false gods, thus they advised Pharaoh
that if he did not kill Moses (AS) and his brother Aaron (AS) then they would
surely spread unrest calling his people to worship Allah (SWT) alone instead
of him. But Pharaoh had nothing to answer his chiefs but he said: "He said:
" We will kill their sons, and let live their women, and we have indeed irresistible power over
them."^ With this order he meant to satisfy his people that we will eliminate
them completely by killing their males while keeping their daughters alive
and we shall triumph over them.
(128) "Moses (AS) said to his people: "Seek help in Allah (SWT) and be patient. Verily, the
earth is Allah's (SWT) . He gives it as a heritage to whom He will of His slaves, and the
(blessed) end is for the pious."^ When Pharaoh advised his evil plot against the
Children of /srael, Prophet Moses (AS) advised them that the only way to
succeed through this trial was to seek help from Allah (SWT) and be patient.
And if they show piety and righteousness, then they will certainly prevail
and inherit the land, for all the land belongs to Allah (SWT) alone and He
gives it to whomsoever He wills from among His servants.
(129) "They said: "We had suffered troubles before you came to us, and since you have come
to us." He said: "It may be that your Lord will destroy your enemy and make you rulers in
the earth, so that He may see how you act?"^ The Israelites did not show patience
and blamed Prophet Moses (AS) that he did not deliver them from the
persecution of Pharaoh and their fate remained unchanged even after he
came to them as a Messenger of Allah (SWT) . But Moses (AS) encouraged them
to show gratitude to Allah (SWT) and remain steadfast, for it might be that He
removes affliction and oppression from them and makes them the rulers of
this earth testing them with great provisions and bounties. This ayah also
indicates that Allah (SWT) judges the acts of those who are given power and
authority and sees how they make use of this trust.
(130) "And indeed We punished the people of Pharaoh with years of drought and shortness of
fruits, that they might remember." They were inflicted with calamities and
sufferings so that they take heed from this warning and mend their ways.
(131) "But whenever good came to them, they said: "Ours is this." And if evil afflicted them,
they ascribed it to evil omens connected with Moses (AS) and those with him." i.e.
whenever Allah (SWT) gave them provisions and bounties, they would accept
it and said that we have been bestowed upon because we deserve it, but
whenever He tested them with famine or drought, they would blame Prophet
Moses (AS) and his followers that this is because of what they had done.
Then Allah (SWT) said: "Be informed! Verily, their evil omens are with Allah (SWT) but
most of them know not." i.e. good and bad fate comes from Allah (SWT) alone, for
everything in this universe happens under His Will. But these disbelievers
do not know, for they are ignorant of this fact. It was Allah [SWT] who had
ordained their ill fortune, though most of them did not know it.
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(51) "0 you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians as friends and protectors; they
are but friends and protectors to one another." Allah (SWT) prohibits the Muslims to
take the Jews and the Christians as their friends and protectors. Because
they are only friends and protectors to one another against Islam and have a
strong enmity against the Muslims.
This ayah is more applicable in present times because we see that
throughout the long Judeo-Christian history the relationship between the
Jews and the Christians has not been good and it is quite understandable
as the latter not only hold the former responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus
(AS) but also resent their slander that Jesus (AS) was born out of wedlock.
Today ' however ' all this has changed. The Jews have gradually eroded the
Christian society dividing them into different factions ' most of which support
them. Protestant Christians ' in general ' and among them Evangelical
Christians ' in particular ' provide massive financial and political support to
the Jews to the extent that these Christian conservatives are sometimes
often referred to as Christian Zionists for their blatant bias. ' "And if any
amongst you takes them as friends and protectors, then surely he is one of them. Verily, Allah
(SWT) guides not those people who are the wrongdoers." Allah (SWT) warns the believers
that if they take them as friends and protectors then they will be counted as
one of them and surely they will have wronged themselves and He will not
guide such wrongdoers.
(52) "And you see those in whose hearts there is a disease, they hurry to their friendship,
saying: "We fear lest some misfortune of a disaster may befall us."" This refers to the
hypocrites of Madinah who made the disbelievers their friends in secret and
in public ' and when they were asked as to why they befriended these
enemies of Islam ' they said that they fear that the disbelievers might defeat
the Muslims. Therefore ' if this be the outcome of a battle they should be in a
position to have their support and favor in return. "Perhaps Allah (SWT) may
bring a victory or a decision according to His Will. Then they will become regretful for what
they have been keeping as a secret in themselves." i.e. whenever Allah (SWT) made the
Muslims victorious or gave a decision according to His Will ' the hypocrites
would regret for what they hid in their hearts. Scholars say that in this
ayah' victory refers to the conquering of Makkah2 and the decision
according to His Will refers to the Jizyah paid by the Jews and the
Christians.
(53) "And those who believe will say: "Are these the men who swore their strongest oaths by
Allah (SWT) that they were with you?"" The hypocrites had promised help and
protection to the enemies of Islam in secret ' but when the Muslims became
victorious ' the true reality of the hypocrites was exposed. Then ' not only the
Muslims abandoned them but they also turned back from their promises
with the disbelievers. This made the Muslims ask the disbelievers: are these
hypocrites not the same people who promised help for you? "All that they did
has been in vain, and they have become the losers." i.e. all their claims and promises
were nothing but lies and they surely have not succeeded in their schemes.
(54) "0 you who believe! Whoeverfrom among you turns back from his religion, Allah (SWT)
will bring a people whom He will love and they will love Him; humble towards the believers,
stern towards the disbelievers, fighting in the Way of Allah (SWT), and never afraid of the
blame of the blamers." In this ayah Allah (SWT) gives a stern warning to the
Muslims not to turn back from Islam ' and if they do so then He will replace
them with people who are more obedient and righteous than them and
whom He loves and they will love Him. They will have the following qualities:
they will be stern towards the unbelievers and very lenient and humble with
their fellow believers. They will do Jihad in His cause and will have no fear of
reproach from any critic. "That is the Grace of Allah (SWT) which He bestows on whom
He wills. And Allah (SWT) is All-Embracing, All-Knower." i.e. this is only from His
bounty and Grace that He gives such qualities to whoever He wishes and
this is very easy for Him. Surely Allah (SWT) is All-Sufficient for the needs of
His creatures and knows everything. He is Munificent ' Knowing.
(55) "Verily, your Protector or Helper is Allah (SWT), His Messenger (SAW), and the
believers; those who perform regular prayers, and give regular charity and they bow down."
The hypocrites take their friends from the disbelievers or others from the
Jews and the Christians instead of the believers but the real protecting
friends are Allah (SWT) ' His Messenger (SAW) and the faithful believers who
perform their regular prayers ' give the poor their due and bow down in
humility when they give charity. Alternatively it also means that they bow
down in prayers in congregation with other believers.
(56) "And whosoever takes Allah (SWT), His Messenger (SAW), and those who have believed,
as Protectors, then the party of Allah (SWT) will be the victorious." i.e. these are the
people who will gain success in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah's
followers are sure to triumph.
(57) "0 you who believe! Take not for protectors and helpers, those who take your religion for
a mockery andfun from among those who received the Scripture before you, nor from among
the disbelievers; and fear Allah (SWT) if you indeed are true believers." To emphasize the
importance of this command ' it has been repeated here ' which clearly
forbids the Muslims from taking the enemies of Islam and its followers as
their friends and protectors. Allah (SWT) then commands His servants to fear
Him alone and have faith in Him.
(58) "And when you call for prayers, they take it (but) as a mockery and fun; that is because
they are a people who understand not." i.e. the disbelievers used to ridicule and
mock at the pronouncement of Adhan (Call for prayer). They treated it as a
jest and a pastime. They did this because they are devoid of understanding.
(59) "Say: "0 people of the Book! Do you criticize and blame us for no other reason than that
we believe in Allah (SWT), and in which has been revealed to us and in that which has been
revealed before, and that most of you are transgressors." Allah (SWT) commands His
Messenger (SAW) to ask those who make fun of Islam and its followers that
you ridicule the Islamic teachings and make fun of the Muslims just for the
fact that they believe in Allah (SWT) and this Qur'ari ' along with all the
scriptures revealed before it. The fact is that most of them are rebellious in
nature and evil-doers.
(60) "Say: "Shall I inform you of something worse than that, regarding the recompense from
Allah (SWT): those (Jews) who incurred the Curse of Allah (SWT) and His Wrath, those of
whom (some) He transformed into monkeys and swine, those who worshipped Taghut (forces
of evil); such are worse in rank, and far more astray from the Right Path."" This ayah
criticizes the Jews who did not think well about the Muslims. So ' Allah (SWT)
says that the Jews themselves are the worst in retribution from Allah (SWT) .
They have incurred His curse and wrath upon themselves and some of them
were even transformed into apes and swine ' because they worshipped the
devil and forces of evil which rebel against Allah (SWT) . Such in Allah's (SWT)
sight are the worst and those who have strayed farther from the right path.
(61) "When they come to you, they say: "We believe." But in fact they enter with (an
intention of) disbelief and they go out with the same." i.e. the hypocrites proclaim
their faith and pretend to be Muslims when they are in Prophet's presence
or with the Muslims. But Allah (SWT) informs His Prophet (SAW) about the
disbelief and hypocrisy that the hypocrites conceal in their hearts and the
matter of fact is that they came with disbelief and they went out in the same
condition. "And Allah (SWT) knows all what they were hiding." i.e. He knows their
intentions. Allah knows best what they conceal.
(62) "And you see many of them vie with one another in sin and transgression, and eating
illegal things." This refers to the Jews and we have already gone through the
details of the crimes and sins committed by the Jews in the previous
surahs. And "Evil indeed is that which they have been doing." Evil indeed are their
actions.
(63) "Why do not the rabbis and the religious learned men forbid them from uttering sinful
words and from eating illegal things. Evil indeed is that which they have been performing."
One of the reasons behind the degeneration of a society is that their
scholars and those in authority do not enjoin good or forbid their people
from committing sinful things. This is what Allah (SWT) explains about the
Jews in this ayah. Their Rabbis and religious leaders not forbid their people
from uttering sin or consuming illegal things and persisted in their evil '
which eventually became the reason for their decline and punishment.
(64) "Fhe Jews say: "Allah's Hand is tied up." Be their hands tied up and be they accursed
for what they uttered." By this statement the Jews meant that Allah (SWT) does
not give and spend from His bounty thus they say that He is poor and we
are rich. But far holier and Glorified is He than what they utter about Him.
Because of such rebellious attitude and blasphemy against Allah (SWT) ' He
has cursed them with ignorance and misery in this world and humiliation in
the Hereafter. "Nay, both His Hands are widely outstretched. He spends as He wills."
Allah (SWT) spends and gives from His limitless bounty to whomever He Wills.
He gives His servants what they ask for and bestows on them His blessings
by day and by night ' yet His bounty does not decrease but is perfectly full.
"Verily, the Revelation that has come to you from Allah (SWF) increases in most of them their
obstinate rebellion and disbelief." i.e. they had so much hatred and jealousy for
the Prophet (SAW) and the Muslims that whenever Allah's revelations were
sent to His Prophet (SAW) ' it increased them in their wickedness and unbelief.
"We have put enmity and hatred amongst them till the Day of Resurrection." i.e. because
of their defiance and rejection of Allah's (SWT) revelations and His Prophet
(SAW) . "Every time they kindled the fire of war, Allah (SWF) extinguished it." This refers to
the plots and schemes they used to conspire against the believers. "And they
(ever) strive to make mischief on earth. And Allah (SWF) does not like the mischief makers."
When they fail in their plots and schemes ' then they strive hard to spread
mischief but Allah (SWT) does not love the mischief mongers.
(65) "And if only the people of the Book had believed and been righteous. We would indeed
have blotted out their sins and admitted them to Gardens of bliss." i.e. if they would
have sincerely believed in Allah (SWT) and followed His Messenger (SAW) ' then
surely He would forgive their sins and admit them in Paradise.
(66) "And if only they had acted according to the Forah, the Injeel, and what has been sent
down to them from their Lord, they would surely have gotten provision from above them and
from underneath their feet." This means that if the People of the Book had
established the laws revealed to their Prophets and believed in what was
revealed to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) i.e. the Qur'an' then surely Allah (SWT)
would have blessed them with provisions descending from the sky as well as
from those grown in the earth. "Fhere are from among them people who are on the
right course." This refers to those Jews and Christians who adhered to their
Books and followed their laws and when Allah (SWT) sent His last Prophet
(SAW) with His last revelation ' they also believed in him and followed him.
Amongst them was Abdullah bin Salaam (RAA) ' who was a very
knowledgeable and pious Jewish scholar and as soon as he heard of
Prophet's message ' he embraced Islam. "But many of them do evil deeds." i.e.
majority of them do nothing but evil.
(67) "0 Messenger (SAW) ! Proclaim which has been sent down to you from your Lord."
Allah (SWT) commands His Messenger (SAW) to convey His message to
mankind and thus fulfill his mission. "And if you do not, then you have not
conveyed His Message." i.e. if you do not deliver the message revealed to you 0
Muhammad (SAW) then you have not done justice to your mission and
conveyed Allah's message. That is why at the Farewell Hajj the Prophet (SAW)
asked his Companions (RAA) ' did I convey Allah?s message. The Companions
(RAA) unanimously replied ' ??we bear witness that you have conveyed the
message and fulfilled your mission??. He raised his finger towards the sky
and said ' 0?Allah!
Be witness??. He repeated it thrice. "Allah (SWF) will protect you
from mankind." Allah (SWT) encourages His Messenger (SAW) to convey His
message to mankind and asked not to fear any of them for He will support
him and protect him from his enemies. "Verily, Allah (SWF) guides not the people
who disbelieve." i.e. Prophet's duty is only to convey the message and it is Allah
(SWT) who guides whom He Wills and He has decided that He will not guide
those who disbelieve. He does not guide the unbelievers.
(68) "Say: "0 people of the Book! You have no ground to stand on unless you act according
to the Torah, the Injeel, and what has (now) been sent down to you from your Lord."" This
ayah warns the People of the Book that you cannot attain salvation unless
you adhere to the laws revealed to you by Allah (SWT) and believe in that
which He has sent to His last Prophet (SAW) . "Verily, that which has been sent down
to you from your Lord increases in many of them their obstinate rebellion and disbelief."
This ayah has already been commented upon in ayah 64 of this surah. "So be
not sorrowful over the people who disbelieve." i.e. 0 Muhammad (SAW) you should
not grieve about those who reject faith for they will certainly be punished for
their disbelief.
(69) "Surely, those who believe, those who are the Jews and the Sabians and the Christians;
whosoever believed in Allah (SWT) and the Last Day, and do what is righ = on them shall be no
fear, nor shall they grieve." We have already commented upon this ayah in the
explanation of ayah 62 of surah Al-B aqarah.
(70) "Verily, We took the covenant of the Children of Israel and sent them Messengers.
Whenever there came to them a Messenger with what they themselves desired not =a group
of them they accused of lying and killed some." Allah (SWT) reminds the Jews of their
covenant that He took from them at Mount Sinai that they will obey Him and
His Messengers and worship none with Him. But instead they followed their
desires and whenever Allah (SWT) sent them His Messengers with guidance
and truth ' they either called them imposters or killed them. 4
(71) "They thought there will be no trial, so they became blind and deaf; after that Allah
(SWT) turned to them; yet again many of them became blind and deaf." i.e. those who
mocked at Allah's Messengers and killed them thought that no affliction
would follow and they will never be punished or put to trial for their crimes.
So they became blind from the truth and turned a deaf ear to Allah's
message. Even after that Allah (SWT) turned to them in mercy and forgave
them but they still persisted in their disbelief and many of them again
turned blind and deaf. "And Allah (SwF) is the All-Seer of what they do." i.e. Allah
observes all their actions. He is ever watching over what they do.
(72) "Surely, they have disbelieved who say: "Allah (SwF) is the Messiah, son of Mary." But
the Messiah (AS) said: "O Children of Israel! Worship Allah (SwF), my Lord and your Lord.""
Allah (SWT) criticizes the Christians for their claim that Jesus is God
incarnate. They believe that Jesus (AS) claimed divinity for himself but Allah
(SWT) rebukes them and says that Jesus (AS) never uttered such words '
instead he commanded the Children of Israel to worship Allah (SWT) alone '
besides whom none stands worthy of worship. "Verily, whosoever sets up partners
in worship with Allah (SwF), then Allah (SWT) has forbidden Paradise for him, and the Fire
will be his abode. And for the wrongdoers there are no helpers." This is the worst crime
a person can commit i.e. associating partners with Allah (SWT) ' and it
deserves the severest of punishments. Thus Allah (SWT) has forbidden
Paradise for such and has chosen Hellfire as their eternal abode ' and their
will be no helper or protector for such wrongdoers.
(73) "Surely, disbelievers are those who said: "Allah (SVVT) is the third of the three (in a
Trinity)." But there is no God but One Allah (SWT) . And if they desist not from saying so,
verily, a painful torment will befall the disbelievers among them." Allah (SWT) rebukes
the Christians for their false belief of Trinity and commands them to refrain
from uttering such words and worship Him alone without attributing any
partners or sons to Him ' and believe in Jesus (AS) only as His Messenger and
His servant. But if they persist in their disbelief and Shirk then a painful
punishment awaits them in the Hereafter.
(74) "Will they not repent to Allah (SWT) and ask His Forgiveness? For Allah (SwF) is Oft-
Forgiving, Most Merciful." Although they had committed such grave sins and
persisted in their Shirk' yet Allah (SWT) in His mercy ' calls them to repent
from their sins and from associating partners to Him ' so that He forgives
them. For surely ' He forgives those who repent and mend their ways. He is
Forgiving ' Merciful.
(75) "The Messiah, son of Mary, was no more than a Messenger; many were the Messengers
that passed away before him." The true status of Jesus (AS) in Islam is that he is
one of the honorable Messengers of Allah (SWT) just like all other Prophets
and Messengers that came before him ' thus refuting the false beliefs of the
Christians that he claimed divinity. "His mother was a truthful woman. They both
used to eat food." She was a very pious and virtuous woman and contrary to
the beliefs of the Christians she never claimed divinity for herself or her son
Jesus (AS) . In fact both of them were mere mortals and human beings and
like the rest of Allah's creatures they were also subject to necessities and
needed food to live ' whereas Allah (SWT) does not eat. "Look how We make the
revelations clear to them, yet look how they are deluded away (from the truth)." Allah (SWT)
has made His revelations clear to them ' yet see how they ignore the truth.
(76) "Say: "How do you worship besides Allah (SWT) something which has no power either to
harm or to benefit you?" Allah (SWT) commands His Prophet (SAW) to ask those
who worship other deities besides Him that how can your minds be so
perverted that you worship those who cannot prevent any harm from you
nor can they benefit you. "But it is Allah (SWT) Who is the All-Hearer, All-Knower.""
i.e. it is only Allah (SWT) who has the authority and power to protect you and
bring benefit for you ' as He sees all His servants and He hears all what they
say.
(77) "Say: "0 people of the Book! Exceed not the limits in your religion other than the truth,
and do not follow the vain desires of people who went astray in times gone by, and who
misled many, and strayed from the Right Path."" Allah (SWT) commands His
Messenger (SAW) to say to the Jews and the Christians that do not transgress
the bounds set by Him and do not exaggerate in your religion e.g. Allah (SWT)
sent Jesus (AS) as His Messenger but the Christians exaggerated his status
and gave him the rank of God. And do not follow the evil ways and
misguidance of those who were before you. They misled many others before
you and they themselves strayed from the straight path.
Foot Notes [1] Cf. Why Protestants are supporting Jews, by Abid Ullah Jan. [2] At Tabari 10: 405. [3] Sahih Muslim 2: 886. [4] For more on the covenant, Refer to ayah 83 of surah A1 Baqarah and its ayah 87 on Children of Israel slaying the Prophets.
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(132) "They said: "Whatever signs you may bring to us, to work therewith your sorcery on
us, we shall never believe in you."" i.e. they rejected the truth even when they
ere shown the signs and miracles from their Lord.
(133) "So We sent on them the flood, the locusts, the lice, the frogs and the blood: manifest
signs, yet they remained arrogant, and they were of those people who were sinful." This
ayah mentions the punishments that came to the people of Pharaoh. Allah
(SWT) sent down clear signs to them, inflicting them with famine. Then He
sent the flood and all the lands and houses of Pharaoh and his people were
inundated with water. Then they were sent a storm of locusts which ate up
all the crops and fruits. After that lice were sent upon them, which ate their
grain. Then came the punishment of frogs, which appeared in such a large
number that it filled their houses and covered them up. Then after a month
of relief, Allah (SWT) sent the next punishment to them, which was of blood.
All these punishments came to them one after the other as a clear sign but
still they persisted in their arrogance and did not take any lesson from these
warnings.
(134) "And when the punishment fell on them they said: "0 Moses (AS) ! Invoke your Lord
for us because of His Promise to you. If you will remove the punishment from us, we indeed
shall believe in you, and we shall let the Children of Israel go with you."" This ayah
indicates that whenever a punishment came to Pharaoh and his people, they
would ask Moses (AS) to invoke Allah (SWT) for their relief from the calamity.
They further promised that if He removes their suffering, then they will
surely believe in Allah (SWT) and let the Children of Israel go with him.
(135) "But when We removed the punishment from them to a fixed term, which they had to
reach, behold! They broke their promise!" i.e. when Allah (SWT) removed the infliction
from them, they would again revert to disbelief and did not keep their
promises.
(136) "So We punished them and drowned them in the sea, because they belied 0ur signs and
were heedless about them." Because of their arrogance and disbelief, they were
finally caught with the last punishment i.e. the death. They chased Prophet
Moses (AS) and his people in the sea who had already crossed it but when
Pharaoh and his people tried to cross it, the sea closed on them and they
were all drowned.
(137) "And We made the people who were considered weak to inherit the eastern parts of the
land and the western parts thereof which We have blessed." This refers to the Children
of Israel, who were considered as weak, but with Allah's support and help,
they were made the rulers of the eastern and western parts of the blessed
land. The 'blessed land' mentioned here refers to the land of Syria and
Egypt. "And the gracious word of your Lord was fulfilled for the Children of Israel, because
of their endurance." Allah (SWT) promised them that if they show patience and
endurance, then He will surely destroy their enemies and make them owners
of the land. Thus He fulfilled His promise as always and bestowed His favor
upon the Israelites . "And We destroyed completely all the great works and buildings
which Pharaoh and his people erected." This refers to the splendid monuments and
buildings that the Pharaoh and his people had built, which were completely
destroyed and turned into dust.
(138) "And We brought the Children of Israel across the sea, and they came upon a people
devoted to some of their idols. They said: "0 Moses (AS) ! Make for us a god as they have
gods."" This was the saying of the ignorant ones among the Children of Israel,
who after their victory over Pharaoh and his people started to show some
signs of ignorance and superstitions. But Prophet Moses (AS) replied: "He said:
" Verily, you are a people who know not."" i.e. how can you think of making for
yourselves a god other than Allah (SWT) , while it is He Who has given you
superiority over other nations and saved you from the persecution of
Pharaoh and his people.
(139) " Verily, these people will be destroyed for that which they are engaged in. And all that
they are doing is in vain." i.e. all that they worshipped besides Allah (SWT) would
go waste and this in the end will be the real cause of their destruction.
(140) "He said: "Shall I seek for you a God other than Allah (SWF), while He has given you
superiority over the worlds."" i.e. how can they think of worshipping others
besides Allah (SWT) when He has given them excellence over the people of the
worlds.
(141) "And when We rescued you from Pharaoh people, who were afflicting you with the
worst torment, killing your sons and saving your women a live. And in that was a great trial
from your Lord." In this ayah Allah (SWT) reminds the Children of Israel of His
blessings on them when He rescued them from the punishment and
humiliation of Pharaoh and his people, who used to kill their sons and spare
their daughters. This was a trial for them, so that they learn patience and
humility.
(142) "And We appointed for Moses (AS) thirty nights and added ten, and he completed the
term, appointed by his Lord, of forty nights." Allah (SWT) appointed thirty nights for
Prophet Moses (AS) to fast. After the completion of the thirty days he broke
his fast and cleaned his teeth with a twig because of the odor generated by
fasting in one's mouth. Allah (SWT) said to Moses (AS) that the odor of one's
mouth generated by fasting is liked by Him, therefore, He asked Moses (AS) to
fast another ten days, thus making it forty in all. "And Moses (AS) said to his
brother Aaron (AS): "Fake my place among my people, act in the right way and follow not the
way of the wrong-doers."" Prophet Moses (AS) before leaving for Mount Sinai left
his brother Aaron (AS) with the Children of Israel as his deputy. He instructed
him to follow the right path and refrain from evil.
(143) "And when Moses (AS) came at the time and place appointed by Us, and his Lord spoke
to him, he said: "0 my Lord! Reveal Yourself to me that I may look upon You."" When
Moses (AS) came to Mount Sinai at the appointed time to speak to Allah (SWT) ,
he asked to see Him. But "Allah (SWF) said: "You cannot see Me, but look upon the
mountain if it stands still in its place then you shall see Me."" i.e. no physical eye is
capable of enduring such an experience in this lifetime. This also indicates
that the seeing of Allah (SWT) is not impossible and authentic Ahadith of
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) further affirm the fact that the believers will see
their Lord in the Hereafter. "So when his Lord manifested His glory on the mountain,
He crushed it to fine dust, and Moses (AS) fell down senseless." i.e. the radiance of
Divine glory was so powerful that it smashed the Mount into pieces and
dazzled by its splendor and radiance Prophet Moses (AS) fell down
unconscious. "Then when he recovered his senses he said: "Glory be to You, I turn to You
in repentance and Iam the first of the believers."" Moses (AS) then realized that seeing
Allah (SWT) in this life is far above the grasp of our physical senses and thus
repented from asking Him to see Him and became the first amongst the
Children of Israel, to believe in the impossibility of seeing Allah (SWT) with
eyes in this world.
(144) "(Allah) said: "0 Moses (AS) I have chosen you above men by My Messages, and by
My speaking (to you)."" Allah (SWT) spoke to Prophet Moses (AS) directly and
informed him that He had chosen him above the people of his time to deliver
His Message to his people and to have conversation with Him, which He did
not have with any other Prophet. Then Allah (SWT) said: "So hold that which I
have given you and be of the grateful." i.e. be grateful to Allah (SWT) for the Book i.e.
the Torah, which He has revealed to you.
(145) "And We wrote for him on the Tablets all kinds of exhortations and the explanation of
all things." This ayah states that Allah (SWT) had written on the Tablets, the
details of everything needed for guidance in this world and in the Hereafter
and also the commandments for lawful and prohibited matters. Then Allah
(SWT) said: "Hold unto these with firmness, and enjoin your people to take the better
therein." i.e. observe these commandments with firmness and obedience and
also enjoin on your people to follow these instructions according to the best
of their abilities, for Allah (SWT) does no burden any soul beyond its capacity,
but at the same time they are also asked to seek the best and highest
possible for them in conduct. Then in the end of this ayah Allah (SWT) said:
"Soon 1 shall show you the abode of the transgressors." i.e. the destruction of those
who belied Allah's revelations and deviated from His obedience.
(146) "1 shall turn away from My revelations those who behave arrogantly on the earth,
without a right, and (even) if they see all the signs, they will not believe in them." This
ayah indicates that the arrogant people who deny Allah's revelations will be
deprived of knowledge and understanding of His signs, for a sin hardens the
heart and makes it blind to the truth. They are so much lost in their false
pride and sense of superiority that even if they are shown the signs of Allah
(SWT) , they will still not believe in it. Then Allah (SWT) said: "And if they see the
way of righteousness, they will not adopt it as the Way, but if they see the way of error, they
will adopt that way, that is because they have rejected Our revelations and were heedless from
them." i.e. because of their rejection of Allah's revelations, they have been
covered with blindness and deafness, thus if a path to salvation and
guidance appears to them, they do not follow it, but if a path of error and
misguidance appears to them, they will surely choose it for themselves.
(147) "Those who deny Our revelations and the Meeting in the Hereafter, their deeds are in
vain. Shall they not be rewarded according to their deeds?" i.e. those who are blinded
from the Divine revelations and show deafness to the warnings of the
Hereafter then all their deeds will be in vain, for they should not expect
anything but justice i.e. the just punishment for their sins.
(148) "And the people of Moses (AS) made in his absence, out of their ornaments, the image of
a calf, which gave a (mooing) sound. Did they not see that it could neither speak to them nor
guide them to the way? They took it for worship and they were wrong-doers." When
Prophet Moses (AS) did not return from Mount Sinai after thirty days, some of
his people became restless and started worshipping a calf that a person
named Samiri made for them out of their jewels and ornaments. He melted
the ornaments and fashioned a calf from it. Then he threw a handful of dust
from the trace of the horse that the Angel Gabriel was riding, which
produced a mooing sound out of the calf. Thus the people started
worshipping the calf, and took it as their god. In the last part of this ayah,
Allah (SWT) condemns the Israelites for worshipping a lifeless statue of the
calf, which could neither speak to them nor brought them any benefit, and
thus became the wrong-doers.
(149) "And when they regretted and saw that they had gone astray, they said: "If our Lord
have not mercy upon us and forgive us, we shall certainly be of the losers."^ i.e. they felt
sorrow and remorse on this guilt and repented to their Lord for their evil
actions.
(150) "And when Moses (AS) returned to his people, angry and grieved, he said: "What an
evil thing is that which you have done during my absence. Would you hasten the retribution
of your Lord?" And he threw down the Tablets and seized his brother by his head and
dragged him towards him. Aaron (AS) said: "0 son of my mother! Indeed the people judged
me weak and were about to kill me, so make not the enemies rejoice over me, nor put me
amongst the people who are wrong-doers."^ Allah (SWT) had already informed Moses
(AS) of the perversion of his people on the Mount of Sinai. After the
conversation with his Lord, when he returned to his people he became
extremely angry to see his people in this state of ignorance. First he
admonished his people for their evil actions and going against the
commands of Allah (SWT) . Then in his anger Moses (AS) threw down the
Tablets and turned to his brother Aaron (AS) , whom he made a deputy in his
absence. He grabbed him from his hair and asked him to give the true
account of the event and what caused his people to act in haste and commit
Shirk. Prophet Aaron (AS) then told him not to put him equal with the evil-
doers and that it was not his fault that his people committed these evil acts,
for they did not listen to him and were about to kill him and he asked Moses
(AS) not to let his enemies laugh at him by treating him in this way.
(151) "Moses (AS) said: "0 my Lord! Forgive me and my brother, and make us enter into
Your Mercy, for you are the Most Merciful of those who show mercy."^ i.e. he asked
forgiveness for himself and his brother for any shortcomings with regard to
his duties.
(152) "Certainly, those who took the calf, wrath from their Lord and humiliation will come
upon them in the life of this world. Thus do We recompense those who invent a lie." This
was the warning to those who took to worship of the calf, of the punishment
that would strike them for their Shirk and of a disgraceful and humiliated
life in this world.
(153) "But those who committed evil deeds and then repented afterwards and believed, verily,
your Lord after (all) that is indeed Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." This refers to those
amongst the Israelites who repented to Allah (SWT) for their sin of committing
Shirk. They were ordered that those who worshipped the calf be killed by
those who did not worship it, so that their repentance is accepted. It is
reported that seventy thousand of them committed Shirk and thus were
executed. Prophet Moses (AS) ordered to kill all these seventy thousand
people, every tribe killing his own men, for their forgiveness.
(154) "And when the anger of Moses (AS) was appeased, he took up the Tablets." i.e. when
Prophet Moses calmed down, he took up the Holy Tablets, which he had
thrown because of his anger on the people who worshipped the calf. Then
Allah (SWT) said: "And in their inscription was guidance and mercy for those who fear
their Lord." i.e. on the Holy Tablets on which was inscribed guidance and
mercy to those that fear their Lord.
(155) "And Moses (AS) chose out of his people seventy men for Our appointed time and place
of meeting, and when they were seized with a violent earthquake." Allah (SWT)
commanded Moses (AS) to choose seventy men from among his people, who
would accompany him to Mount Sinai in order that they supplicate to their
Lord for forgiveness for worshipping the calf. The seventy men demanded
that they will not believe in Allah (SWT) until they see Allah (SWT) publicly with
their own eyes. Because of this foolish and ignorant demand, Allah's wrath
fell upon them and they were caught by an earthquake from beneath and by
a thunderbolt from above, so their souls were captured and they all died.
Prophet Moses (AS) became extremely sad by this incident and stood up
supplicating to his Lord: "He said: "O my Lord, if it had been Your Will, You could
have destroyed them and me before, would You destroy us for the deeds of the foolish ones
among us?" i.e. You could have killed us at the time You drowned Pharaoh
and his people or at the time of calf worship, but You did not do so. Thus
would You now destroy us just for the actions of the foolish ones amongst
us who worshipped the calf? He further said: "It is naught but Your Trial by which
You lead astray whom You will, and guide whom You will. You are our Protector, so forgive
us and have Mercy on us, for You are the Best of those who forgive." i.e. this is only a
test from You. You let some people go astray with Your test and give
guidance to others who learn the lesson from Your test. The decision is
Yours alone, for You are our only Protector and none except You can forgive
our sins.
(156) "And ordain for us good in this world, and in the Hereafter. Certainly we have turned
unto You." This is the last portion of the prayer by Prophet Moses (AS) who
invoked Allah (SWT) to grant them good in both lives. Then Allah (SWT) replied:
"He said: I afflict with My Punishment whom I will and My Mercy embraces all
things." i.e. although He punishes the disobedient and the wicked but His
Mercy, that encompasses everything, is far greater than His wrath. "That I
shall ordain for those who are the pious and give Zakah and those who believe in Our
revelations." i.e. His mercy shall be bestowed on those who fear Allah (SWT) and
fulfill their religious obligations and avoid things forbidden by Him, pay their
regular charity and firmly believe in His revelations.
(157) "Those who follow the Messenger (SAW), the Prophet who can neither read nor write
whom they find written with them in the Torah and the Injeel." This ayah indicates
that the people fulfilling the conditions, referred to in the previous ayah, are
those who follow the unlettered Prophet (SAW) . So this ayah gives the
description of the distinct qualities of the Holy Prophet (SAW) . He is referred
to as the unlettered Prophet (SAW) i.e. because the people of Arab were
generally incapable of reading and writing. He never had any opportunity to
learn how to read and write for upto forty years of his life, but then Allah
(SWT) gave him great wisdom and knowledge and in such a linguistic style
and diction that none in the world can produce a match for it i.e. the
Qur'an. Another attribute of the Prophet mentioned in this ayah is that they
shall find him written in the Torah and the Injee^. All of the previous
Prophets mentioned him to their people and commanded them to follow him.
Then Allah (SWT) said: "He commands them to do good and forbids them from evil. He
makes lawful for them the good things and prohibits them from what is bad." This is the
description of the Prophet (SAW) in previous Books. Among them is his
attribute of commanding what is good and forbidding what is evil. Also he
has been described as having the attribute of making pure things lawful for
the people and impure things as unlawful. Then it is said: "He releases them
from their heavy burdens and from the fetters that were upon them." i.e. he abrogated all
previous injunctions by Allah's will, which were burdensome on the
followers and replaced them with a lenient and easy religion. "So those who
believe in him, honor him, help him, and follow the light which has been sent down with him,
it is they who will be successful." i.e. those who respect and honor Prophet
Muhammad (SAW) , follow his commandments, help him by helping in his
mission, and follow the commandments of the Holy Qur'an are the ones who
will achieve success in this world and in the Hereafter. Thus, in other words,
this ayah indicates that the eternal salvation is dependent on the obedience
of the Holy Qur'an and the Prophet's Sunnah. This has to be the obedience
in the true sense i.e. having the utmost love and respect for the Prophet
(SAW) . That is to say one should have as much love and reverence for him as
to make this obedience dearest to him.
(158) "Say: "0 mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah - to Whom
belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, there is no god but He. It is He Who gives
life and causes death."" In this ayah Allah (SWT) commands His Prophet (SAW) to
declare that he has been sent as a Messenger of Allah (SWT) for all mankind,
Arabs and non-Arabs alike. He was the seal of the Prophets because his
message was for all people and for all ages to come. Prophet (SAW) was also
commanded to describe Allah (SWT) in these words that he was sent as a
Messenger from the One to Whom belongs the kingdom of the heavens and
the earth and in His control is the life and death of every creature. Then the
last part of the ayah states: "So believe in Allah (SWT) and His Messenger (SAW), the
unlettered Prophet who believes in Allah (SWT) and His Words and follow him so that you
may be guided." This ayah establishes the fact that there is no other way to
achieve success in this world and in the Hereafter but to have belief in Allah
(SWT) and follow His Last Prophet (SAW) , who himself believed in Him and His
words. Therefore, the people should embrace his path of guidance and follow
him devoutly.
(159) "And of the people of Moses (AS) there is a community who lead with truth and
establish justice therewith." This refers to those people amongst the Children of
Israel who faithfully followed the teachings of Torah and Injeel at the time
they were revealed and the people of the Book who embraced Islam after the
advent of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) .
(160) "And We divided them into twelve tribes (as distinct) nations. We revealed to Moses
(AS) when his people asked him for water, (saying): "Strike the stone with your stick", and
there gushed forth out of it twelve springs: each group knew its own place for water. We
shaded them with the clouds and sent down upon them Manna and the Salwa (saying): "Eat
of the good things with which We have provided you." They harmed Us not but they used to
harm themselves." This ayah and the following few ayaat are similar to ayaat
57-59 of surah Al-B aqarah which describe the various favors that Allah (SWT)
had bestowed upon the Children of Israel. For details refer to the ayaat
specified above.
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(78) "Those among the Children of Israel who disbelieved were cursed by the tongue of
David (AS) and Jesus (AS), son of Mary (AS). That was because they disobeyed and were
ever transgressing beyond bounds." Psalms of David (AS) and Injeel given to
Jesus (AS) has different passages and statements by these noble
Prophets cursing the Children of Israel. David (AS) prophesied about
the wickedness of the Jews and said: "The sinner speaketh what will
condemn him, and there is no fear of God before his eyes." ^ And he
said: "They brought forth against me the word of error; he who slept
shall he not awake? Shall then the man of my peace (i.e., my friend),
whom I trusted, who ate my food, lift up his foot against me?"^ Likewise
Prophet Jesus (AS) also condemned them and he said: "Ye serpents, ye
generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?"3 They
were cursed because they disobeyed Allah's commandments and
transgressed against His creatures.
(79) "They did not to forbid one another from committing iniquities. Verily, evil was
what they used to do." As we already mentioned in the previous discourse,
one of the reasons for the downfall of a society is that they do not
enjoin good and forbid one another from committing evil deeds. The
same applies to the Children of Israel; they in their time did not forbid
each other from the wickedness they did and indeed it was evil what
they used to commit.
(80) "You see many of them taking the disbelievers as their protectors and
helpers. Evil indeed is that which their souls have sent forward before them, for that
Allah's Wrath fell upon them and in torment they will abide." Allah (SWT) curses
the Jews for taking the disbelievers as their friends and protectors.
The Jews of Madinah had so much hatred against Prophet
Muhammad (SAW) that they even made friendship ties with the pagan
Arabs and considered them better than the Muslims. But Allah (SWT)
says that they have only sent forth for themselves their evil deeds in
the Hereafter and for that reason they incurred His wrath and
punishment upon themselves, which they will suffer forever.
(81) "And had they believed in Allah (SWT), and in the Prophet (SAW) and in what has
been revealed to him, never would they have taken them as protectors and helpers, but
many of them are the transgressors." i.e. if the Jews had believed in Allah
(SWT) and His Messenger (SAW) and what was revealed to him i.e. the
Qur ,an, then surely they would have not sided with the disbelievers
and made them their friends and protectors instead of the believers.
But Allah (SWT) says that most of them disobeyed and became
evildoers.
The following ayaat were revealed concerning the delegation that An-
Najashi of Ethiopia sent to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) . They were the
followers of the teachings of Jesus (AS) , who when came to the Prophet
(SAW) and heard the Qur ,an, they wept and felt humbled and
immediately embraced /slam.
(82) "Verily, you will find the strongest among men in enmity to the believers
(Muslims) are the Jews and the Pagans." The Jews and the Pagan Arabs were
the worst enemies of /slam. This is because the Jews knew that what
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) brought was the truth but they in their
arrogance and defiance rejected his message and rebelled against the
commandments of Allah (SWT) . Even today we see that /srael is the
worst enemy of /slam and has even made ties with the Pagan Hindus4
against the Muslims. "And you will find the nearest in love to the believers
(Muslims) are those who say: "We are Christians." That is because amongst them are
priests and monks, and they are not proud." This does not refer to those
Christians who merely say that we are Christians, but to those who
sincerely follow the true teachings of Prophet Jesus (AS) and the Injee^.
This is because amongst them are those who are monks and priests
who worship their Lord and they are free from pride.
(83) "And when they listen to what has been sent down to the Messenger (SAW), you
see their eyes overflowing with tears because of the truth they have recognized. They
say: "0ur Lord! We believe; so write us down among the witnesses." When the
delegation from Ethiopia came to the Prophet (SAW) and heard the
Qur ,ari, they cried and were humbled, as they recognized the truth of
the Prophethood of Muhammad (SAW) , whose advent was already
prophesized in their Scriptures. Thus they embraced /slam and prayed
to Allah (SWT) to count them among the witnesses of the truth.
(84) "And why should we not believe in Allah (SWT) and in that which has come to us
of the truth? And we wish that our Lord will admit us along with the righteous
people." They further supplicated to Allah (SWT) and humbled
themselves in His obedience. They very much wished for admission
among the righteous.
(85) "So because of what they said, Allah rewarded them Gardens under which rivers
flow, they will abide therein forever." Thus Allah (SWT) rewarded them for
their obedience and recognizing the truth and admitted them in
Paradise, which will be their abode forever. "Such is the reward of good--
doers." i.e. those who devote their lives for Allah's religion and worship
Him alone with full sincerity and devotion. This indeed is the
recompense of the righteous.
(86) "But those who disbelieved and belied 0ur revelations, they shall be the dwellers
of the (Hell) Fire." On the contrary, the disbelievers and those who deny
Allah's revelations will be the inmates of Hellfire and they will remain
in it forever.
(87) "0 you who believe! Make not unlawful the good things, which Allah (SWF) has
made lawful to you, and transgress not. Verily, Allah (SWF) does not like the
transgressors." i.e. do not exaggerate in your religion and make it
difficult for you to follow by even prohibiting those things which Allah
(SWT) has made lawful for you and do not fall into extravagance; rather
accept what He has made lawful for you with gratitude, because He
does not like those who exceed the bounds set by Him.
(88) "And eat of the things which Allah (SwF) has provided for you, lawful and good,
and fear Allah (SwF) in Whom you believe." i.e. eat all the pure and lawful
things that Allah (SWT) has made lawful for you and always remain
conscious of Allah (SWT) in whom you believe, by fulfilling His
commandments and obeying Him sincerely.
(89) "Allah (SwF) will not punish you for what is unintentional in your oaths." We
already commented upon the subject of unintentional oaths in ayah
225 of surah Al-Baqarah. "But He will punish you for your deliberate oaths; for
its expiation feed ten poor persons, on a scale of the average of that with which you
feed your own families; or clothe them; or set free a slave. But whosoever cannot afford
(that), then he should fast for three days. Fhat is the expiation for the oaths when you
have sworn. And protect your oaths. Fhus Allah (SWF) makes clear to you His
revelations, that you may be grateful." This ayah describes the expiation for
breaking one's deliberate oaths. Allah (SWT) has given a person the
choice of three things; Feeding ten poor persons with the average kind
of food that he feeds his family, by giving each person half a Saa ,5 of
the usual local staple, such as rice, wheat etc. This is equivalent to
approximately one-and-a-half kilograms. /f he cannot feed ten persons
then he should give clothing for ten poor people, which means giving
each of them clothing that is suitable for praying in and if he cannot
afford then he has to free a believing slave. And whoever cannot do
any of the above should fast for three consecutive days. Therefore, be
mindful of your oaths and pay their expiation if you broke them. /n
this way Allah (SWT) explains His revelations and makes clear His signs
to the mankind, so that they are grateful to Him.
(90) "0 you who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, dedication to stones, and raffling
by arrows are an abomination of Satan's handiwork. So avoid that in order that you
may be successful." /n this ayah Allah (SWT) forbids the believers from the
consumption of intoxicants and gambling. For further explanation on
the prohibition of intoxication and gambling refer to ayah 219 of Al-
Baqarah and ayah 43 of An-Nisa, and refer to ayah 3 of this surah for
dedication to stone alters and making decision by raffling of arrows.
All these are filthy works of the cursed Satan. Therefore Allah (SWT)
commands His servants to avoid such things and stay away from
them as far as possible, so that they may be successful in this world
and in the Hereafter.
(91) "Satan wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants
and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah (SWT) and from the
prayer." These are the tools of Satan to distract a believer from the
worship and remembrance of his Lord and to stir up hatred and
discord between the believers. "So, will you not then abstain?" This is a
stern and final warning from Allah (SWT) concerning the consumption
of /ntoxicants and gambling.
(92) "And obey Allah (SWT) and the Messenger (SAW), and beware. Then if you turn
away, you should know that it is 0ur Messenger's duty to convey (the Message) in
the clearest way." Allah (SWT) commands His servants to obey Him and
His Messenger (SAW) and abstain from all these things which He has
prohibited for you. But those who do not then only they themselves
will be responsible for the consequences and there will be no blame on
the Prophet (SAW) as his duty is only to convey His message clearly to
mankind and it is Allah (SWT) who guides whom He Wills and He will
not guide those who disbelieve in Him and His Messengers.
(93) "Those who believe and do righteous good deeds, there is no sin on them for what
they ate (in the past)." At that time when the ayaat prohibiting the
intoxicants were revealed, some people asked the Prophet (SAW) about
those who died drinking it i.e. before its prohibition. Thus Allah (SWT)
revealed these ayaat, which meant that He will forgive those who
consumed intoxicants before its prohibition if they had firm faith in
Him and His Messenger (SAW) and performed righteous deeds
afterwards. "If they fear Allah (SwF), and believe and do righteous good deeds, and
again fear Allah (SWF) and believe, and once again fear Allah (SwF) and do good deeds
with perfection. And Allah (SWF) loves the good-doers." This is a very important
ayah which gives an explanation of the three essential elements of
Deen: Islam, Iman and Ihsan. This is also explained in the hadith of
Gabriel in which he asked the Prophet (SAW) about these three
essential elements. When angel Gabriel asked him about /slam, he
replied: "Islam is that you bear witness that there is no God, except the
One Allah (SWT) and that Muhammad (SAW) is the Messenger of Allah
(SWT); that you establish your prayers; that you pay Zakah (obligatory
charity); that you fast during Ramadan; and that you undertake the
Hajj of the Bait Allah, if you are in a position to do so." Then Gabriel
asked the Prophet (SAW) about /man, he replied: "It is to believe in Allah
(SWT), His angels, His books, His Messengers, and the Last Day, and to
believe in divine destiny, both the good and the evil thereof." Then he
asked about /hsan, so the Prophet (SAW) replied: "It is to worship Allah
(SWT) as though you are seeing Him, and while you see Him not, yet
truly He sees you". Within these three stages the driving force that
carries a person from one stage to a higher one is Taqwa. /t is a state
of mind and heart which reflects in every aspect of a believer's life. /t
can also be termed as God-consciousness i.e. consciousness of one's
duty towards Him, and an awareness of one's accountability to Him.
Thus increase in consciousness and awareness of a believer's duty
towards Allah (SWT) also increases him in faith, and spiritually takes
him up to a higher level.
(94) "0 you who believe! Allah (SwF) will certainly make a trial of you with
something in the game that is well within reach of your hands and your spears, that
Allah (SwF) may test who fears Him unseen." Allah (SWT) tests His servants
with bounties, calamities and afflictions, so that the earnest and
sincere believers who fear Him, though unseen, can be distinguished
from those who lack zeal and genuine belief. /n this ayah the game
refers to the hunt of animals which is not allowed in state of Ihram.
Thus Allah (SWT) says that He tests the believers by making a lawful
animal well within their reach of their hands or their spears. "Then
whoever transgresses thereafter, for him there is a painful torment." This is a
threat for those who transgress and disobey Allah (SWT) even after they
have been warned and they will suffer a painful punishment in the
Hereafter.
(95) "0 you who believe! Do not game while you are in a state of Ihram, and
whosoever of you kills it intentionally, the penalty is an offering, brought to the
Ka'bah, of a domestic animal equivalent to the one he killed, as determined by two just
men among you; or, for expiation, he should feed poor persons, or its equivalent in
Fasting, that he may taste the heaviness (punishment) of his deed." This ayah
describes the rulings on expiation of killing an animal while in state of
Ihram. /t states that if a person hunts a domestic animal like sheep,
goat, cow etc. intentionally while in state of Ihram for Hajj or Umrah
then he has to offer a sacrifice at Ka ,bah, of an animal similar to one
that was killed, which will be judged by two men among the believers.
/f the guilty person cannot afford to sacrifice an animal then he must
feed six poor people or fast for three days. 6 This is all done so that the
guilty person tastes the evil consequences of his actions. "Allah (SwF) has
forgiven what is past, but whosoever commits it again, Allah (SWF) will take
retribution from him. And Allah (SwF) is All-Mighty, All-Able of Retribution." i.e.
Allah (SWT) forgives those sins committed during the time of ignorance,
but those who repeats it again after it has been declared prohibited,
then He will take retribution from him, and surely Allah (SWT) is All-
Mighty and capable of retribution.
(96) "Lawful to you is the pursuit of water-game and its use forfood for the benefit of
yourselves and those who travel, but forbidden is the pursuit of land-game as long as
you are in a state of Ihram." Those who travel by sea are allowed to hunt
and eat its food even if they are in a state of Ihram for Pilgrimage while
the prohibition of hunting on land for them remains unlawful. "And
fear Allah (SWT) to Whom you shall be gathered back." i.e. be mindful of your
duty to Allah (SWT) and refrain from what He has forbidden to you and
remember that you will all be assembled in His presence.
(97) "Allah (SWT) has made the Ka'bah, the Sacred House, an asylum of security for
mankind, and also the Sacred Month and the animals of offerings and the garlanded."
Allah (SWT) has made the city of Makkah sacred, in which war is
prohibited, thus giving a sense of security for those living in it or in its
precincts. Further Allah (SWT) reminds us the sanctity of the Sacred
month (Dhul-HWah) so that we refrain from what He has prohibited in
it i.e. warfare, and also of those animals sent to the Ka ,bah for
sacrifice and those who have garlands in their necks to mark them off
as sacred. "that you may know that Allah (SWT) has knowledge of all that is in the
heavens and all that is in the earth, and Allah (SWT) has full knowledge of everything."
i.e. Allah (SWT) has made all these symbols as a sign for mankind so
that they know that He has supreme knowledge of everything.
(98) "Know that Allah (SWT) is Severe in punishment and that Allah (SWT) is 0ft-
Forgiving, Most Merciful." i.e. He is severe in punishment for those who
disobey Him and reject His commandments, but He forgives and
bestows His mercy upon those who repent and do righteous deeds
thereafter.
(99) "The Messenger's duty is but to convey (the Message). And Allah (SWT) knows
all that you reveal and all that you conceal." The duty of the Prophet (SAW) is
only to give warning and convey the message. Allah (SAW) knows all
that you hide and all that you reveal.
(100) "Say: "Not equal are the evil things and the good things, even though the
abundance of evil may please you. "So fear Allah (SWT) much, 0 men of
understanding in order that you may be successful." This is an admonition to
all mankind that all that is evil cannot be equal to all that is good even
though the abundance of bad may dazzle them and they might get
inclined towards it. Thus Allah (SWT) commands those who have sound
minds to fear Him alone and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil
deeds that He has forbidden and perform all kinds of good things that
He has permitted so that they may prosper in this world and in the
Hereafter.
Foot Notes [1] Psalm 36: 1. [2] Psalm 61:9. [3] Gospel of Matthew 23: 33. [4] Bilateral relations between India and Israel have strengthened significantly in recent years with both nations experiencing a convergence of interests on a range of issues ' especially in war against Islam. [5] One Saa' is equal to four Mudd ' and one Mudd is equal to the amount held by cupping the two hands together. It is a measure by volume and not by weight. [6] At-Tabari 11: 31.
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(101) "O you who believe! Ask not about things which, if made plain to you, may cause you
trouble." Allah (SWT) forbids His servants from asking unnecessary and
useless questions for which if answer is sought, it might be difficult for them
to adhere to it and they will be sorry afterwards that they had asked the
question. It is also recorded in a hadith that Prophet (SAW) said: "Allah (SW7
has ordained some obligations, so do not ignore them; has set some limits so
do not trespass them; has prohibited some things, so do not commit them and
has left some things without rulings, out of mercy for you, not that He forgot
them, so do not ask about them." "But if you ask about them while the Qur'an is
being revealed, they will be made plain to you." i.e. if you ask questions about things
which are not yet revealed or you have been forbidden from asking them,
then these things will be made plain to you by His revelation. "Allah (SWT) has
forgiven that, and Allah (SWF) is OftForgiving, Most Forbearing." i.e. Allah (SWT) has
forgiven those who asked such questions before this prohibition, and surely
He is Forgiving and Most-Forbearing.
(102) "Before you, a community asked such questions, then on that account they became
disbelievers." i.e. these people also put such unnecessary questions to their
Prophets, and when they were given answers , it made it so difficult for them
that they rejected the answers and consequently became disbelievers.
(103) "Allah (SWT) has not instituted things like Bahirah or a Sa'ibah, or a Wasilah or a
Ham. But those who disbelieve invent lies against Allah (SWF), and most of them have no
understanding." A Bahirah was a she-camel whose milk was spared for the
idols and no one was allowed to milk it, while a Sa'ibah was a she-camel let
loose for free pasture for their false gods, e.g. idols, etc., and nothing was
allowed to be carried on it. The third kind of animal devoted for their false
gods was Wasilah, a she-camel set free for idols because it has given birth to
a female camel at its first delivery and then again gives birth to a she-camel
at its second delivery. As for the Ham, it was a male camel freed from work
for their idols, after it had finished a number of copulations assigned for it.
All these animals were liberated in honor of idols as practiced by pagan
Arabs in the pre Islamic era.
(104) "And when it is said to them: "Come to what Allah (SWT) has revealed and unto the
Messenger (SAW) ." They say: "Enough for us is that which we found our fathers following,"
even though their fathers had no knowledge whatsoever and no guidance." In this ayah
Allah (SWT) states that when the disbelievers are asked to follow His religion
and follow His commandments and those of His Prophet (SAW), they say that
we will only follow our forefathers who worshipped idols and their following
is enough for us. So Allah (SWT) asks them: will they still follow their
forefathers and imitate their practices even when they know that those
whom they follow had no knowledge and guidance?
(105) "0 you who believe! Guard your own souls." This means that 0 Muslims take
care of your own souls i.e. perform righteous deeds as much as you can and
fear Allah (SWT) by abstaining from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He
has forbidden while performing good deeds that He has ordained for you.
But this does not mean that people should only take care about themselves
and stop enjoining good and forbidding evil to others, rather it is an
obligation on every Muslims as the Messenger of Allah (SAW) once said: "If the
people witness evil and do not change it, then Allah (SW7) is about to send His
punishment to encompass them2 ." "If you follow the right guidance, no hurt can come
to you from those who err." i.e. those who stray from the right path cannot affect
those who follow the right guidance. Then Allah (SWT) said: "The return of you all
is to Allah (SWT), then He will inform you about (all) that which you used to do." i.e.
always be mindful of the fact that your final goal is to Allah (SWT), who will
show you the truth of all that you used to do.
(106) "0 you who believe! When death approaches any of you, and you make a bequest, then
take the testimony of two just men of your own folk or two others from outside, if you are
traveling through the land and the calamity of death befalls you. Detain them both after the
prayer, (then) if you are in doubt, let them both swear by Allah (SWT) (saying): " We wish not
for any worldly gain in this, even though he (the beneficiary) be our near relative. We shall
not hide Testimony of Allah (SWT), for then indeed we should be of the sinful."" Allah (SWT)
commands His servants to take two just witnesses for their final will. They
should be from amongst the Muslims and should be men of honor and
integrity. But if a person is traveling through a land and suddenly death
comes upon him and he does not find any Muslims to be witnesses for his
final will then he has the option to take two non-Muslim witnesses,
preferably from amongst the People of the Book. If the beneficiary has any
doubts in their truthfulness or integrity then he should detain them after
prayers in the mosque and they should testify that they will not sell this
testimony for any price, even if it is their own relative and they will not hide
or distort, which they have witnessed before Allah (SWT) , for if they do so then
they will be counted among the sinful.
(107) "If then it gets known that these two had been guilty of sin, let two others stand forth
in their places, nearest in kin from among those who claim a lawful right. Let them swear by
Allah (SWT) (saying): " We affirm that our testimony is truer than that of both of them, and
that we have not trespassed (the truth), for then indeed we should be of the wrongdoers.""
This ayah states that if the two witnesses are found guilty of distorting the
testimony or stealing from the wealth of the beneficiary, then oaths are
taken from two of the nearest rightful owners as witnesses in their place.
These two should also swear by Allah (SWT) and affirm that their testimony is
truer than the other two and that they have not transgressed from the truth,
for if they do so, then they will be counted among the evil-doers and will be
punishable by Allah (SWT) .
(108) "That should make it closer (to the fact) that their testimony would be in its true nature
and shape, or else they would fear that (other) oaths would be admitted after their oaths."
This procedure has been mentioned to eliminate the chances of false
evidence, so that the witnesses offer their testimony in truth or at least they
have fear that their testimony can be abrogated, so they are not tempted to
steal anything or hide the truth. "And fear Allah (SWT) and listen. And Allah (SWT)
does not guide those who are transgressors." i.e. always be mindful of Allah (SWT) and
be obedient to Him, for He does not give guidance to those who are
disobedient transgressors.
(109) "0n the Day when Allah (SWT) will gather the Messengers together and say to them:
" What was the response you received? They will say: "We have no knowledge, verily, only
You have all the knowledge of the unseen."" On the Day of Resurrection, all the
Messengers of Allah (SWT) will be gathered in His presence and they will be
asked about the response of their nations to their teachings. The
Messengers in their humbleness and out of respect to Allah (SWT) will reply
that O our Lord we have no knowledge compared to your infinite knowledge
and you perfectly know what our people believed in and what they hid in
their breasts as we only saw what was visible thereof, for it is only You who
know all that is hidden and all that they revealed.
(110) "When Allah (SWT) will say: "0 Jesus, son of Mary! Remember My Favor to you and
to your mother when I supported you with the Holy Spirit." On the Day of
Resurrection, Allah (SWT) will remind His Prophet Jesus (AS) of the favors and
blessings that He bestowed on him and his mother. He created Jesus (AS)
miraculously without father and exalted her mother, purified her and chose
her above the women of all nations and strengthened them and supported
them with angel Gabriel (AS) . "So that you spoke to the people in the cradle and in
maturity." Jesus (AS) spoke to the people from his cradle defending his mother
when they accused Mary (AS) of being unchaste and he also spoke to them
when he reached his maturity. Refer to ayah 46 of surah Al-Imran for further
comments on this ayah. "And when I taught you the Book, the Wisdom, the Torah and
the Injeel (Gospel)." Allah (SWT) gave Jesus (AS) the knowledge of writing and
Wisdom and also that which was given to Moses (AS) along with the
knowledge of Injeel. "And when you made out of the clay, as it were, the figure of a bird,
by My Permission, and you breathed into it, and it became a bird by My Permission, and you
healed those born blind, and the lepers by My Permission, and when you brought forth the
dead by My Permission." Further Allah (SWT) will remind him of His favors to
him and the miracles that he performed by His permission. For further
comments on this ayah, refer to ayah 49 of Al-Imran. "And when I restrained the
Children of Israel from you since you came unto them with clear proofs, and the disbelievers
among them said: "This is nothing but evident magic."" The Children of Israel rejected
Jesus (A5), accused him of being a magician and tried to crucify him, even
though he showed them clear miracles by Allah's leave. Therefore, Allah (5WT)
saved him from their plots and raised him up to heavens. 2
(111) "And when I put in the hearts of the disciples to believe in Me and My Messenger."
Hawarieen refers to the disciples of Jesus (A5) who believed in him and
followed his teachings. Allah (5WT) states that He inspired these disciples to
have faith in Him and His Messenger. Thus "They said: "We believe. And bear
witness that we are Muslims."" i.e. we have believed and have submitted
ourselves to Allah's obedience.
(112) "Remember when the disciples said: "0 Jesus, son of Mary (AS) ! Can your Lord send
down to us a table spread (with food) from heaven?" Jesus (AS) said: "Fear Allah (SWT), if you
are indeed believers."" The disciples requested Jesus (A5) for yet another miracle
and asked to supplicate to His Lord to send down a table spread with food
for them. In reply Jesus (A5) asked them to have fear of Allah (5WT) and do not
make such requests, instead show gratitude to Him for the provisions that
He has provided you with, if you are true believers.
(113) "They said: "We wish to eat thereof and to be stronger in Faith, and to know that you
have indeed told us the truth and that we ourselves be its witnesses."" i.e. they asked
Jesus (A5) for the miracle so that to reassure their hearts and to be stronger
in faith. This is as Abraham (A5) said: "My Lord! Show me how you give life to
the dead." He (Allah (sw7)) replied: "Have you no faith in this?" Abraham said:
"Yes! But I ask this to reassure my heart. "^4
(114) "Jesus, son of Mary (AS), said: "0 Allah (SWT), our Lord! Send us from heaven a table
spread that there may be for us - for the first and the last of us - a festival and a sign from
You; and provide us sustenance, for You are the Best of sustainers."" Prophet Jesus (AS)
fulfilled the request of his disciples and supplicated to Allah (SWT) to send
them a table spread with food, so that his followers will take this day as a
festival and a sign from Him. Further he prayed to Allah (SWT) to give them
the best of provisions, for surely He is the best of Providers.
(115) "Allah (SWF) said: "I am going to send it down unto you, but if any of you after that
disbelieves, then I will punish him with a torment such as I have not inflicted on anyone
among (all) the mankind."" i.e. It has been the sunnah of Allah (SWT) that
whenever a nation disbelieves after they have been shown clear signs and
miracles by Him, they are inflicted with severe punishment. Thus Allah (SWT)
states that whosoever disbelieves after there descends a table spread from
the heavens then they will certainly suffer a severe torment in this life and
in the Hereafter.
(116) "And (remember) when Allah (SWF) will say: "0 Jesus, son of Mary (AS) ! Did you say
unto men: 'Worship me and my mother as gods besides Allah (SWF) ?' "He will say: "Glory be
to You! It was not for me to say what I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing, You
would surely have known it. You know what is in my heart though I do not know what is in
Yours, truly, You, only You, are the All-Knower of all that is hidden and unseen." On the
Day of Resurrection Allah (SWT) will take Jesus (AS) to account about the false
doctrines that his followers invented about him, his mother and Allah (SWT) .
Prophet Jesus (AS) will disclaim any knowledge of these things attributed to
him and will glorify his Lord with all due humbleness and submissiveness.
(117) " Never did I say to them aught except what You did command me to say: "Worship
Allah, my Lord and your Lord." And I was a witness over them while I dwelt amongst them,
but when You took me up, You were the Watcher over them, and You are a Witness to all
things." Jesus (AS) further acknowledges that he was mortal, and that his
knowledge was limited like that of a mortal, and he taught his followers the
true teachings of Monotheism and commanded the Children of Israel to
worship Allah (SWT) alone, besides whom none is worthy of worship.
(118) "If You punish them, they are Your slaves, and if You forgive them, verily You, only
You are the All-Mighty, the All-Wise." i.e. Allah (SWT) does whatever He Wills and
He is able to do all things. He is the Creator and Master of everything and
He punishes whoever He wishes and pardons whoever He likes in His perfect
Wisdom.
(119) "Allah (SWT) will say: "This is a Day on which the truthful will profit from their truth:
theirs are Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise) - they shall abide therein forever.
Allah (SWT) is pleased with them and they with Him. That is the great success." This is the
proclamation of the good news of Paradise for those who always followed the
truth, and also the pleasure of Allah (SWT) , the greatest success indeed.
(120) "To Allah (SWT) belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all that is
therein, and He is Able to do all things." To Allah belongs the control over the heavens
and the earth and all that they contain. He has power over all things.
Foot Notes [1] Sahih A1-Bukhari 4623. [2] Musnad Ahmed 1: 5. [3] Cf. Surah An-Nisa(4): 157. [4] Surah A1-Baqarah (2): 260.
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