Surah
12, Yusuf (Joseph), Verses 53-111 & Surah 13, Ar-Raad (The Thunder), 43
Verses & Surah 14, Ibrahim (Abraham), 52 Verses
Continuing where we left off
yesterday with the story of Prophet Yusuf.
Surah 12, Yusuf
Section 8: Joseph measures out
corn to his brothers, verses 58-68
"And Joseph's brethren came and
presented themselves before him, and he knew them but they knew him not. And
when he provided them with their provision he said: Bring unto me a brother of
yours from your father. See ye not that I fill up the measure and I am the best
of hosts?" (Verses 58-59)
"So when they went back to their
father they said: O our father! The measure is denied us, so send with us our
brother that we may obtain the measure, surely we will guard him well. He said:
Can I entrust him to you save as I entrusted his brother to you aforetime?
Allah is better at guarding, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show
mercy." (Verses 63-64)
"He said: I will not send him
with you till ye give me an undertaking in the name of Allah that ye will bring
him back to me, unless ye are surrounded. And when they gave him their
undertaking he said: Allah is the Warden over what we say. And he said: O my sons!
Go not in by one gate; go in by different gates. I can naught avail you as
against Allah. Lo! the decision rests with Allah only. In Him do I put my
trust, and in Him let all the trusting put their trust. And when they entered
in the manner which their father had enjoined, it would have naught availed
them as against Allah; it was but a need of Jacob's soul which he thus
satisfied; and lo! he was a lord of knowledge because We had taught him; but
most of mankind know not." (Verses 66-68)
Section 9: Joseph meets his
brother, verses 69-79
"And when he provided them with
their provision, he put the drinking-cup in his brother's saddlebag, and then a
crier cried: O camel-riders! Lo! ye are surely thieves!" (Verse 70)
"They said: We have lost the
king's cup, and he who bringeth it shall have a camel-load, and I (said Joseph)
am answerable for it."(Verse 72)
"They said: The penalty for it!
He in whose bag (the cup) is found, he is the penalty for it. Thus we requite
wrong-doers. Then he (Joseph) began the search with their bags before his
brother's bag, then he produced it from his brother's bag. Thus did We contrive
for Joseph. He could not have taken his brother according to the king's law
unless Allah willed. We raise by grades (of mercy) whom We will, and over every
lord of knowledge there is one more knowing." (Verse 75-76)
Section 10: Joseph discloses
his identity, verses 80-93
"They said: O ruler of the land!
Lo! he hath a very aged father, so take one of us instead of him. Lo! we behold
thee of those who do kindness." (Verse 78)
"Return unto your father and say:
O our father! Lo! thy son hath stolen. We testify only to that which we know;
we are not guardians of the Unseen. Ask the township where we were, and the
caravan with which we travelled hither. Lo! we speak the truth." (Verses 81-82)
"(And when they came unto their
father and had spoken thus to him) he said: Nay, but your minds have beguiled
you into something. (My course is) comely patience! It may be that Allah will
bring them all unto me. Lo! He, only He, is the Knower, the Wise. And he turned
away from them and said: Alas, my grief for Joseph! And his eyes were whitened
with the sorrow that he was suppressing." (Verses 83-84)
"Go, O my sons, and ascertain
concerning Joseph and his brother, and despair not of the Spirit of Allah. Lo!
none despaireth of the Spirit of Allah save disbelieving folk." (Verse 88)
"They said: Is it indeed thou who
art Joseph? He said: I am Joseph and this is my brother. Allah hath shown us
favour. Lo! he who wardeth off (evil) and endureth (findeth favour); for lo!
Allah loseth not the wages of the kindly. They said: By Allah, verily Allah
hath preferred thee above us, and we were indeed sinful." (Verses 90-91)
"He said: Have no fear this day!
May Allah forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show
mercy." (Verse 92)
Section 11: Jacob goes to his
son Joseph, verses 93-104
"Go with this shirt of mine and
lay it on my father's face, he will become (again) a seer; and come to me with
all your folk." (Verse
93)
"Then, when the bearer of glad
tidings came, he laid it on his face and he became a seer once more. He said:
Said I not unto you that I know from Allah that which ye know not?" (Verse 96)
"And when they came in before
Joseph, he took his parents unto him, and said: Come into Egypt safe, if Allah
will! And he placed his parents on the dais and they fell down before him
prostrate, and he said: O my father! This is the interpretation of my dream of
old. My Lord hath made it true, and He hath shown me kindness, since He took me
out of the prison and hath brought you from the desert after Satan had made
strife between me and my brethren. Lo! my Lord is tender unto whom He will. He
is the Knower, the Wise." (Verses 99-100)
"This is of the tidings of the
Unseen which We inspire in thee (Muhammad). Thou wast not present with them
when they fixed their plan and they were scheming." (Verse 102)
Section 12: Histories of the
ancient people serve as a lesson, verses 105-111
"Say: This is my Way: I call on
Allah with sure knowledge. I and whosoever followeth me - Glory be to Allah! -
and I am not of the idolaters. We sent not before thee (any messengers) save
men whom We inspired from among the folk of the townships - Have they not
travelled in the land and seen the nature of the consequence for those who were
before them? And verily the abode of the Hereafter, for those who ward off
(evil), is best. Have ye then no sense?" (Verses 108-109)
"In their history verily there is
a lesson for men of understanding. It is no invented story but a confirmation
of the existing (Scripture) and a detailed explanation of everything, and a
guidance and a mercy for folk who believe." (Verse 111)
The story of Prophet Yusuf
concludes with a reminder to the Holy Prophet about the will of Allah (verses 108-109). All
the messengers were sent as a guide to preach the oneness of God. I've picked
out some of the verses to relay the story of Prophet Yusuf, but I would
recommend reading the whole Surah yourself to truly appreciate the great story.
Next is Surah 13, Ar-Raad (The
Thunder). It was revealed at Mecca, contains 43 verses in 6 sections. Surah
ar-Raad deals with the sovereignty, power, authority and wisdom of Allah. He is
the creator of the universe and all that which is in it, the laws which govern
and operate it, and the laws which (must) govern and operate the human life,
individually as well as collectively. The disbelievers, instead of deriving
advantage from the respite, are hastening unto the ultimate and eternal loss
and deprivation (punishment) by refusing to believe in the day of judgement.
Surah 13, Ar-Raad (The Thunder)
Section 1: Signs of God in
nature, verses 1-7
"Allah it is Who raised up the
heavens without visible supports, then mounted the Throne, and compelled the
sun and the moon to be of service, each runneth unto an appointed term; He
ordereth the course; He detaileth the revelations, that haply ye may be certain
of the meeting with your Lord." (Verse 2)
"And He it is Who spread out the
earth and placed therein firm hills and flowing streams, and of all fruits He
placed therein two spouses (male and female). He covereth the night with the
day. Lo! herein verily are portents for people who take thought. And in the
Earth are neighbouring tracts, vineyards and ploughed lands, and date-palms,
like and unlike, which are watered with one water. And we have made some of
them to excel others in fruit. Lo! herein verily are portents for people who
have sense." (Verses 3-4)
"And they bid thee hasten on the
evil rather than the good, when exemplary punishments have indeed occurred
before them. But lo! thy Lord is rich in pardon for mankind despite their
wrong, and lo! thy Lord is strong in punishment." (Verse 6)
"Those who disbelieve say: If
only some portent were sent down upon him from his Lord! Thou art a warner
only, and for every folk a guide." (Verse 7)
Despite seeing the signs in nature and in revelation, only an obstinate
disbeliever denies the creator, and refuses to appreciate the process of
raising the dead up again after being reduced to dust-he must know that He who
has once created him has the power to create him again.
According to many narrations,
when verse 7 was revealed the Holy Prophet
proclaimed: "I am the
warner and Ali is the guide. O Ali, through you those who are guided will
receive true guidance."
Section 2: God, the Almighty
creator of the universe, verses 8-18
"Allah knoweth that which every
female beareth and that which the wombs absorb and that which they grow. And
everything with Him is measured." (Verse 8)
"Alike of you is he who hideth
the saying and he who noiseth it abroad, he who lurketh in the night and he who
goeth freely in the daytime. For him are angels ranged before him and behind
him, who guard him by Allah's command. Lo! Allah changeth not the condition of
a folk until they (first) change that which is in their hearts; and if Allah
willeth misfortune for a folk there is none that can repel it, nor have they a
defender beside Him." (Verses 10-11)
"He it is Who showeth you the
lightning, a fear and a hope, and raiseth the heavy clouds. The thunder hymneth
His praise and (so do) the angels for awe of Him. He launcheth the thunderbolts
and smiteth with them whom He will while they dispute (in doubt) concerning
Allah, and He is mighty in wrath." (Verses 12-13)
"Unto Him is the real prayer.
Those unto whom they pray beside Allah respond to them not at all, save as (is
the response to) one who stretcheth forth his hands toward water (asking) that
it may come unto his mouth, and it will never reach it. The prayer of
disbelievers goeth (far) astray." (Verse 14)
In verse 8, the female womb
is an example of extreme secrecy, only Allah knows initially what the womb will
bear: male or female, one or more, whether it will be born early or late. All
things are regulated by Allah in just measure and proportion.
Allah knows our most hidden
thoughts and motives at all times. Every person, whether he conceals or reveals
his thoughts, whether he skulls in darkness or goes about by day, all are under
Allah's watch. His grace encompasses, and again and again protects, those who
take the precaution from harm and evil.
"Allah changeth not the condition
of a folk until they (first) change that which is in their hearts," Allah
has given man intelligence and knowledge; He surrounds him with his grace and
mercy. If, inspite of all this, man distorts his own will and goes against
Allah's will, Allah's wrath will descend on him and the favourable position in
which Allah has placed him will be changed. None of the things which he relies
upon, other than Allah, can protect him. When the punishment comes, there is no
turning it back.
Thunder is a beneficent force, created by Allah, and like the rest of creation
praises and glorifies the creator. Man is advised to look to good, not to evil;
to mercy, not to punishment; to the hope of abundant crops in the rain which
comes behind the lightning clouds; and not to fear the fire in the thunder.
In verse 14, without belief
in Allah, worship and prayers has no meaning at all. To call any created being
directly for fulfilment of needs and desires has been prohibited, but to seek
the medium of the approved intercessors is not forbidden.
Section 3: The faithful and the
unfaithful compared, verses 19-26
"He sendeth down water from the
sky, so that valleys flow according to their measure, and the flood beareth (on
its surface) swelling foam - from that which they smelt in the fire in order to
make ornaments and tools riseth a foam like unto it - thus Allah coineth (the
similitude of) the true and the false. Then, as for the foam, it passeth away
as scum upon the banks, while, as for that which is of use to mankind, it
remaineth in the earth. Thus Allah coineth the similitudes." (Verse 17)
"Is he who knoweth that what is
revealed unto thee from thy Lord is the truth like him who is blind? But only
men of understanding heed; Such as keep the pact of Allah, and break not the
covenant; Such as unite that which Allah hath commandeth should be joined, and
fear their Lord, and dread a woeful reckoning; Such as persevere in seeking
their Lord's Countenance and are regular in prayer and spend of that which We
bestow upon them secretly and openly, and overcome evil with good. Theirs will
be the sequel of the (heavenly) Home, Gardens of Eden which they enter, along
with all who do right of their fathers and their helpmeets and their seed. The
angels enter unto them from every gate, (Saying): Peace be unto you because ye
persevered. Ah, passing sweet will be the sequel of the (heavenly) Home." (Verses 19-24)
"And those who break the covenant
of Allah after ratifying it, and sever that which Allah hath commanded should
be joined, and make mischief in the earth: theirs is the curse and theirs the
ill abode." (Verse 25)
Verse 17 contains some complicated parables.
Allah sends rain and He sends it to all. There are degrees and degrees among
brooks, streams, lakes and rivers. So the rain of His mercy, knowledge and
guidance which He sends is received by all but each responds according to one's
own capacity. Water is pure, but froth and scum will gather according to local
conditions. As the floods carry off the scum, so Allah's mercy carries away
man's spiritual scum and purifies his soul. Like scum the frothy knowledge
disappears but Allah's truth endures. The ore is full of baser admixture, but
the fire separates the gold (or useful metals) from the trash for ornaments or
household utensils. So the fire of test and trial searches out the true metal
in man and rejects the trash.
In verse 22, "overcome evil with good," implies doing good to him who has done evil
to you, or forgiving .he evil-doer and the aggressor, or giving the rightful
share to him who has once deprived you of your legitimate rights, or
accommodating him who has refused to co-operate with you, or to be polite with
him who has been haughty to you, or to greet him who has abused you, or to seek
forgiveness of Allah as soon as a sin is committed.
Verse 25 is the opposite of what was stated in verses 19-24 and can be applied to those who broke
their promise to the Holy Prophet at Ghadeer Khum.
Sections 4 & 5: Remembrance
of God sets hearts at rest & Apostles of God were mocked at, verses 27-37
"Had it been possible for a
Lecture to cause the mountains to move, or the earth to be torn asunder, or the
dead to speak, (this Qur'an would have done so). Nay, but Allah's is the whole
command. Do not those who believe know that, had Allah willed, He could have
guided all mankind? As for those who disbelieve, disaster ceaseth not to strike
them because of what they do, or it dwelleth near their home until the threat
of Allah come to pass. Lo! Allah faileth not to keep the tryst." (Verse 31)
"Is He Who is aware of the
deserts of every soul (as he who is aware of nothing)? Yet they ascribe unto
Allah partners. Say: Name them. Is it that ye would inform Him of something
which He knoweth not in the earth? Or is it but a way of speaking? Nay but
their contrivance is made seeming fair for those who disbelieve and they are
kept from the right road. He whom Allah sendeth astray, for him there is no
guide." (Verse 33)
"And verily We sent messengers
(to mankind) before thee, and We appointed for them wives and offspring, and it
was not (given) to any messenger that he should bring a portent save by Allah's
leave. For everything there is a time prescribed." (Verse 38)
In verse 31, instead of
receiving guidance from the events of history, which has recorded the fact that
people had witnessed the signs or miracles of Allah yet did not believe and
were destroyed. The people in the times of the Holy Prophet, like their ancestors,
again want to repeat history, but miracles are not demonstrated to provide
enjoyment to the disbelievers.
Section 6: The two witnesses of
the truth, verses 38-43
"Those who were before them
plotted; but all plotting is Allah's. He knoweth that which each soul earneth.
The disbelievers will come to know for whom will be the sequel of the
(heavenly) Home. They who disbelieve say: Thou art no messenger (of Allah). Say:
Allah, and whosoever hath knowledge of the Scripture, is sufficient witness
between me and you." (Verses 42-43)
In verse 43, "whosoever hath knowledge of the
Scripture," refers to Imam Ali (as), who along with Allah is the witness
of the Prophethood of the Holy Prophet.
Now moving on to Surah 14,
Ibrahim (Abraham), it includes the important prayer of Prophet Ibrahim where he
mentions the people who pray for Allah's grace so that He keeps them attached
with the godly family of Ibrahim. This family of Ibrahim is in fact the family
of the Holy Prophet & the Ahlul Bayt. No evil force of the world can
prevent the march of Islam. Revealed at Mecca, it contains 52 verses in 7
sections.
Surah 14, Ibrahim
Section 1: Quran revealed to
lead mankind to light, verses 1-6
"Alif. Lam. Ra. (This is) a
Scripture which We have revealed unto thee (Muhammad) that thereby thou mayst
bring forth mankind from darkness unto light, by the permission of their Lord,
unto the path of the Mighty, the Owner of Praise." (Verse 1)
"And We never sent a messenger
save with the language of his folk, that he might make (the message) clear for
them. Then Allah sendeth whom He will astray, and guideth whom He will. He is
the Mighty, the Wise." (Verse 4)
A few Surah's in the Holy Quran
begin with verse 1 of this Surah. I wanted to highlight "a Scripture which We have
revealed unto thee (Muhammad)," which confirms that the whole Quran was revealed to the
Holy Prophet in a complete book form. He know the whole Quran and then revealed
verses as time went on during his mission.
All Prophets were sent down
with the message in "the language of his folk." However, although the Holy Prophet
was sent with the Holy book in Arabic, his mission and message was universal.
Sections 2 & 3: Moses'
exhortation & The disbelievers punished, verses 7-21
"Hath not the history of those
before you reached you: the folk of Noah, and (the tribes of) A'ad and Thamud,
and those after them? None save Allah knoweth them. Their messengers came unto
them with clear proofs, but they thrust their hands into their mouths, and
said: Lo! we disbelieve in that wherewith ye have been sent, and lo! we are in
grave doubt concerning that to which ye call us." (Verse 9)
"Their messengers said unto them:
We are but mortals like you, but Allah giveth grace unto whom He will of His
slaves. It is not ours to bring you a warrant unless by the permission of
Allah. In Allah let believers put their trust!" (Verse 11)
"And those who disbelieved said
unto their messengers: Verily we will drive you out from our land, unless ye
return to our religion. Then their Lord inspired them, (saying): Verily we
shall destroy the wrong-doers, And verily We shall make you to dwell in the
land after them. This is for him who feareth My Majesty and feareth My
threats." (Verses 13-14)
"And they sought help (from their
Lord) and every froward potentate was bought to naught; Hell is before him, and
he is made to drink a festering water, Which he sippeth but can hardly swallow,
and death cometh unto him from every side while yet he cannot die, and before
him is a harsh doom." (Verses 15-17)
"They all come forth unto their
Lord. Then those who were despised say unto those who were scornful: We were
unto you a following, can ye then avert from us aught of Allah's doom? They
say: Had Allah guided us, we should have guided you. Whether we rage or
patiently endure is (now) all one for us; we have no place of refuge." (Verse 21)
Once again we are reminded
about the stories of Prophet Moses & Nuh and the people of Ad and Thamud.
For the disbelievers lies great punishment and pain in the hell (verses 16-17).
Section 4: Disbelievers shall
be disappointed, truth shall be established, verses 22-27
"And Satan saith, when the matter
hath been decided: Lo! Allah promised you a promise of truth; and I promised
you, then failed you. And I had no power over you save that I called unto you
and ye obeyed me. So blame not, but blame yourselves. I cannot help you, nor
can ye help me, Lo! I disbelieved in that which ye before ascribed to me. Lo!
for wrong-doers is a painful doom." (Verse 22)
"Seest thou not how Allah coineth
a similitude: A goodly saying, as a goodly tree, its root set firm, its
branches reaching into heaven, Giving its fruit at every season by permission
of its Lord? Allah coineth the similitudes for mankind in order that they may
reflect. And the similitude of a bad saying is as a bad tree, uprooted from
upon the earth, possessing no stability.
And the similitude of a bad saying is
as a bad tree, uprooted from upon the earth, possessing no stability." (Verses 23-26)
Imam Ali (as) has said that in the agony of death every man remembers his
wealth, children and deeds to seek help from them. His wealth cannot do more
than buying a shroud for him, his children will only take him to the graveyard
and put him in the grave, but his deeds, good and bad, will accompany him to
his ultimate destination- the day of reckoning.
After death those who lived in this world like the goodly tree will live in
peace and bliss while those who lived like the evil tree will suffer untold
miseries till the day of resurrection and eternal punishment after the day of
judgement. The Holy Prophet, his Ahlul Bayt and the religion of Allah they
preached and practised have been compared to a goodly tree which bears fruits
in all seasons. The disbelievers and the hypocrites are compared to an evil
tree which shall be uprooted and destroyed for ever.
Section 5: The ingratitude of
men to God's bounties, verses 28-34
"Hast thou not seen those who
gave the grace of Allah in exchange for thanklessness and led their people down
to the Abode of Loss, (Even to) hell? They are exposed thereto. A hapless end!
And they set up rivals to Allah that they may mislead (men) from His way. Say:
Enjoy life (while ye may) for lo! your journey's end will be the Fire." (Verse 28-30)
Section 6: Abraham's prayer,
verses 35-41
"And when Abraham said: My Lord!
Make safe this territory, and preserve me and my sons from serving idols." (Verse 35)
"Our Lord! Lo! I have settled
some of my posterity in an uncultivable valley near unto Thy holy House, our
Lord! that they may establish proper worship; so incline some hearts of men
that they may yearn toward them, and provide Thou them with fruits in order
that they may be thankful." (Verse 37)
Prophet Ibrahim prayed to Allah to make the city of Makka a place of security
and non-violence, by declaring its precincts sacred and inviolable. Prophet
Ibrahim asks Allah to protect him and his sons from going astray and
worshipping the idols. Prophet Ibrahim also makes it clear who he wants to be
saved alongside him.
In verse 37 "incline some hearts of men that
they may yearn toward them," refers to the
Ahlul-Bayt. The people who remain firmly attached to the Ahlul-Bayt are the
Shias. In verse 41, Prophet Ibrahim asks Allah to favour his parents with
divine grace, forgiveness and to keep them safe from sin.
Section 7: The respite and the
End, verses 42-52
"Deem not that Allah is unaware
of what the wicked do. He but giveth them a respite till a day when eyes will
stare (in terror), As they come hurrying on in fear, their heads upraised,
their gaze returning not to them, and their hearts as air. And warn mankind of
a day when the doom will come upon them, and those who did wrong will say: Our
Lord! Reprieve us for a little while. We will obey Thy call and will follow the
messengers. (It will be answered): Did ye not swear before that there would be
no end for you?" (Verses 42-44)
"So think not that Allah will
fail to keep His promise to His messengers. Lo! Allah is Mighty, Able to
Requite (the wrong)." (Verse 47)
"On the day when the earth will
be changed to other than the earth, and the heavens (also will be changed) and
they will come forth unto Allah, the One, the Almighty, Thou wilt see the
guilty on that day linked together in chains, Their raiment of pitch, and the
Fire covering their faces, That Allah may repay each soul what it hath earned.
Lo! Allah is swift at reckoning. This is a clear message for mankind in order
that they may be warned thereby, and that they may know that He is only One
Allah, and that men of understanding may take heed." (Verses 48-52)
Allah confirms in verse 47 that there had always been a messenger
of Allah among the people, and there shall always be a chosen Imam among the
people, to keep them on the right path.
That concludes Chapter 13 and
tomorrow we inshallah cover Surahs 15 & 16.
Thanks for reading.
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