Surah
21, Al-Anbiya (The Prophets), 112 Verses & Surah 22, Al-Hajj (The
Pilgrimage), 78 Verses
Chapter 17, only the 4th
Chapter so far to start with the beginning of a Surah. Surah Al-Anbiya (The
Prophets) was revealed at Mecca with 112 verses in 7 sections.
Surah 21, Al-Anbiya (The
Prophets)
Section 1: Judgement getting
nigh, verses 1-10
"Never cometh there unto them a
new reminder from their Lord but they listen to it while they play, With hearts
preoccupied. And they confer in secret. The wrong-doers say: Is this other than
a mortal like you? Will ye then succumb to magic when ye see (it)?" (Verses 2-3)
"Nay, say they, (these are but)
muddled dreams; nay, he hath but invented it; nay, he is but a poet. Let him
bring us a portent even as those of old (who were Allah's messengers) were sent
(with portents). Not a township believed of those which We destroyed before
them (though We sent them portents): would they then believe?" (Verses 5-6)
"And We sent not (as Our
messengers) before thee other than men, whom We inspired. Ask the followers of
the Reminder if ye know not? We gave them not bodies that would not eat food,
nor were they immortals. Then we fulfilled the promise unto them. So we
delivered them and whom We would, and We destroyed the prodigals." (Verses 7-9)
In this section Allah is reminding
the disbelievers about the true message again and again, and even though they
hear it they remain busy in pleasure and wasteful activities. When they
listened to recitation of the Holy Quran from the Holy Prophet, they used to
allege that he was a sorcerer, or a poet, or was suffering with confused dreams
and demanded he show some miracles. Allah reminds us that previous messengers
were sent with numerous miracles but people still disbelieved. The Holy Prophet
and the messengers were all human like us subject to the same physical laws.
Section 2: Everything in the
universe belongs only to God, verses 11-29
"We created not the heaven and
the earth and all that is between them in play. If We had wished to find a
pastime, We could have found it in Our presence - if We ever did." (Verses 16-17)
"Unto Him belongeth whosoever is
in the heavens and the earth. And those who dwell in His presence are not too
proud to worship Him, nor do they weary; They glorify (Him) night and day; they
flag not." (Verses 19-20)
"If there were therein gods
beside Allah, then verily both (the heavens and the earth) had been disordered.
Glorified be Allah, the Lord of the Throne, from all that they ascribe (unto
Him). He will not be questioned as to that which He doeth, but they will be
questioned." (Verses 22-23)
"They speak not until He hath
spoken, and they act by His command. He knoweth what is before them and what is
behind them, and they cannot intercede except for him whom He accepteth, and
they quake for awe of Him. And one of them who should say: Lo! I am a god
beside Him, that one We should repay with hell. Thus We Repay
wrong-doers." (Verses 27-29)
The created beings near Allah
in verses 19-20 willingly bow down to Him. The
uniformity and harmony found in the universe since its creation proves the
existence of a single, omnipotent authority, which is governing its operation
through the laws made and enforced by Him (verses 22-23).
The Prophets of Allah were His servants raised to honour. They neither spoke
nor acted, at any time, of their own will. They said and acted (in all things)
by Allah's command. This verse proves that all the prophets and messengers of
Allah were infallible because whatever they said or did was in fact Allah's
word or action. Those who tried to call themselves God, including Kings and
Priests will be punished accordingly in the hereafter (verses 27-29)
Section 3: Every soul shall
taste death, verses 30-41
"Have not those who disbelieve
known that the heavens and the earth were of one piece, then We parted them,
and we made every living thing of water? Will they not then believe? And We
have placed in the earth firm hills lest it quake with them, and We have placed
therein ravines as roads that haply they may find their way. And we have made
the sky a roof withheld (from them). Yet they turn away from its portents. And
He it is Who created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. They
float, each in an orbit." (Verses 30-33)
"We appointed immortality for no
mortal before thee. What! if thou diest, can they be immortal! Every soul must
taste of death, and We try you with evil and with good, for ordeal. And unto Us
ye will be returned." (Verses 34-35)
"If those who disbelieved but
knew the time when they will not be able to drive off the fire from their faces
and from their backs, and they will not be helped! Nay, but it will come upon
them unawares so that it will stupefy them, and they will be unable to repel it,
neither will they be reprieved. Messengers before thee, indeed, were mocked,
but that whereat they mocked surrounded those who scoffed at them." (Verses 39-41)
All life began from water which
is a blessing from Allah sent down from the sky to provide and life and growth
on this Earth. The other faculties of Earth are also described as a mercy from
Allah in verses 30-33.
Life without death has not been granted to any man on this planet. Certain
chosen servants of Allah have been granted extraordinary long life, but even
they will die one day. Allah will test us with evil and good until we die
because every soul shall taste death.
To the sceptics and
disbelievers who used to mock the Holy Prophet, verses 39-41 were revealed. They give answers to
those pagans who used to mock at the Holy Prophet and ask him as to when the
threatened wrath of Allah would come, and the disbelieving people also
ridiculed the messengers of Allah and invited the wrath of Allah and were
completely destroyed.
Section 4: The Divine mercy,
verses 42-50
"Say (O Muhammad, unto mankind):
I warn you only by the Inspiration. But the deaf hear not the call when they
are warned. And if a breath of thy Lord's punishment were to touch them, they
assuredly would say: Alas for us! Lo! we were wrong-doers. And We set a just
balance for the Day of Resurrection so that no soul is wronged in aught. Though
it be of the weight of a grain of mustard seed, We bring it. And We suffice for
reckoners." (Verses 45-47)
On the Day of Judgement,
justice from Allah will be achieved by balancing our good deeds against our bad
deeds. The reward or punishment will be precisely measured with the scales,
even something as little in weight as a mustard seed will be acknowledged.
Section 5: Abraham argues
against idolatory, verses 51-75
"And We verily gave Abraham of
old his proper course, and We were Aware of him, When he said unto his father
and his folk: What are these images unto which ye pay devotion? They said: We
found our fathers worshippers of them. He said: Verily ye and your fathers were
in plain error." (Verses 51-54)
"And, by Allah, I shall
circumvent your idols after ye have gone away and turned your backs. Then he
reduced them to fragments, all save the chief of them, that haply they might
have recourse to it." (Verses 57-58)
They said: Is it thou who hast done this to our gods, O
Abraham?
He said: But this, their chief hath
done it. So question them, if they can speak.
Then gathered they apart and said: Lo!
ye yourselves are the wrong-doers. And they were utterly confounded, and they
said: Well thou knowest that these speak not.
He said: Worship ye then instead of
Allah that which cannot profit you at all, nor harm you? Fie on you and all
that ye worship instead of Allah! Have ye then no sense?" (Verses 62-67)
"They cried: Burn him and stand
by your gods, if ye will be doing. We said: O fire, be coolness and peace for
Abraham, And they wished to set a snare for him, but We made them the greater
losers. And We rescued him and Lot (and brought them) to the land which We have
blessed for (all) peoples." (Verses 68-71)
"And We made them chiefs who
guide by Our command, and We inspired in them the doing of good deeds and the
right establishment of worship and the giving of alms, and they were worshippers
of Us (alone). And unto Lot we gave judgment and knowledge, and We delivered
him from the community that did abominations. Lo! they were folk of evil,
lewd." (Verses 73-74)
This section narrates the
dealings of Prophet Ibrahim with the idol-worshippers. It was a day of
festivity. The idolaters were rejoicing in the streets and open fields. Ibrahim
broke all their idols to pieces but left the chief idol intact. When they came
back and found their idols lying broken on the floor they brought Prophet
Ibrahim to the scene and asked him if it was he who did that with their gods.
Prophet Ibrahim pointed to the chief idol, left intact by him, and asked them
to find out the truth from him. It is obvious that the question of lying or
deceit on the part of Prophet Ibrahim rises nowhere in the whole episode. They
knew the idols could not speak. They turned to each other and confessed their
folly and hung their heads in shame. When they admitted that idols could not
speak, Prophet Ibrahim put forward his decisive argument mentioned in verses 66-67 about the unity of Allah beside whom
no one should be worshipped.
Nimrud, the town leader ordered Prophet Ibrahim to be cast into a furnace. He
had a pile of wood set on fire, and Prophet Ibrahim was cast into it. Prophet
Ibrahim proclaimed the true faith in Allah, knowing full well that Nimrud, whom
the idolaters worshipped as god, would put him to death. When he was being
thrown into the fire several angels requested Allah to allow them to save him
from the blazing fire. "Help
him if he seeks your help" was
the reply. They came to him, but he said: "It
is between me and my Lord. Let His will be done." Angel Jibrail
advised him to beseech Allah for help. Prophet Ibrahim said: "My Lord knows that which is
taking place." As the
chosen friend of Allah, Prophet Ibrahim put his trust in Allah. When he was
thrown into the fire, the fire became cool and a means of safety for him under
the command of Allah.
Section 6: The apostle of God
delivered and blessed, verses 76-93
"And Noah, when he cried of old,
We heard his prayer and saved him and his household from the great affliction.
And delivered him from the people who denied Our revelations. Lo! they were
folk of evil, therefor did We drown them all." (Verses 76-77)
"And David and Solomon, when they
gave judgment concerning the field, when people's sheep had strayed and browsed
therein by night; and We were witnesses to their judgment. And We made Solomon
to understand (the case); and unto each of them We gave judgment and knowledge.
And we subdued the hills and the birds to hymn (His) praise along with David.
We were the doers (thereof)." (Verses 78-79)
"And unto Solomon (We subdued)
the wind in its raging. It set by his command toward the land which We had
blessed. And of everything We are Aware. And of the evil ones (subdued We unto
him) some who dived (for pearls) for him and did other work, and We were
warders unto them." (Verses 81-82)
"And Job, when he cried unto his
Lord, (saying): Lo! adversity afflicteth me, and Thou art Most Merciful of all
who show mercy. Then We heard his prayer and removed that adversity from which
he suffered, and We gave him his household (that he had lost) and the like
thereof along with them, a mercy from Our store, and a remembrance for the
worshippers; And (mention) Ishmael, and Idris, and Dhu'l-Kifl. All were of the
steadfast. And We brought them in unto Our mercy. Lo! they are among the
righteous." (Verses 83-86)
"And (mention) Dhu'n-Nun, when he
went off in anger and deemed that We had no power over him, but he cried out in
the darkness, saying: There is no Allah save Thee. Be Thou Glorified! Lo! I
have been a wrong-doer. Then we heard his prayer and saved him from the
anguish. Thus we save believers." (Verses 87-88)
"And Zachariah, when he cried
unto his Lord: My Lord! Leave me not childless, though Thou art the Best of
inheritors. Then We heard his prayer, and bestowed upon him John, and adjusted
his wife (to bear a child) for him. Lo! they used to vie one with the other in
good deeds, and they cried unto Us in longing and in fear, and were submissive
unto Us." (Verses 89-90)
This section briefly touches
upon the stories of several Prophets of God. Starting with the prayer of
Prophet Nuh to then the judgements passed by Prophet Dawood and Prophet
Suleman. Prophet Suleman, son of Prophet Dawood, passed judgement on the case
of John the Shephard's sheep which superseded the rulings passed by Prophet
Dawood. Both judgements were correct and from Allah alone. Prophet Dawood's
judgement was based on the law of the time; Prophet Suleman's judgement was the
new judgement. Prophet Suleman was able to speak to birds and control the
winds. Allah also gave him the power to control devilish forces and make them
serve him (verses 81-82).
Prophet Ayyub is then
highlighted who Allah made suffer some awful struggles; he lost his family,
wealth and health but continued to pray to Allah for his grace and mercy, even
though Shaitan tried to convince him that it was Allah's fault that he was
suffering. Eventually he was restored to prosperity by Allah (verses 83-84).
In the case of Prophet Yunus,
his anger in verse 87 is directed at his followers who did not
respond to his teachings. Allah tested him by placing him in the belly of a
whale and when he was engulfed in the darkness he prayed for forigveness "There is no Allah save Thee. Be
Thou Glorified! Lo! I have been a wrong-doer," and
he was saved. This verse has been recommended to recite frequently, when
requesting forgiveness, by the Holy Prophet.
Section 7: The righteous shall
inherit the Earth, verses 94-112
"And there is a ban upon any
community which We have destroyed: that they shall not return. Until, when Gog
and Magog are let loose, and they hasten out of every mound, And the True
Promise draweth nigh; then behold them, staring wide (in terror), the eyes of
those who disbelieve! (They say): Alas for us! We (lived) in forgetfulness of
this. Ah, but we were wrong-doers!" (Verses 95-97)
"The Day when We shall roll up
the heavens as a recorder rolleth up a written scroll. As We began the first
creation, We shall repeat it. (It is) a promise (binding) upon Us. Lo! We are
to perform it. And verily we have written in the Scripture, after the Reminder:
My righteous slaves will inherit the earth: Lo! there is a plain statement for
folk who are devout." (Verses 104-106)
"We sent thee not save as a mercy
for the peoples. Say: It is only inspired in me that your Allah is One Allah.
Will ye then surrender (unto Him)?" (Verses 107-108)
"Lo! He knoweth that which is
said openly, and that which ye conceal. And I know not but that this may be a
trial for you, and enjoyment for a while." (Verses 110-111)
The destroyed communities in verse 95 will not return except for the tribes
of Gog and Magoog (mentioned in Chapter
16) who will break loose and swarm through the Earth. The 12th Holy Imam
will come and subdue all the forces of evil and establish peace before the Day
of Judgement.
On the Day of Judgement the
universe will be folded up like a scroll of parchment (verse 104) and then
Allah shall create a new phase of life. Only the righteous will inherit the
Earth as mentioned in previous scriptures revealed to other Prophets of God.
In verses 107-108, Allah
confirms that the Holy Prophet was sent mercy for all of mankind. All the other
Prophets will follow him as well. He has been entrusted with the Holy Quran and
the perfected and completed religion of Allah: Islam.
Finally as the Surah concludes,
there is a reminder from Allah that the luxuries of the world enjoyed by the
disbelievers are a fleeting enjoyment till the time of death. What will be
given to the believers in the life of hereafter is real and everlasting.
Next comes Surah 21, Al-Hajj
(The Pilgrimage) which was revealed at Madina. It contains 78 verses split into
10 sections.
Surah 21, Al-Hajj (The
Pilgrimage)
Section 1: The awful Day of
Judgement, verses 1-10
"O mankind! Fear your Lord. Lo!
the earthquake of the Hour (of Doom) is a tremendous thing. On the day when ye
behold it, every nursing mother will forget her nursling and every pregnant one
will be delivered of her burden, and thou (Muhammad) wilt see mankind as
drunken, yet they will not be drunken, but the Doom of Allah will be strong
(upon them)." (Verses 1-2)
"Among mankind is he who
disputeth concerning Allah without knowledge, and followeth each froward devil;
For him it is decreed that whoso taketh him for friend, he verily will mislead
him and will guide him to the punishment of the Flame." (Verses 3-4)
"O mankind! if ye are in doubt
concerning the Resurrection, then lo! We have created you from dust, then from
a drop of seed, then from a clot, then from a little lump of flesh shapely and
shapeless, that We may make (it) clear for you. And We cause what We will to
remain in the wombs for an appointed time, and afterward We bring you forth as
infants, then (give you growth) that ye attain your full strength. And among
you there is he who dieth (young), and among you there is he who is brought
back to the most abject time of life, so that, after knowledge, he knoweth
naught. And thou (Muhammad) seest the earth barren, but when We send down water
thereon, it doth thrill and swell and put forth every lovely kind (of
growth)." (Verse 5)
"And among mankind is he who
disputeth concerning Allah without knowledge or guidance or a scripture giving
light, Turning away in pride to beguile (men) from the way of Allah. For him in
this world is ignominy, and on the Day of Resurrection We make him taste the doom
of burning." (Verses 8-9)
The Day of Judgement will bring
terrible consequence for those who have rebelled against Allah and disobeyed
his commands. The extreme terror will drive to forget everyone and everything
but themselves.
Allah has created mankind from
nothing, from lifeless matter, to fertilised egg, foetus, baby, child, youth,
old age and death. He will raised mankind from their graves once more on the
Day of Judgement.
Verse 3-4 & 8 refer to those who dispute about Allah
without knowledge and to those who blindly follow those who have rebelled
against Allah. On account of ignorance they identify themselves with their
false leaders and defend their wicked and evil conduct and false claims. Those
who have harassed and persecuted the Prophets of Allah and the holy chosen
Imams are in fact the devils among men. Man will suffer for what he does; Allah
is not unjust to his servants.
Section 2: The weak in faith,
verses 11-22
"And among mankind is he who
worshippeth Allah upon a narrow marge so that if good befalleth him he is
content therewith, but if a trial befalleth him, he falleth away utterly. He
loseth both the world and the Hereafter. That is the sheer loss." (Verse 11)
"Whoso is wont to think (through
envy) that Allah will not give him (Muhammad) victory in the world and the
Hereafter (and is enraged at the thought of his victory), let him stretch a
rope up to the roof (of his dwelling), and let him hang himself. Then let him
see whether his strategy dispelleth that whereat he rageth!" (Verse 15)
"Lo! those who believe (this
revelation), and those who are Jews, and the Sabaeans and the Christians and
the Magians and the idolaters - Lo! Allah will decide between them on the Day of
Resurrection. Lo! Allah is Witness over all things." (Verse 17)
"These twain (the believers and
the disbelievers) are two opponents who contend concerning their Lord. But as
for those who disbelieve, garments of fire will be cut out for them; boiling
fluid will be poured down on their heads, Whereby that which is in their
bellies, and their skins too, will be melted; And for them are hooked rods of
iron." (Verses 19-21)
Those with weak faith will end
up suffering the same fate as the disbelievers on account of their cowardice
and doubt when tested by Allah. The Holy Prophet has been assured of victory in verse 15, over his
enemies who were convinced that Allah would not help him. In their defeat,
Allah invites them to hang themselves!
In verse 19, the two
groups, believers and disbelievers referred to here are men of faith who
believe in Allah and carry out His will and the disbelievers who deny their
Lord and defy His will. The disbelievers’ punishment is explicitly described
and it does not sound pleasant!
Sections 3 & 4: Believers
shall be rewarded & Pilgimage to the Sacred House, verses 23-33
"Lo! Allah will cause those who
believe and do good works to enter Gardens underneath which rivers flow,
wherein they will be allowed armlets of gold, and pearls, and their raiment
therein will be silk." (Verse 23)
"Lo! those who disbelieve and bar
(men) from the way of Allah and from the Inviolable Place of Worship, which We
have appointed for mankind together, the dweller therein and the nomad:
whosoever seeketh wrongful partiality therein, him We shall cause to taste a
painful doom." (Verse 25)
"And proclaim unto mankind the pilgrimage.
They will come unto thee on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from
every deep ravine, That they may witness things that are of benefit to them,
and mention the name of Allah on appointed days over the beast of cattle that
He hath bestowed upon them. Then eat thereof and feed therewith the poor
unfortunate. Then let them make an end of their unkemptness and pay their vows
and go around the ancient House." (Verse 27-29)
"Turning unto Allah (only), not
ascribing partners unto Him; for whoso ascribeth partners unto Allah, it is as
if he had fallen from the sky and the birds had snatched him or the wind had
blown him to a far-off place." (Verse 31)
In the Holy Kaaba, it is said
that even an evil thought or intention is punished. Verse 27 was revealed at the final Hajj
performed by the Holy Prophet. The act of performing hajj is truly blessed in verses 28-29. In verses 31 the man who refuses to worship one
true God, is like a man who falls from heaven into the laps of false gods but
is ripped open in the mid air by the birds of prey. Then a fierce blast of
wind, the wrath of Allah, snatches him and throws him into the hell of those
who rebel against Allah and defy him, from where he can never return to the
safety of the faith.
Sections 5 & 6: Regard for
the signs of God & Fight in self-defence permitted, verses 34-48
"And for every nation have We
appointed a ritual, that they may mention the name of Allah over the beast of
cattle that He hath given them for food; and your god is One God, therefor
surrender unto Him. And give good tidings (O Muhammad) to the humble, Whose
hearts fear when Allah is mentioned, and the patient of whatever may befall
them, and those who establish worship and who spend of that We have bestowed on
them." (Verses 34-35)
"Lo! Allah defendeth those who
are true. Lo! Allah loveth not each treacherous ingrate. Sanction is given unto
those who fight because they have been wronged; and Allah is indeed Able to
give them victory; Those who have been driven from their homes unjustly only
because they said: Our Lord is Allah - For had it not been for Allah's
repelling some men by means of others, cloisters and churches and oratories and
mosques, wherein the name of Allah is oft mentioned, would assuredly have been
pulled down. Verily Allah helpeth one who helpeth Him. Lo! Allah is Strong,
Almighty." (Verses 38-40)
"Have they not travelled in the
land, and have they hearts wherewith to feel and ears wherewith to hear? For
indeed it is not the eyes that grow blind, but it is the hearts, which are
within the bosoms, that grow blind. And they will bid thee hasten on the Doom,
and Allah faileth not His promise, but lo! a Day with Allah is as a thousand
years of what ye reckon. And how many a township did I suffer long though it
was sinful! Then I grasped it. Unto Me is the return." (Verses 46-48)
Verse 38 was the first revelation about jihad. Allah promises to defend
the believers against the evil of their enemies. When the pagans of Mecca were
persecuting and torturing the Holy Prophet and the believers, the believers
sought permission of the Holy Prophet to fight against them but the permission
was put off until the Muslims migrated to Madina and became organised. Then
permission was given to defend themselves against aggression because they were
driven out of their homes.
Verse 48 indicates that in the case of some
wrongs the wrongdoers are caught while doing the wrong and in some cases they
are given a respite but caught afterwards. In any case they will not escape
punishment.
Section 7: The enticement by
Satan, verses 49-57
"Never sent We a messenger or a
prophet before thee but when He recited (the message) Satan proposed
(opposition) in respect of that which he recited thereof. But Allah abolisheth
that which Satan proposeth. Then Allah establisheth His revelations. Allah is
Knower, Wise; That He may make that which the devil proposeth a temptation for
those in whose hearts is a disease, and those whose hearts are hardened - Lo!
the evil-doers are in open schism - And that those who have been given
knowledge may know that it is the truth from thy Lord, so that they may believe
therein and their hearts may submit humbly unto Him. Lo! Allah verily is
guiding those who believe unto a right path." (Verses 52-54)
"The Sovereignty on that day will
be Allah's, He will judge between them. Then those who believed and did good
works will be in Gardens of Delight, While those who disbelieved and denied Our
revelations, for them will be a shameful doom." (Verses 56-57)
To confuse people so as to make them misinterpret the verses of the Quran
Shaitan plants doubts in their minds about the Holy Prophet and the words of
Allah he recited. Some translators and commentators have drawn misconceived and
mischievous conclusions to belittle the high status of the Holy Prophet in
order to bring him on the level of those ordinary men whom they accept as their
leaders.
Section 8: Reward for those who
migrate in God's cause, verses 58-64
"Those who fled their homes for
the cause of Allah and then were slain or died, Allah verily will provide for
them a good provision. Lo! Allah, He verily is Best of all who make provision.
Assuredly He will cause them to enter by an entry that they will love. Lo!
Allah verily is Knower, Indulgent." (Verses 58-59)
"And whoso hath retaliated with
the like of that which he was made to suffer and then hath (again) been
wronged, Allah will succour him. Lo! Allah verily is Mild, Forgiving. That is because
Allah maketh the night to pass into the day and maketh the day to pass into the
night, and because Allah is Hearer, Seer." (Verse 60-61)
Verses 58-59 have been perfectly exemplified by the
tragedy of Karbala, when Imam Husain (as) and his family & friends were
massacred by the tyrant Yazid. Those who were martyred will have ample reward
from Allah in the hereafter. Allah controls the creation and the working of
creation throughout the universe.
Section 9: God's will alone,
verses 65-72
"Hast thou not seen how Allah
hath made all that is in the earth subservient unto you? And the ship runneth
upon the sea by His command, and He holdeth back the heaven from falling on the
earth unless by His leave. Lo! Allah is, for mankind, Full of Pity, Merciful.
And He it is Who gave you life, then He will cause you to die, and then will
give you life (again). Lo! man is verily an ingrate." (Verses 65-66)
"And when Our revelations are
recited unto them, thou knowest the denial in the faces of those who
disbelieve; they all but attack those who recite Our revelations unto them.
Say: Shall I proclaim unto you worse than that? The Fire! Allah hath promised
it for those who disbelieve. A hapless journey's end!" (Verse 72)
Land and sea have been made subject to man by Allah's command, so that man can
develop his material and spiritual life on earth, so it is ingratitude on the
part of man that he should bow to any other creature, made subservient to him,
save Allah. The whole universe, created by Allah, is working or operating
under precise laws made by Allah, therefore there is complete order and harmony
in the working of the universe. Nothing can go wrong unless He Himself wills
it.
Section 10: The Muslims chosen
by God himself, a parable of the helplessness of the polytheists and their own
imaginary deities, verses 73-78
"O mankind! A similitude is
coined, so pay ye heed to it: Lo! those on whom ye call beside Allah will never
create a fly though they combine together for the purpose. And if the fly took
something from them, they could not rescue it from it. So weak are (both) the
seeker and the sought!" (Verse 73)
"O ye who believe! Bow down and
prostrate yourselves, and worship your Lord, and do good, that haply ye may
prosper. And strive for Allah with the endeavour which is His right. He hath
chosen you and hath not laid upon you in religion any hardship; the faith of
your father Abraham (is yours). He hath named you Muslims of old time and in this
(Scripture), that the messenger may be a witness against you, and that ye may
be witnesses against mankind. So establish worship, pay the poor-due, and hold
fast to Allah. He is your Protecting friend. A blessed Patron and a blessed
Helper!" (Verses 77-78)
The idiocy of the
idol-worshipers is highlighted once more in verse 73 with a mention of how neither could an
idol create even a small fly, nor defend itself against one. The pagans of
Mecca used to gift their idols with honey and when it was eaten overnight by
flies, praised their idols for accepting their gift.
The religion of Allah, which Prophet Ibrahim followed, is Islam. The first man
to call himself a Muslim, is the great ancestor of the Holy Prophet and his
Ahlul-Bayt. The religion of Allah, Islam, was perfected and completed through
the Holy Prophet.
The witness over mankind should be thoroughly purified, therefore Allah
thoroughly purified the Ahlul-Bayt of the Holy Prophet, because He willed to
appoint them as witnesses over all the human beings He has created and will
create. The Holy Prophet is a witness over these thoroughly purified witnesses.
At the revelation of this verse the Holy Prophet said: "Only
thirteen men have been addressed in this verse. Myself, my brother Ali, and the
eleven Imams in his progeny."
With that we finish Surah 22
and Chapter 17. Tomorrow we continue with Surahs 23, 24 and the start of Surah
25.
Thank you for reading - is
there anyone who is?
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