Surah
36, Yaseen, Verses 33-83 &
Surah
37, As-Saffaat (Those drawn up in Ranks), 182 Verses &
Surah
38, Saad (the letter Sa'ad), 88 Verses &
Surah
39, Az-Zumar (The Groups), Verses 1-31
Continuing with Surah Yaseen
and the remaining 3 sections.
Surah 36, Yaseen
Section 3: God's bounties as
signs of guidance to mankind, verses 33-50
"A token unto them is the dead
earth. We revive it, and We bring forth from it grain so that they eat thereof;
And We have placed therein gardens of the date-palm and grapes, and We have
caused springs of water to gush forth therein, That they may eat of the fruit
thereof, and their hands made it not. Will they not, then, give thanks?" (Verses 33-35)
"And a token unto them is that We
bear their offspring in the laden ship, And have created for them of the like
thereof whereon they ride. And if We will, We drown them, and there is no help
for them, neither can they be saved; Unless by mercy from Us and as comfort for
a while." (Verses 41-44)
"And when it is said unto them:
Spend of that wherewith Allah hath provided you, those who disbelieve say unto
those who believe: Shall we feed those whom Allah, if He willed, would feed? Ye
are in naught else than error manifest. And they say: When will this promise be
fulfilled, if ye are truthful? They await but one Shout, which will surprise
them while they are disputing." (Verses 47-49)
Regardless of out activities in
cultivating the earth, soil for fruits and plants, it is all dependent on the
forces of nature, the sun, rain, wind etc. This is all under the control of
Allah and without His help nothing can grow from the earth (verses 33-35). Similarly
the waters are also controlled by Allah and whilst we have been blessed with
the intelligence to craft ships, the safety therein is dependent on Allah and
his command of the seas & oceans (verses 41-44).
When those granted affluence
are told to spend what Allah has given them for the benefit of their fellow
beings, they laugh and indirectly blame Allah for not being merciful to provide
the poor as He has done to the rich. Such people think that what Allah had
provided them by His grace and mercy, was earned by them through their own
personal merits. It is a trial from Allah to see how they deal with their
wealth and whether they use it responsibly and for Allah's pleasure. The same
disbelievers taunted the Holy Prophet about the hereafter and ask when it will
come - it will come but only when Allah wills it.
Section 4: A scene of the
Resurrection, verses 51-67
"And the trumpet is blown and lo!
from the graves they hie unto their Lord, Crying: Woe upon us! Who hath raised
us from our place of sleep? This is that which the Beneficent did promise, and
the messengers spoke truth. It is but one Shout, and behold them brought
together before Us! This day no soul is wronged in aught; nor are ye requited
aught save what ye used to do." (Verses 51-54)
"Lo! those who merit paradise
this day are happily employed, They and their wives, in pleasant shade, on
thrones reclining; Theirs the fruit (of their good deeds) and theirs (all) that
they ask; The word from a Merciful Lord (for them) is: Peace!" (Verses 55-58)
"But avaunt ye, O ye guilty, this
day! Did I not charge you, O ye sons of Adam, that ye worship not the devil -
Lo! he is your open foe! - But that ye worship Me? That was the right path. Yet
he hath led astray of you a great multitude. Had ye then no sense? This is hell
which ye were promised (if ye followed him). Burn therein this day for that ye
disbelieved." (Verses 59-64)
"This day We seal up their
mouths, and their hands speak out to Us and their feet bear witness as to what
they used to earn. And had We willed, We verily could have quenched their
eyesight so that they should struggle for the way. Then how could they have seen?
And had We willed, We verily could have fixed them in their place, making them
powerless to go forward or turn back." (Verses 65-67)
For the first time ever, I have
included ever single verse from a single section and that is because in this
particular section Allah describes beautifully, what will happen on the Day of
Resurrection. Note the mention of how our limbs and eyes will speak on our
behalf, and bear witness to our actions, good and bad (verse 65).
Section 5: The kingdom of the
universe is God's, verses 68-83
"He whom we bring unto old age,
We reverse him in creation (making him go back to weakness after strength).
Have ye then no sense? And We have not taught him (Muhammad) poetry, nor is it
meet for him. This is naught else than a Reminder and a Lecture making plain,To
warn whosoever liveth, and that the word may be fulfilled against the
disbelievers." (Verses 68-70)
"So let not their speech grieve
thee (O Muhammad). Lo! We know what they conceal and what proclaim. Hath not
man seen that We have created him from a drop of seed? Yet lo! he is an open
opponent. And he hath coined for Us a similitude, and hath forgotten the fact
of his creation, saying: Who will revive these bones when they have rotted
away? Say: He will revive them Who produced them at the first, for He is Knower
of every creation." (Verses 76-79)
"Is not He Who created the
heavens and the earth Able to create the like of them? Aye, that He is! for He
is the All-Wise Creator, But His command, when He intendeth a thing, is only
that He saith unto it: Be! and it is. Therefor Glory be to Him in Whose hand is
the dominion over all things! Unto Him ye will be brought back." (Verses 81-83)
It is easy to understand why
Surah Yaseen is such a powerful Surah and so highly recommended. It is a beautiful
expression of the blessings and bounties of God along with a clear description
of the consequences of disbelief. In this final section, mankind is reminded
once again, of his place on this universe - how we have come from a single drop
of sperm (verse 77),
and then after a period of strength, we return to weakness in our old age (verse 68). Yet some have
the temerity and arrogance to question Allah's creation, for those a grave
punishment awaits.
Now after that, we move on to
Surah 37, As-Saffaat (Those drawn up in Ranks). It was revealed at Mecca and
has 182 verses in 5 sections.
Surah 37, As-Saffaat (Those
drawn up in Ranks)
Section 1: Unity shall
ultimately triumph, verses 1-21
"By those who set the ranks in
battle order, And those who drive away (the wicked) with reproof And those who
read (the Word) for a reminder, Lo! thy Lord is surely One." (Verses 1-4)
"Lo! We have adorned the lowest
heaven with an ornament, the planets; With security from every froward devil.
They cannot listen to the Highest Chiefs for they are pelted from every side,
Outcast, and theirs is a perpetual torment; Save him who snatcheth a fragment,
and there pursueth him a piercing flame." (Verses 6-10)
The doers of the three things
noted in verses 1-4 are the angels, the Prophets of God
and the Ahlul-Bayt. The verse starts with an appeal to believe in the important
statements made in these verses.
The lowest form of heaven mentioned
in verse 6 is said to an exalted assembly of angels. It cannot be disturbed or
upset by any evil. Prior to the advent of the Holy Prophet, the jinn and devils
had access to the outskirts of heaven, and by assiduous eavesdropping secured
some of the secrets of the upper world, which they communicated to soothsayers
upon the earth. After the advent of the Holy Prophet they were driven from the
heavens, and whenever they dared to approach, flaming bolts were hurled at
them, appearing to mankind like falling stars.
Section 2: The sufferings of
the guilty, verses 22-74
"Lo! thus deal We with the
guilty. For when it was said unto them, There is no Allah save Allah, they were
scornful And said: Shall we forsake our gods for a mad poet? Nay, but he brought
the Truth, and he confirmed those sent (before him)." (Verses 34-37)
"Save single-minded slaves of
Allah; For them there is a known provision, Fruits. And they will be honoured
In the Gardens of delight, On couches facing one another; A cup from a gushing
spring is brought round for them, White, delicious to the drinkers, Wherein
there is no headache nor are they made mad thereby. And with them are those of
modest gaze, with lovely eyes, (Pure) as they were hidden eggs (of the
ostrich)." (Verses 40-49)
"Then looketh he and seeth him in
the depth of hell. He saith: By Allah, thou verily didst all but cause my ruin,
And had it not been for the favour of my Lord, I too had been of those haled
forth (to doom)." (Verses 55-57)
"Is this better as a welcome, or
the tree of Zaqqum? Lo! We have appointed it a torment for wrong-doers. Lo! it
is a tree that springeth in the heart of hell. Its crop is as it were the heads
of devils And lo! they verily must eat thereof, and fill (their) bellies
therewith. And afterward, lo! thereupon they have a drink of boiling water And
afterward, lo! their return is surely unto hell." (Verses 62-68)
This section neatly describes
the contrast between heaven and hell. When the Holy Quran gives some of the
descriptions of heaven it is more in the form of the metaphor - we are not able
to comprehend the true beauty of heaven until we get there inshallah. As for
hell, the tree of Zaqqum is a tree having small leaves,
stinging, dust coloured, with a pungent odour, bitter taste and knots in its
stem. This bitter tree of hell is a symbol of the contrast with the beautiful
garden of paradise with its delicious fruits. The dwellers of hell will eat of
the Zaqqum tree along
with drinking boiling water - no metaphors needed here.
Section 3: The great sacrifice
shifted, verses 75-113
"And when (his son) was old
enough to walk with him, (Abraham) said: O my dear son, I have seen in a dream
that I must sacrifice thee. So look, what thinkest thou? He said: O my father!
Do that which thou art commanded. Allah willing, thou shalt find me of the
steadfast. Then, when they had both surrendered (to Allah), and he had flung
him down upon his face, We called unto him: O Abraham! Thou hast already
fulfilled the vision. Lo! thus do We reward the good. Lo! that verily was a
clear test." (Verses 102-106)
Verses 75-101 talk about the deliverance of Prophet
Nuh and Prophet Ibrahim and the punishment to their enemies. Prophet Ibrahim
admonished his people for their persistent idol-worship and was thrown onto a
fire were he was protected by Allah. He subsequently had a son with his second
wife, Prophet Ismail. After he reached a certain age, Prophet Ibrahim had
successive dreams where he was sacrificing his son, Prophet Ismail. Taken to be
a sign from Allah, Prophet Ibrahim explained the dream to his and they both
readily went out to perform the sacrifice. On the way Shaitan tried to change
their minds but failed. Eventually at the time of the sacrifice, Prophet
Ibrahim blindfolded himself and began to cut at what he thought was his son's
neck. When he finished and removed the blindfold he found his son safe and a
ram had been killed in his place. It was a trial from God.
However, the "Great Sacrifice" referred to in verse 107, actually
refers to the events of the tragedy of Karbala, when Imam Hussain (as)
sacrificed his friends, family and himself to save the religion of Islam. The
ransom here is the Great Sacrifice that Allah had kept in store for the future.
Unlike Prophet Ibrahim, Imam Hussain (as) sacrificed his sons and much more.
Section 4: God's blessings on
Moses, Elias and Lot, verses 114-138
This section addresses the
missions of Prophet Musa, Prophet Harun and Prophet Lot as discussed in
previous chapters. It also mentions Prophet Ilyas for the first time. He was
sent after Prophet Musa at a time when people had begun worshiping a sun-god, Baal (verse 125). Prophet
Ilyas invited them to the message of Prophet Musa once more but they turned
away. Inevitably the punishment of Allah soon arrived and they were wiped out
save those who remained firm and steadfast of their worship to Allah alone.
Section 5: Jonah's delivery
from distress, verses 139-182
"And lo! Jonah verily was of
those sent (to warn) When he fled unto the laden ship, And then drew lots and
was of those rejected; And the fish swallowed him while he was blameworthy; And
had he not been one of those who glorify (Allah) He would have tarried in its
belly till the day when they are raised." (Verses 139-144)
"Or created We the angels females
while they were present? Lo! it is of their falsehood that they say: Allah hath
begotten. Allah! verily they tell a lie." (Verses 150-152)
"And indeed they used to say: If
we had but a reminder from the men of old We would be single-minded slaves of
Allah. Yet (now that it is come) they disbelieve therein; but they will come to
know." (Verses 167-170)
"And verily Our word went forth
of old unto Our bondmen sent (to warn) That they verily would be helped, And
that Our host, they verily would be the victors." (Verses 171-173)
"So withdraw from them (O
Muhammad) awhile, And watch, for they will (soon) see. Would they hasten on Our
doom? But when it cometh home to them, then it will be a hapless morn for those
who have been warned. Withdraw from them awhile And watch, for they will (soon)
see." (Verses 174-179)
The story of Prophet Yunus is
mentioned at the beginning of this section. He was repeatedly rejected by his
people and in his anger he left the town without Allah's permission. He boarded
a boat but was soon thrown off the boat and swallowed by a huge fish. He
remained in the belly of the fish for 3 days and then he prayed for forgiveness
(Surah 21, Verse 87)
and the fish then vomited him out.
The rest of the section implies
that there will be a time before the day of resurrection when Allah's forces
will prevail over His enemies, a complete triumph of the divine guidance on earth
and a victory for all those who had strived in the promotion of the divine
mission.
With that Surah 37 concludes
and we now move on to Surah 38, Saad. This Surah was revealed at Mecca and
contains 88 verses 5 sections.
Surah 38, Saad (The letter
Sa'ad)
Section 1: The utter defeat of
the clans combined, prophesied, verses 1-14
"Hath the reminder been unto him
(alone) among us? Nay, but they are in doubt concerning My reminder; nay but
they have not yet tasted My doom. Or are theirs the treasures of the mercy of
thy Lord, the Mighty, the Bestower? Or is the kingdom of the heavens and the
earth and all that is between them theirs? Then let them ascend by ropes! A
defeated host are (all) the factions that are there." (Verses 8-11)
The pagans of Mecca referred to the Holy Prophet as a sorcerer, dreamer, poet
and an impostor, because he invited them to the worship of Allah, made all
their false gods disappear, brought harmony in place of chaos, and peace in
place of discord and conflict. In the above verses the pagans are challenged to
take on the authority of Allah if they can. Even if they muster all the evil
forces at their disposal, they will suffer a total defeat, miserably routed and
crushed.
Sections 2 & 3: God's
blessings on David & God's blessings on Solomon, verses 15-40
"And hath the story of the
litigants come unto thee? How they climbed the wall into the royal chamber; How
they burst in upon David, and he was afraid of them. They said: Be not afraid!
(We are) two litigants, one of whom hath wronged the other, therefor judge
aright between us; be not unjust; and show us the fair way.
Lo! this my brother hath ninety and nine ewes while I had one ewe; and he said:
Entrust it to me, and he conquered me in speech.
(David) said: He hath wronged thee in demanding thine ewe in addition to his
ewes, and lo! many partners oppress one another, save such as believe and do
good works, and they are few. And David guessed that We had tried him, and he
sought forgiveness of his Lord, and he bowed himself and fell down prostrate
and repented." (Verses 21-24)
"And We created not the heaven
and the earth and all that is between them in vain. That is the opinion of
those who disbelieve. And woe unto those who disbelieve, from the Fire!" (Verse 27)
"Shall We treat those who believe
and do good works as those who spread corruption in the earth; or shall We
treat the pious as the wicked? (This is) a Scripture that We have revealed unto
thee, full of blessing, that they may ponder its revelations, and that men of
understanding may reflect." (Verses 28-29)
"And verily We tried Solomon, and
set upon his throne a (mere) body. Then did he repent. He said: My Lord!
Forgive me and bestow on me sovereignty such as shall not belong to any after
me. Lo! Thou art the Bestower. So We made the wind subservient unto him,
setting fair by his command whithersoever he intended." (Verses 34-36)
Verses 21-24 narrate the time when Prophet Dawood's
brother, Uriya wanted to marry a girl whose family were reluctant. Prophet
Dawood then offered his own hand in marriage instead and due to his status as
ruler of the kingdom, the family agreed to the proposal. The girl became his
100th wife. Uriya was disappointed as he felt that Prophet Dawood could have
used his influence to have the girl's family agree to marrying him.
Allah then sent two angels to
Prophet Dawood and one of them said: "This
my brother has a flock of 99 sheep, and I had but one; yet he wants me to give
up my one sheep to his keeping." Prophet Dawood decreed that his
demand was unjust without hearing from the second angel. Immediately he
realised that this was a trial from Allah and he sought repentance.
Verses 34-36 tell the story of the time when
Prophet Suleyman wanted to beget seventy sons from his seventy wives - every
son would be a warrior for Allah. Unfortunately he did not say inshallah and instead he
had only one son, who was still-born. Prophet Suleyman released his omission
and turned repentant towards Allah and was bestowed with abundant powers and
bounties.
Section 4: Job's patience
rewarded, verses 41-64
"And make mention (O Muhammad) of
Our bondman Job, when he cried unto his Lord (saying): Lo! the devil doth
afflict me with distress and torment. (And it was said unto him): Strike the
ground with thy foot. This (spring) is a cool bath and a refreshing drink. And
We bestowed on him (again) his household and therewith the like thereof, a
mercy from Us, and a memorial for men of understanding." (Verses 41-43)
"And lo! for the transgressors
there with be an evil journey's end, Hell, where they will burn, an evil
resting-place. Here is a boiling and an ice-cold draught, so let them taste it,
And other (torment) of the kind in pairs (the two extremes)!" (Verses 55-58)
"And they say: What aileth us
that we behold not men whom we were wont to count among the wicked? Did we take
them (wrongly) for a laughing-stock, or have our eyes missed them? Lo! that is
very truth: the wrangling of the dwellers in the Fire." (Verses 62-64)
Prophet Ayyub, in verses 41-43, was put
under great trial by Allah. He lost his wealth and health, suffering with many
physical ailments and illnesses. Shaitan initially tried to influence him and
to get him to tunr his back on Allah, after Prophet Ayyub's determined
resistance against him, Shaitan turned his attentions to his wife. He
approached her in different guises promising much reward if she could get
Prophet Ayyub to turn away from Allah. Prophet Ayyub remained steadfast in
faith and warned his wife to be the same. Soon, Allah ended his trial and
returned him to a healthy state.
Verses 44-55 praise the goodness of Prophets
Ibrahim, Ishaq, Yaqub, Ismail, Ilyas and Zulfikl. In contrast, verses 55-58 highlight how wickedness will be
punished in the hereafter and verses 62-64 tell of how the wicked will try to
wrangle out of hell, but there will be no success for them.
Section 5: The great tiding,
verses 65-88
"Say: It is tremendous tidings
Whence ye turn away! I had no knowledge of the Highest Chiefs when they
disputed; It is revealed unto me only that I may be a plain warner." (Verses 67-70)
"When thy Lord said unto the
angels: Lo! I am about to create a mortal out of mire, And when I have
fashioned him and breathed into him of My Spirit, then fall down before him
prostrate, The angels fell down prostrate, every one,Saving Iblis; he was
scornful and became one of the disbelievers.
He said: O Iblis! What hindereth thee from falling prostrate before that which
I have created with both My hands? Art thou too proud or art thou of the high
exalted?
He said: I am better than him. Thou createdst me of fire, whilst him Thou didst
create of clay.
He said: Go forth from hence, for lo! thou art outcast, And lo! My curse is on
thee till the Day of Judgment.
He said: My Lord! Reprieve me till the day when they are raised.
He said: Lo! thou art of those reprieved Until the day of the time appointed.
He said: Then, by Thy might, I surely will beguile them every one, Save Thy
single-minded slaves among them.
He said: The Truth is, and the Truth I speak, That I shall fill hell with thee
and with such of them as follow thee, together." (Verses 71-85)
"Say (O Muhammad, unto mankind):
I ask of you no fee for this, and I am no simulating. Lo! it is naught else
than a reminder for all peoples And ye will come in time to know the truth
thereof." (Verses 86-88)
The "tremendous tidings," is
the concept of Imamat over the creatures of Allah. Man has
often turned away from this concept and it was even disputed by the angels when
man was first created (verse 69). This condition of acceptance and rejection
has been narrated in the Holy Quran with the various stories of the different
Prophets all preaching the message of Allah and suffering persistent rejection.
Verses 71-85 have been discussed in earlier
chapters, but it is worth repeating once more. Here it is laid out clearly what
took place at the creation of Prophet Adam and the refusal of Shaitan to accept
him and thus he was discarded. He has been given respite until the Day of
Judgement, when he will be punished in hell along with his followers.
In verses 86-88, the Holy
Prophet did not ask for any compensation for his work in spreading the message
of Islam (other than love for his family - surah 42, verse 23).
That led people to dispute his authenticity, but the guidance will continue to
the end of the world by the Ahlul-Bayt.
Finally I get to the last Surah
of Chapter 23, Surah 39, Az-Zumar (The Groups). This Surah was revealed at
Mecca, it has 75 verses in 8 sections. Chapter 23 has the first 3 sections.
Surah 39, Az-Zumar (The Groups)
Section 1: Prayer to be
exclusively for God alone, verses 1-9
"Lo! We have revealed the
Scripture unto thee (Muhammad) with truth; so worship Allah, making religion
pure for Him (only). Surely pure religion is for Allah only. And those who
choose protecting friends beside Him (say): We worship them only that they may
bring us near unto Allah. Lo! Allah will judge between them concerning that
wherein they differ. Lo! Allah guideth not him who is a liar, an ingrate." (Verses 2-3)
"He created you from one being,
then from that (being) He made its mate; and He hath provided for you of cattle
eight kinds. He created you in the wombs of your mothers, creation after
creation, in a threefold gloom. Such is Allah, your Lord. His is the Sovereignty.
There is no Allah save Him. How then are ye turned away? If ye are thankless,
yet Allah is Independent of you, though He is not pleased with thanklessness
for His bondmen; and if ye are thankful He is pleased therewith for you. No
laden soul will bear another's load. Then unto your Lord is your return; and He
will tell you what ye used to do. Lo! He knoweth what is in the breasts (of
men)." (Verses 6-7)
"Is he who payeth adoration in
the watches of the night, prostrate and standing, bewaring of the Hereafter and
hoping for the mercy of his Lord, (to be accounted equal with a disbeliever)?
Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Are those who know equal with those who know not?
But only men of understanding will pay heed." (Verse 9)
Worship, obedience and
gratitude is due to Allah, and to establish them on the earth is the mission of
the Holy Prophet and his Ahlul-Bayt. To seek nearness to Allah man should use
the true means of approach to Him via the Holy Prophet and the Ahlul-Bayt.
Allah is free from all wants, and therefore man's ingratitude does not affect
Him. He cares for man, so man's gratitude and service earn His pleasure, and
man's ingratitude and rebellion are displeasing to Him. Those "who payeth adoration in the
watches of the night," refers to the Holy Prophet and the
Ahlul-Bayt.
Section 2: The patient shall be
rewarded without any account, verses 10-21
"Say: O My bondmen who believe!
Observe your duty to your Lord. For those who do good in this world there is
good, and Allah's earth is spacious. Verily the steadfast will be paid their
wages without stint." (Verse 10)
"Say (O Muhammad): Lo! I am
commanded to worship Allah, making religion pure for Him (only). And I am
commanded to be the first of those who are muslims (surrender unto Him).Say:
Lo! if I should disobey my Lord, I fear the doom of a tremendous Day. Say:
Allah I worship, making my religion pure for Him (only).Then worship what ye
will beside Him. Say: The losers will be those who lose themselves and their
housefolk on the Day of Resurrection. Ah, that will be the manifest loss!" (Verses 11-15)
"And those who put away false
gods lest they should worship them and turn to Allah in repentance, for them
there are glad tidings. Therefor give good tidings (O Muhammad) to My bondmen
Who hear advice and follow the best thereof. Such are those whom Allah guideth,
and such are men of understanding. Is he on whom the word of doom is fulfilled
(to be helped), and canst thou (O Muhammad) rescue him who is in the Fire? But
those who keep their duty to their Lord, for them are lofty halls with lofty
halls above them, built (for them), beneath which rivers flow. (It is) a
promise of Allah. Allah faileth not His promise." (Verses 17-20)
"Allah's earth is spacious" refers to the political circumstances which
may become unfavourable to the practice of the faith, and the true believer,
who cannot safely exercise his religion in his native land, has to emigrate to
a place of liberty and security. It is said that on the Day of Judgement, prayers, fasting,
pilgrimage and charity etc will be weighed and recompensed proportionately, but
the recompense of patience, fortitude and forbearance shall exceed the reward
of all good deeds, even martyrdom.
Verse 11 was revealed when the pagans in Mecca
challenged the Holy Prophet as to why he bringing new religion. Verse 15 is a warning; he who gives his soul in
exchange of the material world will surely suffer a great loss in the
hereafter.
Section 3: Quran, a guidance
without crookedness, verses 22-31
"Is he whose bosom Allah hath
expanded for Al-Islam, so that he followeth a light from his Lord, (as he who
disbelieveth)? Then woe unto those whose hearts are hardened against
remembrance of Allah. Such are in plain error." (Verse 22)
"Allah hath (now) revealed the
fairest of statements, a Scripture consistent, (wherein promises of reward are)
paired (with threats of punishment), whereat doth creep the flesh of those who
fear their Lord, so that their flesh and their hearts soften to Allah's
reminder. Such is Allah's guidance, wherewith He guideth whom He will. And him
whom Allah sendeth astray, for him there is no guide." (Verses 23)
"And verily We have coined for
mankind in this Qur'an all kinds of similitudes, that haply they may reflect; A
Lecture in Arabic, containing no crookedness, that haply they may ward off
(evil)." (Verses 27-28)
"Allah coineth a similitude: A
man in relation to whom are several part-owners, quarrelling, and a man
belonging wholly to one man. Are the two equal in similitude? Praise be to
Allah! But most of them know not." (Verse 29)
"Lo! thou wilt die, and lo! they
will die; Then lo! on the Day of Resurrection, before your Lord ye will
dispute." (Verses 30-31)
Verse 22 was revealed in praise of Imam Ali
(as) and cursed Abu Lahab, an enemy of Islam. The Holy Prophet has said: "Seek help from those of my
adherents who have enlightened hearts, for Allah has bestowed His grace and
mercy on them. Do not go near those whose hearts have grown hardened, for their
souls have been destroyed by the wrath of Allah."
The Holy Quran has been
revealed in stages to mankind, although it was known in it's complete form by
the Holy Prophet from the very beginning. Its teachings are constantly
re-iterated in order to impress upon the minds of the people about the unity of
Allah, His attributes, the laws of nature, accountability, Day of Judgement and
reward for doing good and punishment for doing evil.
The difference between
polytheism and monotheism is given as an analogy (in verse 29) of a man who
has one master versus one with several. With one master, man is able to
concentrate on pleasing him and him alone, with several, he has to worry about
who to please, who will argue, who will agree and will invariably be made to
suffer.
All will die, good and bad alike. Even the prophets are not exempted. But there
is a life after death. Every one will face the consequences of the good or bad
he or she has done in this world. In the life of hereafter, the consequence of
the life of this world, all the things about which people dispute in this world
will be made clear in the presence of Allah; then the disputants will realise
their folly.
That finally concludes Chapter
23, apologies for being late in completing it fully!
Later today, inshallah, I will
return with Chapter 24 which continues with Surah 39 and moves on to Surahs 40
& 41.
Thank you for reading.
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