Ramadhan Day 3 - Quran, Chapter 3

Surah 2 , Al-Baqarah (The Cow), Verses 254-286 & Surah 3, Aal-Imran (Family of Imran), Verses 1-91

Chapter 3 concludes the longest Surah of the Quran, Surah Al-Baqarah with the last 7 sections.

Surah 2, al-Baqarah (The Cow)

Section 34: No compulsion in religion, verses 254-257

"Allah! There is no deity save Him, the Alive, the Eternal. Neither slumber nor sleep overtaketh Him. Unto Him belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. Who is he that intercedeth with Him save by His leave? He knoweth that which is in front of them and that which is behind them, while they encompass nothing of His knowledge save what He will. His throne includeth the heavens and the earth, and He is never weary of preserving them. He is the Sublime, the Tremendous. 

There is no compulsion in religion. The right direction is henceforth distinct from error. And he who rejecteth false deities and believeth in Allah hath grasped a firm handhold which will never break. Allah is Hearer, Knower. 

Allah is the Protecting Guardian of those who believe. He bringeth them out of darkness into light. As for those who disbelieve, their patrons are false deities. They bring them out of light into darkness. Such are rightful owners of the Fire. They will abide therein." (Verses 255-257)

These are the Verses of the Throne, Ayatul-Kursi, the ayats of protection. It highlights the omnipotence and singularity of God. Belief in the absolute unity of Allah without any complexity of any kind, in any sense, in His ever-living and self-subsisting supreme being, is the first and the foremost doctrine of Islam. It is recommended to recite Ayatul-Kursi daily to receive the protection of Allah.

Verse 255 also includes the permission of intercession, granted exclusively by Allah: "Who is he that intercedeth with Him save by His leave?" Allah permits certain people to intercede on our behalf, namely the Ahlul-Bayt as the Quran goes on to describe later.

Section 35: How the dead are raised by God, verses 258-260

"And when Abraham said (unto his Lord): My Lord! Show me how Thou givest life to the dead, He said: Dost thou not believe? Abraham said: Yea, but (I ask) in order that my heart may be at ease. (His Lord) said: Take four of the birds and cause them to incline unto thee, then place a part of them on each hill, then call them, they will come to thee in haste, and know that Allah is Mighty, Wise." (Verse 260)

Sections 36 & 37: Spending money in the way of God & Spending wealth in charity, verses 261-273 

"Those who spend their wealth for the cause of Allah and afterward make not reproach and injury to follow that which they have spent; their reward is with their Lord, and there shall no fear come upon them, neither shall they grieve." (Verse 262)

"O ye who believe! Spend of the good things which ye have earned, and of that which We bring forth from the earth for you, and seek not the bad (with intent) to spend thereof (in charity) when ye would not take it for yourselves save with disdain; and know that Allah is Absolute, Owner of Praise." (Verse 267)

"If ye publish your almsgiving, it is well, but if ye hide it and give it to the poor, it will be better for you, and will atone for some of your ill-deeds. Allah is Informed of what ye do." (Verse 271)

The importance of charity is iterated and repeated throughout the Quran. Here Allah discusses the importance of giving charity without any conditions or expectations of something in return. It is important not to spend in charity just to show off, but rather it is something that should be done with a pure intention. Verse 271 sanctions both the modes of spending in the way of Allah - open and secret, because Allah is aware of the intentions and the motives of the givers. He gives in return an appropriate recompense in both the cases. 

When giving charity it is important to give only good things that are of value to you. The priority in life is to spend in the way of Allah of the good things that we earn and possess, and of what Allah has given us; and not to give that which we reject as bad, because we ourselves would not take it.

Sections 38 & 39: Interest prohibited & business contracts to be recorded in writing, verses 274-283

"Those who spend their wealth by night and day, by stealth and openly, verily their reward is with their Lord, and their shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve." (Verse 274)

"Those who swallow usury cannot rise up save as he ariseth whom the devil hath prostrated by (his) touch. That is because they say: Trade is just like usury; whereas Allah permitteth trading and forbiddeth usury. He unto whom an admonition from his Lord cometh, and (he) refraineth (in obedience thereto), he shall keep (the profits of) that which is past, and his affair (henceforth) is with Allah. As for him who returneth (to usury) - Such are rightful owners of the Fire. They will abide therein." (Verse 275)

"And if the debtor is in straitened circumstances, then (let there be) postponement to (the time of) ease; and that ye remit the debt as almsgiving would be better for you if ye did but know. And guard yourselves against a day in which ye will be brought back to Allah. Then every soul will be paid in full that which it hath earned, and they will not be wronged." (Verses 280-281)

"...And call to witness, from among your men, two witnesses. And if two men be not (at hand) then a man and two women, of such as ye approve as witnesses, so that if the one erreth (through forgetfulness) the other will remember. And the witnesses must not refuse when they are summoned..." (Verse 282)

Verse 274 was revealed in praise of Imam Ali (as) to glorify his giving of four dirhams in the way of Allah - one by night, one by day, and one secretly and one openly. Imam Ali (as) informed the Holy Prophet that he had only four dirhams with him and he gave all of them in the way of Allah to seek His pleasure, and he was fully satisfied to know that Allah had accepted his spending.

Charging interest on loans or debts is a great sin and Allah has compared it to being confounded by Shaitan. When charging interest both the giver and taker suffer in the eyes of Allah. The taker gets more heartless and selfish and the giver suffers hardship in trying to pay back the interest.

If the debtor is in crisis, the demand for repayment should be postponed till he is in a better situation. The helpless poor must not be prosecuted and harassed. It is better, in such cases, if one can, to postpone demanding payment forever, because one is only here for a short while. But at the same time Islam instructs the creditors to give respite and remission to the debtors and warns the debtors not to avoid repayment if they own sufficient means.

Verse 282 is a long instruction on how to write up a business contract successfully, I include the controversial part that has been taken and extrapolated to mean something completely different. In the terms of a business contract, Allah has instructed for there to be 2 male witnesses, if this is not possible then for there to be 2 women and 1 male witness. People have taken that to mean man is worth twice a woman, but that is not the case at all and I have discussed this in more detail in a previous blog.

Section 40: Everything in the heavens and the Earth belongs to God, verses 284-286

"Unto Allah (belongeth) whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth; and whether ye make known what is in your minds or hide it, Allah will bring you to account for it. He will forgive whom He will and He will punish whom He will. Allah is Able to do all things." (Verse 284)

"Allah tasketh not a soul beyond its scope. For it (is only) that which it hath earned, and against it (only) that which it hath deserved. Our Lord! Condemn us not if we forget, or miss the mark! Our Lord! Lay not on us such a burden as thou didst lay on those before us! Our Lord! Impose not on us that which we have not the strength to bear! Pardon us, absolve us and have mercy on us, Thou, our Protector, and give us victory over the disbelieving folk." (Verse 286)

The heavens and the earth, and all that they contain, seen and unseen, material and spiritual, always belong to Allah. He, to whom everything belongs, will take you to account for your transaction with His belongings. Evil thoughts and intentions, even if not translated into actions, are liable to be examined for penalisation. He forgives whomever He wills and punishes whomever He wills. He alone knows who deserves forgiveness; it is Allah's will that prevails but never without justice.

We now move on to the 3rd Surah of the Holy Quran, revealed in Mecca, Surah Aal-Imran (Family of Imran). Chapter 3 has the first 91 (out of 200) verses of the Surah which covers 9 sections out of 20.

Surah 3, Aal-Imran (The Family of Imran)

Section 1: The Quran and the previous scriptures, verses 1-8

"He hath revealed unto thee (Muhammad) the Scripture with truth, confirming that which was (revealed) before it, even as He revealed the Torah and the Gospel. Aforetime, for a guidance to mankind; and hath revealed the Criterion (of right and wrong). Lo! those who disbelieve the revelations of Allah, theirs will be a heavy doom. Allah is Mighty, Able to Requite (the wrong). Lo! nothing in the earth or in the heavens is hidden from Allah." (Verses 3-5)

"He it is Who hath revealed unto thee (Muhammad) the Scripture wherein are clear revelations - they are the substance of the Book - and others (which are) allegorical. But those in whose hearts is doubt pursue, forsooth, that which is allegorical seeking (to cause) dissension by seeking to explain it. None knoweth its explanation save Allah. And those who are of sound instruction say: We believe therein; the whole is from our Lord; but only men of understanding really heed." (Verse 7)

The first 80 verses of this Surah where revealed about the Christians of Najran whom the Holy Prophet and his Ahlul-Bayt confronted in the event of Mubahilah. Those who disbelieve in Allah's signs shall be severely punished. The verses of the Quran are His signs. Signs also refer to the miracles the messengers of Allah and His chosen representatives (the Ahlul-Bayt) put into operation under His command and guidance.

Most of the verses of the Holy Quran are clear and decisive; there is no ambiguity in them. There are also the "allegorical" verses, known as the mutashabihat verses which carry implications other than the literal meanings. Besides Allah only those, endowed with divine knowledge, know the true meanings of the mutashabihat. The firmly rooted in knowledge are the Holy Prophet and his Ahlul-Bayt, the thoroughly purified ones.

Section 2: The ultimate triumph of the unity of God, verses 9-20

"There was a token for you in two hosts which met: one army fighting in the way of Allah, and another disbelieving, whom they saw as twice their number, clearly, with their very eyes. Thus Allah strengtheneth with His succour whom He will. Lo! herein verily is a lesson for those who have eyes." (Verse 13)

"Those who say: Our Lord! Lo! we believe. So forgive us our sins and guard us from the punishment of Fire. The steadfast, and the truthful, and the obedient, those who spend (and hoard not), those who pray for pardon in the watches of the night." (Verses 16-17)

"Allah (Himself) is Witness that there is no Allah save Him. And the angels and the men of learning (too are witness). Maintaining His creation in justice, there is no Allah save Him the Almighty, the Wise." (Verse 18)

"And if they argue with thee, (O Muhammad), say: I have surrendered my purpose to Allah and (so have) those who follow me. And say unto those who have received the Scripture and those who read not: Have ye (too) surrendered? If they surrender, then truly they are rightly guided, and if they turn away, then it is thy duty only to convey the message (unto them). Allah is Seer of (His) bondmen." (Verse 20)

Verse 13 was revealed at the time of the Battle of Badr, the pagan army was more than three times the number of the Muslims but was made to appear as only twice the number by Allah which encouraged them and made possible their remarkable victory, against the odds.

It is a prayer to prepare for the life of the hereafter. It is essential to make sincere efforts to purify and refine the soul. The patient, the truthful, the devout and those who spend in the way of Allah are entitled to receive the grace of Allah. Also the effectiveness of prayer at early dawn to seek forgiveness has been emphasised in this verse.

In Verse 18, Allah himself bears witness to His own unity. It is His infinite mercy that He makes known His self-subsisting and ever living existence to His created beings who, otherwise, could never know anything about Him. The finite created beings can only say that there is no God save Allah. Besides Allah, the angels and the "men of learning" are witness to his unity; these men are the Holy Prophet and the Ahlul-Bayt.

As the Holy Prophet has observed, Islam is the natural religion that a child, left to itself, would develop. Islam is the religion of common-sense. The Holy Prophet delivered the message and preached it, but he is not responsible if the people, even after being rightly guided, go astray.

Section 3: Chastisement for those who slay the apostles, verses 21-30

"Lo! those who disbelieve the revelations of Allah, and slay the prophets wrongfully, and slay those of mankind who enjoin equity: promise them a painful doom." (Verse 21)

"Hast thou not seen how those who have received a portion of the Scripture invoke the Scripture of Allah (in their disputes) that it may judge between them; then a faction of them turn away, being opposed (to it)?" (Verse 23)

"Say, (O Muhammad): Whether ye hide that which is in your breasts or reveal it, Allah knoweth it. He knoweth that which is in the heavens and that which is in the earth, and Allah is Able to do all things. On the Day when every soul will find itself confronted with all that it hath done of good and all that it hath done of evil (every soul) will long that there might be a mighty space of distance between it and that (evil). Allah biddeth you beware of Him. And Allah is Full of Pity for (His) bondmen." (Verses 29-30)

Once again the Quran refers to the Ahlul-Bayt when it mentions "those of mankind who enjoin equity" and a severe punishment lies in wait for the assassins of the Prophets and the Ahlul-Bayt.

The Torah and the Injil are only a portion of revelation, a glimpse of the glory of the truth. A portion of the book, Allah's revealed books in general, was sent down, in all ages, to prepare and train the human soul for the highest level of intelligence and spirituality, at which stage the completed and perfect revelation, the Quran, was revealed to the Holy Prophet, referred to as the book of Allah in this verse.

On the day of judgement every soul will be paid back in full what it has earned in this world. Those who safeguard themselves with full awareness of Allah's laws and do good will get back what they have invested here in full on the day of reckoning. Allah is affectionate towards His faithful servants, but those, who are evil doers, will on that day, be in a state of terror. They will wish that there should be an immense distance between them and that evil.

Section 4: God's choice of the descendants of Abraham, verses 31-41

"Say, (O Muhammad, to mankind): If ye love Allah, follow me; Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. Say: Obey Allah and the messenger. But if they turn away, lo! Allah loveth not the disbelievers (in His guidance)." (Verses 31-32)

"(Remember) when the wife of 'Imran said: My Lord! I have vowed unto Thee that which is in my belly as a consecrated (offering). Accept it from me. Lo! Thou, only Thou, art the Hearer, the Knower! And when she was delivered she said: My Lord! Lo! I am delivered of a female - Allah knew best of what she was delivered - the male is not as the female; and lo! I have named her Mary, and lo! I crave Thy protection for her and for her offspring from Satan the outcast." (Verses 35-36)

A true lover of Allah becomes a devotee of the Holy Prophet and his Ahlul-Bayt, and mindful of the life after death, his true love activates him to always do that which pleases Allah, the Holy Prophet and his Ahlul-Bayt, and refrain from acts of wickedness which certainly displease them; moreover, he remains attached with the Holy Prophet and his Ahlul-Bayt and refrains from going near their ungodly enemies, be they his own kith and kin.

Imran was the father of Bibi Maryam, whilst his wife was pregnant; she had already vowed that her child would dedicated to serving Allah. Bibi Maryam was put in the care of her maternal uncle, Prophet Zachariya, who himself was blessed with a son in late age, Prophet Yahya, who was the first follower of Prophet Isa after his birth.

Section 5: Glad tidings about the birth of Jesus, verses 42-54

"(And remember) when the angels said: O Mary! Lo! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a word from him, whose name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, illustrious in the world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near (unto Allah). He will speak unto mankind in his cradle and in his manhood, and he is of the righteous. She said: My Lord! How can I have a child when no mortal hath touched me? He said: So (it will be). Allah createth what He will. If He decreeth a thing, He saith unto it only: Be! and it is." (Verses 45-47)

"And will make him a messenger unto the Children of Israel, (saying): Lo! I come unto you with a sign from your Lord. Lo! I fashion for you out of clay the likeness of a bird, and I breathe into it and it is a bird, by Allah's leave. I heal him who was born blind, and the leper, and I raise the dead, by Allah's leave. And I announce unto you what ye eat and what ye store up in your houses. Lo! herein verily is a portent for you, if ye are to be believers." (Verse 49)

The Holy Quran eloquently describes the miracle of the birth of Prophet Isa and the subsequent miracle of Prophet Isa being able to speak from the cradle. It also describes some of the miracles that Prophet Isa was able to carry out. Prophet Isa had no new message. He confirmed that which had been conveyed by Musa. He preached the unity of Allah, not trinity.

Section 6: Promise of rescue to Jesus, Christians invited to Mubahila, verses 55-63

"Lo! the likeness of Jesus with Allah is as the likeness of Adam. He created him of dust, then He said unto him: Be! and he is." (Verse 59)

"And whoso disputeth with thee concerning him, after the knowledge which hath come unto thee, say (unto him): Come! We will summon our sons and your sons, and our women and your women, and ourselves and yourselves, then we will pray humbly (to our Lord) and (solemnly) invoke the curse of Allah upon those who lie." (Verse 61)

Verse 59 disproves the Christian belief of Prophet Isa being the son of God. Like Prophet Adam who had neither father nor mother, he was created from dust.

Verse 61 was revealed at the event of Mubahila, when the Holy Prophet took along his sons (Imam Ali, Imam Hasan and Imam Husain (as)) and his women (Bibi Fatima (as)), to debate with the Christians.

Section 7: Invitation to the followers of the Book to unity of God, verses 64-71

"Say: O People of the Scripture! Come to an agreement between us and you: that we shall worship none but Allah, and that we shall ascribe no partner unto Him, and that none of us shall take others for lords beside Allah. And if they turn away, then say: Bear witness that we are they who have surrendered (unto Him)." (Verse 64)

"Lo! those of mankind who have the best claim to Abraham are those who followed him, and this Prophet and those who believe (with him); and Allah is the Protecting Guardian of the believers." (Verse 68)

Judaism and Christianity were instituted after the revelation of the Torah and the Injil to Musa and Isa respectively, whereas, according to the Quran, the religion of Allah, Islam, was preached and practised by all His prophets from Adam to Muhammad.

Section 8: Attempts to discredit Islam, verses 72-80

"Nay, but (the chosen of Allah is) he who fulfilleth his pledge and wardeth off (evil); for lo! Allah loveth those who ward off (evil). Lo! those who purchase a small gain at the cost of Allah's covenant and their oaths, they have no portion in the Hereafter. Allah will neither speak to them nor look upon them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He make them grow. Theirs will be a painful doom." (Verses 76-77)

"And lo! there is a party of them who distort the Scripture with their tongues, that ye may think that what they say is from the Scripture, when it is not from the Scripture. And they say: It is from Allah, when it is not from Allah; and they speak a lie concerning Allah knowingly." (Verse 78)

Verses 76-77 refers to the covenant the Holy Prophet obtained from his followers at Ghadir Khum. Those who wilfully ignored his declaration have actually broken a covenant made with Allah and will have no share in the rewards to be given on the Day of Judgement.

The scriptures prior to the Quran we subject to alterations by the Jews and the Christians to suit the agenda. The Holy Quran has always been protected from the same fate.

Section 9: Previous scriptures confirm the truth of Islam, verses 81-91

"When Allah made (His) covenant with the prophets, (He said): Behold that which I have given you of the Scripture and knowledge. And afterward there will come unto you a messenger, confirming that which ye possess. Ye shall believe in him and ye shall help him. He said: Do ye agree, and will ye take up My burden (which I lay upon you) in this (matter)? They answered: We agree. He said: Then bear ye witness. I will be a witness with you." (Verse 81)

"How shall Allah guide a people who disbelieved after their belief and (after) they bore witness that the messenger is true and after clear proofs (of Allah's Sovereignty) had come unto them. And Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk. As for such, their guerdon is that on them rests the curse of Allah and of angels and of men combined." (Verse 86-87)

"Lo! those who disbelieve after their (profession of) belief, and afterward grow violent in disbelief: their repentance will not be accepted. And such are those who are astray." (Verse 90)

Those who, having come to faith turned away shall be deprived of inner guidance with which Allah blesses His creatures. For such disbelievers the requital is the curse of Allah and the angels and of men. Note that (cursing the wicked) is an "act of God."

Repentance is unacceptable of those, having once come to faith, disbelieve and persist in their apostasy, like the Jews who believed in Musa and the Torah but disbelieved in Isa and the Injil, and then continued and aggravated their disbelief by denying the Holy Prophet, or also like those who believed in the Holy Prophet, but after his departure, turned on their heels, went astray and persisted in their deviations. They shall remain unredeemed in spite of their repentance.

With that Chapter 3 is concluded. Inshallah Surah Aal-Imran concludes tomorrow and Chapter 4 sees the start of Surah 4, containing some of the most discussed verses of the Holy Quran.

Thanks for reading.