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Surah ZUKHRUF
(Consists of 7 Ruku; MK-8)
ZUKHRUF-The First Ruku
1. HA-MIM
2. I swear by the Book that makes things clear:
3. Surely We have made it an Arabic Quran that you may understand.
4. And surely it is in the original of the Book with Us, truly elevated, full of wisdom.
5. What! shall We then turn away the reminder from you altogether because you are an extravagant people?
6. And how many a prophet have We sent among the ancients.
7. And there came not to them a Prophet but they mocked at him.
8. Then We destroyed those who were stronger than these in prowess, and the case of the ancients has gone before,
9. And if you should ask them Who created the heavens and the earth? they would most certainly say: The Mighty, the Knowing One, has created them;
10. He Who made the earth a resting-place for you, and made in it ways for you that you may go aright;
11. And He Who sends down water from the heaven nearby according to a measure, then We raise to life thereby a dead country, even thus shall you be brought forth;
12. And He Who created pairs of all things, and made for you of the ships and the cattle what you ride on,
13. That you may firmly sit on their backs, then remember the favor of your Lord when you are firmly seated thereon, and say: Glory be to Him Who made this subservient to us and we were not able to do it
14. And surely to our Lord we must return.
15. And they assign to Him a part of His servants; man, to be sure, is clearly ungrateful.
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Surah ZUKHRUF starts by mentioning about the Holy Book Quran that it clarifies all matters for the virtuous guidance of the man; Al-Hamdu Lillah; Allah has descended the Quran in Arabic as its immediate addressee were the persons at Arabia and this also has significance that as the Quran is the final message of Allah (basically the same that had come to the world before it) to all of the mankind, so it was sent in the best of languages (i.e. Arabic) to the best among the mankind (i.e. Muhammad PBUH) through the best of angels (i.e. JIBRAEL) at the best of lands (i.e. Arabia); and it surely changed all those that were at Arabia into the best of nations when they kept to its good teachings; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the word KITAB means the book and at places in the Quran, it means the Quran itself (and that includes this place too); at places, it means Torah even, and even the LAUHE-MAHFUZ i.e. the book of Allah that has all things written in it (and it also is related to predestination); LAUHE-MAHFUZ also records the Holy Book Quran inside it (and it presents at UMMUL-KITAB too, which is the book that only Allah knows); note that whatever Allah surely destines to take place from what is written at LAUHE-MAHFUZ, it manifests at the UMMUL-KITAB; so there are changeable things too at LAUHE-MAHFUZ that go towards better in accordance to the good deeds of the good Muslim person at his life at the world but most certainly, the Holy Book Quran, the word of Allah, remains the same totally; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the word KITAB also means the commands of Allah and also means at places, the Surah in which the word is placed and this tells that the context for it and for other such significant words, is most important in getting the respective meanings of these words whereas the text of the Holy Book Quran also has utmost importance; note that Allah chose the best of times that is the significant night of Ramadhan when He began to provide the Holy Book Quran to the best of records that is LAUHE-MAHFUZ; Allah provided the Quran to Muhammad PBUH for nearly 23 lunar years and LAUHE-MAHFUZ saved that text of the Quran that descended to him and so as its text completed, it was saved there in total and most certainly, Allah knows better; Al-Hamdu Lillah; it is named as AD-DHIKR (the Reminder) here that is one of its significant names, and this tells us that everyone has the sense of recognition for the Truth (named FITHRAT) due to the covenant taken from each and every person before the life at the world, in the world of Spirits and that sense is addressed by the Holy Book Quran when it presents the fundamental teachings of Islam so in this meaning, it actually is the Reminder to that covenant; Surah AARAAF-172 reads, “and when your Lord brought forth from the children of Adam, from their backs, their descendants, and made them bear witness against their own souls -am I not your Lord?; -they said -yes -we bear witness; lest you should say on the day of resurrection that surely we were heedless of this”; so this is the covenant that Allah has taken from each and every person before his/her life at the world and he/she needs the highest of attention to it; Al-Hamdu Lillah; as Muhammad PBUH was the last of Messengers of Allah so His message exists written with us all in the form of the Holy Book Quran now and He has taken the responsibility for its protection upon Himself so that His Word (that He gave to Adam-AS) is not violated that He would keep the Truth always clear for all to accept or to reject, so no injustice takes place when He judges all persons at the time of HASHR; see AAYAT-9 of Surah HIJR which tells that Allah would totally safeguard the message that He has provided to Muhammad PBUH (i.e. the Holy Book Quran), so everything that was related to the protection of its text and its meaning, Allah gave ample protection to it; Al-Hamdu Lillah; see also Surah BAQARAH-38, 39; the Quran is such gift from Allah to the mankind which He has descended in clear Arabic so that all persons know the right path most explicitly and it provides the good news of the true success for all righteous persons who live by the command of Allah, the true Lord, and it warns those in clear terms who live their lives with disbelief in Him and disregard His commands; and Allah has made it blessing for TABLIGH (spreading of the Islamic teachings) too; so Allah tells in most clear terms at the fifth AAYAT here, “what! shall We then turn away the reminder from you altogether because you are an extravagant people?”; He has fulfilled His word and certainly, He would; Al-Hamdu Lillah; He sent many of His Prophets to all peoples of the world before Muhammad PBUH but when those peoples mocked the Prophet whom Allah had sent to them, Allah destroyed them ultimately, and whatever power they had, was useless against the destruction Allah sent upon them; now, the Quran only is the standard by which Allah provides safety to the mankind; it is mentioned in one of authentic Ahadith, “verily, Allah raises the status of people by this book (as they believe in it), and by it he humbles others (as they disbelieve)”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; after the mention of RISALAT (i.e. Allah had sent His Messengers to the world to provide the Guidance to the right path), AAYAAT mention that even the disbelievers accept that Allah, Who is the Mighty and the Knowing, only has created the heavens and the earth and so this does ask them to believe that Allah only has the true authority and they need to show their total obedience to Him for certain; the erroneous living manner of the disbelievers, when they adhere to it for some period of time collectively, causes alienation to this fact that they shall obey too, the One Who has created them, besides accepting Him as the Creator of all; the disbelievers at all periods & places, had rejected Allah as their RABB and had refused to take His guidance for the true belief and had denied to take the principles He has provided for the virtuous deeds of life; the true Muslims believe that He not only is the Creator of all the creation Who never loses His attributes, but He also is the only true Lord of all the creation Whom the jinn and the mankind have to obey totally by their freewill in all aspects of life; note that other of disbelief is where someone does believe that Allah is RABB, the true Lord, yet has the notion that his disobedience to Allah would not cause any harm to him, as that is of no consequence or as the recommendation at the court of Allah of some good person for him (or his sacrifice for him) would save him from his wrong-doings at the Day of Judgment; this also leads to the result that the disbeliever ignores that he has to fulfill the commands of Allah at all issues of life and so practically he does not believe that Allah, the only Creator of all creation, is RABB, the true Lord, of all creation too; the true Muslims believe that every person has to face his/her deeds alone at AKHIRAT and for that every person must care to obey Allah in all his deeds to get His pleasure there as that only is the true success; the true Muslims are totally attentive to Allah, Who only is the Creator of all the creation and He always has all His attributes and He only is the true Lord; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-10 tells that He has made earth in such manner that it totally accommodates life of the mankind where he may travel to different places too, with landmarks that guide to the destination; the next AAYAT reads, “and He, Who sends down water from the heaven nearby according to a measure, then We raise to life thereby a dead country, even thus shall you be brought forth (at the Day of Judgment)”; note that the difference of pronouns at places, as is seen here too, is the manner of expression in the Quran that is named as ILTIFAAT and even when the Quran applies it, the meanings to the AAYAAT still remain most obvious at such places and the reciter of the Quran does get acquainted with this manner with pleasure without any problem; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the last four AAYAAT of the Ruku mention how Allah cares about the convenience of the mankind by ships and cattle that He has created, so that they reach their destination with minimum of necessary efforts only, and what ingratitude that the disbelievers show to Him; these AAYAAT read, “and He Who created pairs of all things, and made for you of the ships and the cattle what you ride on, that you may firmly sit on their backs, then remember the favor of your Lord when you are firmly seated thereon, and say- glory be to Him Who made this subservient to us and we were not able to do it; and surely to our Lord we must return; and they (the disbelievers) assign to Him a part of His servants (as His offspring); (so such) man, to be sure, is clearly ungrateful”; note about the words that are at AAYAAT here which are “glory be to Him Who made this subservient to us and we were not able to do it and surely to our Lord we must return”, that this is termed as DUA for Muslims to read in Arabic at the beginning of any travel, for their safety in all manners; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the next Ruku elaborates that the disbelievers refused to leave their disbelief even when the Prophet of Allah who was sent to them, guided them explicitly to the Truth; so He destroyed them totally and certainly He only has the true authority, Al-Hamdu Lillah.
ZUKHRUF-The Second Ruku
16. What! has He taken daughters to Himself of what He Himself creates and chosen you to have sons?
17. And when one of them is given news of that of which he sets up as likeness for the Beneficent Allah, his face becomes black and he is full of rage inside.
18. What! that which is brought-up in trinkets and which in contention is unable to make plain speech!
19. And they make the angels-- those who are the servants of the Beneficent Allah-- females. What! did they witness their creation? Their evidence shall be written down and they shall be questioned.
20. And they say: If the Beneficent Allah had pleased, we should never have worshipped them. They have no knowledge of this; they only lie.
21. Or have We given them a book before it so that they hold fast to it?
22. Nay! they say: We found our fathers on a course, and surely we are guided by their footsteps.
23. And thus, We did not send before you any warner in a town, but (it happened that when they came to them) those who led easy lives in it said: Surely we found our fathers on a course, and surely we are followers of their footsteps.
24. (The warner) said: What! even if I bring to you a better guide than that on which you found your fathers? They said: Surely we are disbelievers in that with which you are sent.
25. So We inflicted retribution on them, then see how was the end of the rejecters.
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The disbelievers at Makkah had this absurd notion that angels are daughters of Allah; the initial AAYAAT of the Ruku address this absurdity which state, “what! has He taken daughters to Himself of what He Himself creates (i.e. angels) and chosen you to have sons?; and when one of them is given news of that (i.e. daughters) of which he sets up as likeness for the Beneficent Allah (as he takes angels as like Him when he calls them His daughters), his face becomes black (with grief) and he is full of rage inside (this happened because they highly preferred sons whereas daughters were not welcome in their set-up and whoever got the info that his wife has given birth to daughter, he was completely distressed); what! that which is brought-up in trinkets and which in contention is unable to make plain speech; and they make the angels—those who are the servants of the Beneficent Allah-- females; what! did they witness their creation? their evidence (i.e. the absurd words that they say about angels) shall be written down and they shall be questioned”; AAYAT-18 has significance which notes the female person as “brought-up in trinkets” and “unable to make plain speech at disputes”; this was the manner by which the girls were brought-up then, where they did not develop much power of speech, yet this also tells that girls are completely allowed to wear ornaments especially of gold & silver, and completely disallowed to take up boldness in their attitudes; they certainly need to care most highly about HEJAB and this also includes highest of reservation in attitude at times; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-20 states, “and they say- if the Beneficent Allah had pleased, we should never have worshipped them; they have no knowledge of this; they only lie”; NAHL-35 reads, “and they who give associates (to Allah) say- if Allah had pleased, we would not have served anything besides Allah, (neither) we nor our fathers, nor would we have prohibited anything without (order from) Him; thus did those before them; is then aught incumbent upon the apostles except a plain delivery (of the message)?”; so when they had no answer to their wrong doings, they blamed the destiny upon it; Surah YA-SEEN-47 also denotes their foolish response when they are directed to spend in the way of Allah, “and when it is said to them- spend out of what Allah has given you, those who disbelieve say to those who believe- shall we feed him whom, if Allah please, He could feed?- you are in naught but clear error”; this tells how unaware the disbelievers are of the fact that Allah has given them life at the world only to examine them with freewill whether they live on the right path or not; due to this, He has given different positions to all persons here among the mankind as He wills and certainly, He knows how to examine them; so Allah says to their foolish excuse that they have no knowledge of what they are saying and it undoubtedly is futile; Al-Hamdu Lillah; Allah asks at AAYAT-21 if there exists some book that He has given them which has told them to take their disbelief; but that is not the case for certain, so what basis they have for their disbelief; AAYAT-22 tells that their argument is that they have found their forefathers at the disbelief they have; this is the argument that disbelievers had presented often even before these disbelievers, that they have found their forefathers at disbelief and they are following their footsteps; so they took their forefathers as the standard to follow while those used to live most far away from the Truth; due to this erroneous notion, the Prophet whom Allah had sent to them, asked them how is their response when he is providing them the true guidance that is to the right path from Allah, the true Lord; but they said to him plainly that they would remain disbelievers in the message which he is providing to them; the last AAYAT of the Ruku clearly states the outcome of their disbelief, “so We inflicted retribution on them, then see how was the end of the rejecters”; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
ZUKHRUF-The Third Ruku
26. And when Ibrahim said to his father and his people: Surely I am clear of what you worship,
27. Save Him Who created me, for surely He will guide me.
28. And He made it word to continue in his posterity that they may return (to the Truth).
29. Nay! I gave them and their fathers to enjoy until there came to them the Truth and an Apostle making manifest (the Truth).
30. And when there came to them the Truth they said: This is magic, and surely we are disbelievers in it.
31. And they say: Why was not this Quran revealed to a man of importance in the two of towns?
32. Will they distribute the mercy of your Lord? We distribute among them their livelihood in the life of this world, and We have exalted some of them above others in degrees, that some of them may take others in subjection; and the mercy of your Lord is better than what they amass.
33. And were it not that all people had been a single nation, We would certainly have assigned to those who disbelieve in the Beneficent Allah, (to make) of silver the roofs of their houses and the stairs by which they ascend.
34. And the doors of their houses and the couches on which they recline,
35. And ornaments of gold; and all this is naught but provision of this world's life, and AKHIRAT is with your Lord only for those who guard (against evil).
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This Ruku answers the extreme mistake of the disbelievers that they took their forefathers who were totally far away from the Truth as the standard to follow; and that they thought that whoever calls to spiritual purity, he surely would have prominence in wealth among the people in whom he calls to it; the first AAYAT of the Ruku presents Ibrahim-AS that if some person needs to follow his forefathers, then he must follow Ibrahim-AS who had challenged his father and his people with the remark that he would certainly not follow them; he told them that he would only take the word of Allah, the true Lord, Who has created him, for his guidance; he guided their attention to the fact that they make idols by themselves and then they worship them in the name of following of their ancestors whereas Allah is He Who has created the mankind and He is the true Lord for all times at all places; so if their ancestors were doing extreme wrongs, they should refrain from such wrongs and they should rather challenge their doings; they should only take the right path of acceptance of the fundamental teachings of Islam; Allah secured the good mention of the good belief of Ibrahim-AS at the times ahead after him and so those who intend to follow their forefathers, they should follow him; see also the note at the fifth Ruku of Surah SHUA’RAA; Al-Hamdu Lillah; at AAYAAT-29 and 30, Allah says that He had given these disbelievers at Makkah and even their forefathers high convenience to live their lives but when the Truth came to them through the Prophet PBUH, with total clarity, they rejected it; they called it some type of magic and further said that they would never believe it; they ask why this Quran was not revealed to some man of importance i.e. some chief who had prominence in wealth and had influence over number of men, in the two of towns, Makkah & TA’EF, as they were most notable for their economic stability; but this is a foolish remark as the status of some over some at the world is because the peoples of the world take benefits from works of each other and it is because Allah examines all men whether they do get His pleasure or prove totally unworthy to it; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; for spiritual guidance, the manifest prominence by wealth and status at the world has no significance so Allah has selected His last Messenger because he has the most beautiful character and he certainly is the most appropriate person for this liability; this is the mercy of Allah that He has shown to the mankind that He has provided them the Guidance to the right path and He has selected Muhammad PBUH, His last Messenger, exclusively to present it to all peoples of the world; to accept the teachings that Allah has provided to the mankind through him, is surely much better than what they amass from the assets of the world; the person with abundance of these things, does not gain appreciation by these things at the court of Allah, but it is the care to morals with righteous belief and adherence to virtues in deeds that does count there; the glamor of high possessions of the world is so very insignificant in view of Allah that if it had not caused all people to display ingratitude to Allah, which would have led them all to become failures at AKHIRAT, He would have made all persons extremely wealthy; the Beneficent Allah would have made the roofs of their houses and the stairs therein which are in their usage, of silver; and also the doors therein and the couches therein on which they recline, of silver; and also have provided them ornaments of gold; AAYAT tells that “all this is naught but provision of this world's life, and AKHIRAT is with your Lord only for those who guard (against evil)”; so AKHIRAT only has significance and not life at the world; certainly Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
ZUKHRUF-The Fourth Ruku
36. And whoever turns himself away from the remembrance of the Beneficent Allah, We appoint for him a Satan, so he becomes his associate.
37. And most surely they turn them away from the path, and they think that they are guided aright:
38. Until when he comes to Us, he says: O would that between me and you there were the distance of the East and the West; so evil is the associate!
39. And since you were unjust, it will not profit you this day that you are sharers in the chastisement.
40. What! can you then make the deaf to hear or guide the blind and him who is in clear error?
41. But if We should take you away, still We shall inflict retribution on them;
42. Rather We will certainly show you that which We have promised them; for surely We are the possessors of full power over them.
43. Therefore, hold fast to that which has been revealed to you; surely you are on the right path.
44. And most surely it is reminder for you and your people, and you shall soon be questioned.
45. And ask those of Our apostles whom We sent before you: Did We ever appoint gods to be worshipped besides the Beneficent Allah?
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The Ruku has the name of Allah “AR-RAHMAN” (Beneficent) at its first AAYAT and at its last; AR-RAHMAN means that He cares for all His creation most mercifully at the worldly life that include the believers among the Man and the Jinn and even the disbelievers among them all, whereas AR-RAHIM, that also is the name of Allah, means that He cares for the true believers in life at the world most mercifully and would care exclusively for them at AKHIRAT most mercifully as they do believe Him as the only Creator of all the creation, Who always has all His authority, and also that He is the only RABB (the true Lord) of all the creation; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the Ruku tells how the disbelievers live-on at the world with illusion that they are rightly guided though SHAYATIN (which is plural of Satan) misguide them away from the right path until when such a disbelieving person would come to Allah, he would curse the Satan, that had been with him, expressing the desire that only if there had been a distance between him and that Satan at the world as of the East and the West; they would be told in clear terms at the day of HASHR that their blaming of their wrongs upon SHAYATIN would not do them any good as they took the misguidance that their respective Satan gave to them and they surely had lived most unjustly at the world due to their disbelief in the Truth; so it will not profit them this day and they all, they and their SHAYATIN, would surely be given their chastisement; they all surely would be put into the hell-fire; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAAT ahead till the last of the Ruku, console the Prophet PBUH that he has to provide all persons the message of Allah and he is not liable to see that they do accept it; if some person has become deaf & blind to calling towards the true guidance and thus has put his own self into extreme error, it is not because of any fault of the Prophet PBUH; AAYAT tells that Allah would take His revenge from them either after He gives death to the Prophet PBUH or even at his life, as He wills; the text here may be taken to express that Allah would take His revenge from them either after He takes him away from Makkah or even at Makkah; certainly, He has all authority to punish them in any manner at any time due to their denial to the message of the Quran that the Prophet PBUH had provided them explicitly; AAYAAT ahead tell the Prophet PBUH to hold fast to the Quran and provide its message to all, as that certainly, he has to do; he would be asked about this liability which certainly he has fulfilled because he surely is on the right path, and all persons would be asked about how they took it; the Quran is the reminder to the word every person has provided to Allah at the world of spirits, to remain on the right path and the Prophet PBUH certainly has no doubts that Allah only has the true authority; He asks all persons to worship Him only and obey Him only; the last AAYAT of the Ruku reads, ”and ask those of Our apostles whom We sent before you- did We ever appoint gods to be worshipped besides the Beneficent Allah (that has never happened as Allah had commanded all of them to provide the fundamental teachings of Islam which the Prophet PBUH is also teaching by the Quran to all peoples of the world)?”; this means to see their teachings that are present authentically in which, there is nothing averse for sure, against the fundamental teachings of Islam; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
ZUKHRUF-The Fifth Ruku
46. And certainly We sent Musa with Our AAYAAT to Pharaoh and his chiefs, so he said: Surely I am the apostle of the Lord of the worlds.
47. But when he came to them with Our signs, lo! they laughed at them.
48. And We did not show them a sign but it was greater than its fellow, and We overtook them with chastisement that they may turn.
49. And they said: O magician! call on your Lord for our sake, as He has made the covenant with you; we shall surely be the followers of the right path.
50. But when We removed from them the chastisement, lo! they broke the pledge.
51. And Pharaoh proclaimed amongst his people: O my people! is not the kingdom of Egypt mine? And these rivers flow beneath me; do you not then see?
52. Nay! I am better than this fellow, who is contemptible, and who can hardly speak distinctly:
53. But why have not bracelets of gold been put upon him, or why have there not come with him angels as companions?
54. So he incited his people to levity and they obeyed him: surely they were a transgressing people.
55. Then when they displeased Us, We inflicted a retribution on them, so We drowned them all together,
56. And We made them a precedent and example to the later generations.
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This Ruku narrates about Moses-AS when he came to Pharaoh and his chiefs and told them to release Bani-Israel from captivity; he told them that he was one of the Messengers of Allah and presented to them such signs that Allah had provided to him; note that these signs were nine in total that Allah showed Pharaoh and his people yet they did not accept the fundamental teachings of Islam; besides the staff of Moses that changed to the huge serpent and the shining hand, there were (iii) draughts (shortage of crops), (iv) diminution of fruits (this also means lesser returns to efforts) (v) TOOFAAN (hail-storm), (vi) locusts, (vii) lice, (viii) frogs and (ix) blood; the sixteenth Ruku of AARAAF provides this very clearly; Al-Hamdu Lillah; they only mocked the signs that Allah showed them through Moses-AS though each one was most amazing; at each of troubles, they asked Moses-AS to remove it with commitment that they would follow the right path though they still called him a magician which clearly expressed that they were not sincere; so as soon as Allah removed their troubles, they broke their pledge, without any remorse; the next six AAYAAT of the Ruku tell how Pharaoh misguided his people and what was the outcome of that; he lured them by his manifest wealth and power at that time and place, by saying that he rules Egypt and has the control of its lands and rivers and said about Moses that he is contemptible because he does not have wealth and status; Pharaoh even mentioned that Moses is unable to express his teachings clearly in speech, but that certainly was the fault of Pharaoh himself and not of Moses-AS; we all have studied at the second Ruku of Surah SHUA’RAA that Pharaoh asked about Allah, the true Lord, when Moses-AS provided him the fundamental teachings of Islam at his court, and could not understand His true authority; Pharaoh stressed his point by saying that Moses does not have bracelets of gold that may cause him to become wealthy and angels are not accompanying him that may show that he has prominent status among the people; these words show the thinking pattern of disbelievers that they take prominence in wealth and status at the world as an indicator for someone to influence the environment; Satan had made this mistake when he took his manifest strength as the indicator of his supremacy over the man and mistake of this kind is certainly a huge mistake; note that the third Ruku of this Surah ZUKHRUF has told about the doubts of the disbelievers at Makkah where AAYAT-31 has quoted, “and they say- why was not this Quran revealed to a man of importance in the two of towns?”; they meant that the spiritual guide has to be such person who has prominence in wealth and has influence over number of men in Makkah & TA’EF, as they were most notable for their economic stability then; the third Ruku answers them that this is a foolish remark as the status of some over some at the world is because the peoples of the world take benefits from works of each other and it is because Allah examines all men whether they do get His pleasure or prove totally unworthy to it; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; for spiritual guidance, the manifest prominence by wealth and status at the world has no significance at the court of Allah except when the persons having them, put them to use to get His pleasure but the abundance of these things in themselves, does not gain appreciation there; it is the care to morals with righteous belief and adherence to virtues in deeds that does count there; the glamor of high possessions of the world is so very insignificant in view of Allah, and also the status such wealthy persons get among people, that if it had not caused all people to display ingratitude to Allah, which would have led them all to become failures at AKHIRAT, He would have made all persons extremely wealthy; Pharaoh did succeed in getting his people to his side by his inciting them and they did follow his erroneous advice; this was because their living manner, where the wealth and the status at the world counted for respect, had made their psyche to accept such misguidance; the outcome to the denial of the true guidance was that Allah drowned Pharaoh and all those who were chasing Moses-AS and Bani-Israel; He made this narration as an example that whosoever persists on wrongs even when he does get the true guidance, then He would destroy such persons, and their wealth and status at the world would prove useless for their defense; certainly Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
ZUKHRUF-The Sixth Ruku
57. And when a description of the son of Mariam is given, lo! your people raise a clamor thereat.
58. And they say: Are our gods better, or is he? They do not set it forth to you save by way of disputation; nay, they are a contentious people.
59. He was naught but a servant on whom We bestowed favor, and We made him an example for the children of Israel.
60. And if We please, We could make among you angels to be successors in the land.
61. And most surely he is knowledge of the hour, therefore have no doubt about it and follow me: this is the right path.
62. And let not the Satan prevent you; surely he is your open enemy.
63. And when Isa came with clear arguments he said: I have come to you indeed with wisdom, and that I may make clear to you part of what you differ in; so be careful of (your duty to) Allah and obey me:
64. Surely Allah is my Lord and your Lord, therefore serve Him; this is the right path:
65. But parties from among them differed, so woe to those who were unjust because of the chastisement of a painful day.
66. Do they wait for aught but the hour, that it should come! upon them all of a sudden while they do not perceive?
67. The friends shall on that day be enemies one to another, except those who guard (against evil).
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Surah ZUKHRUF answers the disbelievers that wealth and status at the world is insignificant as the man has come for examination here and he only has that in all things; note that the disbelievers made this an issue that why they should be blamed on taking angels as daughters of Allah whereas there are persons who believe Jesus to be His son; AAYAT-45 of this very Surah ZUKHRUF has told explicitly, “and (O Prophet PBUH) ask those of Our apostles whom We sent before you- did We ever appoint gods to be worshipped besides the Beneficent Allah (that has never happened as Allah had commanded all of them to provide the fundamental teachings of Islam which the Prophet PBUH is also teaching by the Quran to all peoples of the world)?”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; so this Ruku starts by mentioning Jesus-AS, to answer the foolish objection of the disbelievers with the comment that they should not raise clamor about him by false accusation; the fact of the matter is that he is not responsible for what those who claim to be his followers, have done after him; AAYAT-59 mentions, “he was naught but a servant on whom We bestowed favor, and We made him an example for the children of Israel”; they should understand that if Allah did not intend examination for the man, He would have made all of mankind as angels to live upon earth; but there is examination of the man even in Jesus Christ, the great man and the respectable Messenger of Allah, who most surely, is knowledge of the hour; they should have no doubts about him and follow the Prophet PBUH with total sincerity as this certainly is the right path and they should take care that the Satan, who is open enemy to mankind, does not prevent them to come to this right path; note that the phrase “knowledge of the hour” refers to the fact that his birth, his life that he spent at the world and his departure from the world, all are miraculous and like all other of the Messengers of Allah, he also provided by his TABLIGH knowledge of the hour that the Day of Judgment would surely take place; note also that it is an indication to happenings near to the end of the world too that might trigger his good memories at that time so it is better to see how events shape out with tolerance to each other because this time at which we are living, is most certainly very near to the end of the world and highly crucial for the Muslims; Al-Hamdu Lillah; further, note about this AAYAT i.e. AAYAT-61 that it has been taken at commentaries as an indication to the coming of Jesus Christ for the second time at the world near to its end; however, this interpretation is clearly inappropriate as he has departed from the world to the life beyond and would not come back to the world again; certainly, every person would be raised from dead at the Day of Judgment; however, there sure is an indication in Ahadith that he would come back near to the last day of the world and I, MSD, have commented upon this issue at the supplementary note after the note at the last Ruku of Surah MA’EDAH; that Ruku tells at AAYAT-116 & 117 about the question that Allah would ask Jesus Christ at the Day of Judgment and his answer to that question there; they state, “and when Allah will say- O Isa, son of Mariam, did you say to men- take me and my mother for two gods besides Allah, he will say- glory be to You, it did not befit me that I should say what I had no right to (say); if I had said it, You would indeed have known it; You know what is in my heart but certainly I do not know what is in Your Knowledge, surely You are the great Knower of the unseen things; I did not say to them aught save what You did enjoin me with- that serve Allah, my Lord and your Lord, and I was witness over them till the time I dwelt among them but when You took me up, You were the Watcher over them as You certainly do witness everything”; this tells most clearly that he is not going to return to the world for the second time, Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAAT-63 & 64 here at this Ruku, also present the statement of Jesus Christ to the Bani-Israel; these AAYAAT read, “and when Isa came with clear arguments he said- I have come to you indeed with wisdom (i.e. INJIL), and that I may make clear to you part of what you differ in; so be careful of (your duty to) Allah and obey me; surely, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, therefore serve Him; this is the right path”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; note that INJIL does not mean the four initial books of the New Testament though when ULAMA refer to it as the book that descended upon Jesus-AS, they loosely do mean those four gospels; it is notable that the Quran does not mention INJIL as some written work but it actually comprises of the sermons of Jesus Christ that he gave according to the guidance that Allah provided to him and as such, it is HIKMAT (wisdom); so whereas Torah is much related to ADL (the law), INJIL is much related to EHSAAN (the guidance that inclines towards the natural good tendencies of the man); we still find the matter of these sermons at different places at inside of the four initial books of the New Testament though they have been tampered with at times in the ancient period and so we Muslims take from them only what the Holy Book Quran confirms; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-65 points out that the persons whom Jesus Christ had addressed, divided into parties and it tells further that all those who were unjust among them would face the severe chastisement of the Day of Judgment; they are not accepting the Truth and it seems that they are waiting for the hour (here it means the Day of HASHR) which would get them unawares; the last AAYAT tells about that day that “the friends shall on that day be enemies one to another, except those who guard (against evil)”; so all the righteous persons would retain their good friendship even there but the disbelievers shall turn enemies to each other; see also Surah ABAS-33 to last; certainly, the true success is only at AKHIRAT, which is the true life ahead; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
ZUKHRUF-The Last Ruku
68. O My servants! there is no fear for you this day, nor shall you grieve.
69. Those who believed in Our AAYAAT and were submissive:
70. Enter the garden, you and your wives; you shall be made happy.
71. There shall be sent round to them golden bowls and drinking-cups and therein shall be what their souls yearn after and (wherein) the eyes shall delight, and you shall abide therein.
72. And this is the garden which you are given as an inheritance on account of what you did.
73. For you therein are many fruits of which you shall eat.
74. Surely the guilty shall abide in the chastisement of the hell-fire.
75. It shall not be abated from them and they shall therein be despairing.
76. And We are not unjust to them, but they themselves were unjust.
77. And they shall call out: O Malik! let your Lord make an end of us. He shall say: Surely you shall tarry.
78. Certainly We have brought you the Truth, but most of you are averse to the Truth.
79. Or have they settled an affair? Then surely We are the settlers.
80. Or do they think that We do not hear what they conceal and their secret discourses? Aye! and Our apostles with them write down.
81. Say: If the Beneficent Allah has a son, I am the foremost of those who serve.
82. Glory to the Lord of the heavens and the earth, the Lord of power, from what they ascribe (unto Him).
83. So leave them plunging into false discourses and sporting until they meet their day which they are threatened with.
84. And He it is Who is Allah in the heavens and in the earth; and He is the Wise, the Knowing.
85. And blessed is He Whose is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and what is between them, and with Him is the knowledge of the hour, and to Him shall you be brought back.
86. And those whom they call upon besides Him have no authority for intercession, except him who bears witness of the Truth knowingly.
87. And if you should ask them who created them, they would certainly say: Allah. Whence are they then turned back?
88. Consider his cry: O my Lord! surely they are a people who do not believe.
89. So turn away from them and say, Peace, for they shall soon come to know.
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Surah ZUKHRUF has stated this most explicitly that having gold & silver and all sorts of wealth at the world, does not have any worth at AKHIRAT nor the status at the world, matters there; the last Ruku starts by mentioning how pleased all righteous persons would be at AKHIRAT, where they would receive golden bowls & beautiful drinking cups and where they would get utmost respect; Al-Hamdu Lillah; they shall have no fear of the times ahead and they shall have no grief at whatever times that has passed away; AAYAT-72 & 73 tell that they would receive JANNAH as their residence forever ahead because they had lived virtuously at the right path by fulfillment of the commands of Allah and they would receive many of different fruits for them to get pleasure from; note that all those who get JANNAH would praise Allah that He gave them JANNAH by His mercy to them and Allah would tell them that their virtuous living at the world, led them to it; Surah AARAAF-43 states, “and We will remove whatever of ill-feeling is in their breasts; the rivers shall flow beneath them and they shall say- all praise is due to Allah Who guided us to this, and we would not have found the way had it not been that Allah had guided us; certainly the apostles of our Lord brought the Truth; and it shall be cried out to them that this is the garden of which you are made heirs for what you did”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAAT ahead from AAYAT-74 to 78 tell about the condition of the disbelievers at AKHIRAT that their unjust living manner shall lead them to chastisement of the hell-fire which shall not be abated from them and they shall live therein forever in disgrace; Allah is not unjust to any person but the disbelievers themselves would be responsible for this condition of theirs at AKHIRAT as they lived most unjustly at the world; they shall ask Malik, the chief-keeper of the hell, to ask Allah, the true Lord, to make an end of them to which he shall reply that there is no way that they get relief from the hell-fire; Allah did provide them the Truth, the fundamental teachings of Islam, and the virtuous manner to live by care to that, yet they lived-on remaining averse to it; note that at the time when this Surah descended, the disbelievers had decided by consultation with each other to stop the spread of the good teachings of Islam that Muhammad PBUH was providing to all, by all means that they had with them and they were practically doing it; AAYAAT 79 & 80 exposes their plan and tells them clearly that their plan would remain futile as Islam would certainly spread on; as for their wrong-doings, the angels at guard are writing them down and they would certainly have to answer for those; AAYAAT-81, 82, & 83 address the utmost wrong of disbelievers which these AAYAAT refute in clear terms as they read, “say (O Prophet PBUH)- if the Beneficent Allah has a son, I am the foremost of those who serve (but He certainly does not have any son or daughter); glory to the Lord of the heavens and the earth, the Lord of power, from what they ascribe (unto Him); so leave them plunging into false discourses and sporting until they meet their day which they are threatened with (where they would certainly see the outcome of all their wrongs)”; AAYAAT ahead tell that Allah only has created all that is in the heavens and the earth and He only has complete control over them; He is leading all of His creation according to His will as He truly is Wise and Most Knowing of all matters for certain; certainly, He only is the Creator of all creation and certainly, He only has the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them, so it is most necessary for all among the mankind (and even the jinn) to live by His commands as His disobedience would certainly lead to most severe chastisement at the Day of Judgment; the knowledge of that day is surely with Allah only and every person must remain prepared to witness that day when he/she shall be brought back to Allah, the true Lord; all must believe totally in the fundamental teachings of Islam that are TAUHID (Allah only is the Creator of all the creation and He always has all His attributes and He only is the true Lord) and AKHIRAT (Allah would judge all peoples of the world at the Day of Judgment) and RISALAT (Allah had sent His Messengers to the world to provide the Guidance to the right path); certainly, Allah only has the true authority; all must remain aware that they would face their doings alone at the grounds of HASHR and those have no authority to save them, whom they call besides Allah with such belief that they would save them from all chastisement; even “SHAFA’AT” (recommendation to Allah to forgive sinful Muslim persons there and give entrance to them into JANNAH), is limited to those specific persons only for whom Allah permits to ask for it and those whom Allah permits SHAFA’AT, would include the apostles of Allah, the most truthful persons like them among others, and SHAHEED in the way of Allah and all righteous persons, and this includes even the angels; AAYAT-86 reads for it, “and those whom they call upon besides Him have no authority for intercession, except him who bears witness of the Truth knowingly (this means angels)”; so Allah would give the permission to angels to recommend those of good persons for JANNAH to Him, who may have few of notable sins at their documents of deeds without any loss of their true belief, even though there were such wrong persons too among the disbelievers who called upon angels besides Allah; the angels did not have any part in their disbelief rather they despised it and most obviously, they would not intercede in favor of the disbelievers so what concern they have to the concept of SHAFA’AT; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-87 tells that they have this notion about Allah that He is their Creator yet they do not believe that the belief that He has created them and all of universe, asks them to obey His commands totally; AAYAT-9 at this Surah also pointed-out that even with acceptance that only Allah, Who is the Mighty and the Knowing, has created the heavens and the earth, the disbelievers do not believe in Him in this manner too that He only has the true authority and they need to show their total obedience to Him for certain; it states, “and if you should ask them Who created the heavens and the earth? they would most certainly say- the Mighty, the Knowing One, has created them”; the erroneous living manner of the disbelievers, when they adhere to it for some period of time collectively, causes alienation to this fact that they shall obey too, the One Who has created them, besides accepting Him as the Creator of all; the disbelievers at all periods & places, had rejected Allah as their RABB (the true Lord Whom they do have to obey) and had refused to take His guidance for the true belief and had denied to take the principles He has provided for the virtuous deeds of life; the true Muslims believe that He not only is the Creator of all the creation Who never loses His attributes, but He also is the only true Lord of all the creation Whom the jinn and the mankind have to obey totally by their freewill in all aspects of life; note that other of disbelief is where someone does believe that Allah is RABB, the true Lord, yet has the notion that his disobedience to Allah would not cause any harm to him, as that is of no consequence or as the recommendation at the court of Allah of some good person for him (or his sacrifice for him) or intercession of angels for him would save him from his wrong-doings at the Day of Judgment; this also leads to the result that the disbeliever ignores that he has to fulfill the commands of Allah at all issues of life and so practically he does not believe that Allah, the only Creator of all creation, is RABB, the true Lord, of all creation too; all must sincerely believe that Allah only is the Creator of all the creation and He always has all His attributes and He only is the true Lord; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-88 states that the Prophet PBUH does present his case in front of Allah that with all his efforts, the disbelievers do not believe in the fundamental teachings of Islam; in answer to this, Allah asks him to keep distance from them for the sake of peace, as he has fulfilled his task completely; they shall see very soon as they face the most severe chastisement on their wrongs, how erroneous they had been in their lives at the world; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
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Surah DUKHAN
(Consists of 3 Ruku; MK-8)
DUKHAN-The First Ruku
1. HA-MIM
2. I swear by the Book that makes manifest (the whole Truth).
3. Surely We revealed it on a blessed night surely We are ever warning--
4. Therein every wise affair is made distinct,
5. A command from Us; surely We are the senders (of Muhammad PBUH to all of mankind & jinn),
6. A mercy from your Lord, surely He is the Hearing, the Knowing,
7. The Lord of the heavens and the earth and what is between them, if you would be sure.
8. There is no god but He; He gives life and causes death, your Lord and the Lord of your fathers of yore.
9. Nay, they are in doubt, they sport.
10. Therefore, keep waiting for the day when the heaven shall bring an evident smoke,
11. That shall overtake men; this is a painful punishment.
12. Our Lord! remove from us the punishment; surely we are believers.
13. How shall they be reminded, and there came to them an Apostle making clear (the truth),
14. Yet they turned their backs on him and said: One taught (by others), a madman.
15. Surely We will remove the punishment a little, (but) you will surely return (to evil).
16. On the day when We will seize (them) with the most violent seizing; surely We will inflict retribution.
17. And certainly We tried before them the people of Pharaoh, and there came to them a noble apostle,
18. Saying: Deliver to me the servants of Allah, surely I am a faithful apostle to you,
19. And that do not exalt yourselves against Allah, surely I will bring to you a clear authority:
20. And surely I take refuge with my Lord and your Lord that you should stone me to death:
21. And if you do not believe in me, then leave me alone.
22. Then he called upon his Lord: These are guilty people.
23. So go forth with My servants by night; surely you will be pursued:
24. And leave the sea intervening; surely they are a host that shall be drowned.
25. How many of the gardens and fountains have they left!
26. And cornfields and noble places!
27. And goodly things wherein they rejoiced;
28. Thus (it was), and We gave them as heritage to another people.
29. So the heaven and the earth did not weep for them, nor were they respited.
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Surah DUKHAN also starts by mentioning the Holy Book Quran that clarifies all matters for the virtuous guidance of the man; note that Allah chose the best of times that is the significant night of Ramadhan that is named as LAYLATUL-QADR when He began to provide the Quran to the best of records that is LAUHE-MAHFUZ; that significant night is in the month of Ramadhan and it relates to predestination because Allah tells angels at that night those of His commands that they have to implement in the year ahead; He sent the Quran in stages to Muhammad PBUH (the last of His Messengers) by the most respectable angel JIBRAEL (i.e. Gabriel) as the true guidance to mankind (and to jinn) as He willed, so it is the relevant guidance according to events that took place then, and the relevant guidance in general to what the people needed to live their lives upon the Islamic teachings; Al-Hamdu Lillah; all good works need good times for them to manifest their utmost BARAKAH and so Allah chose the best of times that was that significant night of Ramadhan when He began to provide the Holy Book Quran to LAUHE-MAHFUZ; note that when some good thing brings the most good results by it then it is mentioned as having “BARAKAH” for that so when the good rain falls upon the good land, it brings its crops well upon its surface so it has “BARAKAH” for that good land; Allah provided the Quran to Muhammad PBUH for nearly 23 lunar years and LAUHE-MAHFUZ saved that text of the Quran as he got it; so with the completion of its text at the world, it was saved there too in total by text and certainly, Allah knows better; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAAT-5 to 8 state that Allah sent Muhammad PBUH to all of mankind & jinn and He had told Adam-AS that He would keep the Truth always clear for all to accept or to reject, so no injustice takes place when He judges all persons at the time of HASHR; this is mercy from Allah, the true Lord, Who has provided the Guidance to the right path to all; and He hears all that persons say and knows whatever they do; He is certainly the Hearing and the Knowing; He is truly the Lord of all His creation, and this all is the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them; the study of them would lead to see that He has provided principles to all things and this beautiful pattern does lead those who really are in the pursuit of the Truth, to believe in the true authority of Allah; He has cared for the survival of the man and that the true guidance always remains most clear to him so AAYAT-8 at the Ruku tells conclusively, “there is no god but He; He gives life and causes death, your Lord and the Lord of your fathers of yore”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-9 tells about the disbelievers that with such indications that lead to acceptance of the true authority of Allah Who asks all persons to obey Him totally, they remain in doubt and live their lives in such playful manner that shows that they are totally ignorant of the fact that they have to answer Allah, the true Lord; AAYAAT ahead ask the Prophet PBUH to wait and bear their hostility, as the day would come when the heaven shall manifest DUKHAN (smoke) all over; note that this day would be near to QAYAMAT (the last day of the world) whereas this mentioned smoke would overtake all of men and it would be most painful for certain; all persons, even the disbelievers, would ask Allah to provide relief to them with commitment that they would live strictly by His commands; AAYAT tells clearly that how shall they accept the true belief when they rejected the Prophet Muhammad PBUH when he came to them and showed them the right path totally, by the command of Allah; the disbelievers at his times had denied the message of Islam and had turned their backs on him with such remarks that he is taught these teachings by some person and he is a madman; Allah tells the disbelievers who would be at the world at the time when smoke takes over, “surely We will remove the punishment a little, (but) you will surely return (to evil)”; so Allah would remove it for little space of time but they would not keep their commitment and would return to their evil ways of living; may Allah save all good persons from that severe punishment of smoke whenever it occurs at the world; AAYAT-16 tells that though He would give space to the disbelievers at the world, yet at the Day of Judgment, Allah would punish them most severely; it reads, “on the day when We will seize (them) with the most violent seizing; surely We will inflict retribution”; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; after this, the Ruku narrates events related to Moses-AS which tell that Allah has complete authority to end all those who challenge Him; He tried Pharaoh and his people through Moses when he had come to them and had told Pharaoh that he is the Messenger of Allah and he has one of his tasks to take the Bani-Israel away from Egypt and put an end to their slavery; he also gave him the message of Islam and told him not to exalt himself against Allah; but Pharaoh did not accept this message, rather he wanted his chiefs to agree to the execution of Moses and even mentioned that if he gets that agreement then even if Moses calls Allah, it would be of no benefit to him; it seems that they had some law at that time that decrees of Pharaoh having crucial impact at the land, shall need the assent of his chiefs around; when Moses came to know of this motion, he did ask the protection of Allah as MOMEN-27 presents his DUA to Allah, the true Lord, which reads, “and Musa said- surely I take refuge with my Lord and your Lord from every proud one who does not believe in the day of reckoning”; Allah accepted his call and as the time to affirm the motion of Pharaoh ensued, He raised one of His righteous believers from among the Pharaoh’s own family members to support Moses-AS; at this Ruku, AAYAT-20, 21 & 22 tell that he said, “and surely I take refuge with my Lord and your Lord that you should stone me to death (which also was among the manners in which they gave the capital punishment); and if you do not believe in me, then leave me alone (so that I spread the virtuous teachings of Islam to all persons around); then he called upon his Lord- these are guilty people (as the people of Pharaoh did not incline to those good teachings except for some)”; Allah commanded him to take the Bani-Israel away from Egypt at night and though Pharaoh and his men would follow them yet they would not be able to get them; the sea would part to give way to Moses-AS and his people but when Pharaoh and his men come inside it, they all would drown inside it as it converges upon them; so it was the Pharaoh, who died by drowning when he was frantically chasing Moses and the Bani-Israel, with massive number of his armed men; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the last five AAYAAT of the Ruku tell that with high number of possessions and status at the world, those people could not save themselves from the severe punishment of Allah when He willed to end their power and none came to their assistance against Allah, the true Lord; these AAYAAT read, “how many of the gardens and fountains have they left; and cornfields and noble places; and goodly things wherein they rejoiced; thus (it was), and We gave them as heritage to another people (i.e. the Bani-Israel got all such things after some period of time when they got control of such land where they could live on their own); so the heaven and the earth did not weep for them, nor were they respited”; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
DUKHAN-The Second Ruku
30. And certainly We delivered the children of Israel from the abasing chastisement,
31. From Pharaoh; surely he was haughty, (and) one of the extravagant.
32. And certainly We chose them, having knowledge, above the nations.
33. And We gave them of the AAYAAT wherein was clear blessing.
34. Most surely these do say:
35. There is naught but our first death and we shall not be raised again.
36. So bring our fathers (back), if you are truthful.
37. Are they better or the people of TUBBA and those before them? We destroyed them, for surely they were guilty.
38. And We did not create the heavens and the earth and what is between them in sport.
39. We did not create them both but with the truth, but most of them do not know.
40. Surely the day of decision is their appointed term, of all of them
41. The day on which a friend shall not avail (his) friend aught, nor shall they be helped,
42. Save those on whom Allah shall have mercy; surely He is the Mighty, the Merciful.
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Allah tells at the first four AAYAAT of the Ruku that He not only delivered the Bani-Israel from the abasing chastisement of Pharaoh but He also chose them above nations with liability to them that they remain to His message, though He knew their flaws, and that they provide it to peoples around; He cared for them in many ways through Moses-AS when He provided them their sustenance even at the desert where they stayed for quite a period of time; before them, Allah had sent His Messengers to nations yet they had not accepted His message so at the times of Moses, He chose them as nation for His task; however, when the Bani-Israel failed to remain to it as they took some of commands from Torah in practice and ignored others that they found hard for them to practice and showed extreme disrespect to the Prophets of Allah who came in them, Allah punished them severely through other of nations and then, at the times of Muhammad PBUH, the last Messenger of Allah, He removed them totally from their revered status; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; from AAYAT-34 to the last, the Ruku tells the statement of the disbelievers at Makkah and the answer that Allah gives to them; they had said that this life that they have, is final so their first death closes it completely with no life ahead; they had argued that if there is life ahead, then the Muslims should bring their dead forefathers to them so that they see that the life stays on; Allah asks them if they take themselves better in strength than the people of TUBBA and those who were before them; note that TUBBA was the title of kings of Yemen at ancient times and here, the AAYAT refers to one of them; Allah destroyed all such people totally when they challenged Him and He would certainly punish them too most severely if they disrespect Muhammad PBUH whom He has appointed as His Messenger in them, to give them His message clearly; He has created the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them with principles that they follow; He examines the mankind (and even the jinn) by this set-up and they would account for all their doings at the particular day of Judgment, when Allah would decide the destination of all persons ever born at the world; Surah MULK says at its beginning, “Blessed is He in Whose hand is the kingdom, and He has power over all things; Who created death and life that He may try you- which of you is best in deeds; and He is the Mighty, the Forgiving”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; at that day, the disbelievers would see their forefathers but there, their relations would end and even close friends at life at the world, would not care for each other and they shall not be helped in any manner by anyone; however, the good persons to whom Allah shows His mercy would remain friends even there; certainly, Allah is AZIZ (Mighty; so He does not let any extreme wrong remain at the world when some nation takes it up because He only has the true authority) and He also is RAHIM (Merciful; so He cares for the spiritual guidance to the mankind and has patience upon the wrong-doings of individuals till they get the ample time He has appointed for them, to accept it for their safety at AKHIRAT); certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
DUKHAN-The Last Ruku
43. Surely the tree of the Zaqqum,
44. Is the food of the sinful
45. Like dregs of oil; it shall boil in (their) bellies,
46. Like the boiling of hot water.
47. Seize him, then drag him down into the middle of the hell;
48. Then pour above his head of the torment of the boiling water:
49. Taste; you forsooth are the mighty, the honorable:
50. Surely this is what you disputed about.
51. Surely those who guard (against evil) are in secure place,
52. In gardens and springs;
53. They shall wear of fine and thick silk, (sitting) face to face;
54. Thus (shall it be), and We will wed them with HOORS, pure, beautiful ones.
55. They shall call therein for every fruit in security;
56. They shall not taste therein death except the first death, and He will save them from the punishment of the hell,
57. A grace from your Lord; this is the great achievement.
58. So have We made it easy in your tongue that they may be mindful.
59. Therefore, wait; surely they (also) are waiting.
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The last Ruku presents the treatment of the disbelievers at the hell-fire and in contrast, the living manner of the successful persons at JANNAH; the Ruku tells at its beginning about the most sinful disbelievers that they would get their foods from the tree of Zaqqum which is most thorny that is at the hell-fire; AAYAT-6 at Surah GHASHIYA tells about it that “they shall have no food but of thorns” so all those who erred about the Day of Judgment and all those who denied its upcoming, they would eat from that tree as that only would be available to satiate their extreme hunger; it would be like dregs of oil and it would boil at their bellies like the hot water and in addition, they would receive the torment of boiling water over them, so these disbelievers would be most unwelcome; they would be commanded to taste this all as they used to live at the world with extreme arrogance that they are rightful to get whatever they want and that they are most respectful among all people around while they did not believe that there would come such specific day when they would certainly have to answer for all their doings; so they would see there all that in which they used to have extreme doubt; AAYAAT ahead at the Ruku tell about the true believers that they will remain away from the hell-fire with utmost security in beautiful gardens where clear springs would flow; they shall have dresses that would be made of fine and thick silk; and Allah would wed them to HOORS (the most beautiful women at JANNAAT) who would have the most lovely wide eyes; note about HOORS that these fairest of women would be the dwellers of JANNAAT who would be included in the blessing for the virtuous men who achieve success at AKHIRAT and those righteous women too who had spent their lives in the most virtuous manner at the world, would enter JANNAAT where they would be transformed as the most beautiful HOORS; see also the note at Surah TOOR; they would have all kinds of pleasant fruits there which they would ask in utmost security; then, this would be the life that they would live forever and never would taste death, after the death which they had before, that ended their respective lives at the world; Allah, the true Lord, would provide them safety from the hell-fire by His grace and that certainly is the great achievement; Allah tells at the last AAYAAT, “so have We made it (the Quran) easy in your tongue that they may be mindful; therefore, wait (O Muhammad PBUH- without losing patience when you have provided the message of Islam); surely they (also) are waiting (for some calamity to hit you but they would see clearly who gets it)”; certainly, Allah only is the true Lord; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
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Surah JATHIYA
(Consists of 4 Ruku; MK-9)
JATHIYA-The First Ruku
1. HA-MIM
2. The revelation of the Book is from Allah, the Mighty, the Wise.
3. Most surely in the heavens and the earth there are signs for the believers.
4. And in your (own) creation and in what He spreads abroad of animals there are signs for the people that are certain;
5. And the variation of the night and the day, and what Allah sends down of sustenance from the heaven above, then gives life thereby to the earth after its death, and the changing of the winds, there are signs for the people who understand.
6. These are the AAYAAT of Allah which We recite to you with Truth; then in what announcement would they believe after Allah and His AAYAAT?
7. Woe to every sinful liar,
8. Who hears the AAYAAT of Allah recited to him, then persists proudly as though he had not heard them; so announce to him a painful punishment.
9. And when he comes to know of any of Our AAYAAT, he takes it for a jest; these it is that shall have abasing chastisement.
10. Before them is the hell-fire, and there shall not avail them aught of what they earned, nor those whom they took for guardians besides Allah, and they shall have grievous punishment.
11. This is guidance; and (as for) those who disbelieve in the AAYAAT of their Lord, they shall have a painful penalty of abomination.
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The first Ruku of Surah JATHIYA guides particularly to see that all creation of Allah indicates that He only has the true authority as He has set everything by principles that all His creation follows and all this set-up is totally favorable to life at the world, especially for the mankind; this proves that the man is here to live the life that Allah has given him by principles and undoubtedly, he is answerable for his doings; so the beginning of the Surah tells that all surroundings establish the teachings of the Quran, the word of Allah, in the clearest manner; it reads, “HA-MIM; the revelation of the Book (the Quran) is from Allah, the Mighty (Who eliminates all those from the face of earth who challenge His true authority), the Wise (Who directs the issues at the world by the doings of the man as He wills, because He certainly has all the true authority); most surely in the heavens and the earth there are signs for the believers (as they all are complementary to the teachings of the Quran); and in your (own) creation and in what He spreads abroad of animals there are signs for the people that are certain (that Allah only has the true authority); and the variation of the night and the day, and what Allah sends down of sustenance (i.e. rain which brings forth the crops & fruits from the earth) from the heaven above, then gives life thereby to the earth after its death, and the changing of the winds, there are signs for the people who understand; these are the AAYAAT of Allah which We recite to you with (indication of) the Truth; then in what announcement would they believe after (the recitation of AAYAAT from the Quran of) Allah and (after getting those of) His AAYAAT (that are around)”?; compare these AAYAAT to BAQARAH-164 which also gives the same message, it reads, “most surely in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day, and the ships that run in the sea with that which profits men, and the water that Allah sends down from the cloud (the heaven nearby), then gives life with it to the earth after its death and spreads in it all (kinds of) animals, and the changing of the winds and the clouds made subservient between the heaven and the earth, there are signs for the people who understand”; note that all the physical laws apply only by the will of Allah and He only has provided their working at the universe; He has caused the rotation of the earth at its axis without any troubles to us so as to bring days and nights; this gives us the opportunity to set-up our routine for our economic activities and for the period of our rest avoiding burden to self with our attention towards Allah at all times; and He descended the water from the heaven above so as to bring the earth alive (so that it bears fruits & crops); He mentions the heaven above as singular here as the rain falls from the clouds that are just above the earth; note that He has used the term “heavens” in plural at the beginning of mentioning benefits to the mankind at AAYAT-3; He spread many of animals upon the earth and this in some way or other is beneficial to the man as they are means of transport for him and as they provide the milk and the meat and even their waste is beneficial as fertilizer to fields; the wild animals too provide benefits to the mankind as their skins and teeth have value and some of them provide medicinal benefits too; the change of winds too that cause change in weathers at different places by their occurrence, is beneficial to life of the mankind; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAAT ahead at the Ruku tell explicitly that with all signs that show that the man is here for his examination then if someone has extreme arrogance and does not take heed after getting the knowledge of the Truth, he is most sinful and extreme liar who would get the most severe punishment at the world and at AKHIRAT; these AAYAAT read, “woe to every sinful liar, who hears the AAYAAT of Allah recited to him, then persists proudly as though he had not heard them (so he is most sinful); so announce to him a painful punishment (at the world); and when he comes to know of any of Our AAYAAT, he takes it for a jest (so he is extreme liar who misguides persons around him); these it is that shall have abasing chastisement (at AKHIRAT); before them is the hell-fire (where their wrong-doings are leading them), and there shall not avail them aught of what they earned (of wrong-doings), nor those whom they took for guardians besides Allah (because they have no authority to save them from the hell-fire), and they shall have grievous punishment”; the last AAYAT of the Ruku reads, “this (the Quran) is guidance; and (as for) those who disbelieve in the AAYAAT of their Lord, they shall have a painful penalty of abomination (due to their disbelief)”; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
JATHIYA-The Second Ruku
12. Allah is He Who made subservient to you the sea that the ships may run therein by His command, and that you may seek of His grace, and that you may give thanks.
13. And He has made subservient to you whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth, all, from Himself; most surely there are signs in this for a people who reflect.
14. Say to those who believe (that) they forgive those who do not fear the days of Allah that He may reward people for what they earn.
15. Whoever does good, it is for his own soul, and whoever does evil, it is against himself; then you shall be brought back to your Lord.
16. And certainly We gave the Book and the wisdom and the prophecy to the children of Israel, and We gave them of the goodly things, and We made them excel the nations.
17. And We gave them clear arguments related to guidance, but they did not differ until after knowledge had come to them out of envy among themselves; surely your Lord will judge between them on the day of resurrection concerning that wherein they differed.
18. Then We have made you follow course related to guidance, therefore follow it, and do not follow the low desires of those who do not know.
19. Surely they shall not avail you in the least against Allah; and surely the unjust are friends of each other, and Allah is the guardian of those who guard (against evil).
20. This provides clear proofs for men, and it is the guidance and the mercy for the people who are certain.
21. Nay! do those who have wrought evil deeds think that We will make them like those who believe and do good- that their life and their death shall be equal? Evil it is that they judge.
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The Ruku continues telling the blessings of Allah on the mankind; AAYAT-12 states that He has set the waters of the sea with such principles that even huge ships run therein by His command; this enables the man to get economic stability by transport of goods to & fro and for this, the man does need to show gratitude to Him; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-13 states that He has made all that is at the heavens and all that is at the earth, work for the benefits of the mankind by His command; so the man has got the option to reflect on the principles that they follow to come to the Truth and to get high physical benefits too, by that good reflection; AAYAAT ahead ask the Prophet PBUH to tell all sincere believers to ignore the comments of the disbelievers as they do not fear the punishment that Allah gave to nations that rejected His message when the Messengers in them, provided it to them; those were the days when Allah showed that it certainly is His will by which the life at the world goes on, so “whoever does good, it is for his own soul, and whoever does evil, it is against himself (even at life at the world); then you shall be brought back to your Lord (at the Day of Judgment)”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the Ruku presents Bani-Israel as an example that Allah provided them Torah through Moses-AS and wisdom to apply it properly through Jesus-AS and sent many of Prophets between them to keep them on the right path; and provided them with good sustenance at the world and such status that they excel nations by keeping to the commands of Allah; and He gave them specific commandments to remain to His guidance but when they differed to each other even when they had received the knowledge of His guidance, with an urge to show their excellence among each other and to ask for worldly benefits, Allah disgraced them among all nations and certainly, He will judge between them on the day of resurrection concerning all those things in which they differed; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAAT-18, 19 & 20 state that after Allah deposed them of their status, He provided all Muslims through Muhammad PBUH, the last Messenger of Allah, the specific manner to remain to His guidance and to spread the knowledge of it to all peoples; the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet PBUH, which gives the course to all Muslims to practice the Islamic teachings which is the guidance of Allah to the mankind, is that specific manner by which all Muslims fulfill the asking of that guidance practically; they must never lean to low desires of those who have no knowledge of remaining to the guidance of Allah; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the disbelievers are unable to save any person from the consequence of his doings from Allah, at life at the world and at AKHIRAT and they are unable to save themselves too, though they do show friendship to each other at the world; certainly, Allah only is the guardian of those at all times who live by morals and guard against evil; AAYAT-20 reads, “this (the Quran) provides clear proofs for men, and it is the guidance and the mercy for the people who are certain (of the coming of the Day of Judgment)”; Allah provides the simple reason for the occurrence of the Day of Judgment at the last AAYAT of the Ruku that reads, “nay! do those who have wrought evil deeds think that We will make them like those who believe and do good- that their life and their death shall be equal?- evil it is that they judge”; so those persons who do realize the true aim of life that it only is to get the pleasure of Allah, the true Lord, would ultimately be successful as they live-on according to all His good commands; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
JATHIYA-The Third Ruku
22. And Allah created the heavens and the earth with truth and that every soul may be rewarded for what it has earned and they shall not be wronged.
23. Have you then considered him who takes his low desire for his god, and Allah has made him err having knowledge and has set a seal upon his ear and his heart and put covering upon his eye. Who can then guide him after Allah? Will you not then be mindful? 24. And they say: There is nothing but our life in this world; we live and die and nothing destroys us but time, and they have no knowledge of that; they only conjecture.
25. And when Our clear AAYAAT are recited to them, their argument is no other than that they say: Bring our fathers (back) if you are truthful.
26. Say: Allah gives life to you, then He makes you die, then will He gather you to the day of resurrection wherein is no doubt, but most people do not know.
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The first AAYAT of the Ruku emphasizes the info given previously that Allah has created everything by principles that they follow and He has set these principles in such manner that living by virtues lead to pleasure at heart and living by wrongs only brings troubles; it reads, “and Allah created the heavens and the earth with truth (with good principles) and that every soul may be rewarded for what it has earned (whether good or bad) and they shall not be wronged (because Allah is certainly most just in all His decisions)”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; due to His set principles, it happens that whoever goes on following his low desires where the commands of Allah had asked him to refrain strictly from that then He takes away his ability to distinguish between right and wrong as He sets a seal on his ear and his heart while there takes place a covering upon his sight which becomes an obstruction to him to see what is good; so he remains in the darkness of wrongs as there is none who would guide him when Allah has decided that he lives in that darkness; every person needs to be mindful that he/she does not lead himself/herself to such condition; there are such persons in the disbelievers who state that their life at the world is final with no other life so as they die due to time that falls upon them for it, it ends completely; Allah answers to this that “they have no knowledge of that; they only conjecture”; note that where the disbelievers put something upon destiny, Allah tells them that they have no knowledge about this and they have no right to argue by that stance; it happened that when they had no answer to their wrong doings, they blamed the destiny upon it; Surah YA-SEEN-47 also denotes their foolish response when they are directed to spend in the way of Allah, “and when it is said to them- spend out of what Allah has given you, those who disbelieve say to those who believe- shall we feed him whom, if Allah please, He could feed?- you are in naught but clear error”; this tells how unaware the disbelievers are of the fact that Allah has given them life at the world only to examine them with freewill whether they live on the right path or not; due to this, He has given different positions to all persons here among the mankind as He wills and certainly, He knows how to examine them; every person observes clearly that he/she deals matters at hand by his/her freewill and the asking of Allah to mankind is that he/she uses his/her freewill to fulfill the commands of Allah; certainly, everything happens by the will of Allah but His pleasure is not in everything so the mankind has to fulfill His commands by his/her freewill to get His pleasure and not argue in favor of his/her wrong doings, by mentioning His will that certainly, He only knows; most certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; additionally, note is this issue that Surah HADID-22 & 23 read, “no evil befalls on the earth nor in your own souls, but it is in the book before We bring it into existence; surely that is easy to Allah; so that you may not grieve for what has escaped you, nor be exultant at what He has given you; and Allah does not love any arrogant boaster”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; so where he has to do good deeds which affects his life at AKHIRAT, he would not make the destiny as an excuse to his avoidance for them as the issue clearly relates to freewill; but when he loses some benefit at the world not by his doing, he would accept that loss remaining positive in attitude that this certainly, is the will of Allah and He tests all persons at the world by different situations; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the disbelievers argue against the resurrection of the dead at the day of HASHR that if the dead would be raised to life again, then the Muslims shall bring their forefathers to life for their observation; Surah DUKHAN has also told their statement in this issue at AAYAAT-34, 35 & 36 which read, “most surely these do say- there is naught but our first death and we shall not be raised again; so bring our fathers (back), if you are truthful”; the last AAYAT of the Ruku presents the answer to this plainly, “say (O Prophet PBUH to them)- Allah gives life to you, then He makes you die (so He chooses the times for birth and death of all persons), then will He gather you to the day of resurrection wherein is no doubt (and not before that), but most people do not know (and they argue foolishly against the Day of Judgment)”; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
JATHIYA-The Last Ruku
27. And Allah's is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth; and on the day when the hour shall come to pass, on that day shall they perish who say false things.
28. And you shall see every large group kneeling down; every large group shall be called to its book: today you shall be rewarded for what you did.
29. This is Our book that speaks against you with justice; surely We wrote what you did,
30. Then as to those who believed and did good, their Lord will make them enter into His mercy; that is the manifest true success.
31. As to those who disbelieved: What- were not My AAYAAT recited to you? But you were proud and you were a guilty people.
32. And when it was said, Surely the promise of Allah is true and as for the hour, there is no doubt about it, you said: We do not know what the hour is; we do not think (that it will come to pass) save a passing thought, and we are not at all sure.
33. And the evil (consequences) of what they did shall become manifest to them and that which they mocked shall encompass them.
34. And it shall be said: Today We forsake you as you neglected the meeting of this day of yours and your abode is the fire, and there are not for you any helpers:
35. That is because you took the AAYAAT of Allah for a jest and the life of this world deceived you. So on that day they shall not be brought forth from it, nor shall they be granted goodwill.
36. So, to Allah is due (all) praise, the Lord of the heavens and the Lord of the earth, the Lord of the worlds.
37. And to Him belongs greatness in the heavens and the earth, and He is the Mighty, the Wise.
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The Ruku starts by mentioning that all kingdom of all heavens and the earth is of Allah; He would bring the Day of Judgment for certain and then the sinful liars would be in extreme trouble; only He has the authority to give any person the right to intercession and that even would be reserved to that person for whom He allows it; so the matter relates to the specific subject and the specific object in this issue; also, no amounts would be taken in compensation from anyone in his/her favor and no assistance would be there for any of those who had not cared to attain the pleasure of Allah; the worldly life is the examination for all and the life ahead is the result to it; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the peoples there at Judgment would be set in different large groups according to their doings and then everyone of those would receive his/her result by his/her doings; there, at the grounds of HASHR, would be such extreme fear that every large group would be in the condition of kneeling down when each person of each of those groups would be called to his document of deeds that he/she would get from the book that has total records of all persons who had ever came to the world; Surah Zumar-69 & 70 read, “and the earth shall beam with the light of its Lord, and the Book shall be laid down, and the Prophets and the witnesses shall be brought up, and judgment shall be given between them with justice, and they shall not be dealt with unjustly; and every soul shall be paid back fully what it has done, and He knows best what they do”; AAYAT-49 of Surah KAHF reads, “and the book shall be placed, then you will see the guilty fearing from what is in it, and they will say- woe to us; what book is this- it does not omit a small one nor a great one, but numbers them (all); and what they had done they shall find present (there); and your Lord does not deal unjustly with anyone”; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-29 here tells explicitly, “this is Our book that speaks against you with justice; surely We wrote what you did”; writing here means recording of doings of each person, at that book and this would occur in the manner Allah has specified to record it there without any probability of any error and certainly He knows better; so “as to those who believed and did good, their Lord will make them enter into His mercy; that is the manifest true success”; AAYAAT ahead at the Ruku up-to AAYAT-35 narrate about the condition of the disbelievers at the grounds of HASHR; when AAYAAT of the Quran were recited to them, they showed arrogance and did not accept its message; they were told most explicitly that the Day of Judgment is certain to come but they responded to this message that though they do have some passing thought that those who live by injustice do need to account for their doings yet they do have their doubts about the coming of the Day of Judgment; so they would see where their doubts lead them to as on that day, their wrong-doings would come at fore and that which they mocked, shall encompass them; Allah would not hear any plea of mercy from them there at the Day of Judgment and their final abode would be the hell-fire from which no one would be able to save them against Allah, the true Lord; AAYAT-35 tells the reason for their extreme anguish that this is because they took His AAYAAT for jest and the life of this world deceived them completely so on that day when they get their extreme punishment, they shall never be taken out of it, nor shall they receive His mercy ever; the last AAYAAT of the Surah read, “so, to Allah is due (all) praise, the Lord of the heavens and the Lord of the earth, the Lord of the worlds; and to Him belongs greatness in the heavens and the earth, and He is the Mighty, the Wise”; certainly, He only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
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Surah AHQAAF
(Consists of 4 Ruku; MK-9)
AHQAAF-The First Ruku
1. HA-MIM
2. The revelation of the Book is from Allah, the Mighty, the Wise.
3. We did not create the heavens and the earth and what is between them two save with truth and (for) an appointed term; and those who disbelieve turn aside from what they are warned of.
4. Say: Have you considered what you call upon besides Allah? Show me what they have created of the earth, or have they a share in the heavens? Bring me a book before this or traces of knowledge, if you are truthful.
5. And who is in greater error than he who calls besides Allah upon those that will not answer him till the day of resurrection and they are heedless of their call?
6. And when men are gathered together they shall be their enemies, and shall be deniers of their worshipping (them).
7. And when Our clear AAYAAT are recited to them, those who disbelieve say with regard to the truth when it comes to them: This is clear magic.
8. Nay! they say: He has forged it. Say: If I have forged it, you do not control anything for me from Allah; He knows best what you utter concerning it; He is enough as a witness between me and you, and He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.
9. Say: I am not the first of the apostles, and I do not know what will be done with me or with you: I do not follow anything but that which is revealed to me, and I am nothing but a plain warner.
10. Say: Have you considered if it is from Allah, and you disbelieve in it, and a witness from among the children of Israel has borne witness of one like it, so he believed, while you are big with pride; surely Allah does not guide the unjust people.
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Surah AHQAAF also begins by guiding particularly to see that all creation of Allah indicates that He only has the true authority as He has set everything by principles that all His creation follows and all this set-up is totally favorable to life at the world, especially for the mankind, but He has provided this set-up to an appointed time; this proves that the man is here to live the life that Allah has given him by principles and undoubtedly, he is answerable for his doings which means that he is going through an examination at life at the world; note that the Quran repeats its basic teachings and the seven HA-MIM Surah, of which this Surah AHQAAF is the last, have emphasized the fundamental teachings of Islam most highly for certain; however, when it repeats something, it presents that issue by its different aspects and as such, repetition in the Quran remains to its credit only; though this Surah descended at Makkah, at the 9th year, but its last Ruku most probably came at the 10th year of it; AAYAAT at the beginning of the Surah read, “HA-MIM; the revelation of the Book is from Allah, the Mighty, the Wise; We did not create the heavens and the earth and what is between them two, save with truth (set principles that lead to the true guidance) and (for) an appointed term; and those who disbelieve turn aside from what they are warned of (i.e. the Day of Judgment)”; the disbelievers would see extreme troubles on that Day when Allah asks them where are those whom they deemed to have such authority that may challenge Him; those who would be the leading persons among the disbelievers, did not ever bring any teachings from Allah and in fact, the leading persons among the disbelievers, would answer there that they did cause their followers to err as they too were on the wrong course so they would confess to all of their wrongs when they see clearly that they have no other option, and as such, they would become enemies to whom they led at life at the world; the other of leaders who would not be among the disbelievers but whom the disbelievers had risen to such status where they took them as having all authority besides Allah, would clarify, “to Thee we declare ourselves to be clear (of them); they never served Us”; they actually were unaware that the disbelievers took them as having authority besides Allah as the disbelievers took them as such after these good persons had departed from the world; the erroneous concepts of disbelievers, who had anticipated that they would not face any troubles at that Day, because of support of their leaders who would save them from torments there, would prove useless as it is the true belief (and the virtuous deeds according to it) that counts for safety which they did not care for, by their freewill; QASAS-63 also notes the info about both of categories of these leaders at that Day, the Day of Judgment; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAAT ahead till the last of the Ruku, answer the disbelievers who used to say about the Quran that it is some magic which this person i.e. the Prophet PBUH has forged; note that the Surah had told at its beginning in clear terms that “the revelation of the Book (i.e. the Quran) is from Allah, the Mighty, the Wise” but the disbelievers were not ready to believe this; note also that Allah asks the Prophet PBUH at Surah YOUNUS to tell the disbelievers that Allah has provided the Quran to him so that they get the message of Allah that the life is an examination and if they do not fulfill the commands of Allah, they would end-up at the hell-fire; AAYAAT-16 & 17 at Surah YOUNUS read, “say- if Allah had desired (otherwise) I would not have recited it to you, nor would He have taught it to you; indeed I have lived a lifetime among you before it; do you not then understand?; who is then more unjust than who forges a lie against Allah or (who) gives the lie to His AAYAAT? surely the guilty shall not be successful”; this asks Muhammad PBUH, the last Messenger of Allah, to tell the ignorant persons that if Allah did not intend for him to provide the true guidance from Him then he would not have read this Quran to them and then they who were living in disbelief, would not have had any opportunity to realize the Truth to save themselves that it provides clearly; he has remained among them for many of years now so they know quite well about all his life and due to those years, they are well-aware that he does not speak lies even in the ordinary issues of life so how it is that he speaks lies against the beautiful teachings of Allah now when He has provided him the true guidance for all peoples of the world; so who would be more unjust than that person who forges lies against Allah (so he insha-Allah would never be among such wrong persons) or who rejects His AAYAAT by taking them as lies (so they must be mindful about their unjust attitude against Allah); due to their unjust attitude, Allah would end the period of His tolerance for them and take away any of their leaning to acceptance of the Truth that would result in their straying away from the true guidance that ultimately would result in their severe punishment at AKHIRAT; with all opportunity to realize and accept the Truth, these disbelievers worship such things leaving the worship of Allah that are unable to provide any harm to them or any safety from harms to them and they say about them that these are their intercessors in front of Allah if they ever meet Him; they wrongly believe that the objects that they worship would be intercessors for them in His court and He would never reject the pleas of their intercessors for them so now they feel that they have nothing to worry, but they certainly would see their huge grievous error at the Day of Judgment; glory be to Allah, and supremely exalted is He above what they take as objects to worship besides Him, the true Lord; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the Ruku tells the Prophet PBUH to tell the disbelievers that they need to see that he is not the first of the apostles, and he does not know how matters would turn out at future at the world; he has to follow strictly what has been revealed to him (i.e. the Quran) and he certainly is warner to them that they would get into most extreme trouble at the Day of HASHR if they keep to their disbelief; the last AAYAT of the Ruku states explicitly, “say- have you considered if it (i.e. the Quran) is from Allah, and you disbelieve in it, and a witness from among the children of Israel (i.e. Moses-AS) has borne witness of one like it (i.e. Torah which also guided to these good teachings and so these good teachings are nothing new but they only are the true guidance from all times to all times), so he believed (in the Truth which Muhammad PBUH provides to all peoples), while you are big with pride; surely Allah does not guide the unjust people”; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
AHQAAF-The Second Ruku
11. And those who disbelieve say concerning those who believe: If it had been good, they would not have gone ahead of us therein. And as they do not seek to be rightly directed thereby, they say: It is an old lie.
12. And before it the Book of Musa was a guide and a mercy: and this is the Book verifying (it) in the Arabic language that it may warn those who are unjust and as good news for the doers of good.
13. Surely those who say, Our Lord is Allah, then they continue on the right way, they shall have no fear nor shall they grieve.
14. These are the dwellers of JANNAH (the garden), abiding therein: reward for what they did.
15. And We have enjoined on man doing of good to his parents; with trouble did his mother bear him and with trouble did she bring him forth; and the bearing of him and the weaning of him was thirty months; until when he attains his maturity and reaches forty years, he says: My Lord! grant me that I may give thanks for Thy favor which Thou hast bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may do good which pleases Thee and do good to me in respect of my offspring; surely I turn to Thee, and surely I am of those who submit.
16. These are they from whom We accept the best of what they have done and pass over their evil deeds, among the dwellers of the garden; the truest promise which they were promised.
17. And he who says to his parents: Fie on you! do you threaten me that I shall be brought forth when generations have already passed away before me? And they both call for Allah's aid: Woe to you! believe, surely the promise of Allah is true. But he says: This is nothing but stories of the ancients.
18. These are they against whom the word has proved true among nations of the jinn and the men that have already passed away before them; surely they are losers.
19. And for all are degrees according to what they did, and that He may pay them back fully their deeds and they shall not be wronged.
20. And on the day when those who disbelieve shall be brought before the fire: You did away with your good things in your life of the world and you enjoyed them for a while, so today you shall be rewarded with the punishment of abasement because you were unjustly proud in the land and because you transgressed.
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The Ruku tells at the beginning that the disbelievers say for those who had believed in the Quran that if it had been something good then the chiefs at Makkah who were disbelievers, would have accepted it for certain; note that at this time at Makkah, though many of youth who belonged to well-off families had accepted the Quran, there were quite a number of poor persons who had submitted to its teachings; so the disbelievers indicated towards those persons by their insulting ignorant words and this tells about the psyche of disbelievers in the teachings of the Quran that they take that thing as authentic which their leaders consider as acceptable, though those leaders may be most ignorant persons among the people; AAYAT also tells that when they do not accept the true guidance which the Quran gives them, they proceed on to call it a lie; note that the Truth is always the same from all times to all times but the disbelievers took it as lies so it depends on how a person sees it; the believers know believing sincerely in it, that it is always the same (and the next AAYAT gives the indication to it) but the disbelievers take it as lies; the next AAYAT reads, “and before it the Book of Musa (i.e. Torah) was a guide and a mercy- and this (the Quran) is the Book verifying (it) in the Arabic language that it may warn those who are unjust and as good news for the doers of good”; note that INJIL, related to Jesus-AS, is not mentioned as book in the Quran but it is mentioned as words of HIKMAH (wisdom); see also the note at the fifth Ruku of AALE-IMRAN; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the fact is this that whoever accepts that Allah is not only the only Creator of all creation but He also is the only true Lord of all creation, such persons would be the dwellers of JANNAH, where they would live forever; AAYAT-15 tells that all persons must care for their parents, especially for the mother who bears the child and brings it forth at the world with pain to herself so in Islam, she gets much more respect than the father; the period of bearing of the child and its suckling is for thirty months; BAQARAH-233 reads, “and the mothers should suckle their children for two whole years for him who desires to make complete the time of suckling; and their maintenance and their clothing must be borne by the father according to usage; no soul shall have imposed upon it a duty but to the extent of its capacity; neither shall a mother be made to suffer harm on account of her child, nor a father on account of his child, and a similar duty (devolves) on the (father's) heir (if the father dies), but if both desire weaning by mutual consent and counsel, there is no blame on them, and if you wish to engage a wet-nurse for your children, there is no blame on you so long as you pay what you promised for according to usage; and be careful of (your duty to) Allah and know that Allah sees what you do”; so after the birth, the mother may feed the child (i.e. the breast-feeding) for about twenty-one months though for premature birth at six months, she may feed the child to twenty-four months and the mutual assent of both the parents counts a lot here; note that AAYAT-15 tells that the age of maturity for a person is forty years, though he achieves adulthood at fifteen years; note also that Allah gave the responsibility to the Prophet PBUH to provide the teachings of Islam by the Quran about the age of forty and so it tells that after the period of forty years had elapsed on the man with 25 years of adulthood where he had kept his attention to Allah, He would keep him to the right path with insight to issues of concern; Al-Hamdu Lillah; also, the period of forty days is such period that is often mentioned by the ULAMA of Islam as significant for the spread of Islamic teachings because it has some latent capability to purify the self when the person is attentive to Allah; note that Moses-AS had stayed at the mount of TOOR for forty days when he received Torah; the good person shows his gratitude to Allah as he comes at this age of maturity that he got such good parents who guided him to the right path which he did accept sincerely; AAYAT tells that “he says- My Lord! grant me that I may give thanks for Thy favor which Thou hast bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may do good which pleases Thee and do good to me in respect of my offspring; surely I turn to Thee, and surely I am of those who submit”; this also provides the info that showing gratitude to Allah for having good parents and good children, is the good sign of maturity; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-16 reads about them, “these are they from whom We accept the best of what they have done and pass over their evil deeds, among the dwellers of the garden; the truest promise which they were promised”; so when the parents show the guidance to the right path, it is most worthy to take whereas their following in the wrong direction is extreme idiocy; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-17 tells about such person who never achieves such maturity to accept the right path even when his good parents do guide him to it; it reads, “and he who says to his parents- fie on you! do you threaten me that I shall be brought forth when generations have already passed away before me? - and they both call for Allah's aid- woe to you! believe, surely the promise of Allah is true; but he says- this is nothing but stories of the ancients”; AAYAT ahead tells that such persons are among those persons upon whom the word of Allah has fallen previously among the jinn and the men that they became apt of the hell-fire due to their disbelief; Allah would punish them according to their wrong-doings and they shall only get what they truly deserve; note that when the Satan had challenged Allah that he would deceive the mankind in every manner possible, He had told him, “get out of this (state), despised, driven away; whoever of them will follow you then I will certainly fill hell with you all” (AARAAF-18); the last AAYAT of the Ruku is most explicit that the preference of life at the world over the true life at AKHIRAT, would lead only to extreme disaster; it reads, “and on the day when those who disbelieve shall be brought before the fire- you did away with your good things in your life of the world and you enjoyed them for a while, so today you shall be rewarded with the punishment of abasement because you were unjustly proud in the land (due to disbelief) and because you transgressed (due to wrong-doings)”; certainly Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
AHQAAF-The Third Ruku
21. And mention the brother of AAD; when he warned his people in the sandy plains, and indeed warning persons came before him and after him- saying ‘serve none but Allah; surely I fear for you the punishment of a grievous day’.
22. They said- Have you come to us to turn us away from our gods; then bring us what you threaten us with, if you are of the truthful ones.
23. He said: The knowledge is only with Allah, and I deliver to you the message with which I am sent, but I see you are people who are ignorant.
24. So when they saw it as a cloud appearing in the sky advancing towards their valleys, they said: This is a cloud which will give us rain. Nay! it is what you sought to hasten on, a blast of wind in which is a painful punishment,
25. Destroying everything by the command of its Lord, so they became such that naught could be seen except their dwellings. Thus do We reward the guilty people.
26. And certainly We had established them in what We have not established you in, and We had given them ears and eyes and hearts, but neither their ears, nor their eyes, nor their hearts availed them aught, since they denied the AAYAAT of Allah, and that which they mocked encompassed them.
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The third Ruku of AHQAAF narrates the events related to AAD who were the people of HOODH-AS; it narrates about them to give the info to the disbelievers at Makkah that they had the strongest men by physique in them with handsome looks and with sound faculties to hear and see and due to that, understand much of issues of life at wilderness yet when they did not accept the fundamental teachings of Islam, they were punished most severely even at the world; HOODH-AS gave them the same message as Noah has given to his nation before him and as SALEH-AS gave to his nation (THAMUD) after him; note that the travelers from Makkah used to see the ruins of THAMUD at route to TABUK and the ruins of AAD at the southern part of the Arabian peninsula when they traveled there; these people AAD used to live at AHQAAF (the sandy plains) to whom HOODH declared clearly that they need to serve none but Allah, believing in Him only as the true Lord of all creation, and if they do not, then surely the most grievous day of His punishment would get them even at the world; note here that like the disbelievers at the ancient times, generally the disbelievers at Makkah took Allah as the Creator of the heavens and the earth but they did not truly accept that He also is their true Lord and so they must obey Him most sincerely as they are bound to His commands, the disobedience of which would certainly lead them to utmost disaster at the world and at AKHIRAT; their erroneous concepts had led them to take angels as involved with the authority of Allah (whom they most erroneously took as the daughters of Allah and as partners to Him to see to affairs at the universe) and to take their idols (mostly in the shape of the female that their ancestors worshipped and whom they worshipped in their following) as able to save them at the Day of Judgment (while some of them did not truly believe in that Day); note that angels are among the creation of Allah too and they only do what Allah commands them to do (see NAHAL-49 & 50) and idols do not have any authority for anything whatsoever; Allah gives the necessary space to all peoples to accept the Truth, because of His care towards them and He certainly would gather all peoples of the world at the Day of Judgment that is most sure to come but those who have ruined their selves in terms of that Day, they do not believe; in Surah SHUA’RAA, the AAYAAT read that HOODH told his nation that "I am to you a messenger worthy of all trust; so keep your duty to Allah and obey me; and I do not ask you any reward for it; surely my reward is only with the Lord of the worlds; do you build a landmark on every high place to amuse yourselves? -and seek you out strongholds, that haply you may last forever? - and when you lay hands (on men) you lay hands as tyrants- rather keep your duty to Allah, and obey me (i.e. they must follow the commands of Allah that he is telling them)” (SHUA’RAA-125 to 131); AAYAT-69 at the ninth Ruku of AARAAF tells the statement of HOODH where he answers their doubts, “what - do you wonder that a reminder has come to you from your Lord through a man from among you that he might warn you? and remember when He made you successors after Noah's people and increased you in excellence in respect of make (in physique); therefore remember the benefits from Allah, that you may be (truly) successful”; that Ruku of AARAAF tells that the nation of HOODH took him as in grave folly and the result of their rejection to him was that except for the believers with him, they all were destroyed; Surah HAQQAAH says that this punishment was such “which Allah imposed on them for seven nights and eight days so that (O listener) you might have seen men lying overthrown, as they were hollow trunks of palm-trees (because of their enormous heights)” (HAQQAAH-7); they asked HOODH to bring the punishment upon them by which he warns them, to which he replied that the will of Allah only would decide to put it upon them; AAYAT-23 tells about this, “he said- the knowledge (about that) is only with Allah, and I deliver to you the message with which I am sent, but I see you are people who are (most) ignorant”; this third Ruku of AHQAAF narrates the manner of their punishment that when they saw something like a cloud advancing towards them, they were most pleased that some good rain would fall upon them; but Allah punished them most severely by that and eliminated them totally from the face of the earth; the last three AAYAAT of the Ruku read, “so when they saw it as a cloud appearing in the sky advancing towards their valleys, they said- this is a cloud which will give us rain; nay! it is what you sought to hasten on (i.e. the punishment from Allah), a blast of wind in which is a painful punishment, destroying everything by the command of its Lord, so they became such that naught could be seen (from some distance) except their dwellings; thus do We reward the guilty people (and none of peoples have such power, whatever technology they may develop, that they may stand against Allah); and certainly We had established them in what We have not established you in (so the disbelievers at Makkah need to leave their arrogance and accept the teachings that the Prophet PBUH is providing them), and We had given them ears and eyes and hearts, but neither their ears, nor their eyes, nor their hearts availed them aught, since they denied the AAYAAT of Allah (i.e. they did not use them to get to the Truth), and (so) that which they mocked encompassed them”; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
AHQAAF-The Last Ruku
27. And certainly We destroyed the towns which are around you, and We had repeated the AAYAAT (for them in various ways) that they might turn.
28. Why did not then those help them whom they took for gods besides Allah to draw (them) nigh (to Him)? Nay! they were lost to them; and this was their lie and what they forged.
29. And when We turned towards you a party of the jinn who listened to the Quran; so when they came to it, they said: Be silent; then when it was finished, they turned back to their people warning (them).
30. They said: O our people! we have listened to a Book revealed after Musa verifying that which is before it, guiding to the Truth and to the right path:
31. O our people! respond to the inviter to Allah and believe in Him. He will forgive you some of your sins and guard you from a painful doom;
32. And whoso responds not to inviter to Allah, he shall not escape in the earth and he shall not have guardians besides Him; these are in manifest error.
33. Have they not considered that Allah Who created the heavens and the earth and was not tired by their creation, is able to give life to the dead? Aye! He has surely power over all things.
34. And on the day when those who disbelieve shall be brought before the hell-fire: Is it not true? They shall say: Aye! by our Lord! He will say: Then taste the punishment, because you disbelieved.
35. Therefore, bear up patiently as did the apostles endowed with constancy bear up with patience and do not seek to hasten for them (their doom). On the day that they shall see what they are promised they shall be as if they had not tarried save an hour of the day; only to provide the message (is on the Prophet PBUH); shall then any be destroyed save the transgressing people?
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The Ruku starts by mentioning that Allah gave the disbelievers, who lived at towns not much far-away from them, ample space to accept the Truth; however, when they did not avail it, He destroyed them completely and those whom they took as gods besides Allah, were totally unable to help them; this reference is to THAMUD and the people of Lot-AS, who also were destroyed besides AAD, the people of HOODH-AS; they had disrespected the authority of Allah by their disbelief though He had provided them ample space to accept the fundamental teachings of Islam so as consequence to it, Allah punished them most severely even at the world; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-29 states that a party of jinn came to such place where the Prophet PBUH was reciting the Quran which they heard and getting its teachings, they accepted them then & there; the placement of this AAYAT here denotes that though jinn are such creation of Allah that are mostly harsh by nature, this party consisted of such among them whom the Quran affected so beautifully that only hearing it once, they not only accepted Islam but went on ahead to advocate its teachings; it implies that in comparison, the disbelievers at Arabia are so harsh that even when they got its teachings time & again, they have not submitted to them; their physical strength could have been beneficial only when they had believed in the fundamental teachings of Islam; note that this event happened at the place called NAKHLA while the Prophet PBUH was returning from TA’EF with ZAYD ibn HARITHA, where he had paid a visit to present Islam to chiefs there but instead of accepting it sincerely, they had ill-treated him and had even hurt him; it took place probably about a couple of years before HIJRAH (i.e. his migration from Makkah to Madinah); searching for grounds to present Islam to all peoples with convenience, he had put its teachings to chiefs at TA’EF, which also was among the big cities in Arabia; note that at that time, jinn found difficult to reach the heaven above to get some info about issues at the world due to flames running to them in high number; they guessed correctly that something of high significance has happened that intervenes between them and the info that they used to get from that heaven from the conversation of angels; so they travelled to the easts of the earth and its wests seeking to investigate what hindered them from it and this specific group of them set out towards the area of TIHAMA; at last with years of search for the event that was of the most high significance, they came upon Allah’s Messenger PBUH reciting the Quran while he was there at NAKHLAH; when they heard the Qur’an, they paid attention to it and said to each other that this is which has come up between us and the news from the heaven; there, they accepted the fundamental teachings of Islam and then returned to their people; though the Prophet PBUH came to know of this event only when Allah told him at the Quran about it yet after this, jinn used to come to the Prophet PBUH to attain the knowledge of the fundamental teachings of Islam better; here, AAYAAT read, “and when We turned towards you a party of the jinn who listened to the Quran; so when they came to it, they said- be silent; then when it was finished, they turned back to their people warning (them); they said- O our people! we have listened to a Book revealed after Musa verifying that which is before it (i.e. Torah), guiding to the Truth (i.e. the fundamental teachings of Islam) and to the right path (i.e. with guidance how to keep to that in practice); O our people! respond to the inviter to Allah and believe in Him; He will forgive you some of your sins and guard you from a painful doom (at AKHIRAT)”; this implies that they were aware of the teachings of Torah and they did take it as guidance to the fundamental teachings of Islam; AAYAT-32 verifies their statement, “and whoso responds not to inviter to Allah (positively), he shall not escape in the earth (if Allah decides for his elimination) and he shall not have guardians besides Him (at the Day of Judgment); these are in manifest error”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-33 states plainly that Allah has created all heavens and the earth with principles that they all must follow and He was never tired by creating all creation; He has total authority to give life to the dead and He certainly would, at the Day of Judgment; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-34 states that when that Day takes place, the disbelievers shall be brought before the hell-fire and they shall be asked if this all is not true; seeing this happening, they would have no option but to accept the reality that whatever they had been promised, it was completely true; the case against them would stand proven and they would be punished most severely due to their extreme disbelief that they had shown when they were living at the world; the last AAYAT of the Surah i.e. AAYAT-35 reads, “therefore, (O Prophet PBUH) bear up patiently (their disrespect) as did the apostles endowed with constancy (i.e. all Messengers of Allah) bear up with patience and do not seek to hasten for them (their doom); on the day that they shall see what they are promised they shall be as if they had not tarried (at the world) save an hour of the day; only to provide the message (is on the Prophet PBUH); shall then any be destroyed save the transgressing people (who rejected the message and became truly liable to be punished most severely)?”; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
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Surah MUHAMMAD (PBUH); also named as Surah QITAL
(Consists of 4 Ruku; H-2)
QITAL-The First Ruku
1. (As for) those who disbelieve and turn away from Allah's way, He shall render their deeds ineffective.
2. And (as for) those who believe and do good, and they believe in that which has been revealed to Muhammad (PBUH), and it is the very truth from their Lord, He will remove their evil from them and improve their condition.
3. That is because those who disbelieve follow falsehood, and those who believe follow the truth from their Lord. Thus does Allah present to the people their comparisons.
4. So when you meet in battle those who disbelieve, then smite the necks until when you have overcome them, then make (them) prisoners, and afterwards either set them free as a favor or let them ransom (themselves) until the war terminates. That (shall be so); and if Allah had pleased He would certainly have exacted what is due from them, but that He may try some of you by means of others; and (as for) those who are slain in the way of Allah, He will by no means allow their deeds to perish.
5. He will guide them and improve their condition.
6. And cause them to enter the garden which He has made known to them.
7. O you who believe! if you help (the cause of) Allah, He will help you and make firm your feet.
8. And (as for) those who disbelieve, for them is destruction and He has made their deeds ineffective.
9. That is because they hated what Allah revealed, so He rendered their deeds null.
10. Have they not then journeyed in the land and seen how was the end of those before them: Allah brought down destruction upon them, and the disbelievers shall have the like of it.
11. That is because Allah is the Protector of those who believe, and because the disbelievers shall have no protector for them.
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This Ruku compares the believers and the disbelievers with the message that the believers only would get the true success at AKHIRAT and it also gives the info about the consequence that those hypocrites would face who are not ready to take-up QITAL (the fight against the disbelievers who challenge the Islamic teachings whereas it is one of aspects of JEHAD which also includes MUJAHIDA and TABLIGH), even when the Quran explicitly asks for it when it does become necessary; the Surah starts in an abrupt manner where its first AAYAT plainly delivers the info that Allah would make the deeds of all disbelievers (if they do not accept the Truth till the end of life) ineffective, even if they are seemingly good towards men like social works for their better living at the world; this may lead them to get some pleasure as they live their lives at the world and may provide them fame yet they would not affect their document of deeds positively; this is because good deeds need the righteous belief for their acceptance at the court of Allah when they have received clear invitation towards it; then only they would count at AKHIRAT so the AAYAT reads, “those who disbelieve and turn away from Allah's way, He shall render their deeds ineffective (at AKHIRAT)”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the second AAYAT indicates about the righteousness that it is the message that the Quran has provided to all of mankind, as it reads, “and (as for) those who believe (in the fundamental teachings of Islam) and do good, and (when they have got the message of the Quran), they believe in that (i.e. the Quran) which has been revealed to Muhammad (PBUH), and it is the very Truth from their Lord, He will remove their evil from them and improve their condition”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the third AAYAT plainly gives the reason, “that is because those who disbelieve follow falsehood, and those who believe follow the Truth (the Quran) from their Lord; thus does Allah present to the people their comparisons”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; note that Surah Bani-Israel reads at AAYAAT-18 to 21, “whoever desires this present life (of the world), We hasten to him therein what We please for whomsoever We desire (so even for them, Allah decides what to give at the world and how much and to whom), then We assign to him the hell-fire; he shall enter it despised, driven away; and whoever desires AKHIRAT and strives for it as he ought to strive and he is believer; (as for) these, their striving shall surely be accepted (as Allah accepts all the good deeds done with sincere belief in Him); all do We aid- these as well as those- out of the bounty of your Lord (at the world), and the bounty of your Lord (here) is not confined; see how We have made some of them to excel others, and certainly AKHIRAT is much superior in respect of excellence (so the excellence here over many of persons is not the sign of their higher placement at AKHIRAT which only depends on TAQWA)”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; note that TAQWA is the attitude of the heart which means that all the Muslims must fear Allah that they do not get His displeasure by their sins becoming so sinful that they lose the chance to regain JANNAH and with that, they also must have such hope towards Him that He would keep them safe from the Satan at all times and at all places; so every person would care to live as righteous believer in the fundamental teachings of Islam with virtuous deeds so that he/she does not lose the opportunity to show his/her worth for JANNAH at AKHIRAT and so that he/she is not put into the hell-fire as Allah would certainly fulfill His word; Al-Hamdu Lillah; after getting the message of the Quran, the person does need to accept it in total most sincerely, though before the descent of the Quran to Muhammad PBUH, the sincere belief in the three fundamental teachings of Islam, was enough to affect the document of deeds by doing good deeds positively; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-4 commands the Muslims to fight fearlessly all those who disbelieve and in addition, challenge the Islamic manner of living; it reads, “so when you meet in battle those who disbelieve, then smite the necks until when you have overcome them, then make (them) prisoners, and afterwards either set them free as a favor or let them ransom (themselves) until the war terminates; that (shall be so); and if Allah had pleased He would certainly have exacted what is due from them, but that He may try some of you by means of others; and (as for) those who are slain in the way of Allah, He will by no means allow their deeds to perish”; this is clear indication to respond with utmost power to the disbelievers who challenge the Muslims at the battleground at such times when FITNAH prevails; the Quran uses the term FITNAH in the meaning of extreme wrongs that denote extreme deviation from the true belief that Islam asks for the man whereas the term FASAD denotes all such extreme wrongs that relate to such deeds that cause deviation from Islam, so FITNAH attacks the true Belief (whereas it enfolds FASAD inside it too); this AAYAT has the subtle message that it is not feasible for Muslims to leave deadly opponents of Islam if they do get their hands on such disbelievers, either by taking some ransom amount or either without it, at times of FITNAH; there is difference of opinion at authentic commentaries if they need to be killed or kept in custody till the issue clearly settles in favor of Muslims in short time; though the good AMIR of Muslims has much authority to decide for the matter at such occasions yet the feasible stance here does seem to be the latter one and certainly, Allah knows better; however, when the situation has turned into the favor of Muslims and FITNAH ceases then it is most feasible to let them live-on freely as then, there would remain no threat whatsoever from disbelievers that they would be able to finish off the impression of Islam; ANFAAL-39 reads, “and fight with them until there is no more FITNAH and religion should be only for Allah; but if they desist, then surely Allah sees what they do”; the fact is this that only Allah knows for certain, and the Muslims do not yet know the high wisdom for this command of QITAL, when it does become necessary for them; see also the supplementary note on AAYAT-39 of Surah HAJJ at the end of the note at its sixth Ruku; Allah had asked the Muslims to take-up highest of patience and not to respond by any physical measure against their oppressors at Makkah; then at the beginning period after HIJRAH at Madinah (which is the period when this Surah QITAL descended too), Allah asked them to defend even by physical measures if and when necessary (keeping the attacks to the minimum and only taking them at some high necessity); then after some period of the battle of AHZAAB, the pact of HUDABIYAH took place that rendered much peace to Muslims and much space to increase their good numbers by TABLIGH (that means to provide the teachings of the Quran with the clarification of its practice as SUNNAH has provided) and as the pact came to its end, Allah allowed the Muslims to take-up QITAL at high scale even in attack wherever necessary; however, there are conditions for the issue of QITAL (one of aspects of JEHAD) by attack and I, MSD, would presently state its five most notable conditions by using here the term JEHAD only; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the first is that it is necessary for Muslims to convey the basic Islamic teachings explicitly to the enemy before the JEHAD that the Muslims initiate; the second is that the enemy they fight against, has not only rejected Islam but even the offer to formulate a respectable pact with Muslims in clear terms either with the agreement to pay JIZYA (monetary tax for their protection) or without it; if they break-up their agreement especially without any clear info, that would bring them at the position where, with other conditions of the aggressive JEHAD intact, the Muslims would challenge them immediately as this breach asks for instant defense of Muslims at such occasion; the third is to fight that strictly under the command of the wise & courageous Islamic commander with full sincerity to him in that JEHAD; the fourth is that each of the warrior himself shall be such Muslim who avoids major sins with high commitment to Islam and the fifth is that Muslims have gathered the necessary physical force to fight the enemy with high caliber; there is much detail to these conditions at the books of FIQH for those who intend elaboration on these; note that missing of any of these five conditions renders the initiative to JEHAD unnecessary though Muslims would fight JEHAD in defense with highest of enthusiasm against the enemy where they are challenged and they certainly have no such conditions to see at such defensive JEHAD; note also that the Quran does ask for JEHAD (in the meaning of QITAL) at different places but sometimes it takes-up the matter with the understanding that the disbelievers have rejected the message of Islam and sometimes advices the Muslims where the disbelievers have broken their pacts with the Muslims and have shown explicitly by their attitude that they have rejected the message of Islam; this asks for the highest of caution in comments upon the AAYAAT related to JEHAD to which sadly those who do not understand the expressions of the Quran, do not pay any attention and as such, come to such meanings that challenge the teachings of the Quran rather than interpret it correctly (please read my writing “Expressions of the Quran” that is available at the net); in this discussion, note also that the true Muslims actually are the force of Allah upon the earth and they certainly have committed their-selves to see that His authority is never challenged in any manner; this is the reason that at necessity, they certainly had called for JEHAD (in the meaning of QITAL) where the conditions allowed them to initiate it; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAAT 5 & 6 tell about those who receive SHAHADAT at the battleground against the disbelievers, with sincere belief in Allah, that He would not make their good deeds go to waste; they read, “He will guide them (due to their good deeds to peace after their demise) and improve their condition (at the grounds of HASHR); and cause them to enter JANNAH (the garden) which He has made known to them (after their demise i.e. their SHAHADAT at the battleground)”; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-7 tells the sincere Muslims that if they strengthen the message of Allah by facing the disbelievers at the battlefield, Allah would help them and would provide them the courage to defeat the disbelievers due to their determination; and He would put destruction upon the disbelievers and make all their conspiracies futile against the Muslims; this is the consequence of their hatred to the Quran so their deeds have become useless to them in all manners; AAYAT-10 states that Allah brought down extreme destruction upon those peoples who had challenged Him before them and He would not spare these disbelievers at Arabia too, if they do not accept the fundamental teachings of Islam; the last AAYAT provides the reason for ultimate success of the sincere believers at the world even, by the statement, “that is because Allah is the Protector of those who believe (at the world and at AKHIRAT), and because the disbelievers shall have no protector for them (neither at the world nor AKHIRAT)”; the Prophet PBUH had called Allah by the words of this AAYAT at the battle of UHUD in answer to disbelievers there and after that, though disbelievers there were seemingly near to win against Muslims, they hurriedly left the battleground; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
QITAL-The Second Ruku
12. Surely Allah will make those who believe and do good enter gardens beneath which rivers flow; and those who disbelieve enjoy themselves and eat as the beasts eat, and the hell-fire is their abode.
13. And how many a town which was far more powerful than the town of yours which has driven you out: We destroyed them so there was no helper for them.
14. What! is he who has a clear argument from his Lord like him to whom the evil of his work is made fair-seeming: and they follow their low desires.
15. A parable of the garden which those guarding (against evil) are promised: Therein are rivers of water that does not alter, and rivers of milk the taste whereof does not change, and rivers of wine delicious to those who drink, and rivers of honey clarified and for them therein are all fruits and pardon from their Lord. (Are these) like those who abide in the fire and who are made to drink boiling water so it rends their bowels asunder.
16. And there are those of them who seek to listen to you, until when they go forth from you, they say to those who have been given the knowledge: What was it that he said just now? These are they upon whose hearts Allah has set a seal and they follow their low desires.
17. And (as for) those who follow the right path, He increases them in guidance and gives them their guarding (against evil).
18. Do they then wait for aught but the hour that it should come to them all of a sudden? Now indeed the tokens of it have (already) come, but how shall they have their reminder when it comes on them?
19. So know that there is no god but Allah, and, ask protection for your fault and for the believing men and the believing women; and Allah knows the place where you move about and the place where you dwell in.
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The first AAYAT of this Ruku states the outcome of lives of the believers and the outcome of lives of the disbelievers respectively, at AKHIRAT; it reads, “surely Allah will make those who believe and do good enter gardens beneath which rivers flow; and those who disbelieve enjoy themselves (at the world) and eat as the beasts eat (without any care to gain virtuous deeds by the righteous belief), and the hell-fire is their abode”; certainly, life at the world is not to eat seeking all such foods that seem to have taste but eating of foods here is actually to sustain life and taste is an additional factor; though not disallowed to get good taste at foods (that are HALAAL i.e. allowed to eat and TAYYIBAH i.e. having purity) yet that is not something to seek for, enthusiastically; the only aim of life is to attain the pleasure of Allah and that only would lead to getting JANNAAT, the beautiful gardens of paradise, where the life is endless; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-13 tells that Allah had destroyed many towns which were more powerful than Makkah and they had no helper who could have stopped their destruction and so the disbelievers must remain mindful that He would destroy them too if they keep to their disbelief; MOMEN-21 states at this issue, “have they not travelled in the earth and seen how was the end of those who were before them? - mightier than these were they in strength- and in fortifications in the land, but Allah destroyed them for their sins; and there was not for them any defender against Allah”; AAYAT-14 emphasizes that whoever lives by the commands of Allah, he certainly deserves life of peace even at the world whereas such person whom the Satan has made his evil works as fair-seeming to him, would live with unrest even at the world; such wrong persons only follow their low desires; AAYAT-15 tells that there are four types of rivers at JANNAH; it has rivers of pure water that does not alter which means that it does not change its color, smell or taste, and remains totally pure; and it has rivers of milk that also remains firm to its taste; and it has rivers of wine that is most soothing to drink without causing loss of senses; and it has rivers of wonderful honey which is clarified and not viscous that hinders its flow; and in addition, it has all types of fruits and such pardon from Allah that they would always remain in this beautiful surroundings with all peace as this is the place of returns to their good deeds at the world; Al-Hamdu Lillah; note that these four are the best of drinks though wine at JANNAH is not to be confused with the wine at the world; it is not only most wonderful in taste but it also does not affect the senses adversely; note that though the usage of gold & silver is disallowed for the men among Muslims at the world and drinking of wine is disallowed for all Muslims at the world, yet they are allowed for all at JANNAH where they would be adornments to men even and most soothing refreshing drinks respectively for all residents of JANNAH; AAYAT-25 at Surah BAQARAH tells, “and convey good news to those who believe and do good deeds, that they shall have gardens in which rivers flow; whenever they shall be given a portion of the fruit thereof, they shall say- this is what was given to us before; and they shall be given the like of it, and they shall have pure mates in them, and in them, they shall abide”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the last part of the fifteenth AAYAT tells about the disbelievers that they would abide at the hell-fire where they would be made to drink extremely filthy boiling water that would rend their bowels asunder and even then, they would not achieve death; may Allah give all good persons TOFIQ to save themselves from this extreme punishment of the hell-fire; certainly, He only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-16 tells about those who claimed to be Muslims yet they were not ready to fulfill those commands of Islam that they found much trying to them; in these the most significant was the command of QITAL against the disbelievers when the situation asked for it; there were such persons in them who listened to the Prophet PBUH attentively but when they discussed matters with persons among those who had the knowledge of Torah, they confided in them that they take these teachings as very harsh that the Prophet PBUH has provided to them and they find that they are not feasible for them to follow; the AAYAT tells that they are such hypocrites on hearts of whom, Allah has set a seal that they are unable to understand the wisdom of His commands and they follow their low desires instead of following the commands of Allah, which seem harsh to them; in comparison, AAYAT-17 tells the virtues of the sincere Muslims, “and (as for) those who follow the right path (even accepting the command of QITAL where it becomes necessary), He increases them in guidance and gives them their guarding (against evil)”; AAYAT-18 criticizes the psyche of the disbelievers that they are totally oblivious of the fact that they are here at the world to live virtuously, and if the end of the world comes in sudden manner, they would be doomed to the hell-fire; the signs of the hour (the last day of the world) have taken place but if they face it in sudden manner, what space would they have to accept the Truth; note that the Prophet PBUH was the first sign of nearing of the end of the world as he was the last of Messengers of Allah; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the last AAYAT of the Ruku tells the Prophet PBUH that he has to remain firm on the belief in TAUHID (Allah only is the Creator of all the creation and He always has all His attributes and He only is the true Lord) and he shall always ask Allah for protection for any of his fault that he may show at spread of His message unintentionally, and he shall ask mercy for all the believing men and for all the believing women on their faults in deeds; and Allah knows the place where he moves about outside home and the place where he dwells in inside home; so He keeps watch over the Prophet PBUH at all times and places so that nothing hinders him from the fulfillment of his liability to spread the teachings of Islam; MA’EDAH-67 tells, “O Apostle - deliver what has been revealed to you from your Lord; and if you do it not, then you have not delivered His message, and Allah will protect you from the people; surely Allah will not guide the disbelieving people (who intend to trouble the Prophet PBUH)”; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
QITAL-The Third Ruku
20. And those who believe say: Why has not a chapter been revealed? But when a decisive chapter is revealed, and fighting is mentioned therein you see those in whose hearts is a disease look to you with the look of one fainting because of death. Woe to them then!
21. Obedience and gentle word (both are contrary); but when the affair becomes settled, then if they remain true to Allah it would certainly be better for them.
22. But is it expected of you that if you hold back yourselves, you make mischief in the land and cut off the ties of kinship!
23. Those it is whom Allah has cursed so He has made them deaf and blinded their eyes.
24. Do they not then reflect on the Quran? Nay, on the hearts there are locks.
25. Surely (as for) those who return on their backs after that guidance has become manifest to them, the Satan has made it a light matter to them; and He gives them respite.
26. That is because they say to those who hate what Allah has revealed: We will obey you in some of the affairs; and Allah knows their secrets.
27. But how will it be when the angels cause them to die smiting their backs.
28. That is because they follow what is displeasing to Allah and are averse to His pleasure, therefore He has made null their deeds.
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This Ruku points out the attitude of the hypocrites towards the command of QITAL in the Quran and indicates the consequence to that attitude for them; note that at Madinah, there were some persons who were ready to accept those Islamic commands that seemed easy to them in practice but they were not prepared to take any of such Islamic commands that seemed hard to them in practice; this had been the manner towards Torah of the Bani-Israel too at ancient times and the hypocrites did confide to them about their rejection of the command of QITAL in practice; Surah BAQARAH had also pointed out the attitude of hypocrites at its second Ruku and it does explain much of this place here at Surah QITAL; the first AAYAT of the Ruku states that all who claim to be the believers in the Quran do ask for guidance to practice the Islamic commands but when the command of QITAL comes to them by any of Surah in clear terms, then the Prophet PBUH does find such persons in them who are given to hypocrisy, and who are horrified by this as if they are fainting by fear of death that is just round the corner; that attitude would lead them only to total dismay; AAYAT-21 tells that though they claim to be Muslims yet their practice is not according to the decent claim that they pronounce; however, when the time of trial comes and they do show their commitment to fulfill the command of QITAL, that still would cause things to become better for them as during the lifetime here, there is chance to make things better by taking-up the right attitudes in issues of concern, according to Islam; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-22 reads, “but is it expected of you that if you hold back yourselves, you make mischief in the land and cut off the ties of kinship”; this AAYAT essentially states that mischief (FASAD) would spread and even the close relatives would not care to welfare of each other, if Muslims hold themselves back from QITAL against those disbelievers who intend to hinder the teachings of the Quran to spread and to come into practice; this certainly is not expected of them as being the force of Allah, they have to see that the teachings of the Quran spread far & wide; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAAT-23 to 26 tell about the hypocrites who intend to keep away from QITAL even at necessity, that Allah has cursed them in such manner that they have become unable to hear the message of the Quran and to see the right path; they do not ponder on the teachings of the Quran so this adverse attitude to it has caused their hearts to become unable to accept its message and follow the right path; they turn their backs to the guidance that tells them to fight the disbelievers, whereas they have got its clear awareness, as the Satan has made it seem to them that it is nothing to worry if they refrain from this guidance; AAYAT-25 ends providing the info that Allah has given them respite for some period but they would see the consequence to their adverse attitude, which they are taking lightly in the following of the Satan; AAYAT-26 gives the reason to their ruin plainly by the statement, “that is because they say to those (among the Jews living near to Madinah) who hate what Allah has revealed (i.e. the Quran)- we will obey you in some of the affairs (i.e. they would not take QITAL against adversaries to Islam); and Allah knows their secrets (even if they try to hide them as much as possible for them)”; the last two AAYAAT of the Ruku tell that the hypocrites would get utmost punishment even at the world as they die, as they followed such ways which brought displeasure of Allah to them; they refrained from asking His pleasure so their deeds, that were seemingly good, became futile to them; these AAYAAT read, “but how will it be when the angels cause them to die smiting their backs; that is because they follow what is displeasing to Allah and are averse to His pleasure, therefore He has made null their deeds”; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
QITAL-The Last Ruku
29. Or do those in whose hearts is a disease think that Allah will not bring forth their spite?
30. And if We please, We would have made you know them so that you would certainly have recognized them by their marks and most certainly you can recognize them by the intent of (their) speech; and Allah knows your deeds.
31. And most certainly We will try you until We have known those among you who exert themselves hard, and the patient, and made your case manifest.
32. Surely those who disbelieve and turn away from Allah's way and oppose the Apostle after that guidance has become clear to them cannot harm Allah in any way, and He will make null their deeds.
33. O you who believe! obey Allah and obey the Apostle, and do not make your deeds of no effect.
34. Surely those who disbelieve and turn away from Allah's way, then they die while they are disbelievers, Allah will by no means forgive them.
35. And be not slack so as to cry for peace and you have the upper hand, and Allah is with you, and He will not bring your deeds to naught.
36. The life of this world is only idle sport and play, and if you believe and guard (against evil) He will give you your rewards, and will not ask of you your possessions.
37. If He should ask you for it and urge you, you will be niggardly, and He will bring forth your malice.
38. Behold! you are those who are called upon to spend in Allah's way, but among you are those who are niggardly, and whoever is niggardly is niggardly against his own soul; and Allah is Self-sufficient and you have need (of Him), and if you turn back He will bring in your place another people, then they will not be like you.
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The last Ruku of the Surah continues mentioning the hypocrites that though they do think that their negative thoughts about QITAL would remain concealed yet the fact of the matter is this that Allah would certainly bring that at fore; Allah has the authority to mention such persons by names yet it is unnecessary because the Prophet PBUH can recognize them by their speech where they present excuses to avoid QITAL; Allah would certainly try all persons who claim to be Muslims so that those manifest clearly for all to see, who are truly among those who do take-up JEHAD (in the meaning of QITAL here) and show patience (determination to fight on till they finish all FITNAH from the world) when they face the enemy; the clear info of all who claim to be Muslims would then manifest to all of Muslims for certain; whoever turns away at that trying time from the command of Allah (i.e. QITAL) and opposes the Prophet PBUH after that command is wholly manifest to him, he would remain unable to harm the word of Allah but He certainly would make all his deeds, even if seemingly good, totally null and void; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-33 asks the Muslims to obey the commands of Allah and of His Messenger who provides them the manner to fulfill His commands; then only they would save their doings from going to waste; they must remain fully mindful that Allah would never forgive disbelievers because they live upon disbelief, and in addition they stop others too to accept Islam, and they die in condition of disbelief; AAYAT-35 asks the Muslims not to show any slackness as to ask for peace when the forces against Islam had come in front of them; they need to fight in the best manner they can and Allah would help them at such occasion; this QITAL would benefit them most highly as Allah would not make any of their good deeds ineffective at AKHIRAT; note that asking the enemy for some peaceful treaty that does not degrade Muslims, before their challenge to Islamic teachings at the battleground, is feasible but when the combat is on, then to ask for peace means to show such slackness that is disallowed at such occasion; they need to lead the combat to such position where the enemy finds it better to ask Muslims for peaceful solution to the matter at hand; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-36 tells about life at the world that it is nothing but idle sport and play if a person does not care that he/she has to answer Allah, the true Lord; Allah would give good returns at AKHIRAT to only those who truly believe and live firmly by His commands; this life at the world is an examination of all persons and they need to remain mindful of this even in the expenditure of their amounts; if He had asked for whole of their possessions at extreme trying times and have pressed them for it, they would have turned niggardly trying to find ways to avoid this command though Allah would have brought their malice to this command at fore; but He asks them to spend a fraction of their amounts in His way at life at the world upon all those that are needy, especially upon those who do fight in His way; still, there are such persons among the Muslims who turn niggardly though this attitude to hold back possessions, when that only is a fraction of that, at such trying times for the Muslims actually falls against their own selves as it would cause extreme troubles ahead; by this attitude, the enemy to Islam may find ways to affect the Muslims adversely and cause hindrance for them to practice the teachings of Islam whereas this attitude would put such niggardly person surely at troubles at AKHIRAT; Allah does not need any particular peoples to fight for His cause but all persons do need His pleasure to achieve safety from troubles at AKHIRAT; so if those who claim themselves to be Muslims, turn back and do not challenge the enemy of Islam in all manners they are able to, He will bring in their place another such people, who would not turn their backs to His command on QITAL; note that the history does show explicitly that when the Muslims did show some slackness in the defense of Islamic teachings somewhere, Allah chose another people to come to Islam from some other place and by the will of Allah, they did stand to guard those teachings with caliber; one of the best examples for this is that when the eastern wild forces from Mongolia destroyed the vast area under the control of Muslims due to their slackness in practice of the Islamic teachings, and killed many thousands of Muslims reaching Baghdad at 1258 AD, it happened that their descendants came to Islam afterwards; this happened because though they were extremely fierce warriors yet lacked the manner to run the vast administration that they had received by wars against the Muslims and moreover, they did not have any answer to the beautiful moral teachings of Islam; also, even after their defeat, the Muslims did not endorse their wild manner of living in practice and remained firm upon Islam; so their determination to keep to the Islamic teachings did bring those fierce warriors to Islam and they did become guards to its teachings most sincerely; this last AAYAT has the message that those persons who come to Islam as newcomers would understand its true worth and they would challenge the enemy of Islam persistently till there remains no FITNAH anywhere upon the face of the earth; note that AAYAT-9 at SAFF has declared clearly, “He it is Who sent His Apostle with the guidance and the true religion, that He may make it overcome the religions, all of them, though the polytheists may be averse”; certainly, He only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
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Surah FATH
(Consists of 4 Ruku; H-6)
FATH-The First Ruku
1. Surely We have given to you a clear victory
2. That Allah may forgive you your faults those which are past and those which are to follow and complete His favor to you and keep you on the right path,
3. And that Allah might help you with mighty help.
4. He it is Who sent down tranquility into the hearts of the believers that they might have more of belief added to their belief-- and Allah's are the hosts of the heavens and the earth, and Allah is Knowing, Wise--
5. That He may cause the believing men and the believing women to enter gardens beneath which rivers flow to abide therein and remove from them their evil; and that is grand achievement with Allah
6. And that He may punish the hypocritical men and the hypocritical women, and the polytheistic men and the polytheistic women, the entertainers of evil thoughts about Allah. On them is the evil turn, and Allah is wroth with them and has cursed them and prepared hell-fire for them, and evil is the resort.
7. And Allah's are the hosts of the heavens and the earth; and Allah is Mighty, Wise.
8. Surely We have sent you as witness and as bearer of good news and as warner,
9. That you may believe in Allah and His Apostle and may aid him and revere him; and that you may declare His glory, morning and evening.
10. Surely those who swear allegiance to you do but swear allegiance to Allah; the hand of Allah is above their hands. Therefore, whoever breaks his oath, he breaks it only to the injury of his own soul, and whoever fulfills what he has covenanted with Allah, He will grant him a mighty reward.
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At its onset, Surah FATH tells most explicitly that Allah has provided the Prophet PBUH with a clear victory in the shape of the treaty of HUDAYBIYAH (that was the place adjacent to Makkah); Quraysh, the residents of Makkah, had stopped the Prophet PBUH and his companions to enter Makkah for UMRAH though that was against the traditions of Arabia at those times; at that time, it happened that the Prophet PBUH sent UTHMAN-RA as his envoy to negotiate matters with the Quraysh and as his return to HUDAYBIYAH took more of time than was expected, rumor spread that he has been killed by the Quraysh; so the Prophet PBUH took an allegiance from all his companions there, who were about 1500 in number, to fight on till death due to the gravest nature of this matter; note that the Muslims did not have any intention to fight a war against the Quraysh yet the turn of events led them to such intention; afterwards, when it proved to be a rumor, the Prophet PBUH made this treaty with the Quraysh; though this treaty had few clauses that were seemingly averse to Muslims and due to that, his companions were not happy with this treaty, yet this was certainly huge victory for Muslims as its very occurrence denoted that the Quraysh had accepted Muslims as such force that had come to stay and it paved way for the conquest of Khyber just after it and the conquest of Makkah later on; note that Quraysh of Makkah claimed much high status at the lands of Arabia at those times; now, because of its significance in leading to these outstanding victories, it is termed in itself as the clearest of victories; also, the period of peace that it provided to all Muslims, where the Quraysh had assured them therein that they would refrain from wars against them for ten years ahead, enabled the Prophet PBUH to spread the teachings of Islam far and wide; as this was the particular liability of the Prophet PBUH that he had to spread the significant teachings of Islam to all peoples around, so the AAYAT ahead guarantees that whatever unintentional negligence which he may have shown at this necessary task in past, Allah forgives it and not only that, but if he shows any unintentional negligence even in the future too, He does forgive that even; by the spread of the teachings of Islam in the most peaceful environment from the sixth year of HIJRAH to the last of the Prophet’s life at the world, many thousands of people came to Islam whereas Surah NASR had provided subtle indication at Makkah that there would come such period at the lifetime of the Prophet PBUH when peoples would come to Islam in huge numbers; he would then have to prepare to depart from the world as he would have done his job well which is to provide the Islamic teachings to all peoples of the world (whereas his UMMAH would take on his task ahead), and so that would be the last period of his lifetime at the world; Surah NASR reads, “when there comes the help of Allah (for the spread of Islam in practice) and the victory (of it over the satanic arguments); and you see men entering the right path of Allah in companies (at most peaceful times); then celebrate the praise of your Lord, and ask His forgiveness; surely He is oft-returning (to mercy)”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; note here that contrary to what many of the western writers, who were most hostile to Islam, have written against Islam that it had mostly spread by aggressive QITAL (one of aspects of JEHAD), the factual position is that Islam had spread far and wide rapidly at the times of peace by its TABLIGH (another aspect of JEHAD) and the period of peace that the treaty of HUDAYBIYAH brought about, amply proves it; this Surah came to the Prophet PBUH on the way back to Madinah and soothed Muslims by telling them that this was actually huge victory for them and the time ahead clearly showed this fact for all to see; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; now, besides the ceasefire for ten years ahead between the Muslims and the Quraysh, the treaty stated that any person who defects the Quraysh and comes to the Muslims, shall be returned to Makkah whereas if any person defects the Muslims and comes to the Quraysh, shall not be returned to them; any of tribes which intends so, may enter into pact with the Muslims and any of them which intends so, may enter into pact with the Quraysh; the Muslims would return to Madinah this year but they might come to Makkah the next year to perform UMRAH when they would not display any of weapons and stay for three days at the city whereas the Quraysh would give them the space to perform UMRAH by retiring to mounts nearby, and they would not take any person to Madinah on their return after they perform UMRAH; it also stated that none of the sides would betray the other; the second AAYAT states explicitly that this period of peace would lead to the NEMAT of Allah, that is the living manner according to Islam, to come to completion and that would consolidate the position of the Prophet PBUH to remain upon and call towards the right path; so Allah would provide him such assistance that would lead him to gain control of vast area for Islam to establish itself in practice; note that this happened clearly in the next few years ahead; note also that at MA’EDAH, Allah tells at AAYAT-3 that is among the very last AAYAAT to come to the Prophet PBUH, “this day have I perfected for you your DEEN and completed My NEMAT on you (i.e. such favor from Allah that the true Muslims live upon the Islamic teachings by awareness of the manner to practice those teachings with integrity, for AKHIRAT) and chosen for you Islam as DEEN (the Guidance to the right path to Allah that gives the principles to practice for every issue of life and the Muslims accept them so that they get the true success at AKHIRAT)”; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-4 tells that Allah sent SAKINAH (tranquility) into the hearts of the believers so their belief increased that their confrontation with the disbelievers has certainly provided them the most significant victory at HUDAYBIYAH; note that SAKINAH is the acceptance inside which comes by all attention towards Allah that the condition at hand, which seemingly is averse to benefits, would transform to bring utmost advantage; Al-Hamdu Lillah; Allah has got huge number of angels at the heavens and the earth and He is totally able to punish the hypocrites and the extreme disbelievers but He intends that the Muslims show their worth against them as life at the world is an examination to all persons for certain; AAYAAT-4 to 6 read, “He it is Who sent down tranquility into the hearts of the believers that they might have more of belief added to their belief- and Allah's are the hosts of the heavens and the earth, and Allah is Knowing (so He records all good deeds of all good Muslims that they would certainly see at AKHIRAT), Wise (so He is taking the world on towards the destination He intends); that He may cause the believing men and the believing women to enter gardens beneath which rivers flow to abide therein and remove from them their evil; and that is grand achievement (i.e. the true success) with Allah; and that He may punish the hypocritical men and the hypocritical women, and the polytheistic men and the polytheistic women, the entertainers of evil thoughts about Allah; on them is the evil turn, and Allah is wroth with them and has cursed them and prepared hell-fire for them, and evil is the resort”; note that there are two sections of the mankind which would clearly manifest at AKHIRAT as is clear from these AAYAAT at this first Ruku of FATH; Surah TAGHABUN-2 gives the info about them clearly, “it is He Who has created you (all of the mankind); and of you are some that are disbelievers, and some that are true believers: and Allah sees well all that you do”; Surah AHZAAB also tells about these two sections of the mankind there at AKHIRAT, at its last AAYAT that one of them would be of all the disbelievers, which would comprise of hypocrites and the polytheists, both men and women, whereas the other would be of the true believers among the mankind, both men and women, to whom Allah would show utmost forgiveness and total mercy even at AKHIRAT; this is similar to the info that AAYAAT here at FATH provide, though first it mentions the true believers and then the disbelievers; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-7 points out again, “and Allah's are the hosts of the heavens and the earth; and Allah is Mighty, Wise”, this tells that where necessary, He would certainly provide extreme punishment to the disbelievers by His own authority; note that this AAYAT ends by the statement that Allah is AZIZ (Mighty), HAKEEM (Wise); AZIZ means that He provides for such happenings that keep the world to His will by His authoritative measures so no one becomes able to cause such deviation at the world that leads it away from His set manner for it that causes FASAD (high difficulties to work upon the Islamic teachings) for high length of period; He destroyed by events that are named as natural calamities, many such nations that had challenged His authority and were causing FASAD at the world; Surah ANKABUT has the AAYAT (that is AAYAT-40) where Allah tells us that “each one of them We seized for his crime; so in them, against some We sent a violent tornado (with showers of stones); some were caught by blast; some We caused the earth to swallow up; and some We drowned; it was not Allah Who injured them but they injured (and oppressed) their own souls”; and HAKEEM means that He indeed cares well that all works of all His creation affect in such way that they fulfill only His will; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAAT-8 & 9 give the info that Allah has sent His last Messenger Muhammad PBUH so that he provides testimony against those at AKHIRAT who had received the message of Allah from him and yet did not take the heed to believe in that; and so that he gives good news to all those who do accept that message at life at the world that they would receive JANNAAT, the gardens of paradise, at AKHIRAT because of their good belief; and so that he gives warning to those who are not prepared to believe that message at life at the world that they would get extreme punishment of the hell-fire at AKHIRAT because of their extreme arrogance; so the virtuous attitude is that all good persons who do get the message of Allah believe in Him and His last Messenger, and aid him at difficult times and revere him when there are such people who try to debase his name without any care to see what good morality he has provided to all persons of the world; all good persons need to declare the glory of Allah, morning and evening, with all sincerity towards Him; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the last AAYAT of the Ruku reads, “surely those who swear allegiance to you, do but swear allegiance to Allah; the hand of Allah is above their hands; therefore, whoever breaks his oath, he breaks it only to the injury of his own soul, and whoever fulfills what he has covenanted with Allah, He will grant him a mighty reward”; this refers to the allegiance, which is named as BAYTE-RIDHWAN, which the companions of the Prophet PBUH gave to him to fight till death when the rumor of the murder of UTHMAN-RA reached them; note that for some person to show allegiance to someone needs taking his right hand into his own right hand, whereas his own hand remains beneath the hand of that person to whom he gives allegiance by words of BAYT (the allegiance); as BAYTE-RIDHWAN occurred in this manner so Allah states here that though the hand of the Prophet PBUH remained above hands of his companions who gave their allegiance to him yet the hand of Allah remained even above the hand of the Prophet PBUH; he is the Messenger of Allah so the companions of the Prophet PBUH actually gave this allegiance to Allah, the true Lord; however, this does need some noting at this juncture that for the occurrence of any BAYT, taking hands of each other is not something necessary; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
FATH-The Second Ruku
11. Those of the dwellers of the desert who were left behind will say to you: Our property and our families kept us busy, so ask forgiveness for us. They say with their tongues what is not in their hearts. Say: Then who can control anything for you from Allah if He intends to do you harm or if He intends to do you good; nay, Allah is Aware of what you do:
12. Nay! you rather thought that the Apostle and the believers would not return to their families ever, and that was made fair-seeming to your hearts and you thought an evil thought and you were a people doomed to perish.
13. And whoever does not believe in Allah and His Apostle, then surely We have prepared burning fire for the disbelievers.
14. And Allah's is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth; He forgives whom He pleases and punishes whom He pleases, and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
15. Those who are left behind will say when you set forth for the gaining of acquisitions: Allow us that we may follow you. They desire to change the word of Allah. Say: By no means shall you follow us; thus did Allah say before. But they will say: Nay! you are jealous of us. Nay! they do not understand but little.
16. Say to those of the dwellers of the desert who were left behind: You shall soon be invited (to fight) against a people possessing mighty prowess; you will fight against them until they submit; then if you obey, Allah will grant you a good reward; and if you turn back as you turned back before, He will punish you with a painful punishment.
17. There is no harm in the blind, nor is there any harm in the lame, nor is there any harm in the sick (if they do not go forth to combat the enemy); and whoever obeys Allah and His Apostle, He will cause him to enter gardens beneath which rivers flow, and whoever turns back, He will punish him with a painful punishment.
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This Ruku commences by providing the info beforehand about those villagers who claimed to be Muslims and who lived around Madinah; they displayed their hypocrisy and did not come to UMRAH with the Prophet PBUH though he had told them to accompany them; AAYAAT tell about them that they would make excuses as the Prophet PBUH returns to Madinah, that their properties and their families needed their attention which occupied them so they are rightful that the Prophet PBUH asks Allah to forgive them; the fact of the matter is this that they thought that the Prophet PBUH and the true Muslims that have accompanied him, would not come back to Madinah as they would lose their lives going to Makkah; they thought that the Quraysh would challenge the Muslims and they had the power to end their strength as they arrive at Makkah, even if they have no intention to fight the Quraysh; but this did not happen, rather their hypocrisy did come in open and they saw their need to make excuses; their excuses are useless for them as they would perish getting their punishment even at the world; whoever claims to be among the Muslims yet does not have sincerity in his belief and denies to put the command of Allah in practice, then He has prepared the hell-fire for such disbelieving persons so that they get their punishment even at AKHIRAT; they had asked the Prophet PBUH to ask Allah to show mercy to them so AAYAT-14 answers them, “and Allah's is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth; He forgives whom He pleases and punishes whom He pleases, and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful”; this tells that Allah would show mercy only to those among them for whom He intends to provide even more space to show their worth for the practice of Islam but even the asking of the Prophet PBUH would not get His mercy to any such person for whom He does not intend for it; certainly, He is Forgiving so He would forgive the wrong of those among them for whom He intends and He is Merciful so He would provide the necessary space to all such persons so that they do compensate for the wrong that they had committed; AAYAT-15 tells about the response of the villagers who had shown hypocrisy, when they had been stopped from accompanying the Prophet PBUH and the true Muslims, to Khyber; though they had refused to accompany the Prophet PBUH to Makkah yet they intended to accompany him to Khyber as seeing the physical strength of Muslims, they thought that their lives are not threatened there and they would get some good share from the spoils of Khyber; it reads, “those who are left behind (when the Muslims have traveled to Makkah) will say when you set forth for the gaining of acquisitions (at Khyber)- allow us that we may follow you; they desire to change the word of Allah (that they would not accompany the true Muslims to Khyber as Allah had told the Prophet PBUH and he told them all); say- by no means shall you follow us (to Khyber); thus did Allah say before (that they have shown such cowardice that now they would not come at this significant occasion with the true Muslims and any such occasion ahead unless there comes some evidence for them that they are sincere to Islam); but they will say (seeing it from their own erroneous perspective)- nay! you are jealous of us (i.e. the true Muslims do not want them to get any of possessions from Khyber)- nay! they do not understand but little (that even if their presence benefits their selves by some worldly assets, it may cause adverse impression on the true Muslims who had stood firm at the trying occasion when they were asked for allegiance to fight till death)”; note that only the true Muslims, who had accompanied the Prophet PBUH for UMRAH towards Makkah, accompanied him to Khyber; AAYAT-16 asks the Prophet PBUH to give them the info that very soon they would receive such occasion which would enable them to show repentance and to show that they do have sincerity for Islam; so Allah would provide the space to them to make things better for them as it would happen that they would soon be invited to fight against such people who would have mighty prowess and the Muslims would be required to fight against them until they submit either by paying JIZYAH or by accepting Islam; this indicates the Roman empire that was highly equipped by arms of warfare with much trained personnel to fight any challenge against their empire most professionally; the Muslims arose to such status, even in the life of Muhammad PBUH, the last Messenger of Allah, that they did challenge the Roman empire by the expedition of TABUK and after him, they did end their control of the lands of Arabia and established their rule all over it effectively; the AAYAT tells that if they do show their obedience then, and do show that they do not fear the strength of the enemy where they take-up QITAL for Allah upon them against the enemy, then He would provide them good reward even at life at the world; but if they turn back when they face that enemy or/and do not accompany the true Muslims against them as they had refused at the occasion of UMRAH to Makkah, then He will punish them by the most painful punishment even at the world; certainly, He only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the last AAYAT of the Ruku exempts those persons from the combat against the enemy who have genuine reason to hold themselves back from it; it reads, “there is no harm in the blind, nor is there any harm in the lame, nor is there any harm in the sick (if they do not go forth to combat the enemy); and (those who are fit to fight the enemy, so from among them) whoever obeys Allah and His Apostle (to fight on the enemy till FITNAH ends), He will cause him to enter gardens beneath which rivers flow, and whoever turns back, He will punish him with a painful punishment (not only at AKHIRAT but even at his life at the world)”; certainly, He only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
FATH-The Third Ruku
18. Certainly Allah was well pleased with the believers when they swore allegiance to you under the tree, and He knew what was in their hearts, so He sent down tranquility on them and rewarded them with a near victory,
19. And many acquisitions which they will take; and Allah is Mighty, Wise.
20. Allah promised you many acquisitions which you will take, then He hastened on this one for you and held back the hands of men from you, and that it may be a sign for the believers and that He may guide you on the right path.
21. And other which you have not yet been able to achieve Allah has surely encompassed it, and Allah has power over all things.
22. And if those who disbelieve fight with you, they would certainly turn (their) backs, then they would not find any protector or a helper.
23. Such has been the course of Allah that has indeed run before, and you shall not find a change in Allah's course.
24. And He it is Who held back their hands from you and your hands from them in the valley of Mecca after He had given you victory over them; and Allah is Seeing what you do.
25. It is they who disbelieved and turned you away from the Sacred Mosque and (turned off) the offering withheld from arriving at its destined place; and were it not for the believing men and the believing women, whom, not having known, you might have trodden down, and thus something hateful might have afflicted you on their account without knowledge-- so that Allah may cause to enter into His mercy whomsoever He pleases; had they been widely separated one from another, We would surely have punished those who disbelieved from among them with a painful punishment.
26. When those who disbelieved harbored in their hearts (feelings of) disdain, the disdain of (the days of) ignorance, but Allah sent down His tranquility on His Apostle and on the believers, and made them keep the word of TAQWA, and they were entitled to it and worthy of it; and Allah is Cognizant of all things.
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This Ruku states the term SAKINAH (tranquility) at both its first and its last AAYAT so, with AAYAT-4 of this Surah, it occurs three times at it; note that Surah TAUBAH states this term two times that are at its AAYAT-26 (where it relates to telling of the tranquility upon the Prophet PBUH and the true Muslims at the day of battle of HUNAYN) and its AAYAT-40 (where it relates to telling of the tranquility upon the Prophet PBUH when he and his companion Abu-Bakr had taken shelter at the cave of THAUR at the time of HIJRAT to Madinah while the disbelievers were searching for them frantically); at all places, it relates to such situation where the sincere Muslims had got into severe difficulty as the disbelievers seemingly had such an edge over them that clearly threatened their lives; at all such times, Allah helped the true Muslims by His significant assistance by His angels that ultimately got them evident victory over all the disbelievers who intended to end the impression of Islam; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the term SAKINAH also comes at BAQARAH-248 when Samuel-AS, the Prophet in the Bani-Israel, had told them that the sign for the authority of TALUT (Saul) over them is that very soon, they would receive the huge trunk that they had lost in which, there is SAKINAH (here it means blessing from Allah) for them and in which, there were few relics of Moses-AS and Aaron-AS; now, those who had that huge trunk at that time, thought that it was putting some bad spell on them and it was the reason to their ills so they put it into a cart that was dragged by bulls and the angels took it and led it to the place of the Bani-Israel by the command of Allah; the sincere warriors in the way of Allah among them, that were only about 315 against the huge number of the enemy, had made DUA (supplication) to Allah to pour SABR upon them (so that they do not care for the physical life) and to make them firm at the battleground (so that whatever comes they fight on without turning their backs) and to provide them victory over the disbelievers; after that, they did achieve victory against the enemy (JALUT i.e. Goliath and his forces) which enabled them to establish their own kingdom under the good command of TALUT; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAAT-18 to 23 at the Ruku read, “certainly, Allah was well pleased with the believers when they swore allegiance (i.e. BAYTE-RIDHWAN) to you (O Prophet PBUH) under the tree (at HUDAYBIYAH), and He knew what was in their hearts (i.e. He knew that they were most sincere in their commitment to fight the disbelievers till their deaths), so He sent down SAKINAH (tranquility) on them and rewarded them with a near victory (i.e. victory at Khyber); and many acquisitions which they will take (ahead); and Allah is Mighty (so He provides for such happenings that keep the world to His will by His authoritative measures so no one becomes able to cause such deviation at the world that leads it away from His set manner for it that may cause FASAD for high length of period), Wise (so He indeed cares well that all works of all His creation affect in such way that they fulfill only His will); Allah promised you many acquisitions which you will take, then He hastened on this one (i.e. Khyber) for you and held back the hands of men from you (that they remained unable to fight the Muslims at HUDAYBIYAH, at Khyber, at the conquest of Makkah, because of the awe that Allah has put inside them for the true Muslims), and that it may be a sign for the believers (that practicing of the Islamic commands does give amazingly good power to Muslims) and that He may guide you (i.e. He may keep the Muslims firm) on the right path (i.e. the path of Islam); and other (i.e. the victory other than the victory at Khyber which means the conquest of Makkah) which you have not yet been able to achieve (though) Allah has surely encompassed it (so the Muslims would get that at its due time), and Allah has power over all things; and if those who disbelieve fight with you, they would certainly turn (their) backs, then they would not find any protector or a helper; such has been the course of Allah that has indeed run before (so whoever combats against the true Muslims at the battleground when the Prophet PBUH is in them at command at such crucial occasion, Allah would certainly destroy them as He has destroyed the nations before who had challenged His apostles), and you shall not find a change in Allah's course”; note that the victory at Khyber and the conquest of Makkah, both did occur without bloodshed; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the next AAYAT gives the info that Allah made such provision that no fight takes place at HUDAYBIYAH so that the treaty of peace between the Muslims and the disbelievers does come to take place there; so He stopped them to harm the Muslims in any manner and stopped the Muslims to harm them by combat in any manner; note that there did not occur any armed fight at HUDAYBIYAH but this AAYAT specifically refers to the incident that took place there before the occurrence of the treaty of peace, that some armed group from among the disbelievers conspired to kill the Prophet PBUH but his companions saw them and captured them; when they were presented to the Prophet PBUH, he pardoned them and set them free as he did not intend for any fight there; AAYAT-25 gives the reason explicitly why Allah provided for such situation that there occurs no fight between the Muslims and the disbelievers; it tells that there are still many of Muslims at Makkah that include both men and women, whom the Muslims coming from Madinah do not yet know; there was highest of probability that they may have inflicted death upon them without knowledge which may have led them to some most negative consequence as to finish-off the space for any person who has shown his inclination to live upon Islam, is highly sinful whereas Allah causes to enter into His mercy whomsoever He pleases; if these both had been clearly separated one from another and the Muslims would have targeted the disbelievers only, then Allah would surely have punished those who disbelieved from among them with the most painful punishment; this would certainly have taken place because they had not only disbelieved in the authority of Allah but they had also turned the true Muslims away from the Sacred Mosque and they had caused such situation that the sacrificial animals that the Muslims had brought with them, did not come to their destined place; the last AAYAT of the Ruku reads, “when those who disbelieved harbored in their hearts (feelings of) disdain, the disdain of (the days of) ignorance, but Allah sent down His SAKINAH (i.e. tranquility from Him) on His Apostle and on the believers, and made them keep the word of TAQWA, and they were entitled to it and worthy of it; and Allah is Cognizant of all things”; note that “the disdain of ignorance” means their prejudice to erase the word AR-RAHMAN (the Most Compassionate) at the documentation of the treaty which was mentioned there, attached to the name of Allah, because they did not recognize Him by that name; they also asked to erase the phrase “the Messenger of Allah” from it that was affixed to the name of Muhammad PBUH; as for TAQWA, note that it is the peaceful condition at inside which comes by the righteous belief in Allah and commitment of good deeds according to it; note also that “the word of TAQWA” means here to declare the glory of Allah morning & evening with belief in Him sincerely that He only is the true Lord; so it asks the Muslims to be most grateful to Allah; certainly, He only is the Creator of all the creation and He always has all His attributes and He only is the true Lord; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
FATH-The Last Ruku
27. Certainly Allah had shown to His Apostle the vision with truth: you shall most certainly enter the Sacred Mosque, if Allah pleases, in security, (some) having their heads shaved and (others) having their hair cut, you shall not fear, but He knows what you do not know, so He brought about a near victory before that.
28. He it is Who sent His Apostle with the guidance and the true path of life, that He may make it overcome the paths of life, all of them; and Allah is enough for witness.
29. Muhammad (PBUH) is the Apostle of Allah, and those with him are most harsh against the disbelievers, compassionate among themselves; you will see them bowing down, prostrating themselves, seeking grace from Allah and pleasure; their marks are in their faces because of the effect of prostration; that is their description in the Torah and their description in the INJIL; like as seed-produce that puts forth its sprout, then strengthens it, so it becomes stout and stands firmly on its stem, delighting the sowers that He may enrage the disbelievers on account of them; Allah has promised those among them who believe and do good, forgiveness and great reward.
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The statement given at the first AAYAT of this Ruku, needs to see that the Prophet PBUH had seen a dream that showed that he and his companions are performing UMRAH at the Sacred Mosque at Makkah in EHRAAM (the specific clothing that is worn at this noble occasion); as Allah shows only true dreams to His Prophets, so he and his companions set out for UMRAH to Makkah but we all have studied at this Surah FATH that they were stopped at the site of HUDAYBIYAH as we have read at this Surah; this led few of his companions to ask what happened that his dream did not come to take place in practice; the AAYAT answers this query that Allah has certainly shown him the dream that is true which certainly would take place though not this year but the next; note that to give the actual timing of dreams, even if they are most true ones, is quite some task and this AAYAT does declare it clearly; however, dreams when they relate to future, they often relate to the near future; the AAYAT states, “certainly Allah had shown to His Apostle the vision (at his dream) with truth- you shall most certainly enter the Sacred Mosque, if Allah pleases (this means that He does), in security, (some) having their heads shaved and (others) having their hair cut (as both are allowed at the rituals of UMRAH), you shall not fear (i.e. the Muslims would perform it in most peaceful situation), but He knows what you do not know (that the treaty that they have managed to get from the Quraysh at this occasion, is certainly most significant), so He brought about a near victory (of Khyber instead, that consolidated their position at Madinah and places near to it) before that (which Muslims would certainly perform)”; note that the next year, the Muslims did perform UMRAH which is named as QADHA (in compensation) and it was performed in the most peaceful environment for them at the holy city of Makkah; certainly Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the next AAYAT reads for the spread of Islam, “He it is Who sent His Apostle with the guidance and the true path of life, that He may make it overcome the paths of life, all of them; and Allah is enough for witness”; note that the part in the AAYAT – “He it is Who sent His Apostle with the guidance and the true path of life, that He may make it overcome the paths of life, all of them” - has come also at two other places of the Holy Book Quran that are Surah TAUBAH-33 and Surah SAFF-9; note that by use of the term DEEN (the path of life) in this AAYAT for the true path of life (Islam) and for the paths of life, all of them (wrong paths), in singular at both places has the delicate indication that inside of the man does not incline to any wrongs by the nature he comes at the world (i.e. FITHRAT); it seems that though the first JAHILLIYAT (the period of extreme ignorance that was prevalent in the known world of yore) ended mostly by QITAL (the armed combat that is one of aspects of JEHAD), yet this second JAHILLIYAT that prevails at these current times all over the world, would end by the continuous effort in TABLIGH (the spread of the teachings of Islam verbally and in writing that also is one of aspects of JEHAD) insha-Allah, especially when the woman realizes the reservation that she has to adhere to, by the teachings of Islam; however, the first aspect among the three aspects of JEHAD is MUJAHIDA (living by the commands of Allah individually at any given situation as best as possible sincerely); read also the supplementary note after the note at the sixth Ruku of Surah HAJJ; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the last AAYAT of the Ruku, which also is the last AAYAT of the Surah, commences by the statement that Muhammad PBUH is the Apostle of Allah and this, Allah has stated here because the disbelievers had asked to erase the phrase “the Messenger of Allah” from the documentation of the treaty, which was affixed to his name; so Allah declared here that even if they deny, Muhammad PBUH is certainly His last Messenger; this AAYAT also tells ahead the merits of SAHABA (the companions of the Prophet PBUH) that though they are most harsh against the disbelievers yet they are most compassionate among themselves; and they declare the glory of Allah morning & evening so they do praise Allah all the time by bowing down and prostrating to Him; the good mark of their obedience to Allah is evident at their good faces and Torah (the holy Scripture that Allah gave to Moses-AS) and INJIL (the speech of Jesus-AS that has wisdom by the blessing of Allah) both have acknowledged their merits; the SAHABA of the Prophet PBUH are like the seed-produce that is very weak at the beginning but with time, it becomes strong and stands on its stem firmly which pleases the sowers of that; this tells that from their weakness, the SAHABA-RA have risen by the practice of Islamic teachings by the blessing of Allah, to such status where they are wonderfully able to challenge the disbelievers most powerfully; the last part of the last AAYAT gives the info that Allah has promised those among them who believe and do good (and evidently, they all do have this merit), forgiveness at life at the world on their unintentional wrongs, and great reward at the Day of Judgment; most certainly, He only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
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Surah HUJURAAT
(Consists of 2 Ruku; H-7 & 8)
HUJURAAT-The First Ruku
1. O you who believe! be not forward in the presence of Allah and His Apostle, and be careful of (your duty to) Allah; surely Allah is Hearing, Knowing.
2. O you who believe! do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet (PBUH), and do not speak loud to him as you speak loud to one another, lest your deeds became null while you do not perceive.
3. Surely those who lower their voices before Allah's Apostle are they whose hearts Allah has proved for guarding (against evil); they shall have forgiveness and great reward.
4. (As for) those who call out to you from behind the private chambers, surely most of them do not understand.
5. And if they wait patiently until you come out to them, it would certainly be better for them; and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
6. O you who believe! if an evil-doer comes to you with a report, look carefully into it, lest you harm a people in ignorance, then be sorry for what you have done.
7. And know that among you is Allah's apostle; should he obey you in many a matter, you would surely fall into distress, but Allah has endeared the true belief to you and has made it seemly in your hearts, and He has made hateful to you, disbelief and transgression and disobedience; these it is that are the followers of the right path.
8. Due to grace from Allah and due to favor; and Allah is Knowing, Wise.
9. And if two parties among the true believers, quarrel, make peace between them; but if one of them acts wrongfully towards the other, fight that which acts wrongfully until it returns to Allah's command; then if it returns, make peace between them with justice and act equitably; surely Allah loves those who act equitably.
10. The believers are but brethren, therefore make peace between your brethren and be careful of (your duty to) Allah that mercy may be had on you.
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Surah HUJURAAT beautifully guides the true Muslims to the best of social values that they have to adhere to, for the sake of keeping to the Islamic manner of living collectively at the Islamic environment; Al-Hamdu Lillah; so it is all about the virtuous attitudes that the Muslims have to present at the Islamic environment so as to keep their solidarity intact; note that HUJURAAT means the private quarters where the wives of the Prophet PBUH resided and those were adjacent to the Masjid; the first AAYAT of the Surah is the basis to the true belief as the true Muslim is that person who has surrendered to Allah, the true Lord, that he/she would live his/her life according to His commands as the Quran guides him/her for which he/she would care to obey the Prophet PBUH to the best of his/her ability; in other words, the true Muslim has to see to the commands of Allah that are in the Holy Book Quran whereas the authentic Ahadith clearly show how to put them into practice; the next four AAYAAT guide the true Muslims to check how they address the Prophet PBUH as he is at such spiritual status among them, where their speech even shall unmistakably denote their utmost respect for him; and if they disrespect him by their speech, it would lead to such outcome that their virtuous deeds even, would become null & void; note that some villagers from the tribe of BANI-TAMIM visited the Prophet PBUH and generally, like other of villagers then, they also had extreme coarse manners in their speech and in their doings; when they arrived at the Masjid in afternoon, the Prophet PBUH had retired to one of the quarters there for some rest therein; they did not wait for him to come out to them but called him out by his name in their ordinary rough way with raised voices; these AAYAAT, from AAYAT-2 to AAYAT-5, warned all of the Muslims upon such crude attitude towards the Prophet PBUH; so AAYAT-3 appreciates those who speak to the Prophet PBUH softly with necessary voice only to express their object and this also implies that they follow his direction when they get it in some concerned issue clearly, without any insistence upon their own viewpoint on that; whoever keeps check on his speech towards the Prophet PBUH, keeping his good address towards him to necessity and with necessary soft tone of voice, Allah keeps him firm on TAQWA and all such persons shall have forgiveness from Him on their wrongs and most significant of rewards; the Surah has stated in clear terms ahead at its second Ruku that the standard for the true success is to achieve TAQWA that is the attitude of the heart which asks all the Muslims to fear Allah that they do not get His displeasure by their sins becoming so sinful that they lose the chance to regain JANNAH and with that, they also must have such hope towards Him that He would keep them safe from the Satan at all times and at all places; so every person needs to care to live as righteous believer in the fundamental teachings of Islam with virtuous deeds so that he/she does not lose the opportunity to show his/her worth for JANNAH at AKHIRAT and so that he/she is not put into the hell-fire as Allah would certainly fulfill His word; this good care to all attitude would lead the good person to get the pleasure of Allah, the true Lord; Al-Hamdu Lillah; these four AAYAAT read, “O you who believe! do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet (PBUH), and do not speak loud to him as you speak loud to one another, lest your deeds became null while you do not perceive; surely those who lower their voices before Allah's Apostle are they whose hearts Allah has proved for TAQWA (so when they get clear direction of the Prophet PBUH on some issue of concern, they do accept it for practice); they shall have forgiveness (on some negligence of good deeds) and great reward (on their virtuous practice of all good deeds); (as for) those who call out to you from behind the private chambers (i.e. the quarters there), surely most of them do not understand (the refined manner to address the Prophet PBUH); and if they wait patiently until you come out to them, it would certainly be better for them; and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful (for them as they naturally have this coarse manner in speech without any intention to disrespect the Prophet PBUH, though they need to control this manner with care to refine it to necessary level when they address him)”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-6 provides a significant ruling on such info which asks for some immediate defensive action but it does need confirmation for its authenticity, that it shall not be taken on face and the concerned people at authority shall necessarily verify it before taking any due action on that; note that the Prophet PBUH sent a man as envoy to one of such tribes that had come to Islam, for the collection of ZAKAH; as they came to know that the Prophet PBUH has sent someone towards them for the collection of ZAKAH, they waited for him outside their town to welcome him; now, the man whom the Prophet PBUH had sent to them, was from a tribe that had enmity to this tribe at the period of ignorance and when he saw them gathered outside from some distance as he reached there, he misjudged the situation and thought that they have gathered with the planning to kill him then & there; he immediately returned to the Prophet PBUH with the info that the tribe has left Islam with the intention to challenge it; this was serious matter and the Prophet PBUH commanded Khalid ibn Waleed to take some necessary force and challenge them at the battleground; however, he wisely told Khalid-RA to assess the situation before any action that he takes by force against them; so when he reached there with his force, he saw that they had no intention to challenge Islam rather they were most prepared to pay their ZAKAH so he reported their actual position to the Prophet PBUH and the issue was settled peacefully; AAYAT-6 reads, “O you who believe! if an evil-doer comes to you with a report, look carefully into it, lest you harm a people in ignorance, then be sorry for what you have done”; note that though it was a mistake on the side of the envoy yet he is mentioned here as FASIQ (evil-doer; most sinful) due to the magnitude of his mistake and it implies that he should have cared to address it somehow, at that very place where he saw them gathered outside their town; at these current times, the flow of communication is swift by aid of technical gadgets yet even today, it is likely that misjudgment does occur at some crucial issue that needs immediate defensive action so this ruling to verify the issue before any due action, is most valid even at these current times where the absence of it may bring amazingly huge loss of lives and property; Islam also rules clearly that there has to be extreme care that such info that relates to shameful things, is not circulated among the masses; AAYAT-19 of Surah NOOR reads, “surely (as for) those who love that shameful things should circulate respecting those who believe (by any manner that spreads info among people), they shall have a grievous chastisement in this world and the hereafter; and Allah knows, while you do not know (that how the unchecked mention of these things even, cause these things to affect the surroundings adversely)”; so AAYAT-6 of HUJURAAT and AAYAT-19 of NOOR respectively ask Muslims to check attitudes, that fake info does not cause any injustice due to misjudgment, and nothing of any info circulates among the masses which is shameful by nature, as such presentation time & again may cause weakening in avoidance of the immoral substance in it by the masses; so this check would assist avoidance respectively at the Islamic environment, of the spread of injustice among the persons at some authority and of the spread of shameful attitude among the masses, insha-Allah; at these current times, due to ignorance of the Islamic directions, the electronic media (which includes the TV and the social media) enhances these differences among the Muslims, knowingly & unknowingly, by their presentations that comprise of much faulty discussions; TV especially needs to care much about the Islamic rulings as many of anchors at the management of talk-shows present such questions that lead to differences and only seldom they try to get the clarification on dispute from any such participant who is capable to provide that with authenticity; this shows their low professional caliber (and their little tolerance to issues) as if they want to press their own viewpoint that carries discord towards the issue at hand rather than provide the real status of the issue at hand; they mostly do this to get a good rating in views to their talks with total disregard to the teachings of Islam; note well that all differences that arise causing much of disunity among Muslims at the religious practice or at the political scenario, are due to the ignorance of the true aim of life that only is to worship Allah, the true Lord; certainly, we all have to answer for our belief and our deeds at HASHR, the first day of AKHIRAT (the true life after this life) as the Messengers of Allah have told us clearly in accordance to the virtuous guidance that Allah provided to them; see also the supplementary note which I, MSD, have provided just after this note; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the next two AAYAAT appreciate the Prophet PBUH upon his manner of dealing with issues at hand (and they also appreciate SAHABA, the companions of the Prophet PBUH) and though this appreciation of the Prophet PBUH is in general terms yet it is fair to take it specifically too in context of his good dealing with the issue of the misjudgment that might have caused extreme loss to lives & property of men; these couple of AAYAAT read, “and know that among you is Allah's apostle; should he obey you in many a matter, you would surely fall into distress, but Allah has endeared the true belief to you (all companions of the Prophet PBUH) and has made it seemly in your hearts (i.e. the hearts of those of his companions who are most attentive to Allah), and He has made hateful to you (all of his companions), disbelief and transgression and disobedience; these it is that are the followers of the right path, due to grace from Allah (specifically to the Prophet PBUH as He has granted him the liability to spread His message to all peoples) and due to favor (in general from Him to all sincere Muslims); and Allah is Knowing (of all doings), Wise (to see how they impress the goings around)”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-9 has such direction which asks the Muslims for solidarity at all times and at all places; it tells all Muslims to make peace among such factions among them who have challenged each other ignorantly; there are few significant points to note here and that I, MSD, would take-up presently insha-Allah; the direction that the AAYAT provides to the Muslims is that - “and if two parties among the true believers, quarrel, make peace between them; but if one of them acts wrongfully towards the other, fight that which acts wrongfully until it returns to Allah's command; then if it returns, make peace between them with justice and act equitably; surely Allah loves those who act equitably” – the first of significant points to note here is that this direction asks the relevant Muslims to become arbitrators to make peace among two sides of the true Muslims who have disputed with each other, whereas both have their respective reasoning to their stance, that they present as not having anything which is against Islam; being true Muslims, though they have quarreled with each other, they would not go to war against each other unless both of them are not much significant by quantity so then even a forceful physical combat is possible among them but the direction of the AAYAT in focus, relates to such parties in the true Muslims who do have significance and then who do oppose each other though they would preferably avoid taking weapons against each other to their utmost patience; this makes clear that if these parties are not sincere to the teachings of Islam in their respective practice, even if they claim to be Muslims, the relevant Muslims in general are not liable to make peace among them as the direction at this AAYAT does not relate to such parties at quarrel; the second point is that this direction asks the arbitrators among the Muslims to fight forcefully (even by weapons if they deem fit) against the side that rebels against the other though the rebellious side may not necessarily take weapons against the other side, yet it may cause such situation for the other side that it finds living at ease utmost difficult, with little option to answer the rebellious side fittingly to keep convenience in their own living; the third point is that this direction asks the arbitrators among the Muslims that they come to their verdict by keeping to the commands of Allah according to justice and according to care to compensation of losses of both, when peace is restored between both sides to an acceptable extent; the fourth point is that this direction asks the arbitrators among the Muslims who intervene into the dispute of these two substantial sides of Muslims that they must have the necessary martial power to answer the unjust among these two, according to the magnitude by which that unjust side may put-up any challenge to them, without any fear to cause damage to the common people who have taken no part in the ongoing dispute; the fifth of significant points to note here is that this direction asks the arbitrators among the Muslims to indicate clearly the side that is totally unjust among these two sides of Muslims in dispute, by clear reasoning in this issue according to the teachings of Islam; Al-Hamdu Lillah; for the first point, note that Imam MAALIK has stated such words which suggest that if both sides, who claim to be Muslims, are unjust then let one of them punish the other and then the third would rise from among them, who also would be unjust, who would punish both of them; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the last AAYAT of the Ruku expresses beautifully that solidarity among the true Muslims is one of the most significant traits of them (as they are bothers to each other) so whereas they would see at all times and places that this is not damaged from the enemy in any manner, they would take care to their utmost capacity that it is not impaired even by doings of the Muslims themselves; it reads, “the believers are but brethren, therefore make peace between your brethren and be careful of (your duty to) Allah that mercy may be had on you”; certainly, He only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
Supplementary note on Surah HUJURAAT
Note about Islam that it is the most integrated system of life (but not totalitarian) as the fulfillment of its significant commands that Allah has given to the man, leads to the highest satisfaction to the self as it is complementary to the voice inside; if the Muslims practice those Islamic commands that are its basic practical commands especially the five pillars of Islam which the SUNNAH has explicitly asked for, they would provide good spiritual strength to all of them for certain; Al-Hamdu Lillah; these five are reciting much the name of Allah with remembrance that Allah is the only true Lord and Muhammad PBUH is His last Messenger, SALAH, ZAKAH and also other of provisions to the needy, SIYAM and HAJJ; in addition, they shall take-up in their practice all three aspects of JEHAD that are MUJAHIDA (keeping the base desires that are at inside in control by attention towards Allah with practice of the five pillars of Islam sincerely), TABLIGH (spreading the teachings of Islam far and wide by the Quran with its elaboration by SUNNAH) and QITAL (defending of the territory by martial strength where Islam has its hold so it also defends the teachings of Islam when it is challenged by the enemy); note here that it is unfeasible to take-up QITAL by attacking the disbelievers at this current era as it has such conditions for the Muslims to see that certainly are not easy for them to fulfill in this current era; see also the note at the twenty-sixth RUKU of Surah BAQARAH for AAYAT-216; the true Muslim person, both male & female, has to remain steadfast upon Islam so he/she shall have his/her total attention towards Allah with commitment to all the mentioned practice keeping to Sunnah of the Prophet PBUH whom he/she has to respect most highly; in addition, he has to care about the edibles he takes-in, about the cleanliness of the body, about the agreements he commits to, about the limitations that he has when Allah has provided him with some authority over his people, about the field of economics (where he has to see that he avoids interest in all transactions), about the matters that relate to living by justice and by social good norms that Islam appreciates (so he has to avoid degradation of any person by his speech too as Allah would certainly hold him liable for that too); so the Islamic teachings for justice would always keep the Muslim person far-away from unjust attitudes in all matters and the Islamic teachings for morality would always keep the Muslim person far-away from shameful attitudes in all matters; living by this virtuous manner, insha-Allah he would get the true living manner of the true Muslim in the true Islamic environment; Al-Hamdu Lillah; note that Islam asks most emphatically to appreciate the social values that ask for respect of all fellow beings especially for respect of those who claim categorically that they surely are Muslims and Surah HUJURAAT is most explicit on this issue; nobody is perfect and it is for the good law of the Islamic land to see and punish those who have taken-up crimes so those who know adversity of such persons, may provide their testimony at the court of law if they are asked for it; the problem today is that the people generally go in many fields of economic activity by intense competition whereas Islam does not appreciate this competing attitude among the Muslims; these fields, where they compete with each other for economic activity, especially include the field of administration by the name of free democracy, the field of generating finances by the name of free manner of making transactions and the field of providing info with the aid of electronic media to the people by the name of free speech; so note about these three fields that, though democracy is much near to Islam for administration, it shall necessarily reject the two erroneous concepts at the Islamic set-up that the west has attached to democracy; these are the concept of secularism (as the Islamic administration is certainly not rightful to make any law that is repugnant to the basic teachings of Islam) and the concept that the man is but an animal (as the Islamic administration is certainly not rightful to ignore the spiritual side of the man); it shall see that no actual competition takes place among the Muslims in the making and running of the administration and so it shall conduct elections even in such way that only those Muslim persons do come at the administrative posts that are QAVI (capable for the execution of their work in the Islamic manner) and AMIN (most trustworthy by character) clearly; whatever competition that does take place at this set-up, would be in matters that are MUBAH (where taking of any side of the discussion is not against Islam); read also my writing “The Islamic Guidelines” at the net; Al-Hamdu Lillah; in the field of economics which deals with finances, “Interest” and “Free Competition” respectively are taken to cause the stable set-up for the market due to its ability to control inflation and to cause the good quality of the product in the production of wealth; in contrast, Islam takes these both i.e. interest and the free competition in worldly finances, as the cause of the concentration of the wealth into hands of already wealthy persons and as the cause of wastage of the precious time respectively; the most notable thing here is that the man is born to care for the commands of Allah only and for no other reason; as for providing info at the electronic media, often it does not present the relevant care to facts or to good morality just because they intend to get better rating in views for their respective presentations than others in the same field; one of the authentic Ahadith mentions that the Prophet PBUH said, “it is enough for a person to become a liar that he speaks of everything that he hears"; so it is not feasible to present info that relates to some sensitive issue, without due confirmation about it, at the surroundings; this attitude of intense competition for worldly benefits is leading the Muslims to degrade other of them and so this attitude is certainly most averse to Islam which tells clearly that the Muslims are as brothers to each other (see Surah HUJURAAT-10); note that the reform to discussions at the talk-shows on the TV about the religious practice or/and about the political scenario, may come by the notable points ahead; the first of these notable points is that “all participants must care not to emphasize criticism among each other just because of the difference of their parties”; the second is that “all participants must care not to present unfeasible solutions to the issue at discussion just to press importance for the self, but present feasible solutions without challenging each other”; the third is that “all participants must care not to complain bitterly about the mistakes other parties have made but present their viewpoint in the most positive manner as brotherly advice to make better the stance of all participants upon the issue at discussion with total care that it does not seem insulting to anyone”; the fourth is that “all participants must care not to give any direct personal insulting remarks to each other”; the fifth is that “all participants must care not to pass insulting remarks for any person not at discussion and if that occurs by name, it is even more erroneous”; the sixth is that “all participants must care not to present themselves as infallible, rather they shall accept their mistakes”; the seventh is that “all participants must care not to raise their voices as if in anger to each other, even if they find their stance on the issue at discussion most valid”; the eighth is that “all participants must care not to present such info that might cause high differences among the viewers unless the administration has announced its official stance for that clearly”; the ninth is that “all participants must care not to take each other as most different to each other but they must remain totally committed to the fact that all Muslims are brothers so their difference is certainly not in the principle”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; note that in the name of freedom in living, the man has led himself to such position where the Satan finds it easy to make him the slave of his base desires if he does not keep his attention to Allah, the true Lord; it is most necessary for all true Muslims to ask Allah for His mercy towards them and towards all other of Muslims and for such space that they fulfill all His significant commands in practice with total belief in all the fundamental teachings of Islam sincerely; Al-Hamdu Lillah; as I write this part of the supplementary note at the eighth day of March 2022, I would care to express that the living manner at the ancient world was permissive to slavery and those few women too, who became captives with men at battlegrounds, had to bear its hardship; it presumably was harsher on the woman than on the menfolk at those times as understandably, such woman, who was led to become slave to her master, was exploited most indecently at those times but the surroundings was permissive for that and there remained no option for her but to bear it; it is the blessing of Allah that slavery has ended yet such hardship that she had faced at the ancient world, has not yet ended; now, at these current times, there is such indecent notion too among the living manners at the world that asks women to live by their base desires in the name of freedom in living, whereas the fact of the matter is that the women truly has no proper worth without attachment to such man who takes all her liability as his wife sincerely and cares totally for all her physical & spiritual needs; whereas at the ancient times, there were a number of women who were taken in slavery by force for their exploitation, today there are a number of women who have been lured into slavery of desires by the challenge of surroundings with the application of the simple term of freedom of choice in her living at the world; this notion does not give any care to her factual status of living, where her psyche does ask to live committed to the man she has attached herself to; note that living together of man and woman without any bondage to commit to each other, even if both sides do try their best to care for each other, does have separation between them as its ultimate result generally as there is much difference among the male and the female in the mankind; he can still live on alone making his way in life by the freedom he receives at the surroundings, to get his physical & spiritual needs yet it is just an illusion that she would make her way in life by the freedom she receives at any of surroundings she lives in; with this illusion, when the surroundings becomes permissive not to take illicit relations to women as crime socially, though it certainly is notable crime according to Islam as it takes it as one of major sins, then this is an extreme setback to her psyche; understandably, such woman, who is led to become slave to her base desires, is exploited most indecently at these times but the surroundings is permissive for that and there remains no option for her but to bear it; in this sense, the slavery of women has not yet ended and this situation is much harsher on her than on the menfolk at these times; may Allah give insight to all good persons by character, to live by His commands sincerely so that they live on with such peace in life that makes them achieve His pleasure at AKHIRAT much easier for them; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; note that the second Ruku of HUJURAAT presents this in most clear terms that the true Muslims have such refinement in their character that does not let them disrespect any of fellow-beings, especially other of Muslims; they would never make fun of others, never charge them with false accusations and never call them by offensive names, when they address them or talk about them at gatherings in their presence, so as to disrespect them; not only this but the refinement in their character does not let them be suspicious of intentions of others as they see the positive side of things and so they would never spy on others to find some flaw in their intentions and so they would never backbite others with their good mindset that asks them to take all persons positively, so they would care to their respect even in their absence; if they are suspicious of others by nature, spy on others and backbite others, their manner is as if they eat of the dead body of their brother because he is unable to offer any defense to this kind of mindset against him; this Ruku tells ahead that TAQWA is the true standard to get respect at the court of Allah and it actually leads to getting His pleasure; all of the mankind have Adam-AS and Eve-AS as their parents and tribes and families are to identify persons among them; it is not the true standard to high standing as that only is TAQWA; by the context here, it expresses clearly that TAQWA asks the Muslim persons to respect fellow-beings with good intention for them that they all remain at the right path as they live on their lives at the world; Al-Hamdu Lillah; still ahead, the Ruku emphasizes the significance of TAQWA as it clarifies that the true belief that resides inside the heart, does not come only by the statement that expresses it by tongue but it needs total sincerity inside with much assistance of good deeds; with the statement to accept Islam, the person becomes Muslim and he is then liable to all rights that the Muslim person has in the Islamic environment; however, at AKHIRAT, the person needs to have the true belief with much of good deeds for safety from the hell-fire that actually is TAQWA (the good attitude of heart which gets refinement by good deeds when they are committed with fear of Allah, with utmost care that there comes no evil in deeds that may lead to His displeasure, and with hope towards Him that He would keep safe from the Satan at all times and at all places); so whoever believes in Islam by his/her statement, then he/she does become one of Muslims and with that, as he/she develops Islam sincerely at heart with assistance of all good deeds, then he/she rises in his/her status to become the true Muslim (i.e. MOMEN); Al-Hamdu Lillah.
HUJURAAT-The Second (and its Last) Ruku
11. O you who believe! let not (one) folk laugh at (another) folk perchance they may be better than they, nor let women (laugh) at (other) women, perchance they may be better than they; and do not find fault with your own people nor call one another by nicknames; evil is (to address by) name of lewdness after (having true) belief, and whoever does not turn, these it is that are the unjust.
12. O you who believe! avoid most of suspicion, for surely suspicion in some cases is a sin, and do not spy nor let some of you backbite others. Does one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? But you abhor it; and be careful of (your duty to) Allah, surely Allah is Oft-returning (to mercy), Merciful.
13. O you men! surely We have created you of a male and a female, and made you tribes and families that you may know each other; surely the most honorable of you with Allah is the one among you who is the best in TAQWA; surely Allah is Knowing, Aware.
14. The dwellers of the desert say: we believe. Tell (them): you do not believe but say that we submit; and the true belief has not yet entered into your hearts; and if you obey Allah and His apostle, He will not diminish aught of your deeds; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
15. The true believers are only those who believe in Allah and His apostle then they doubt not, and struggle hard with their wealth and their lives in the way of Allah; they are the truthful ones.
16. Say: Do you apprise Allah of your religion, and Allah knows what is in the heavens and what is in the earth; and Allah is Cognizant of all things.
17. They think that they lay you under an obligation by becoming Muslims. Say: Lay me not under obligation by your Islam: rather Allah lays you under an obligation by guiding you to the true belief if you are truthful.
18. Surely Allah knows the unseen things of the heavens and the earth; and Allah sees what you do.
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The second Ruku of HUJURAAT guides explicitly about the good social values that the true Muslims need to adhere to; they would never make fun of others, never charge them with false accusations and never call them by offensive names, when they address them or talk about them at gatherings in their presence, so as to disrespect them; see also the supplementary note that I, MSD, have written before this note to provide general overview of Surah HUJURAAT; note that AAYAT-11 asks men in general manner not to laugh at other folk (men and women included) as they might be better, and asks women not to laugh at women for the same reason; it does not mean that women may at times, make fun of men but it denotes that due to the command of HEJAB that they have to observe from men which asks avoidance of mixed gathering, there is no need to put any emphases on the issue in this direction; note also the term ANFUSAKUM at this AAYAT (which means at speech “your own people” but which literally means “your own selves”) as it tells proximity of the true Muslims to each other; the Holy Book Quran has used this term in this manner elsewhere too (for instance, in Surah NISAA-29 where the verse says “Do not kill ANFUSAKUM” unjustifiably and in Surah NOOR-61 where the verse says “But if you enter houses, salute ANFUSAKUM”); as for nicknames which are negative in character, the true Muslim needs strictly to avoid calling any person by such names; however, the true Muslim is not blamable if he addresses someone who is recognized by some feature that is generally negative in nature yet he does not mind such name in his close circle as he knows well that it is just an identity to him and not anything to degrade him; the examples for this might be such when his friends identify him as the stuttering man, the lame one, the fat guy; but he must not have any objection to such identity; AAYAT-12 provides this aspect of the character of the true Muslims that they would never become suspicious of intentions of others as they see the positive side of things and so they would never spy on others to find some flaw in their intentions and so they would never backbite others with their good mindset that asks them to take all persons positively; they would certainly care to respect all persons even in their absence; if they are suspicious of others due to some flaw in their own character, spy on others and backbite others, their manner is as if they eat of the dead body of their brother because he is unable to offer any defense to this kind of mindset against him; note that backbiting is totally prohibited and if the info that the person gives by backbiting about someone, is not present in him, it would also become BUHTAN (fake accusation) so that makes the wrong twofold; however, it is well if someone discloses the negative trait of some person in front of the judge due to necessity or in front of the man who intends to tie relationship to that person by taking him as his son-in-law or his brother-in-law; it is well even in front of the business man who intends to make some profitable deal with that person and that negative trait might become very harmful to him in the near future; AAYAT-13 of Surah HUJURAAT provides the significant principle that “surely the most honorable of you with Allah is the one among you who is the best in TAQWA”; by context, this tells that TAQWA would come to the true Muslim person when he respects his fellow-beings whereas AAYAT-11 and AAYAT-12 have laid down the social values which he has to adhere to for it; he must have the good intention for them that they all remain at the right path as they live on their lives at the world; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAAT-14 & 15 clarify that the true belief resides inside the heart so it does not come only by the statement that expresses it by tongue but it needs total sincerity inside with much assistance of good deeds; with the statement to accept Islam, the person does become Muslim and he is then liable to all rights that the Muslim person has in the Islamic environment; however, at AKHIRAT, the good Muslim person needs to have the true belief with much of good deeds for safety from the hell-fire that actually is TAQWA so he needs persistence upon the belief in Islam without any inclination to anything other than it, so then with time (as he goes on practicing Islam day & night continuously), he becomes MOMEN by the blessing of Allah; he was never one of hypocrites yet he does need good development of his belief in the Truth after he has accepted it by his statement, to the honorable position where he truly achieves TAQWA to become true Muslim; these AAYAAT read, “the dwellers of the desert say- we believe; tell (them)- you do not believe but say that we submit; and the true belief has not yet entered into your hearts; and if you obey Allah and His apostle (persistently then it would take place firmly there and so) He will not diminish aught of your deeds; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful; the true believers are only those who believe in Allah and His apostle then they doubt not, and struggle hard with their wealth and their lives in the way of Allah (which is the certain way to get the true belief inside); they are the truthful ones (as they remain committed to their claim to Islam at all situations)”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; note that there were such dwellers of the desert then, who had boasted with some arrogance that they had accepted Islam without any fights so they have some high status at the court of Allah, and so the Muslims need to appreciate them; the last AAYAAT of HUJURAAT address this issue and tell them to remain mindful that Allah has blessed them that He has brought them to Islam; now, they need to develop that to become the true belief at their insides so it is their commitment to Islam and the good deeds that they do according to that commitment that would tell if they are appreciable or not; they read, “say- do you apprise Allah of your religion, and Allah knows what is in the heavens and what is in the earth; and Allah is Cognizant of all things; they think that they lay you under an obligation by becoming Muslims; say- lay me not under obligation by your Islam- rather Allah lays you under an obligation by guiding you to the true belief if you are truthful; surely Allah knows the unseen things of the heavens and the earth; and Allah sees what you do”; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
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Surah QAAF
(Consists of 3 Ruku; MK-4)
QAAF-The First Ruku
1. QAAF; I swear by the glorious Quran (that Muhammad PBUH is the apostle of Allah)
2. Nay! they wonder that there has come to them a warner from among themselves, so the disbelievers say: This is a strange thing:
3. What! when we are dead and have become dust? That is afar (from probable) return.
4. We know indeed what the earth diminishes of them, and with Us is a writing that preserves.
5. Nay, they rejected the truth when it came to them, so they are (now) in a state of confusion.
6. Do they not then look up to heaven above them how We have made it and adorned it and it has no gaps?
7. And the earth, We have made it plain and cast in it mountains and We have made to grow therein of all beautiful kinds,
8. To give sight and as a reminder to every servant who turns frequently (to Allah).
9. And We send down from the cloud water abounding in good, then We cause to grow thereby gardens and the grain that is reaped,
10. And the tall palm-trees having spadices closely set one above another,
11. A sustenance for the servants, and We give life thereby to a dead land; thus is the rising.
12. (Others) before them rejected (Prophets): the people of Noah and the dwellers of AR-RASS and THAMUD,
13. And AAD and Pharaoh and Lot's brethren,
14. And the dwellers of the thicket and the people of TUBBA; all rejected the apostles, so My threat came to pass.
15. Were We then fatigued with the first creation? Yet are they in doubt with regard to a new creation.
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This Surah starts by QAAF, the letter which is among the MUQATTA’AAT (that means the 14 disjointed letters that are among the Arabic alphabets which come at the commencement of 29 Surah in specific combinations); there are two other Surah besides this that start by only one letter that are among the MUQATTA’AAT that are SUAD (Surah 38) and NOON (Surah 68); Al-Hamdu Lillah; note that like other of Surah that descended at Makkah, this also emphasizes to believe in the fundamental teachings of Islam; Allah swears by the glorious Quran at its beginning that Muhammad PBUH is the Messenger of Allah who is rightly guiding all towards the fact that Allah would certainly raise the dead at the certain day of HASHR (the Day of Judgment), that is the first day of AKHIRAT, so that all persons account for all their doings at life at the world and receive what they truly deserve at that true life of AKHIRAT as all persons are in examination at this life at the world; Al-Hamdu Lillah; those persons who disbelieve in that day raise objection that this is strange that when they are dead and have become dust, they would come to life again; their attitude is to ignore anything of the true guidance that Allah presents to them through the Prophet PBUH and they incite one another to ridicule him by disrespectful words and they ignore this warning too, which tells them that they shall certainly be raised from dead, and even their forefathers; Allah answers their doubts that He knows indeed what the earth diminishes of their physique, and He has such writing that preserves all that relates to them; the fact of the matter is this that they have decided firmly to reject the Holy Book Quran as what concern they have about how it would happen; they certainly do not have any awareness to the true authority of Allah so due to such ignorance, they raise objections; the Ruku tells ahead, from the sixth AAYAT to the eleventh, that they need to observe the nearby heaven and the earth as that would provide them some insight to the total authority of Allah, the true Lord; these AAYAAT tell explicitly that Allah has adorned the nearby heaven so beautifully that it has no gaps – and Allah has made the earth plain in such manner that all find convenience in their travel to places upon it; and He has casted in it mountains so that it gets stability and He has brought forth from it all beautiful kinds of plants, flowers, trees, crops, fruits etc. which provide insight to all such persons who do observe them to come near to Allah; and this all occurs by the rain-water that falls from the nearby heaven to the earth which causes to grow thereby gardens and the grain that is reaped and the tall palm-trees, having dates set much close to each other; and this all provides sustenance to the mankind so Allah gives life by the rain-water to a dead land and thus would be the rising of the dead; Al-Hamdu Lillah; so the Quran has related the rain upon the land as an indication to raising-up of all men from the dead as the angel blows the trumpet for that by the command of Allah; AARAAF-57 relates, “and He it is Who sends forth the winds bearing good news before His mercy, until, when they bring up a laden cloud, We drive it to a dead land, then We send down water on it, then bring forth with it of fruits of all kinds; thus shall We bring forth the dead that you may be mindful”; HAJJ-5, 6 & 7 relate, “and you see the earth sterile land, but when We send down on it the water, it stirs and swells and brings forth of every kind a beautiful herbage; this is because Allah is the Truth and because He gives life to the dead and because He has power over all things; and because the hour is coming, there is no doubt about it; and because Allah shall raise up those who are in the graves”; ROUM-50 relates, “look then at the signs of Allah's mercy, how He gives life to the earth after its death; most surely He will raise the dead to life; and He has power over all things”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the next three AAYAAT tell about those peoples whom Allah destroyed due to their disbelief so that all persons that live currently take the heed and believe in the fundamental teachings of Islam; these were the people of Noah and the dwellers by the RASS (that means the well and these people lived by some notably huge well at those ancient times); and THAMUD and AAD and Pharaoh and the people of Lot-AS and the dwellers of the thicket (i.e. the people of SHOAIB-AS at Median) and the people of TUBBA; note that TUBBA was the title of kings of Yemen at ancient times and here, the AAYAT refers to one of them; as they all rejected the Messengers that Allah had sent to them so He destroyed them all; Al-Hamdu Lillah; Allah tells emphatically at the last AAYAT of the Ruku, that He has not become unable to bring the mankind again to life from dead; it reads, “were We then fatigued with the first creation? Yet are they in doubt with regard to a new creation”; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
QAAF-The Second Ruku
16. And certainly We created man, and We know what his mind suggests to him, and We are nearer to him than his life-vein.
17. When the two receivers receive, sitting on the right and on the left.
18. He utters not a word but there is by him a watcher at hand.
19. And the agonizing condition of death will come in truth; that is what you were trying to escape.
20. And the trumpet shall be blown; that is the day of the threatening.
21. And every soul shall come, with it a driver and a witness.
22. Certainly you were heedless of it, but now We have removed from you your veil, so your sight today is sharp.
23. And his companion (the witness) shall say: This is what is ready with me.
24. O you both! do cast into the hell-fire every ungrateful, rebellious one,
25. Forbidder of good, exceeder of limits, doubter,
26. Who sets up another god with Allah, so do cast him into severe chastisement.
27. His companion will say: Our Lord! I did not lead him into rebellion but he himself was in great error.
28. He will say: Do not quarrel in My presence, and indeed I gave you the threatening beforehand:
29. My word shall not be changed, nor am I in the least unjust to the servants.
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The second Ruku of Surah QAAF starts by the statement that Allah has created the man and certainly He knows totally well whatever goes inside him; He is nearer to him than his life-vein; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAAT-17 & 18 state that there are two angels who remain with each person, right and left, so that whatever he does and whatever he utters even, they record it down; note that these AAYAAT imply that though Allah is well aware of doings of all yet He has appointed two angels to each person to record all his actions and all his words at his life at the world so that they provide that record at the Day of Judgment according to His command to them; they both complement each other for the making of this record and certainly, Allah knows how to take-on matters in the best of manners; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-19 tells that it would happen sooner or later that the condition of death would come to all persons, though any of them may try his best to avoid it and AAYAAT ahead tell that after the end of the world then, the trumpet shall be blown for the second time to bring all persons from dead to life again; on that specific day, every person would come at the grounds of HASHR with those two angels who used to be with him at the world, one would drive him to the grounds whereas the other would assume to become witness of his wrong doings, with the record of all his life at the world; Allah would address the disbeliever that he was heedless of it, but now He has brought it in front of him so he does see most clearly that it certainly is happening; the witness to his wrong-doings would present his record that he would have in his possession and Allah would command both of these angels, the driver and the witness, to cast him into the hell-fire as he was most ungrateful to Allah and most arrogant as he denied the Day of Judgment; he used to forbid others too from doing good deeds misguiding them to remain oblivious to the coming of that day and he used to take another god with Allah that is extreme disrespect to Him; so he certainly deserves to get the most extreme chastisement at the Day of Judgment; note that Allah commands evidently both angels, the driver and the witness, to cast the arrogant disbeliever into the hell-fire as according to the Arabic grammar, the command here is to both of them; AAYAAT from 23 to 26 read, “and his companion (the witness) shall say- this is what is ready with me; O you both! do cast into the hell-fire every ungrateful, rebellious one, forbidder of good, exceeder of limits, doubter, who sets up another god with Allah, so do cast him into severe chastisement”; AAYAT-27 tells that one of those angels who had accompanied him at the world (most probably the angel who had driven him to the grounds of HASHR) would say, “Our Lord! I did not lead him into rebellion but he himself was in great error”; this statement he would present to show that he and his companion were only committed to their task of recording the doings of the person they were assigned to, strictly in accordance with the command of Allah; so then, He would address the disbelievers that now, they have nothing to offer in their defense and whatever severe punishment that they have received at the Judgment, they certainly are most liable to get that punishment; AAYAAT-28 & 29 tell, “He will say- do not quarrel in My presence, and indeed I gave you the threatening beforehand; My word shall not be changed, nor am I in the least unjust to the servants”; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
QAAF-The Last Ruku
30. On the day that We will say to the hell-fire: Are you filled up? And it will say: Are there any more?
31. And the garden shall be brought near to those who guard (against evil), not far off:
32. This is what you were promised, (it is) for everyone who turns frequently (to Allah), keeps (His limits);
33. Who fears the Beneficent Allah in secret and comes with a penitent heart:
34. Enter it in peace, that is the day of abiding forever.
35. They have therein what they wish and with Us is more yet.
36. And how many a generation did We destroy before them who were mightier in prowess than they, so they went about and about in the lands. Is there a place of refuge?
37. Most surely there is a reminder in this for him who has a heart or he gives ear and is a witness.
38. And certainly We created the heavens and the earth and what is between them in six periods and there touched Us not any fatigue.
39. Therefore, be patient of what they say, and sing the praise of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before the setting.
40. And glorify Him in the night and after these prayers.
41. And listen about the day when the crier shall cry from a near place
42. The day when they shall hear the cry for certain; that is the day of coming forth.
43. Surely We give life and cause to die, and to Us is the eventual coming;
44. The day on which the earth shall cleave asunder under them, they will make haste; that is a gathering together easy to Us.
45. We know best what they say, and you are not one to compel them; therefore, remind him by means of the Quran who fears My threat.
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The last Ruku of QAAF starts by the info that the hell-fire would be highly keen to receive all extreme wrong-doers inside it as Allah has set it in such manner that it wholly is the place to provide the most extreme punishment for all such wrong-doers, and it feels most satiated by it, so they would be thrown inside it at AKHIRAT most disrespectfully; as for the righteous persons, who remained most attentive to Allah at the world and cared to fulfill His commands in their practice without persisting on anything wrong as they always asked Him for His mercy upon it, He would direct them to JANNAH, the most beautiful garden, at AKHIRAT most respectfully; then, He would ask them to enter it most respectfully to live inside it forever; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-35 tells, “they have therein what they wish (for themselves) and with Us is more yet (for them of our splendid bounties, that they have not asked even, and so the true appreciation of that they only would get when they dwell inside that beautiful place)”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAAT-36 & 37 tell that Allah destroyed many of disbelievers who were even mightier than these at Makkah who challenge the Prophet PBUH and though they used to move about much at lands yet when their punishment fell upon them, they were unable to find any refuge from it; this guides all persons who do have inclination to the virtuous manner of living at the world to see how they do need to live here by that due manner; this includes such good person who has the heart that recognizes the Truth just as it comes at front of it; and this also includes such good person who has totally good hearing (and even totally good sight) by which he gets the fundamental teachings of Islam so even then, his heart ultimately receives the true guidance that he needs to live upon; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAAT 38 to 43 tell that Allah has created all the creation in six periods and He never became tired because of it; He has set it in such manner that there is change in timings and the true Muslims have to see that they live-on by His remembrance at all times and at all places; this change is leading to that day when Allah would raise all the dead to life again and the living manner of the true Muslims needs to tell explicitly of their preparation for it; these AAYAAT read, “and certainly We created the heavens and the earth and what is between them (i.e. all the creation) in six periods and there touched Us not any fatigue; therefore, be patient of what they say (about you disrespectfully O Prophet PBUH, as they certainly have to account for it), and sing the praise of your Lord before the rising of the sun (i.e. the Salah at FAJR) and before the setting (i.e. the Salah at ZUHR & ASR, when they are read very near to each other at late afternoon); and glorify Him in the night (i.e. Salah at MAGHRIB and then at ISHA) and after these (obligatory) prayers (i.e. by Salah named as TAHAJJUD which is read much after ISHA at late night); and listen about the day when the crier shall cry from a near place (i.e. every person who rises from dead would feel that he is being called from some place that is extremely near to him); the day when they shall hear the cry for certain; that is the day of coming forth”; note that this Ruku has named this day as the “the day of abiding forever” too at AAYAT-34; note also that TAHAJJUD was obligatory for the Prophet PBUH but it is not necessary to other of Muslims though if they read it, then it most certainly is most virtuous to them too; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the last two AAYAAT of the Surah state, “the day on which the earth shall split asunder under them (so it would bring forth all of them), they will make haste; that is a gathering together easy to Us; We know best what they say, and you are not one to compel them; therefore, remind him by means of the Quran who fears My threat”; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
Here our study from Surah SHUA’RAA to Surah QAAF and “Tafsiri-Guide to the Quran” (Third Part) ends which I, MSD, had kept to the last; so by its end, “Tafsiri-Guide to the Quran” comes to end by the blessing of Allah, the true Lord; Al-Hamdu Lillah; may Allah provide His mercy and His blessing to me on this effort to get His pleasure and to all those who study it attentively to get true benefits from it; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
Wednesday – 10:20 AM
Ramadhan 25, 1443
April 27, 2022
http://www.m-saleemdada.com/
Surah ZUKHRUF
(Consists of 7 Ruku; MK-8)
ZUKHRUF-The First Ruku
1. HA-MIM
2. I swear by the Book that makes things clear:
3. Surely We have made it an Arabic Quran that you may understand.
4. And surely it is in the original of the Book with Us, truly elevated, full of wisdom.
5. What! shall We then turn away the reminder from you altogether because you are an extravagant people?
6. And how many a prophet have We sent among the ancients.
7. And there came not to them a Prophet but they mocked at him.
8. Then We destroyed those who were stronger than these in prowess, and the case of the ancients has gone before,
9. And if you should ask them Who created the heavens and the earth? they would most certainly say: The Mighty, the Knowing One, has created them;
10. He Who made the earth a resting-place for you, and made in it ways for you that you may go aright;
11. And He Who sends down water from the heaven nearby according to a measure, then We raise to life thereby a dead country, even thus shall you be brought forth;
12. And He Who created pairs of all things, and made for you of the ships and the cattle what you ride on,
13. That you may firmly sit on their backs, then remember the favor of your Lord when you are firmly seated thereon, and say: Glory be to Him Who made this subservient to us and we were not able to do it
14. And surely to our Lord we must return.
15. And they assign to Him a part of His servants; man, to be sure, is clearly ungrateful.
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Surah ZUKHRUF starts by mentioning about the Holy Book Quran that it clarifies all matters for the virtuous guidance of the man; Al-Hamdu Lillah; Allah has descended the Quran in Arabic as its immediate addressee were the persons at Arabia and this also has significance that as the Quran is the final message of Allah (basically the same that had come to the world before it) to all of the mankind, so it was sent in the best of languages (i.e. Arabic) to the best among the mankind (i.e. Muhammad PBUH) through the best of angels (i.e. JIBRAEL) at the best of lands (i.e. Arabia); and it surely changed all those that were at Arabia into the best of nations when they kept to its good teachings; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the word KITAB means the book and at places in the Quran, it means the Quran itself (and that includes this place too); at places, it means Torah even, and even the LAUHE-MAHFUZ i.e. the book of Allah that has all things written in it (and it also is related to predestination); LAUHE-MAHFUZ also records the Holy Book Quran inside it (and it presents at UMMUL-KITAB too, which is the book that only Allah knows); note that whatever Allah surely destines to take place from what is written at LAUHE-MAHFUZ, it manifests at the UMMUL-KITAB; so there are changeable things too at LAUHE-MAHFUZ that go towards better in accordance to the good deeds of the good Muslim person at his life at the world but most certainly, the Holy Book Quran, the word of Allah, remains the same totally; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the word KITAB also means the commands of Allah and also means at places, the Surah in which the word is placed and this tells that the context for it and for other such significant words, is most important in getting the respective meanings of these words whereas the text of the Holy Book Quran also has utmost importance; note that Allah chose the best of times that is the significant night of Ramadhan when He began to provide the Holy Book Quran to the best of records that is LAUHE-MAHFUZ; Allah provided the Quran to Muhammad PBUH for nearly 23 lunar years and LAUHE-MAHFUZ saved that text of the Quran that descended to him and so as its text completed, it was saved there in total and most certainly, Allah knows better; Al-Hamdu Lillah; it is named as AD-DHIKR (the Reminder) here that is one of its significant names, and this tells us that everyone has the sense of recognition for the Truth (named FITHRAT) due to the covenant taken from each and every person before the life at the world, in the world of Spirits and that sense is addressed by the Holy Book Quran when it presents the fundamental teachings of Islam so in this meaning, it actually is the Reminder to that covenant; Surah AARAAF-172 reads, “and when your Lord brought forth from the children of Adam, from their backs, their descendants, and made them bear witness against their own souls -am I not your Lord?; -they said -yes -we bear witness; lest you should say on the day of resurrection that surely we were heedless of this”; so this is the covenant that Allah has taken from each and every person before his/her life at the world and he/she needs the highest of attention to it; Al-Hamdu Lillah; as Muhammad PBUH was the last of Messengers of Allah so His message exists written with us all in the form of the Holy Book Quran now and He has taken the responsibility for its protection upon Himself so that His Word (that He gave to Adam-AS) is not violated that He would keep the Truth always clear for all to accept or to reject, so no injustice takes place when He judges all persons at the time of HASHR; see AAYAT-9 of Surah HIJR which tells that Allah would totally safeguard the message that He has provided to Muhammad PBUH (i.e. the Holy Book Quran), so everything that was related to the protection of its text and its meaning, Allah gave ample protection to it; Al-Hamdu Lillah; see also Surah BAQARAH-38, 39; the Quran is such gift from Allah to the mankind which He has descended in clear Arabic so that all persons know the right path most explicitly and it provides the good news of the true success for all righteous persons who live by the command of Allah, the true Lord, and it warns those in clear terms who live their lives with disbelief in Him and disregard His commands; and Allah has made it blessing for TABLIGH (spreading of the Islamic teachings) too; so Allah tells in most clear terms at the fifth AAYAT here, “what! shall We then turn away the reminder from you altogether because you are an extravagant people?”; He has fulfilled His word and certainly, He would; Al-Hamdu Lillah; He sent many of His Prophets to all peoples of the world before Muhammad PBUH but when those peoples mocked the Prophet whom Allah had sent to them, Allah destroyed them ultimately, and whatever power they had, was useless against the destruction Allah sent upon them; now, the Quran only is the standard by which Allah provides safety to the mankind; it is mentioned in one of authentic Ahadith, “verily, Allah raises the status of people by this book (as they believe in it), and by it he humbles others (as they disbelieve)”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; after the mention of RISALAT (i.e. Allah had sent His Messengers to the world to provide the Guidance to the right path), AAYAAT mention that even the disbelievers accept that Allah, Who is the Mighty and the Knowing, only has created the heavens and the earth and so this does ask them to believe that Allah only has the true authority and they need to show their total obedience to Him for certain; the erroneous living manner of the disbelievers, when they adhere to it for some period of time collectively, causes alienation to this fact that they shall obey too, the One Who has created them, besides accepting Him as the Creator of all; the disbelievers at all periods & places, had rejected Allah as their RABB and had refused to take His guidance for the true belief and had denied to take the principles He has provided for the virtuous deeds of life; the true Muslims believe that He not only is the Creator of all the creation Who never loses His attributes, but He also is the only true Lord of all the creation Whom the jinn and the mankind have to obey totally by their freewill in all aspects of life; note that other of disbelief is where someone does believe that Allah is RABB, the true Lord, yet has the notion that his disobedience to Allah would not cause any harm to him, as that is of no consequence or as the recommendation at the court of Allah of some good person for him (or his sacrifice for him) would save him from his wrong-doings at the Day of Judgment; this also leads to the result that the disbeliever ignores that he has to fulfill the commands of Allah at all issues of life and so practically he does not believe that Allah, the only Creator of all creation, is RABB, the true Lord, of all creation too; the true Muslims believe that every person has to face his/her deeds alone at AKHIRAT and for that every person must care to obey Allah in all his deeds to get His pleasure there as that only is the true success; the true Muslims are totally attentive to Allah, Who only is the Creator of all the creation and He always has all His attributes and He only is the true Lord; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-10 tells that He has made earth in such manner that it totally accommodates life of the mankind where he may travel to different places too, with landmarks that guide to the destination; the next AAYAT reads, “and He, Who sends down water from the heaven nearby according to a measure, then We raise to life thereby a dead country, even thus shall you be brought forth (at the Day of Judgment)”; note that the difference of pronouns at places, as is seen here too, is the manner of expression in the Quran that is named as ILTIFAAT and even when the Quran applies it, the meanings to the AAYAAT still remain most obvious at such places and the reciter of the Quran does get acquainted with this manner with pleasure without any problem; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the last four AAYAAT of the Ruku mention how Allah cares about the convenience of the mankind by ships and cattle that He has created, so that they reach their destination with minimum of necessary efforts only, and what ingratitude that the disbelievers show to Him; these AAYAAT read, “and He Who created pairs of all things, and made for you of the ships and the cattle what you ride on, that you may firmly sit on their backs, then remember the favor of your Lord when you are firmly seated thereon, and say- glory be to Him Who made this subservient to us and we were not able to do it; and surely to our Lord we must return; and they (the disbelievers) assign to Him a part of His servants (as His offspring); (so such) man, to be sure, is clearly ungrateful”; note about the words that are at AAYAAT here which are “glory be to Him Who made this subservient to us and we were not able to do it and surely to our Lord we must return”, that this is termed as DUA for Muslims to read in Arabic at the beginning of any travel, for their safety in all manners; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the next Ruku elaborates that the disbelievers refused to leave their disbelief even when the Prophet of Allah who was sent to them, guided them explicitly to the Truth; so He destroyed them totally and certainly He only has the true authority, Al-Hamdu Lillah.
ZUKHRUF-The Second Ruku
16. What! has He taken daughters to Himself of what He Himself creates and chosen you to have sons?
17. And when one of them is given news of that of which he sets up as likeness for the Beneficent Allah, his face becomes black and he is full of rage inside.
18. What! that which is brought-up in trinkets and which in contention is unable to make plain speech!
19. And they make the angels-- those who are the servants of the Beneficent Allah-- females. What! did they witness their creation? Their evidence shall be written down and they shall be questioned.
20. And they say: If the Beneficent Allah had pleased, we should never have worshipped them. They have no knowledge of this; they only lie.
21. Or have We given them a book before it so that they hold fast to it?
22. Nay! they say: We found our fathers on a course, and surely we are guided by their footsteps.
23. And thus, We did not send before you any warner in a town, but (it happened that when they came to them) those who led easy lives in it said: Surely we found our fathers on a course, and surely we are followers of their footsteps.
24. (The warner) said: What! even if I bring to you a better guide than that on which you found your fathers? They said: Surely we are disbelievers in that with which you are sent.
25. So We inflicted retribution on them, then see how was the end of the rejecters.
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The disbelievers at Makkah had this absurd notion that angels are daughters of Allah; the initial AAYAAT of the Ruku address this absurdity which state, “what! has He taken daughters to Himself of what He Himself creates (i.e. angels) and chosen you to have sons?; and when one of them is given news of that (i.e. daughters) of which he sets up as likeness for the Beneficent Allah (as he takes angels as like Him when he calls them His daughters), his face becomes black (with grief) and he is full of rage inside (this happened because they highly preferred sons whereas daughters were not welcome in their set-up and whoever got the info that his wife has given birth to daughter, he was completely distressed); what! that which is brought-up in trinkets and which in contention is unable to make plain speech; and they make the angels—those who are the servants of the Beneficent Allah-- females; what! did they witness their creation? their evidence (i.e. the absurd words that they say about angels) shall be written down and they shall be questioned”; AAYAT-18 has significance which notes the female person as “brought-up in trinkets” and “unable to make plain speech at disputes”; this was the manner by which the girls were brought-up then, where they did not develop much power of speech, yet this also tells that girls are completely allowed to wear ornaments especially of gold & silver, and completely disallowed to take up boldness in their attitudes; they certainly need to care most highly about HEJAB and this also includes highest of reservation in attitude at times; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-20 states, “and they say- if the Beneficent Allah had pleased, we should never have worshipped them; they have no knowledge of this; they only lie”; NAHL-35 reads, “and they who give associates (to Allah) say- if Allah had pleased, we would not have served anything besides Allah, (neither) we nor our fathers, nor would we have prohibited anything without (order from) Him; thus did those before them; is then aught incumbent upon the apostles except a plain delivery (of the message)?”; so when they had no answer to their wrong doings, they blamed the destiny upon it; Surah YA-SEEN-47 also denotes their foolish response when they are directed to spend in the way of Allah, “and when it is said to them- spend out of what Allah has given you, those who disbelieve say to those who believe- shall we feed him whom, if Allah please, He could feed?- you are in naught but clear error”; this tells how unaware the disbelievers are of the fact that Allah has given them life at the world only to examine them with freewill whether they live on the right path or not; due to this, He has given different positions to all persons here among the mankind as He wills and certainly, He knows how to examine them; so Allah says to their foolish excuse that they have no knowledge of what they are saying and it undoubtedly is futile; Al-Hamdu Lillah; Allah asks at AAYAT-21 if there exists some book that He has given them which has told them to take their disbelief; but that is not the case for certain, so what basis they have for their disbelief; AAYAT-22 tells that their argument is that they have found their forefathers at the disbelief they have; this is the argument that disbelievers had presented often even before these disbelievers, that they have found their forefathers at disbelief and they are following their footsteps; so they took their forefathers as the standard to follow while those used to live most far away from the Truth; due to this erroneous notion, the Prophet whom Allah had sent to them, asked them how is their response when he is providing them the true guidance that is to the right path from Allah, the true Lord; but they said to him plainly that they would remain disbelievers in the message which he is providing to them; the last AAYAT of the Ruku clearly states the outcome of their disbelief, “so We inflicted retribution on them, then see how was the end of the rejecters”; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
ZUKHRUF-The Third Ruku
26. And when Ibrahim said to his father and his people: Surely I am clear of what you worship,
27. Save Him Who created me, for surely He will guide me.
28. And He made it word to continue in his posterity that they may return (to the Truth).
29. Nay! I gave them and their fathers to enjoy until there came to them the Truth and an Apostle making manifest (the Truth).
30. And when there came to them the Truth they said: This is magic, and surely we are disbelievers in it.
31. And they say: Why was not this Quran revealed to a man of importance in the two of towns?
32. Will they distribute the mercy of your Lord? We distribute among them their livelihood in the life of this world, and We have exalted some of them above others in degrees, that some of them may take others in subjection; and the mercy of your Lord is better than what they amass.
33. And were it not that all people had been a single nation, We would certainly have assigned to those who disbelieve in the Beneficent Allah, (to make) of silver the roofs of their houses and the stairs by which they ascend.
34. And the doors of their houses and the couches on which they recline,
35. And ornaments of gold; and all this is naught but provision of this world's life, and AKHIRAT is with your Lord only for those who guard (against evil).
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This Ruku answers the extreme mistake of the disbelievers that they took their forefathers who were totally far away from the Truth as the standard to follow; and that they thought that whoever calls to spiritual purity, he surely would have prominence in wealth among the people in whom he calls to it; the first AAYAT of the Ruku presents Ibrahim-AS that if some person needs to follow his forefathers, then he must follow Ibrahim-AS who had challenged his father and his people with the remark that he would certainly not follow them; he told them that he would only take the word of Allah, the true Lord, Who has created him, for his guidance; he guided their attention to the fact that they make idols by themselves and then they worship them in the name of following of their ancestors whereas Allah is He Who has created the mankind and He is the true Lord for all times at all places; so if their ancestors were doing extreme wrongs, they should refrain from such wrongs and they should rather challenge their doings; they should only take the right path of acceptance of the fundamental teachings of Islam; Allah secured the good mention of the good belief of Ibrahim-AS at the times ahead after him and so those who intend to follow their forefathers, they should follow him; see also the note at the fifth Ruku of Surah SHUA’RAA; Al-Hamdu Lillah; at AAYAAT-29 and 30, Allah says that He had given these disbelievers at Makkah and even their forefathers high convenience to live their lives but when the Truth came to them through the Prophet PBUH, with total clarity, they rejected it; they called it some type of magic and further said that they would never believe it; they ask why this Quran was not revealed to some man of importance i.e. some chief who had prominence in wealth and had influence over number of men, in the two of towns, Makkah & TA’EF, as they were most notable for their economic stability; but this is a foolish remark as the status of some over some at the world is because the peoples of the world take benefits from works of each other and it is because Allah examines all men whether they do get His pleasure or prove totally unworthy to it; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; for spiritual guidance, the manifest prominence by wealth and status at the world has no significance so Allah has selected His last Messenger because he has the most beautiful character and he certainly is the most appropriate person for this liability; this is the mercy of Allah that He has shown to the mankind that He has provided them the Guidance to the right path and He has selected Muhammad PBUH, His last Messenger, exclusively to present it to all peoples of the world; to accept the teachings that Allah has provided to the mankind through him, is surely much better than what they amass from the assets of the world; the person with abundance of these things, does not gain appreciation by these things at the court of Allah, but it is the care to morals with righteous belief and adherence to virtues in deeds that does count there; the glamor of high possessions of the world is so very insignificant in view of Allah that if it had not caused all people to display ingratitude to Allah, which would have led them all to become failures at AKHIRAT, He would have made all persons extremely wealthy; the Beneficent Allah would have made the roofs of their houses and the stairs therein which are in their usage, of silver; and also the doors therein and the couches therein on which they recline, of silver; and also have provided them ornaments of gold; AAYAT tells that “all this is naught but provision of this world's life, and AKHIRAT is with your Lord only for those who guard (against evil)”; so AKHIRAT only has significance and not life at the world; certainly Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
ZUKHRUF-The Fourth Ruku
36. And whoever turns himself away from the remembrance of the Beneficent Allah, We appoint for him a Satan, so he becomes his associate.
37. And most surely they turn them away from the path, and they think that they are guided aright:
38. Until when he comes to Us, he says: O would that between me and you there were the distance of the East and the West; so evil is the associate!
39. And since you were unjust, it will not profit you this day that you are sharers in the chastisement.
40. What! can you then make the deaf to hear or guide the blind and him who is in clear error?
41. But if We should take you away, still We shall inflict retribution on them;
42. Rather We will certainly show you that which We have promised them; for surely We are the possessors of full power over them.
43. Therefore, hold fast to that which has been revealed to you; surely you are on the right path.
44. And most surely it is reminder for you and your people, and you shall soon be questioned.
45. And ask those of Our apostles whom We sent before you: Did We ever appoint gods to be worshipped besides the Beneficent Allah?
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The Ruku has the name of Allah “AR-RAHMAN” (Beneficent) at its first AAYAT and at its last; AR-RAHMAN means that He cares for all His creation most mercifully at the worldly life that include the believers among the Man and the Jinn and even the disbelievers among them all, whereas AR-RAHIM, that also is the name of Allah, means that He cares for the true believers in life at the world most mercifully and would care exclusively for them at AKHIRAT most mercifully as they do believe Him as the only Creator of all the creation, Who always has all His authority, and also that He is the only RABB (the true Lord) of all the creation; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the Ruku tells how the disbelievers live-on at the world with illusion that they are rightly guided though SHAYATIN (which is plural of Satan) misguide them away from the right path until when such a disbelieving person would come to Allah, he would curse the Satan, that had been with him, expressing the desire that only if there had been a distance between him and that Satan at the world as of the East and the West; they would be told in clear terms at the day of HASHR that their blaming of their wrongs upon SHAYATIN would not do them any good as they took the misguidance that their respective Satan gave to them and they surely had lived most unjustly at the world due to their disbelief in the Truth; so it will not profit them this day and they all, they and their SHAYATIN, would surely be given their chastisement; they all surely would be put into the hell-fire; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAAT ahead till the last of the Ruku, console the Prophet PBUH that he has to provide all persons the message of Allah and he is not liable to see that they do accept it; if some person has become deaf & blind to calling towards the true guidance and thus has put his own self into extreme error, it is not because of any fault of the Prophet PBUH; AAYAT tells that Allah would take His revenge from them either after He gives death to the Prophet PBUH or even at his life, as He wills; the text here may be taken to express that Allah would take His revenge from them either after He takes him away from Makkah or even at Makkah; certainly, He has all authority to punish them in any manner at any time due to their denial to the message of the Quran that the Prophet PBUH had provided them explicitly; AAYAAT ahead tell the Prophet PBUH to hold fast to the Quran and provide its message to all, as that certainly, he has to do; he would be asked about this liability which certainly he has fulfilled because he surely is on the right path, and all persons would be asked about how they took it; the Quran is the reminder to the word every person has provided to Allah at the world of spirits, to remain on the right path and the Prophet PBUH certainly has no doubts that Allah only has the true authority; He asks all persons to worship Him only and obey Him only; the last AAYAT of the Ruku reads, ”and ask those of Our apostles whom We sent before you- did We ever appoint gods to be worshipped besides the Beneficent Allah (that has never happened as Allah had commanded all of them to provide the fundamental teachings of Islam which the Prophet PBUH is also teaching by the Quran to all peoples of the world)?”; this means to see their teachings that are present authentically in which, there is nothing averse for sure, against the fundamental teachings of Islam; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
ZUKHRUF-The Fifth Ruku
46. And certainly We sent Musa with Our AAYAAT to Pharaoh and his chiefs, so he said: Surely I am the apostle of the Lord of the worlds.
47. But when he came to them with Our signs, lo! they laughed at them.
48. And We did not show them a sign but it was greater than its fellow, and We overtook them with chastisement that they may turn.
49. And they said: O magician! call on your Lord for our sake, as He has made the covenant with you; we shall surely be the followers of the right path.
50. But when We removed from them the chastisement, lo! they broke the pledge.
51. And Pharaoh proclaimed amongst his people: O my people! is not the kingdom of Egypt mine? And these rivers flow beneath me; do you not then see?
52. Nay! I am better than this fellow, who is contemptible, and who can hardly speak distinctly:
53. But why have not bracelets of gold been put upon him, or why have there not come with him angels as companions?
54. So he incited his people to levity and they obeyed him: surely they were a transgressing people.
55. Then when they displeased Us, We inflicted a retribution on them, so We drowned them all together,
56. And We made them a precedent and example to the later generations.
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This Ruku narrates about Moses-AS when he came to Pharaoh and his chiefs and told them to release Bani-Israel from captivity; he told them that he was one of the Messengers of Allah and presented to them such signs that Allah had provided to him; note that these signs were nine in total that Allah showed Pharaoh and his people yet they did not accept the fundamental teachings of Islam; besides the staff of Moses that changed to the huge serpent and the shining hand, there were (iii) draughts (shortage of crops), (iv) diminution of fruits (this also means lesser returns to efforts) (v) TOOFAAN (hail-storm), (vi) locusts, (vii) lice, (viii) frogs and (ix) blood; the sixteenth Ruku of AARAAF provides this very clearly; Al-Hamdu Lillah; they only mocked the signs that Allah showed them through Moses-AS though each one was most amazing; at each of troubles, they asked Moses-AS to remove it with commitment that they would follow the right path though they still called him a magician which clearly expressed that they were not sincere; so as soon as Allah removed their troubles, they broke their pledge, without any remorse; the next six AAYAAT of the Ruku tell how Pharaoh misguided his people and what was the outcome of that; he lured them by his manifest wealth and power at that time and place, by saying that he rules Egypt and has the control of its lands and rivers and said about Moses that he is contemptible because he does not have wealth and status; Pharaoh even mentioned that Moses is unable to express his teachings clearly in speech, but that certainly was the fault of Pharaoh himself and not of Moses-AS; we all have studied at the second Ruku of Surah SHUA’RAA that Pharaoh asked about Allah, the true Lord, when Moses-AS provided him the fundamental teachings of Islam at his court, and could not understand His true authority; Pharaoh stressed his point by saying that Moses does not have bracelets of gold that may cause him to become wealthy and angels are not accompanying him that may show that he has prominent status among the people; these words show the thinking pattern of disbelievers that they take prominence in wealth and status at the world as an indicator for someone to influence the environment; Satan had made this mistake when he took his manifest strength as the indicator of his supremacy over the man and mistake of this kind is certainly a huge mistake; note that the third Ruku of this Surah ZUKHRUF has told about the doubts of the disbelievers at Makkah where AAYAT-31 has quoted, “and they say- why was not this Quran revealed to a man of importance in the two of towns?”; they meant that the spiritual guide has to be such person who has prominence in wealth and has influence over number of men in Makkah & TA’EF, as they were most notable for their economic stability then; the third Ruku answers them that this is a foolish remark as the status of some over some at the world is because the peoples of the world take benefits from works of each other and it is because Allah examines all men whether they do get His pleasure or prove totally unworthy to it; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; for spiritual guidance, the manifest prominence by wealth and status at the world has no significance at the court of Allah except when the persons having them, put them to use to get His pleasure but the abundance of these things in themselves, does not gain appreciation there; it is the care to morals with righteous belief and adherence to virtues in deeds that does count there; the glamor of high possessions of the world is so very insignificant in view of Allah, and also the status such wealthy persons get among people, that if it had not caused all people to display ingratitude to Allah, which would have led them all to become failures at AKHIRAT, He would have made all persons extremely wealthy; Pharaoh did succeed in getting his people to his side by his inciting them and they did follow his erroneous advice; this was because their living manner, where the wealth and the status at the world counted for respect, had made their psyche to accept such misguidance; the outcome to the denial of the true guidance was that Allah drowned Pharaoh and all those who were chasing Moses-AS and Bani-Israel; He made this narration as an example that whosoever persists on wrongs even when he does get the true guidance, then He would destroy such persons, and their wealth and status at the world would prove useless for their defense; certainly Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
ZUKHRUF-The Sixth Ruku
57. And when a description of the son of Mariam is given, lo! your people raise a clamor thereat.
58. And they say: Are our gods better, or is he? They do not set it forth to you save by way of disputation; nay, they are a contentious people.
59. He was naught but a servant on whom We bestowed favor, and We made him an example for the children of Israel.
60. And if We please, We could make among you angels to be successors in the land.
61. And most surely he is knowledge of the hour, therefore have no doubt about it and follow me: this is the right path.
62. And let not the Satan prevent you; surely he is your open enemy.
63. And when Isa came with clear arguments he said: I have come to you indeed with wisdom, and that I may make clear to you part of what you differ in; so be careful of (your duty to) Allah and obey me:
64. Surely Allah is my Lord and your Lord, therefore serve Him; this is the right path:
65. But parties from among them differed, so woe to those who were unjust because of the chastisement of a painful day.
66. Do they wait for aught but the hour, that it should come! upon them all of a sudden while they do not perceive?
67. The friends shall on that day be enemies one to another, except those who guard (against evil).
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Surah ZUKHRUF answers the disbelievers that wealth and status at the world is insignificant as the man has come for examination here and he only has that in all things; note that the disbelievers made this an issue that why they should be blamed on taking angels as daughters of Allah whereas there are persons who believe Jesus to be His son; AAYAT-45 of this very Surah ZUKHRUF has told explicitly, “and (O Prophet PBUH) ask those of Our apostles whom We sent before you- did We ever appoint gods to be worshipped besides the Beneficent Allah (that has never happened as Allah had commanded all of them to provide the fundamental teachings of Islam which the Prophet PBUH is also teaching by the Quran to all peoples of the world)?”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; so this Ruku starts by mentioning Jesus-AS, to answer the foolish objection of the disbelievers with the comment that they should not raise clamor about him by false accusation; the fact of the matter is that he is not responsible for what those who claim to be his followers, have done after him; AAYAT-59 mentions, “he was naught but a servant on whom We bestowed favor, and We made him an example for the children of Israel”; they should understand that if Allah did not intend examination for the man, He would have made all of mankind as angels to live upon earth; but there is examination of the man even in Jesus Christ, the great man and the respectable Messenger of Allah, who most surely, is knowledge of the hour; they should have no doubts about him and follow the Prophet PBUH with total sincerity as this certainly is the right path and they should take care that the Satan, who is open enemy to mankind, does not prevent them to come to this right path; note that the phrase “knowledge of the hour” refers to the fact that his birth, his life that he spent at the world and his departure from the world, all are miraculous and like all other of the Messengers of Allah, he also provided by his TABLIGH knowledge of the hour that the Day of Judgment would surely take place; note also that it is an indication to happenings near to the end of the world too that might trigger his good memories at that time so it is better to see how events shape out with tolerance to each other because this time at which we are living, is most certainly very near to the end of the world and highly crucial for the Muslims; Al-Hamdu Lillah; further, note about this AAYAT i.e. AAYAT-61 that it has been taken at commentaries as an indication to the coming of Jesus Christ for the second time at the world near to its end; however, this interpretation is clearly inappropriate as he has departed from the world to the life beyond and would not come back to the world again; certainly, every person would be raised from dead at the Day of Judgment; however, there sure is an indication in Ahadith that he would come back near to the last day of the world and I, MSD, have commented upon this issue at the supplementary note after the note at the last Ruku of Surah MA’EDAH; that Ruku tells at AAYAT-116 & 117 about the question that Allah would ask Jesus Christ at the Day of Judgment and his answer to that question there; they state, “and when Allah will say- O Isa, son of Mariam, did you say to men- take me and my mother for two gods besides Allah, he will say- glory be to You, it did not befit me that I should say what I had no right to (say); if I had said it, You would indeed have known it; You know what is in my heart but certainly I do not know what is in Your Knowledge, surely You are the great Knower of the unseen things; I did not say to them aught save what You did enjoin me with- that serve Allah, my Lord and your Lord, and I was witness over them till the time I dwelt among them but when You took me up, You were the Watcher over them as You certainly do witness everything”; this tells most clearly that he is not going to return to the world for the second time, Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAAT-63 & 64 here at this Ruku, also present the statement of Jesus Christ to the Bani-Israel; these AAYAAT read, “and when Isa came with clear arguments he said- I have come to you indeed with wisdom (i.e. INJIL), and that I may make clear to you part of what you differ in; so be careful of (your duty to) Allah and obey me; surely, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, therefore serve Him; this is the right path”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; note that INJIL does not mean the four initial books of the New Testament though when ULAMA refer to it as the book that descended upon Jesus-AS, they loosely do mean those four gospels; it is notable that the Quran does not mention INJIL as some written work but it actually comprises of the sermons of Jesus Christ that he gave according to the guidance that Allah provided to him and as such, it is HIKMAT (wisdom); so whereas Torah is much related to ADL (the law), INJIL is much related to EHSAAN (the guidance that inclines towards the natural good tendencies of the man); we still find the matter of these sermons at different places at inside of the four initial books of the New Testament though they have been tampered with at times in the ancient period and so we Muslims take from them only what the Holy Book Quran confirms; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-65 points out that the persons whom Jesus Christ had addressed, divided into parties and it tells further that all those who were unjust among them would face the severe chastisement of the Day of Judgment; they are not accepting the Truth and it seems that they are waiting for the hour (here it means the Day of HASHR) which would get them unawares; the last AAYAT tells about that day that “the friends shall on that day be enemies one to another, except those who guard (against evil)”; so all the righteous persons would retain their good friendship even there but the disbelievers shall turn enemies to each other; see also Surah ABAS-33 to last; certainly, the true success is only at AKHIRAT, which is the true life ahead; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
ZUKHRUF-The Last Ruku
68. O My servants! there is no fear for you this day, nor shall you grieve.
69. Those who believed in Our AAYAAT and were submissive:
70. Enter the garden, you and your wives; you shall be made happy.
71. There shall be sent round to them golden bowls and drinking-cups and therein shall be what their souls yearn after and (wherein) the eyes shall delight, and you shall abide therein.
72. And this is the garden which you are given as an inheritance on account of what you did.
73. For you therein are many fruits of which you shall eat.
74. Surely the guilty shall abide in the chastisement of the hell-fire.
75. It shall not be abated from them and they shall therein be despairing.
76. And We are not unjust to them, but they themselves were unjust.
77. And they shall call out: O Malik! let your Lord make an end of us. He shall say: Surely you shall tarry.
78. Certainly We have brought you the Truth, but most of you are averse to the Truth.
79. Or have they settled an affair? Then surely We are the settlers.
80. Or do they think that We do not hear what they conceal and their secret discourses? Aye! and Our apostles with them write down.
81. Say: If the Beneficent Allah has a son, I am the foremost of those who serve.
82. Glory to the Lord of the heavens and the earth, the Lord of power, from what they ascribe (unto Him).
83. So leave them plunging into false discourses and sporting until they meet their day which they are threatened with.
84. And He it is Who is Allah in the heavens and in the earth; and He is the Wise, the Knowing.
85. And blessed is He Whose is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and what is between them, and with Him is the knowledge of the hour, and to Him shall you be brought back.
86. And those whom they call upon besides Him have no authority for intercession, except him who bears witness of the Truth knowingly.
87. And if you should ask them who created them, they would certainly say: Allah. Whence are they then turned back?
88. Consider his cry: O my Lord! surely they are a people who do not believe.
89. So turn away from them and say, Peace, for they shall soon come to know.
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Surah ZUKHRUF has stated this most explicitly that having gold & silver and all sorts of wealth at the world, does not have any worth at AKHIRAT nor the status at the world, matters there; the last Ruku starts by mentioning how pleased all righteous persons would be at AKHIRAT, where they would receive golden bowls & beautiful drinking cups and where they would get utmost respect; Al-Hamdu Lillah; they shall have no fear of the times ahead and they shall have no grief at whatever times that has passed away; AAYAT-72 & 73 tell that they would receive JANNAH as their residence forever ahead because they had lived virtuously at the right path by fulfillment of the commands of Allah and they would receive many of different fruits for them to get pleasure from; note that all those who get JANNAH would praise Allah that He gave them JANNAH by His mercy to them and Allah would tell them that their virtuous living at the world, led them to it; Surah AARAAF-43 states, “and We will remove whatever of ill-feeling is in their breasts; the rivers shall flow beneath them and they shall say- all praise is due to Allah Who guided us to this, and we would not have found the way had it not been that Allah had guided us; certainly the apostles of our Lord brought the Truth; and it shall be cried out to them that this is the garden of which you are made heirs for what you did”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAAT ahead from AAYAT-74 to 78 tell about the condition of the disbelievers at AKHIRAT that their unjust living manner shall lead them to chastisement of the hell-fire which shall not be abated from them and they shall live therein forever in disgrace; Allah is not unjust to any person but the disbelievers themselves would be responsible for this condition of theirs at AKHIRAT as they lived most unjustly at the world; they shall ask Malik, the chief-keeper of the hell, to ask Allah, the true Lord, to make an end of them to which he shall reply that there is no way that they get relief from the hell-fire; Allah did provide them the Truth, the fundamental teachings of Islam, and the virtuous manner to live by care to that, yet they lived-on remaining averse to it; note that at the time when this Surah descended, the disbelievers had decided by consultation with each other to stop the spread of the good teachings of Islam that Muhammad PBUH was providing to all, by all means that they had with them and they were practically doing it; AAYAAT 79 & 80 exposes their plan and tells them clearly that their plan would remain futile as Islam would certainly spread on; as for their wrong-doings, the angels at guard are writing them down and they would certainly have to answer for those; AAYAAT-81, 82, & 83 address the utmost wrong of disbelievers which these AAYAAT refute in clear terms as they read, “say (O Prophet PBUH)- if the Beneficent Allah has a son, I am the foremost of those who serve (but He certainly does not have any son or daughter); glory to the Lord of the heavens and the earth, the Lord of power, from what they ascribe (unto Him); so leave them plunging into false discourses and sporting until they meet their day which they are threatened with (where they would certainly see the outcome of all their wrongs)”; AAYAAT ahead tell that Allah only has created all that is in the heavens and the earth and He only has complete control over them; He is leading all of His creation according to His will as He truly is Wise and Most Knowing of all matters for certain; certainly, He only is the Creator of all creation and certainly, He only has the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them, so it is most necessary for all among the mankind (and even the jinn) to live by His commands as His disobedience would certainly lead to most severe chastisement at the Day of Judgment; the knowledge of that day is surely with Allah only and every person must remain prepared to witness that day when he/she shall be brought back to Allah, the true Lord; all must believe totally in the fundamental teachings of Islam that are TAUHID (Allah only is the Creator of all the creation and He always has all His attributes and He only is the true Lord) and AKHIRAT (Allah would judge all peoples of the world at the Day of Judgment) and RISALAT (Allah had sent His Messengers to the world to provide the Guidance to the right path); certainly, Allah only has the true authority; all must remain aware that they would face their doings alone at the grounds of HASHR and those have no authority to save them, whom they call besides Allah with such belief that they would save them from all chastisement; even “SHAFA’AT” (recommendation to Allah to forgive sinful Muslim persons there and give entrance to them into JANNAH), is limited to those specific persons only for whom Allah permits to ask for it and those whom Allah permits SHAFA’AT, would include the apostles of Allah, the most truthful persons like them among others, and SHAHEED in the way of Allah and all righteous persons, and this includes even the angels; AAYAT-86 reads for it, “and those whom they call upon besides Him have no authority for intercession, except him who bears witness of the Truth knowingly (this means angels)”; so Allah would give the permission to angels to recommend those of good persons for JANNAH to Him, who may have few of notable sins at their documents of deeds without any loss of their true belief, even though there were such wrong persons too among the disbelievers who called upon angels besides Allah; the angels did not have any part in their disbelief rather they despised it and most obviously, they would not intercede in favor of the disbelievers so what concern they have to the concept of SHAFA’AT; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-87 tells that they have this notion about Allah that He is their Creator yet they do not believe that the belief that He has created them and all of universe, asks them to obey His commands totally; AAYAT-9 at this Surah also pointed-out that even with acceptance that only Allah, Who is the Mighty and the Knowing, has created the heavens and the earth, the disbelievers do not believe in Him in this manner too that He only has the true authority and they need to show their total obedience to Him for certain; it states, “and if you should ask them Who created the heavens and the earth? they would most certainly say- the Mighty, the Knowing One, has created them”; the erroneous living manner of the disbelievers, when they adhere to it for some period of time collectively, causes alienation to this fact that they shall obey too, the One Who has created them, besides accepting Him as the Creator of all; the disbelievers at all periods & places, had rejected Allah as their RABB (the true Lord Whom they do have to obey) and had refused to take His guidance for the true belief and had denied to take the principles He has provided for the virtuous deeds of life; the true Muslims believe that He not only is the Creator of all the creation Who never loses His attributes, but He also is the only true Lord of all the creation Whom the jinn and the mankind have to obey totally by their freewill in all aspects of life; note that other of disbelief is where someone does believe that Allah is RABB, the true Lord, yet has the notion that his disobedience to Allah would not cause any harm to him, as that is of no consequence or as the recommendation at the court of Allah of some good person for him (or his sacrifice for him) or intercession of angels for him would save him from his wrong-doings at the Day of Judgment; this also leads to the result that the disbeliever ignores that he has to fulfill the commands of Allah at all issues of life and so practically he does not believe that Allah, the only Creator of all creation, is RABB, the true Lord, of all creation too; all must sincerely believe that Allah only is the Creator of all the creation and He always has all His attributes and He only is the true Lord; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-88 states that the Prophet PBUH does present his case in front of Allah that with all his efforts, the disbelievers do not believe in the fundamental teachings of Islam; in answer to this, Allah asks him to keep distance from them for the sake of peace, as he has fulfilled his task completely; they shall see very soon as they face the most severe chastisement on their wrongs, how erroneous they had been in their lives at the world; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
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Surah DUKHAN
(Consists of 3 Ruku; MK-8)
DUKHAN-The First Ruku
1. HA-MIM
2. I swear by the Book that makes manifest (the whole Truth).
3. Surely We revealed it on a blessed night surely We are ever warning--
4. Therein every wise affair is made distinct,
5. A command from Us; surely We are the senders (of Muhammad PBUH to all of mankind & jinn),
6. A mercy from your Lord, surely He is the Hearing, the Knowing,
7. The Lord of the heavens and the earth and what is between them, if you would be sure.
8. There is no god but He; He gives life and causes death, your Lord and the Lord of your fathers of yore.
9. Nay, they are in doubt, they sport.
10. Therefore, keep waiting for the day when the heaven shall bring an evident smoke,
11. That shall overtake men; this is a painful punishment.
12. Our Lord! remove from us the punishment; surely we are believers.
13. How shall they be reminded, and there came to them an Apostle making clear (the truth),
14. Yet they turned their backs on him and said: One taught (by others), a madman.
15. Surely We will remove the punishment a little, (but) you will surely return (to evil).
16. On the day when We will seize (them) with the most violent seizing; surely We will inflict retribution.
17. And certainly We tried before them the people of Pharaoh, and there came to them a noble apostle,
18. Saying: Deliver to me the servants of Allah, surely I am a faithful apostle to you,
19. And that do not exalt yourselves against Allah, surely I will bring to you a clear authority:
20. And surely I take refuge with my Lord and your Lord that you should stone me to death:
21. And if you do not believe in me, then leave me alone.
22. Then he called upon his Lord: These are guilty people.
23. So go forth with My servants by night; surely you will be pursued:
24. And leave the sea intervening; surely they are a host that shall be drowned.
25. How many of the gardens and fountains have they left!
26. And cornfields and noble places!
27. And goodly things wherein they rejoiced;
28. Thus (it was), and We gave them as heritage to another people.
29. So the heaven and the earth did not weep for them, nor were they respited.
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Surah DUKHAN also starts by mentioning the Holy Book Quran that clarifies all matters for the virtuous guidance of the man; note that Allah chose the best of times that is the significant night of Ramadhan that is named as LAYLATUL-QADR when He began to provide the Quran to the best of records that is LAUHE-MAHFUZ; that significant night is in the month of Ramadhan and it relates to predestination because Allah tells angels at that night those of His commands that they have to implement in the year ahead; He sent the Quran in stages to Muhammad PBUH (the last of His Messengers) by the most respectable angel JIBRAEL (i.e. Gabriel) as the true guidance to mankind (and to jinn) as He willed, so it is the relevant guidance according to events that took place then, and the relevant guidance in general to what the people needed to live their lives upon the Islamic teachings; Al-Hamdu Lillah; all good works need good times for them to manifest their utmost BARAKAH and so Allah chose the best of times that was that significant night of Ramadhan when He began to provide the Holy Book Quran to LAUHE-MAHFUZ; note that when some good thing brings the most good results by it then it is mentioned as having “BARAKAH” for that so when the good rain falls upon the good land, it brings its crops well upon its surface so it has “BARAKAH” for that good land; Allah provided the Quran to Muhammad PBUH for nearly 23 lunar years and LAUHE-MAHFUZ saved that text of the Quran as he got it; so with the completion of its text at the world, it was saved there too in total by text and certainly, Allah knows better; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAAT-5 to 8 state that Allah sent Muhammad PBUH to all of mankind & jinn and He had told Adam-AS that He would keep the Truth always clear for all to accept or to reject, so no injustice takes place when He judges all persons at the time of HASHR; this is mercy from Allah, the true Lord, Who has provided the Guidance to the right path to all; and He hears all that persons say and knows whatever they do; He is certainly the Hearing and the Knowing; He is truly the Lord of all His creation, and this all is the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them; the study of them would lead to see that He has provided principles to all things and this beautiful pattern does lead those who really are in the pursuit of the Truth, to believe in the true authority of Allah; He has cared for the survival of the man and that the true guidance always remains most clear to him so AAYAT-8 at the Ruku tells conclusively, “there is no god but He; He gives life and causes death, your Lord and the Lord of your fathers of yore”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-9 tells about the disbelievers that with such indications that lead to acceptance of the true authority of Allah Who asks all persons to obey Him totally, they remain in doubt and live their lives in such playful manner that shows that they are totally ignorant of the fact that they have to answer Allah, the true Lord; AAYAAT ahead ask the Prophet PBUH to wait and bear their hostility, as the day would come when the heaven shall manifest DUKHAN (smoke) all over; note that this day would be near to QAYAMAT (the last day of the world) whereas this mentioned smoke would overtake all of men and it would be most painful for certain; all persons, even the disbelievers, would ask Allah to provide relief to them with commitment that they would live strictly by His commands; AAYAT tells clearly that how shall they accept the true belief when they rejected the Prophet Muhammad PBUH when he came to them and showed them the right path totally, by the command of Allah; the disbelievers at his times had denied the message of Islam and had turned their backs on him with such remarks that he is taught these teachings by some person and he is a madman; Allah tells the disbelievers who would be at the world at the time when smoke takes over, “surely We will remove the punishment a little, (but) you will surely return (to evil)”; so Allah would remove it for little space of time but they would not keep their commitment and would return to their evil ways of living; may Allah save all good persons from that severe punishment of smoke whenever it occurs at the world; AAYAT-16 tells that though He would give space to the disbelievers at the world, yet at the Day of Judgment, Allah would punish them most severely; it reads, “on the day when We will seize (them) with the most violent seizing; surely We will inflict retribution”; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; after this, the Ruku narrates events related to Moses-AS which tell that Allah has complete authority to end all those who challenge Him; He tried Pharaoh and his people through Moses when he had come to them and had told Pharaoh that he is the Messenger of Allah and he has one of his tasks to take the Bani-Israel away from Egypt and put an end to their slavery; he also gave him the message of Islam and told him not to exalt himself against Allah; but Pharaoh did not accept this message, rather he wanted his chiefs to agree to the execution of Moses and even mentioned that if he gets that agreement then even if Moses calls Allah, it would be of no benefit to him; it seems that they had some law at that time that decrees of Pharaoh having crucial impact at the land, shall need the assent of his chiefs around; when Moses came to know of this motion, he did ask the protection of Allah as MOMEN-27 presents his DUA to Allah, the true Lord, which reads, “and Musa said- surely I take refuge with my Lord and your Lord from every proud one who does not believe in the day of reckoning”; Allah accepted his call and as the time to affirm the motion of Pharaoh ensued, He raised one of His righteous believers from among the Pharaoh’s own family members to support Moses-AS; at this Ruku, AAYAT-20, 21 & 22 tell that he said, “and surely I take refuge with my Lord and your Lord that you should stone me to death (which also was among the manners in which they gave the capital punishment); and if you do not believe in me, then leave me alone (so that I spread the virtuous teachings of Islam to all persons around); then he called upon his Lord- these are guilty people (as the people of Pharaoh did not incline to those good teachings except for some)”; Allah commanded him to take the Bani-Israel away from Egypt at night and though Pharaoh and his men would follow them yet they would not be able to get them; the sea would part to give way to Moses-AS and his people but when Pharaoh and his men come inside it, they all would drown inside it as it converges upon them; so it was the Pharaoh, who died by drowning when he was frantically chasing Moses and the Bani-Israel, with massive number of his armed men; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the last five AAYAAT of the Ruku tell that with high number of possessions and status at the world, those people could not save themselves from the severe punishment of Allah when He willed to end their power and none came to their assistance against Allah, the true Lord; these AAYAAT read, “how many of the gardens and fountains have they left; and cornfields and noble places; and goodly things wherein they rejoiced; thus (it was), and We gave them as heritage to another people (i.e. the Bani-Israel got all such things after some period of time when they got control of such land where they could live on their own); so the heaven and the earth did not weep for them, nor were they respited”; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
DUKHAN-The Second Ruku
30. And certainly We delivered the children of Israel from the abasing chastisement,
31. From Pharaoh; surely he was haughty, (and) one of the extravagant.
32. And certainly We chose them, having knowledge, above the nations.
33. And We gave them of the AAYAAT wherein was clear blessing.
34. Most surely these do say:
35. There is naught but our first death and we shall not be raised again.
36. So bring our fathers (back), if you are truthful.
37. Are they better or the people of TUBBA and those before them? We destroyed them, for surely they were guilty.
38. And We did not create the heavens and the earth and what is between them in sport.
39. We did not create them both but with the truth, but most of them do not know.
40. Surely the day of decision is their appointed term, of all of them
41. The day on which a friend shall not avail (his) friend aught, nor shall they be helped,
42. Save those on whom Allah shall have mercy; surely He is the Mighty, the Merciful.
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Allah tells at the first four AAYAAT of the Ruku that He not only delivered the Bani-Israel from the abasing chastisement of Pharaoh but He also chose them above nations with liability to them that they remain to His message, though He knew their flaws, and that they provide it to peoples around; He cared for them in many ways through Moses-AS when He provided them their sustenance even at the desert where they stayed for quite a period of time; before them, Allah had sent His Messengers to nations yet they had not accepted His message so at the times of Moses, He chose them as nation for His task; however, when the Bani-Israel failed to remain to it as they took some of commands from Torah in practice and ignored others that they found hard for them to practice and showed extreme disrespect to the Prophets of Allah who came in them, Allah punished them severely through other of nations and then, at the times of Muhammad PBUH, the last Messenger of Allah, He removed them totally from their revered status; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; from AAYAT-34 to the last, the Ruku tells the statement of the disbelievers at Makkah and the answer that Allah gives to them; they had said that this life that they have, is final so their first death closes it completely with no life ahead; they had argued that if there is life ahead, then the Muslims should bring their dead forefathers to them so that they see that the life stays on; Allah asks them if they take themselves better in strength than the people of TUBBA and those who were before them; note that TUBBA was the title of kings of Yemen at ancient times and here, the AAYAT refers to one of them; Allah destroyed all such people totally when they challenged Him and He would certainly punish them too most severely if they disrespect Muhammad PBUH whom He has appointed as His Messenger in them, to give them His message clearly; He has created the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them with principles that they follow; He examines the mankind (and even the jinn) by this set-up and they would account for all their doings at the particular day of Judgment, when Allah would decide the destination of all persons ever born at the world; Surah MULK says at its beginning, “Blessed is He in Whose hand is the kingdom, and He has power over all things; Who created death and life that He may try you- which of you is best in deeds; and He is the Mighty, the Forgiving”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; at that day, the disbelievers would see their forefathers but there, their relations would end and even close friends at life at the world, would not care for each other and they shall not be helped in any manner by anyone; however, the good persons to whom Allah shows His mercy would remain friends even there; certainly, Allah is AZIZ (Mighty; so He does not let any extreme wrong remain at the world when some nation takes it up because He only has the true authority) and He also is RAHIM (Merciful; so He cares for the spiritual guidance to the mankind and has patience upon the wrong-doings of individuals till they get the ample time He has appointed for them, to accept it for their safety at AKHIRAT); certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
DUKHAN-The Last Ruku
43. Surely the tree of the Zaqqum,
44. Is the food of the sinful
45. Like dregs of oil; it shall boil in (their) bellies,
46. Like the boiling of hot water.
47. Seize him, then drag him down into the middle of the hell;
48. Then pour above his head of the torment of the boiling water:
49. Taste; you forsooth are the mighty, the honorable:
50. Surely this is what you disputed about.
51. Surely those who guard (against evil) are in secure place,
52. In gardens and springs;
53. They shall wear of fine and thick silk, (sitting) face to face;
54. Thus (shall it be), and We will wed them with HOORS, pure, beautiful ones.
55. They shall call therein for every fruit in security;
56. They shall not taste therein death except the first death, and He will save them from the punishment of the hell,
57. A grace from your Lord; this is the great achievement.
58. So have We made it easy in your tongue that they may be mindful.
59. Therefore, wait; surely they (also) are waiting.
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The last Ruku presents the treatment of the disbelievers at the hell-fire and in contrast, the living manner of the successful persons at JANNAH; the Ruku tells at its beginning about the most sinful disbelievers that they would get their foods from the tree of Zaqqum which is most thorny that is at the hell-fire; AAYAT-6 at Surah GHASHIYA tells about it that “they shall have no food but of thorns” so all those who erred about the Day of Judgment and all those who denied its upcoming, they would eat from that tree as that only would be available to satiate their extreme hunger; it would be like dregs of oil and it would boil at their bellies like the hot water and in addition, they would receive the torment of boiling water over them, so these disbelievers would be most unwelcome; they would be commanded to taste this all as they used to live at the world with extreme arrogance that they are rightful to get whatever they want and that they are most respectful among all people around while they did not believe that there would come such specific day when they would certainly have to answer for all their doings; so they would see there all that in which they used to have extreme doubt; AAYAAT ahead at the Ruku tell about the true believers that they will remain away from the hell-fire with utmost security in beautiful gardens where clear springs would flow; they shall have dresses that would be made of fine and thick silk; and Allah would wed them to HOORS (the most beautiful women at JANNAAT) who would have the most lovely wide eyes; note about HOORS that these fairest of women would be the dwellers of JANNAAT who would be included in the blessing for the virtuous men who achieve success at AKHIRAT and those righteous women too who had spent their lives in the most virtuous manner at the world, would enter JANNAAT where they would be transformed as the most beautiful HOORS; see also the note at Surah TOOR; they would have all kinds of pleasant fruits there which they would ask in utmost security; then, this would be the life that they would live forever and never would taste death, after the death which they had before, that ended their respective lives at the world; Allah, the true Lord, would provide them safety from the hell-fire by His grace and that certainly is the great achievement; Allah tells at the last AAYAAT, “so have We made it (the Quran) easy in your tongue that they may be mindful; therefore, wait (O Muhammad PBUH- without losing patience when you have provided the message of Islam); surely they (also) are waiting (for some calamity to hit you but they would see clearly who gets it)”; certainly, Allah only is the true Lord; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
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Surah JATHIYA
(Consists of 4 Ruku; MK-9)
JATHIYA-The First Ruku
1. HA-MIM
2. The revelation of the Book is from Allah, the Mighty, the Wise.
3. Most surely in the heavens and the earth there are signs for the believers.
4. And in your (own) creation and in what He spreads abroad of animals there are signs for the people that are certain;
5. And the variation of the night and the day, and what Allah sends down of sustenance from the heaven above, then gives life thereby to the earth after its death, and the changing of the winds, there are signs for the people who understand.
6. These are the AAYAAT of Allah which We recite to you with Truth; then in what announcement would they believe after Allah and His AAYAAT?
7. Woe to every sinful liar,
8. Who hears the AAYAAT of Allah recited to him, then persists proudly as though he had not heard them; so announce to him a painful punishment.
9. And when he comes to know of any of Our AAYAAT, he takes it for a jest; these it is that shall have abasing chastisement.
10. Before them is the hell-fire, and there shall not avail them aught of what they earned, nor those whom they took for guardians besides Allah, and they shall have grievous punishment.
11. This is guidance; and (as for) those who disbelieve in the AAYAAT of their Lord, they shall have a painful penalty of abomination.
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The first Ruku of Surah JATHIYA guides particularly to see that all creation of Allah indicates that He only has the true authority as He has set everything by principles that all His creation follows and all this set-up is totally favorable to life at the world, especially for the mankind; this proves that the man is here to live the life that Allah has given him by principles and undoubtedly, he is answerable for his doings; so the beginning of the Surah tells that all surroundings establish the teachings of the Quran, the word of Allah, in the clearest manner; it reads, “HA-MIM; the revelation of the Book (the Quran) is from Allah, the Mighty (Who eliminates all those from the face of earth who challenge His true authority), the Wise (Who directs the issues at the world by the doings of the man as He wills, because He certainly has all the true authority); most surely in the heavens and the earth there are signs for the believers (as they all are complementary to the teachings of the Quran); and in your (own) creation and in what He spreads abroad of animals there are signs for the people that are certain (that Allah only has the true authority); and the variation of the night and the day, and what Allah sends down of sustenance (i.e. rain which brings forth the crops & fruits from the earth) from the heaven above, then gives life thereby to the earth after its death, and the changing of the winds, there are signs for the people who understand; these are the AAYAAT of Allah which We recite to you with (indication of) the Truth; then in what announcement would they believe after (the recitation of AAYAAT from the Quran of) Allah and (after getting those of) His AAYAAT (that are around)”?; compare these AAYAAT to BAQARAH-164 which also gives the same message, it reads, “most surely in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day, and the ships that run in the sea with that which profits men, and the water that Allah sends down from the cloud (the heaven nearby), then gives life with it to the earth after its death and spreads in it all (kinds of) animals, and the changing of the winds and the clouds made subservient between the heaven and the earth, there are signs for the people who understand”; note that all the physical laws apply only by the will of Allah and He only has provided their working at the universe; He has caused the rotation of the earth at its axis without any troubles to us so as to bring days and nights; this gives us the opportunity to set-up our routine for our economic activities and for the period of our rest avoiding burden to self with our attention towards Allah at all times; and He descended the water from the heaven above so as to bring the earth alive (so that it bears fruits & crops); He mentions the heaven above as singular here as the rain falls from the clouds that are just above the earth; note that He has used the term “heavens” in plural at the beginning of mentioning benefits to the mankind at AAYAT-3; He spread many of animals upon the earth and this in some way or other is beneficial to the man as they are means of transport for him and as they provide the milk and the meat and even their waste is beneficial as fertilizer to fields; the wild animals too provide benefits to the mankind as their skins and teeth have value and some of them provide medicinal benefits too; the change of winds too that cause change in weathers at different places by their occurrence, is beneficial to life of the mankind; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAAT ahead at the Ruku tell explicitly that with all signs that show that the man is here for his examination then if someone has extreme arrogance and does not take heed after getting the knowledge of the Truth, he is most sinful and extreme liar who would get the most severe punishment at the world and at AKHIRAT; these AAYAAT read, “woe to every sinful liar, who hears the AAYAAT of Allah recited to him, then persists proudly as though he had not heard them (so he is most sinful); so announce to him a painful punishment (at the world); and when he comes to know of any of Our AAYAAT, he takes it for a jest (so he is extreme liar who misguides persons around him); these it is that shall have abasing chastisement (at AKHIRAT); before them is the hell-fire (where their wrong-doings are leading them), and there shall not avail them aught of what they earned (of wrong-doings), nor those whom they took for guardians besides Allah (because they have no authority to save them from the hell-fire), and they shall have grievous punishment”; the last AAYAT of the Ruku reads, “this (the Quran) is guidance; and (as for) those who disbelieve in the AAYAAT of their Lord, they shall have a painful penalty of abomination (due to their disbelief)”; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
JATHIYA-The Second Ruku
12. Allah is He Who made subservient to you the sea that the ships may run therein by His command, and that you may seek of His grace, and that you may give thanks.
13. And He has made subservient to you whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth, all, from Himself; most surely there are signs in this for a people who reflect.
14. Say to those who believe (that) they forgive those who do not fear the days of Allah that He may reward people for what they earn.
15. Whoever does good, it is for his own soul, and whoever does evil, it is against himself; then you shall be brought back to your Lord.
16. And certainly We gave the Book and the wisdom and the prophecy to the children of Israel, and We gave them of the goodly things, and We made them excel the nations.
17. And We gave them clear arguments related to guidance, but they did not differ until after knowledge had come to them out of envy among themselves; surely your Lord will judge between them on the day of resurrection concerning that wherein they differed.
18. Then We have made you follow course related to guidance, therefore follow it, and do not follow the low desires of those who do not know.
19. Surely they shall not avail you in the least against Allah; and surely the unjust are friends of each other, and Allah is the guardian of those who guard (against evil).
20. This provides clear proofs for men, and it is the guidance and the mercy for the people who are certain.
21. Nay! do those who have wrought evil deeds think that We will make them like those who believe and do good- that their life and their death shall be equal? Evil it is that they judge.
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The Ruku continues telling the blessings of Allah on the mankind; AAYAT-12 states that He has set the waters of the sea with such principles that even huge ships run therein by His command; this enables the man to get economic stability by transport of goods to & fro and for this, the man does need to show gratitude to Him; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-13 states that He has made all that is at the heavens and all that is at the earth, work for the benefits of the mankind by His command; so the man has got the option to reflect on the principles that they follow to come to the Truth and to get high physical benefits too, by that good reflection; AAYAAT ahead ask the Prophet PBUH to tell all sincere believers to ignore the comments of the disbelievers as they do not fear the punishment that Allah gave to nations that rejected His message when the Messengers in them, provided it to them; those were the days when Allah showed that it certainly is His will by which the life at the world goes on, so “whoever does good, it is for his own soul, and whoever does evil, it is against himself (even at life at the world); then you shall be brought back to your Lord (at the Day of Judgment)”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the Ruku presents Bani-Israel as an example that Allah provided them Torah through Moses-AS and wisdom to apply it properly through Jesus-AS and sent many of Prophets between them to keep them on the right path; and provided them with good sustenance at the world and such status that they excel nations by keeping to the commands of Allah; and He gave them specific commandments to remain to His guidance but when they differed to each other even when they had received the knowledge of His guidance, with an urge to show their excellence among each other and to ask for worldly benefits, Allah disgraced them among all nations and certainly, He will judge between them on the day of resurrection concerning all those things in which they differed; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAAT-18, 19 & 20 state that after Allah deposed them of their status, He provided all Muslims through Muhammad PBUH, the last Messenger of Allah, the specific manner to remain to His guidance and to spread the knowledge of it to all peoples; the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet PBUH, which gives the course to all Muslims to practice the Islamic teachings which is the guidance of Allah to the mankind, is that specific manner by which all Muslims fulfill the asking of that guidance practically; they must never lean to low desires of those who have no knowledge of remaining to the guidance of Allah; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the disbelievers are unable to save any person from the consequence of his doings from Allah, at life at the world and at AKHIRAT and they are unable to save themselves too, though they do show friendship to each other at the world; certainly, Allah only is the guardian of those at all times who live by morals and guard against evil; AAYAT-20 reads, “this (the Quran) provides clear proofs for men, and it is the guidance and the mercy for the people who are certain (of the coming of the Day of Judgment)”; Allah provides the simple reason for the occurrence of the Day of Judgment at the last AAYAT of the Ruku that reads, “nay! do those who have wrought evil deeds think that We will make them like those who believe and do good- that their life and their death shall be equal?- evil it is that they judge”; so those persons who do realize the true aim of life that it only is to get the pleasure of Allah, the true Lord, would ultimately be successful as they live-on according to all His good commands; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
JATHIYA-The Third Ruku
22. And Allah created the heavens and the earth with truth and that every soul may be rewarded for what it has earned and they shall not be wronged.
23. Have you then considered him who takes his low desire for his god, and Allah has made him err having knowledge and has set a seal upon his ear and his heart and put covering upon his eye. Who can then guide him after Allah? Will you not then be mindful? 24. And they say: There is nothing but our life in this world; we live and die and nothing destroys us but time, and they have no knowledge of that; they only conjecture.
25. And when Our clear AAYAAT are recited to them, their argument is no other than that they say: Bring our fathers (back) if you are truthful.
26. Say: Allah gives life to you, then He makes you die, then will He gather you to the day of resurrection wherein is no doubt, but most people do not know.
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The first AAYAT of the Ruku emphasizes the info given previously that Allah has created everything by principles that they follow and He has set these principles in such manner that living by virtues lead to pleasure at heart and living by wrongs only brings troubles; it reads, “and Allah created the heavens and the earth with truth (with good principles) and that every soul may be rewarded for what it has earned (whether good or bad) and they shall not be wronged (because Allah is certainly most just in all His decisions)”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; due to His set principles, it happens that whoever goes on following his low desires where the commands of Allah had asked him to refrain strictly from that then He takes away his ability to distinguish between right and wrong as He sets a seal on his ear and his heart while there takes place a covering upon his sight which becomes an obstruction to him to see what is good; so he remains in the darkness of wrongs as there is none who would guide him when Allah has decided that he lives in that darkness; every person needs to be mindful that he/she does not lead himself/herself to such condition; there are such persons in the disbelievers who state that their life at the world is final with no other life so as they die due to time that falls upon them for it, it ends completely; Allah answers to this that “they have no knowledge of that; they only conjecture”; note that where the disbelievers put something upon destiny, Allah tells them that they have no knowledge about this and they have no right to argue by that stance; it happened that when they had no answer to their wrong doings, they blamed the destiny upon it; Surah YA-SEEN-47 also denotes their foolish response when they are directed to spend in the way of Allah, “and when it is said to them- spend out of what Allah has given you, those who disbelieve say to those who believe- shall we feed him whom, if Allah please, He could feed?- you are in naught but clear error”; this tells how unaware the disbelievers are of the fact that Allah has given them life at the world only to examine them with freewill whether they live on the right path or not; due to this, He has given different positions to all persons here among the mankind as He wills and certainly, He knows how to examine them; every person observes clearly that he/she deals matters at hand by his/her freewill and the asking of Allah to mankind is that he/she uses his/her freewill to fulfill the commands of Allah; certainly, everything happens by the will of Allah but His pleasure is not in everything so the mankind has to fulfill His commands by his/her freewill to get His pleasure and not argue in favor of his/her wrong doings, by mentioning His will that certainly, He only knows; most certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; additionally, note is this issue that Surah HADID-22 & 23 read, “no evil befalls on the earth nor in your own souls, but it is in the book before We bring it into existence; surely that is easy to Allah; so that you may not grieve for what has escaped you, nor be exultant at what He has given you; and Allah does not love any arrogant boaster”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; so where he has to do good deeds which affects his life at AKHIRAT, he would not make the destiny as an excuse to his avoidance for them as the issue clearly relates to freewill; but when he loses some benefit at the world not by his doing, he would accept that loss remaining positive in attitude that this certainly, is the will of Allah and He tests all persons at the world by different situations; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the disbelievers argue against the resurrection of the dead at the day of HASHR that if the dead would be raised to life again, then the Muslims shall bring their forefathers to life for their observation; Surah DUKHAN has also told their statement in this issue at AAYAAT-34, 35 & 36 which read, “most surely these do say- there is naught but our first death and we shall not be raised again; so bring our fathers (back), if you are truthful”; the last AAYAT of the Ruku presents the answer to this plainly, “say (O Prophet PBUH to them)- Allah gives life to you, then He makes you die (so He chooses the times for birth and death of all persons), then will He gather you to the day of resurrection wherein is no doubt (and not before that), but most people do not know (and they argue foolishly against the Day of Judgment)”; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
JATHIYA-The Last Ruku
27. And Allah's is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth; and on the day when the hour shall come to pass, on that day shall they perish who say false things.
28. And you shall see every large group kneeling down; every large group shall be called to its book: today you shall be rewarded for what you did.
29. This is Our book that speaks against you with justice; surely We wrote what you did,
30. Then as to those who believed and did good, their Lord will make them enter into His mercy; that is the manifest true success.
31. As to those who disbelieved: What- were not My AAYAAT recited to you? But you were proud and you were a guilty people.
32. And when it was said, Surely the promise of Allah is true and as for the hour, there is no doubt about it, you said: We do not know what the hour is; we do not think (that it will come to pass) save a passing thought, and we are not at all sure.
33. And the evil (consequences) of what they did shall become manifest to them and that which they mocked shall encompass them.
34. And it shall be said: Today We forsake you as you neglected the meeting of this day of yours and your abode is the fire, and there are not for you any helpers:
35. That is because you took the AAYAAT of Allah for a jest and the life of this world deceived you. So on that day they shall not be brought forth from it, nor shall they be granted goodwill.
36. So, to Allah is due (all) praise, the Lord of the heavens and the Lord of the earth, the Lord of the worlds.
37. And to Him belongs greatness in the heavens and the earth, and He is the Mighty, the Wise.
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The Ruku starts by mentioning that all kingdom of all heavens and the earth is of Allah; He would bring the Day of Judgment for certain and then the sinful liars would be in extreme trouble; only He has the authority to give any person the right to intercession and that even would be reserved to that person for whom He allows it; so the matter relates to the specific subject and the specific object in this issue; also, no amounts would be taken in compensation from anyone in his/her favor and no assistance would be there for any of those who had not cared to attain the pleasure of Allah; the worldly life is the examination for all and the life ahead is the result to it; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the peoples there at Judgment would be set in different large groups according to their doings and then everyone of those would receive his/her result by his/her doings; there, at the grounds of HASHR, would be such extreme fear that every large group would be in the condition of kneeling down when each person of each of those groups would be called to his document of deeds that he/she would get from the book that has total records of all persons who had ever came to the world; Surah Zumar-69 & 70 read, “and the earth shall beam with the light of its Lord, and the Book shall be laid down, and the Prophets and the witnesses shall be brought up, and judgment shall be given between them with justice, and they shall not be dealt with unjustly; and every soul shall be paid back fully what it has done, and He knows best what they do”; AAYAT-49 of Surah KAHF reads, “and the book shall be placed, then you will see the guilty fearing from what is in it, and they will say- woe to us; what book is this- it does not omit a small one nor a great one, but numbers them (all); and what they had done they shall find present (there); and your Lord does not deal unjustly with anyone”; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-29 here tells explicitly, “this is Our book that speaks against you with justice; surely We wrote what you did”; writing here means recording of doings of each person, at that book and this would occur in the manner Allah has specified to record it there without any probability of any error and certainly He knows better; so “as to those who believed and did good, their Lord will make them enter into His mercy; that is the manifest true success”; AAYAAT ahead at the Ruku up-to AAYAT-35 narrate about the condition of the disbelievers at the grounds of HASHR; when AAYAAT of the Quran were recited to them, they showed arrogance and did not accept its message; they were told most explicitly that the Day of Judgment is certain to come but they responded to this message that though they do have some passing thought that those who live by injustice do need to account for their doings yet they do have their doubts about the coming of the Day of Judgment; so they would see where their doubts lead them to as on that day, their wrong-doings would come at fore and that which they mocked, shall encompass them; Allah would not hear any plea of mercy from them there at the Day of Judgment and their final abode would be the hell-fire from which no one would be able to save them against Allah, the true Lord; AAYAT-35 tells the reason for their extreme anguish that this is because they took His AAYAAT for jest and the life of this world deceived them completely so on that day when they get their extreme punishment, they shall never be taken out of it, nor shall they receive His mercy ever; the last AAYAAT of the Surah read, “so, to Allah is due (all) praise, the Lord of the heavens and the Lord of the earth, the Lord of the worlds; and to Him belongs greatness in the heavens and the earth, and He is the Mighty, the Wise”; certainly, He only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
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Surah AHQAAF
(Consists of 4 Ruku; MK-9)
AHQAAF-The First Ruku
1. HA-MIM
2. The revelation of the Book is from Allah, the Mighty, the Wise.
3. We did not create the heavens and the earth and what is between them two save with truth and (for) an appointed term; and those who disbelieve turn aside from what they are warned of.
4. Say: Have you considered what you call upon besides Allah? Show me what they have created of the earth, or have they a share in the heavens? Bring me a book before this or traces of knowledge, if you are truthful.
5. And who is in greater error than he who calls besides Allah upon those that will not answer him till the day of resurrection and they are heedless of their call?
6. And when men are gathered together they shall be their enemies, and shall be deniers of their worshipping (them).
7. And when Our clear AAYAAT are recited to them, those who disbelieve say with regard to the truth when it comes to them: This is clear magic.
8. Nay! they say: He has forged it. Say: If I have forged it, you do not control anything for me from Allah; He knows best what you utter concerning it; He is enough as a witness between me and you, and He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.
9. Say: I am not the first of the apostles, and I do not know what will be done with me or with you: I do not follow anything but that which is revealed to me, and I am nothing but a plain warner.
10. Say: Have you considered if it is from Allah, and you disbelieve in it, and a witness from among the children of Israel has borne witness of one like it, so he believed, while you are big with pride; surely Allah does not guide the unjust people.
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Surah AHQAAF also begins by guiding particularly to see that all creation of Allah indicates that He only has the true authority as He has set everything by principles that all His creation follows and all this set-up is totally favorable to life at the world, especially for the mankind, but He has provided this set-up to an appointed time; this proves that the man is here to live the life that Allah has given him by principles and undoubtedly, he is answerable for his doings which means that he is going through an examination at life at the world; note that the Quran repeats its basic teachings and the seven HA-MIM Surah, of which this Surah AHQAAF is the last, have emphasized the fundamental teachings of Islam most highly for certain; however, when it repeats something, it presents that issue by its different aspects and as such, repetition in the Quran remains to its credit only; though this Surah descended at Makkah, at the 9th year, but its last Ruku most probably came at the 10th year of it; AAYAAT at the beginning of the Surah read, “HA-MIM; the revelation of the Book is from Allah, the Mighty, the Wise; We did not create the heavens and the earth and what is between them two, save with truth (set principles that lead to the true guidance) and (for) an appointed term; and those who disbelieve turn aside from what they are warned of (i.e. the Day of Judgment)”; the disbelievers would see extreme troubles on that Day when Allah asks them where are those whom they deemed to have such authority that may challenge Him; those who would be the leading persons among the disbelievers, did not ever bring any teachings from Allah and in fact, the leading persons among the disbelievers, would answer there that they did cause their followers to err as they too were on the wrong course so they would confess to all of their wrongs when they see clearly that they have no other option, and as such, they would become enemies to whom they led at life at the world; the other of leaders who would not be among the disbelievers but whom the disbelievers had risen to such status where they took them as having all authority besides Allah, would clarify, “to Thee we declare ourselves to be clear (of them); they never served Us”; they actually were unaware that the disbelievers took them as having authority besides Allah as the disbelievers took them as such after these good persons had departed from the world; the erroneous concepts of disbelievers, who had anticipated that they would not face any troubles at that Day, because of support of their leaders who would save them from torments there, would prove useless as it is the true belief (and the virtuous deeds according to it) that counts for safety which they did not care for, by their freewill; QASAS-63 also notes the info about both of categories of these leaders at that Day, the Day of Judgment; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAAT ahead till the last of the Ruku, answer the disbelievers who used to say about the Quran that it is some magic which this person i.e. the Prophet PBUH has forged; note that the Surah had told at its beginning in clear terms that “the revelation of the Book (i.e. the Quran) is from Allah, the Mighty, the Wise” but the disbelievers were not ready to believe this; note also that Allah asks the Prophet PBUH at Surah YOUNUS to tell the disbelievers that Allah has provided the Quran to him so that they get the message of Allah that the life is an examination and if they do not fulfill the commands of Allah, they would end-up at the hell-fire; AAYAAT-16 & 17 at Surah YOUNUS read, “say- if Allah had desired (otherwise) I would not have recited it to you, nor would He have taught it to you; indeed I have lived a lifetime among you before it; do you not then understand?; who is then more unjust than who forges a lie against Allah or (who) gives the lie to His AAYAAT? surely the guilty shall not be successful”; this asks Muhammad PBUH, the last Messenger of Allah, to tell the ignorant persons that if Allah did not intend for him to provide the true guidance from Him then he would not have read this Quran to them and then they who were living in disbelief, would not have had any opportunity to realize the Truth to save themselves that it provides clearly; he has remained among them for many of years now so they know quite well about all his life and due to those years, they are well-aware that he does not speak lies even in the ordinary issues of life so how it is that he speaks lies against the beautiful teachings of Allah now when He has provided him the true guidance for all peoples of the world; so who would be more unjust than that person who forges lies against Allah (so he insha-Allah would never be among such wrong persons) or who rejects His AAYAAT by taking them as lies (so they must be mindful about their unjust attitude against Allah); due to their unjust attitude, Allah would end the period of His tolerance for them and take away any of their leaning to acceptance of the Truth that would result in their straying away from the true guidance that ultimately would result in their severe punishment at AKHIRAT; with all opportunity to realize and accept the Truth, these disbelievers worship such things leaving the worship of Allah that are unable to provide any harm to them or any safety from harms to them and they say about them that these are their intercessors in front of Allah if they ever meet Him; they wrongly believe that the objects that they worship would be intercessors for them in His court and He would never reject the pleas of their intercessors for them so now they feel that they have nothing to worry, but they certainly would see their huge grievous error at the Day of Judgment; glory be to Allah, and supremely exalted is He above what they take as objects to worship besides Him, the true Lord; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the Ruku tells the Prophet PBUH to tell the disbelievers that they need to see that he is not the first of the apostles, and he does not know how matters would turn out at future at the world; he has to follow strictly what has been revealed to him (i.e. the Quran) and he certainly is warner to them that they would get into most extreme trouble at the Day of HASHR if they keep to their disbelief; the last AAYAT of the Ruku states explicitly, “say- have you considered if it (i.e. the Quran) is from Allah, and you disbelieve in it, and a witness from among the children of Israel (i.e. Moses-AS) has borne witness of one like it (i.e. Torah which also guided to these good teachings and so these good teachings are nothing new but they only are the true guidance from all times to all times), so he believed (in the Truth which Muhammad PBUH provides to all peoples), while you are big with pride; surely Allah does not guide the unjust people”; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
AHQAAF-The Second Ruku
11. And those who disbelieve say concerning those who believe: If it had been good, they would not have gone ahead of us therein. And as they do not seek to be rightly directed thereby, they say: It is an old lie.
12. And before it the Book of Musa was a guide and a mercy: and this is the Book verifying (it) in the Arabic language that it may warn those who are unjust and as good news for the doers of good.
13. Surely those who say, Our Lord is Allah, then they continue on the right way, they shall have no fear nor shall they grieve.
14. These are the dwellers of JANNAH (the garden), abiding therein: reward for what they did.
15. And We have enjoined on man doing of good to his parents; with trouble did his mother bear him and with trouble did she bring him forth; and the bearing of him and the weaning of him was thirty months; until when he attains his maturity and reaches forty years, he says: My Lord! grant me that I may give thanks for Thy favor which Thou hast bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may do good which pleases Thee and do good to me in respect of my offspring; surely I turn to Thee, and surely I am of those who submit.
16. These are they from whom We accept the best of what they have done and pass over their evil deeds, among the dwellers of the garden; the truest promise which they were promised.
17. And he who says to his parents: Fie on you! do you threaten me that I shall be brought forth when generations have already passed away before me? And they both call for Allah's aid: Woe to you! believe, surely the promise of Allah is true. But he says: This is nothing but stories of the ancients.
18. These are they against whom the word has proved true among nations of the jinn and the men that have already passed away before them; surely they are losers.
19. And for all are degrees according to what they did, and that He may pay them back fully their deeds and they shall not be wronged.
20. And on the day when those who disbelieve shall be brought before the fire: You did away with your good things in your life of the world and you enjoyed them for a while, so today you shall be rewarded with the punishment of abasement because you were unjustly proud in the land and because you transgressed.
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The Ruku tells at the beginning that the disbelievers say for those who had believed in the Quran that if it had been something good then the chiefs at Makkah who were disbelievers, would have accepted it for certain; note that at this time at Makkah, though many of youth who belonged to well-off families had accepted the Quran, there were quite a number of poor persons who had submitted to its teachings; so the disbelievers indicated towards those persons by their insulting ignorant words and this tells about the psyche of disbelievers in the teachings of the Quran that they take that thing as authentic which their leaders consider as acceptable, though those leaders may be most ignorant persons among the people; AAYAT also tells that when they do not accept the true guidance which the Quran gives them, they proceed on to call it a lie; note that the Truth is always the same from all times to all times but the disbelievers took it as lies so it depends on how a person sees it; the believers know believing sincerely in it, that it is always the same (and the next AAYAT gives the indication to it) but the disbelievers take it as lies; the next AAYAT reads, “and before it the Book of Musa (i.e. Torah) was a guide and a mercy- and this (the Quran) is the Book verifying (it) in the Arabic language that it may warn those who are unjust and as good news for the doers of good”; note that INJIL, related to Jesus-AS, is not mentioned as book in the Quran but it is mentioned as words of HIKMAH (wisdom); see also the note at the fifth Ruku of AALE-IMRAN; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the fact is this that whoever accepts that Allah is not only the only Creator of all creation but He also is the only true Lord of all creation, such persons would be the dwellers of JANNAH, where they would live forever; AAYAT-15 tells that all persons must care for their parents, especially for the mother who bears the child and brings it forth at the world with pain to herself so in Islam, she gets much more respect than the father; the period of bearing of the child and its suckling is for thirty months; BAQARAH-233 reads, “and the mothers should suckle their children for two whole years for him who desires to make complete the time of suckling; and their maintenance and their clothing must be borne by the father according to usage; no soul shall have imposed upon it a duty but to the extent of its capacity; neither shall a mother be made to suffer harm on account of her child, nor a father on account of his child, and a similar duty (devolves) on the (father's) heir (if the father dies), but if both desire weaning by mutual consent and counsel, there is no blame on them, and if you wish to engage a wet-nurse for your children, there is no blame on you so long as you pay what you promised for according to usage; and be careful of (your duty to) Allah and know that Allah sees what you do”; so after the birth, the mother may feed the child (i.e. the breast-feeding) for about twenty-one months though for premature birth at six months, she may feed the child to twenty-four months and the mutual assent of both the parents counts a lot here; note that AAYAT-15 tells that the age of maturity for a person is forty years, though he achieves adulthood at fifteen years; note also that Allah gave the responsibility to the Prophet PBUH to provide the teachings of Islam by the Quran about the age of forty and so it tells that after the period of forty years had elapsed on the man with 25 years of adulthood where he had kept his attention to Allah, He would keep him to the right path with insight to issues of concern; Al-Hamdu Lillah; also, the period of forty days is such period that is often mentioned by the ULAMA of Islam as significant for the spread of Islamic teachings because it has some latent capability to purify the self when the person is attentive to Allah; note that Moses-AS had stayed at the mount of TOOR for forty days when he received Torah; the good person shows his gratitude to Allah as he comes at this age of maturity that he got such good parents who guided him to the right path which he did accept sincerely; AAYAT tells that “he says- My Lord! grant me that I may give thanks for Thy favor which Thou hast bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may do good which pleases Thee and do good to me in respect of my offspring; surely I turn to Thee, and surely I am of those who submit”; this also provides the info that showing gratitude to Allah for having good parents and good children, is the good sign of maturity; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-16 reads about them, “these are they from whom We accept the best of what they have done and pass over their evil deeds, among the dwellers of the garden; the truest promise which they were promised”; so when the parents show the guidance to the right path, it is most worthy to take whereas their following in the wrong direction is extreme idiocy; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-17 tells about such person who never achieves such maturity to accept the right path even when his good parents do guide him to it; it reads, “and he who says to his parents- fie on you! do you threaten me that I shall be brought forth when generations have already passed away before me? - and they both call for Allah's aid- woe to you! believe, surely the promise of Allah is true; but he says- this is nothing but stories of the ancients”; AAYAT ahead tells that such persons are among those persons upon whom the word of Allah has fallen previously among the jinn and the men that they became apt of the hell-fire due to their disbelief; Allah would punish them according to their wrong-doings and they shall only get what they truly deserve; note that when the Satan had challenged Allah that he would deceive the mankind in every manner possible, He had told him, “get out of this (state), despised, driven away; whoever of them will follow you then I will certainly fill hell with you all” (AARAAF-18); the last AAYAT of the Ruku is most explicit that the preference of life at the world over the true life at AKHIRAT, would lead only to extreme disaster; it reads, “and on the day when those who disbelieve shall be brought before the fire- you did away with your good things in your life of the world and you enjoyed them for a while, so today you shall be rewarded with the punishment of abasement because you were unjustly proud in the land (due to disbelief) and because you transgressed (due to wrong-doings)”; certainly Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
AHQAAF-The Third Ruku
21. And mention the brother of AAD; when he warned his people in the sandy plains, and indeed warning persons came before him and after him- saying ‘serve none but Allah; surely I fear for you the punishment of a grievous day’.
22. They said- Have you come to us to turn us away from our gods; then bring us what you threaten us with, if you are of the truthful ones.
23. He said: The knowledge is only with Allah, and I deliver to you the message with which I am sent, but I see you are people who are ignorant.
24. So when they saw it as a cloud appearing in the sky advancing towards their valleys, they said: This is a cloud which will give us rain. Nay! it is what you sought to hasten on, a blast of wind in which is a painful punishment,
25. Destroying everything by the command of its Lord, so they became such that naught could be seen except their dwellings. Thus do We reward the guilty people.
26. And certainly We had established them in what We have not established you in, and We had given them ears and eyes and hearts, but neither their ears, nor their eyes, nor their hearts availed them aught, since they denied the AAYAAT of Allah, and that which they mocked encompassed them.
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The third Ruku of AHQAAF narrates the events related to AAD who were the people of HOODH-AS; it narrates about them to give the info to the disbelievers at Makkah that they had the strongest men by physique in them with handsome looks and with sound faculties to hear and see and due to that, understand much of issues of life at wilderness yet when they did not accept the fundamental teachings of Islam, they were punished most severely even at the world; HOODH-AS gave them the same message as Noah has given to his nation before him and as SALEH-AS gave to his nation (THAMUD) after him; note that the travelers from Makkah used to see the ruins of THAMUD at route to TABUK and the ruins of AAD at the southern part of the Arabian peninsula when they traveled there; these people AAD used to live at AHQAAF (the sandy plains) to whom HOODH declared clearly that they need to serve none but Allah, believing in Him only as the true Lord of all creation, and if they do not, then surely the most grievous day of His punishment would get them even at the world; note here that like the disbelievers at the ancient times, generally the disbelievers at Makkah took Allah as the Creator of the heavens and the earth but they did not truly accept that He also is their true Lord and so they must obey Him most sincerely as they are bound to His commands, the disobedience of which would certainly lead them to utmost disaster at the world and at AKHIRAT; their erroneous concepts had led them to take angels as involved with the authority of Allah (whom they most erroneously took as the daughters of Allah and as partners to Him to see to affairs at the universe) and to take their idols (mostly in the shape of the female that their ancestors worshipped and whom they worshipped in their following) as able to save them at the Day of Judgment (while some of them did not truly believe in that Day); note that angels are among the creation of Allah too and they only do what Allah commands them to do (see NAHAL-49 & 50) and idols do not have any authority for anything whatsoever; Allah gives the necessary space to all peoples to accept the Truth, because of His care towards them and He certainly would gather all peoples of the world at the Day of Judgment that is most sure to come but those who have ruined their selves in terms of that Day, they do not believe; in Surah SHUA’RAA, the AAYAAT read that HOODH told his nation that "I am to you a messenger worthy of all trust; so keep your duty to Allah and obey me; and I do not ask you any reward for it; surely my reward is only with the Lord of the worlds; do you build a landmark on every high place to amuse yourselves? -and seek you out strongholds, that haply you may last forever? - and when you lay hands (on men) you lay hands as tyrants- rather keep your duty to Allah, and obey me (i.e. they must follow the commands of Allah that he is telling them)” (SHUA’RAA-125 to 131); AAYAT-69 at the ninth Ruku of AARAAF tells the statement of HOODH where he answers their doubts, “what - do you wonder that a reminder has come to you from your Lord through a man from among you that he might warn you? and remember when He made you successors after Noah's people and increased you in excellence in respect of make (in physique); therefore remember the benefits from Allah, that you may be (truly) successful”; that Ruku of AARAAF tells that the nation of HOODH took him as in grave folly and the result of their rejection to him was that except for the believers with him, they all were destroyed; Surah HAQQAAH says that this punishment was such “which Allah imposed on them for seven nights and eight days so that (O listener) you might have seen men lying overthrown, as they were hollow trunks of palm-trees (because of their enormous heights)” (HAQQAAH-7); they asked HOODH to bring the punishment upon them by which he warns them, to which he replied that the will of Allah only would decide to put it upon them; AAYAT-23 tells about this, “he said- the knowledge (about that) is only with Allah, and I deliver to you the message with which I am sent, but I see you are people who are (most) ignorant”; this third Ruku of AHQAAF narrates the manner of their punishment that when they saw something like a cloud advancing towards them, they were most pleased that some good rain would fall upon them; but Allah punished them most severely by that and eliminated them totally from the face of the earth; the last three AAYAAT of the Ruku read, “so when they saw it as a cloud appearing in the sky advancing towards their valleys, they said- this is a cloud which will give us rain; nay! it is what you sought to hasten on (i.e. the punishment from Allah), a blast of wind in which is a painful punishment, destroying everything by the command of its Lord, so they became such that naught could be seen (from some distance) except their dwellings; thus do We reward the guilty people (and none of peoples have such power, whatever technology they may develop, that they may stand against Allah); and certainly We had established them in what We have not established you in (so the disbelievers at Makkah need to leave their arrogance and accept the teachings that the Prophet PBUH is providing them), and We had given them ears and eyes and hearts, but neither their ears, nor their eyes, nor their hearts availed them aught, since they denied the AAYAAT of Allah (i.e. they did not use them to get to the Truth), and (so) that which they mocked encompassed them”; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
AHQAAF-The Last Ruku
27. And certainly We destroyed the towns which are around you, and We had repeated the AAYAAT (for them in various ways) that they might turn.
28. Why did not then those help them whom they took for gods besides Allah to draw (them) nigh (to Him)? Nay! they were lost to them; and this was their lie and what they forged.
29. And when We turned towards you a party of the jinn who listened to the Quran; so when they came to it, they said: Be silent; then when it was finished, they turned back to their people warning (them).
30. They said: O our people! we have listened to a Book revealed after Musa verifying that which is before it, guiding to the Truth and to the right path:
31. O our people! respond to the inviter to Allah and believe in Him. He will forgive you some of your sins and guard you from a painful doom;
32. And whoso responds not to inviter to Allah, he shall not escape in the earth and he shall not have guardians besides Him; these are in manifest error.
33. Have they not considered that Allah Who created the heavens and the earth and was not tired by their creation, is able to give life to the dead? Aye! He has surely power over all things.
34. And on the day when those who disbelieve shall be brought before the hell-fire: Is it not true? They shall say: Aye! by our Lord! He will say: Then taste the punishment, because you disbelieved.
35. Therefore, bear up patiently as did the apostles endowed with constancy bear up with patience and do not seek to hasten for them (their doom). On the day that they shall see what they are promised they shall be as if they had not tarried save an hour of the day; only to provide the message (is on the Prophet PBUH); shall then any be destroyed save the transgressing people?
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The Ruku starts by mentioning that Allah gave the disbelievers, who lived at towns not much far-away from them, ample space to accept the Truth; however, when they did not avail it, He destroyed them completely and those whom they took as gods besides Allah, were totally unable to help them; this reference is to THAMUD and the people of Lot-AS, who also were destroyed besides AAD, the people of HOODH-AS; they had disrespected the authority of Allah by their disbelief though He had provided them ample space to accept the fundamental teachings of Islam so as consequence to it, Allah punished them most severely even at the world; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-29 states that a party of jinn came to such place where the Prophet PBUH was reciting the Quran which they heard and getting its teachings, they accepted them then & there; the placement of this AAYAT here denotes that though jinn are such creation of Allah that are mostly harsh by nature, this party consisted of such among them whom the Quran affected so beautifully that only hearing it once, they not only accepted Islam but went on ahead to advocate its teachings; it implies that in comparison, the disbelievers at Arabia are so harsh that even when they got its teachings time & again, they have not submitted to them; their physical strength could have been beneficial only when they had believed in the fundamental teachings of Islam; note that this event happened at the place called NAKHLA while the Prophet PBUH was returning from TA’EF with ZAYD ibn HARITHA, where he had paid a visit to present Islam to chiefs there but instead of accepting it sincerely, they had ill-treated him and had even hurt him; it took place probably about a couple of years before HIJRAH (i.e. his migration from Makkah to Madinah); searching for grounds to present Islam to all peoples with convenience, he had put its teachings to chiefs at TA’EF, which also was among the big cities in Arabia; note that at that time, jinn found difficult to reach the heaven above to get some info about issues at the world due to flames running to them in high number; they guessed correctly that something of high significance has happened that intervenes between them and the info that they used to get from that heaven from the conversation of angels; so they travelled to the easts of the earth and its wests seeking to investigate what hindered them from it and this specific group of them set out towards the area of TIHAMA; at last with years of search for the event that was of the most high significance, they came upon Allah’s Messenger PBUH reciting the Quran while he was there at NAKHLAH; when they heard the Qur’an, they paid attention to it and said to each other that this is which has come up between us and the news from the heaven; there, they accepted the fundamental teachings of Islam and then returned to their people; though the Prophet PBUH came to know of this event only when Allah told him at the Quran about it yet after this, jinn used to come to the Prophet PBUH to attain the knowledge of the fundamental teachings of Islam better; here, AAYAAT read, “and when We turned towards you a party of the jinn who listened to the Quran; so when they came to it, they said- be silent; then when it was finished, they turned back to their people warning (them); they said- O our people! we have listened to a Book revealed after Musa verifying that which is before it (i.e. Torah), guiding to the Truth (i.e. the fundamental teachings of Islam) and to the right path (i.e. with guidance how to keep to that in practice); O our people! respond to the inviter to Allah and believe in Him; He will forgive you some of your sins and guard you from a painful doom (at AKHIRAT)”; this implies that they were aware of the teachings of Torah and they did take it as guidance to the fundamental teachings of Islam; AAYAT-32 verifies their statement, “and whoso responds not to inviter to Allah (positively), he shall not escape in the earth (if Allah decides for his elimination) and he shall not have guardians besides Him (at the Day of Judgment); these are in manifest error”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-33 states plainly that Allah has created all heavens and the earth with principles that they all must follow and He was never tired by creating all creation; He has total authority to give life to the dead and He certainly would, at the Day of Judgment; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-34 states that when that Day takes place, the disbelievers shall be brought before the hell-fire and they shall be asked if this all is not true; seeing this happening, they would have no option but to accept the reality that whatever they had been promised, it was completely true; the case against them would stand proven and they would be punished most severely due to their extreme disbelief that they had shown when they were living at the world; the last AAYAT of the Surah i.e. AAYAT-35 reads, “therefore, (O Prophet PBUH) bear up patiently (their disrespect) as did the apostles endowed with constancy (i.e. all Messengers of Allah) bear up with patience and do not seek to hasten for them (their doom); on the day that they shall see what they are promised they shall be as if they had not tarried (at the world) save an hour of the day; only to provide the message (is on the Prophet PBUH); shall then any be destroyed save the transgressing people (who rejected the message and became truly liable to be punished most severely)?”; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
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Surah MUHAMMAD (PBUH); also named as Surah QITAL
(Consists of 4 Ruku; H-2)
QITAL-The First Ruku
1. (As for) those who disbelieve and turn away from Allah's way, He shall render their deeds ineffective.
2. And (as for) those who believe and do good, and they believe in that which has been revealed to Muhammad (PBUH), and it is the very truth from their Lord, He will remove their evil from them and improve their condition.
3. That is because those who disbelieve follow falsehood, and those who believe follow the truth from their Lord. Thus does Allah present to the people their comparisons.
4. So when you meet in battle those who disbelieve, then smite the necks until when you have overcome them, then make (them) prisoners, and afterwards either set them free as a favor or let them ransom (themselves) until the war terminates. That (shall be so); and if Allah had pleased He would certainly have exacted what is due from them, but that He may try some of you by means of others; and (as for) those who are slain in the way of Allah, He will by no means allow their deeds to perish.
5. He will guide them and improve their condition.
6. And cause them to enter the garden which He has made known to them.
7. O you who believe! if you help (the cause of) Allah, He will help you and make firm your feet.
8. And (as for) those who disbelieve, for them is destruction and He has made their deeds ineffective.
9. That is because they hated what Allah revealed, so He rendered their deeds null.
10. Have they not then journeyed in the land and seen how was the end of those before them: Allah brought down destruction upon them, and the disbelievers shall have the like of it.
11. That is because Allah is the Protector of those who believe, and because the disbelievers shall have no protector for them.
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This Ruku compares the believers and the disbelievers with the message that the believers only would get the true success at AKHIRAT and it also gives the info about the consequence that those hypocrites would face who are not ready to take-up QITAL (the fight against the disbelievers who challenge the Islamic teachings whereas it is one of aspects of JEHAD which also includes MUJAHIDA and TABLIGH), even when the Quran explicitly asks for it when it does become necessary; the Surah starts in an abrupt manner where its first AAYAT plainly delivers the info that Allah would make the deeds of all disbelievers (if they do not accept the Truth till the end of life) ineffective, even if they are seemingly good towards men like social works for their better living at the world; this may lead them to get some pleasure as they live their lives at the world and may provide them fame yet they would not affect their document of deeds positively; this is because good deeds need the righteous belief for their acceptance at the court of Allah when they have received clear invitation towards it; then only they would count at AKHIRAT so the AAYAT reads, “those who disbelieve and turn away from Allah's way, He shall render their deeds ineffective (at AKHIRAT)”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the second AAYAT indicates about the righteousness that it is the message that the Quran has provided to all of mankind, as it reads, “and (as for) those who believe (in the fundamental teachings of Islam) and do good, and (when they have got the message of the Quran), they believe in that (i.e. the Quran) which has been revealed to Muhammad (PBUH), and it is the very Truth from their Lord, He will remove their evil from them and improve their condition”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the third AAYAT plainly gives the reason, “that is because those who disbelieve follow falsehood, and those who believe follow the Truth (the Quran) from their Lord; thus does Allah present to the people their comparisons”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; note that Surah Bani-Israel reads at AAYAAT-18 to 21, “whoever desires this present life (of the world), We hasten to him therein what We please for whomsoever We desire (so even for them, Allah decides what to give at the world and how much and to whom), then We assign to him the hell-fire; he shall enter it despised, driven away; and whoever desires AKHIRAT and strives for it as he ought to strive and he is believer; (as for) these, their striving shall surely be accepted (as Allah accepts all the good deeds done with sincere belief in Him); all do We aid- these as well as those- out of the bounty of your Lord (at the world), and the bounty of your Lord (here) is not confined; see how We have made some of them to excel others, and certainly AKHIRAT is much superior in respect of excellence (so the excellence here over many of persons is not the sign of their higher placement at AKHIRAT which only depends on TAQWA)”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; note that TAQWA is the attitude of the heart which means that all the Muslims must fear Allah that they do not get His displeasure by their sins becoming so sinful that they lose the chance to regain JANNAH and with that, they also must have such hope towards Him that He would keep them safe from the Satan at all times and at all places; so every person would care to live as righteous believer in the fundamental teachings of Islam with virtuous deeds so that he/she does not lose the opportunity to show his/her worth for JANNAH at AKHIRAT and so that he/she is not put into the hell-fire as Allah would certainly fulfill His word; Al-Hamdu Lillah; after getting the message of the Quran, the person does need to accept it in total most sincerely, though before the descent of the Quran to Muhammad PBUH, the sincere belief in the three fundamental teachings of Islam, was enough to affect the document of deeds by doing good deeds positively; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-4 commands the Muslims to fight fearlessly all those who disbelieve and in addition, challenge the Islamic manner of living; it reads, “so when you meet in battle those who disbelieve, then smite the necks until when you have overcome them, then make (them) prisoners, and afterwards either set them free as a favor or let them ransom (themselves) until the war terminates; that (shall be so); and if Allah had pleased He would certainly have exacted what is due from them, but that He may try some of you by means of others; and (as for) those who are slain in the way of Allah, He will by no means allow their deeds to perish”; this is clear indication to respond with utmost power to the disbelievers who challenge the Muslims at the battleground at such times when FITNAH prevails; the Quran uses the term FITNAH in the meaning of extreme wrongs that denote extreme deviation from the true belief that Islam asks for the man whereas the term FASAD denotes all such extreme wrongs that relate to such deeds that cause deviation from Islam, so FITNAH attacks the true Belief (whereas it enfolds FASAD inside it too); this AAYAT has the subtle message that it is not feasible for Muslims to leave deadly opponents of Islam if they do get their hands on such disbelievers, either by taking some ransom amount or either without it, at times of FITNAH; there is difference of opinion at authentic commentaries if they need to be killed or kept in custody till the issue clearly settles in favor of Muslims in short time; though the good AMIR of Muslims has much authority to decide for the matter at such occasions yet the feasible stance here does seem to be the latter one and certainly, Allah knows better; however, when the situation has turned into the favor of Muslims and FITNAH ceases then it is most feasible to let them live-on freely as then, there would remain no threat whatsoever from disbelievers that they would be able to finish off the impression of Islam; ANFAAL-39 reads, “and fight with them until there is no more FITNAH and religion should be only for Allah; but if they desist, then surely Allah sees what they do”; the fact is this that only Allah knows for certain, and the Muslims do not yet know the high wisdom for this command of QITAL, when it does become necessary for them; see also the supplementary note on AAYAT-39 of Surah HAJJ at the end of the note at its sixth Ruku; Allah had asked the Muslims to take-up highest of patience and not to respond by any physical measure against their oppressors at Makkah; then at the beginning period after HIJRAH at Madinah (which is the period when this Surah QITAL descended too), Allah asked them to defend even by physical measures if and when necessary (keeping the attacks to the minimum and only taking them at some high necessity); then after some period of the battle of AHZAAB, the pact of HUDABIYAH took place that rendered much peace to Muslims and much space to increase their good numbers by TABLIGH (that means to provide the teachings of the Quran with the clarification of its practice as SUNNAH has provided) and as the pact came to its end, Allah allowed the Muslims to take-up QITAL at high scale even in attack wherever necessary; however, there are conditions for the issue of QITAL (one of aspects of JEHAD) by attack and I, MSD, would presently state its five most notable conditions by using here the term JEHAD only; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the first is that it is necessary for Muslims to convey the basic Islamic teachings explicitly to the enemy before the JEHAD that the Muslims initiate; the second is that the enemy they fight against, has not only rejected Islam but even the offer to formulate a respectable pact with Muslims in clear terms either with the agreement to pay JIZYA (monetary tax for their protection) or without it; if they break-up their agreement especially without any clear info, that would bring them at the position where, with other conditions of the aggressive JEHAD intact, the Muslims would challenge them immediately as this breach asks for instant defense of Muslims at such occasion; the third is to fight that strictly under the command of the wise & courageous Islamic commander with full sincerity to him in that JEHAD; the fourth is that each of the warrior himself shall be such Muslim who avoids major sins with high commitment to Islam and the fifth is that Muslims have gathered the necessary physical force to fight the enemy with high caliber; there is much detail to these conditions at the books of FIQH for those who intend elaboration on these; note that missing of any of these five conditions renders the initiative to JEHAD unnecessary though Muslims would fight JEHAD in defense with highest of enthusiasm against the enemy where they are challenged and they certainly have no such conditions to see at such defensive JEHAD; note also that the Quran does ask for JEHAD (in the meaning of QITAL) at different places but sometimes it takes-up the matter with the understanding that the disbelievers have rejected the message of Islam and sometimes advices the Muslims where the disbelievers have broken their pacts with the Muslims and have shown explicitly by their attitude that they have rejected the message of Islam; this asks for the highest of caution in comments upon the AAYAAT related to JEHAD to which sadly those who do not understand the expressions of the Quran, do not pay any attention and as such, come to such meanings that challenge the teachings of the Quran rather than interpret it correctly (please read my writing “Expressions of the Quran” that is available at the net); in this discussion, note also that the true Muslims actually are the force of Allah upon the earth and they certainly have committed their-selves to see that His authority is never challenged in any manner; this is the reason that at necessity, they certainly had called for JEHAD (in the meaning of QITAL) where the conditions allowed them to initiate it; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAAT 5 & 6 tell about those who receive SHAHADAT at the battleground against the disbelievers, with sincere belief in Allah, that He would not make their good deeds go to waste; they read, “He will guide them (due to their good deeds to peace after their demise) and improve their condition (at the grounds of HASHR); and cause them to enter JANNAH (the garden) which He has made known to them (after their demise i.e. their SHAHADAT at the battleground)”; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-7 tells the sincere Muslims that if they strengthen the message of Allah by facing the disbelievers at the battlefield, Allah would help them and would provide them the courage to defeat the disbelievers due to their determination; and He would put destruction upon the disbelievers and make all their conspiracies futile against the Muslims; this is the consequence of their hatred to the Quran so their deeds have become useless to them in all manners; AAYAT-10 states that Allah brought down extreme destruction upon those peoples who had challenged Him before them and He would not spare these disbelievers at Arabia too, if they do not accept the fundamental teachings of Islam; the last AAYAT provides the reason for ultimate success of the sincere believers at the world even, by the statement, “that is because Allah is the Protector of those who believe (at the world and at AKHIRAT), and because the disbelievers shall have no protector for them (neither at the world nor AKHIRAT)”; the Prophet PBUH had called Allah by the words of this AAYAT at the battle of UHUD in answer to disbelievers there and after that, though disbelievers there were seemingly near to win against Muslims, they hurriedly left the battleground; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
QITAL-The Second Ruku
12. Surely Allah will make those who believe and do good enter gardens beneath which rivers flow; and those who disbelieve enjoy themselves and eat as the beasts eat, and the hell-fire is their abode.
13. And how many a town which was far more powerful than the town of yours which has driven you out: We destroyed them so there was no helper for them.
14. What! is he who has a clear argument from his Lord like him to whom the evil of his work is made fair-seeming: and they follow their low desires.
15. A parable of the garden which those guarding (against evil) are promised: Therein are rivers of water that does not alter, and rivers of milk the taste whereof does not change, and rivers of wine delicious to those who drink, and rivers of honey clarified and for them therein are all fruits and pardon from their Lord. (Are these) like those who abide in the fire and who are made to drink boiling water so it rends their bowels asunder.
16. And there are those of them who seek to listen to you, until when they go forth from you, they say to those who have been given the knowledge: What was it that he said just now? These are they upon whose hearts Allah has set a seal and they follow their low desires.
17. And (as for) those who follow the right path, He increases them in guidance and gives them their guarding (against evil).
18. Do they then wait for aught but the hour that it should come to them all of a sudden? Now indeed the tokens of it have (already) come, but how shall they have their reminder when it comes on them?
19. So know that there is no god but Allah, and, ask protection for your fault and for the believing men and the believing women; and Allah knows the place where you move about and the place where you dwell in.
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The first AAYAT of this Ruku states the outcome of lives of the believers and the outcome of lives of the disbelievers respectively, at AKHIRAT; it reads, “surely Allah will make those who believe and do good enter gardens beneath which rivers flow; and those who disbelieve enjoy themselves (at the world) and eat as the beasts eat (without any care to gain virtuous deeds by the righteous belief), and the hell-fire is their abode”; certainly, life at the world is not to eat seeking all such foods that seem to have taste but eating of foods here is actually to sustain life and taste is an additional factor; though not disallowed to get good taste at foods (that are HALAAL i.e. allowed to eat and TAYYIBAH i.e. having purity) yet that is not something to seek for, enthusiastically; the only aim of life is to attain the pleasure of Allah and that only would lead to getting JANNAAT, the beautiful gardens of paradise, where the life is endless; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-13 tells that Allah had destroyed many towns which were more powerful than Makkah and they had no helper who could have stopped their destruction and so the disbelievers must remain mindful that He would destroy them too if they keep to their disbelief; MOMEN-21 states at this issue, “have they not travelled in the earth and seen how was the end of those who were before them? - mightier than these were they in strength- and in fortifications in the land, but Allah destroyed them for their sins; and there was not for them any defender against Allah”; AAYAT-14 emphasizes that whoever lives by the commands of Allah, he certainly deserves life of peace even at the world whereas such person whom the Satan has made his evil works as fair-seeming to him, would live with unrest even at the world; such wrong persons only follow their low desires; AAYAT-15 tells that there are four types of rivers at JANNAH; it has rivers of pure water that does not alter which means that it does not change its color, smell or taste, and remains totally pure; and it has rivers of milk that also remains firm to its taste; and it has rivers of wine that is most soothing to drink without causing loss of senses; and it has rivers of wonderful honey which is clarified and not viscous that hinders its flow; and in addition, it has all types of fruits and such pardon from Allah that they would always remain in this beautiful surroundings with all peace as this is the place of returns to their good deeds at the world; Al-Hamdu Lillah; note that these four are the best of drinks though wine at JANNAH is not to be confused with the wine at the world; it is not only most wonderful in taste but it also does not affect the senses adversely; note that though the usage of gold & silver is disallowed for the men among Muslims at the world and drinking of wine is disallowed for all Muslims at the world, yet they are allowed for all at JANNAH where they would be adornments to men even and most soothing refreshing drinks respectively for all residents of JANNAH; AAYAT-25 at Surah BAQARAH tells, “and convey good news to those who believe and do good deeds, that they shall have gardens in which rivers flow; whenever they shall be given a portion of the fruit thereof, they shall say- this is what was given to us before; and they shall be given the like of it, and they shall have pure mates in them, and in them, they shall abide”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the last part of the fifteenth AAYAT tells about the disbelievers that they would abide at the hell-fire where they would be made to drink extremely filthy boiling water that would rend their bowels asunder and even then, they would not achieve death; may Allah give all good persons TOFIQ to save themselves from this extreme punishment of the hell-fire; certainly, He only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-16 tells about those who claimed to be Muslims yet they were not ready to fulfill those commands of Islam that they found much trying to them; in these the most significant was the command of QITAL against the disbelievers when the situation asked for it; there were such persons in them who listened to the Prophet PBUH attentively but when they discussed matters with persons among those who had the knowledge of Torah, they confided in them that they take these teachings as very harsh that the Prophet PBUH has provided to them and they find that they are not feasible for them to follow; the AAYAT tells that they are such hypocrites on hearts of whom, Allah has set a seal that they are unable to understand the wisdom of His commands and they follow their low desires instead of following the commands of Allah, which seem harsh to them; in comparison, AAYAT-17 tells the virtues of the sincere Muslims, “and (as for) those who follow the right path (even accepting the command of QITAL where it becomes necessary), He increases them in guidance and gives them their guarding (against evil)”; AAYAT-18 criticizes the psyche of the disbelievers that they are totally oblivious of the fact that they are here at the world to live virtuously, and if the end of the world comes in sudden manner, they would be doomed to the hell-fire; the signs of the hour (the last day of the world) have taken place but if they face it in sudden manner, what space would they have to accept the Truth; note that the Prophet PBUH was the first sign of nearing of the end of the world as he was the last of Messengers of Allah; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the last AAYAT of the Ruku tells the Prophet PBUH that he has to remain firm on the belief in TAUHID (Allah only is the Creator of all the creation and He always has all His attributes and He only is the true Lord) and he shall always ask Allah for protection for any of his fault that he may show at spread of His message unintentionally, and he shall ask mercy for all the believing men and for all the believing women on their faults in deeds; and Allah knows the place where he moves about outside home and the place where he dwells in inside home; so He keeps watch over the Prophet PBUH at all times and places so that nothing hinders him from the fulfillment of his liability to spread the teachings of Islam; MA’EDAH-67 tells, “O Apostle - deliver what has been revealed to you from your Lord; and if you do it not, then you have not delivered His message, and Allah will protect you from the people; surely Allah will not guide the disbelieving people (who intend to trouble the Prophet PBUH)”; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
QITAL-The Third Ruku
20. And those who believe say: Why has not a chapter been revealed? But when a decisive chapter is revealed, and fighting is mentioned therein you see those in whose hearts is a disease look to you with the look of one fainting because of death. Woe to them then!
21. Obedience and gentle word (both are contrary); but when the affair becomes settled, then if they remain true to Allah it would certainly be better for them.
22. But is it expected of you that if you hold back yourselves, you make mischief in the land and cut off the ties of kinship!
23. Those it is whom Allah has cursed so He has made them deaf and blinded their eyes.
24. Do they not then reflect on the Quran? Nay, on the hearts there are locks.
25. Surely (as for) those who return on their backs after that guidance has become manifest to them, the Satan has made it a light matter to them; and He gives them respite.
26. That is because they say to those who hate what Allah has revealed: We will obey you in some of the affairs; and Allah knows their secrets.
27. But how will it be when the angels cause them to die smiting their backs.
28. That is because they follow what is displeasing to Allah and are averse to His pleasure, therefore He has made null their deeds.
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This Ruku points out the attitude of the hypocrites towards the command of QITAL in the Quran and indicates the consequence to that attitude for them; note that at Madinah, there were some persons who were ready to accept those Islamic commands that seemed easy to them in practice but they were not prepared to take any of such Islamic commands that seemed hard to them in practice; this had been the manner towards Torah of the Bani-Israel too at ancient times and the hypocrites did confide to them about their rejection of the command of QITAL in practice; Surah BAQARAH had also pointed out the attitude of hypocrites at its second Ruku and it does explain much of this place here at Surah QITAL; the first AAYAT of the Ruku states that all who claim to be the believers in the Quran do ask for guidance to practice the Islamic commands but when the command of QITAL comes to them by any of Surah in clear terms, then the Prophet PBUH does find such persons in them who are given to hypocrisy, and who are horrified by this as if they are fainting by fear of death that is just round the corner; that attitude would lead them only to total dismay; AAYAT-21 tells that though they claim to be Muslims yet their practice is not according to the decent claim that they pronounce; however, when the time of trial comes and they do show their commitment to fulfill the command of QITAL, that still would cause things to become better for them as during the lifetime here, there is chance to make things better by taking-up the right attitudes in issues of concern, according to Islam; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-22 reads, “but is it expected of you that if you hold back yourselves, you make mischief in the land and cut off the ties of kinship”; this AAYAT essentially states that mischief (FASAD) would spread and even the close relatives would not care to welfare of each other, if Muslims hold themselves back from QITAL against those disbelievers who intend to hinder the teachings of the Quran to spread and to come into practice; this certainly is not expected of them as being the force of Allah, they have to see that the teachings of the Quran spread far & wide; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAAT-23 to 26 tell about the hypocrites who intend to keep away from QITAL even at necessity, that Allah has cursed them in such manner that they have become unable to hear the message of the Quran and to see the right path; they do not ponder on the teachings of the Quran so this adverse attitude to it has caused their hearts to become unable to accept its message and follow the right path; they turn their backs to the guidance that tells them to fight the disbelievers, whereas they have got its clear awareness, as the Satan has made it seem to them that it is nothing to worry if they refrain from this guidance; AAYAT-25 ends providing the info that Allah has given them respite for some period but they would see the consequence to their adverse attitude, which they are taking lightly in the following of the Satan; AAYAT-26 gives the reason to their ruin plainly by the statement, “that is because they say to those (among the Jews living near to Madinah) who hate what Allah has revealed (i.e. the Quran)- we will obey you in some of the affairs (i.e. they would not take QITAL against adversaries to Islam); and Allah knows their secrets (even if they try to hide them as much as possible for them)”; the last two AAYAAT of the Ruku tell that the hypocrites would get utmost punishment even at the world as they die, as they followed such ways which brought displeasure of Allah to them; they refrained from asking His pleasure so their deeds, that were seemingly good, became futile to them; these AAYAAT read, “but how will it be when the angels cause them to die smiting their backs; that is because they follow what is displeasing to Allah and are averse to His pleasure, therefore He has made null their deeds”; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
QITAL-The Last Ruku
29. Or do those in whose hearts is a disease think that Allah will not bring forth their spite?
30. And if We please, We would have made you know them so that you would certainly have recognized them by their marks and most certainly you can recognize them by the intent of (their) speech; and Allah knows your deeds.
31. And most certainly We will try you until We have known those among you who exert themselves hard, and the patient, and made your case manifest.
32. Surely those who disbelieve and turn away from Allah's way and oppose the Apostle after that guidance has become clear to them cannot harm Allah in any way, and He will make null their deeds.
33. O you who believe! obey Allah and obey the Apostle, and do not make your deeds of no effect.
34. Surely those who disbelieve and turn away from Allah's way, then they die while they are disbelievers, Allah will by no means forgive them.
35. And be not slack so as to cry for peace and you have the upper hand, and Allah is with you, and He will not bring your deeds to naught.
36. The life of this world is only idle sport and play, and if you believe and guard (against evil) He will give you your rewards, and will not ask of you your possessions.
37. If He should ask you for it and urge you, you will be niggardly, and He will bring forth your malice.
38. Behold! you are those who are called upon to spend in Allah's way, but among you are those who are niggardly, and whoever is niggardly is niggardly against his own soul; and Allah is Self-sufficient and you have need (of Him), and if you turn back He will bring in your place another people, then they will not be like you.
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The last Ruku of the Surah continues mentioning the hypocrites that though they do think that their negative thoughts about QITAL would remain concealed yet the fact of the matter is this that Allah would certainly bring that at fore; Allah has the authority to mention such persons by names yet it is unnecessary because the Prophet PBUH can recognize them by their speech where they present excuses to avoid QITAL; Allah would certainly try all persons who claim to be Muslims so that those manifest clearly for all to see, who are truly among those who do take-up JEHAD (in the meaning of QITAL here) and show patience (determination to fight on till they finish all FITNAH from the world) when they face the enemy; the clear info of all who claim to be Muslims would then manifest to all of Muslims for certain; whoever turns away at that trying time from the command of Allah (i.e. QITAL) and opposes the Prophet PBUH after that command is wholly manifest to him, he would remain unable to harm the word of Allah but He certainly would make all his deeds, even if seemingly good, totally null and void; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-33 asks the Muslims to obey the commands of Allah and of His Messenger who provides them the manner to fulfill His commands; then only they would save their doings from going to waste; they must remain fully mindful that Allah would never forgive disbelievers because they live upon disbelief, and in addition they stop others too to accept Islam, and they die in condition of disbelief; AAYAT-35 asks the Muslims not to show any slackness as to ask for peace when the forces against Islam had come in front of them; they need to fight in the best manner they can and Allah would help them at such occasion; this QITAL would benefit them most highly as Allah would not make any of their good deeds ineffective at AKHIRAT; note that asking the enemy for some peaceful treaty that does not degrade Muslims, before their challenge to Islamic teachings at the battleground, is feasible but when the combat is on, then to ask for peace means to show such slackness that is disallowed at such occasion; they need to lead the combat to such position where the enemy finds it better to ask Muslims for peaceful solution to the matter at hand; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-36 tells about life at the world that it is nothing but idle sport and play if a person does not care that he/she has to answer Allah, the true Lord; Allah would give good returns at AKHIRAT to only those who truly believe and live firmly by His commands; this life at the world is an examination of all persons and they need to remain mindful of this even in the expenditure of their amounts; if He had asked for whole of their possessions at extreme trying times and have pressed them for it, they would have turned niggardly trying to find ways to avoid this command though Allah would have brought their malice to this command at fore; but He asks them to spend a fraction of their amounts in His way at life at the world upon all those that are needy, especially upon those who do fight in His way; still, there are such persons among the Muslims who turn niggardly though this attitude to hold back possessions, when that only is a fraction of that, at such trying times for the Muslims actually falls against their own selves as it would cause extreme troubles ahead; by this attitude, the enemy to Islam may find ways to affect the Muslims adversely and cause hindrance for them to practice the teachings of Islam whereas this attitude would put such niggardly person surely at troubles at AKHIRAT; Allah does not need any particular peoples to fight for His cause but all persons do need His pleasure to achieve safety from troubles at AKHIRAT; so if those who claim themselves to be Muslims, turn back and do not challenge the enemy of Islam in all manners they are able to, He will bring in their place another such people, who would not turn their backs to His command on QITAL; note that the history does show explicitly that when the Muslims did show some slackness in the defense of Islamic teachings somewhere, Allah chose another people to come to Islam from some other place and by the will of Allah, they did stand to guard those teachings with caliber; one of the best examples for this is that when the eastern wild forces from Mongolia destroyed the vast area under the control of Muslims due to their slackness in practice of the Islamic teachings, and killed many thousands of Muslims reaching Baghdad at 1258 AD, it happened that their descendants came to Islam afterwards; this happened because though they were extremely fierce warriors yet lacked the manner to run the vast administration that they had received by wars against the Muslims and moreover, they did not have any answer to the beautiful moral teachings of Islam; also, even after their defeat, the Muslims did not endorse their wild manner of living in practice and remained firm upon Islam; so their determination to keep to the Islamic teachings did bring those fierce warriors to Islam and they did become guards to its teachings most sincerely; this last AAYAT has the message that those persons who come to Islam as newcomers would understand its true worth and they would challenge the enemy of Islam persistently till there remains no FITNAH anywhere upon the face of the earth; note that AAYAT-9 at SAFF has declared clearly, “He it is Who sent His Apostle with the guidance and the true religion, that He may make it overcome the religions, all of them, though the polytheists may be averse”; certainly, He only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
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Surah FATH
(Consists of 4 Ruku; H-6)
FATH-The First Ruku
1. Surely We have given to you a clear victory
2. That Allah may forgive you your faults those which are past and those which are to follow and complete His favor to you and keep you on the right path,
3. And that Allah might help you with mighty help.
4. He it is Who sent down tranquility into the hearts of the believers that they might have more of belief added to their belief-- and Allah's are the hosts of the heavens and the earth, and Allah is Knowing, Wise--
5. That He may cause the believing men and the believing women to enter gardens beneath which rivers flow to abide therein and remove from them their evil; and that is grand achievement with Allah
6. And that He may punish the hypocritical men and the hypocritical women, and the polytheistic men and the polytheistic women, the entertainers of evil thoughts about Allah. On them is the evil turn, and Allah is wroth with them and has cursed them and prepared hell-fire for them, and evil is the resort.
7. And Allah's are the hosts of the heavens and the earth; and Allah is Mighty, Wise.
8. Surely We have sent you as witness and as bearer of good news and as warner,
9. That you may believe in Allah and His Apostle and may aid him and revere him; and that you may declare His glory, morning and evening.
10. Surely those who swear allegiance to you do but swear allegiance to Allah; the hand of Allah is above their hands. Therefore, whoever breaks his oath, he breaks it only to the injury of his own soul, and whoever fulfills what he has covenanted with Allah, He will grant him a mighty reward.
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At its onset, Surah FATH tells most explicitly that Allah has provided the Prophet PBUH with a clear victory in the shape of the treaty of HUDAYBIYAH (that was the place adjacent to Makkah); Quraysh, the residents of Makkah, had stopped the Prophet PBUH and his companions to enter Makkah for UMRAH though that was against the traditions of Arabia at those times; at that time, it happened that the Prophet PBUH sent UTHMAN-RA as his envoy to negotiate matters with the Quraysh and as his return to HUDAYBIYAH took more of time than was expected, rumor spread that he has been killed by the Quraysh; so the Prophet PBUH took an allegiance from all his companions there, who were about 1500 in number, to fight on till death due to the gravest nature of this matter; note that the Muslims did not have any intention to fight a war against the Quraysh yet the turn of events led them to such intention; afterwards, when it proved to be a rumor, the Prophet PBUH made this treaty with the Quraysh; though this treaty had few clauses that were seemingly averse to Muslims and due to that, his companions were not happy with this treaty, yet this was certainly huge victory for Muslims as its very occurrence denoted that the Quraysh had accepted Muslims as such force that had come to stay and it paved way for the conquest of Khyber just after it and the conquest of Makkah later on; note that Quraysh of Makkah claimed much high status at the lands of Arabia at those times; now, because of its significance in leading to these outstanding victories, it is termed in itself as the clearest of victories; also, the period of peace that it provided to all Muslims, where the Quraysh had assured them therein that they would refrain from wars against them for ten years ahead, enabled the Prophet PBUH to spread the teachings of Islam far and wide; as this was the particular liability of the Prophet PBUH that he had to spread the significant teachings of Islam to all peoples around, so the AAYAT ahead guarantees that whatever unintentional negligence which he may have shown at this necessary task in past, Allah forgives it and not only that, but if he shows any unintentional negligence even in the future too, He does forgive that even; by the spread of the teachings of Islam in the most peaceful environment from the sixth year of HIJRAH to the last of the Prophet’s life at the world, many thousands of people came to Islam whereas Surah NASR had provided subtle indication at Makkah that there would come such period at the lifetime of the Prophet PBUH when peoples would come to Islam in huge numbers; he would then have to prepare to depart from the world as he would have done his job well which is to provide the Islamic teachings to all peoples of the world (whereas his UMMAH would take on his task ahead), and so that would be the last period of his lifetime at the world; Surah NASR reads, “when there comes the help of Allah (for the spread of Islam in practice) and the victory (of it over the satanic arguments); and you see men entering the right path of Allah in companies (at most peaceful times); then celebrate the praise of your Lord, and ask His forgiveness; surely He is oft-returning (to mercy)”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; note here that contrary to what many of the western writers, who were most hostile to Islam, have written against Islam that it had mostly spread by aggressive QITAL (one of aspects of JEHAD), the factual position is that Islam had spread far and wide rapidly at the times of peace by its TABLIGH (another aspect of JEHAD) and the period of peace that the treaty of HUDAYBIYAH brought about, amply proves it; this Surah came to the Prophet PBUH on the way back to Madinah and soothed Muslims by telling them that this was actually huge victory for them and the time ahead clearly showed this fact for all to see; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; now, besides the ceasefire for ten years ahead between the Muslims and the Quraysh, the treaty stated that any person who defects the Quraysh and comes to the Muslims, shall be returned to Makkah whereas if any person defects the Muslims and comes to the Quraysh, shall not be returned to them; any of tribes which intends so, may enter into pact with the Muslims and any of them which intends so, may enter into pact with the Quraysh; the Muslims would return to Madinah this year but they might come to Makkah the next year to perform UMRAH when they would not display any of weapons and stay for three days at the city whereas the Quraysh would give them the space to perform UMRAH by retiring to mounts nearby, and they would not take any person to Madinah on their return after they perform UMRAH; it also stated that none of the sides would betray the other; the second AAYAT states explicitly that this period of peace would lead to the NEMAT of Allah, that is the living manner according to Islam, to come to completion and that would consolidate the position of the Prophet PBUH to remain upon and call towards the right path; so Allah would provide him such assistance that would lead him to gain control of vast area for Islam to establish itself in practice; note that this happened clearly in the next few years ahead; note also that at MA’EDAH, Allah tells at AAYAT-3 that is among the very last AAYAAT to come to the Prophet PBUH, “this day have I perfected for you your DEEN and completed My NEMAT on you (i.e. such favor from Allah that the true Muslims live upon the Islamic teachings by awareness of the manner to practice those teachings with integrity, for AKHIRAT) and chosen for you Islam as DEEN (the Guidance to the right path to Allah that gives the principles to practice for every issue of life and the Muslims accept them so that they get the true success at AKHIRAT)”; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-4 tells that Allah sent SAKINAH (tranquility) into the hearts of the believers so their belief increased that their confrontation with the disbelievers has certainly provided them the most significant victory at HUDAYBIYAH; note that SAKINAH is the acceptance inside which comes by all attention towards Allah that the condition at hand, which seemingly is averse to benefits, would transform to bring utmost advantage; Al-Hamdu Lillah; Allah has got huge number of angels at the heavens and the earth and He is totally able to punish the hypocrites and the extreme disbelievers but He intends that the Muslims show their worth against them as life at the world is an examination to all persons for certain; AAYAAT-4 to 6 read, “He it is Who sent down tranquility into the hearts of the believers that they might have more of belief added to their belief- and Allah's are the hosts of the heavens and the earth, and Allah is Knowing (so He records all good deeds of all good Muslims that they would certainly see at AKHIRAT), Wise (so He is taking the world on towards the destination He intends); that He may cause the believing men and the believing women to enter gardens beneath which rivers flow to abide therein and remove from them their evil; and that is grand achievement (i.e. the true success) with Allah; and that He may punish the hypocritical men and the hypocritical women, and the polytheistic men and the polytheistic women, the entertainers of evil thoughts about Allah; on them is the evil turn, and Allah is wroth with them and has cursed them and prepared hell-fire for them, and evil is the resort”; note that there are two sections of the mankind which would clearly manifest at AKHIRAT as is clear from these AAYAAT at this first Ruku of FATH; Surah TAGHABUN-2 gives the info about them clearly, “it is He Who has created you (all of the mankind); and of you are some that are disbelievers, and some that are true believers: and Allah sees well all that you do”; Surah AHZAAB also tells about these two sections of the mankind there at AKHIRAT, at its last AAYAT that one of them would be of all the disbelievers, which would comprise of hypocrites and the polytheists, both men and women, whereas the other would be of the true believers among the mankind, both men and women, to whom Allah would show utmost forgiveness and total mercy even at AKHIRAT; this is similar to the info that AAYAAT here at FATH provide, though first it mentions the true believers and then the disbelievers; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-7 points out again, “and Allah's are the hosts of the heavens and the earth; and Allah is Mighty, Wise”, this tells that where necessary, He would certainly provide extreme punishment to the disbelievers by His own authority; note that this AAYAT ends by the statement that Allah is AZIZ (Mighty), HAKEEM (Wise); AZIZ means that He provides for such happenings that keep the world to His will by His authoritative measures so no one becomes able to cause such deviation at the world that leads it away from His set manner for it that causes FASAD (high difficulties to work upon the Islamic teachings) for high length of period; He destroyed by events that are named as natural calamities, many such nations that had challenged His authority and were causing FASAD at the world; Surah ANKABUT has the AAYAT (that is AAYAT-40) where Allah tells us that “each one of them We seized for his crime; so in them, against some We sent a violent tornado (with showers of stones); some were caught by blast; some We caused the earth to swallow up; and some We drowned; it was not Allah Who injured them but they injured (and oppressed) their own souls”; and HAKEEM means that He indeed cares well that all works of all His creation affect in such way that they fulfill only His will; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAAT-8 & 9 give the info that Allah has sent His last Messenger Muhammad PBUH so that he provides testimony against those at AKHIRAT who had received the message of Allah from him and yet did not take the heed to believe in that; and so that he gives good news to all those who do accept that message at life at the world that they would receive JANNAAT, the gardens of paradise, at AKHIRAT because of their good belief; and so that he gives warning to those who are not prepared to believe that message at life at the world that they would get extreme punishment of the hell-fire at AKHIRAT because of their extreme arrogance; so the virtuous attitude is that all good persons who do get the message of Allah believe in Him and His last Messenger, and aid him at difficult times and revere him when there are such people who try to debase his name without any care to see what good morality he has provided to all persons of the world; all good persons need to declare the glory of Allah, morning and evening, with all sincerity towards Him; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the last AAYAT of the Ruku reads, “surely those who swear allegiance to you, do but swear allegiance to Allah; the hand of Allah is above their hands; therefore, whoever breaks his oath, he breaks it only to the injury of his own soul, and whoever fulfills what he has covenanted with Allah, He will grant him a mighty reward”; this refers to the allegiance, which is named as BAYTE-RIDHWAN, which the companions of the Prophet PBUH gave to him to fight till death when the rumor of the murder of UTHMAN-RA reached them; note that for some person to show allegiance to someone needs taking his right hand into his own right hand, whereas his own hand remains beneath the hand of that person to whom he gives allegiance by words of BAYT (the allegiance); as BAYTE-RIDHWAN occurred in this manner so Allah states here that though the hand of the Prophet PBUH remained above hands of his companions who gave their allegiance to him yet the hand of Allah remained even above the hand of the Prophet PBUH; he is the Messenger of Allah so the companions of the Prophet PBUH actually gave this allegiance to Allah, the true Lord; however, this does need some noting at this juncture that for the occurrence of any BAYT, taking hands of each other is not something necessary; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
FATH-The Second Ruku
11. Those of the dwellers of the desert who were left behind will say to you: Our property and our families kept us busy, so ask forgiveness for us. They say with their tongues what is not in their hearts. Say: Then who can control anything for you from Allah if He intends to do you harm or if He intends to do you good; nay, Allah is Aware of what you do:
12. Nay! you rather thought that the Apostle and the believers would not return to their families ever, and that was made fair-seeming to your hearts and you thought an evil thought and you were a people doomed to perish.
13. And whoever does not believe in Allah and His Apostle, then surely We have prepared burning fire for the disbelievers.
14. And Allah's is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth; He forgives whom He pleases and punishes whom He pleases, and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
15. Those who are left behind will say when you set forth for the gaining of acquisitions: Allow us that we may follow you. They desire to change the word of Allah. Say: By no means shall you follow us; thus did Allah say before. But they will say: Nay! you are jealous of us. Nay! they do not understand but little.
16. Say to those of the dwellers of the desert who were left behind: You shall soon be invited (to fight) against a people possessing mighty prowess; you will fight against them until they submit; then if you obey, Allah will grant you a good reward; and if you turn back as you turned back before, He will punish you with a painful punishment.
17. There is no harm in the blind, nor is there any harm in the lame, nor is there any harm in the sick (if they do not go forth to combat the enemy); and whoever obeys Allah and His Apostle, He will cause him to enter gardens beneath which rivers flow, and whoever turns back, He will punish him with a painful punishment.
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This Ruku commences by providing the info beforehand about those villagers who claimed to be Muslims and who lived around Madinah; they displayed their hypocrisy and did not come to UMRAH with the Prophet PBUH though he had told them to accompany them; AAYAAT tell about them that they would make excuses as the Prophet PBUH returns to Madinah, that their properties and their families needed their attention which occupied them so they are rightful that the Prophet PBUH asks Allah to forgive them; the fact of the matter is this that they thought that the Prophet PBUH and the true Muslims that have accompanied him, would not come back to Madinah as they would lose their lives going to Makkah; they thought that the Quraysh would challenge the Muslims and they had the power to end their strength as they arrive at Makkah, even if they have no intention to fight the Quraysh; but this did not happen, rather their hypocrisy did come in open and they saw their need to make excuses; their excuses are useless for them as they would perish getting their punishment even at the world; whoever claims to be among the Muslims yet does not have sincerity in his belief and denies to put the command of Allah in practice, then He has prepared the hell-fire for such disbelieving persons so that they get their punishment even at AKHIRAT; they had asked the Prophet PBUH to ask Allah to show mercy to them so AAYAT-14 answers them, “and Allah's is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth; He forgives whom He pleases and punishes whom He pleases, and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful”; this tells that Allah would show mercy only to those among them for whom He intends to provide even more space to show their worth for the practice of Islam but even the asking of the Prophet PBUH would not get His mercy to any such person for whom He does not intend for it; certainly, He is Forgiving so He would forgive the wrong of those among them for whom He intends and He is Merciful so He would provide the necessary space to all such persons so that they do compensate for the wrong that they had committed; AAYAT-15 tells about the response of the villagers who had shown hypocrisy, when they had been stopped from accompanying the Prophet PBUH and the true Muslims, to Khyber; though they had refused to accompany the Prophet PBUH to Makkah yet they intended to accompany him to Khyber as seeing the physical strength of Muslims, they thought that their lives are not threatened there and they would get some good share from the spoils of Khyber; it reads, “those who are left behind (when the Muslims have traveled to Makkah) will say when you set forth for the gaining of acquisitions (at Khyber)- allow us that we may follow you; they desire to change the word of Allah (that they would not accompany the true Muslims to Khyber as Allah had told the Prophet PBUH and he told them all); say- by no means shall you follow us (to Khyber); thus did Allah say before (that they have shown such cowardice that now they would not come at this significant occasion with the true Muslims and any such occasion ahead unless there comes some evidence for them that they are sincere to Islam); but they will say (seeing it from their own erroneous perspective)- nay! you are jealous of us (i.e. the true Muslims do not want them to get any of possessions from Khyber)- nay! they do not understand but little (that even if their presence benefits their selves by some worldly assets, it may cause adverse impression on the true Muslims who had stood firm at the trying occasion when they were asked for allegiance to fight till death)”; note that only the true Muslims, who had accompanied the Prophet PBUH for UMRAH towards Makkah, accompanied him to Khyber; AAYAT-16 asks the Prophet PBUH to give them the info that very soon they would receive such occasion which would enable them to show repentance and to show that they do have sincerity for Islam; so Allah would provide the space to them to make things better for them as it would happen that they would soon be invited to fight against such people who would have mighty prowess and the Muslims would be required to fight against them until they submit either by paying JIZYAH or by accepting Islam; this indicates the Roman empire that was highly equipped by arms of warfare with much trained personnel to fight any challenge against their empire most professionally; the Muslims arose to such status, even in the life of Muhammad PBUH, the last Messenger of Allah, that they did challenge the Roman empire by the expedition of TABUK and after him, they did end their control of the lands of Arabia and established their rule all over it effectively; the AAYAT tells that if they do show their obedience then, and do show that they do not fear the strength of the enemy where they take-up QITAL for Allah upon them against the enemy, then He would provide them good reward even at life at the world; but if they turn back when they face that enemy or/and do not accompany the true Muslims against them as they had refused at the occasion of UMRAH to Makkah, then He will punish them by the most painful punishment even at the world; certainly, He only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the last AAYAT of the Ruku exempts those persons from the combat against the enemy who have genuine reason to hold themselves back from it; it reads, “there is no harm in the blind, nor is there any harm in the lame, nor is there any harm in the sick (if they do not go forth to combat the enemy); and (those who are fit to fight the enemy, so from among them) whoever obeys Allah and His Apostle (to fight on the enemy till FITNAH ends), He will cause him to enter gardens beneath which rivers flow, and whoever turns back, He will punish him with a painful punishment (not only at AKHIRAT but even at his life at the world)”; certainly, He only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
FATH-The Third Ruku
18. Certainly Allah was well pleased with the believers when they swore allegiance to you under the tree, and He knew what was in their hearts, so He sent down tranquility on them and rewarded them with a near victory,
19. And many acquisitions which they will take; and Allah is Mighty, Wise.
20. Allah promised you many acquisitions which you will take, then He hastened on this one for you and held back the hands of men from you, and that it may be a sign for the believers and that He may guide you on the right path.
21. And other which you have not yet been able to achieve Allah has surely encompassed it, and Allah has power over all things.
22. And if those who disbelieve fight with you, they would certainly turn (their) backs, then they would not find any protector or a helper.
23. Such has been the course of Allah that has indeed run before, and you shall not find a change in Allah's course.
24. And He it is Who held back their hands from you and your hands from them in the valley of Mecca after He had given you victory over them; and Allah is Seeing what you do.
25. It is they who disbelieved and turned you away from the Sacred Mosque and (turned off) the offering withheld from arriving at its destined place; and were it not for the believing men and the believing women, whom, not having known, you might have trodden down, and thus something hateful might have afflicted you on their account without knowledge-- so that Allah may cause to enter into His mercy whomsoever He pleases; had they been widely separated one from another, We would surely have punished those who disbelieved from among them with a painful punishment.
26. When those who disbelieved harbored in their hearts (feelings of) disdain, the disdain of (the days of) ignorance, but Allah sent down His tranquility on His Apostle and on the believers, and made them keep the word of TAQWA, and they were entitled to it and worthy of it; and Allah is Cognizant of all things.
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This Ruku states the term SAKINAH (tranquility) at both its first and its last AAYAT so, with AAYAT-4 of this Surah, it occurs three times at it; note that Surah TAUBAH states this term two times that are at its AAYAT-26 (where it relates to telling of the tranquility upon the Prophet PBUH and the true Muslims at the day of battle of HUNAYN) and its AAYAT-40 (where it relates to telling of the tranquility upon the Prophet PBUH when he and his companion Abu-Bakr had taken shelter at the cave of THAUR at the time of HIJRAT to Madinah while the disbelievers were searching for them frantically); at all places, it relates to such situation where the sincere Muslims had got into severe difficulty as the disbelievers seemingly had such an edge over them that clearly threatened their lives; at all such times, Allah helped the true Muslims by His significant assistance by His angels that ultimately got them evident victory over all the disbelievers who intended to end the impression of Islam; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the term SAKINAH also comes at BAQARAH-248 when Samuel-AS, the Prophet in the Bani-Israel, had told them that the sign for the authority of TALUT (Saul) over them is that very soon, they would receive the huge trunk that they had lost in which, there is SAKINAH (here it means blessing from Allah) for them and in which, there were few relics of Moses-AS and Aaron-AS; now, those who had that huge trunk at that time, thought that it was putting some bad spell on them and it was the reason to their ills so they put it into a cart that was dragged by bulls and the angels took it and led it to the place of the Bani-Israel by the command of Allah; the sincere warriors in the way of Allah among them, that were only about 315 against the huge number of the enemy, had made DUA (supplication) to Allah to pour SABR upon them (so that they do not care for the physical life) and to make them firm at the battleground (so that whatever comes they fight on without turning their backs) and to provide them victory over the disbelievers; after that, they did achieve victory against the enemy (JALUT i.e. Goliath and his forces) which enabled them to establish their own kingdom under the good command of TALUT; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAAT-18 to 23 at the Ruku read, “certainly, Allah was well pleased with the believers when they swore allegiance (i.e. BAYTE-RIDHWAN) to you (O Prophet PBUH) under the tree (at HUDAYBIYAH), and He knew what was in their hearts (i.e. He knew that they were most sincere in their commitment to fight the disbelievers till their deaths), so He sent down SAKINAH (tranquility) on them and rewarded them with a near victory (i.e. victory at Khyber); and many acquisitions which they will take (ahead); and Allah is Mighty (so He provides for such happenings that keep the world to His will by His authoritative measures so no one becomes able to cause such deviation at the world that leads it away from His set manner for it that may cause FASAD for high length of period), Wise (so He indeed cares well that all works of all His creation affect in such way that they fulfill only His will); Allah promised you many acquisitions which you will take, then He hastened on this one (i.e. Khyber) for you and held back the hands of men from you (that they remained unable to fight the Muslims at HUDAYBIYAH, at Khyber, at the conquest of Makkah, because of the awe that Allah has put inside them for the true Muslims), and that it may be a sign for the believers (that practicing of the Islamic commands does give amazingly good power to Muslims) and that He may guide you (i.e. He may keep the Muslims firm) on the right path (i.e. the path of Islam); and other (i.e. the victory other than the victory at Khyber which means the conquest of Makkah) which you have not yet been able to achieve (though) Allah has surely encompassed it (so the Muslims would get that at its due time), and Allah has power over all things; and if those who disbelieve fight with you, they would certainly turn (their) backs, then they would not find any protector or a helper; such has been the course of Allah that has indeed run before (so whoever combats against the true Muslims at the battleground when the Prophet PBUH is in them at command at such crucial occasion, Allah would certainly destroy them as He has destroyed the nations before who had challenged His apostles), and you shall not find a change in Allah's course”; note that the victory at Khyber and the conquest of Makkah, both did occur without bloodshed; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the next AAYAT gives the info that Allah made such provision that no fight takes place at HUDAYBIYAH so that the treaty of peace between the Muslims and the disbelievers does come to take place there; so He stopped them to harm the Muslims in any manner and stopped the Muslims to harm them by combat in any manner; note that there did not occur any armed fight at HUDAYBIYAH but this AAYAT specifically refers to the incident that took place there before the occurrence of the treaty of peace, that some armed group from among the disbelievers conspired to kill the Prophet PBUH but his companions saw them and captured them; when they were presented to the Prophet PBUH, he pardoned them and set them free as he did not intend for any fight there; AAYAT-25 gives the reason explicitly why Allah provided for such situation that there occurs no fight between the Muslims and the disbelievers; it tells that there are still many of Muslims at Makkah that include both men and women, whom the Muslims coming from Madinah do not yet know; there was highest of probability that they may have inflicted death upon them without knowledge which may have led them to some most negative consequence as to finish-off the space for any person who has shown his inclination to live upon Islam, is highly sinful whereas Allah causes to enter into His mercy whomsoever He pleases; if these both had been clearly separated one from another and the Muslims would have targeted the disbelievers only, then Allah would surely have punished those who disbelieved from among them with the most painful punishment; this would certainly have taken place because they had not only disbelieved in the authority of Allah but they had also turned the true Muslims away from the Sacred Mosque and they had caused such situation that the sacrificial animals that the Muslims had brought with them, did not come to their destined place; the last AAYAT of the Ruku reads, “when those who disbelieved harbored in their hearts (feelings of) disdain, the disdain of (the days of) ignorance, but Allah sent down His SAKINAH (i.e. tranquility from Him) on His Apostle and on the believers, and made them keep the word of TAQWA, and they were entitled to it and worthy of it; and Allah is Cognizant of all things”; note that “the disdain of ignorance” means their prejudice to erase the word AR-RAHMAN (the Most Compassionate) at the documentation of the treaty which was mentioned there, attached to the name of Allah, because they did not recognize Him by that name; they also asked to erase the phrase “the Messenger of Allah” from it that was affixed to the name of Muhammad PBUH; as for TAQWA, note that it is the peaceful condition at inside which comes by the righteous belief in Allah and commitment of good deeds according to it; note also that “the word of TAQWA” means here to declare the glory of Allah morning & evening with belief in Him sincerely that He only is the true Lord; so it asks the Muslims to be most grateful to Allah; certainly, He only is the Creator of all the creation and He always has all His attributes and He only is the true Lord; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
FATH-The Last Ruku
27. Certainly Allah had shown to His Apostle the vision with truth: you shall most certainly enter the Sacred Mosque, if Allah pleases, in security, (some) having their heads shaved and (others) having their hair cut, you shall not fear, but He knows what you do not know, so He brought about a near victory before that.
28. He it is Who sent His Apostle with the guidance and the true path of life, that He may make it overcome the paths of life, all of them; and Allah is enough for witness.
29. Muhammad (PBUH) is the Apostle of Allah, and those with him are most harsh against the disbelievers, compassionate among themselves; you will see them bowing down, prostrating themselves, seeking grace from Allah and pleasure; their marks are in their faces because of the effect of prostration; that is their description in the Torah and their description in the INJIL; like as seed-produce that puts forth its sprout, then strengthens it, so it becomes stout and stands firmly on its stem, delighting the sowers that He may enrage the disbelievers on account of them; Allah has promised those among them who believe and do good, forgiveness and great reward.
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The statement given at the first AAYAT of this Ruku, needs to see that the Prophet PBUH had seen a dream that showed that he and his companions are performing UMRAH at the Sacred Mosque at Makkah in EHRAAM (the specific clothing that is worn at this noble occasion); as Allah shows only true dreams to His Prophets, so he and his companions set out for UMRAH to Makkah but we all have studied at this Surah FATH that they were stopped at the site of HUDAYBIYAH as we have read at this Surah; this led few of his companions to ask what happened that his dream did not come to take place in practice; the AAYAT answers this query that Allah has certainly shown him the dream that is true which certainly would take place though not this year but the next; note that to give the actual timing of dreams, even if they are most true ones, is quite some task and this AAYAT does declare it clearly; however, dreams when they relate to future, they often relate to the near future; the AAYAT states, “certainly Allah had shown to His Apostle the vision (at his dream) with truth- you shall most certainly enter the Sacred Mosque, if Allah pleases (this means that He does), in security, (some) having their heads shaved and (others) having their hair cut (as both are allowed at the rituals of UMRAH), you shall not fear (i.e. the Muslims would perform it in most peaceful situation), but He knows what you do not know (that the treaty that they have managed to get from the Quraysh at this occasion, is certainly most significant), so He brought about a near victory (of Khyber instead, that consolidated their position at Madinah and places near to it) before that (which Muslims would certainly perform)”; note that the next year, the Muslims did perform UMRAH which is named as QADHA (in compensation) and it was performed in the most peaceful environment for them at the holy city of Makkah; certainly Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the next AAYAT reads for the spread of Islam, “He it is Who sent His Apostle with the guidance and the true path of life, that He may make it overcome the paths of life, all of them; and Allah is enough for witness”; note that the part in the AAYAT – “He it is Who sent His Apostle with the guidance and the true path of life, that He may make it overcome the paths of life, all of them” - has come also at two other places of the Holy Book Quran that are Surah TAUBAH-33 and Surah SAFF-9; note that by use of the term DEEN (the path of life) in this AAYAT for the true path of life (Islam) and for the paths of life, all of them (wrong paths), in singular at both places has the delicate indication that inside of the man does not incline to any wrongs by the nature he comes at the world (i.e. FITHRAT); it seems that though the first JAHILLIYAT (the period of extreme ignorance that was prevalent in the known world of yore) ended mostly by QITAL (the armed combat that is one of aspects of JEHAD), yet this second JAHILLIYAT that prevails at these current times all over the world, would end by the continuous effort in TABLIGH (the spread of the teachings of Islam verbally and in writing that also is one of aspects of JEHAD) insha-Allah, especially when the woman realizes the reservation that she has to adhere to, by the teachings of Islam; however, the first aspect among the three aspects of JEHAD is MUJAHIDA (living by the commands of Allah individually at any given situation as best as possible sincerely); read also the supplementary note after the note at the sixth Ruku of Surah HAJJ; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the last AAYAT of the Ruku, which also is the last AAYAT of the Surah, commences by the statement that Muhammad PBUH is the Apostle of Allah and this, Allah has stated here because the disbelievers had asked to erase the phrase “the Messenger of Allah” from the documentation of the treaty, which was affixed to his name; so Allah declared here that even if they deny, Muhammad PBUH is certainly His last Messenger; this AAYAT also tells ahead the merits of SAHABA (the companions of the Prophet PBUH) that though they are most harsh against the disbelievers yet they are most compassionate among themselves; and they declare the glory of Allah morning & evening so they do praise Allah all the time by bowing down and prostrating to Him; the good mark of their obedience to Allah is evident at their good faces and Torah (the holy Scripture that Allah gave to Moses-AS) and INJIL (the speech of Jesus-AS that has wisdom by the blessing of Allah) both have acknowledged their merits; the SAHABA of the Prophet PBUH are like the seed-produce that is very weak at the beginning but with time, it becomes strong and stands on its stem firmly which pleases the sowers of that; this tells that from their weakness, the SAHABA-RA have risen by the practice of Islamic teachings by the blessing of Allah, to such status where they are wonderfully able to challenge the disbelievers most powerfully; the last part of the last AAYAT gives the info that Allah has promised those among them who believe and do good (and evidently, they all do have this merit), forgiveness at life at the world on their unintentional wrongs, and great reward at the Day of Judgment; most certainly, He only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
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Surah HUJURAAT
(Consists of 2 Ruku; H-7 & 8)
HUJURAAT-The First Ruku
1. O you who believe! be not forward in the presence of Allah and His Apostle, and be careful of (your duty to) Allah; surely Allah is Hearing, Knowing.
2. O you who believe! do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet (PBUH), and do not speak loud to him as you speak loud to one another, lest your deeds became null while you do not perceive.
3. Surely those who lower their voices before Allah's Apostle are they whose hearts Allah has proved for guarding (against evil); they shall have forgiveness and great reward.
4. (As for) those who call out to you from behind the private chambers, surely most of them do not understand.
5. And if they wait patiently until you come out to them, it would certainly be better for them; and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
6. O you who believe! if an evil-doer comes to you with a report, look carefully into it, lest you harm a people in ignorance, then be sorry for what you have done.
7. And know that among you is Allah's apostle; should he obey you in many a matter, you would surely fall into distress, but Allah has endeared the true belief to you and has made it seemly in your hearts, and He has made hateful to you, disbelief and transgression and disobedience; these it is that are the followers of the right path.
8. Due to grace from Allah and due to favor; and Allah is Knowing, Wise.
9. And if two parties among the true believers, quarrel, make peace between them; but if one of them acts wrongfully towards the other, fight that which acts wrongfully until it returns to Allah's command; then if it returns, make peace between them with justice and act equitably; surely Allah loves those who act equitably.
10. The believers are but brethren, therefore make peace between your brethren and be careful of (your duty to) Allah that mercy may be had on you.
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Surah HUJURAAT beautifully guides the true Muslims to the best of social values that they have to adhere to, for the sake of keeping to the Islamic manner of living collectively at the Islamic environment; Al-Hamdu Lillah; so it is all about the virtuous attitudes that the Muslims have to present at the Islamic environment so as to keep their solidarity intact; note that HUJURAAT means the private quarters where the wives of the Prophet PBUH resided and those were adjacent to the Masjid; the first AAYAT of the Surah is the basis to the true belief as the true Muslim is that person who has surrendered to Allah, the true Lord, that he/she would live his/her life according to His commands as the Quran guides him/her for which he/she would care to obey the Prophet PBUH to the best of his/her ability; in other words, the true Muslim has to see to the commands of Allah that are in the Holy Book Quran whereas the authentic Ahadith clearly show how to put them into practice; the next four AAYAAT guide the true Muslims to check how they address the Prophet PBUH as he is at such spiritual status among them, where their speech even shall unmistakably denote their utmost respect for him; and if they disrespect him by their speech, it would lead to such outcome that their virtuous deeds even, would become null & void; note that some villagers from the tribe of BANI-TAMIM visited the Prophet PBUH and generally, like other of villagers then, they also had extreme coarse manners in their speech and in their doings; when they arrived at the Masjid in afternoon, the Prophet PBUH had retired to one of the quarters there for some rest therein; they did not wait for him to come out to them but called him out by his name in their ordinary rough way with raised voices; these AAYAAT, from AAYAT-2 to AAYAT-5, warned all of the Muslims upon such crude attitude towards the Prophet PBUH; so AAYAT-3 appreciates those who speak to the Prophet PBUH softly with necessary voice only to express their object and this also implies that they follow his direction when they get it in some concerned issue clearly, without any insistence upon their own viewpoint on that; whoever keeps check on his speech towards the Prophet PBUH, keeping his good address towards him to necessity and with necessary soft tone of voice, Allah keeps him firm on TAQWA and all such persons shall have forgiveness from Him on their wrongs and most significant of rewards; the Surah has stated in clear terms ahead at its second Ruku that the standard for the true success is to achieve TAQWA that is the attitude of the heart which asks all the Muslims to fear Allah that they do not get His displeasure by their sins becoming so sinful that they lose the chance to regain JANNAH and with that, they also must have such hope towards Him that He would keep them safe from the Satan at all times and at all places; so every person needs to care to live as righteous believer in the fundamental teachings of Islam with virtuous deeds so that he/she does not lose the opportunity to show his/her worth for JANNAH at AKHIRAT and so that he/she is not put into the hell-fire as Allah would certainly fulfill His word; this good care to all attitude would lead the good person to get the pleasure of Allah, the true Lord; Al-Hamdu Lillah; these four AAYAAT read, “O you who believe! do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet (PBUH), and do not speak loud to him as you speak loud to one another, lest your deeds became null while you do not perceive; surely those who lower their voices before Allah's Apostle are they whose hearts Allah has proved for TAQWA (so when they get clear direction of the Prophet PBUH on some issue of concern, they do accept it for practice); they shall have forgiveness (on some negligence of good deeds) and great reward (on their virtuous practice of all good deeds); (as for) those who call out to you from behind the private chambers (i.e. the quarters there), surely most of them do not understand (the refined manner to address the Prophet PBUH); and if they wait patiently until you come out to them, it would certainly be better for them; and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful (for them as they naturally have this coarse manner in speech without any intention to disrespect the Prophet PBUH, though they need to control this manner with care to refine it to necessary level when they address him)”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-6 provides a significant ruling on such info which asks for some immediate defensive action but it does need confirmation for its authenticity, that it shall not be taken on face and the concerned people at authority shall necessarily verify it before taking any due action on that; note that the Prophet PBUH sent a man as envoy to one of such tribes that had come to Islam, for the collection of ZAKAH; as they came to know that the Prophet PBUH has sent someone towards them for the collection of ZAKAH, they waited for him outside their town to welcome him; now, the man whom the Prophet PBUH had sent to them, was from a tribe that had enmity to this tribe at the period of ignorance and when he saw them gathered outside from some distance as he reached there, he misjudged the situation and thought that they have gathered with the planning to kill him then & there; he immediately returned to the Prophet PBUH with the info that the tribe has left Islam with the intention to challenge it; this was serious matter and the Prophet PBUH commanded Khalid ibn Waleed to take some necessary force and challenge them at the battleground; however, he wisely told Khalid-RA to assess the situation before any action that he takes by force against them; so when he reached there with his force, he saw that they had no intention to challenge Islam rather they were most prepared to pay their ZAKAH so he reported their actual position to the Prophet PBUH and the issue was settled peacefully; AAYAT-6 reads, “O you who believe! if an evil-doer comes to you with a report, look carefully into it, lest you harm a people in ignorance, then be sorry for what you have done”; note that though it was a mistake on the side of the envoy yet he is mentioned here as FASIQ (evil-doer; most sinful) due to the magnitude of his mistake and it implies that he should have cared to address it somehow, at that very place where he saw them gathered outside their town; at these current times, the flow of communication is swift by aid of technical gadgets yet even today, it is likely that misjudgment does occur at some crucial issue that needs immediate defensive action so this ruling to verify the issue before any due action, is most valid even at these current times where the absence of it may bring amazingly huge loss of lives and property; Islam also rules clearly that there has to be extreme care that such info that relates to shameful things, is not circulated among the masses; AAYAT-19 of Surah NOOR reads, “surely (as for) those who love that shameful things should circulate respecting those who believe (by any manner that spreads info among people), they shall have a grievous chastisement in this world and the hereafter; and Allah knows, while you do not know (that how the unchecked mention of these things even, cause these things to affect the surroundings adversely)”; so AAYAT-6 of HUJURAAT and AAYAT-19 of NOOR respectively ask Muslims to check attitudes, that fake info does not cause any injustice due to misjudgment, and nothing of any info circulates among the masses which is shameful by nature, as such presentation time & again may cause weakening in avoidance of the immoral substance in it by the masses; so this check would assist avoidance respectively at the Islamic environment, of the spread of injustice among the persons at some authority and of the spread of shameful attitude among the masses, insha-Allah; at these current times, due to ignorance of the Islamic directions, the electronic media (which includes the TV and the social media) enhances these differences among the Muslims, knowingly & unknowingly, by their presentations that comprise of much faulty discussions; TV especially needs to care much about the Islamic rulings as many of anchors at the management of talk-shows present such questions that lead to differences and only seldom they try to get the clarification on dispute from any such participant who is capable to provide that with authenticity; this shows their low professional caliber (and their little tolerance to issues) as if they want to press their own viewpoint that carries discord towards the issue at hand rather than provide the real status of the issue at hand; they mostly do this to get a good rating in views to their talks with total disregard to the teachings of Islam; note well that all differences that arise causing much of disunity among Muslims at the religious practice or at the political scenario, are due to the ignorance of the true aim of life that only is to worship Allah, the true Lord; certainly, we all have to answer for our belief and our deeds at HASHR, the first day of AKHIRAT (the true life after this life) as the Messengers of Allah have told us clearly in accordance to the virtuous guidance that Allah provided to them; see also the supplementary note which I, MSD, have provided just after this note; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the next two AAYAAT appreciate the Prophet PBUH upon his manner of dealing with issues at hand (and they also appreciate SAHABA, the companions of the Prophet PBUH) and though this appreciation of the Prophet PBUH is in general terms yet it is fair to take it specifically too in context of his good dealing with the issue of the misjudgment that might have caused extreme loss to lives & property of men; these couple of AAYAAT read, “and know that among you is Allah's apostle; should he obey you in many a matter, you would surely fall into distress, but Allah has endeared the true belief to you (all companions of the Prophet PBUH) and has made it seemly in your hearts (i.e. the hearts of those of his companions who are most attentive to Allah), and He has made hateful to you (all of his companions), disbelief and transgression and disobedience; these it is that are the followers of the right path, due to grace from Allah (specifically to the Prophet PBUH as He has granted him the liability to spread His message to all peoples) and due to favor (in general from Him to all sincere Muslims); and Allah is Knowing (of all doings), Wise (to see how they impress the goings around)”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-9 has such direction which asks the Muslims for solidarity at all times and at all places; it tells all Muslims to make peace among such factions among them who have challenged each other ignorantly; there are few significant points to note here and that I, MSD, would take-up presently insha-Allah; the direction that the AAYAT provides to the Muslims is that - “and if two parties among the true believers, quarrel, make peace between them; but if one of them acts wrongfully towards the other, fight that which acts wrongfully until it returns to Allah's command; then if it returns, make peace between them with justice and act equitably; surely Allah loves those who act equitably” – the first of significant points to note here is that this direction asks the relevant Muslims to become arbitrators to make peace among two sides of the true Muslims who have disputed with each other, whereas both have their respective reasoning to their stance, that they present as not having anything which is against Islam; being true Muslims, though they have quarreled with each other, they would not go to war against each other unless both of them are not much significant by quantity so then even a forceful physical combat is possible among them but the direction of the AAYAT in focus, relates to such parties in the true Muslims who do have significance and then who do oppose each other though they would preferably avoid taking weapons against each other to their utmost patience; this makes clear that if these parties are not sincere to the teachings of Islam in their respective practice, even if they claim to be Muslims, the relevant Muslims in general are not liable to make peace among them as the direction at this AAYAT does not relate to such parties at quarrel; the second point is that this direction asks the arbitrators among the Muslims to fight forcefully (even by weapons if they deem fit) against the side that rebels against the other though the rebellious side may not necessarily take weapons against the other side, yet it may cause such situation for the other side that it finds living at ease utmost difficult, with little option to answer the rebellious side fittingly to keep convenience in their own living; the third point is that this direction asks the arbitrators among the Muslims that they come to their verdict by keeping to the commands of Allah according to justice and according to care to compensation of losses of both, when peace is restored between both sides to an acceptable extent; the fourth point is that this direction asks the arbitrators among the Muslims who intervene into the dispute of these two substantial sides of Muslims that they must have the necessary martial power to answer the unjust among these two, according to the magnitude by which that unjust side may put-up any challenge to them, without any fear to cause damage to the common people who have taken no part in the ongoing dispute; the fifth of significant points to note here is that this direction asks the arbitrators among the Muslims to indicate clearly the side that is totally unjust among these two sides of Muslims in dispute, by clear reasoning in this issue according to the teachings of Islam; Al-Hamdu Lillah; for the first point, note that Imam MAALIK has stated such words which suggest that if both sides, who claim to be Muslims, are unjust then let one of them punish the other and then the third would rise from among them, who also would be unjust, who would punish both of them; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the last AAYAT of the Ruku expresses beautifully that solidarity among the true Muslims is one of the most significant traits of them (as they are bothers to each other) so whereas they would see at all times and places that this is not damaged from the enemy in any manner, they would take care to their utmost capacity that it is not impaired even by doings of the Muslims themselves; it reads, “the believers are but brethren, therefore make peace between your brethren and be careful of (your duty to) Allah that mercy may be had on you”; certainly, He only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
Supplementary note on Surah HUJURAAT
Note about Islam that it is the most integrated system of life (but not totalitarian) as the fulfillment of its significant commands that Allah has given to the man, leads to the highest satisfaction to the self as it is complementary to the voice inside; if the Muslims practice those Islamic commands that are its basic practical commands especially the five pillars of Islam which the SUNNAH has explicitly asked for, they would provide good spiritual strength to all of them for certain; Al-Hamdu Lillah; these five are reciting much the name of Allah with remembrance that Allah is the only true Lord and Muhammad PBUH is His last Messenger, SALAH, ZAKAH and also other of provisions to the needy, SIYAM and HAJJ; in addition, they shall take-up in their practice all three aspects of JEHAD that are MUJAHIDA (keeping the base desires that are at inside in control by attention towards Allah with practice of the five pillars of Islam sincerely), TABLIGH (spreading the teachings of Islam far and wide by the Quran with its elaboration by SUNNAH) and QITAL (defending of the territory by martial strength where Islam has its hold so it also defends the teachings of Islam when it is challenged by the enemy); note here that it is unfeasible to take-up QITAL by attacking the disbelievers at this current era as it has such conditions for the Muslims to see that certainly are not easy for them to fulfill in this current era; see also the note at the twenty-sixth RUKU of Surah BAQARAH for AAYAT-216; the true Muslim person, both male & female, has to remain steadfast upon Islam so he/she shall have his/her total attention towards Allah with commitment to all the mentioned practice keeping to Sunnah of the Prophet PBUH whom he/she has to respect most highly; in addition, he has to care about the edibles he takes-in, about the cleanliness of the body, about the agreements he commits to, about the limitations that he has when Allah has provided him with some authority over his people, about the field of economics (where he has to see that he avoids interest in all transactions), about the matters that relate to living by justice and by social good norms that Islam appreciates (so he has to avoid degradation of any person by his speech too as Allah would certainly hold him liable for that too); so the Islamic teachings for justice would always keep the Muslim person far-away from unjust attitudes in all matters and the Islamic teachings for morality would always keep the Muslim person far-away from shameful attitudes in all matters; living by this virtuous manner, insha-Allah he would get the true living manner of the true Muslim in the true Islamic environment; Al-Hamdu Lillah; note that Islam asks most emphatically to appreciate the social values that ask for respect of all fellow beings especially for respect of those who claim categorically that they surely are Muslims and Surah HUJURAAT is most explicit on this issue; nobody is perfect and it is for the good law of the Islamic land to see and punish those who have taken-up crimes so those who know adversity of such persons, may provide their testimony at the court of law if they are asked for it; the problem today is that the people generally go in many fields of economic activity by intense competition whereas Islam does not appreciate this competing attitude among the Muslims; these fields, where they compete with each other for economic activity, especially include the field of administration by the name of free democracy, the field of generating finances by the name of free manner of making transactions and the field of providing info with the aid of electronic media to the people by the name of free speech; so note about these three fields that, though democracy is much near to Islam for administration, it shall necessarily reject the two erroneous concepts at the Islamic set-up that the west has attached to democracy; these are the concept of secularism (as the Islamic administration is certainly not rightful to make any law that is repugnant to the basic teachings of Islam) and the concept that the man is but an animal (as the Islamic administration is certainly not rightful to ignore the spiritual side of the man); it shall see that no actual competition takes place among the Muslims in the making and running of the administration and so it shall conduct elections even in such way that only those Muslim persons do come at the administrative posts that are QAVI (capable for the execution of their work in the Islamic manner) and AMIN (most trustworthy by character) clearly; whatever competition that does take place at this set-up, would be in matters that are MUBAH (where taking of any side of the discussion is not against Islam); read also my writing “The Islamic Guidelines” at the net; Al-Hamdu Lillah; in the field of economics which deals with finances, “Interest” and “Free Competition” respectively are taken to cause the stable set-up for the market due to its ability to control inflation and to cause the good quality of the product in the production of wealth; in contrast, Islam takes these both i.e. interest and the free competition in worldly finances, as the cause of the concentration of the wealth into hands of already wealthy persons and as the cause of wastage of the precious time respectively; the most notable thing here is that the man is born to care for the commands of Allah only and for no other reason; as for providing info at the electronic media, often it does not present the relevant care to facts or to good morality just because they intend to get better rating in views for their respective presentations than others in the same field; one of the authentic Ahadith mentions that the Prophet PBUH said, “it is enough for a person to become a liar that he speaks of everything that he hears"; so it is not feasible to present info that relates to some sensitive issue, without due confirmation about it, at the surroundings; this attitude of intense competition for worldly benefits is leading the Muslims to degrade other of them and so this attitude is certainly most averse to Islam which tells clearly that the Muslims are as brothers to each other (see Surah HUJURAAT-10); note that the reform to discussions at the talk-shows on the TV about the religious practice or/and about the political scenario, may come by the notable points ahead; the first of these notable points is that “all participants must care not to emphasize criticism among each other just because of the difference of their parties”; the second is that “all participants must care not to present unfeasible solutions to the issue at discussion just to press importance for the self, but present feasible solutions without challenging each other”; the third is that “all participants must care not to complain bitterly about the mistakes other parties have made but present their viewpoint in the most positive manner as brotherly advice to make better the stance of all participants upon the issue at discussion with total care that it does not seem insulting to anyone”; the fourth is that “all participants must care not to give any direct personal insulting remarks to each other”; the fifth is that “all participants must care not to pass insulting remarks for any person not at discussion and if that occurs by name, it is even more erroneous”; the sixth is that “all participants must care not to present themselves as infallible, rather they shall accept their mistakes”; the seventh is that “all participants must care not to raise their voices as if in anger to each other, even if they find their stance on the issue at discussion most valid”; the eighth is that “all participants must care not to present such info that might cause high differences among the viewers unless the administration has announced its official stance for that clearly”; the ninth is that “all participants must care not to take each other as most different to each other but they must remain totally committed to the fact that all Muslims are brothers so their difference is certainly not in the principle”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; note that in the name of freedom in living, the man has led himself to such position where the Satan finds it easy to make him the slave of his base desires if he does not keep his attention to Allah, the true Lord; it is most necessary for all true Muslims to ask Allah for His mercy towards them and towards all other of Muslims and for such space that they fulfill all His significant commands in practice with total belief in all the fundamental teachings of Islam sincerely; Al-Hamdu Lillah; as I write this part of the supplementary note at the eighth day of March 2022, I would care to express that the living manner at the ancient world was permissive to slavery and those few women too, who became captives with men at battlegrounds, had to bear its hardship; it presumably was harsher on the woman than on the menfolk at those times as understandably, such woman, who was led to become slave to her master, was exploited most indecently at those times but the surroundings was permissive for that and there remained no option for her but to bear it; it is the blessing of Allah that slavery has ended yet such hardship that she had faced at the ancient world, has not yet ended; now, at these current times, there is such indecent notion too among the living manners at the world that asks women to live by their base desires in the name of freedom in living, whereas the fact of the matter is that the women truly has no proper worth without attachment to such man who takes all her liability as his wife sincerely and cares totally for all her physical & spiritual needs; whereas at the ancient times, there were a number of women who were taken in slavery by force for their exploitation, today there are a number of women who have been lured into slavery of desires by the challenge of surroundings with the application of the simple term of freedom of choice in her living at the world; this notion does not give any care to her factual status of living, where her psyche does ask to live committed to the man she has attached herself to; note that living together of man and woman without any bondage to commit to each other, even if both sides do try their best to care for each other, does have separation between them as its ultimate result generally as there is much difference among the male and the female in the mankind; he can still live on alone making his way in life by the freedom he receives at the surroundings, to get his physical & spiritual needs yet it is just an illusion that she would make her way in life by the freedom she receives at any of surroundings she lives in; with this illusion, when the surroundings becomes permissive not to take illicit relations to women as crime socially, though it certainly is notable crime according to Islam as it takes it as one of major sins, then this is an extreme setback to her psyche; understandably, such woman, who is led to become slave to her base desires, is exploited most indecently at these times but the surroundings is permissive for that and there remains no option for her but to bear it; in this sense, the slavery of women has not yet ended and this situation is much harsher on her than on the menfolk at these times; may Allah give insight to all good persons by character, to live by His commands sincerely so that they live on with such peace in life that makes them achieve His pleasure at AKHIRAT much easier for them; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah; note that the second Ruku of HUJURAAT presents this in most clear terms that the true Muslims have such refinement in their character that does not let them disrespect any of fellow-beings, especially other of Muslims; they would never make fun of others, never charge them with false accusations and never call them by offensive names, when they address them or talk about them at gatherings in their presence, so as to disrespect them; not only this but the refinement in their character does not let them be suspicious of intentions of others as they see the positive side of things and so they would never spy on others to find some flaw in their intentions and so they would never backbite others with their good mindset that asks them to take all persons positively, so they would care to their respect even in their absence; if they are suspicious of others by nature, spy on others and backbite others, their manner is as if they eat of the dead body of their brother because he is unable to offer any defense to this kind of mindset against him; this Ruku tells ahead that TAQWA is the true standard to get respect at the court of Allah and it actually leads to getting His pleasure; all of the mankind have Adam-AS and Eve-AS as their parents and tribes and families are to identify persons among them; it is not the true standard to high standing as that only is TAQWA; by the context here, it expresses clearly that TAQWA asks the Muslim persons to respect fellow-beings with good intention for them that they all remain at the right path as they live on their lives at the world; Al-Hamdu Lillah; still ahead, the Ruku emphasizes the significance of TAQWA as it clarifies that the true belief that resides inside the heart, does not come only by the statement that expresses it by tongue but it needs total sincerity inside with much assistance of good deeds; with the statement to accept Islam, the person becomes Muslim and he is then liable to all rights that the Muslim person has in the Islamic environment; however, at AKHIRAT, the person needs to have the true belief with much of good deeds for safety from the hell-fire that actually is TAQWA (the good attitude of heart which gets refinement by good deeds when they are committed with fear of Allah, with utmost care that there comes no evil in deeds that may lead to His displeasure, and with hope towards Him that He would keep safe from the Satan at all times and at all places); so whoever believes in Islam by his/her statement, then he/she does become one of Muslims and with that, as he/she develops Islam sincerely at heart with assistance of all good deeds, then he/she rises in his/her status to become the true Muslim (i.e. MOMEN); Al-Hamdu Lillah.
HUJURAAT-The Second (and its Last) Ruku
11. O you who believe! let not (one) folk laugh at (another) folk perchance they may be better than they, nor let women (laugh) at (other) women, perchance they may be better than they; and do not find fault with your own people nor call one another by nicknames; evil is (to address by) name of lewdness after (having true) belief, and whoever does not turn, these it is that are the unjust.
12. O you who believe! avoid most of suspicion, for surely suspicion in some cases is a sin, and do not spy nor let some of you backbite others. Does one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? But you abhor it; and be careful of (your duty to) Allah, surely Allah is Oft-returning (to mercy), Merciful.
13. O you men! surely We have created you of a male and a female, and made you tribes and families that you may know each other; surely the most honorable of you with Allah is the one among you who is the best in TAQWA; surely Allah is Knowing, Aware.
14. The dwellers of the desert say: we believe. Tell (them): you do not believe but say that we submit; and the true belief has not yet entered into your hearts; and if you obey Allah and His apostle, He will not diminish aught of your deeds; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
15. The true believers are only those who believe in Allah and His apostle then they doubt not, and struggle hard with their wealth and their lives in the way of Allah; they are the truthful ones.
16. Say: Do you apprise Allah of your religion, and Allah knows what is in the heavens and what is in the earth; and Allah is Cognizant of all things.
17. They think that they lay you under an obligation by becoming Muslims. Say: Lay me not under obligation by your Islam: rather Allah lays you under an obligation by guiding you to the true belief if you are truthful.
18. Surely Allah knows the unseen things of the heavens and the earth; and Allah sees what you do.
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The second Ruku of HUJURAAT guides explicitly about the good social values that the true Muslims need to adhere to; they would never make fun of others, never charge them with false accusations and never call them by offensive names, when they address them or talk about them at gatherings in their presence, so as to disrespect them; see also the supplementary note that I, MSD, have written before this note to provide general overview of Surah HUJURAAT; note that AAYAT-11 asks men in general manner not to laugh at other folk (men and women included) as they might be better, and asks women not to laugh at women for the same reason; it does not mean that women may at times, make fun of men but it denotes that due to the command of HEJAB that they have to observe from men which asks avoidance of mixed gathering, there is no need to put any emphases on the issue in this direction; note also the term ANFUSAKUM at this AAYAT (which means at speech “your own people” but which literally means “your own selves”) as it tells proximity of the true Muslims to each other; the Holy Book Quran has used this term in this manner elsewhere too (for instance, in Surah NISAA-29 where the verse says “Do not kill ANFUSAKUM” unjustifiably and in Surah NOOR-61 where the verse says “But if you enter houses, salute ANFUSAKUM”); as for nicknames which are negative in character, the true Muslim needs strictly to avoid calling any person by such names; however, the true Muslim is not blamable if he addresses someone who is recognized by some feature that is generally negative in nature yet he does not mind such name in his close circle as he knows well that it is just an identity to him and not anything to degrade him; the examples for this might be such when his friends identify him as the stuttering man, the lame one, the fat guy; but he must not have any objection to such identity; AAYAT-12 provides this aspect of the character of the true Muslims that they would never become suspicious of intentions of others as they see the positive side of things and so they would never spy on others to find some flaw in their intentions and so they would never backbite others with their good mindset that asks them to take all persons positively; they would certainly care to respect all persons even in their absence; if they are suspicious of others due to some flaw in their own character, spy on others and backbite others, their manner is as if they eat of the dead body of their brother because he is unable to offer any defense to this kind of mindset against him; note that backbiting is totally prohibited and if the info that the person gives by backbiting about someone, is not present in him, it would also become BUHTAN (fake accusation) so that makes the wrong twofold; however, it is well if someone discloses the negative trait of some person in front of the judge due to necessity or in front of the man who intends to tie relationship to that person by taking him as his son-in-law or his brother-in-law; it is well even in front of the business man who intends to make some profitable deal with that person and that negative trait might become very harmful to him in the near future; AAYAT-13 of Surah HUJURAAT provides the significant principle that “surely the most honorable of you with Allah is the one among you who is the best in TAQWA”; by context, this tells that TAQWA would come to the true Muslim person when he respects his fellow-beings whereas AAYAT-11 and AAYAT-12 have laid down the social values which he has to adhere to for it; he must have the good intention for them that they all remain at the right path as they live on their lives at the world; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAAT-14 & 15 clarify that the true belief resides inside the heart so it does not come only by the statement that expresses it by tongue but it needs total sincerity inside with much assistance of good deeds; with the statement to accept Islam, the person does become Muslim and he is then liable to all rights that the Muslim person has in the Islamic environment; however, at AKHIRAT, the good Muslim person needs to have the true belief with much of good deeds for safety from the hell-fire that actually is TAQWA so he needs persistence upon the belief in Islam without any inclination to anything other than it, so then with time (as he goes on practicing Islam day & night continuously), he becomes MOMEN by the blessing of Allah; he was never one of hypocrites yet he does need good development of his belief in the Truth after he has accepted it by his statement, to the honorable position where he truly achieves TAQWA to become true Muslim; these AAYAAT read, “the dwellers of the desert say- we believe; tell (them)- you do not believe but say that we submit; and the true belief has not yet entered into your hearts; and if you obey Allah and His apostle (persistently then it would take place firmly there and so) He will not diminish aught of your deeds; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful; the true believers are only those who believe in Allah and His apostle then they doubt not, and struggle hard with their wealth and their lives in the way of Allah (which is the certain way to get the true belief inside); they are the truthful ones (as they remain committed to their claim to Islam at all situations)”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; note that there were such dwellers of the desert then, who had boasted with some arrogance that they had accepted Islam without any fights so they have some high status at the court of Allah, and so the Muslims need to appreciate them; the last AAYAAT of HUJURAAT address this issue and tell them to remain mindful that Allah has blessed them that He has brought them to Islam; now, they need to develop that to become the true belief at their insides so it is their commitment to Islam and the good deeds that they do according to that commitment that would tell if they are appreciable or not; they read, “say- do you apprise Allah of your religion, and Allah knows what is in the heavens and what is in the earth; and Allah is Cognizant of all things; they think that they lay you under an obligation by becoming Muslims; say- lay me not under obligation by your Islam- rather Allah lays you under an obligation by guiding you to the true belief if you are truthful; surely Allah knows the unseen things of the heavens and the earth; and Allah sees what you do”; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
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Surah QAAF
(Consists of 3 Ruku; MK-4)
QAAF-The First Ruku
1. QAAF; I swear by the glorious Quran (that Muhammad PBUH is the apostle of Allah)
2. Nay! they wonder that there has come to them a warner from among themselves, so the disbelievers say: This is a strange thing:
3. What! when we are dead and have become dust? That is afar (from probable) return.
4. We know indeed what the earth diminishes of them, and with Us is a writing that preserves.
5. Nay, they rejected the truth when it came to them, so they are (now) in a state of confusion.
6. Do they not then look up to heaven above them how We have made it and adorned it and it has no gaps?
7. And the earth, We have made it plain and cast in it mountains and We have made to grow therein of all beautiful kinds,
8. To give sight and as a reminder to every servant who turns frequently (to Allah).
9. And We send down from the cloud water abounding in good, then We cause to grow thereby gardens and the grain that is reaped,
10. And the tall palm-trees having spadices closely set one above another,
11. A sustenance for the servants, and We give life thereby to a dead land; thus is the rising.
12. (Others) before them rejected (Prophets): the people of Noah and the dwellers of AR-RASS and THAMUD,
13. And AAD and Pharaoh and Lot's brethren,
14. And the dwellers of the thicket and the people of TUBBA; all rejected the apostles, so My threat came to pass.
15. Were We then fatigued with the first creation? Yet are they in doubt with regard to a new creation.
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This Surah starts by QAAF, the letter which is among the MUQATTA’AAT (that means the 14 disjointed letters that are among the Arabic alphabets which come at the commencement of 29 Surah in specific combinations); there are two other Surah besides this that start by only one letter that are among the MUQATTA’AAT that are SUAD (Surah 38) and NOON (Surah 68); Al-Hamdu Lillah; note that like other of Surah that descended at Makkah, this also emphasizes to believe in the fundamental teachings of Islam; Allah swears by the glorious Quran at its beginning that Muhammad PBUH is the Messenger of Allah who is rightly guiding all towards the fact that Allah would certainly raise the dead at the certain day of HASHR (the Day of Judgment), that is the first day of AKHIRAT, so that all persons account for all their doings at life at the world and receive what they truly deserve at that true life of AKHIRAT as all persons are in examination at this life at the world; Al-Hamdu Lillah; those persons who disbelieve in that day raise objection that this is strange that when they are dead and have become dust, they would come to life again; their attitude is to ignore anything of the true guidance that Allah presents to them through the Prophet PBUH and they incite one another to ridicule him by disrespectful words and they ignore this warning too, which tells them that they shall certainly be raised from dead, and even their forefathers; Allah answers their doubts that He knows indeed what the earth diminishes of their physique, and He has such writing that preserves all that relates to them; the fact of the matter is this that they have decided firmly to reject the Holy Book Quran as what concern they have about how it would happen; they certainly do not have any awareness to the true authority of Allah so due to such ignorance, they raise objections; the Ruku tells ahead, from the sixth AAYAT to the eleventh, that they need to observe the nearby heaven and the earth as that would provide them some insight to the total authority of Allah, the true Lord; these AAYAAT tell explicitly that Allah has adorned the nearby heaven so beautifully that it has no gaps – and Allah has made the earth plain in such manner that all find convenience in their travel to places upon it; and He has casted in it mountains so that it gets stability and He has brought forth from it all beautiful kinds of plants, flowers, trees, crops, fruits etc. which provide insight to all such persons who do observe them to come near to Allah; and this all occurs by the rain-water that falls from the nearby heaven to the earth which causes to grow thereby gardens and the grain that is reaped and the tall palm-trees, having dates set much close to each other; and this all provides sustenance to the mankind so Allah gives life by the rain-water to a dead land and thus would be the rising of the dead; Al-Hamdu Lillah; so the Quran has related the rain upon the land as an indication to raising-up of all men from the dead as the angel blows the trumpet for that by the command of Allah; AARAAF-57 relates, “and He it is Who sends forth the winds bearing good news before His mercy, until, when they bring up a laden cloud, We drive it to a dead land, then We send down water on it, then bring forth with it of fruits of all kinds; thus shall We bring forth the dead that you may be mindful”; HAJJ-5, 6 & 7 relate, “and you see the earth sterile land, but when We send down on it the water, it stirs and swells and brings forth of every kind a beautiful herbage; this is because Allah is the Truth and because He gives life to the dead and because He has power over all things; and because the hour is coming, there is no doubt about it; and because Allah shall raise up those who are in the graves”; ROUM-50 relates, “look then at the signs of Allah's mercy, how He gives life to the earth after its death; most surely He will raise the dead to life; and He has power over all things”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the next three AAYAAT tell about those peoples whom Allah destroyed due to their disbelief so that all persons that live currently take the heed and believe in the fundamental teachings of Islam; these were the people of Noah and the dwellers by the RASS (that means the well and these people lived by some notably huge well at those ancient times); and THAMUD and AAD and Pharaoh and the people of Lot-AS and the dwellers of the thicket (i.e. the people of SHOAIB-AS at Median) and the people of TUBBA; note that TUBBA was the title of kings of Yemen at ancient times and here, the AAYAT refers to one of them; as they all rejected the Messengers that Allah had sent to them so He destroyed them all; Al-Hamdu Lillah; Allah tells emphatically at the last AAYAT of the Ruku, that He has not become unable to bring the mankind again to life from dead; it reads, “were We then fatigued with the first creation? Yet are they in doubt with regard to a new creation”; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
QAAF-The Second Ruku
16. And certainly We created man, and We know what his mind suggests to him, and We are nearer to him than his life-vein.
17. When the two receivers receive, sitting on the right and on the left.
18. He utters not a word but there is by him a watcher at hand.
19. And the agonizing condition of death will come in truth; that is what you were trying to escape.
20. And the trumpet shall be blown; that is the day of the threatening.
21. And every soul shall come, with it a driver and a witness.
22. Certainly you were heedless of it, but now We have removed from you your veil, so your sight today is sharp.
23. And his companion (the witness) shall say: This is what is ready with me.
24. O you both! do cast into the hell-fire every ungrateful, rebellious one,
25. Forbidder of good, exceeder of limits, doubter,
26. Who sets up another god with Allah, so do cast him into severe chastisement.
27. His companion will say: Our Lord! I did not lead him into rebellion but he himself was in great error.
28. He will say: Do not quarrel in My presence, and indeed I gave you the threatening beforehand:
29. My word shall not be changed, nor am I in the least unjust to the servants.
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The second Ruku of Surah QAAF starts by the statement that Allah has created the man and certainly He knows totally well whatever goes inside him; He is nearer to him than his life-vein; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAAT-17 & 18 state that there are two angels who remain with each person, right and left, so that whatever he does and whatever he utters even, they record it down; note that these AAYAAT imply that though Allah is well aware of doings of all yet He has appointed two angels to each person to record all his actions and all his words at his life at the world so that they provide that record at the Day of Judgment according to His command to them; they both complement each other for the making of this record and certainly, Allah knows how to take-on matters in the best of manners; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-19 tells that it would happen sooner or later that the condition of death would come to all persons, though any of them may try his best to avoid it and AAYAAT ahead tell that after the end of the world then, the trumpet shall be blown for the second time to bring all persons from dead to life again; on that specific day, every person would come at the grounds of HASHR with those two angels who used to be with him at the world, one would drive him to the grounds whereas the other would assume to become witness of his wrong doings, with the record of all his life at the world; Allah would address the disbeliever that he was heedless of it, but now He has brought it in front of him so he does see most clearly that it certainly is happening; the witness to his wrong-doings would present his record that he would have in his possession and Allah would command both of these angels, the driver and the witness, to cast him into the hell-fire as he was most ungrateful to Allah and most arrogant as he denied the Day of Judgment; he used to forbid others too from doing good deeds misguiding them to remain oblivious to the coming of that day and he used to take another god with Allah that is extreme disrespect to Him; so he certainly deserves to get the most extreme chastisement at the Day of Judgment; note that Allah commands evidently both angels, the driver and the witness, to cast the arrogant disbeliever into the hell-fire as according to the Arabic grammar, the command here is to both of them; AAYAAT from 23 to 26 read, “and his companion (the witness) shall say- this is what is ready with me; O you both! do cast into the hell-fire every ungrateful, rebellious one, forbidder of good, exceeder of limits, doubter, who sets up another god with Allah, so do cast him into severe chastisement”; AAYAT-27 tells that one of those angels who had accompanied him at the world (most probably the angel who had driven him to the grounds of HASHR) would say, “Our Lord! I did not lead him into rebellion but he himself was in great error”; this statement he would present to show that he and his companion were only committed to their task of recording the doings of the person they were assigned to, strictly in accordance with the command of Allah; so then, He would address the disbelievers that now, they have nothing to offer in their defense and whatever severe punishment that they have received at the Judgment, they certainly are most liable to get that punishment; AAYAAT-28 & 29 tell, “He will say- do not quarrel in My presence, and indeed I gave you the threatening beforehand; My word shall not be changed, nor am I in the least unjust to the servants”; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
QAAF-The Last Ruku
30. On the day that We will say to the hell-fire: Are you filled up? And it will say: Are there any more?
31. And the garden shall be brought near to those who guard (against evil), not far off:
32. This is what you were promised, (it is) for everyone who turns frequently (to Allah), keeps (His limits);
33. Who fears the Beneficent Allah in secret and comes with a penitent heart:
34. Enter it in peace, that is the day of abiding forever.
35. They have therein what they wish and with Us is more yet.
36. And how many a generation did We destroy before them who were mightier in prowess than they, so they went about and about in the lands. Is there a place of refuge?
37. Most surely there is a reminder in this for him who has a heart or he gives ear and is a witness.
38. And certainly We created the heavens and the earth and what is between them in six periods and there touched Us not any fatigue.
39. Therefore, be patient of what they say, and sing the praise of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before the setting.
40. And glorify Him in the night and after these prayers.
41. And listen about the day when the crier shall cry from a near place
42. The day when they shall hear the cry for certain; that is the day of coming forth.
43. Surely We give life and cause to die, and to Us is the eventual coming;
44. The day on which the earth shall cleave asunder under them, they will make haste; that is a gathering together easy to Us.
45. We know best what they say, and you are not one to compel them; therefore, remind him by means of the Quran who fears My threat.
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The last Ruku of QAAF starts by the info that the hell-fire would be highly keen to receive all extreme wrong-doers inside it as Allah has set it in such manner that it wholly is the place to provide the most extreme punishment for all such wrong-doers, and it feels most satiated by it, so they would be thrown inside it at AKHIRAT most disrespectfully; as for the righteous persons, who remained most attentive to Allah at the world and cared to fulfill His commands in their practice without persisting on anything wrong as they always asked Him for His mercy upon it, He would direct them to JANNAH, the most beautiful garden, at AKHIRAT most respectfully; then, He would ask them to enter it most respectfully to live inside it forever; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAT-35 tells, “they have therein what they wish (for themselves) and with Us is more yet (for them of our splendid bounties, that they have not asked even, and so the true appreciation of that they only would get when they dwell inside that beautiful place)”; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAAT-36 & 37 tell that Allah destroyed many of disbelievers who were even mightier than these at Makkah who challenge the Prophet PBUH and though they used to move about much at lands yet when their punishment fell upon them, they were unable to find any refuge from it; this guides all persons who do have inclination to the virtuous manner of living at the world to see how they do need to live here by that due manner; this includes such good person who has the heart that recognizes the Truth just as it comes at front of it; and this also includes such good person who has totally good hearing (and even totally good sight) by which he gets the fundamental teachings of Islam so even then, his heart ultimately receives the true guidance that he needs to live upon; Al-Hamdu Lillah; AAYAAT 38 to 43 tell that Allah has created all the creation in six periods and He never became tired because of it; He has set it in such manner that there is change in timings and the true Muslims have to see that they live-on by His remembrance at all times and at all places; this change is leading to that day when Allah would raise all the dead to life again and the living manner of the true Muslims needs to tell explicitly of their preparation for it; these AAYAAT read, “and certainly We created the heavens and the earth and what is between them (i.e. all the creation) in six periods and there touched Us not any fatigue; therefore, be patient of what they say (about you disrespectfully O Prophet PBUH, as they certainly have to account for it), and sing the praise of your Lord before the rising of the sun (i.e. the Salah at FAJR) and before the setting (i.e. the Salah at ZUHR & ASR, when they are read very near to each other at late afternoon); and glorify Him in the night (i.e. Salah at MAGHRIB and then at ISHA) and after these (obligatory) prayers (i.e. by Salah named as TAHAJJUD which is read much after ISHA at late night); and listen about the day when the crier shall cry from a near place (i.e. every person who rises from dead would feel that he is being called from some place that is extremely near to him); the day when they shall hear the cry for certain; that is the day of coming forth”; note that this Ruku has named this day as the “the day of abiding forever” too at AAYAT-34; note also that TAHAJJUD was obligatory for the Prophet PBUH but it is not necessary to other of Muslims though if they read it, then it most certainly is most virtuous to them too; Al-Hamdu Lillah; the last two AAYAAT of the Surah state, “the day on which the earth shall split asunder under them (so it would bring forth all of them), they will make haste; that is a gathering together easy to Us; We know best what they say, and you are not one to compel them; therefore, remind him by means of the Quran who fears My threat”; certainly, Allah only has the true authority; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
Here our study from Surah SHUA’RAA to Surah QAAF and “Tafsiri-Guide to the Quran” (Third Part) ends which I, MSD, had kept to the last; so by its end, “Tafsiri-Guide to the Quran” comes to end by the blessing of Allah, the true Lord; Al-Hamdu Lillah; may Allah provide His mercy and His blessing to me on this effort to get His pleasure and to all those who study it attentively to get true benefits from it; Al-Hamdu Lillah.
Wednesday – 10:20 AM
Ramadhan 25, 1443
April 27, 2022