Surah al-Baqarah [the Cow] - Nouman Ali Khan

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Download Notes in:


Ayah 1-7
[Download MP3 from: IrvingMasjid.org/BaqarahAudio.asp]


Introduction:

This Series will not be Tadabbur-ul Qur'an - detailed tafseer, but it is a Series on Ta'leem al Qur'an - Understanding and Knowing the Style of Surah al Baqarah and its; outline, flow and connection of its aayaat.


Allah's Messenger, Muhammad (sal Allah alayhi wasalam) said;

Lu kuli shay'in sanaam, wa sanaam-ul Qur'an al Baqarah -
Everything has a peak, and the peak of the Qur'an is surah al Baqarah.

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Ayah 1:


الم

Alif, Lam, Meem.

These are Huroof al Muqatta'aat - Disjointed letters.


We do not know their true meaning, which humbles mankind - people who recite letters in their daily speech but they do not have full knowledge of the meanings of all words.


Opinions of Scholars:

Ar-Razi said: In surah al Fatihah, we asked Allah to 'guide us to the upright path'. Showing that we cannot be guided by our own will, we need Allah's help.

The letters in this ayah; Alif, Lam, Meem - show that we cannot know and understand everything, so we should put more hope and reliance upon Allah.

Allah lets us know that if you really want to get guidance from this Book - you will ask Allah to give you understanding of this religion, you cannot know it of your own accord. So an arrogant attitude will prevent you from true knowledge, and submission to Allah will open the doors for true understanding.



ash-Sha'arawi
:
(this is a Madani surah, in which the Israelites thought they were extremely knowledgable, so they would mock the Arabs of being Ummi - illiterate).

When Allah's Messenger recited; Alif Lam Meem, the ones who thought that they had full knowledge of language became shocked. How can a people who are illiterate use such letters which are only used in text?


al Kashshaaf by az-Zamakshari
:

One of the benefits of these letters is a rhetorical benefit; O you disbelievers, how come you cannot come up with a similar Qur'an to this one? Aren't these the same letters you use in your daily speech? So why can't you produce a similar Qur'an if it is not from Allah?

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Ayah 2
:

ذَٰلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ

dhaalika-al kitaabu laa Rayba feehi, hudan lil muttaqeen

That is the Book, No Doubt in it is Enormous Guidance for the Guarders against Evil/Allah's Punishment etc.


Dhaalika = That.

this is used when something is far away. Because the Qur'an is not in Book form yet (during the life of Allah's Messenger), Allah is telling us that the Kitab/book is in the heavens with Allah. And only later - you will write it down and compile it in Book format.

Related words:
Haadha = This.


Also in Arabic rhetoric - to point that something is far away gives that thing an Elevated status.



..Laa Rayba feehi - there is Absolutely No room for any doubt whatsoever in it.

when a Fat-ha/zabar is placed after the Laa [i.e. Laa raybA], this shows 'No doubt whatsoever.'


[Later on in the surah, Allah will say; if you are in any Doubt (fee Raybin..) [al Baqarah 2:23] - so we see how RaybA has more emphasis.]



..HudaN lil Muttaqeen..

HudaN [taNween] = (mufeed-ul ADhma) = ENORMOUS Guidance.


lil muttaqeen - for those who have Taqwa.


Taqwa comes over 36 times in different forms in this surah. It is directly related to our pursuit of guidance.


HudaN lin-Naas - enormous guidance for mankind. This is used in other parts of the Qur'an, but
Hudan lil muttaqeen - is enormous guidance for those who have seeked it and do not want to disappoint Allah.



Taqwa is not just fear. It is the attempt to 'want to protect yourself' /taking precautions. [from; Evil, Allah's anger and His Punishment]


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Ayah 3:

الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ


aladheena yu'minoona bi-'l Ghayb, wa yuQeemoona as-Salaata, wa min maa razaqnaa hum yuNfiquwn

Those who believe in the Unseen, and they Establish the prayer, and from what We provided them - they spend [in charity].



This teaches us
;

1 - You are not spending anything that is yours. You are giving that which Allah gave you, back to Him (i.e. for His sake) so that He can reward you in the next life.

It is like transferring funds from this worldly account to the bank of the hereafter.

2 - When you perform salaah [prayer] properly, you find it easy to spend for Allah's pleasure, because you have a good connection with Him through salaah.

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Ayah 4
:

وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ وَبِالْآخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ

wa-aladheena yu'minoona bi maa unzila ilayka wa maa unzila min Qablika wa bi-l aakhirati hum yuwQinoon

And those who believe in what was revealed upon you, and what was revealed to those From Much (Min) before you. And especially in regards to the Hereafter, they have Certainty.


Dr Murtaza Malik in Pakistan used this ayah in refuting new movements like Qadianis and Nation of Islam etc. who use the Quran to argue that Prophets' will come after Prophet Muhammad (sal Allahu alayhi wasalam).

Dr Murtaza Khan said; Allah tells us to; believe in what was revealed upon you (Muhammad) and what was revealed to those before you. - There is no mention of believing in books of people who will come after Prophet Muhammad (sal Allahu alayhi wasalam.)



..wa bil Aakhirati hum yoowqinoon
 

and Especially with the Afterlife (because Akhirah is mentioned earlier in the sentence structure = Ikhtisas/Especially) - they are Certain.

yoowqinoon - Eeqaan / Yaqeen - Certain = Convinced of something so much, as if you can see it.

That is how solid our certainty is in regard to the Afterlife.


Emaan was mentioned about alot of things, but Yaqeen (Certainty) was mentioned about the Afterlife. Since our actions of Emaan are only useful when we have certainty of belief in the hereafter.

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Ayah 5
:

أُولَٰئِكَ عَلَىٰ هُدًى مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ

Ulaa/ika 'alaa hudan min Rabbihim - wa ulaa'ika hum-ul muFlihoon

Those are the people who are commited to great guidance from their Master. And those are the ones who are truly successful.


(aFlaha) / muFlih = Farmer who has put in alot of effort in sowing his seeds, and when his crops grow and he collects the fruit = muFlih / Fal-lah, he sees his success and rewards.

He puts his time and effort to see his success.

Similar words
;
Faa'iz

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Ayah 6:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا سَوَاءٌ عَلَيْهِمْ أَأَنذَرْتَهُمْ أَمْ لَمْ تُنذِرْهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ

Inna aladheena kafaroo, sawaa'un 'alayhim, a-andhartahum am lam tundhirhum -  laa yu'minoon

No doubt, those who have disbelieved, it is the same upon them, whether you warn them or not - they will not believe.


This is a particular brand of disbelievers - people who Allah's Messenger warned for an entire decade. And all that only increased was their closed mindedness and arrogance against Islam. It is these people -


Past tense: inna-aladheena Kafaroo - surely those who disbelieveD (past tense)
Present tense: Not; inna-aladheena yaKfuroo - surely those who disbelieve (present-future tense)


Past tense is used, which shows that those who have been warned alot clearly with the message, and their arrogance prevents them from following the guidance, then they will not be guided in the future.

When they have shown their animosity to the truth and shown stubbornness - then they will not believe.

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Why will they now not believe?



Ayah 7
:

خَتَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَعَلَىٰ سَمْعِهِمْ ۖ وَعَلَىٰ أَبْصَارِهِمْ غِشَاوَةٌ ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ

khatama Allahu 'alaa quloobihim, wa 'alaa sam'ihim, wa 'alaa abSaarihim ghishaawah, wa la-hum adhaabun aDheem 

Allah has placed a seal upon their hearts, and upon their hearing, and upon their Sight is a covering, and for them is a Tough/Severe Punishment.


Why has Allah mentioned putting a Seal on their Hearts?


This surah began with;

Ayah 2: ذَٰلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ - that is the Book in which there is no Doubt. (Doubt affects the heart)

[ و
َمَن يُؤْمِن بِاللَّهِ يَهْدِ قَلْبَهُ ۚ - (and whoever believes in Allah - He guides his heart) [Taghabun 64:11]. - so Emaan is in the heart.]



Ayah 2:
هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ - Hudan lil muttaqeen - Guidance for the (God) fearing who guard against evil.

Guidance produces Taqwa in the heart and is shown through action:

[
فَإِنَّهَا مِن تَقْوَى الْقُلُوبِ - then surely that is from (the) taqwa of the heart. (Surah Hajj 22:32)]


Ayah 3:
الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ - those who believe in the unseen.. (with the Heart)



Ayah 6 & 7: those who disbelieve.. they will not believe.. Allah has set a seal upon their Hearts. - we again see that the heart is that which has disbelieved, so a Permanent seal has been placed ontop of it.

Allah has sealed their Hearts permanently, because they have closed their Hearts to the guidance.


GEM:

Now if we compare this Sealing with an ayah in surah Jaathiyah 45:23;

أَفَرَأَيْتَ مَنِ اتَّخَذَ إِلَٰهَهُ هَوَاهُ وَأَضَلَّهُ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ عِلْمٍ وَخَتَمَ عَلَىٰ سَمْعِهِ وَقَلْبِهِ وَجَعَلَ عَلَىٰ بَصَرِهِ غِشَاوَةً فَمَن يَهْدِيهِ مِن بَعْدِ اللَّهِ ۚ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ

Have you seen he who has taken as his god his [own] desire, and Allah has sent him astray due to knowledge and has set a seal upon his hearing and his heart and put over his vision a veil? So who will guide him after Allah ? Then will you not be reminded?



Allah tells us; He has sealed their hearing first.


Now why would Allah seal their hearing in surah Jaathiyah and seal their hearts in surah al Baqarah?

Because earlier in surah Jaathiyah 45:8 - Allah told us that the disbeliever refused to listen to the guidance - so Allah sealed the disbelievers hearing first.

يَسْمَعُ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ يُصِرُّ مُسْتَكْبِرًا كَأَن لَّمْ يَسْمَعْهَا ۖ فَبَشِّرْهُ بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ

Who hears the verses of Allah recited to him, then persists arrogantly as if he had not heard them. So give him tidings of a painful punishment.




In surah al Baqarah - we are being told that these people refused to believe in the guidance with their hearts and had doubts - even though they saw the miracles, so Allah has sealed their hearts.

This is amazing precision of the Qur'an word useage.



..Wa 'alaa aBsaarihim ghishaawah
  - and upon their Sight is a Cover.

So these people see, but they do not see clearly. They see miracles, and they deny/reject them. They see the truth, but they call it falsehood.


لَهُمْ أَعْيُنٌ لَّا يُبْصِرُونَ بِهَا - they have eyes but they cannot see by them (al A'raf 7:179)

Wa lahum adhaabun aDheem  - and for them is a Tough/Severe punishment.

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Baqarah 2 - Ayah 8-21
[Download MP3]


Previously, Allah has told us of 2 types of people; Believers, and Disbelievers.

Now Allah talks about a 3rd category of people;


Ayah 8
:

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَبِالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَمَا هُم بِمُؤْمِنِينَ

wa min an-Naasi man yaQoolu aamannaa bi-illahi wa bi-l yawmi-l aakhiri wa maa hum bi mu'mineen

and from the People are he who says we believe in Allah, and in the Last Day, and they are not believers at all.



And from mankind are those who say, We believe in Allah.

Interesting Language:
One could say; wa min al-naasi ALADHEENA yaQooloona aaman-naa bi-illah


Because 'Man' and 'Aladheena' both imply; Who/those.

Similar words
:
Man = Who (usually refers to the Singular.)
Aladheena = Those (refers to Plural)


Allah purposelly used the word 'Man' (who) to show that One person is talking whilst being in a group of people. This is why it is said;

Wa min al-naasi Man (who [singular]) yaQooloona (Say [plural]) aamaan-naa bi-illah - and from the people there is he Who [singular] - Says[plural] - we believe in Allah...


Why
?

Because Allah is describing the hypocrite (munaafiq) who is pretending to be amongst the believers, but infact he is a Hypocrite who has other hypocrites with him.


The hypocrite and his crowd who pretend to be believers say;

Aaman-naa bi-illahi
(We believe in Allah), wa bi-il yawmi-il 'aakhir  (and in the Final Day [Judgment Day])



..wa MAA hum Bi mu'mineen - and they are not believers at all.

There are many ways of Negating something. But to say Maa (strong negation) with the word 'Bi' after it = this is of the strongest ways of saying 'No'.

Allah is telling us that they are not believers at all!

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Ayah 9:

يُخَادِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَمَا يَخْدَعُونَ إِلَّا أَنفُسَهُمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ

yuKhaadi'oon Allah wa-aladheena Aamanoo wa maa yaKhda'oona il-laa aNfusaHum Wa maa yash'uroon

They are trying to decieve Allah and those who believe and they do not decieve anyone at all except their Own selves, but they do not know.


yuKhaadi'oon Allah - they are trying to decieve Allah

wa-aladheena Aamanoo - and those who believe

wa maa yaKhda'oona il-laa aNfusaHum - and they do not decieve anyone at all except their Own selves.


When they pretend to be believers and mingle amongst them - Allah is calling them as decievers and as spies within the community of the believers.

They try to fool; Allah, those who believe, but they don't fool anyone but themselves.


Wa maa yash'uroon - and the have no realisation.


There are 2 basic types of Hypocrites:

1 - Those who know they are not believers and spy amongst the believers for a specific motive.

2 - The 2nd type is more dangerous - he doesn't know he is a hypocrite. They think they are good Muslims. This can be any one of us. This was so scary for our Salaf [earlier generations], i.e. Even Umar bin al Khattab that he would be worried for himself!


Allah tells us how to find the Disease of hypocrisy.

What are the symptoms - Allah tells us throughout the Qur'an. One is explained as follows in this surah;

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Ayah 10:

فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ فَزَادَهُمُ اللَّهُ مَرَضًا ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْذِبُونَ

Fee quloobihim maraD, Fa Zaadahum-ullahu maraDa, wa LaHum adhaabun Aleemun, bi maa kaanoo yaKdhiboon

in their Hearts is a disease, so Allah has Increased their disease, and Especially for them is a Painful Punishment, for what they continuously Lied.


Fee quloobihim maraD - in their Hearts is a disease

Fa Zaadahum-ullahu maraDa - so Allah has Increased their disease

So this is a fatal heart disease.


wa LaHum adhaabun Aleem -

And they especially
[because 'LaHum = For Them' is placed earlier in the sentence to signify 'Especially'] have Painful punishment.

Allah told us that the disbelievers will have a 'Tough'/great (aDheem) punishment.
But He warns the hypocrites of an Especially Painful punishment (an even severer warning.)



Aleem:-
Alam = Pain
alEEm = CONSTANT pain.


Adhaab = Punishment.


So Allah is warning the Hypocrites of a Pain which is Constant and does not End - you always feel that same level of constant Pain. (imagine having a constant toothache, how bad it is. And a constant punishment in the lowest parts of Hell is so unimaginably painful. We ask Allah to save us from His punishment, ameen.)

This is an even worser punishment than the punishment of the disbelievers. And Allah is always severer with the hypocrites than the disbelievers.

We will see how throughout this surah how this surah deals with purifying the heart, and eman (belief).
And in the next surah aal Imran (3rd surah) - there is more focus on Islaam (doing rituals/actions of the religion.)


Bi maa kaanoo yaKdhiboon - because of the lies they continue to make

Istimraar:
Kaanoo (past tense) - used to
yaKdhiboon (present tense) - continue to
Lie

Merging the past and present tense shows Strong emphasis that they Persist in Lying in the past and the continuous present.

This is a strong disease of the hypocrite which we have to avoid so we are not hypocrites - Lying.

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Ayah 11:

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لَا تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ قَالُوا إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُصْلِحُونَ

wa idhaa Qeela lahum laa tuFsidoo fi-l 'arDi Qaaloo inna-maa nahnu muSlihoon

And when it is said to them - don't cause corruption in the Earth, they say we are the Peace-makers/reconcilers.


The Context of the Ayah: The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (sal Allahu alayhi wasalam) is in an intense struggle against disbelief.

The truth and falsehood have collided, but the hypocrites have a mix of disbelieving and believing friends. They don't make a clear distinction in their allegiance on whose side they are really on.

They think the Muslims might lose and get overpowered - so they don't have full allegiance to Allah, His Messenger and the believers. They are connected to the disbelievers too (in their allegiance). And Allah is not happy with their half-heartedness in the religion.
So when they are asked about their half-heartedness - their excuse is that 'we are only peace makers/reconcilers'.

muSlihoon - Sulh = Connection, reconciliation.

Some of these hypocrite people did think they were trying to cause peace. But they didn't know how much intense hatred the disbelievers have against the believers.

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Ayah 12
:

أَلَا إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ الْمُفْسِدُونَ وَلَٰكِن لَّا يَشْعُرُونَ

ALaa innahum hum-ul muFsidoona wa-laakin laa yaSh'uroon

No! Beware! Surely they [the hypocrites], they are the cause of corruption, yet they have no realisation!


ALaa = You should all Know! No! Beware!

muFsidoon - from the meaning 'Fasaad' = Corruption.


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Ayah 13:

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ آمِنُوا كَمَا آمَنَ النَّاسُ قَالُوا أَنُؤْمِنُ كَمَا آمَنَ السُّفَهَاءُ ۗ أَلَا إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ السُّفَهَاءُ وَلَٰكِن لَّا يَعْلَمُونَ

wa idhaa Qeela lahum aaminoo kamaa aamana an-Naasu Qaaloo anu'minu kamaa aamana as-Sufahaa', ALaa innahum hum us-Sufahaa'u wa laakin laa ya'lamoon

When it is said to them - why don't you have belief - like the people believe, They (look at the emigrants/true believers and) say; You want us to be believe like these fools/ignorant? No, it is indeed these people who are the ignorant, and they do not know (how foolish they are).


When it is said to them - why don't you have belief - like the people believe (i.e. like those who have proven their belief i.e. Abu Bakr, Umar etc.)

They (look at the emigrants and) say;
You want us to be believe like these fools/ignorant? (sufahaa)

The hypocrites would accuse the righteous like Abu Bakr etc. of being foolish that they left their businesses etc. for the religion. And sarcastically saying how foolish they are for giving up their 'normal' lifestyle and giving it up for an Islamic cause.

Someone could even say that those who insult the righteous before us (i.e. The sahabah/companions of the Prophet) and saying they are people of old who were foolish - they might also be warned in these aayaat.


These hypocrites insult the believers by saying that they are foolish and ignorant for following the religion whole-heartedly - so Allah defends the believers and responds by telling us that it is the hypocrites who are the ignorant and foolish, but they do not know.

"No, it is indeed these people who are the ignorant, and they do not know (how foolish they are)."


So Allah has 2 emphasises; in one place Allah tells us - and they do not percieve it (their ignorance), and in ayah following it - He tells us they do not know (their ignorance.)

So another Conclusion derived from this is that Hypocrisy results from a lack of knowledge. They do not know their own ignorance.


And later in the surah - Allah tells us how to leave hypocrisy, through following the Legacy of Prophet Ibrahim/Abraham (peace be upon him.)


وَمَن يَرْغَبُ عَن مِّلَّةِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِلَّا مَن سَفِهَ نَفْسَهُ ۚ وَلَقَدِ اصْطَفَيْنَاهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَإِنَّهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ لَمِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ

and who wants to leave the legacy of Ibrahim, except the one who fools himself. Truly, We chose him in this world and verily, in the Hereafter he will be among the righteous. [Baqarah 2:130]



And Allah tells us the sacrifices Ibrahim does, and how his sacrifices are a sign of his intellect (and whoever abandons sacrifices is the fool.)

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Ayah 14:


وَإِذَا لَقُوا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قَالُوا آمَنَّا وَإِذَا خَلَوْا إِلَىٰ شَيَاطِينِهِمْ قَالُوا إِنَّا مَعَكُمْ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُسْتَهْزِئُونَ

wa idhaa laQoo aladheena aamaanoo Qaaloo aamannaa, wa idhaa Khalaw ilaa shayaaTeenihim, Qaaloo innaa ma'akum innamaa nahnu mustahzi'oon

And when they come face to face with those who believe - they say "we believe". And when they are alone with their devils, they say "Surely we are with you, we were only making fun."




When they come to those who believe - they say - "We have emaan/belief"

When somebody comes to you and says 'I believe' or 'I believe alot' everytime they see the believers. You can see that they feel they have to prove themselves, even though they havn't been asked to prove themselves continuously.


All this is because the hypocrite has a guilty conscience.

It is like a child -without being asked- tells his parent that 'I did not write on the wall today.'

This statement seems strange because the parent did not ask the child. And if the child was not guilty - he would not be trying to prove his innocence. By saying "I did not write on the wall today", he most probably wants to cover up his guilty conscience.

The Example of Abdullah ibn Ubayy (Head of the Hypocrites):

The leader of the Hypocrites, Abdullah ibn Ubayy - who was not known for his hypocrisy then - would stand up when the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alayhi wasalam)  came, and he would tell the believers to listen attentively because the Messenger of Allah is about to give a speech.

The believers would listen to the speech anyway, even if Abdullah ibn Ubayy didn't say his statement. But he used this technique to try to prove his claim of belief to the masses (although inside he was a guilty conscioussed hypocrite.)

But after the Battle of Uhud - Abdullah ibn Ubayy left the battle field and did not support the believers. This exposed his hypocrisy.


So that the next time Allah's Messenger (sal Allahu alayhi wasalam) gave a speech in the Masjid. Abdullah ibn Ubayy got up to tell the believers to listen attentively to the Messenger of Allah. But when he was about to say this - the believers pulled him down because now people realised he was a hypocrite who only said things, but did not act upon them.

But due to the Sahaba pulling him down. He became furious and left the Jumu'ah (Friday) Prayer.

At the entrance of the Mosque - some companions/sahaba told him why he's leaving the prayer, and that he should make istighfar (repentance/seeking forgiveness.) So he got angry and said he does not need to pray.




Just like Allah's Messenger described the hypocrite;

Wa idhaa khaasama, fajarah.
- when he is criticized - he explodes in anger.


So Allah is telling us; When they come Face to Face with the believers - they say "we believe."

[LaqaW (Plural) - of Liqaa = they are coming Face to Face with something else.]


..wa idha khalaw ilaa shayaaTeenihim - and when they are alone with their devils

Khalaw - khalwah - to be Alone/Seclusion



Qaaloo - inNaa ma'akum - they say - surely We are with you

Inna maa nahnu mustaHzi'oon - surely we were doing nothing but mocking/joking/messing about.

mustaHzi'oon - Huzuwa - mocking/joking.



These people were meeting with people who were pure enemies of Islam (disbelievers). They would tell them the secrets of the Muslims, and take these people who have pure hatred for Islam as close friends.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّخِذُوا بِطَانَةً مِّن دُونِكُمْ لَا يَأْلُونَكُمْ خَبَالًا وَدُّوا مَا عَنِتُّمْ قَدْ بَدَتِ الْبَغْضَاءُ مِنْ أَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَمَا تُخْفِي صُدُورُهُمْ أَكْبَرُ ۚ قَدْ بَيَّنَّا لَكُمُ الْآيَاتِ ۖ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ

O you who have believed, do not take as intimates those other than yourselves, for they will not spare you [any] ruin. They wish you would have hardship. Hatred has already appeared from their mouths, and what their breasts conceal is greater. We have certainly made clear to you the signs, if you will use reason. [aal Imran 3:118]


These hypocrites do not understand, they are foolish in believing that these disbelievers really love them. When the disbelievers are using them (the hypocrites.)

The hypocrites would say to the devils (from the disbelievers who opposed the religion) - that 'we are with you - we were only joking when pretending to be believers.'

So we see that the Hypocrites try to make both sides (the believers and disbelievers) happy, while both sides are not really happy with them (but rather they are suspicious of them).



Amazing Useage of the word MuNaafiq [Hypocrite]:

The language of the Quran is extremely amazing because the word 'Hypocrite' is muNaafiq.

muNaafiq comes from the word - Naafaqa = a Lizard's hole.


Lizard
: The Lizard of the desert makes two holes in the ground. So that if a fox or wolf comes to chase him from one hole - the lizard can run out of the other hole.

Hypocrite
:; the hypocrite enters Islam from one hole and leaves Islam from another hole. He also goes into one hole of Islam and then comes out of another hole secretly to approach the devils from amongst the disbelievers.

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Ayah 15:


اللَّهُ يَسْتَهْزِئُ بِهِمْ وَيَمُدُّهُمْ فِي طُغْيَانِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ

Allahu yastahzi'u bihim wa yaMuddu-hum fee Tughyaanihim ya'mahoon

It is Allah who is making fun of them, and He extends for them their Rebellion (while them being) blind in their heart.



It is Allah who is making fun of them.

1 - Allah will humiliate them in this life. So both the believers and disbelievers don't respect them.
2 - Allah will humiliate them on Judgment Day.



And He extends them in their Rebellion [Tughyaan], (while them being) blind in their heart.

Amiha - blind in the heart.

[similar: Amiya - blind in the eyes.]

Allah gives them more opportunities for them to do more evil deeds, more sins, and He makes it easy for them to do that.


Dr. Abdul Samee
' (Nouman's teacher) said about this;

If you put a dog on a really long leash/rope - the dog runs really fast thinking he is free. As he reaches the peak of his assumed freedom - the leash reaches its full length stretch, and the dog is tightly pulled and chokes on the leash.


Allah tells us;

إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ فِي الدَّرْكِ الْأَسْفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِ وَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُمْ نَصِيرًا

Surely the hypocrites are in the lowest part of the fire, - and never will you find for them a helper [an-Nisa' 4:145]


Why? Because they themselves got themselves their due to their evil sins.

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Ayah 16
:

أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ اشْتَرَوُا الضَّلَالَةَ بِالْهُدَىٰ فَمَا رَبِحَت تِّجَارَتُهُمْ وَمَا كَانُوا مُهْتَدِينَ


Ulaa'ika aladheena ashtaraw al-Dalaalata bi-l huda, Fa maa Rabihat tijaaratuhum, wa maa kaanoo muHtadeen

It is those who have purchased misguidance in exchange for guidance, then their trade did not give them any benefit at all, and they were not guided.



Ulaa'ika aladheena ashtaraw al-Dalaalata bi-l huda.. - It is those who have purchased misguidance in exhchange for guidance.

These people were in the presence of Allah's best Messenger, Muhammad (sal Allahu alayhi wasalam) and heard the Quran being recited from his mouth - yet they disbelieved in him and opposed him.

They exchanged guidance for misguidance.


Fa maa Rabihat tijaaratuhum - then their trade did not give them any benefit at all.

wa maa kaanoo muHtadeen - and they were not guided.

muHtad - someone who Makes an effort to be guided.


So Allah is telling us that they never made an effort to be guided. So these people casually came into Islam, and they weren't serious about being committed to it.

So they would easily leave it just as they entered it without being serious about it.

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Ayah 17
:

مَثَلُهُمْ كَمَثَلِ الَّذِي اسْتَوْقَدَ نَارًا فَلَمَّا أَضَاءَتْ مَا حَوْلَهُ ذَهَبَ اللَّهُ بِنُورِهِمْ وَتَرَكَهُمْ فِي ظُلُمَاتٍ لَّا يُبْصِرُونَ

mathaluhum ka-mathali-aladhee istawqada naaran, fa lam-maa aDaa'at maa Hawlahu dhahaba-Allahu bi-noorihim wa tarakahum fee Dhulumaatin laa yuBSiroon

Their example is like the one who Kindled a fire, but when it illuminated what was around him, Allah took away their light and left them in darkness [so] they could not see.



Their example is of someone who lit a fire,


Parable - 2 degrees of Nifaaq
(Hypocrisy):

So imagine this as a scene:

Their example is of someone who lit a fire. (so we can imagine it being purely dark and then suddenly someone lights a fire so gradually a light shows - there is pure bright light everywhere.)

How many people lit the fire? One.  (some scholars say it is referring to Prophet Muhammad, others say Prophet Moses (alayhim Salaam) because he will be mentioned later in the surah.)


..dhahaba Allahu bi nooriHIM - Allah removes THEIR light.

So Allah is now talking about Him removing 'their' light.

Who are these people whose light Allah removes?


Noor in classical Arabic poetry would also refer to aBSaar - Vision, the ability to see.

So Allah removed their sight after they preferred misguidance over the light of guidance.

So Allah removed their Vision, and removed their ability to See the Guidance.


Wa taraqa-hum fee dhulumAAT

Taraqa - abandoned
fee - in
DhulumAAT - DarknesseS.

So Allah abandoned them and left them in many darknesses upon darknesses.

So there are different degrees of darknesses and different degrees/levels of hypocrisy.

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Ayah 18
:

صُمٌّ بُكْمٌ عُمْيٌ فَهُمْ لَا يَرْجِعُونَ

Sumun, bukmun, 'umyun, fa hum laa yaRji'oon.

Deaf (not able to Hear), Mute (not able to Speak), Blind (not able to See) - so they will not Return.



There is no 'and' inbetween them. Which means they are ALL 3 at the same time.

Now imagine being in the desert, and these people cannot 'hear', can't 'speak', and are 'blind' - all at once.


This means that no-one can guide them or help them, and these people cannot ask others to guide them either. And they cannot imitate others in guidance due to being blind to the truth.

They are a lost cause and are blocked off from guidance in every way.


Fa hum laa yaRji'oon - so they will not Return.

These people were in the Light, but they lost the light by not being sincere to it. They did not stay committed to it sincerely, so they
lost it and were lost in darknesses of misguidance.

We ask Allah that we remain sincere to His guidance, ameen.

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2nd example of Hypocrisy
:

Ayah 19:

أَوْ كَصَيِّبٍ مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ فِيهِ ظُلُمَاتٌ وَرَعْدٌ وَبَرْقٌ يَجْعَلُونَ أَصَابِعَهُمْ فِي آذَانِهِم مِّنَ الصَّوَاعِقِ حَذَرَ الْمَوْتِ ۚ وَاللَّهُ مُحِيطٌ بِالْكَافِرِينَ

aw kaSayyibin min as-samaa'i feehi Dhulumaatun wa Ra'dun wa Barqun, yaJa'aloona aSaabi'ahim fee aadhaanihim min-as-Sawaa'iqi hadhara-al-mawt, wa-Allahu muHeeTun bi-al-Kaafireen

Or picture a dark cloud in the sky, in which there is alot of darkness, thunder and lightning. "They place their fingers in their ears, from (because of) the loud explosions (sawaa'iqi), being wary of death, and Allah has completely encircled the disbelievers.


Or picture a dark cloud in the sky, in which there is alot of darkness, thunder and lightning.


These are like heavy/dark/clouds which come really low, so it looks like its night time, even though its daytime.

And imagine these clouds raining harshly, strong wind and thunder and lightning flashing.

The people stranded in the sea.


"They place their fingers in their ears, from (because of) the loud explosions (sawaa'iqi).

Hadhara-al mawt - being wary of death.


Wa-Allahu muHeeTun bi-al Kaafireen - and Allah has completely encircled the disbelievers.

Because Allah knows who the disbelievers are (even though they may be hypocrites pretending to be Believers.)


But What does Allah mean by this parable/image/scenario?

The scholars say: The hypocrites are in a very difficult journey and in this journey there are alot of scarey things happening. (i.e. when people enter Islam, there are alot of difficulties people have to pass through.)

The hypocrites are so scared of these challenges, that they put their fingers in their ears to disillusion themselves that none of this is really happening, so that they do not have to fulfill the Islamic responsibilities.

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Ayah 20
:

يَكَادُ الْبَرْقُ يَخْطَفُ أَبْصَارَهُمْ ۖ كُلَّمَا أَضَاءَ لَهُم مَّشَوْا فِيهِ وَإِذَا أَظْلَمَ عَلَيْهِمْ قَامُوا ۚ وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَذَهَبَ بِسَمْعِهِمْ وَأَبْصَارِهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

yaKaadu-ul barQu yaKhTafu aBSaarahum, kulla-maa aDaa'a lahum-maShaw feehi, wa idhaa aDhlama 'alayhim Qaamoo, wa law shaa'a-Allahu la dhahaba bi sam'ihim wa aBSaarihim, inna-Allaha 'alaa kulli shay'in Qadeer

The lightning almost snatches away their sight. Every time it lights [the way] for them, they walk therein; but when darkness comes over them, they stand [still]. And if Allah had willed, He could have taken away their hearing and their sight. Indeed, Allah is over all things able.



The lightning almost takes their eyesight away.
So when the hypocrite sees the believers performing extremely difficult tasks in the religion, the hypocrite is almost blinded by shock (hoping that he does not have to go through such difficulty.)


"Everytime the light comes out for them - they see, but when it goes again - they stand."

The scholars comment that this refers to the easy good deeds. So when the hypocrite sees easy good deeds - he walks forward abit with the believers, then suddenly stops again when he faces hardship, and sticks his fingers in his ears again.


Allah is exposing the foolishness of the Hypocrites
: Because when you are deserted in travel and it is dark and thundering - is it a good idea to put your fingers in your ears? Does that even benefit you at all? It doesn't.


If Allah wanted to - He could take away their hearing and seeing.

So this parable was about less worse hypocrites, or people with weak emaan.

Allah is warning them that if they do not stop their evil acts of hypocrisy (lying, cheating etc.) - Allah may misguide them like He did for the 1st parable of hypocrites.


In the previous example - Allah told us how He did remove the hypocrites; hearing, speaking and seeing.

In this example - He is warning people with weak emaan not to have attributes of the hypocrites - otherwise He may also remove their hearing and speaking.


InAllaha 'alaa kulli shay'in Qadeer - No Doubt, Allah is capable over all things.



Aayaat Discussion Summarized
:

The disbelievers were talked about Briefly.
The believers were talked about briefly.
But the hypocrites were talked about in extreme depth.

Why?
Because the believers are clear, the disbelievers are clear.
But the Hypocrite (munaafiq) is a difficult one to understand.

So Allah spends extra time on the case which is difficult to understand. Something which is not clear to the masses, but is deep inside of a persons heart.


Allah will also speak indepth about the Bani Isra'eel (Jews) throughout this surah because there biggest problem was their Nifaaq (Hypocrisy.)

Allah tells us their mistakes so we do not fall into their mistakes.

These 3 categories summarize mankind
:
- Disbelievers
- Believers
- Hypocrites.

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Ayah 21:


يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

yaa ayyuha-an-Naasu-u'budoo Rabbakumu-aladhee khalaqakum wa-aladheena min Qablikum la'allakum tattaQuwn

O People, enslave yourselves to your Master, the One who created you and those who came much before you - SO you all can protect yourselves.



Taqwa in this ayah means 'protect' (i.e. 'ward off' harm from) yourself.


This ayah is a call  to all of mankind.


Allah says;

فَكَيْفَ تَتَّقُونَ إِن كَفَرْتُمْ يَوْمًا يَجْعَلُ الْوِلْدَانَ شِيبًا -
So how will you PROTECT [taTaQuWna] yourself on the Day which will make the child grey-haired. [Muzzamil 73:17
]


This surah began with:

That is the Book, guidance for those who have Taqwa (people who actually do protect themselves from Allah's anger, His punishment, and from hypocrisy.)

So we see a Common Trend of Taqwa in this surah.


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Ayah 23-25 [Download Audio MP3]
 

Ayah 23:

وَإِن كُنتُمْ فِي رَيْبٍ مِّمَّا نَزَّلْنَا عَلَىٰ عَبْدِنَا فَأْتُوا بِسُورَةٍ مِّن مِّثْلِهِ وَادْعُوا شُهَدَاءَكُم مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ
 

Wa in kuntum fee raybin min maa nazzalNaa 'alaa 'abdiNaa, fa'too bi Sooratin min mithlih -


And if any of you are in doubt from what We have sent down upon Our slave, then bring a Surah that is anything like it.
..
 
 
Allah's Messenger, Muhammad (peace be upon him) had spent around 10years in Makkah with constant Warning against the evil and corrupt
practises of the polytheists (i.e. killing innocent daughters, oppressing the orphans and weak etc.), and he gave Good news for those
who stopped corruption and Believed - that they would have a great reward.
 
Yet the disbelievers persisted in their ungratefulness and rejected the message. They made false accusations against the message, saying
that it had been forged by other humans etc.
 
 
So after 10 long years of Inviting the people to the Divine Book/Guidance, and 10 long years of rejection by the disbelievers -
Allah put forward a challenge to the deniers.
 
If you really think this is the word of an insane, liar or plagiarizer or old stories, then;
 
"Produce a Surah similar to it."

 
 
The Polytheists, Jews and Christians were baffled and could not produce any surah (commonly translated as 'chapter') like a surah in
the Quran. And these people had Arabic as their first language, and also were Masters of Classical Arabic. Yet still they could not respond to the challenge.
 
This lack of response showed their inability, which shows that if the Masters of Classical Arabic could not plagiarize something like it, then their claim that Prophet Muhammad (sal Allahu alayhi wasalam) plagiarizing it from someone else is even more of a false and exaggerated claim.
 
 
When Allah says produce a surah like it - it has to stump/shock (dumbfound), make emotional to the extent of Tears - the experts of Classical Arabic as occurred to:
- Tufayl bin 'Amr al-dawsi (who converted to Islam on the moment of hearing it.)
- 'Utbah ibn Rabee'ah. (when he heart Surah Fussilat.)
 

After many years of calling the Quran; a Lie, Stories of Old, Plagiarizarion etc. 
One of the last Accusations of Quraysh put forward was that the Quran is Magic.
 

The Messenger of Allah would recite the Quran and it had so much overwhelming power on the people, that they would start to cry (even the disbelievers themselves!).
This shows that they recognized the Quran was something which is not 'normal' speech, but speech which is 'supernatural'.
 
This is the Challenge, this is the effect a person has to produce when they are attempting to 'produce a surah like it.'
 
We ask Allah that He allows us to understand His Book deeply and allows us to follow it's teachings sincerely.
 
 

..wa-d'oo shuhadaa'akum min doon-illahi inKunTum Saadiqeen -
and call upon your witnesses, any you have besides Allah, if you are Truthful
ones.


And if any of you are in doubt about what We have sent down to our slave, then bring your witnesses - any you have [inferior/duwn] besides Allah, if you are truthful..


This shows Mahaara/Expertise. Allah did not say 'bring your Experts'. Rather, Allah said bring your Witnesses, which covers a much more wider group of those who witness the Qurans miracle.

So don't just bring your Experts, but bring all the witnesses you can for help - even your false gods/idols! Even they won't be able to produce a surah like this. Allah is mocking their gods by implying that if they were truly gods or equals with Allah, then they would be able to produce a similar chapter like that of the Quran. But none of them are able to do that. Showing a mockery and the falseness of their beliefs.


The 2nd meaning is; 'the Witness of Truth' was the most eloquent speaker of the 'Arabs. They were the most respected and Leaders of society due to their deep knowledge of the Arabic language.

These people would be able to study speech and find out if an expert is speaking certain words, or if it is the words of an insane/mad/crazy person.

Experts were called 'Witnesses' in ancient arabic because they testify if something is valid and true/correct or not.

So Allah challenges them to bring their Expert critics. And there were times when the arab polytheists actually did this.

I.e. Waleed ibn al Mugheerah who was one of these Expert Witnesses praised it, but out of arrogance and pride - he never submitted to it and instead said that this Quran is magic (whilst admitting that it is something 'supernatural/out of this world').
[see surah Mudathir 74:11-26]

He admitted it wasn't poetry, nor the word of a mad person. If people heard these claims - they might try to hear what it's about. So by saying magic which breaks families - people would run away and not want to hear the Qur'an.


Wa-ad'oo shuhadaa'a min DUWN-illah.. - and call your witnesses besides Allah

The word; Duwn = Lesser.

Allah could have used the word 'Ghayr' which means 'without'. Meaning; call your witnesses 'without' (ghayr) Allah if you are truthful.

But Allah said; min Duwn-illah = (call your witnesses) [who are] Inferior to Allah..

Allah is telling them that even if you did bring any witnesses or critics or helpers to produce a chapter similar to the Quran - they are inferior than Allah and Lesser than Him. So call any of them besides Allah - you will not be able to produce similar to this Qur'an.


How are you going to compete with Allah?

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Then Allah says;

Ayah 24:

فَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلُوا وَلَن تَفْعَلُوا فَاتَّقُوا النَّارَ الَّتِي وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ ۖ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْكَافِرِينَ

If infact you have not been able to do so [Lam - Past tense], and you will never be able to do so [Lan - Future tense], then Protect yourselves/be Cautious of/Fear (watch out!) from the Fire, whose fuel is men and stones, promised for the Ungrateful Deniers.


This surah started with Allah telling us that this Book is a Guidance for those who Protect themselves (muttaqeen).
Since the disbelievers didn't want to follow the guidance, nor did they want to protect themselves - then Allah is sarcastically telling them - then protect yourselves from the Fire whose fuel is men and stones!


Theme: This surah has alot of Sarcasm against the strong/committed Disbelievers.
(i.e. see al Baqarah 2:15, 2:24, 2:93, 2:175)

Baqarah 2:93 - Evil it is what your (Jews) Emaan/belief commands you to do..
(this is sarcasm because the jews are supposed to be following and having Emaan/belief in Allah and doing good, but their sinful attitude makes them have bad Emaan/belief and do bad actions.)

Baqarah 2:175 - What (amazing/ Maa of ta'ajjub) patience [the disbelievers and hypocrites] have on the Fire of Hell.
(Allah is being sarcastically amazed at the patience of the disbelievers in wanting to be in hell, and making us imagine them in hell and how patient can they really be there?)



..al-Naara al-latee waQoodu-haa al-Naasu wa-al Hijaarah -
the Fire which is Kindled with People and Stones.

This fire's fuel is not wood, or oil, like fuel for fire is in this world. But its fuel is only 2 things;
Humans (who deserve this punishment), and Stones.

Stones;-
The people would worship idols made of Stone, so you'll burn with your idols which you worshipped.

Others also commented that a fire which Burns Stones and melts them (into Lava etc.) shows the intensity of the fire of hell.
[mentioned in Tafseers' and some statements of the Sahabah/companions of Prophet Muhammad.]


U'iddat li-al Kaafireen - Promised for those who are Ungrateful Disbelievers.

Kaafir - Kafara - to Bury a seed into the ground.
He - the disbeliever - had the seed of Truth in his heart - but he covered it with the Darkness of disbelief.


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Ayah 25
:


وَبَشِّرِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ ۖ كُلَّمَا رُزِقُوا مِنْهَا مِن ثَمَرَةٍ رِّزْقًا ۙ قَالُوا هَٰذَا الَّذِي رُزِقْنَا مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَأُتُوا بِهِ مُتَشَابِهًا ۖ وَلَهُمْ فِيهَا أَزْوَاجٌ مُّطَهَّرَةٌ ۖ وَهُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ


Wa Bash-shir -iladheena aamanoo - and give Good news to those who believe..

Allah could have said;
i - Ubash-shir -uladheena aamanoo - good news for those who believe.

ii - al-taBsheer bi-iladheena aamanoo - Congratulations to those who believe.

But Allah said;
Bash-shir -iladheena aamanoo - Congratulate (O Muhammad) those who believe.

Allah is emphasising His Messenger's importance. That it is he who will give the good news to those who believe and do good actions of the reward of Paradise.

Allah is honoring His Messenger infront of those who are rejecting him - by implying that - 'you need to follow the Messenger for him to give you the good news of Paradise.' You cannot go to Paradise based on your own way of life.


..aladheena aamanoo wa 'amilu al-Saalihaat - those who believe and do Good Actions.

Whenever Allah mentions; 'those who believe AND do good actions' - it refers to the good believers.


Anna lahum Jannaatin taJree min tahti-haa al-aNhaar -
That exclusively for them are Gardens, at the foots of which rivers flow.


Throughout all of history, even today - humans like properties which are surrounded by beautiful Green gardens, and humans love to see water flowing (this is why the 5 star hotels have water fountains). And people want a place to live - which they own.

These are the main things all people around the world and through history always want.

So Allah is giving this reward and more in His Paradise to those who believe and do good.


Allah is promising those who do believe and do good;
- Permanent houses with beautiful viewing - which are Custom made to how YOU want it, gardens (not one, but many), with rivers flowing through them.

This is what Allah is promising you. But before you can get there, you might have to emigrate from your house of this world to protect your religion and contract with Allah. Many Sahaba had to leave their property and had become homeless in Medinah, and would live in Masjid al Nabawi (the Prophet's Mosque in Medinah.)

So Allah is promising a huge reward - but now is the time for effort.


..kulla maa ruziqoo min-haa min thamaratin rizqan

Everytime they are given provision from it, in terms of different fruits, they say - this is what was given to us last time.


They are not complaining, but they are amazed and remembering back. They are excited, just like when children like a food - they say excitedly; 'remember we ate this before!? It was really tastey.'


Wa utoobi-hee mutaShaabihaat - and they will be given similar ones.

They will look similar, but their tastes will be even better and more unique than the last time.


Wa  lahum fee haa azwaajun muTah-harratun
..And especially for them will be purified spouses (wives or husband).


One of the best things in life is to have the best property, food, and also to have someone you can share this happiness with. So Allah is telling us that they will have purified spouses. And He is showing us that having the best spouse in this world is a glimpse of a beautiful marriage life in Jannah (Paradise.)

This purification is talked about in detail in surah ar-Rahmaan.


wa hum fee haa khaalidoon
- and especially in it - they will live forever.



This congratulations is given to the believers by the Messenger of Allah (saws), because wherever the believers turn - they are being called fools (sufahaa) by the disbelievers and hypocrites.

So Allah is telling His Messenger to give the good news to the believers that you will get the highest and best reward anyone can ever earn.


O Allah make us of the people of Your Paradise, Jannah al Firdaws, by your Mercy. Ameen.


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Ayah 26 - 29
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Ayah 26:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَسْتَحْيِي أَن يَضْرِبَ مَثَلًا مَّا بَعُوضَةً فَمَا فَوْقَهَا ۚ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَيَقُولُونَ مَاذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِهَٰذَا مَثَلًا ۘ يُضِلُّ بِهِ كَثِيرًا وَيَهْدِي بِهِ كَثِيرًا ۚ وَمَا يُضِلُّ بِهِ إِلَّا الْفَاسِقِينَ


Surely Allah is not embarrassed to strike an example..

Daraba mathalan (Striking an example) =
i - striking/hitting something which causes the Attention of people.
ii - Impact - the one who listens to the example has an Impact on him, just like the one who is Hit has a great Impact Effect on him.


"Allah for sure is not embarassed to strike an example of a Mosquito or even something Above [Fawq] and beyond that (in minisculeness/smallness.)"


In surah Hajj, Allah tells us that 'those who they call upon besides Allah, will never be able to create a Fly - even if they came altogether (to do so.) [Hajj 22:73]


Why would Allah give such examples?
Ustadh Nouman said; The example given isn't always the main point, rather - the Message behind the example is even more important.

To make that message even more clear and meaningful - Allah will give the example of a Mosquito, or anything even smaller or bigger than that.

The teacher will use the best means to - to drive the lesson across.


To understand more clearly the message being given, we see that
this surah started off describing:
1 - This Quran is a Book of Guidance.
2 - This Quran is an unmatchable Miracle.
3 - those who can't match the Quran want to find any excuse to reject the Quran. So they criticize the parables and examples/lessons Allah gives.
The disbelievers of old did this, and others of today do the same. But they don't understand Allah's parables, and their arrogance makes them make fun of what they don't understand.


..fa amm-aladheena aamanoo FA ya'lamoona anna-hu al-Haqqu min Rabbi-him.. -
Then as for those who believe, THEN they know that it is the Truth from their Master..

The FA (Then) in that part of the ayah shows that; Whenever the believers hear the Parables of Allah, then they Suddenly know and Realise that they are the truth and from their Master (Allah.)

So they submit their Intellect to Allah, and then they try to reflect on them, and the Scholars are those who try to fully understand their meanings. [Allah tells us this in surah al-Ankaboot 29:43]



Whereas the disbelievers doubt and mock - even without wanting to understand.


Fa amma al-ladheena kafaroo fa yaQooloona; maa dhaa araadAllahu bi HAADHA MATHALA;
And as for those who disbelieve, then they are saying;
What does Allah intend by using THIS Example [tamyeez]?

So the disbelievers are mocking at the signs and parables of Allah.
They are mocking at the Objects being mentioned and ignoring the message which Allah is giving.


..yuDillu bi-hee Katheeran wa yaHdee bi-hee Katheera -
He misguides with it Many, and He guides by it Many.

In this context, Allah is talking about;
- the Quran
and
- the Parables He mentions.

The Quran will guide or misguide people based on their Intentions before reading it.
If they are seeking Guidance from it - Allah will guide them.
If they are seeking Criticism for it - Allah will misguide them through it.


..Wa maa yuDillu bi-hee il-laa al-Faasiqeen -
And He does not misguide - except the Corrupt.

So Allah misguided them because they did not desire guidance - so they had a Corrupt intention when approaching the Quran.


All the different misguided groups try to use the Quran to prove to the people of Sunnah (Ahl al-Sunnah) their misguidance - through the Quran.

So Allah tells us that He further misguides the Corrupt through this Quran.

Who are the Faasiqeen/Corrupt?

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Ayah 27
:

الَّذِينَ يَنقُضُونَ عَهْدَ اللَّهِ مِن بَعْدِ مِيثَاقِهِ وَيَقْطَعُونَ مَا أَمَرَ اللَّهُ بِهِ أَن يُوصَلَ وَيُفْسِدُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ



Those who Cut apart/violate the Covenant of Allah after taking it firmly..



Which Covenant is this;

1 - The Covenant our Souls took when we were with Allah before we entered this world, when Allah said - 'Am I not your Master?', and we all said 'Yes, no doubt - we testify and bear witness';
[see surah al A'raf 7:172]

2 - Covenant of Believing in the Messengers';
When we say the Shahadah;
Laa illaaha illaa Allah, Muhammadun Rasool Allah - there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him).

Then we have to accept the religion in its entirety, even if some of it doesn't make sense to us.

We can not be doubters who criticize the Messenger of Allah's actions, because this is what the Jews did to their Prophets, and the Hypocrites did to Prophet Muhammad (sal Allahu alayhi wasalam.)
If someone has such characteristics, it is likely that Allah will misguide them.


"..Wa yaQta'oona maa 'amarAllahu bi-hee an yuWSala.." -
And they Cut off what Allah has commanded, which should have been Strongly Connected/Linked.



The scholars commented that this refers to;
1 - the Unity of the Muslims (the Corrupt people/Faasiqeen wanted to cause disunity and break/Cut the ties and strength of the Muslims.)

2 - Silat-ur-Rahm (Connection of the Blood/Family). These people would cause disunity amongst the people, especially having a bad relationship with their families and breaking the family ties.

3 - al-Shawkani said: the Hypocrites tried to Cut and Separate the connection between the Quran, and the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alayhi wasalam.)
I.e. The Hypocrites tried to separate the Quran from the Sunnah, even at the time of Prophet Muhammad (sal Allahu alayhi wasalam).
So if the Messenger commanded something, the hypocrites would ask; where does it say it in the Quran?
This is hinted at in surah Muhammad (47).

Such a Hypocrite movement started at the time of Prophet Muhammad (sal Allahu alayhi wasalam), and still continues till today. They try to ignore the Sunnah because they feel too 'restricted' by it. So Allah has misguided them because of their lack of sincerety.


..Wa yuFsidoona fee al-'ArD -
And they are Corrupting in the Earth.


They are corrupting the Earth by Cutting off and separating which Allah has commanded to be joined.


..ulaa'ika hum-ul Khaasiroon -
It is they who are the Losers.


When they cause corruption, others also suffer. So people might think that the Corrupters are winning worldly benefit for themselves by harming others, but they are truly Losers in the sight of Allah and on Judgment Day.

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Ayah 28
:



كَيْفَ تَكْفُرُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَكُنتُمْ أَمْوَاتًا فَأَحْيَاكُمْ ۖ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْيِيكُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ


How can any of you Disbelieve in and be Ungrateful to Allah - and you used to be dead and He brought you to life, then He will give you death again, then He will give you life again, then to Him you will return..



Allah has described our whole life journey, and if you truly reflect on it - it makes you scared because you realise that no matter how much you travel - in the end - you will return to Allah and be held responsible for what you did.


"O forgetful human, surely you are returning to your Lord a truly returning, then you will meet Him" (Inshiqaq 84:6)

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Ayah 29:

هُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ لَكُم مَّا فِي الْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ اسْتَوَىٰ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَسَوَّاهُنَّ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ ۚ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ

He is the One who created for you all, everything which is on the Earth, Jamee'an (altogether).


The word Jamee'an (Altogether / group) has 2 implications;
1 - ALL (objects) that are ON the Earth is for us humans to use.
2 - that which is on the Earth is for ALL us humans (i.e. It isn't just for some specific nation, but rather - for all people and colours/tribes etc.)

So it can imply either; ALL the things on the Earth, or it can imply
ALL us humans as a whole.


LA-kum = FOR you (all)

Paradise/Jannah - was created FOR us to enjoy.
The World/Dunya - was created FOR us to use to get to Jannah/Paradise.



..Thumma astawaa ila-as-samaa'i fa sawwaa hunna sab'a samaawaat -
Allah rose towards the sky and balanced them into 7 seven skies .

This ayah is of the Mutashaabihaat verses, which means they are not Clear in our limited human understanding. So we accept them as they are Without asking 'Kayf?' (the question of; How?) Allah did what He did. We should not do this, based on what Allah says in surah aal Imran 3:7.


..wa huwwa bi kulli shay'in 'aleem -

"And only HE is knowledgable over everything."
(Allah is telling us that only He knows knowledge of everything, so we should admit that we cannot know everything. A sign of our humble imperfection and a sign of Allah's perfection and vast knowledge and power.)

This surah started with Alif Lam Meem - that which we didn't understand. So Allah is telling us humans to admit that we can't know everything.

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Ayah 30
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Ayah 30:

وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً ۖ قَالُوا أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ الدِّمَاءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ


Allah told us in the previous ayah that;
How can you disbelieve in Allah, and you were dead (not existent), and then He gave you life..

1 - The first person Allah gave life to was Adam (alayhi as-Salaam). So now Allah will start to talk about him and his origins.

2 - Soon; Allah will also talk about the first Islamic nation which ruled by Laws - the nation of Bani Isra'eel (the Jews.)

The Messengers' before Prophet Moses would not have a full Law system by which they ruled their people. Rather, the Messengers' would recieve Guidance from Allah in regard to different matters i.e: how to Praise and thank Allah through Prayer, to be a Morally good person (i.e. good to parents, relatives, neighbours etc.) but they were not given a full detailed Law system.
Bani Isra'eel (Children of Isra'eel - the Jews) would be the first nation with a full system; Clear Rights and wrongs, Specific Laws and Punishments which would be executed if people of that nation went against the Law.

So Allah will discuss both Beginnings in this surah;
- the Beginning origin of humans
- Beginning of the first Islamic established State. And its people.



Ayah 30 continued:


"Remember When [idh] your (O Muhammad) Master said to the Angels, Surely I am One who is going to make especially in the Earth a Khaleefah"



Idh = When
(past tense). But has an implication of; (wa adhkur) - 'and Remember/think about the time When..'

'and Remember/think about the time When Allah said to the Angels, I am going to make in the Earth a Khaleefah..'


Khaleefah =


Ibn Katheer said: yaKhlufu ba'Du-hum ba'da - Khaleefah is someone who proceed/come one after another

i - (someone who will have Children, and those children have children etc.)
ii - Prophets' will come - one after another - throughout history.

[Note: The angels do not have children. I.e. Angel Jibreel (Gabriel) was existent before (many thousands of years before), and is still existent even now.]


Islam differs from Jews and Christians
, because:

1 - We don't believe Adam and Eve were sent to the Earth as a punishment.
Especially if we consider that the first mention of Adam in the Quran has a mention of Allah saying He will create a Khaleefah on the Earth (this is mentioned even before the narrative story of Adam is mentioned.)

2 - Both Adam and Eve ate from the tree. (some of the Jews and Christians have said that maybe the word 'Evil' derives from the name 'Eve' [blaming it on only Eve]. The Quran says they both ate from the tree (see surah Taha 2:121)]


"..They (the angels) said, are you placing in it someone who will cause Corruption (Fasaad) in it, And it is we who declare your perfection by Praising you and Sanctifying You.."


Allah told us earlier in this surah that there were people who did cause Corruption in the Earth (see ayah 12.) Showing that the Angels were - to an extent - correct in their assumption.


We also learn that Spilling/Shedding blood unjustly is a sign of disregard of the Perfection of Allah. I.e. A person who does so does not truly comprehend the Perfectness of Allah.

Allah created the human to be in harmony with his surroundings on Earth. So if this person unjustly, out of lust or anger kills or harms someone else - and causes Corruption on the Earth, then this person has violated the Hamd/praise of Allah. This person - who is supposed to have an intellect has done more violence and injustice than even an animal/beast.


He said, It is I who knows what you do not know.


The angels said humans will shed blood, and they were correct.

However, Allah told the Angels that He knows what they do not. Which means;

i - There will be some people who won't cause Corruption on Earth. Rather, they will be fighting against and opposing corruption. They are the followers of the Prophets'.

ii - Even though this group will be a small amount, they will be a proof enough to the Angels - that Allah's point was valid.


This means that Allah is Prideful when His slaves submit to Him, follow His Messengers' and oppose Corruption. And this is why Allah will be extremely happy with these slaves on Judgment Day - since they opposed Corruption;

a - proving Allah's point to the Angels.
b - declaring Allah's perfection and praises (Hamd) by opposing the Corruption.


We ask Allah to make us of His slaves who He is prideful of and amazed at. So that He shows off to the Angels about us. Ameen ya Rabb.

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Ayah 31-35
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Ayah 31:

وَعَلَّمَ آدَمَ الْأَسْمَاءَ كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمْ عَلَى الْمَلَائِكَةِ فَقَالَ أَنبِئُونِي بِأَسْمَاءِ هَٰؤُلَاءِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ

And He taught Adam the names, all of them.

The word; 'Al-lama [Fa'alla/taf'eel form] = Continuous/Intense Teaching.

So whenever knowledge and its teaching is mentioned, Allah is telling us that He is the One who has taught it. He attributes ALL knowledge to Himself.

I.e. Surah Rahman 55:1-4; The Abundantly Merciful (Allah), has Taught ['Al-lama] the Qur'an, He has created the Human, and He has Taught ['Al-lama] him how to Speak (Bayaan - Conveying/communication in speech).

So when we see this ayah in surah al Baqarah, we see that Allah taught names' to Adam.


Ustadh Nouman says;
Some figurative translations translate this ayah as:
'Allah taught Adam the names of Everything.'

But this is not correct. In that case it would be;
"'Al-lama Adama (He taught Adam)  - Asmaa'a Kulli shay'in (Names of Everything." or something similar.


But it has been translated by Ustadh Nouman as:

"And He (Allah) taught Adam the names, all of them."

Some have commented:
Adam was taught ALL kinds of names.

The word 'Kullu' = Every/All in the Arabic language, but it can also imply 'Lots'.

(This is why there are different connotations/implications in the language meaning.)


Some scholars comment;
- Adam was given knowledge of Lots' of things.
others say:
- Adam was given Potential knowledge of Lots'/all of things. (he had the ability to know Lots of things').

Even in Modern Linguistics, it is noted that;
The progression of Human knowledge has always been based on 'Names' and Objects. So no matter what field or language you go into of human sciences; people mention Names and Objects to understand and explain their concepts to others. And it is said that all languages begin with Nouns/Objects, and then Verbs and other descriptions are derived from them.

This is exactly what Allah describes teaching Adam; the Asmaa' (Names of Objects).


We see that Adam has been taught names and has vast potential for a huge amount of knowledge. Something which the Angels don't have.


So Allah asks the Angels;

"Inform me the Names of these - if infact you are Truthful (Saadiqeen)"

You would think that Allah might say; '"Inform me the Names of these - if infact you Know' (in kuntum ta'lamoon.)


But the reason why Allah said; 'In kuntum Saadiqeen' (if you are Truthful) is based on a previous comment of the Angels who asked Allah why He would create someone who would spill/shed blood.

Allah is proving to them that just as you don't know the Names of these things - the same way, you do not know everything about Allah's plans.

So you (Angels) are wrong in your assumptions that All humans will cause Corruption and shed/spill blood. (there will be some who will follow guidance and try to remove Corruption i.e. True believers).

[Note: sometimes we read Ahadeeth where Allah boasts/shows off to the Angels about some Righteous human slaves who have done something to remove corruption.
Allah proves to the Angels that He knows what they did not know - that there would be some good slaves (Muslims).]

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Ayah 32
:


قَالُوا سُبْحَانَكَ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَا إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ


They said; SubhaanaK - (we declare) Your Perfection

Subhan - something which stays Constantly in its place.
I.e. Sabaha = he is Floating. when a swimmer is floating without drowning = constantly in his place.

So the Angels said;

"You are constantly always Perfect, we have absolutely no knowledge except what you have taught us.."


The scholars comment that: the Names (Asmaa') of Objects which Allah taught Adam were Objects of the world we live in (the Dunya). Like names of Tools for Agriculture etc.

So when people mistakenly think that Religious knowledge is only from Allah, then this is a misunderstanding.
Rather - Allah taught us Worldly knowledge too. So all advances in worldly Sciences is due to Allah teaching it to His Prophets', starting from Adam.
(I.e. Allah taught Prophet Idrees how to Write, Prophet Noah how to build a Ship, Prophet Saalih of a perfect and fair Economic Finance system, Prophet Dawud how to make light and flexible armour, Prophet Jesus advances in Medicine, Prophet Muhammad in a perfect System for ALL Spheres/areas of life etc.)

So when people praise human inventions, they should praise Allah that He gave us minds and knowledge of Objects (which He taught Adam) to construct them amazing ideas.


"InnaKa anta al-Aleem ul-Hakeem"
Surely only You are the All* Knowing, the All* Wise.

The Angels admit that they were wrong and limited in their understanding, and that Allah knows everything.

But then they say that Allah is al-Hakeem - the All Wise. They say this because only Allah knows the Wisdom for which He created Adam.

[*The word 'All' has been added in translation because 'AL' (The) has an implication of someone/thing being Specific for someone.
So 'Al Hamd' means 'the Praise' (so if we imagine 'Praise' as a physical Object being Specific for someone = 'THE Praise / All of the Praise' belongs to Allah.]

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Ayah 33
:

قَالَ يَا آدَمُ أَنبِئْهُم بِأَسْمَائِهِمْ ۖ فَلَمَّا أَنبَأَهُم بِأَسْمَائِهِمْ قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ غَيْبَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَأَعْلَمُ مَا تُبْدُونَ وَمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْتُمُونَ


He (Allah) said; O Adam, inform them the Names of them [asmaa'i-Him'] (Objects).

'Him' [translated as 'Them'] refers to; (li dhaw-il 'Uqool - Creatures with 'Aql/Intellect.)
So it includes the Names of;  Nations, other Human and possibly even Jinn related aspects.

[If it was just Inanimate Objects that Adam was taught, then it would be said as;  asmaa'i-HAA'. But this was not said.]


"Then (Fa) when he informed them of their names.."

Allah used the word 'Fa' (Then) to show that when Allah asked Adam to name them - he named them Straightaway.

[If the word 'Thumma' (also meaning 'Then, after some time') was used, it would mean; 'Then after some time' - Adam named them.]

This shows us that Adam (alayhi as-Salaam) was able to do so Immediately.


"He (Allah) said; Didn't I tell you that I am the only One who knows for sure the unseen of the skies and the earth, and what you are exposing (tuBdoon - your criticism which you show) and that which you have been hiding (taKtumoon)

Ustadh Nouman explains that the Angels are created to always obey Allah, so they do not have secret agendas. But he says that he believes this is the most convincing explanation he has found about what the angels Hiding (taKtumoon);

Al Aloosi in Ruh al Ma'aani's explanation; Iblees (the future; Shaytaan) was given high ranks among the angels, even though he was a Jinn. He gained this high rank, (maybe because he did acts of worship to Allah alot) but most of all because it was a test for him from Allah.

So the Angels didn't know as they were innocent, but Iblees was amongst them, and he may have been getting jealous when Adam (alayhi as-Salaam) was being honored, or maybe Iblees would get jealous in the future against Adam when Allah would tell the Angels (and Iblees who was amongst them) to prostrate to Adam.

So Allah is telling them that Allah knew what Iblees had hidden in him (of jealousy against Adam), or that Allah knew what Iblees (who is amongst the angels) will do in the near-future.

Then suddenly Allah introduces us to this subject, in the next ayah;

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Ayah 34:

وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ أَبَىٰ وَاسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ

And when We said to the Angels; Prostrate to Adam, so they all Prostrated, except Iblees.

Abaa - he Refused. Means: to Refuse the command of someone who has Authority over you.
Show a lack of regard for the authority and disobey.
[similar word: RafaDa - he Refused between someone of an equal ranking.]


wa AST-aKbara [ISTaF'ala] - and he Seeked/sought Greatness

So Allah told us a glimpse in the psyche of Iblees; he sought Greatness and thought to himself; why should everyone respect this new Adam when I have been worshipping Allah for so long?

So Iblees wasn't sincere to Allah, he just wanted to boost and raise his ego and false respect.


Dr. Abdus Samee' (Nouman's teacher said;)
Allah has created us as Allah's caretakers of the Earth. So even though we might have power to rule the full Earth, we have to admit that we are slaves and weak in front of Allah. And that we are always dependant on Him.

This is important because in all parts of life, religious or non-religious - Iblees/shaytaan will try to make us follow his example of disobeying Allah out of arrogance against others. And this is what destroys the best of people.

So we have to admit we are weak slaves of Allah who are always dependant upon Him, and there is no strength or power except from Allah.


"..wa Kaana min al Kaafireen" -
and he Was from the Ungrateful Disbelievers.

[Allah could have said; 'fa aSbaha min al Kaafireen' - then he Became of the Disbelievers."]

By saying the word; 'Kaana' (Was - past tense) - it shows that; in the sight of Allah (Azza wa Jal), iblees Was Always a Kaafir (Ungrateful Disbeliever) deep inside himself - and Allah exposed the disease of arrogance in his heart when he spoke back to Allah arrogantly on that Day.

[We will see in other surahs' - when Allah mentions this story again - he mentions different details in it. I.e. Iblees will try to justify his sin and disobedience by trying to give arguments to Allah why he shouldn't prostrate (do Sajdah). See: surah al A'raf 7:12]

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Ayah 35:

وَقُلْنَا يَا آدَمُ اسْكُنْ أَنتَ وَزَوْجُكَ الْجَنَّةَ وَكُلَا مِنْهَا رَغَدًا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمَا وَلَا تَقْرَبَا هَٰذِهِ الشَّجَرَةَ فَتَكُونَا مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ

O Adam, settle - you and your partner in the Garden

Sukoon: you were in motion and you stop somewhere and remain there.
Saakin - someone who you used to be somewhere else and is placed somewhere else to Live (i.e. Adam was placed from somewhere else into the Jannah/gardens).

Sukoon: does not necessarily imply 'Permanent Residence'.

Related word:
Khuld = Permanent/'Ongoing' Residence.

[There are 10 different words for 'Living' somewhere in the Qur'an. This word 'uSkun' is one of them.]

We see that Allah did not tell Adam to stay 'Khuld' (ongoing and always) in the Garden/Jannah, He said 'uSkun' (stay there for some time.)

This shows that Allah had already predestined that Adam would have to come to the Earth, especially when we consider that Allah has taught him the names of many Objects of the Earth world.


'You and your wife settle in the Garden'

Allah never said 'you two' settle in the Garden. Rather, He said - 'you and your wife - settle in the garden'. This shows that Allah honored both the male and female at the same time when He said this.


'Then eat from this Garden/Paradise carefree/with joy/delight (Raghadan), but don't come close to this tree - either of you - and if you do so, you both will be of the losers.

Raghadan - freely without fear / carefree.

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Ayah 36 - 38

[Download Audio MP3]


Ayah 36:

فَأَزَلَّهُمَا الشَّيْطَانُ عَنْهَا فَأَخْرَجَهُمَا مِمَّا كَانَا فِيهِ ۖ وَقُلْنَا اهْبِطُوا بَعْضُكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ ۖ وَلَكُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ مُسْتَقَرٌّ وَمَتَاعٌ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ

And shaytan caused Both of them (HumAA) to Slip (a-zalla) from It ('an-Haa)

The ['an] 'Haa' ([slip from] It/her) refers to them slipping from;
- Allah's Instruction,
- His Guidance,
- ['an = in regards to] the Tree (tree/shajarah is a feminine word.)


"Then He expelled [akhraja] both of them from what they were in."

The majority of scholars say that Allah expelled them both (Adam and Hawwa/Eve) from Paradise.
However, some scholars say that the 'he' refers to shaytaan/iblees expelling them from Paradise.


[Note: Allah explains events briefly in some surahs', and explains the same event in alot more detail in another surah.  

I.e. Surah al A'raf (7) explains this narrative of Adam and Eve and how Iblees/shaytan tricks them - in more detail than surah al Baqarah does.

The reason why this occurs is because; every surah has a Central message and Central Themed Lessons. So Allah will mention a story in more detail when the lessons from the story are relevant to the Theme of the surah.]


Allah told us that the Waswasa of shaytan effected both Adam and Eve, and they both ate from the tree. (some of the Jews and Christians have said that maybe the word 'Evil' derives from the name 'Eve' [blaming it on only Eve].

The Quran says they both were victims of shaytans Waswasa (whisperings) and they both ate from the tree (see surah Taha 2:121)].


..Wa qul-Naa ihbiToo -
"And We said descend.."

ihbiTOO - descend (plural)

The 'OO' [waw, alif] at the end of the command ihbiT (descend) is a Plural (3 or more characters.)

It is not in Dual (2 / two characters) form [which would be ihbitAA), which shows that Allah is not just telling Adam and Eve to descend, but also to a 3rd character - Iblees/shaytan.

They were descended to Earth. Which shows that the Earth is 'lesser' in position to the Paradise.


Ba'Da-kum bi Ba'Din 'aduw
"..Some of you (one group) [will be an] enemy ['aduw] to Another."

There will be 3 different types of enmities on the planet Earth;
1 - Some Men will have animosity/hatred against women.
2 - Some Women will have animosity/hatred against men.
3 - Iblees/shaytaan will be an enemy to both Men and Women.

When men and women have hatred for each other - it will be because of shaytaan's influences.

In Modern Sociology and through history, there is a Social problem we see;
1 - Male Chauvinism - where men feel they deserve everything and females deserve nothing.
2 - Extreme Femininism - where women feel they deserve everything and males deserve nothing.

People might try to make compromises - but they can never fully reach a fair/unbiased solution, except if someone/thing which isn't male or female, and who knows the full internal/external details of human beings can provide a fair solution. And who both males and females can accept as a unified Authority - then the arguments and animosity will be settled. And this is through God/Allah and His Guidance.


"..Wa la-kum fee al 'Ardi mustaqarrun.."
And in the Earth, there will be a  temporary place of rest for you.


MustaQarr - a place you take Stop/tranquility/calmness in for a temporary amount of time.

Related word:
MuQaam.


"wa mataa'un ilaa Heeyn" -
And Utilities (for use) until a given time.

So Allah is saying that the Earth will be a temporary stay for us all, and a use (mataa') for us until a set time.

Mataa' - a Tool which you use and do not really enjoy. (i.e. Like a cleaning cloth, or any tool which you need to use to get your jobs done.)

[Al Asma'i: - he did research on especially this word - Mataa' (because Allah describes this world as Mataa' so much in the Qur'an). So he would go to the desert Arabs and would listen to what Objects they would use this word for (without telling them that this was his intent.)
But he found it hard because people would not say it naturally. And he did not want to ask them directly what it meant because he would not get a natural definition.

Until once he was sitting at a pond and a small girl was cleaning dishes with a Scrubbing Brush, and a goat came and snatched it away from her. She shouted; 'Akhadha Mataa'i' (he took my Brush!). So he writ this down in his Commentary - that Mataa' means 'Scrubbing Brush' (i.e. a using tool.) ]


Ustadh Nouman explains: Allah is telling us that this world is Mataa', and that we should not waste our life being attached to things which is only a Use to get to the next life.
Our money should be in our pocket or with the needy, not in our hearts.

Especially when Allah is telling us that this world is for a limited time only (mataa'un ilaa Heeyn.)

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Ayah 37:

فَتَلَقَّىٰ آدَمُ مِن رَّبِّهِ كَلِمَاتٍ فَتَابَ عَلَيْهِ ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ

"Then (when they were sent down) "


Muslims believe that Adam and Eve being sent to the Earth was not a punishment. It was part of the Allah's Divine plan before Adam was created. Yet everything that they and their children would do would have consequences in the next life.

[Christian extremes:
The Catholic christians;- thought that God punished Adam and Eve, so they were sent to this world.
As a result - they abandoned the world and locked themselves in monasteries.

The Protestant ('Protesting/opposing') christians went to the opposite extreme of Catholics and said that the more richer you are, the more God loves you. This is why their Pasteurs are millionaires nowadays.

Islam is the middle way - which tells us that this world is a Using Tool to get to the next life. So your riches can be given to the needy, and also used on yourself. But you need to show your gratefulness to Allah as a result and not be attached to this world.]


We know that this was not a punishment, although Allah did say some strong words to Adam.

'Did I not forbid you the from that tree, and did I not say to you - surely Shaytaan is a clear enemy to you both?' (surah al A'raf 7:22)

So Adam, Eve and Iblees/shaytaan had been placed on the Earth.

"..Then (Fa) Especially from his Master, Adam recieved special words, then (Fa) his Master turned back towards him."


And Allah tells us the words He gave them;

'Our Master, we have wronged ourselves, and if you do not forgive us, then surely we will be of the losers.' (surah al A'raf 7:23)


The 'Fa' (then) means ' Then - straightaway'.

[If 'Thumma' was used, it would mean 'after some time, Then..']

So Allah is showing us that just when Adam was sent to the Earth, Allah Himself chose to give him words (out of His Mercy for Adam and Eve) by which - they begged Allah - and Allah forgave them..


'..Fa taaba 'alayh' -
then straightaway - He (Allah) turned back to them.


Adam and Eve were sent to the Earth, and Allah taught Adam words, and they sincerely recited them - and Allah turned back to them in forgiveness.

[NOTE: Allah taught Adam the words, and he taught them to his wife. Which shows that Allah wants the male to be a leading example in the household of teaching his women the religion.]


How kind is Allah!

Tawbah (turning back to Allah for the slave in regret is loved by Allah so much, that He converts the bad deed into a good one.) [see surah al-Furqan 25:70]


"..Innahu huwwa al-tawwaabu al-raheem -
Surely it is He, He who is the One who turns back in love (to the repenters) over and over again, the Constantly Merciful."

This ayah is so powerful. Any person who has sinned so much will think that Allah will never forgive him.

But who can be more regretful than Adam and his wife? They were in a Jannah/garden where they had everything they wanted. They were told directly by Allah not to eat from the tree. Yet they fell into a mistake/slipped, and they had to leave the Jannah/garden temporarily.

Yet they sincerely repented to Allah, and He forgave them. So no other sinner has an excuse after hearing this from repenting sincerely to Allah.


[Ayah of Repentance: al A'raf 7:23]:

رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ

They said, "Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers."

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Lessons & Reminders from surah al Baqarah 2: 38-44

Watch Video of Tafseer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDvtLhA_a3U


Ayah 38
:

قُلْنَا اهْبِطُوا مِنْهَا جَمِيعًا ۖ فَإِمَّايَأْتِيَنَّكُممِّنِّيهُدًىفَمَنتَبِعَ هُدَايَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ

We said, "Go down from it, all of you. And when guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance - there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.


fa = then -
whoever follows the guidance, no fear will be upon them.
man tabi'a hudaaya - whoever follows my guidance - this is singular, because a person may embrace Islam by themselves and feel strange in society for following it. Yet Allah is giving them the good news that no fear will be upon them [plural] - which shows that the person will find other good believing companions in this life, and especially in the next life.


ya'tiyANNA
kum. Really it would be; ya'tiy kum. The difference is; the 'ANNA' implies Certainty.

ya'tee / Ataa = to Give. So the overall meaning is;

Then if Guidance Certainly [is] given to you from Me.

So Allah is telling people to investigate guidance, not just any guidance, but to investigate that it is truly guidance from Allah. This is implied by ya'tiyANNA.



There is no fear on them - because when fear is in your mind, it has a greater affect on you than just sadness. So fear is mentioned before sadness.
But not all fear will leave them [otherwise it would be Khawfa], rather for most of the part - they will not be in fear.

The word Khawfun is mentioned as a Noun, which is a Permanent form. This is interesting because Fear is permanently part of a person.


And they will not be sad - sadness can be ignored, whereas fear is not as easy to ignore. So this is mentioned after fear.

The 'hum' [them] is mentioned to emphasise that Especially them - they will not be sad (in this worldly life and on Judgment Day).

The word yaHzanoon is in verb form, which is a a Temporary form. This is interesting because Sadness comes and goes in life.



In this world, the believers have no loss. It is a win-win situation. In hardships, they are between Sabr and Shukr [Patience and Thankfulness]. Both are rewardable. [They will not fear or be sad].

Whereas the disbeliever is in loss. He is in a lose-lose situation. In hardships he is sad he has lost his time and health, in ease he is arrogant and ungrateful to Allah - causing Allah's punishment to descend.



People who misinterpret the Qur'an, they have fallen into one of these 2 categories;

Khawf [Fear] - many Muslims who misinterpret the aayaat of Allah are scared of being criticized - so they do not discuss them, or they misinterpret them.

Huzn [grief] - many Muslims are extremely angered and annoyed due to hardships they have faced, so they make mis-interpretations based on the griefs that they have faced in life.


Allah in the upcoming aayaat/verses tells us not to hide or misinterpret His aayaat/verses. So we have to look at the Quran from a balanced and neutral perspective when deriving rulings.

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Ayah 39:

وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَكَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ

And those who disbelieve and lied against Our miraculous signs - those will be companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally."


This is contrasting with the previous ayah which spoke about following the guidance, and this ayah is talking about disbelieving and lying against the guidance.

So it is criticizing the point of not following the guidance.

So who is the best example of people who know the guidance is true, but they didn't follow it? [read the next ayah for the answer].

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Ayah 40
:

يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتِيَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَأَوْفُوا بِعَهْدِي أُوفِ بِعَهْدِكُمْ وَإِيَّايَفَارْهَبُونِ

O Children of Israel, remind yourselves of Myfavor which I have bestowed upon you and fulfill My covenant [upon you] that I will fulfill your covenant [from Me], and be afraid of [only] Me.


An'am - Favour/blessing.


Allah is reminding the Children of Israel that Allah did favour them, but they were ungrateful. We as Muslims are also favoured, so we should not fall into their mistakes - otherwise Allah might remove His favour from us, just like He removed it from them.

Moses is mentioned the most in the Qur'an so that we can compare ourselves to his Ummah [nation].


Allah is reminding Bani Isra'eel [the Children of Israel] to remember the favour of Allah. Similarly, we should remember the favour of Allah that He chose us.


Now that we remember this favour, what should we do?

We should fulfill Allah's promise [through obedience] so that He will fulfill His promise [of success and reward] for us.


Oowfee [maJzoom] - Jawab al Shart: I.e. if you fulfill your Promise [Condition] - Allah will fulfill His promise.

What was the promise to Bani Isra'eel? That if they applied the laws of the Torah/Tawraat, They would eat from above them and below them [Ma'idah 5:66]*. Allah will give them everything. If you just follow Allah's guidance, the reward of the world will come to you and even the next life.



*وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ أَقَامُوا التَّوْرَاةَ وَالْإِنجِيلَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِم مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ لَأَكَلُوا مِن فَوْقِهِمْ وَمِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِهِم ۚ مِّنْهُمْ أُمَّةٌ مُّقْتَصِدَةٌ ۖ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ سَاءَ مَا يَعْمَلُونَ

And if only they had acted according to the Taurat (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel), and what has (now) been sent down to them from their Lord (the Quran), they would surely have gotten provision from above them and from underneath their feet. There are from among them people who are on the right course (i.e. they act on the revelation and believe in Prophet Muhammad SAW like 'Abdullah bin Salam), but many of them do evil deeds. [Ma'idah 5:66]



The same way, Allah has promised for our Ummah [nation];

وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمُ الَّذِي ارْتَضَىٰ لَهُمْ وَلَيُبَدِّلَنَّهُم مِّن بَعْدِ خَوْفِهِمْ أَمْنًا ۚ يَعْبُدُونَنِي لَا يُشْرِكُونَ بِي شَيْئًا ۚ وَمَن كَفَرَ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ

Allah has promised those who have believed among you and done righteous deeds that He will surely grant them succession [to authority] upon the earth just as He granted it to those before them and that He will surely establish for them [therein] their religion which He has preferred for them and that He will surely substitute for them, after their fear, security, [for] they worship Me, not associating anything with Me. But whoever disbelieves after that - then those are the defiantly disobedient. [Nur 24:55]


iyyaaya ha faRhaboon - and Fear Only Me.

So Allah is reminding His favours before reminding people to fear Him alone.

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Ayah 41
:

وَآمِنُوابِمَا أَنزَلْتُ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَامَعَكُمْوَلَا تَكُونُوا أَوَّلَ كَافِرٍ بِهِ ۖ وَلَا تَشْتَرُوا بِآيَاتِي ثَمَنًاقَلِيلًا وَإِيَّايَ فَاتَّقُونِ


wa Aaminoo... - and come to believe..

in what I have sent down, as a confirmation of what you already have
[they had the Torah, and the Qur'an confirmed the Torah] - so Allah is necessitating that the people believe in the Messenger - Prophet Muhammad - because he is the Messenger from Allah confirming what came of the early message of the Torah.

Believing in Prophet Muhammad is important in this ayah because in ayah [2]:62 in this surah, we will realise that Allah does not mention the Messenger. So believing in the Messenger - Prophet Muhammad - is mentioned in this ayah, and this ayah [41] is part of the discussion which leads to the discussion in ayah 62 of this surah.


أَفَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِبَعْضِ الْكِتَابِ وَتَكْفُرُونَ بِبَعْضٍ ۚ
فَمَا جَزَاءُ مَن يَفْعَلُ ذَٰلِكَ مِنكُمْ إِلَّا خِزْيٌ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ أَشَدِّ الْعَذَابِ ۗ وَمَا اللَّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
So do you believe in part of the Scripture and disbelieve in part? Then what is the recompense for those who do that among you except disgrace in worldly life; and on the Day of Resurrection they will be sent back to the severest of punishment. And Allah is not unaware of what you do. [Baqarah 2:85]

We have to believe in ALL the religion 100%.


..And do not be of the first to disbelieve in it.
This is emphasised because the Jews had knowledge of previous Prophets, so the Sahaba thought that the Jews would be the first to be Muslims. But ironically, they never. It was easier for the polytheist Arabs to become Muslim in huge numbers than it was for the Jews, and this is what actually happened.



Allah exposes the secret agendas of the enemies of Islam;

Don't sell my signs for a small price;

I.e. they knew Prophet Muhammad was a Messenger of Allah, and they knew that if they tell everyone that a non-Jew is a Prophet, then their special status is gone. Their high status of being the honored 'people of the Book' will be gone, so they will lose their special status in the sight of society, and they will have to be equals to the slaves who follow the Messenger, and equal to the Gentiles [non-Jews].


wa iyyaaya fattaqoon - and fear only, only Me.

This is a warning to ALL people who receive Allah's book and revelation. Because they may interpret Allah's book in the wrong way out of fear of the people, and not fearing Allah. They may do this to please the people, and earn Allah's wrath.

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Ayah 42
:

وَلَا تَلْبِسُواالْحَقَّ بِالْبَاطِلِوَتَكْتُمُواالْحَقَّ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ


And don't clothe the truth with falsehood.

People might use the Quran and Sunnah and produce wrong conclusions for an agenda/motive - this is done using 90% truth and 10% false, yet whatever is not 100% truth - then it is not the truth.


مَثَلًا ۘ يُضِلُّ بِهِ كَثِيرًا وَيَهْدِي بِهِ كَثِيرًا ۚ وَمَا يُضِلُّ بِهِ إِلَّا الْفَاسِقِينَ
He misleads many thereby and guides many thereby. And He misleads not except the defiantly disobedient, [Baqarah 2:26]


..And don't conceal the truth while you know.

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Ayah 43
:

وَأَقِيمُواالصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَوَارْكَعُوامَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَ

Establish the prayer and give Zakah [purification charity] - because when you pray - you are connecting with Allah and remembering Him much, and purifying yourself by giving in away in charity.

And make Rukoo' [bowing] along with the BowerS [Raaki'EEN].




The conservative Jews these days have the exact similar prayer to us today, EXCEPT that they make rukoo' [bowing] first and then sajdah [prostration] after that. This is proven in surah aal Imran;

يَا مَرْيَمُ اقْنُتِي لِرَبِّكِ وَاسْجُدِي وَارْكَعِي مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَ
O Mary, be devoutly obedient to your Lord and prostrate and bow with those who bow [in prayer]." [aal Imran 3:43]



Unlike our Ummah where we do Rukoo' first, and then sajdah;


مُّحَمَّدٌ رَّسُولُ اللَّهِ ۚ وَالَّذِينَ مَعَهُ أَشِدَّاءُ عَلَى الْكُفَّارِ رُحَمَاءُ بَيْنَهُمْ ۖتَرَاهُمْ رُكَّعًا سُجَّدًا يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًا مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَانًا

Muhammad (SAW) is the Messenger of Allah, and those who are with him are severe against disbelievers, and merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and falling down prostrate (in prayer), seeking Bounty from Allah and (His) Good Pleasure. [Fath 48:29]


This time, Allah is commanding them to make Rukoo' [bowing] with those who bow - i.e. the Muslims.

Up until now, Allah has still not declared the Muslims as a separate nation. Their Qiblah is the same, and their beliefs are similar.

So Allah is reminding them of His favours, He is almost trying to show them like a deviated sect/group who should join back to the mainstream and obedient Muslims. That is extremely powerful.

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Ayah 44
:

أَتَأْمُرُونَ النَّاسَ بِالْبِرِّ وَتَنسَوْنَ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ تَتْلُونَ الْكِتَابَ ۚ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ

This is the scariest ayah/verse.

Do you command people to do good, and forget your ownselves, and [yet] you read the Book? Why is it that you don't understand?


This is the scariest ayah for people especially people of knowledge.


Then don't you understand?

'Aql [commonly translated as 'Intellect']= to Tie.
'iqaal - a rope [which the arabs would tie around their head - which they would take off to tie their camel after they had rode it].

= control and restraint (over your emotions and thoughts) = self control, so you can make a good Judgment.

your 'Aql should make you follow the truth when it comes to you and your judgment should not be clouded by false emotion and false pride.

 

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Ayah 45 - 49

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Ayah 45:


وَاسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ ۚ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى الْخَاشِعِينَ


The first passage which addressed Bani Isra'eel (Children of Isra'eel/Prophet Ya'qub/Jacob) is coming to its Conclusion.

Isti'aanah = seeking 'Awn - Assistance / Help.

It is a special type of Assistance. The word is used when you are already trying to complete a job, and you cannot finish it yourself. So you ask someone for Help/Aid/Assistance [Isti'aanah] to finish it.

Similar words:
IstiNSaar
IstiMdaad
Istis'aad

So Allah is telling the Bani Isra'eel (and also Muslims);

"Seek Help (asta'eenoo) by means of Perseverance and Prayer"

So Allah is telling; Start the effort yourself, THEN seek help through Perseverance (Sabr) and Prayer.


Sabr = Patience, constancy, perseverance, consistency, commitment.
It has the literal implication of 'being tied down firmly on what you are aiming for.'

Sabr does not just apply to times of Calamity, but during all times (bad and good.) It is all about Self-discipline.

Ibn Taymiyyah said about Sabr; "Sabr is to have the same response during worldly ease to worldly difficulty."

So Allah is ordering them;
- Put effort in yourself (in the Solutions/guidance Allah will outline for you.)
- then Seek help through Perseverance, commitment, consistency in that through Self-discipline.
- Salaah (Prayer to Allah.)

The real help comes only from Allah, so you have to be patient - and only that will qualify you for Allah's help.


Salaah will get you Allah's help.


'And no doubt, it is truly huge - except on those who are truly fearful and humble.'

What is truly huge (kabeer)?
2 opinions;
1 - the Salaah (Prayer) - prayer is very difficult except for those who are truly fearful of Allah. So those who aren't regular in their prayers don't really have true fear of Allah.

2 - the Isti'aanah (Seeking help) - is very difficult for these people. So they may pray due to its obligation, but their patience is only temporary, and as a result - they do not get true help from Allah through their prayers. It is extremely hard for them to get this help.


It is common for Allah to mention a Characteristic, and then explain the signs of such a character in the aayaat after it.

Allah has mentioned the; Khaashi'een (those who are; truly Fearful, and Humble to Allah.)

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Ayah 46:

الَّذِينَ يَظُنُّونَ أَنَّهُم مُّلَاقُو رَبِّهِمْ وَأَنَّهُمْ إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ


"These are the people who are thoroughly convinced (yaDhun-oon)*.."
  
*'Dhan' usually means - 'to Assume without any evidence', but also means - 'to be fully sure with the strongest conviction'.
This might seem like they are opposite in meaning; 'thinking' and 'being sure with certainty.'

[This is because Arabic is Lughat-ul Abdaad = Language of Opposites. So one word may have one meaning, and mean its exact opposite at the same time.

Some said this might be because the Arabs Lived in Opposites i.e. They lived in the Desert which represents Death, yet they Lived (were Alive) there.

Another example: Snake represents Death because it can kill you. But the 'Arabs called it; Hayya (Life) because it is Alive in the dead desert.]


"These are the people who are thoroughly convinced (yaDhun-oon) that they will come face to face (mulaaq) with their Lord"

Mulaaq [Noun form = permanency] - Liqaa = come Face to Face.
By having it in Noun form, it shows that it is a Permanent and fixed part of these peoples lives that they they are certain that they will meet their Master. There is no way around it to escape.


"Wa anna ilayHi raaji'oon" -
and surely to Him they are returning.

Allah has used Positive reinforcement [Psychologically] to encourage them to turn back to Him sincerely.

Now Allah will use different ways (i.e. Negative Reinforcement, and sometimes Punishment) of encouraging them to return back to His guidance.

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Ayah 47
:

يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتِيَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَأَنِّي فَضَّلْتُكُمْ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ


"O sons of Isra'eel, make mention of the favour that especially I favoured you with.

And Especially (AnnEE) I who had given you preference over all nations.


So the conversation almost starts all over again. Allah is reminding the sons of Isra'eel (the Jews) that they were not special because of their race.
Rather - they were only preferred and special because Allah had chosen them over other nations.
He could remove this favour and they would not be special anymore.


"Annee faD-Daltu-kum 'alaa al 'Aalameen
"I am the One who had preferred you [past tense] over all of mankind and jinn ('aalameen = beings with intellect.)"

So Allah can take away the favour (and it seems that Allah has done so - by using 'past tense' FaD-Dal-TU-kum = I favourED you all [past tense].)

Due to continuous disobedience and rejection and killing of their Prophets', Allah replaced the Jews with sincere Muslims who submitted to what Allah commanded them.


'Aalameen - (nations/peoples/beings/generations of the world)

Related words:
Al-'awaalim (worlds)


Ayah 48:
And Be cautious/mindful/fearful of a Day

Before they were told to only fear Allah (ayah 41 of this surah), but now Allah has lowered the standard and told them;

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Ayah 48:

وَاتَّقُوا يَوْمًا لَّا تَجْزِي نَفْسٌ عَن نَّفْسٍ شَيْئًا وَلَا يُقْبَلُ مِنْهَا شَفَاعَةٌ وَلَا يُؤْخَذُ مِنْهَا عَدْلٌ وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ

'and fear a Day (Judgment Day) when:

- no soul will benefit/reward/compensate any other person (i.e. a woman will even drop her breastfeeding child [surah Hajj 22:3]), and

- no intercession will be accepted (and no-one who will try to make intercession will be accepted),

(some people will try these (ie. offering their families going to hellfire in the hope that they will be saved from it etc.), but they will not be accepted.) [see surah Ma'arij 70:11]

- and no equivalent/ransom/bail will be taken'
(not even the planet Earth full of gold will save them as ransom [see surah aal Imran 3:91]

"..wa laa hum yuNSaroon" -
'and they are the ones who are not going to be helped.'

By saying this, it signifies that there will be some others who will be helped. O Allah, make us of those who you help on that Day, ameen.


Now Allah will give a long series of Events which happened in the history of Bani Isra'eel (the sons of Isra'eel), not in any historical chronological order.
The purpose of the Quran is not timeline, but to drive the lesson across in the best way.

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Ayah 49:


وَإِذْ نَجَّيْنَاكُم مِّنْ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَسُومُونَكُمْ سُوءَ الْعَذَابِ يُذَبِّحُونَ أَبْنَاءَكُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيُونَ نِسَاءَكُمْ ۚ وَفِي ذَٰلِكُم بَلَاءٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَظِيمٌ

And When We rescued you over and over again (Naj-jay-Naa) from the children of Pharoah, they would blacken your faces (arabic phrase meaning: cause you enormous humiliation), they would slaughter your sons and they would allow your women (Nisaa') to live.



Naj-jay is used - Saved over and over again.
[aNjay - Saved once.]
Allah is telling the Children of Isra'eel (the Jews) that they could easily destroy you so you would become extinct totally from the face of the Earth. Yet Allah saved you over and over again.

Allah also tells us that; they - the oppressors - killed the boys/sons, and left the women (Nisaa') alive and violated their honour (raped them). And this would happen repeatedly throughout history.

Furthermore, Allah used the Oppressive Acts in Present-Future tense form which implies these events would occur throughout history (even to the weak believers in this Muslim nation); - yudhabihooNa abnaa'akum (they slaughter your sons - present-future tense),
- yastaHyyooNa Nisaa'akum (they keep alive your women - present-future tense.)


"Wa fee dhaalikum Balaa'un min Rabbi-kum 'ADheem "-
And in that, for all of you was an enormous test that had come especially from your Master.


We are living in a time similar to Bani Isra'eel today, in which there are many Pharoahs/Fir'awns, and we ask Allah that He ease our test for us and relieve us of this hardship soon and give us a near victory. Ameen ya Rabb.

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Ayah 50-54

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Ayah 50:


وَإِذْ فَرَقْنَا بِكُمُ الْبَحْرَ فَأَنجَيْنَاكُمْ وَأَغْرَقْنَا آلَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَأَنتُمْ تَنظُرُونَ

And remind yourselves when - especially for you - We parted the ocean/sea, We saved (aNjay-Naa-kum) you. And We caused the lineage of Pharoah to drown.


aNjay - saved once.
In this context, we see that Allah only parted the ocean for them once. So aNjay has been mentioned as 'One saving' in comparison to the previous ayah where Allah 'Naj-jay' (saved them Many times) from becoming extinct in history.


"Wa antum taNDhuroon" -
And you were all Watching closely (them being drowned).

In Jewish historical accounts; some Jews actually believed that Pharoah could not be killed, and they were convinced he was a 'god'. So when they saw Pharoah and his army being drowned to death - they were amazed.

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Ayah 51:


وَإِذْ وَاعَدْنَا مُوسَىٰ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً ثُمَّ اتَّخَذْتُمُ الْعِجْلَ مِن بَعْدِهِ وَأَنتُمْ ظَالِمُونَ

And remind yourselves when We called Moses (to fulfill our promise) for a period of 40nights, thereafter - you held onto the calf ('ijl - baby cow) from [min al-ta'ajjub/amazement] even after that!? And you were Wrongdoers.


Allah is amazed and disappointed at them because they had seen the sea/ocean split infront of their own eyes, and Moses led them out of slavery of Pharoah to freedom. Yet they still doubted him!? Yet they still worshipped a God other than the God of Moses who gave them these miracles!?

They had reached a point when they should have no doubt. But instead, their actions showed a lack of certainty in belief.


Wa antum Dhaalimoon -
'And you were Wrongdoers.' -

Because the Jews throughout history attribute wrongdoing to Allah, and are known to blame and criticize Allah. (i.e. see al Ma'idah 5:64) and there are other real life examples.

All this which has been mentioned has occured in chronological order;
1 - Torture and near extinction of the Bani Isra'eel (Jews)
2 - The parting of the Ocean/sea, and The Drowning of Pharoah and his army.
3 - Moses being called by Allah for 40 nights.

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Ayah 52
:


ثُمَّ عَفَوْنَا عَنكُم مِّن بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

Then (after some time) - We Pardoned you Lovingly ('afuww), so that you may be grateful.

[how they are forgiven is mentioned in ayah 54.]

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Ayah 53
:


وَإِذْ آتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ وَالْفُرْقَانَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ

And when We gave Moses the Book/Law and the Criterion [Furqaan]


Kitaab/Book also means Law (Shari'ah)

Furqaan [Criterion] - Farq = to separate two things so they become distinct/separate/clear from each other.
Furqaan = A Book which tells Clearly the difference between Wrong and Right categorically.

Similar word
:
Bayaan - Bayt/Baana - separating things from each other.
(words derived from it; Bayaan, muBeeyn, tiByaan)


"..La'allakum taHtadoon" -
so that perhaps you will put an effort to be Guided [iFti'al].


It's like;
'I've given you the road and clear path, now you have to walk down it and follow it.'


Now Allah will explain how He forgave them (Bani Isra'eel - the Jews) lovingly [which was mentioned in ayah 52].

But what was the point of the message in ayah 53?

Allah told us that the Bani Isra'eel (Jews) were given the Book/Law and the Criterion (for Right and wrong) - so they may be rightly guided.
Their Law told them that this was the punishment for idol worship - so if they followed the Law, Allah would forgive them Lovingly - because they would be showing their dedication to Him.

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Ayah 54
:

وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ يَا قَوْمِ إِنَّكُمْ ظَلَمْتُمْ أَنفُسَكُم بِاتِّخَاذِكُمُ الْعِجْلَ فَتُوبُوا إِلَىٰ بَارِئِكُمْ فَاقْتُلُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ عِندَ بَارِئِكُمْ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ

"And when Moses said; 'O my nation, it is you - no doubt - who have wronged your ownselves by holding onto the Calf intensely.
So repent to your Master (Baari'i-kum) and kill yourselves (each Jewish tribe would kill its own members who had worshipped the calf). "


Baari' - is interestingly used in this ayah. It is used alot in Hebrew for Allah as Rabb (Master/Lord.) So amazingly the speech of the Qur'an is accurate.

This is Jewish history, and part of Jewish law. And Islamic law is a continuation of the Law revealed to Prophet Moses.


"..That is better for you with your Master (Baari'i-kum)."

It is interesting Allah says this because humans think it is a bad thing, but Allah is telling them that it is better for them.

If they fulfill this command in their Law, Allah will accept their repentance.


'No doubt, He is the One who constantly accepts repentance [tawwaab], the constantly Merciful [al-Raheem]'

Allah offered His tawbah to them, so long as they followed His command. And they did follow the Law at that time - so Allah accepted their repentance.

But as time passed, they felt that they were Allah's 'saved people' who Allah would guarantee His forgiveness to. So they historically gradually became relaxed in implementing the Law, and did not fully follow it. They thought that if they go hell, they will be there for only a few days.
So why should Allah even forgive them?

Then the Christians came: they Abandoned the Law altogether and felt that Christ died for their sins. This is another way shaytaan fooled them.


The Islamic way of Repentance/Tawbah is to obey Allah and then ask for forgiveness.
If we obey Allah and ask Him for forgiveness - then in that case - the door for tawbah will constantly be open.

We ask Allah to help us obey Him and that He accepts our tawbah, always, ameen ya Rahmaan!




Ayah 55-58


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Ayah 55:


وَإِذْ قُلْتُمْ يَا مُوسَىٰ لَن نُّؤْمِنَ لَكَ حَتَّىٰ نَرَى اللَّهَ جَهْرَةً فَأَخَذَتْكُمُ الصَّاعِقَةُ وَأَنتُمْ تَنظُرُونَ

And when all of you said; O Moses - we will not surrender [LA] to/For you/give into your demands (of killing our tribesmen) .  


1a - Allah is saying; 'idh Qul-tum - when you all said' - instead of; 'when They said'.
This makes the discussion more personal because the Jews consider themselves to be all one unified family, so when Allah talks to the Jewish listener even now - he feels that direct experience with Allah.

1b - The fact that the Jews spoke and argued with Moses and not directly to Allah still shows that Allah was still watching when they were arguing with Moses. This is why Allah is showing this discussion from His own direct perspective.


1c - If it was said:

- BI = With / in
= (i.e. Lan nu'mina BI ka = we wont' believe WITH / In you) - in your beliefs.

But it was said;
- La / Li after a Verb implies: Surrender - give into someones demands.
(i.e. Lan nu'mina LA ka = we won't believe (submit) FOR you [and what you command us to do.]).


In the previous ayah, Allah (azza wa Jal) had told Moses to tell the Bani Isra'eel (children of Israel - which consisted of 12 tribes) to kill from their own tribes - the people who had worshipped the Calf.

If they did that - the Children of Isra'eel - would be lovingly forgiven by Allah as a whole. Because they had followed the Law which Allah had given to them.

But now they had started debating Moses, and even though they had believed IN [Bi] him and seen the miracles. They were not willing to submit TO [La] his commands.


"..hat-taa naRaa Allaha jahrah" -
(we will not submit to you) Until we see Allah face to face.

Jahr = clearly / apparent.


"Then suddenly, the explosion and loud sound (Saa'iqah) seized you all whilst you were staring"

This explosion (Saa'iqah) killed all of them instantaneously.

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Ayah 56
:

ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَاكُم مِّن بَعْدِ مَوْتِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ



"Then We raised you even after you had died, so perhaps you may be thankful."

The majority of scholars say that this literally happened. Allah caused these people to come back to life again.

'that perhaps you may be thankful'. You would think that Allah would raise them again so they be 'obedient' (tuTee'oon). But Allah said; 'that perhaps you may be Thankful' (taShkuroon).

This shows us that the one who is truly grateful to Allah, is the one who is obedient to Allah AND His Messenger.

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Ayah 57:

وَظَلَّلْنَا عَلَيْكُمُ الْغَمَامَ وَأَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَنَّ وَالسَّلْوَىٰ ۖ كُلُوا مِن طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ ۖ وَمَا ظَلَمُونَا وَلَٰكِن كَانُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ

And We cool shaded you with Clouds (Ghamaam),  and We descended upon you Manna (Bread) and Salwa (bird meat.)


Ghamaam = clouds which are joyful and light, as a shade for others.
(not scary dark clouds).


Nutrition:

Mann - wheat/grain
, when it came into the ground and grew - they could make bread from it. [Carbohydrates].

Salwa - a type of bird which are easily catchable
and cannot fly away, and are easy to cook.


Scientifically; the two most essential foods the human body needs are; Carbohydrates and Proteins.

They have been given; Shade (like Shelter), Food (Proteins and Carbohydrates), and it will be mentioned later - that they have Water.


"Eat of the Tayyib (good,pure) things We have provided you with"

Tayyib = good and pure.

Allah has given us many good and pure things for us to eat from, so we should not go into what He has forbidden - since that is harmful and not good.


So Imagine;
The Bani Isra'eel (including; men, old men, women, children etc) had just left Egypt and were travelling in the hot desert - without any home. They never had the ability to survive on their own in this desert. Yet Allah gave them Ghamaam (cool clouds) to shade them, and healthy and expensive foods. So that they be grateful.

[NOTE: We are given food and property, sometimes even more than them. Yet we are many times ungrateful. So this narrative is a lesson for us too.]


wa Maa dhalamoo-Naa, waLaakin aNfusa-hum yaDhlimoon -
'they did not wrong us at all, however - they are continuously wronging their ownselves.'

The 'Maa' is used for Strong Negation. They did Not wrong Us at all (when they did acts of rebellion against Allah). They are continuously (present-future tense is used) only wronging themselves.

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Ayah 58
:


وَإِذْ قُلْنَا ادْخُلُوا هَٰذِهِ الْقَرْيَةَ فَكُلُوا مِنْهَا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمْ رَغَدًا وَادْخُلُوا الْبَابَ سُجَّدًا وَقُولُوا حِطَّةٌ نَّغْفِرْ لَكُمْ خَطَايَاكُمْ ۚ وَسَنَزِيدُ الْمُحْسِنِينَ

And remember, when We told you (O sons of Isra'eel/Ya'qub/Jacob) to enter this town.


1a - If the Jews love one thing especially, it is their history.
So even if you mention one event - they remember the whole story.

Because they've been raised to remember that they are a nation which has survived and lived on, even though it has gone through so many trials and calamities.

Especially their history with Moses - the Jews treasure this the most, even till today.

1b - The reason why Dates and locations aren't mentioned is because;
i - they (the jews) already know all the dates of the events in their history.
ii - the Quran isn't concerned with dates and locations of events, rather - the lesson behind the narrative is the most important issue.
This is why - most of the times in the Quran - Allah will not mention the Time or Location, unless it is part of the Lesson.


Background
:

We see that Allah is describing His favours to the Muslim Israelites (those who truly submitted to Allah/God) at that time in history.

The Muslim Israelites have followed Moses and seen the different Miracles He has given them. (i.e. the sea parting, pharoah being drowned, being provided for in the desert etc.)
They were given many Tests, many which they failed in, or had taken their time in responding to, and they showed Ungratefulness to Allah.

Now they have reached a Town/city, called 'Jericho' (it is still existent today.) The people in this town were a warrior/fighting/combat type of people.
And the Israelites were commanded by Allah to fight these wrongdoing people, and that if they fought - Allah would give them victory.

So when Moses went to tell his people to fight, they said;

O Moses, we will never enter it as long as they are there.
So go, you and your Master and fight. We will stay sitting here. (surah al Maa'idah 5: 24)

Because of this - Allah punished them with 40years of exhile. So they would have nowhere to live  - except the desert.

According to Jewish history; Moses died within these 40years.

Then the next generation who had seen the harsh life of the desert wanted to fight for the cause of Allah, and they were led by Prophet Yusha (Joshua) ibn Nun. And Allah knows best.

So when they fought - Allah gave them victory.


"And remember when We said; Enter this town and eat there freely without any worry and with delight wherever you wish.."


Allah said something similar in ayah [2:]35, to Prophet Adam and his wife (Hawwa/Eve) when they were in Jannah/Paradise.

Now Allah is saying the same to the Muslim Israelites.

But there is only 1 condition for the Muslim Israelites
[just like with Prophet Adam in Jannah - there was 1 condition of not eating from the tree.];


"Enter the Gate prostrating (i.e. putting your forehead down on the neck of the animal you are riding), whilst saying HiTTatun [Forgiveness].."

HiTTah - HaTTa in arabic = to bring down. (HaTTa al Hamal = to bring down/take off the burden/weight which the animal is carrying.)

So when the Muslim Israelites say this in Sajdah/prostration, they are asking Allah to 'bring down/take off' their sins which they are heavily burdened with.


If you just do that repeatedly while you enter the city;

NaGhfir-la-kum KhaTaayaa-kum - We will Forgive (Ghafr=Cover) your (all your past) Mistakes [KhaTaaya]

Wa sa Na-Zeeyd ul-MuHsineen -
And soon we will increase/excel the Good-doers.
(in rank, reward etc.)






Ayah 59-61.5


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Ayah 59:

فَبَدَّلَ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا قَوْلًا غَيْرَ الَّذِي قِيلَ لَهُمْ فَأَنزَلْنَا عَلَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا رِجْزًا مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْسُقُونَ

Then those who did wrong changed it (Bad-dala), with a statement - other than the one which was told to them (to say)

Bad-dala - Badl = continuously Change.
Pattern: [Fa33ala = they Repeatedly changed it.] i.e. they kept repeating a wrong word instead of the right word.


Comparison of the Israelites to the story of Prophet Adam:

1 - When Adam made his historic mistake - Allah taught him words by which - if he recited them sincerely, Allah would forgive his sins.

Similarly, Allah told the Muslim Israelites words (HiTTun - drop our burdens of sins) - that if they said them sincerely, Allah would remove their sins.


"So we sent down - on the wrongdoers - from the sky, Rijzan [a Calamity] (a disease which would make their insides come out of their skin - their skin looked peeled off.)


"..Bi maa KAANoo yaFsuqoon" -
Because of the corruption they continuosly engaged in.


- The 'Kaana' = Used to (past tense).

- yaFsuqoon - (present-future tense) = still continuously continue in Fisq/Corruption.


So Allah punished them because they had the opportunity to repent, but they acted disobedient repeatedly (from the past, and continued their disobedience into the future too - without wanting to repent.) So the punishment was most suited for such people.

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Ayah 60
:


وَإِذِ اسْتَسْقَىٰ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ فَقُلْنَا اضْرِب بِّعَصَاكَ الْحَجَرَ ۖ فَانفَجَرَتْ مِنْهُ اثْنَتَا عَشْرَةَ عَيْنًا ۖ قَدْ عَلِمَ كُلُّ أُنَاسٍ مَّشْرَبَهُمْ ۖ كُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا مِن رِّزْقِ اللَّهِ وَلَا تَعْثَوْا فِي الْأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ


And remember when Moses asked Istisqaa (asking Allah for Rain) - especially for his people, so We said - especially with your Staff/stick, hit the boulder.. "



We notice that the Staff/big stick Moses had continuously is special and mentioned by Allah in the narratives of Moses.
(i.e. the miracles of it turning into a big snake, of him striking it in the sea so it parted, and now to strike a boulder to get water out of it.)

If you study the history of Moses, we see that Moses at one time gets tired of his people and says to Allah;
'Fa-fruq bayna-naa wa bayna al Qawm-il Faasiqeen' (al Maa'idah 5:25).

But when this has not happened yet, he cares and worries for his people when Allah describes him as advising and helping; Li Qawmi-hee (For his People.)

Moses has; saved his people from Pharoah, killed their enemy (Pharoah), made them free people, given them shade from the suns heat, given them meat and carbohydrates from Allah, and now he is going to ask Allah to give them water.


"..When you strike the staff, twelve springs (because of the 12 tribes) will burst (Fajarat/tear) out. Every group of people knew their place of drink."


In surah al A'raf (7:160), this incident is mentioned again. But Allah says there about the springs; fa-anBajasat = cracked and leak out.

So why did Allah use two different and opposing words?

Some commentaries state;
When Moses asked Allah, Allah made water come bursting out (Fajarat), but when the Muslim Israelites sinned alot - the water from the springs kept on decreasing less and less (the more they sinned.) So it just became 'leaking' out (Bajasat).

And since this surah is telling Allah's favours to the Israelites - then the Fajarat/bursting of water is being emphasised.


"..Eat and drink from the provision of Allah (which He has given you), and don't corrupt (ta'thaw) in the Earth as causers of corruption (muFsideen)."


'Athiya / ya'thaa / 'ithiyaan = corruption of the mind based on false ideas (propaganda.)


'Don't be corrupted by false ideas' -

MuFsid is different to Faasid (Corrupter.)
MuFsid = to be a source of other peoples corruption.



Allah is telling them this because the Israelites;
- miss the better food of Egypt and were already complaining to Moses.
- will become corrupted by false ideas later when Moses is gone, and they are influenced by the propaganda of Samariy and they start worshipping the calf again.

This will be mentioned later in ayah 61 and later in the surah.

So Allah is telling them; i - not to fall into following false propaganda, and ii - not to be a source of making others corrupt either.

Allah warned them powerfully; When you become corrupt, your society around you all becomes corrupt.

So Allah is telling us all; Don't be brainwashed by the Corrupt, and Don't be a source of spreading Corruption to others.

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Ayah 61:


وَإِذْ قُلْتُمْ يَا مُوسَىٰ لَن نَّصْبِرَ عَلَىٰ طَعَامٍ وَاحِدٍ فَادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُخْرِجْ لَنَا مِمَّا تُنبِتُ الْأَرْضُ مِن بَقْلِهَا وَقِثَّائِهَا وَفُومِهَا وَعَدَسِهَا وَبَصَلِهَا ۖ قَالَ أَتَسْتَبْدِلُونَ الَّذِي هُوَ أَدْنَىٰ بِالَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ ۚ اهْبِطُوا مِصْرًا فَإِنَّ لَكُم مَّا سَأَلْتُمْ ۗ وَضُرِبَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الذِّلَّةُ وَالْمَسْكَنَةُ وَبَاءُوا بِغَضَبٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يَكْفُرُونَ بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ وَيَقْتُلُونَ النَّبِيِّينَ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوا وَّكَانُوا يَعْتَدُونَ


And when all of you said; O Moses, we are not going to be patient with one type of food, so go and ask YOUR Master that; extract for us from what the Earth grows.."



So the Israelites would talk to each other about how they were bored of just one type of food repeatedly; so they said to Moses - ask YOUR Master (Rabba-KA). But why didn't they themselves ask the One who provides them with everything they have seen as of now?

Because they know how corrupt they are. They know the kind of blasphemous/evil things they say about Allah and how disobedient they are to Him. So they hope that Moses will ask Allah since he is close to Allah.


.. (Ask your Master to extract from the Earth;) its herbs, cucumbers, its garlics, its lentils and its onions.


They lived in the desert - yet they wanted all these foods to grow from the dead desert and still remain ungrateful to Allah?

And how did they know the names of all these different types of food?
Because they would eat them in Egypt when they were slaves of Pharoah.

So in simple words: They didn't appreciate all which Allah had done to them - of giving them freedom from the oppressive Pharoahs and all the other miracles.

It's like saying; 'I miss prison food, and I dont like the freedom Allah has now given to me.'


What's so bad about the life in Egypt anyway?
1 - Humiliation:- The Life of Slavery is humiliating. To be enslaved to anything other than Allah means you have no Dignity or self-respect for yourselves.
2 - Powerlessness:- When you are enslaved - you are not a Free / Sovereign nation. You can't make your own decisions, nor can your decide your own future.
3 -  Oppression:- You cannot help yourself and your own people from Oppression. And Pharoah was known to kill, rape and humiliate the Israelites.

Yet they preferred this over the freedom and miracles which Allah had given to them.

So when they ask Moses to ask Allah for food, it is like they are asking Allah for all that Slavery all over again.



Ayah 61.5 - 62 [Download Audio MP3]


Ayah 61 continued:


Qaala astaBdiloona aladhee huwa adnaa bi-il Khayr
.. He (Moses) said; Are you seeking to change that which is inferior, for that which is good?


The fact that something came from Allah (Moses says) - is better and more good than what they consider is more superior (of slavery to Pharoah and his foods.)


iHbitoo - Habata = come Down.


Metaphoricaly/Figuratively: This is used to humiliate another, that you were on a higher standing position before, so descend and go lower.

[i.e. Poets say many vulgar things sometimes. So Allah tells us about them; They go down into a valley (morally downhill.) (al-Shu'ara 26:225)

Similar words;
Idh-haboo - dhahab - go
InTaliqoo - Talaq - depart



"ihbiToo MiSran fa inna la-kum maa sa'altum" -
Go down to a region (or Egypt) - then surely for you all is what you all asked for.



Moses is telling them angrily and sarcastically;

1 - to go down (iHbiToo) to another region- and humiliate yourselves by going there and giving up what Allah gave you of goodness.

2 - Moses commanded them to go down into a region/territory (MiSran).

MiSraN
(with taNween [letter Nuun/N] = a Country/Region/Area/Territory/farmland.

MiSra
(without taNween [letter Nuun/N at the end] = Egypt.

[Grammar Note: it is in maNsoob form, hence misrA / misrAn].

So Moses used another word which was similar to the word Egypt, meaning something like;
'Why don't you all go to another Egypt?'


Allah has depicted all this through just one word; MiSraN.

'then - especially for you all- is what you definitely asked for.'


Moses is being sarcastic with them out of anger.
Like the saying in English; 'you all asked for it.' [/sarcasm]


3 - Moses said the exact same word which Allah said to Adam, Hawwa/Eve and Iblees/shaytaan - iHbitoo - descend to what is lower. [ayah 2:36]
Since they disobeyed and ate (or the Israelites - wanted to eat) from what is 'lower' and less Tayyib [good and pure].



They asked for all types of food, but really they were just being ungrateful, rebelling and asking for trouble.


So Allah says;

"Wa Duribat 'alayhimu al-dhillah wa-al maskanah -
And humiliation was slapped onto them, and powerlessness.'

When they were in Egypt as slaves, they were weak, humiliated, powerless/being incapable of making their own destiny.


"Wa baa'oo bi GhaDabin min Allah" -
And they drew rage (GhaDab) upon themselves from Allah.


We know that the 3rd problem with slavery was Oppression due to the anger of Pharoah against them.

But now they drew upon themselves rage from Allah. So this was even worse than what they had started off with. The rage of the creation (pharoah) is much less than the rage of Allah.


Why do they deserve the rage of Allah
?

Bani Isra'eel (the sons of Israel) earned the wrath and anger of Allah many times in their history.

[Ustadh Nouman says; we Muslims and historians and scholars should study Jewish history in detail because Allah's Messenger, Muhammad (sal Allahu alayhi wasalam) told us there would be people who follow their footsteps in every way.]

Before the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (sal Allahu alayhi wasalam) came, the Jews were like the lost Muslim Ummah [nation]. Just like many of us Muslims today are a lost Ummah. We need to learn from their mistakes so we don't fall into them.


Jewish History and Allah's anger upon them:
They suffered at the hands of many enemies; i.e. the Byzantines, Ethiopians, Assyrians, Romans etc.) and Allah captures the Reasons for all these tests in just a few words;

Dhaalika bi anna-hum kaanoo yaKfuroona bi aayaat-illah -
That is because they continuously used to deny the revelations/miracles of Allah.


Revelation would come and they would not follow them.
Miracles would come and they would not appreciate them.


Wa yaQtuloona al-Nabiyyeena bi ghayri al-haqq -
"And they engage in the killing of Prophets without having the right to do so."

But why did they do these evil things?


"that is because they continuously disobey arrogantly, and they continuously crossed the limit [set for them]."


These people did not want to be directed and be told what way is right and guided. Rather, they wanted to follow their own desires without being told what to do.

This arrogance and wanting to follow desires blindly led to them denying the revelations/signs and miracles of Allah, and their killing of some of the Messengers of Allah (who forbade them from evil.)


Keep in mind;
The Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wasalam) told us;
'Ulamaa ummatee ka anbiyaa' bani Isra'eel -
the Scholars of my nation are like the Prophets' of the Children of Isra'eel.



[This reminds us of what many Muslims do today, who follow a cultural Islam, where they get angry when someone tells them proof/miracles of the religion and asks them to follow the true guidance. They feel burdened with it, and if a scholar tells them they are wrong, they may insult him, and the most corrupt may even assasinate him.]

It is due to these reasons Allah let their (the Israelites) enemies (and even our enemies today) to overpower them and harm them.

Just like the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alayhi wasalam) told us;
"Whenever any people break their covenant/contract with Allah, Allah allows their enemies to overpower them.."


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Ayah 62:


إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَالَّذِينَ هَادُوا وَالنَّصَارَىٰ وَالصَّابِئِينَ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ

"No doubt those who believed (Muslims), and those who are Jewish and the Christians, and Sabians (originally followers of Prophet Abraham/Ibraheem, but gradually started to worship stars, the sun etc.),

Whoever came to believe in Allah, and the Last Day, and acted Righteously.

Then they have no fear on them, and they are not going to grieve."


False Claim by the Disbelievers
:

Some people misinterpreted this ayah and said that it means that; all people who believe in God, the Last Day (Judgment Day) and do righteous deeds - then they will be safe on Judgment Day.

A Few Points to Notice:
1 - Such people take the ayah out of context and ignore other parts of the Quran where Allah warns and threatens the disbelievers with being in the hellfire forever.

أَفَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِبَعْضِ الْكِتَابِ وَتَكْفُرُونَ بِبَعْضٍ ۚ - Do you believe in part of the book and reject other parts? (al Baqarah 2:85)


And what about other aayaat which mention that those who disbelieve/reject following Prophet Muhammad (sal Allahu alayhi wasalam) will be in the Hellfire forever.

Surely those who disbelieve from the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) and the Polytheists/idol worshippers - they will be in the Hellfire, they will stay there Forever, they are the worst of creation.
(surah Bayyinah 98:6)



What are the Benefits of Understanding this Ayah?

1 - We understand that Emaan (belief) in Allah necessitates you Definitely believe in the Next Life (Judgment Day).

Because God is Perfect, and being Perfect means He is; Just/Fair.
But we see injustice in this life, so it is necessary for God to have a Judgment Day to allow Justice and His Perfection to be shown.

But to be prepared for Judgment Day, you need to do 'Amil-us-Saalihaat' (good actions).


So Allah is showing us a chain - that if either one of these Links is Missing or lacking (belief in; God, Judgment Day, or good actions) - then you will be rejecting or lowering your certainty of belief in all of them - because they are all connected to each other.


Then Allah tells us that whoever believes in them truly as Allah originally taught them - even before the arrival of Prophet Muhammad (sal Allahu alayhi wasalam) - whether he was a Jew, Helper [Nasaara - Nasr = help] (of Jesus), or Sabian (follower of Abraham) - then there will be no fear on them on Judgment Day, and they are not saddened.





Ayah 63-66

[Download Audio MP3]




Ayah 63:

وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَكُمْ وَرَفَعْنَا فَوْقَكُمُ الطُّورَ خُذُوا مَا آتَيْنَاكُم بِقُوَّةٍ وَاذْكُرُوا مَا فِيهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ


Remember when We took the Covenant (Meeythaaq) from you..


Meeythaaq - Wathaq - a Promise which comes with alot of responsibility. You are informed with full information of what you need to do - then you get into it.

Similar words;
'Aqd
'Ahd

In surah al A'raf (7) the details of the covenant are mentioned.


We see a strong Relationship between surah al Baqarah (2) and surah al A'raf (7).  Where each surah has some extra details which were not mentioned in the other surah.
[The same can be said about other surahs' in the Quran which are Paired with others due to their similarities with each other.]


"..And We elevated the Toor (mountain) above you.."


Two opinions
on what this means;
1 - The mountain was shaking and boulders were falling from it, so it looked like the mountain was falling from above them.
2 - The mountain was literally raised above them when the covenant was being taken.

This shows the heaviness and seriousness of the Covenant.


'Hold onto what We have given to you with strength/might, and remember what is in it so that you guard against (evil, Allah's anger.)'


When this Quran is being revealed Allah is talking to the Children of Israel at the time of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (saws). But Allah is reminding them (and through them - us also) that we really need to take our Covenant with Allah seriously. Our feelings and pride cannot get in the way of stopping us from the truth.


The Children of Israel at the time of Moses did accept him as a Messenger, but they did not take him seriously.


So to scare them (as a mercy for them) and to make them wake up and fix their behaviour.
[This in modern day psychology technique is called the; Scared-strait programme.]

Allah (azza wa Jal) is going to scare and rattle them so they might wake up and take their Messenger Moses and his message seriously.


GEM
: When everything around you is shaking, i.e. if boulders from mountains are crashing around you and you do not know what to do - you try to hold onto something.

Allah at that moment tells the Muslim Israelites: -

Khudhoo maa aataynaa-kum la'allakum tattaqoon -
"Hold tightly what We give you all so that you may protect/guard yourselves."



Subhan Allah! So they may protect themselves';

1 - from harm in that moment (when the mountains are shaking), and also
2 - so they protect themselves morally against; evil, Allah's anger, and also Allah's punishments.



Wa adhkuroo maa feeHi -
And remember/mention what is in it


Dhikr =
1 - Remember
2 - Mention

So Allah is telling them to not just remember what Allah has given, but also to Mention it out loud to yourself and others.
(I.e. In salaah (prayer), da'wah (inviting others to the guidance), enjoining good and forbidding evil etc.)

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Ayah 64
:


ثُمَّ تَوَلَّيْتُم مِّن بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ ۖ فَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ لَكُنتُم مِّنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ

Then (after some time) much of you turned back, even after that..


This refers to;
1 - Those who were present at the Covenant when the Mount Toor was placed above them. Most of them turned away after some time.

2 - The Jews at the time of Prophet Muhammad (sal Allahu alayhi wasalam). They were aware of the Covenant in their history, and they were sure that Prophet Muhammad is the Prophet prophecised in their own religious books, so do they dare to turn away from the Words of Allah - when they are certain that this message is truly from Him?

So these 2 groups have turned away after they have witnessed what Allah gave to them of the Guidance.


"..And Had it not been for the more than needed Favour (FaDl) of Allah upon you, and His Mercy - you would have been from those who are losers."


FaDl = an extreme favour which is excessive/more than necessity.
(i.e. if someone only needs only 1 thing, but you give them 3 of that instead. that is FaDl.)

The Commentators of the Qur'an state:
The original FaDl/favour of Allah was that He forgave them their sins. And another FaDl was that He sent them a Messenger.


[This is similar to an ayah in surah Jumuah - when Allah told us / our Nation that He sent us a Messenger as an extreme FaDl (favour) - who is Muhammad (sal Allahu alayhi wasalam);

"That is the FaDl/excessive favour of Allah He gives to who He wills, and Allah is the owner of Great FaDl/excessive favours." [surah al Jumu'ah 62:4]


The revelation of the Quran is continuously described as FaDlu-Allah (an excessive favour of Allah).]


"..And Had it not been for the more than needed Favour (FaDl) of Allah upon you, and His Mercy - you would have been from those who are losers."


So, Allah is telling the Israelites;

1 - Which were present at the time of Prophet Moses that;
The presence of the Favour of Allah (Prophet Moses) is the cause of these excessive favours [FaDl] to the Israelites.

2 - Which were present at the time of Prophet Muhammad (saws);
That the greatest Messenger (Muhammad [saws]), the greatest FaDl [favour] of Allah is in your presence. If you followed him - Allah would give you even more favours and be even more merciful to you than He was to the Israelites.


"..Had it not been for Allah's favour on you (Moses / Muhammad [saws]) and His mercy, you would have been losers for sure."


So Allah is telling the earlier and later Israelites - if you do not follow the Messenger of Allah (who is a favour) to you - you would surely be of the Losers.

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