Fatihah- the opening
Alhamdulillah
Al- before any word makes any noun proper
Hamd- the praise- ultimate praise is for Allah. When we praise something, we
acknowledge its excellence in all ways. Expression of gratitude to Allah.
The first thing that we are being taught is that all praise only belongs to
Allah. Not only is he perfect, but he created his own perfection. When
someone praises us, we cannot get arrogant. We should always remember
Alhamdulillah. All praise is for Allah.
Allah - comes from root word aliha, which means something that cannot be
precedented. The only being which can take a seed and make it grow into a
perfect tree; take pebbles and turn them into mountains, take drops of water
and make a river. He can take small things and make them into bigger
well-proportioned objects. When Allah makes those who are not well
proportioned, they are not there so that we can look at them and saw aw poor
thing. It is so we can understand and realize what Allah has given us.
Rabil alameen
Rabb- lord, master, sustainer, nourisher, sovereign, ruler. Rabb encompasses
all these things. Rabb can take something from nothing and make it into a
complete being. And not just this but also, sustains it all the way.
'Alameen- consists of everything that exists, everything we know and that
which we don’t know of. As humans, all we can do is discover and learn about
things, but we cannot provide for them. We discover things, but we forget
the hands behind them and instead we are so in awe with the scientists. The
vision of the believer goes behind the materialistic eye.
Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem
Both of them come from the same word: Rahm, which means mercy. He wants to
intensely show his mercy. This mercy is for everyone.
Rahman
Rahm- literal meaning is “womb of the mother where the child is created”. It
is the first place of instinctual love protection and care. NO relationship
can ever compare to relationship between a mom and child. Allah loves us 70
times more than our own mother. In Surah Ar-Rahman, Allah says that he is
merciful. But why, it is because he has sent us the Quran. 'alamal Quran.
This is the mercy that extends to everyone, all of humanity.
Raheem- continuous and repeatedly merciful. This attribute is for the
believers. No matter what, he constantly tells us he will forgive us. And
it also refers to the mercy on the Day of Judgment. He set all creation for
man. Man has been created “best of creation.”
Allah says that he is Ar Rahman and Raheem but he says that don’t forget that
he can do justice as well.
Maliki Yaumiddin
It is fitting that he be master of the day of judgment. Because he has all
the records of man. The record is encompassing everything that we do. On the
day of judgment, man will say: what is it with this book, it doesn’t leave
anything out. Allah is the only one who knows the effort we put and how much
we strive.
Yawmiddin
Ddin means debt. Yawmiddin- on the Day of Judgment we will be repaid for
everything, day of justice. Everything will be repaid. There will be total
justice. Those who are wronged will get their right. Can we ever repay our
mom for the pain she went through. That will be the day mom will be paid for
everything. There was a mom who wanted to carry his mom on his back for
Hajj. The prophet said that it won’t even be repayment for even one scream
that she let out during labor. Allah will not wrong anyone in the least.
Whatever we do, we will see its results. That is yawmiddin.
Iyaka na’budu
You alone we worship.
Ibadah- comes from the root word 'abd which means slave, servant, totally
submissive, totally obedient. He created us, he is our master, and therefore
we only run our lives according to his will. Ibadah is not only on the
prayer rug or during Ramadan. When a person is a slave, he is a slave 24/7.
He always answers the call of Allah. If we analyze our life today, who do we
try to please, whose approval do we seek. When we pray we claim
iyakanaboodo, but how much are we living up to this claim. Fist step of
worship is obedience, submission to Allah. When we worship Allah, we worship
him alone. When a slave has two masters, they are pulled between them two
and this will break the person. We cant pull ourselves in two opposite
directions.
Iyaka nastain
Yo alone we ask for help
When we have a problem, only him do we ask for help. When we ask Allah it is
worship. So when we going through anything, you alone we ask for help. When
we depend on anyone but Allah that is shirk. When you expect anyone or
anything to help with anyone between (ex. Paying a religious person to make
dua). Another claim we make- how often do we actually turn to Allah when we
need help, what exactly should we ask for? Allah answers this:
Ihdi nasi ratul mustaqeem.- guide us along the straight path. If our goal is
paradise, we only ask him for direction. If you want paradise, we only
follow his guidance. When you want to go to someone’s house, we only ask
that person for directions. We ask Allah to take us into his fold and for
him to guide us.
Hdy- guidance through love.
As sirat al mustaqeem
Sirat means path but it also means resolution or commitment.
Mustaqeem- room word kiyam- straight upright.
When we discover the path, we want to follow and we have the commitment,
everything we want to do, will become easier for us. But it is up to us what
we want. Not any path, a certain path. To guide us like those whom he has
favored- shaheed, siddiqueen, these are our role models. They suffered
hardships but lived up to their goal. Quran has been given to us and also
been shown in practicality through Muhammad (saw)
Anamta- comes from root word, which means to bless or favor.
Magdub- comes from root word, which means anger. In reference to the Jews.
They were given the scriptures and prophets, but they acted against Allah and
made excuses and so they were cursed.
Daleen means lost or diverted. Those who go astray. This refers to the
Christians. They were following Isa, but then they saw other ways of worship
and they started following them. They took Isa status and prophet and made
it into Son of God. We ask Allah’s protection and to save us from this.
The main thing to ask for here is guidance. Guidance, we re born Muslims but
how well do we follow the Quran
Ameen- oh Allah accept it from me. Shows that we want to attain the right
path.
Fatiha is the essence of the Quran. It is called umm ul Quran. Gives us the
main view of the Quran. Also teaching us how to make dua. We don’t being by
saying we this and this. No, we start by praising him. We begin by showing
him we accept him as being our master. Then we ask with our heart. Dua of
an absent minded person isn’t accepted.
Hadith- prayer where fatiha is not read is invalid.
As we begin the Quran we see that the whole Quran is the answer to this dua.
Surah Baqarah
Verses 1-7
In Surah Fatihah, we asked Allah to guide us. And Allah (swt) answers us by
giving us the whole Quran as the only guidance. Surah Baqarah is not just a
story of the cow, it contains many things for us to learn from and
practically apply in our lives. Abdullah bin Umar took eight years to read
this Surah because each thing he read, he made sure he was acting upon it and
then he read more. There is a Hadith where the Prophet Muhammad (saw) said
Shaytan runs where Surah Baqarah is behind recited.
Alif Lam Mim
No one except for Allah knows the meaning of this. But we do know that for
every letter we read we get ten rewards for it. The fact that we don’t know
the meaning of this just shows how limited human beings are. The Quran
begins like this to show us our limitations. We cannot surpass the knowledge
that Allah doesn’t want us to have.
Dhalikal Kitaboo La Rayba Fih
There is no doubt in this book. There is no other being that can begin their
work by saying that there is NO doubt in it. We see in others books, there
are editions to them. Yet there is no hesitation, no doubt in the Quran. It
is the word of a being in which there is no doubt. You cannot think twice.
Allah first shows us our limitations and then says that there is no doubt in
this book. If there is something that we don’t understand it is because of
our own limitations. This is that book that will govern our life. We cannot
act upon something that we doubt in. Allah assures us that this book has no
doubt. Every Prophet was given a miracle. Prophet Muhammad was to be the
last messenger. There is no human that will ever be given divine guidance
after him. He had to be given something that would survive from the day it
was revealed till now (till the end of time). The Arabs loved poetry and
their poetry was very nice, but the Quran was better than all of their
poetry. Arabs left their poetry for the Quran. The eloquence and language of
the Quran out did all the poetry, it was uncomparable.
Hudanlill Mutaqqeen
Allah says that this is the guidance, this is the answer to our dua. But if
this is guidance then why is it that this world isn’t guided. That is
because Allah says: The message is for everyone, but - It is guidance only
for those who believe. Those who have taqwaa. This book is a guide, it will
take us to our destination, but only if we have taqwaa. Sometimes we read
quotations from famous people and we think that the people who say them are
so great. When we understand Allah’s greatness, then can we realize the book
is going to come before anything, give it priority.
Who are the people of taqwaa?
Alladhina yu’minoona bil ghayb
Those who believe in the unseen. Ghayb is those things that are hidden from
our five senses, beyond mans normal experiences and observations. This shows
man’s limitations. Ghayb includes Allah, his angels, etc. First requirement
is to believe in the unseen. Only if we have this conviction can we gain
guidance from the book. We believe that there is oxygen in the air because
scientists say so. We believe that Einstein really existed because history
books tell us that. But why don’t we take what the most trustworthy person
to ever exist, Prophet Muhammad, has given us. The kaffirs even trusted him
with their property, although they had severe enmity and hatred towards him,
ad would plot to put an end to his mission. He was known to be the most
truthful. If he told us that this is the word of Allah, then why don’t we
believe him? Who gave the teachers in school the title of “trustworthy”? No
one. But his enemies called Prophet truthful and trustworthy, then why don’t
we believe him?
taqwaa begins with our heart, intentions and thoughts. But it goes deeper
than that.
Surah Baqarah
Ayahs 8-20
Ayahs 1-7 of Surah Baqarah talk about two types of people: those who have
taqwaa and those who chose to reject the truth. Now Allah talks about those
who are in between these two. They are the Munafiqun or the Hypocrites.
Wa minan nasi man yaqqoloo a manna billahi wa bil yawmil akhiri wa ma hum
bimumimeen.
And of mankind there are some that say: “We believe in Allah and the Last
Day” while in fact they do not believe.
An Nas- comes from the root word in Arabic “uns”. This means to get used to
something or being familiar and inclined towards. It also comes from another
word, which means to forget. Man is a forgetful creature and even this is a
blessing in itself from Allah because if we didn’t forget anything we would
always be dwelling in the past. However in the Quran it means mankind or
people.
Allah says that these people they just pay lip service to Islam but in
reality they are not believers. They are hypocrites. Hypocrisy began when the
Prophet migrated from Makkah to Madinah. There were two tribes there Aws and
Khazraj who had been at war for years. They were going to make Abdullah bin
Ubaiyd the leader. But when Prophet Muhammad (saw) arrived, the people of
Madinah chose him to be their leader. So Abdullah but on a front to act like
he was on the Prophet’s side so that the people would like him too. But he
just did this because Islam was huge in Madinah. In reality he really hated
Islam and the believers. So Allah opens the reality to them. Allah exposes
their two-faced attitude. These people wanted to follow their nafs yet still
look good in the eyes of the muslims so they adopted a “middle way”
Yu khadioon allaha alladhina amonoo wa ma yakhda 'aoon illah anfusahum wa ma
yash’ooroon.
They think that they are deceiving Allah and those who believe, while they
only deceive themselves and they perceive not.
Yashooroon comes from the word s’ar which is a strand of hair. Their
perception or understanding is smaller than a strand of hair. They dont
realize that what they are doing is of no benefit to them, in reality, it is
only a means of they own humiliation, in the dunya and in the hereafter
without a doubt.
Fi quloobihim maradun fa za da hoomullahoo ma ra dan wa la hum 'adhabun
aleemum bima kanoo yakdhiboon.
In their hearts is a disease and Allah has increased their disease. A painful
torment is theirs because they used to tell lies.
What is this disease that they have? It is the disease of hypocrisy. Their
love of this duniya leads them to follow their desires and they don’t want to
sacrifice anything. Allah says that he leaves them in the hands of the
duniya. Allah refers to hypocrisy as a disease. If we have a disease we have
to go tot he doctor to cure it. Hypocrisy is a disease of the heart. In
order to get rid of this disease we must turn to Allah.
There are four qualities of a hypocrite as described by the Prophet (saw):
When he speaks, he lies. When he is entrusted with something, he breaks
it/betrays the trust. When he makes a promise, he breaks the promise. When
he argues he turns to using foul language.
The people in the Prophets time and even today they try to fabricate stories
and tell lies to turn people away from Islam. They acted loyal to Islam but
they wanted to turn people away from Islam. Nafaqa is the root word for the
word Hypocrite. Nafaqa is a tunnel. The tunnel of a hypocrite has Islam on
one end and Kufr on the other end. When the hypocrites see difficulties in
Islam, they run to kufr. When they see difficulties in Kufr and they see that
they can benefit from Islam, then they run to Islam. They don’t want to
sacrifice even a little. And Allah has said that for them is a painful
punishment, which they deserve because of their plots against Islam.
Wa idha qeela lahum la tufseedoo fil ardi qaloo innama nahnoo muslihoon.
And when it is said to them: “Make not mischief on the earth,” they say: “We
are only peace makers.”
They hypocrites used to talk about Islam in a bad way and they used to say
that we are just trying to tell people the truth of Islam so that they can
see what it is. Muslims today we don’t bother studying Islam but we go out
and question every other thing and then make Islam seem oppressive. This is
the deception of the hypocrites, that they pretend to be sincere well
wishers, but Allah opens up the reality for us so as not o fall for their
plots, that they are really just ones to cause corruption.
Alaa inna hum humul mufsidoona wa la kinla yash’oroon
Verily they are the ones who make mischief but they perceive not.
They cause corruption but they don’t even realize it, they are so wrapped up
in this world.
Wa idha qeela la hum a minoo kama amanannasoo qaloo aa nu’minu kama
aamanasoofahaoo ala innahum humusoofahaaoo wa la kinla ya’lamoon.
And when it is said to them: “Believe as the people have believed,” they say:
“Shall we believe as the fools have believed?” Verily they are the fools,
but they know not.
They call the believers fools because they don’t understand how they can
sacrifice all the good things in this life for Islam. When Abu Bakr gave
away all his property, they called him a fool. The same way when someone
refuses to take a job because it is a form of Haram earning, people will tell
them that they are fools and that they have to learn how to adopt to these
things. They think that anyone who gives for Islam is a fool. Allah says
that they are the fools but they don’t even know it. And this is the root of
the problem: their own ignorance. These are the foolish ones in the eyes of
Allah, but they are so obsessed with the dunya that they dont realize their
foolishness, they dont have they priorities set straight.
Wa idha la qoladhina amanoo qaloo amanna wa adha khalau ila shayatynnehim
qaloo inna ma’akum innama nahnoo mustahzeoon.
And when they meet those who believe, they say: “We believe,” but when they
are alone with their Shaytan they say, “Truly we are with you; verily we are
but mocking.”
They have this two faced attitude. The word “Mustahzioon” come from root
word “hta” which means to mock at something whihc is thought to be illogical.
That was their attitude. They didn’t undestand Muslims because they think
Muslims are weird. They would put on attitude in front of the muslims, as if
they were loyal to Islam but when they went into the company of the
disbelievers they were loyal to them, they adopted their ways and became just
like them.
Allah yastahzeeoo bihim wa ya muddoo hum fee toghyaneehim ya’mahoon.
Allah mocks at them and gives them increase in their wrong doing to wander
blindly.
Allah says he is mocking them. By them mocking Muslims, it doesn’t matter to
Allah. Allah is self-sufficient. Allah extents them into their rebellion.
They say if they are really doing something wrong then why doesn’t Allah show
them punishment here. Allah is extending them in rebellion. He lets them
wander blindly. He gives them rope with which to hang themselves. They dont
realize that they r just being given respite “ya’mahoon” comes from three
letters 'ain, mim and hah" which means state of confusion. Their hearts are
closed because of their obsession with this world. The recession given to
them by Allah is really a punishment.
So basically in these Ayahs Allah defines for us the qualities of a hypocrite:
- yaqdaoon- they deceive
- yaflihoon, actually its ‘yakdhiboon’- they lie
- la yasho’roon they don’t perceive it
- la ya’lamoon- they don’t have knowledge.
- mustahzioon - They are just mocking Islam
- ya’amahoon - They wander blindly
- mufsidoon - mischief makers, cause corruption
Ulaaikalladhina ushtarawuddalalata bi olhooda fa ma ra bihattajiratoohum wa
ma kanoo muhtadeen.
These are they who have purchased error for guidance, so their commerce was
profitless. And they were not guided.
Their trade was not worth it. They gave us guidance, a life of eternity for
this life, for dalala. They just saw the immediate results that they would
get from this life but they never considered the hereafter. Allah says that
in the end, their trade did not profit them at all. They are at loss. Not
having guidance is the biggest loss anyone can have. We live for guidance to
take us to our destination. They chose the pleasures of this world to please
other. We have to set priorities. WE can’t go on forever trying to please
other. We will never get anywhere. There are two types of hypocrites. Those
who say they believe but they don’t have an atoms amount of belief in their
hearts. And those who believe but they are weak and doubtful and their
actions are not according to Islam. But this group, we cannot call them
kaffirs or hypocrites because Allah is the only judge.
Mathaloohum kamathalilladhistauqada narann falamma adhaa at mahaulahoo
dhahaballahoo binooreehim wa tara kahum fee zhooloomatinla yubsseeroon.
Their likeness is as the likeness of one who kindled a fire; then when it
lighted all around him, Allah took away their light and left them in darkness
so that they could not see.
Allah gives the example of fire. The fire is Islam. Islam spread like fire.
It gave light to society. When it illuminated them, Allah took away their
light. When light surrounded them, Allah took away their ability to see. He
left them in darkness. Islam is the fire that lit the society. But only
those who had an interest in this guidance. Guidance is very valuable. Allah
won’t give it to someone who doesn’t care about it. Those who have diseases,
their won desires blinded them. He took away their light. They couldn’t see
light. They wanted Islam to be in accordance to their desires. Truth won’t
submit to us. We must submit to Islam. Basically, despite the light of
Islam being there, they were not able to take advantage of it, because their
hearts were closed to Islam, and their eyes were shut to it.
Sumumm bookmoon 'umyun fahum la yarji’oon.
They are deaf, dumb and blind, so they will never return to the right path.
They will not return from darkness. It is not that they don’t have
faculties. They are deaf dumb and blind because despite having these
faculties, they chose not to obey. Despite having sight, they chose not to
see the truth. They have hearing but they don’t want to hear the truth.
They have minds but they don’t reflect upon the commands of Allah. So they
will not return despite the fire of Islam being kindled, because they are so
far into their rebellion, and fulfillment of their nafs.
Aw kassaayyebiminassamaaee feehee zhooloomatun wara’doon wa bar qun
yaj’aloona assbi’ahum fee adhaneehim minnassawa’eeqee hhadharal mauta wallahu
moohheetum bilkafireen.
“Or like a rainstorm from the sky, wherein is darkness, thunder, and
lightning. They thrust their fingers in their ears to keep out the stunning
thunderclap for fear of death. But Allah ever encompasses the disbelievers.”
This example Allah gives for those who are weak in Iman. The heavy down pour
that Allah is talking about in this ayah refers to Islam. Rain gives life to
the dead earth, and Islam is like rain because it gives life to the dead
soul. Rain is a blessing but it has its darkness and danger as well, which
is the thunder and lightning. This is the same thing with Islam. Islam has
thunder and lightning, which represents the trials and tribulations that we
must face while treading the path of Islam. When we go through the path of
Islam, sacrifices must be made. When those who are weak in Iman, see the
trails or thunder, they stick their fingers in their ears or they want to
hide. They only like Islam when they can benefit; otherwise they want to
run/escape. It is because of the fear of death. This is because they are so
indulged in this world, that they think that giving up anything for the sake
of Islam would be like death to them. They cannot bear to give up anything of
the dunya. They want to escape but there is no escape. Allah is already
encompassing them. We try to run from Islam. But there is no point. Where
can you run? How long can you escape. We must remember that with every
difficulty there is ease. “There is no running from Allah except to him”
Yakadul barqoo yakhtafoo abssarahum kullama adaa a lahummshau feehee wa idh
azhlama 'alayhim qamoo wa law shaa allahoo ladha ha ba misam 'ihim wa
abssarihim innallaha 'ala kulli shain qadeer.
“The lightning almost snatches away their sight, whenever it flashes for
them, they walk therein, and when darkness covers them, they stand still.
And if Allah willed, He could have taken away their hearing and their sight.
Certainly, Allah has power over all things.”
When the light shines, they walk in it. When it is dark, they stand still.
They can’t escape Islam. They know its true. They want to follow Islam only
when it provides opportunities for them, when there is no difficulty, at
times of ease. When everyone is doing something then they do it. They please
people most of the time and Allah some of the time. They haven’t set their
priorities. We take Islam as a burden but it is not. It is light. No mother
had a child she loves so much without going through the pain (of labor). To
get we must give. WE think we are Muslims so we should get everything. But
we don’t want to give anything. This is hypocrisy. When Muslims won victory
in the Battle of Badr, there were those who didn’t help in the war at all yet
they were Muslims and they wanted to be noted as victors, because they just
wanted the goods that Islam had to give. But Allah can take away faculty but
that is not the way Allah wants it. Allah doesn’t take it away from them
because they still have some Iman. So he doesnt take away their faculties.
He gives them a chance to benefit from Islam because they still have a chance
to be guided although they are prone to doubt. Allah is powerful over all
things. WE need to have conviction in Allah. In hardships we turn to him.
So far, from the beginning of the Quran we have done four things.
- Learned how to make dua
- Description of Muslims
- Description of kafirs
- Description of hypocrites.
We need to reflect upon ourselves in the Image of the Quran, not look at
others. That is why Allah gives us the Quran. They are the qualities of
believer and these are the qualities of disbelievers. We must analyze
ourselves before judging anyone else. People used to call sahabis fools. But
Allah in the Quran says that he is well pleased with them. Do we want to be
in this category or do we want to be seen by people and strive to please
them??
Surah Baqarah
Verses 21-29
Last time we read about the hypocrites. What their attitude is like and how
they behave. We saw the two types of hypocrites there are. We can analyze
ourselves according to that. We cannot adopt the color of the environment
around us. We mare Muslims no matter what the circumstances are. From the
beginning of Surah Baqarah we see that Allah mentions different kinds of
people: those with Taqwaa, those who disbelieve, and the hypocrites. After
mentioning all these people, now Allah brings it to a universal message.
Yaa ayoo han naso’ boo doo rabba kumuladhi khalaqakum walladhina min
qablikumla’allakum tutaqoon.
“Oh mankind! Worship you Lord who created you and those who were before you
so that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious).”
Allah addresses all of mankind “Oh Mankind”. This is because the Qur’an is
for everyone. Allah tells
everyone to worship him. This is the central message of the Qur’an (Surah 51
ayah 56). Allah tells everyone all together now to worship Allah. In salah we
all stand together no matter what, despite differences in race, ethnicity,
culture, nationality, etc., which shows that when it comes to the worship of
Allah none is above the other. This message applies equally to everyone.
Worship is not just restricted to rituals; it means obedience in all aspects
of life. Allah says that he is the one who created and that is why he is the
only one worthy of worship. But we please Allah by worshipping him. We are
not giving him any benefit. It is for our own good. Allah created us, he
loves his creation, and therefore tells us what is beneficial to us. If we
obey him it is only going to benefit us. If we obey other deities, they will
only look for what can benefit them. The root word of “Taqwaa” means shield.
Taqwaa is the consciousness, which will prevent us from doing wrong and
promote us to do what is right in order to save us from the punishment of
Allah.
Aladhi ja’ala lakumularda firashan wassamaa bina’a wa anjala min assamai ma
an fa akhraja bihiminathamarati rizqanlakum fala taj 'alu lillahi andadan wa
an tum ta’lamoon.
“Who has made the earth a resting place for you, and the sky as a canopy, and
sent down water from the sky and brought forth therewith fruits as a
provision for you. Then do not set up rivals unto Allah while you know (that
He alone has the right to be worshipped.)”
The word firasha comes from the root fa ra shin. It means to spread. Allah
has made it possible for us to live on earth. And he made the sky a canopy.
Now Allah mentions the rain. Rain is the basis of life, which comes from
Allah. It is a means of peace. During drought, people are very restless. Rain
is from Allah. Fruits come out of it. Then he says don’t set up rivals with
Allah when you know. We know Allah has made all this yet we magnify other
deities. Allah is the cause of our being. So what makes more sense? To submit
to the being who gave us everything we have or to submit to other deities who
gave us nothing. He says you have an intellect so use it. He says to worship
him. The word “partners” in Arabic is andada. It comes from the root. Noon
dal dal. This means, a stray camel that runs in any direction. Right and left
we want to obey others than Allah. Our own nafs, spouses, society. These are
all partners but we don’t realize it. Everything we do, we have to attribute
it to Allah. Pride in our nationality or in ourselves can also be an andad.
Throughout history, whenever man was intrigued by anything, he raised its
status and began to worship it (fire, son). Today we look at technology and
give it a higher status. WE believe what the media says even when it says
that Islam is oppressive.
Wa in kun tum fee raibin mimma nazalna 'ala 'abdina fatoo bisoratin
mimithlihi wa ud 'oo shoo ha daa a kummin dunillahi in kun tum suadiqeen.
“And if you are in doubt concerning that which We have sent down to our
slave, then produe a Surah of the like thereof and call you witness besides
Allah, if you are truthful.”
This too is a messege or a challenge for everyone. If we doubt this book then
bring a surah like it. This is the proof that we know its from Allah. There
is no toher reason to disblieve. Allah says if this isn’t worth following
then bring something else in its place. Allah says to bring anyone who will
stand by your claim as your witness.
Fa illam taf’aloo wa lan taf 'aloo fataqounnarallati wa qoo doo hannasoo
walhijarataoo’idat lilkafireen.
“But if you do it not, and you can never do it, the fear the Fire whose fuel
is men and stones, prepared for the disbelievers.”
Allah says and you will never meet this challenge, He says what is the
problem. Submit to Allah, fear the fire. The idols that people used to
worship will be the fuel for the fire. Allah will show these people that the
idols had no power by throwing them into fire along with those who disbelieve.
Wa bashirilladhina amanoo wa 'amilosualihati inna lahum jannatin tajri min
tahtihal anharoo kullama rooziqoo minha min thamaratin rizqan qaloo
hadhalladhi rooziqna min qabloo waootoo bi hi motashabihan wa la hum feeha
azwajun motuharatun wa hum feeha khalidoon.
“And give glad tidings to those who believe and do righteous deeds, that for
them will be Gardens under which rivers flow. Every time they will be
provided with a fruit therefrom, they will say: “This is what we were
provided with before,” and they will be given things in resemblance and the
will have there in purified mates or wives and they will abide therein
forever.”
All through the Quran when Allah mentions Iman, he also mentions good deeds.
We have to prove our Iman. We cant just talk. Talk is cheap. Good deeds based
on the Quran and Sunnah. Not just whatever (ie: doing something good just for
the sake of goodness or morality, like a philanthropist who gives much to
charitable organizations but not for the sake of Allah). For those are
gardens. Janna comes from the root word jim noon noon which means something
hidden. It is the same root for jinn and for insanity (intellect is covered).
Not just lucious green gardens, but underneath them rivers flow to add to the
beauty. We can even imagine the beauty of this. There will be a pleasant
surprise for the people who are
in Jannah. They will be given things that they recognize from earth. And they
will be given resembling things. And purified mates. Purity from the inside
and outside. Everything about them will be pure. And they will dwell in there
forever. This is the great thing about paradise. It is forever. In this life
we cant have anything we love forever. We try to come up with things to do in
order for us not to get bored. But in Jannah we will never get bored.
Innalaha la yastahyee an yadrib mathalan ma ba’oo da tan fa ma fau qa ha fa
ammalladhina amanoo faya’lamoona annahulhaqoominrabihim wa ammaladhina
kafaroo mayaqoo loo na madha aradallahoo ba ha dha mathalan yoodalloo bihi
katheeran wa yahda bihi katheeran wa ma todalloo bi hi illalfasiqeen.
"Verily Allah is not ashamed to set forth a parable even of a mosquito or
much more when it is bigger than that. And as for those who believe, they
know that it is the Truth from their Lord, but as for those who disbelieve,
they say: “What did Allah intend by this parable?” By it He misleads many,
and many He guides. And He misleads thereby only those who are Al-Fasiqun
(the rebellious).
This refers to a complaint that the Makkans used to have. They would ask why
Allah uses examples of insect in the Quran if the Quran is such a great book
and an insect is so insignificant. Allah says he is not ashamed to strike an
example even if it of a mosquito or even something even more insignificant
than it. Because Allah speaks the truth. He is not ashamed to give us the
truth no matter what way it is.
He gives us two reactions to this (i.e.: people, creations to the parables
which are used):
- The believers know it is the truth from Allah and those that want to
accept the truth, they never criticize it. They use the smallest things to
ponder over. - Disbelievers cannot compete with the Quran so they try to pick faults at
the Quran not realizing that it comes from a Supreme Being who is flawless
and therefore whose word is flawless.
When we spread Islam, we cannot be scared because we stand up for the truth.
Allah says that the truth needs to be told. For example: if there are two
children with the same plates of food. One is eating it because he is hungry.
The other will sit there and pick at it. The truth is there for us. If we
pick at it, its our own fault we pick at it. It is the same truth for
everyone. There are disbelievers who know more about Islam than Muslims, but
they use Islam to pick faults at it and make it look bad. Some pick up the
quran and read a few Ayahs and it changes them all together because their
hearts are open to the truth. The fasiqueen are the ones that are astray.
Fasisqoon come from root word fa sin quaf. It means when a flower comes out
of its bud. But contextually it means one who is transgressing the boundaries
of Allah. Who are the fasiqs? Allah tells us
Alladhina yanqoodoona 'ahdallahi mim b’adi mithaqiha wa yaqtha’oona ma
amarallahoo mihi an yosuala wa tufsidoona filardi oolaaika humul khasiroon.
“Those who break Allah’s covenant after ratifying it, and sever what Allah
has ordered to be joined and do mischief on earth, it is they who are the
losers.”
In this ayah Allah gives us the characteristics of the fasiqs.
- They break the pact of Allah after binding it. Surah araf verse 172
Allah took the soul of every human ever, and gathered it and said - Am I not
your Lord. All testified that Allah is the Lord. Tawheed is instinctual in
us. So this unconscious inclination of Allah. When the messengers gives the
message, they arouse the unconscious belief in Allah. Those who refuse, they
suppress the natural instinct with in themselves. They don’t pay rights to
Allah that he deserves. - And they sever that which Allah has order to be joined. Relationships-
they break relationships. They don’t care about people. Those who do not
serve huquq -Allah (the rights of Allah) will never pay the huququl-'ibaad
(the rights of people). Not giving a relationship its due rights is abusing
the relationship (This is what the ayah also implies, but mainly it refers to
those who cut relations with their relatives). It is a big thing to give
people their rights. As Muslims we have to be good with people and just in
all ways. We have obligations to everyone. Allah, our family, neighbors,
friends. We have to remember everyone’s rights and create a balance. - They cause corruption on earth. They mock and question the deen. People
say that their intentions are pure. If intentions are pure then the actions
should also be pure. Transgressors are so rampant in today’s societies.
People are running after their desires. Homos are accepted in this society.
But they are actually backwards and they transgressing, and yet their proudly
flaunt what they do. And Muslims are
ashamed of the truth. Society is going backwards. With all this we have to
analyze ourselves. When we say the Shahadah we must realize that it really
means something and it must be reflected. Every time we transgress we are in
the category of fasiqa (ie: when despite reading the Shahadah, we break the
limits of Allah, go against his will). After this Allah says that these
people who think they will succeed, he says that they are the losers. These
people who are obsessed with the duniya are losers. Despite the fact that
they have the truth.
Kayfa tak foroona billahi wa kuntum amwatan fa alyakum thumma yoomitokum
thumma yuhyeekum thumma ilayihi turja’oon.
“How can you disbelieve in Allah? Seeing that you were dead and He gave you
life. Then He will give you death, then again will bring you to life and then
unto Him you will return.”
Allah says how do you have the nerve to disobey Allah. How can we? What gives
us the audacity to act contrary to Islam? First Allah shows us his favors.
The he resolves our doubts.. He shows the penalty of the disbelievers. He
gives Glad tidings and then talks about those who transgress. Now he appeals
to our feelings. He says “HOW”. We began as nothing, a mere drop of sperm,
which we look at today with disgust. Then Allah gave us all these
proportions, And despite it all, this is how we thank him. We were dead, he
gave us life, dignity, honor, speech and thinking. These are all from Allah.
We don’t do anything for ourselves. If Allah had not bestowed us with these
blessings, then no one could do anything. By Allah’s leave, we will die. He
gives us death. But that is not the end. One day we return to the state of
nothingness. Just us and our deeds. Then he will give us life and to him we
will return. Man is week hearted. We become arrogant. We think that what we
have is from us, all because of our own doing. Allah says that everything
granted is from Allah and because of this we should submit to Allah despite
having a free will to please Allah because we going to return to him. On that
day we won’t have anywhere to run. We have to answer for everything. Only way
to save ourselves from the wrath of Allah is to submit to hi and then to run
to him. And to him we return. When we return to Allah, what sate do we want
to be in??? Our spiritual state in this world will be our physical state when
we stand before Allah.
Hu walladhi khalaqa lakummafil ardhi jami’an thummastawa ilassamaai fasawwa
hunna sab’a samawatin wa hoo wa bi kulli shaiin 'aleem.
“He it is Who created for you all that is on earth. Then He rose over Istawa
towards the heavens and made seven heavens and He is the All-Knower of
everything.”
This is why we should worship him. He keeps telling us his bounty. Then why
shouldn’t we obey him. Allah doesn’t condemn this world. But we have to
humble ourselves and remember the being who gave it all to us. Allah says
that everything is made for us. But don’t transgress the limits. He perfected
everything for us. We need to realize the harmony in nature and there is no
way we can deny Allah (swt). That is the purpose of the Quran. To give us an
understanding of reality. To take us out of the deception of this life and
bring us back to reality. And he knows all. He knows what it is in our hearts
and how we reflect that in our deeds.
will be posting further translation soon
Inshallah
**Parde ilm hazaar kitaaba…kaddee apnai aap nu parya naee.." **BULLEY SHAH