Surat As-Sajdah (32)- Lesson (01-06), ayaat (1-3): Quran Aligns with all Facts in the Universe
- Interpretation Of Quran / The long version
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- (032)As-Sajdah
In the Name of Allah, The Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Praise be to Allah, The Lord (The One and Only) of the worlds, and blessings and peace be upon our Master Muhammad, the Truthful and the Faithful. O Allah, we know nothing but what You teach us, You are the All- Knower, the Wise. O Allah our Lord, teach us what is useful for us, let us make use of what You have taught us and advance us in knowledge. O Allah, show us the righteous things as righteous and help us do them, and show us the bad things as bad and help us keep away from them. O Allah our Lord, make us amongst those who listen to the Word and follow the best meaning of It, and admit us, by Your Grace, to the ranks of Your righteous servants.
Dear brothers, this is the first lecture in the interpretation of Surat As-Sajdah.
Virtue of Surat As-Sajdah:
The Prophet PBUH used to recite Surat As-Sajdah and Surat Ad-Dahr at Fajr (dawn) time every Friday.
In The Name Of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful
﴾ Alif-Lam-Mim* The revelation of the Book (this Qur'an) is from the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists) in which there is not doubt! ﴿
Scholars' opinions on the disjointed letters at the beginning of some Quranic surahs:
According to scholars of Quranic interpretation, there are many possible meanings for the disjointed letters at the beginning of some Quranic Surats, and some of them are the following:
• Only Allah knows their meaning.
• They are the first initials of the Prophet's names.
• They are the first initials of Allah's Names.
• These letters are the foundational building blocks of the Arabic language which is the same language of the Quran. They signify the miraculous rhetoric of the Quran. By beginning certain Surahs with these letters, Allah indicates that this Quran, which was revealed in their own language and composed of these familiar letters to them, is inimitable.
Allah challenges the Arabs to produce ten Ayaat or even a single Surat like those in the Quran. Despite having access to the same language and letters, Allah challenges Arabs to produce a book like the Quran.
There is a miracle in Allah's creation:
Let me clarify this point with an example. A human being is made of water, iron (just enough to make a single nail), phosphorus, calcium, and other trace elements. However, despite having access to all these materials, can man create another human being from them?
Domestic animals eat grass and grains, and they produce milk and eggs for us. Can we turn grass into milk ourselves? Can we create even a single egg? Can we make even one liter of milk? Can man create one human cell?
I am not asking man to create another whole man but an artery or even a piece of liver, yet man cannot do that. Although man has access to the very materials from which humans, animals, and plants are created, all the combined efforts of humanity could not create even a single fly. Similarly, although the Quran is composed of the same Arabic letters that were available to the Arabs, they are still unable to produce anything like it. This highlights the miraculous nature of the Quran. Life is still a mystery to this day.
The liver performs over 5.000 functions, yet once life leaves the human body, it becomes nothing more than a piece of decaying flesh. The same applies to animals. The butcher sells the liver as a piece of meat to be eaten, yet before the animal is slaughtered, it is a functional organ performing essential tasks. What is the secret behind this transformation? Well, life remains a mystery.
﴾ And they ask you (O Muhammad PBUH) concerning the Ruh (the Spirit); Say: "The Ruh (the Spirit): it is one of the things, the knowledge of which is only with my Lord. And of knowledge, you (mankind) have been given only a little." ﴿
A fig seed is as tiny as a pinhead, yet when planted in the right conditions, it grows into a large fig tree. Does this tiny seed contain all the details, qualities, and flavors of the fig? The fig tree has thousands of properties and details all of which are Divinely programmed into its tiny seed. Truly, life remains a mystery.
﴾ And they ask you (O Muhammad PBUH) concerning the Ruh (the Spirit); ﴿
The Ruḥ (the breath of life given by Allah) is the force that transforms raw materials into a living being. Some university students study the living cell for an entire year. They know that all living beings share the same nature, as they all begin from a single cell which is a complete world unto itself. The cell contains a membrane, cytoplasm, a nucleus, and a nucleolus, along with chromosomes that carry over 5.000 programmed genes, all functioning according to precise timing.
I am drawing an analogy between the disjointed (letters at the beginnings of some Surats in the Quran) and the nature of creation. Once again, the grass eaten by the cow is in our hands, but can anyone produce a single glass of milk from that grass? Likewise, the grains eaten by the chicken are in our hands, but can anyone produce a single egg from them? The nutrients that humans consume are in our hands, but can even the most advanced country in the world produce a single living cell from them? Definitely, it cannot. The miraculous secret of life is in the Hand of the Allah, Exalted and Sublime be He.
No one is able to bring an Ayah similar to those in the Quran:
As I have said earlier, the Quran is composed of the same Arabic letters that were available to the Arabs, but can they produce anything like it? Accordingly, the Revelation sent down to the Prophet PBUH carries clear proof that it is indeed a Divine Revelation from Allah.
Allah challenges all Arabs to produce a book like the Quran. Some said, "If someone challenges you and you have the ability to respond with a challenge of your own, what would you do? It is highly likely that you would challenge him back." If he is on the same level as you and challenges you, will you remain silent? If he is on the same level as you and you are unaware of his superior abilities, this will likely push you to accept the challenge. If he is on the same level as you, and you are unaware of his superior abilities, and by challenging you he prevents you from pursuing your own interests and keeps you shackled, would you refuse his challenge? Undoubtedly, you would rush to accept this challenge.
Allah the Almighty challenges all Arabs with the Quran to produce a book like it, or ten Surats like its Surats, or even one Surat, or just a few Ayaat. Yet, the Arabs were unable to produce anything comparable. Hence, Allah Almighty draws our attention to this fact by beginning some Surats with disjointed letters, such as:
Alif-Lam-Mim
It is as if He is challenging us with these very letters, which we use day and night, to produce a book like the Quran if we were to assume that it is not the Words of Allah.
The Quran is sent from the Lord of the Worlds:
In fact, there is a very delicate matter in this Surat that relates to Islamic Aqidah. Allah the Almighty says:
﴾
Alif-Lam-Mim. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Quran, and none but Allah (Alone) knows their meanings.] The revelation of the Book (this Quran) is from the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists) in which there is not doubt! ﴿
The Quran was revealed to us from the Lord of the Worlds and contains the Words of Allah. Therefore, the words spoken by people can never match the Words of Allah; the difference between them is like that between the Creator and His creation.
﴾ The revelation of the Book (this Quran) ﴿
This means that the Quran, which is miraculous and the recitation of which is an act of worship, was revealed to the Prophet (PBUH) from the Lord of the Worlds through Tawatur (transmission by a large number of independent narrators across successive generations) and not from any individual person.
In libraries, you find thousands of books, each with a known author. These authors may be right or mistaken; they might excel in some areas and fall short in others. They may innovate in certain fields while failing in others. This is the nature of humanity. However, when your eyes fall upon the Noble Quran, it is clearly a different kind of book; it is from the Creator of human beings. Allah Almighty says:
﴾ The revelation of the Book (this Quran) is from the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists) in which there is not doubt! ﴿
Who is The Lord of the Worlds?
Who is the Lord of the Worlds? He is the Creator and the One Who arranges all affairs. He is the Lord Who has created you and supported you in every aspect of your life spiritually, materially, mentally, and psychologically.
He is The Lord Who provides sustenance and Who Educates. Thus, the Name "The Lord" is the closest name of Allah's Names to man. The Lord is The One Who educates, Who shows mercy, Who heals, and Who even gives through withholding at times. He is the One Who, due to His Wisdom, exalts, abases, expands, withholds, provides, gives life, takes life, instills fear at times, and grants tranquility at others. He is the Lord of the Worlds.
A guidance to those who are Al-Muttaqun (the pious)":
Allah says:
﴾ The revelation of the Book (this Qur'an) is from the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists) in which there is not doubt!) ﴿
"In which there is no doubt" is a parenthetical clause between the two parts of the Ayah:
﴾ …in which there is not doubt! ﴿
It indicates that there is no doubt, no flaw, no excess, no exaggeration, no omission, no increase and no decrease.
Advancements in science provide evidence for the authenticity of the Quran:
﴾ …in which there is not doubt! ﴿
This means that the Quran is unique. There is no other book on earth, not even the most revered religious texts, that is free from contradictions in some of its passages, which often become apparent over time.
One of the most respected scientists wrote a medical book at a time when medical knowledge was still limited. In his book, he claimed that when a person eats, the evaporation from the food rises to the brain and prevents clear thinking; as if the stomach were an open pot and the vapor traveled directly to the brain.
Of course, after medicine, anatomy, and our understanding of organ functions have advanced, any of us will laugh at that claim. Therefore, every book authored by man will inevitably reveal errors over time. However, the case is different with the Noble Quran; 1.400 years having passed since its revelation, yet it continues to be affirmed by modern medical advancements, proving that it is truly a book from Allah Almighty.
Darkness in space from the standpoint of science and the Quran:
In today's Friday Khutbah, I shared the story of a prominent Arab astrologist who was present at the control tower. During communication with astronauts in pace, something unexpected occurred. As the spacecraft passed beyond earth's atmosphere, one of the astronauts suddenly shouted, "We're blind! We cannot see anything?"
What happened to them? Actually, daylight on earth results from a phenomenon called "light scattering," where the sun's rays reflect off tiny particles in the atmosphere and spread light everywhere. So, when a spacecraft leaves the earth's atmosphere, it enters into total darkness, as shown in all the pictures taken by astronauts, where stars appear as tiny dots against the dark void, so does the sun. This is how the universe looks from the outer space. Allah Almighty says:
﴾ And even if We opened to them a gate from the heaven and they were to continue ascending thereto* They would surely say: "Our eyes have been (as if) dazzled. Nay, we are a people bewitched." ﴿
This Ayah was revealed to the Prophet PBUH 1.400 years ago, at a time when no one could even imagine that one day man would pass beyond the earth's atmosphere.
﴾ They would surely say: "Our eyes have been (as if) dazzled. ﴿
As I have just said, every book that is authored by man will inevitably reveal errors over time. Even some geographical theories have been proven wrong. For example, it was once believed that the earth's core was a blazing liquid, but later it was discovered that it is actually composed of solid, extremely hot material.
Every now and then, scientists come up with new theories that contradict earlier ones. Man is not all-knowing; his knowledge evolves over time. As a result, errors are discovered and corrected, only for new ones to be made, discovered, and corrected again. This is the nature of human beings.
﴾ And of knowledge, you (mankind) have been given only a little." ﴿
﴾ Allah! La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists. Neither slumber, nor sleep overtake Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission? He knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter. And they will never compass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most High, the Most Great. ﴿
The Quran is different from all other books, because it is the Book of The Creator. No matter how much time passes, even thousands of years, no scientific discovery will ever contradict the Words of Allah. This is simply because the Creator of the universe is the One Who has revealed the Quran, and it is logically impossible for the Words of the Creator to contradict the realities of His creation.
﴾
…in which there is not doubt! ﴿
To be steadfast, you must believe beyond any doubt that the Quran is Allah's Words:
Dear brothers, when a person believes that the Quran is the Word of Allah, and that Al-Batil (falsehood) can neither come to it from before it nor from behind it, he will become steadfast. So, when does a person truly become steadfast?
Some scholars have made an outstanding statement, "A person will never be truly steadfast on the Path of Allah unless he believes in the existence of Allah and believes that Allah is All-Knowing, and that He will hold people accountable for their deeds."
Believing in just one of these three things while neglecting the other two will not lead a person to steadfastness. It is only when one believes in all three (i.e. that Allah exists, that He is All-Knowing, and that He will hold people accountable for their deeds) that true steadfastness can be attained.
Let me give you the following example for clarification: A very wealthy man hired a business agent with a high salary, so that he could live a comfortable and extravagant life. One day, the wealthy man gave the agent a written order to pay someone one million. Now, the agent must be absolutely certain that the signature on the written order belongs to his employer. If he mistakenly accepts a forged signature and pays the million, his employer will demand that he repay it claiming the signature was not his. On the other hand, if the signature is genuine and the agent refuses to act on it due to doubt, he will be fired for disobeying a direct order from his employer. Therefore, for the agent, verifying the authenticity of the signature is the most crucial part of the entire transaction.
In the same vein, as a Muslim, you must be certain that the Quran is the Word of Allah. Without this certainty, you will not become steadfast on His Path, nor will you truly follow it. On the other hand, if you do believe that the Quran is from Allah but still disobey His Commands, you bring yourself to ruin.
If the Quran were not from Allah, and you followed it committing yourself to what would then be meaningless restrictions, your life would be worthless. Therefore, the most important point is to firmly believe that the Quran is the Word of Allah.
Dear noble brothers, the idea that the Quran is not Allah's Words is rarely questioned in the Islamic countries. This is because Muslims generally believe it spontaneously and instinctively, and through inherited tradition.
We are born and raised in Islamic societies, and we are surrounded by Du'aat (Islamic missioners) and teachers who have spoon-fed us the Islamic tradition and affirm that the Quran is Allah's Words. However, if a misguided individual, with ill intentions and a desire to extinguish the Light of Allah, were to claim that the Quran is not Allah's Words, you should ask him if he has strong evidence to prove his claim
As I see it, the most serious matter in life is to believe, beyond any doubt, with your heart and every cell of your body, that the Quran is Allah's Words, and that you will be held accountable for your adherence to its Commands and Prohibitions. You must believe that its Commands lead to happiness, and its Prohibitions are there to protect you from misery. Allah Almighty says:
﴾
Alif-Lam-Mim. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Quran, and none but Allah (Alone) knows their meanings.] ﴿
These disjointed letters signify that even if all of humanity joined forces, they would still be unable to produce anything like the Quran:
﴾ Say: "If the mankind and the jinns were together to produce the like of this Quran, they could not produce the like thereof, even if they helped one another." ﴿
Among the meanings of these disjointed letters:
﴾ Alif-Lam-Mim. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Quran, and none but Allah (Alone) knows their meanings.] ﴿
You have access to these very letters, and the Quran is revealed in the Arabic language, so produce a book like it, if you can. Allah says:
﴾ The revelation of the Book (this Quran) is from the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists) in which there is no doubt! ﴿
The Lord is your Creator, your Educator, and The Arranger of your affairs. He has created you and nurtured you.
The closest example to Allah's Way of educating and nurturing is this: if you intend to care for a plant, watering it, cultivating its soil, removing the weeds around it, fertilizing it properly, pruning it, and protecting it from diseases, that would be the closest human example to Allah's Education.
The upbringing of a child involves caring for his/her health, nutrition, sleep, needs, and hygiene. Then, attention is given to his/her physical, mental, moral, and spiritual development, and this is what true education is all about. This is the closest example we have of what education means.
The Lordship of Allah entails providing guidance for mankind in life:
﴾ The revelation of the Book (this Quran) is from the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists) in which there is no doubt! ﴿
Because Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, has sent down the Quran, there is no doubt about it, and so it would be irrational to believe that Allah, Exalted and Sublime be He, has created man only to leave him without guidance, education, enlightenment, clarification, or revelation.
To clarify this point, here is an example from our daily life. When the government builds a road; it places signs along the way to warn drivers against dangerous turns, intersections, bridges, or toll roads. Will anyone accept that the Minister of Transport build a road without signs? Much in the same line, the Creator of the Worlds has created you, and He has never left you without sending down the Revelation to His Noble Prophet, which contains the philosophy of life, the reality of the universe as detailed by its Creator, the truth about life, the nature of humanity, what existed before life, what awaits after death, and the guidance for the well-being of man's body, soul, morals, religion, and intellect. Furthermore, this Noble Book includes the Divine Commands and Prohibitions, what is lawful and unlawful, promises and threats, glad tidings and warnings, as well as scientific indications that point to the Greatness of Allah, Exalted and Sublime be He. Yet some claim as Allah Almighty narrates:
﴾ Or say they: "He (Muhammad PBUH) has fabricated it?" Nay, it is the truth from your Lord, that you may warn a people to whom no warner has come before you (O Muhammad PBUH), in order that they may be guided. ﴿
What is the approach of those who call to atheism or cast doubt on religion? Their approach is to claim that the Quran was written by Muhammad PBUH whom they describe as a genius or an exceptionally intelligent man. They argue that he attracted the Arabs around him through this book, but according to them, that time passed, and its relevance is over.
The difference between being a believer and a disbeliever lies in believing that the Quran is from Allah, and that Al-Batil can never approach it. It is Allah's Words, the Creator of the universe, and a comprehensive Divine Way of life:
﴾ This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. ﴿
Disbelief, on the other hand, lies in assuming that the Quran was written by Muhammad PBUH. This is the essential difference.
Our submission should not be to folklore or formalities:
﴾ The revelation of the Book (this Quran) is from the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists) in which there is not doubt! ﴿
If your opinion about lowering the gaze is based on how difficult it is in our time; if you hold a different view than the Quran regarding Riba (usury); if you see no issue with gender mixing; if you do not believe that Hijab is an obligation; or if you hold other opinions that contradict the Quran, then this implies that you doubt it, and that you do not see in the Quran wisdom, truth, or relevance to human needs.
There are no half measures; this is a serious, fateful, and crucial matter. Thus, you must take a clear stance. If you claim to believe that the Quran is Allah's Words, yet you do not apply it at home, to your financial dealings, to your social relationships, to your earnings, or to how you spend your money, then you should know that this kind of belief does not count.
(( Suhaib reported Allah's Messenger as saying, "He who treats what the Qur'an prohibits as permissible does not believe in it." ))
Your stance in this case is mere folklore, because you claim to believe that the Quran is Allah's Words, you accept it, and you even hang its Ayaat on the walls of your home, yet you disobey the very Words of Allah.
This situation is even more serious with someone people, since the Quran for them has become nothing but a few Surats recited only at funerals. This has led people to feel pessimistic upon hearing the recitation of the Quran as it is associated with death. You should never forget that the Quran revives the heart, and it is the Divine Way of life.
The difference between being a believer and a disbeliever lies in doubting the Quran, thinking that it contains contradictions, that some topics were overlooked, that it remains silent on certain issues, or that it mentions some matters in excessive detail, to the point where you wish it had not. If this is how you view the Words of Allah, then you still have a long way to go.
If someone introduces himself to you as a physician, and then tells you that high blood pressure is good for your health, you would naturally ask yourself, "What a physician he is!" Even a small child would not accept that high blood pressure is good for one's health. Also, if a civil engineer tells you that concrete does not need to be reinforced with steel and that it will still hold up, this indicates that the engineer is not even qualified to work in construction. The most basic fact in structural engineering is that while concrete can resist compressive forces, it cannot resist tensile forces without reinforcement. So, if this person tells you that he has a doctorate degree in civil engineering, leave him.
Man should not judge the Words of Allah in the Quran, nor accuse it of containing contradictions or of failing to meet people's needs. To anyone who thinks this way, we say politely: You still have a long way to go regarding your faith.
Believing in the Quran as the Word of the Creator, Who has made this universe, is a crucial matter in religion. You should read it, reflect upon it, strive to understand it, and attend religious lessons to learn about what it teaches: what is Halal and Haram, its Promises and Warnings.
The different meanings of Al-Haqq:
The first meaning: Al-Haqq is unchangeable:
﴾ Or say they: "He (Muhammad PBUH) has fabricated it?" ﴿
The word of Al-Haqq (the truth) is unchangeable and has a crucial effect on man. Take Damascus, for example; fifty years ago, it was very different. The streets were not paved and are cleaned by powering water manually, and the city was smaller. Today, it has expanded, and it has so many parks, cleaner paved streets, and a more organized appearance. However, Mount Qasioun remains unchanged.
It stood the same during the Roman, the Umayyad, and the modern eras today. This shows us that some things change, while others do not. The mountain is unchanging, but the style of the houses, streets, and parks has changed over time. In the same way, Al-Haqq, the Non-Finite Truth, is unchangeable. Quran is Al-Haqq:
﴾ Nay, it is the truth ﴿
This means that the Words of Allah (i.e. the Quran), The Creator of the universe, can never be contradicted by any newly discovered fact, nor can any experience expose a deficiency in it, nor can any hypothesis weaken its Message. This is impossible, because the Quran is Al-Haqq (the Non-Finite Truth).
The Quran is Al-Haqq from Allah:
﴾ Or say they: "He (Muhammad PBUH) has fabricated it?" Nay, it is the truth from your Lord ﴿
Allah does not say: "from Allah," but rather He says, "from the Lord", meaning that the Lord who educates you is the One Who has sent down this Message and these instructions when He revealed the Quran. O man, pay heed.
Every father spends a lot of time warning his son and encouraging him to study, to be honest, to stay in control, to manage his allowance wisely, to save money, and to avoid wastefulness. All of these instructions, pieces of advice, facts, and words of wisdom come from the father's love for his son, and this is what true fatherhood and upbringing are all about. Similarly, the Lord of the Worlds and the Lord of mankind has sent down the Quran to save man from being lost, going astray, backsliding, falling into misery, or ending in doom.
﴾ Nay, it is the truth ﴿
Again, Al-Haqq never changes. When we hold a fair, there are booths set up, and these booths are temporary, often made of cardboard, fabric, or wood. In contrast, the Presidential Ministry is a permanent structure, built of stones, with a concrete foundation and thick walls, and thus it is designed to last for a long time. Such is the nature of Al-Haqq, as it is stable and unchangeable, unlike Al-Batil, which shifts and changes over time. Likewise, fashion belongs to Al-Batil, but why? Because it shifts and changes over time. So, always remember, Al-Haqq is unchangeable.
The second meaning: Al-Haqq is everything that is great and transcendental:
Al-Haqq also, in another sense, refers to what is great, transcendental, and deeply meaningful.
﴾ Nay, it is the truth ﴿
This means that no matter how eras change, how sciences advance, how life gets colorful, or how much mankind progress, the Quran, the Words of the Creator of the universe, contains unchanging facts, Commands, Prohibitions, and Guidance from Allah. In other words, nothing in life can surprise or overwhelm a person who holds firmly to it.
When someone follows Al-Batil and spends his life and youth pursuing it, he will discover in his seventies that he has followed a false path that has been forsaken by his friends. This realization will come as a painful and devastating surprise. It is a surprise because he dedicated himself, sacrificed his youth, and gave everything to serve this path only to discover later, after all these years, that he had believed in a false and groundless idea shaped by desires, interests, and selfish principles.
﴾ Thus is the case judged concerning which you both did inquire." ﴿
This is a devastating surprise. On the other hand, when you follow Al-Haqq, you will never be surprised no matter how old you get, how many books you read, or how many countries you visit. This is because the Quran is firm like a mountain.
In fact, the more mischief spreads, the deeper your belief is in the fact that the Quran is indeed Al-Haqq.
﴾ And come not near to the unlawful sexual intercourse. Verily, it is a Fahishah [i.e. anything that transgresses its limits (a great sin)], and an evil way (that leads one to Hell unless Allah forgives him). ﴿
In the Western World, the concept of the family is deteriorating, as there are increasing estrangement, disunity, and misery. Hence, while the Western World is advanced in some aspects, it is backward in others. The individual there has gone astray when he began to believe that satisfying his desires is the ultimate purpose of life. In doing so, he neglected moral values, the true meaning of his existence, and the profound importance of spiritual commitment. This explains why Da'wah (the call to believe in Allah) is widely accepted in the West, as many people suffer from the misery caused by harsh materialism.
Regretfully, among the elite of such societies, there are cases where children are kidnapped and their blood is sold on the black market which is a truly frightening reality. Indeed, when man forsakes Allah, he hits rock bottom and becomes a predator. A well-known public figure once said about the notorious disease AIDS, "It is the atomic bomb that will strike us."
What is mischief?
By the year 2010, the number of people with AIDS will reach hundreds of millions due to Zina (fornication). Take my word for it: Every adversity that humanity faces results from turning away from the Path of Allah.
What is the definition of mischief? It is the actions man takes by his own choice, without following the Divine Way of life. This is the philosophy of mischief.
Everything in life is wisely outlined by Allah for the best interests of man. Well, man possesses free will, and when he knows Allah, Exalted and Sublime be He, and follows His Divine Way of life, he will gain and spread happiness, bringing peace to the land. In contrast, mischief causes things to lose their proper and good function.
When is salt used badly? When you add a lot of it to sweets. In doing so, you take it out of its proper function, ruining both the salt and the sweet. Also, adding sugar to certain foods can ruin both the sugar and the food. Everything taken out of its proper function is referred to as mischief. Thus, man's actions without Divine Way to follow are mischievous.
﴾ Or say they: "He (Muhammad PBUH) has fabricated it?" Nay, it is the truth from your Lord ﴿
If you believe in the Quran, be certain that nothing will surprise you, no matter how long you live. The more experience you gain, the more knowledge you acquire, and the more refined your understanding becomes, the more certain you will be that the Noble Quran is Al-Haqq revealed from Allah, Exalted and Sublime be He.
A friend of mine showed me a book about honey and its benefits. The book was authored in an atheist country where people do not believe in Allah. It consists of ten or eleven chapters, in which the author mentions the benefits of honey for skin diseases, infectious diseases, the respiratory system, the cardiovascular system, the digestive system, and many other ailments. It is truly mind-bewildering. As if it were a detailed interpretation of the following Ayah:
﴾ …wherein is healing for men. ﴿
The author had no idea that this Ayah exists; had he known it, he would most certainly have believed in it.
﴾ The revelation of the Book (this Quran) is from the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists) in which there is not doubt! ﴿
There is no doubt about it.
﴾ Or say they: "He (Muhammad PBUH) has fabricated it?” Nay, it is the truth from your Lord ﴿
Every matter of dispute among people is clarified by the Lord of mankind:
1- Where does the fetus come from?
For a long time, people believed that the fetus originated from the sperm, while the womb served merely as the soil in which it was planted, so to speak. Later, they believed the opposite; that the fetus originated from the ovum, and that the sperm was merely a stimulant. However, Allah Exalted and Sublime be He, says:
﴾ O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female ﴿
Allah says that the fetus originates from both the sperm and the ovum. Then later, people fell into dispute, debating whether the gender of the fetus is determined by the male or the female? Allah says:
﴾ And that He (Allah) creates the pairs, male and female, From Nutfah (drops of semen male and female discharges) when it is emitted; ﴿
It is the sperm of the man that determines whether the fetus will be male or female. This truth is clearly indicated in the Noble Ayah, while people were in dispute over the matter.
﴾ He has let loosed the two seas (the salt water and the sweet) meeting together. Between them is a barrier which none of them can transgress. Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both (jinns and men) deny? ﴿
2- Where is the barrier between every two seas located?
Where is the Barzakh (the barrier between the Arabian sea and the Red Sea? The water of the two seas in the Strait of Bab Al-Mandeb is seamless. Where is the barrier between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea in Bosporus? Where is it between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean in Gibraltar? People said there is nothing. While Allah says:
﴾ He has let loosed the two seas (the salt water and the sweet) meeting together. Between them is a barrier which none of them can transgress. Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both (jinns and men) deny? ﴿
It was not until man traveled into space, and captured images from outer space in which the separating lines between every two seas became visible. The nature of this barrier is still a mystery, but its effects are evident, as each sea has its own composition, salinity, temperature, and density. Therefore, the water of the Red Sea will never be mixed with the water of the Indian Ocean, the water of the Mediterranean will never be mixed with the water of the Black Sea, and the water of the Mediterranean will never be mixed with the water of the Atlantic Ocean.
This breakthrough came from photos taken from outer space. When the dividing lines between seas appeared in photographs, scientists studied the water and discovered that the salinity of the Red Sea in the Strait of Bab al-Mandeb differs from that of the adjacent sea just 10 meters away. One can also distinguish between the waters of the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, as the former is lighter, even though the two meet at the Suez Canal.
﴾ He has let loosed the two seas (the salt water and the sweet) meeting together. Between them is a barrier which none of them can transgress ﴿
There is also a barrier between salt water and fresh water, and astonishingly, the fish that live in fresh water do not enter the salt water, and vice versa.
﴾ And He has set a barrier and a complete partition between them. ﴿
These are the Words of The Creator of the universe. If only man had had the time or the passion for science, he would have learned a lot.
Bear in mind that any indication in the Quran, which was proved by science, was revealed 1.400 years ago.
3- Why do birds fly and migrate?
Our Lord, Exalted and Sublime be He, mentions birds in the following Ayah:
﴾ Do they not see the birds above them, spreading out their wings and folding them in? None upholds them except the Most Beneficent (Allah). ﴿
Our Lord has attributed the flight of birds in the air to His Divine Power. A research study on birds has continued for 20 years, examining why birds fly and why they migrate. There are about 100 billion birds in the world that migrate, but why? What is the reason? Is it something within the birds themselves, or is it related to the climate?
Scientists assumed that migration were related to hot weather, but when they placed the birds in a cold environment, they migrated. Some researchers started to wonder whether the length of the daylight hours had anything to do with bird migration. Therefore, they placed the birds in an environment with shorter daylight hours, yet they still migrated. This indicates that migration originates from within the birds.
The next question is: How do birds know their route during migration? Some birds migrate as far as 17.000 kilometers, traveling from South America to North America. Others journey from South Africa to the Middle East, returning to the very nests they left before migrating in winter. If these birds were off their rout by even one degree, they would end up in Egypt or Iraq instead of reaching their nests in Damascus. Who guides these birds through the darkness of land and sea? Allah says:
﴾ None upholds them except the Most Beneficent (Allah). ﴿
In another Ayah Allah says:
﴾ Do they not see the birds held (flying) in the midst of the sky? None holds them but Allah [none gave them the ability to fly but Allah]. ﴿
Allah has attributed the flight of birds in the air to His Divine Power. The research indicated, "There are hidden rhythms cast into the heart of the bird from an unknown source that guide them to their destination." After two decades of research, they came up with a conclusion fully consistent with the Ayah.
Such is the Quran, the Word of the Creator of humankind. No book should capture your attention more than the Quran. You should study it, pay attention to its smallest details, reflect upon its Ayaat, and adhere to its Commands and Prohibitions, its Promises and Warnings, its Menaces and Glad Tidings.
﴾ Or say they: "He (Muhammad PBUH) has fabricated it?" Nay, it is the truth from your Lord, that you may warn a people to whom no warner has come before you (O Muhammad PBUH), in order that they may be guided. ﴿
The Quran is a warning to those who have not been warned:
Those, who had not been warned, were the Arabs who lived between the time of Isma'il (the son of Ibrahim) and the time of Prophet Muhammad PBUH.
How will the people who were not warned be judged?
﴾ …No warner has come before you (O Muhammad PBUH), in order that they may be guided. ﴿
This brings us to speak about Ahl al-Fatrah (those who were not warned). Ahl al-Fatrah should at least believe in Allah. Since they were neither warned nor assigned guidance by Allah, they will not be held accountable for that.
The universe points to the existence of Allah, and man has been provided with reason, which is his means of knowing Allah. Thus, no one is excused for failing to believe in Him. If a person believes in Allah but has no knowledge of Zakat, lowering the gaze, or other detailed Divine Commands, he will not be held accountable for failing to observe them. Therefore, Ahl al-Fatrah are not exempted from everything; they are still required, at a minimum, to believe in Allah.
﴾ Have they not looked at the heaven above them, how We have made it and adorned it, ﴿
﴾ Do they not look at the camels, how they are created?* And at the heaven, how it is raised?* And at the mountains, how they are rooted and fixed firm?* And at the earth, how it is spread out?* So remind them (O Muhammad PBUH), you are only a one who reminds* You are not a dictator over them. ﴿
I repeat the following Ayaat:
﴾ Alif-Lam-Mim. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Quran, and none but Allah (Alone) knows their meanings.] The revelation of the Book (this Quran) is from the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists) in which there is not doubt! Or say they: "He (Muhammad PBUH) has fabricated it?" Nay, it is the truth from your Lord, that you may warn a people to whom no warner has come before you (O Muhammad PBUH), in order that they may be guided. ﴿
I hope that each one of you will have a clear stance regarding the Noble Quran. You should be well-prepared to answer this question: Do you possess clear evidence that the Quran is the Word of Allah? If you do, then you must be prepared to answer Allah when He asks you: Why did you not obey My Commands? Why did you fall short in such and such matters?
﴾ Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.). That is purer for them. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what they do. ﴿
How could you oppose Quran although you know it is definitely from the Lord of the Worlds?
As a believer, why do you neglect certain Shari'ah rules on certain matters sometimes? If you believe beyond doubt that the Quran is the Word of Allah, how can you find peace within yourself while disobeying His Commands? Do you not feel a sense of imbalance by doing so? However, if you doubt the Quran, then this is another matter. Each individual should have a clear stance towards Allah's Words.
Next lecture insha' Allah, we will continue interpreting this Surat, which the Prophet PBUH used to recite at Fajr time every Friday. Most scholars in the Islamic world follow his practice and recite this Surat at Fajr on Fridays, along with Surat Ad-Dahr.
The main issue in this Surat lies in the following part of the Ayah:
﴾ …in which there is not doubt! ﴿
This means that there is decisive certainty that the Quran is Allah's Words. If the case is so, how can you disobey Allah? What will you say to Allah when He asks you about falling short in applying the Divine Way shown in the Quran? How do you not feel a sense of imbalance upon believing that Quran is Allah's Words, yet you do not apply it? Your stance towards it is a fateful matter.
﴾ …in which there is not doubt! ﴿
Allah Almighty says:
﴾ Nay, it is the truth from your Lord, that you may warn a people to whom no warner has come before you (O Muhammad PBUH), in order that they may be guided. ﴿
Opposing the Quran comes with paying a heavy price:
If an architect sees a building and realizes that it is unsafe and rickety, he will warn the residents and obtain their signatures as proof that they are informed. If the residents ignores his warning and remain in the building until it collapses on their heads, this will be considered ignorance, even though they have been informed.
When man opposes the Quran, he pays a heavy price even in his marital life, simply because he took Allah's Words lightly and neglected many Ayaat regarding relationships in marriage. You will face losses in your trade as a price you pay for neglecting the many Ayaat that instruct you on how to earn lawfully. Also, there are so many instructions in how to spend money, and if you take them lightly, you will pay a big price.
Knowing that man loves his own self, he should be keen on understanding Allah's Words, for Allah's Instructions, included in these Words, are for his own best interest. It would be wise for you to pay heed.
When a person buys a very expensive machine or a brand-new car, he might say, "I paid millions to have it." You would notice how keen he is on it, as he collects all the manuals from the manufacturer, translates them if necessary, and follows every instruction carefully to keep it safe. He puts in effort, translates, learns, asks questions, and applies the instructions precisely for the safety of a mere machine or car. So, is it rational that his concern for a machine is greater than his concern for himself, his destiny, his future and his life after death?
This is how we deal with matters in the worldly life. A man may lose sleep if something goes wrong with his eye; he will seek the best physician, and then another for a second opinion, saying, "This is my eye with which I see, and there can be no compromise about it." What about your own self which will accompany you on the eternal journey?
﴾ The Day whereon neither wealth nor sons will avail, Except him who brings to Allah a clean heart [clean from Shirk (polytheism) and Nifaq (hypocrisy)]. ﴿
I hope you realize that we are not only required to recite the Quran and say like some people, "Praise be to Allah, we gain rewards and comfort after reciting the Words of Allah", because the matter is far more serious than merely reciting the Quran. You must follow its Commands, avoid its Prohibitions, observe what it declares Halal and Haram, and be attentive when its Ayaat speak of your Lord's Greatness, His Glad Tidings, and His Warnings. This is how we should deal with the Quran. We must recite it day and night, understand it, reflect upon its Ayaat, and live according to them. Allah says:
﴾ The revelation of the Book (this Quran) is from the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists) in which there is no doubt! ﴿
I used to say in previous lectures that there is a huge difference between saying "one thousand million liras", and possessing them in reality. Uttering these three words is easy, and it costs you nothing. In the same way, there is a vast difference between reciting an Ayah from the Quran correctly and truly living according to it.
What does it mean to oppose the Words of Allah? It means that deep down in your heart, you feel that following the Quran is a difficult task, and that Allah has commanded you with something beyond your ability. However, Allah says:
﴾ Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope… ﴿
Believing that Allah has commanded you with something beyond your ability contradicts the previous Ayah.
Make sure that your beliefs are in harmony with Allah's Words, so that you may derive from the Quran the secrets of life, the universe, and existence. Make the effort to act according to Allah's Instructions and to set lofty goals that align with what is mentioned in the Quran, rather than mundane ones; otherwise, you will be stunned by the bad consequences of your deeds and actions.
﴾ So leave them alone till they meet their Day, in which they will sink into a fainting (with horror). ﴿
He will be struck with horror. This is what happens to a wealthy man when he decides to liquidate all his wealth (lands, houses, factories, cars, resorts) into about 200 million dollars, hoping to live the remainder of his life without work and to spend from that money after putting part of them in banks, because he will discover that the dollars, he has exchanged for, are fake. As a result, he will sink into a fainting (with horror).
﴾ So leave them to plunge in vain talk and play about, ﴿
This was the catastrophic end of the man who invested all his substantial wealth in a company in the Gulf region. He was in Damascus, spending a month on vacation. When he returned to the Gulf, his partner informed him that the company in which he had placed all his wealth had declared bankruptcy. Overwhelmed by the devastating news, he fainted immediately. To avoid such an end, we should read the Quran attentively and seriously, paying close attention to every Command and Instruction.
Bear in mind that no husband will be miserable if he follows Allah's Words:
﴾ O you who believe! You are forbidden to inherit women against their will, and you should not treat them with harshness, that you may take away part of the Mahr you have given them, unless they commit open illegal sexual intercourse. And live with them honourably. If you dislike them, it may be that you dislike a thing and Allah brings through it a great deal of good. ﴿
If you read all the interpretations of the Quran, you will notice that living honorably with your wife does not only mean avoiding hurting her but also being patient and tolerant when she causes you pain. This is the way Allah has instructed us.
Once again, recite the Quran attentively and carefully and make sure the you act upon its Instructions. If Allah commands you to lower your gaze, then you should do so; otherwise, your home may become a living hell, and you may end up arguing with your wife two or three times every day. Allah, Exalted and Sublime be He, says:
﴾ Allah will destroy Riba (usury) and will give increase for Sadaqat (deeds of charity, alms, etc.) And Allah likes not the disbelievers, sinners. ﴿
He amassed his wealth through usury, and in a single moment, Allah destroyed it.
﴾ Allah will destroy Riba (usury)… ﴿
When Allah commands you to pay Zakat, then pay it; and when Allah asks you to do something, then do it.
﴾ …Neither backbite one another ﴿
Backbiting shatters the society and households, but do you know how? Say a family welcomes a guest, but after he leaves, they backbite him, so if one of them tells the guest what was said behind his back, he will be deeply hurt, and he will hold a grudge against them. As a result, conflicts start between people and social relations are severed in the societies.
If you aim to live happily with your family, children, society, neighbors and friends then apply Allah's Words.
﴾ …in which there is not doubt! ﴿
The whole lecture revolves around these particular words, and they are the Words of The Creator of mankind.
