- Interpretation Of Quran / The long version
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- (007) Al Araaf
Dear brother: This is lesson number 25 of Surat Al-A’raaf, starting with Ayah (Verse ) # 59, in which Allah Almighty says:
“Indeed, We sent Nuh (Noah) to his people and he said: “O my people! Worship Allah! You have no other Ilah (god) but Him.”
Indeed. We sent Nuh (Noah) to his people
1. Stories of the Prophets strengthens the heart of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh):
Dear brother: The role of this ayah is to lessen the suffering of the Prophet which was brought about by the peoples’ disbelief and opposition to him. Allah Almighty said:“And all that We relate to you (O Muhammad) of the news of the Messengers is in order that We may make strong and firm your heart thereby”
In the middle of this ayah, our Prophet’s heart is strengthened by hearing the story of another Prophet before him. It tells him: O Muhammad, you are not the only Prophet who has been disbelieved, nor the only one who has suffered, because the battle between good and evil is an eternal and everlasting one. habituate yourself to that. The non-believers could have been placed on a different planet or on a different continent in a different period of time, however, Allah in His absolute wisdom chose that we be together in the same place at the same time. Such a gathering requires that there to be an eternal and everlasting battle between good and evil until the Day of Resurrection.2. To be tested is inevitable in the course of the Call to Allah:
When man habituates himself on a given reality, he then accepts it and deals with it. The battle between good and evil is an eternal and everlasting one. O Muhammad, you are not a new thing among the Messengers. You are not the only one to be disbelieved, you are not the only one to be harmed. The Prophet (pbuh) said:“ I have been frightened in my call to Allah and none other have been scared like me and I have been harmed in my call to Allah and none other have been harmed like me, and there came a time when throughout thirty days and nights Bilal and I had nothing to eat except what Bilal\s armpits could conceal.”
Someone said to the Prophet: O Prophet of Allah, I do love you. He answered: consider what you are saying. He replied: I swear by Allah that I love you. He answered: Consider what you are saying. He replied: I swear by Allah that I love you. He answered: If you are truthful in what you are saying then know that poverty is closer to you than the sandals you are wearing
There will be tests and trials.“Do people think that they will be left alone because they say:”We believe,” and will not be tested.”
“Or think you that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said:”When will come the help of Allah?”
It is unthinkable that you will not be tested.Imam Al-Shafiee was once asked: O Imam, should we supplicate to Allah to make us strong or for sending trials to us. He then answered: You will not be strong until you are tried.
Allah Almighty said:
“We are putting (men) to the test”
O Muhammad you are not:“a new thing among the Messengers”
You are not the only one to be disbelieved, nor are you the only one to be opposed or to be harmed. This is the way of Allah in His creation.I have missed to tell you why Allah decreed that the people of the truth and those of falsehood be together in every place and in every time. You will find people in families, neighborhoods, offices, hospitals, and schools, people who are at the highest level of perfection, and sh3er who are at the lowest levels of puerility, mockery and harassment. This is Allah’s way with His creation on earth. The wisdom of it being that the truth becomes stronger when challenged, and that the people of the truth do not deserve Paradise except with sacrifice.
“Or do you think that you will enter Paradise before Allah tests those of you who fought (In His Cause) and (also) test those who are As-Sabirin (the patient)?”
You must believe that to be tested is one of Allah’s ways for people on earth. You are being tested.3. Man is being tested in everything:
By the way: you are being tested in what Allah has bestowed upon you. He granted you good health in which you are tested. He gave you wealth in which you are tested. He gave you high position in which you are tested. He gave you knowledge in which you are tested. And you are also tested in what you have been denied. You may have wished that you have unlimited income but your income is limited. This is another test. You may have wished that your wife be different, but she behaves in a manner not agreeable to you. That’s another test for you. Thus you are tested in what has been granted to you as well as in what you have been prevented from having. Therefore one of the finest supplications of the Prophet (pbuh) was:“O Allah, you have blessed me with what I like..make such a thing a source of strength for me to achieve what you like.”
O Allah, help me to be employed to do what pleases You. Allah said:“But seek, with that (wealth) which Allah has bestowed on you, the Home of the Hereafter”
Seek the Hereafter with your money, with your beauty, with your knowledge, with your wealth, and with your authority.“But seek, with that (wealth) which Allah has bestowed on you, the Home of the Hereafter”
Therefore:
“O Allah, grant me your love, and the love of those whose love will benefit me in front of you. O Allah, make whatever you grant me of what I love a source of strength for me to do what you love. And make what you deny me of what I love abundant time for me to dedicate myself to what You love.
Suhayb reported that the Prophet (pbuh) said:“The affair of the believer is indeed amazing. It is all good. And that is the case with the believer only. If he is tested with something good he is thankful and that would be good for him. And if he is tested with adversity he is then patient and that would also be good for him”
O Muhammad do not be sad, do not be angry and do not despair.“I am not a new thing among the Messengers”
Previous Messengers were disbelieved, harmed and mocked. These days the believer is also made fun of. He is described as limited, static, rigid, does not know life’s pleasures, and is afraid of mixing with women.“But this Day (the Day of Ressurection) those who believe will laugh at the disbelievers”
The disbeliever laughs a little and will cry a lot. On the other hand the believer may cry a little but will laugh a lot. When man is born all around him are laughing, he is the only one who is crying then. But when he dies all around him are crying. If he had been a believer he would be the only one laughing then.“It was said to him:”Enter Paradise”. He said: If only my people knew”
Therefore:“Indeed, We sent Nuh (Noah) to his people”
O my people worship Allah
Some Linguists said that:’Laqad’ ie: indeed, is like making an oath, as if to say: by Allah, indeed I did visit you, or to say: indeed I visited you.“Indeed We sent Nuh (Noah) to his people and he said:” O my people ! Worship Allah”
The purpose of man’s creation is to worship Allah alone:
The purpose of our existence is to worship Allah because He is The One who created, The One who sustains, The One who brings to life and takes life away. He is The One Whom we must worship.“O mankind! Worship your Lord (Allah), Who created you and those who were before you so that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious).”
“Indeed We sent Nuh (Noah) to his people and he said:” O my people ! Worship Allah! You have no other Ilah (God) but Him”
No other Ilah (God) but Him
There is no true God, no Lifter, no Lowerer, no Consolatorer, no Humiliator, no giver, no withholder, and no omnipotent, except Allah. People have learned nothing better than monotheism.“Whatever of mercy (i.e. of good), Allah may grant to mankind, none can withhold it; and whatever He may withhold, none can grant it thereafter”
O Lord! What has he lost he who has found You? And what has he found he has lost You? And if Allah is with you who then can be against you? And if He is against you who then can be with you?“You have no other Ilah but Him”
Your health, your senses, your wife, your children, your income, those stronger than you, those weaker than you, those equal to you..everything that concerns you is in The Hand of Allah.Abd bin Mas’ood said: I heard the Prophet (pbuh) say:
“He who limits all his concerns into the concern of the Hereafter, Allah will lessen his worldly concerns. And he who is preoccupied more with his worldly concerns, Allah will not care in which valley he will perish.”
“ If you strive to please One Face which is the Face of Allah, He will make you free of need for all other faces.”
“You have no other Ilah (God) but Him”
Man should not ask any other than his Lord, and he should not fear anything but his own sins.Musnad Al-Firdose, Ali bin Abi Taleb.
This monotheism means that you turn only to Allah, and that you depend on Him and be obedient to Him. It also means that you do all you can to avoid His wrath and that you follow Him alone.
“You have no other Ilah (God) but Him. Certainly, I fear for you the torment of a Great Day”
Certainly, I fear for you the torment of a Great Day
When a person accepts another god (other than Allah) he will try to please that god whether he is a strong man, a wealthy man, or he may take his desires as his god. Or if he loves his wife and she was lewd but he does what pleases her so that she remains pleased with him then he would have taken her as a god. If he approves his son’s deeds in what is disobedient to Allah then he would have taken him as a god. If he wants to please his superior by eating in front of him during Ramadan then he would have taken him as a god as well.Therefore, dear brother, he who accepts other than Allah as his god should expect great punishment ahead of him, because he has chosen not to follow the path of Allah and to follow the path of that god whom he has chosen. So that you are not confused, I say it is not as though one man says to another: you are a god, but he treats him as though he were one. If he orders him to commit a sin he obeys him immediately. If he bans him from doing a good deed he obeys him as well. I do not say that there are people in our Muslim world today who says this person is a god, but I do say there are some who do treat sh3er as gods and obey them in committing sins.
“Indeed, We sent Nuh (Noah) to his people and he said: “O my people! Worship Allah! You have no other Ilah (God) but Him.”
Worship is voluntary act of obedience, mixed with love, built on true knowledge and understanding, and leads to everlasting happiness.“O my people! Worship Allah! You have no other Ilah (God) but Him. Certainly I fear for you the torment of a Great Day”
Some of the Governors of Al-Sham Province did not approve of our Master Omar’s appearance. One of them said to him: O Emir of the faithful, why do you visit them dressed this way? Omar answered: O Aba ObeidahK I swear that had this been asked by someone other than you I would have punished him. We are a people whom God has honored us with Islam. We shall be degraded if we seek honor in any other than Him.Look at today’s MuslimMuslims. They seek their honor in other than Allah, by maintaining good relations with their enemies, by normalizing such relations, by giving in and succumbing. When they do that they will be more degraded because whenever we seek honor in anything else other than Allah, He will degrade us.
The disbelievers’ enmity to The Prophet (pbuh):
Dear brother: what was behind the enmity that was directed at the Prophet (pbuh)?It is worth noting that the higher you go on the ladder of success the more enemies you are likely to have. It has been even said that for every believer there is a believer who envies him, a hypocrite who hates him, a disbeliever who fights him, a self that leads him astray, and a devil who tempts him.
All the prophets had a given place and a given time. For every people there had been a prophet at a given time and place, except Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) who was sent to all places. He is:
“A mercy for the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists).”
He was sent for all times, till the end of time. There is no doubt that he is the favored one amongst all Prophets and Messengers and that his Message is for all peoples and all times. That was the reason for people to have disbelieved him.By the way: Why was the Prophet harmed in Ta’if? That was because he is an example for us. An example to the callers to Islam until the Day of Resurrection. There were those who went against him, those who criticized him, those who guiled him, and those who fought him. He is our good example. He went to Ta’hf and was disbelieved, he was made fun of. The kids were made to hit him and they did until he bled from his foot.. He said then:
“O Allah, I do not mind the hurt I have received as long as you are not angry with me, but Your clemency will be of more relief to men."
Who are you in comparison to the Prophet when he said:“O Allah, to you I complain of my weakness, as well as my helplessness and humiliation amongst the people. O Lord of the vulnerable ones: to whom do you turn me? to a friend who frowns at me? Or to an enemy whom you gave authority over me? I do not care unless you are angry with me I do not care about what has happened, and You can reproach me until You are, but Your clemency will be of more relief to me”
This supplication is suitable for every Muslim now. Because what the Muslims are currently suffering is unbearable. On the scale of things they are now in the bottom. The whole world is accusing them of terrorism, ignorance and backwardness. The world is agreeable to abuse them, to make them poor, to keep them ignorant and to humiliate them. The world is agreeable to spoil their lives and to annihilate them.The supplication of the Prophet which he said in Taif is suitable for every Muslim now. At that time Allah wanted to enable the Prophet of his people so He sent the Angel of the Mountains to him who then asked:
“If you wish I will bring down the two mountains over them. The Prophet (pbuh) said: I would rather see their offspring worship Allah without a partner”
He did not take revenge against them but said:"I would rather see their offspring worship Allah without a partner”
He did not abandon them. Instead he supplicated to Allah for them without them knowing. He asked Allah that they may have good offspring who may worship Him alone.Then came Al-Isra’ and Mi’raj. Allah said:
“Glorified (and Exalted) is He (Allah) Who took His slave (Muhammad,(pbuh) for a journey by night from Al-Masjid Al-Haram (at Makkah) to Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa (in Jerusalem), the neiborhood whereof WE have blessed, in order that We might show him (Muhammad, pbuh) of Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, lessons, signs, etc.) Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer.”
What does this remind us of in the Quran? It reminds us of Allah’s words:“He is surly Able to do all things”
Because He removed him from Makkah to Jerusalem, then onto Sidrat-ul-Muntaha [lote-tree of the utmost boundary (beyond which none can pass)], in the high heavens, means that “Allah is Able to do anything”, but the Ayah was not like that. Instead Allah said:" Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer”
O Muhammad We have heard your supplication in Tai’f, We heard your invocation. We heard that you said:” ? I do not care unless you are angry with me, I seek Your pleasure till You are satisfied. “We heard your supplication in Tai’f, and that is the honor We give you. You are the master among all Prophets and Messengers.What is important to consider is the end results:
Therefore dear brother, every test that comes a believer’s way shall be followed by a reward from Allah. And every hardship that comes a believer’s way shall be followed by him coming closer to Allah.“So, do not become weak (against your enemy), nor be sad, and you will be superior (in victory)if you are indeed (true) believers.”
What really matters is the end result. Where are those strong rulers of the tribe of Quraish who lived during the time of the Prophet? Those elite, wealthy and strong men who used all types of harassment against the companions of the Prophet. Where are they now? They are in the dump of history. When someone mentions the name of Abu Jahl, do you say:”may Allah be pleased with him?” NO! You say: may Allah curse him and destroy him. But when you hear the name of Abu Bakr or Omar you say:” May Allah be pleased with him” because they supported the truth. Life is like that. Be with the truth. It is better to be a tail to the followers of the truth than to be the leader of the followers of falsehood. Followers of the truth have no tails. But this is an expression that people use nowadays.“The believers are nothing else than brother”
Bilal was a black slave. His master said to Abu Bakr Ak-Siddique: I swear that if you offer one dirham that I would sell him to you. Al-Siddique answered: I swear that if you asked for a thousand dirhams that I would pay it to you.He bought him and went with him arm in arm saying: truly this is my brother. Whenever Al-Siddique was mentioned the companions used to say: He is our master and he freed our master, meaning Bilal. This is Islam that knows no social discrimination.
Dear brother: The Prophet was hurt in Tai’f. He is the example to all those who call for Islam after him until the Day of Judgment.
Ai’shah, the first lady, the chaste and pure one was accused in the most important sacred thing to a woman. Why was she accused? So that she becomes an example till the Day of Judgment to all accused believing women who are innocent and pure. Allah the Almighty has made the companions as good examples for us to follow.
Stories of the Prophets: Examples and Laws:
Who are these stories for? For the Prophets? They have already died. Why does Allah the Almighty:“He cried through the darkness (saying):None has the right to be worshiped but You (O Allah). Glorified (and Exalted) are You. Truly, I have been of the wrongdoers.”
1. Story of prophet Younus (Jonah)
When prophet Younus found himself inside the belly of a whale. We are not talking about high prices, or that we have a problem, or that the economy is not doing well. Do any of these problems equal to finding yourself inside the belly of a whale in the depth of the sea? Is there a bigger disaster than that? A whale’s normal meal is made of four tons. You may equal to one mouthful. A whale feeds its young 300 kilograms three times a day. Almost one ton of milk per day. He opens his mouth to collect four tons between Duhur and Asr. A noble Prophet finds himself inside the belly of a whale then:“He cried through the darkness (saying):None has the right to be worshiped but You (O Allah). Glorified (and Exalted) are You. Truly, I have been of the wrongdoers.”
“So, We answered his call, and delivered him from the distress.”
This story is finished and became a law:“ And thus We do deliver the believers”
In any place and at any time and for any danger, “Thus We do deliver the believers”. Who is this story for? For us.“The companions of Moses said:”We are sure to be overtaken”
2. The story of prophet Musa (Moses):
According to earthly laws, considering Pharoah’s strength and might, with his weapons and all his false claims to be god, he follows a noble Prophet and a small number of sons of Israel. Was there any hope of survival? Until they arrived the seashore. The sea was ahead of them and Pharoah behind them. No hope. Hope was nil:“The companions of Moses said:”We are sure to be overtaken”.
Moses said:”Nay, verily with me is my Lord. He will guide me”
Allah Almighty is able to do anything.“So, do not become weak (against your enemy), nor be sad, and you will be superior (in victory) if you are indeed (true) believers.”
Dear brother: therefore, The stories of the Prophets is also intended to make the believers steadfast.3. The story of prphet Yousef (Joseph):
Prophet Yousef said:“I seek refuge in Allah, Truly, he (your husband) is my master. He made my living in a great comfort”
He made him the ruler of Egypt. The stories of all Prophets are lessons for us.By the way: All of the above stories have been dealt with in the Quran from different angles, each for a different purpose. When you collect all that was mentioned about Prophet Moses for example you find that it was a comprehensive account, same for Prophet Noah. Except for the story of Prophet Yousef which was dealt with altogether in one Chapter, because its theme was the Oneness of God whereby his brother meant harm for him, they put him in the well where the chances of him dying there were 99%. What happened instead was that he became the ruler of Egypt and they submitted and prostrated to him. He said:
“And he said:”O my father! This is the interpretation of my dream aforetime !My Lord has made it come true!”
“Verily, he who fears Allah with obedience to Him (by abstaining from sins and evil deeds, and by performing righteous good deeds, and is patient”
In Surat Yousef there is one Ayah which represents the theme, pay attention to this Ayah:“And Allah has full power and control over His Affairs, but most of men know not”
You want and I want but Allah Does what He wants. O My Servant, be unto Me as I want so that I be to you as you want. Be to me as I want and do not tell me what is best for you. You want and I want. If you obey what I want from you then I will suffice you what you want. If you do not accept what I want from you then I will tire you in attaining what you want, and then only what I want will be.“The leaders of his people said:”Verily, we see you in plain error”
The leaders of his people said:”Verily, we see you in plain error
1. Who are the leaders?
They are the elite f society, the masters, or those who fill your eyes with reverence. They have an outstanding personality, distinguished appearance, common sense, serenity, and dignity.2. An old accusation: Verily, we see you in plain error
Verily, we see you (O Noah) in plain error. Everything you have said is in error.O my people! There is no error in me
Noah said:
“O my people! There is no error in me, but I am a Messenger from the Lord of the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists)!”
They said: “Verily, we see you in plain error”
1. The reply was: O my people. There is no error in me
He said: O my people.There is no error in me. If someone says to you: do you have bread? And you answered: I swear by Allah that I do not have a single piece of bread. When you deny the part what did you mean from saying that? You meant to deny the whole. He says to you: do you have a loaf? And you say: I do not even have a small piece of bread.“Verily, we see you in plain error. He (Noah) said: O my people, There is no error in me”
Not one single error. I receive revelation from heavens. These are the words of God.2. The Prophet receives heavenly revelation: “I am but a Messenger from the Lord of all that exists”
Enemies of the Muslims cunningly try to delude us into believing that Mohammaad is a genius, a great social reformer, and a unique kind of a person. We say: No! He is a prophet who received Divine revelation. The Prophet (pbuh) is not considered in the Muslim society as a genious, or as a social reformer. He is the Prophet of this nation. He receives revelation from heaven. Thus Islam is not what the enemies of Islam understand it to be. Islam is not a heritage. Islam is the revelation from heavens. Revelation is not from humans.
The proof: When A’isha (may Allah be pleased with her) was accused. Had the revelation been from the Prophet, a verse regarding her acquittal would have come right away. Instead the accusation remained with neither proof nor acquittal for forty days. This is to teach us that the revelation is independent from the Prophet and that he can neither stop it or make it happen.
Therefore:’ I am but a Messenger from the Lord of all that exists”.
This great Lord that teaches you and takes care of you. Who gives you air, water, food and drink and all that you need of minerals. “I am but a Messenger from the Lord of all that exists”.
“I convey to you the Messages of my Lord and give sincere advice to you. And I know from Allah what you know not”
I (Uballighukum) convey to you the Messages of my Lord.
1. The meaning of the Arabic word “Uballighukum” which means “I convey to you”
“Balagha” is the original verb. It means you travel from Damascus to Aleppo and you actually, completely and clearly arrived there. When we stand in front of the Prophet’s grave what do we say? We say: I bear witness that you “Ballaghta” clearly and completely delivered the Message.2. I convey to you the Messages of my Lord
Why was it mentioned in the plural? He did not say:”I convey to you the Message of my Lord”. This is a reference to the fact that all Messages from Allah are indeed one. In other words I convey to you a Message which has been preceded by other Messages. Thus, the Quran also says:”We make no distinction between one and another of His Messengers”
“And We did not send any Messenger before you (O Muhammad) but We revealed to him (saying): La ilaha illa Ana (None has the right to be worshipped but I (Allah), so Worship Me (Alone and none else)”.
The essence of all the Prophets’ message is one, and can be summarized in a few words:
“La ilaha illa Ana (None has the right to be worshipped but I (Allah), so Worship Me (Alone and none else)”.
The end result of knowledge is “Tawheed”i.e. the knowledge of the Oneness of Allah. (Monotheism) And the end result of all actions is “Ibadah” i.e. worship of Allah.3. and give sincere advice to you.
“I (Uballighukum) convey to you the Messages of my Lord and give sincere advice to you.”
I give you sincere advice in everything in your life,
I swear to you that I am not exaggerating. He who thinks that Islam is only fasting, praying, Haj and zakah is delusional. Islam starts from the marriage bed and ends with international relations. It is a complete system. When Muslims thought of it as only worship rituals they ended up where they are today. Islam is not only in the mosque. It is in your home, in what you earn, and how you spend. It is in your relationship with women, in your outings, in your joyous and sad occasions, in your travels, and in everything you do. Islam is a complete way of life.
“I convey to you the Messages of my Lord and give sincere advice to you.And I know from Allah what you know not”
4. And I know from Allah what you know not
One more time I use the following example:
If a child says to you after Eid: I have a great amount of money, you might estimate that he has 200 Lira. On the other hand if a high ranking official in the Pentagon told you: We have budgeted a great sum of money for the war in Iraq, you might estimate that it was $200 billion. When the King of Kings says to you:
“And He taught you that which you knew not. And Ever Great is the Grace of Allah to you (O Muhammad).”
From 200 Lira to $200 billion! When The Creator of the heavens and the earth says:
“And He taught you that which you knew not. And Ever Great is the Grace of Allah to you (O Muhammad).”
It means that the greatest favor upon man is to know Allah almighty.Son of Adam: seek me and you shall find me. Once you find me then you will have found everything. If you do not find me then you will have missed everything. And I am more dear to you than everything.
The status of knowledge commands the highest of all:
On an elevated position at an old secondary school in Damascus the following phrase has been written:” Knowledge has the highest status of all”. Allah classifies knowledge to have of the highest status. He says:“Are those who know equal to those who know not?”
Allah also says:“Allah will exalt in degree those of you who believe, and those who have been granted knowledge”
Allah also says:
“For all there will be degrees (or ranks) according to what they did. And your Lord is not unaware of what they do”
The Quran has recognized only two values: The value of knowledge and that of work. Quran did not pay attention to other values, such as good looks, intelligence, wealth, strength. These are values which The Quran ignored.
The Prophet (pbuh) said:
"There may be a man so shaggy and dirty, pushed around by sh3er, yet when he asks Allah, Allah will not let him down and He would answer his call”
“When the Event (i.e. Day of Resurrection) befalls. And there can be no denial of its befalling. Bringing low (some – those who will enter Hell) exalting (sh3er – those who will enter Paradise)”
Those who enjoyed a very high status on earth may be in the very bottom on that Day. On the other hand those who were in the bottom according to the ladder of social status on earth, such as a simple employee, but who were on the straight path, you may find them in very high status on that Day.: “Bringing low (some – those who will enter Hell) exalting (sh3er – those who will enter Paradise)”
Just like a ferris wheel. Some seats are at times on top then they become in the bottom. Life is like that.
Therefore, The Prophet (pbuh) said:
"Seek highness from Allah."
“I convey to you the Messages of my Lord and give sincere advice to you.And I know from Allah what you know not”
Allah Almighty in other Suras says:
“He (Allah) has ordained for you the same religion (Islamic Monotheism) which He ordained For Nuh (Noah), and that which We revealed to you (O Muhammad)”
Religion is one, but laws are many. Laws change according to the times, development and supporters.
