The tale of a greedy

Lesson # 949 from the Noble Quran

The tale of a greedy

Surah ‘A’-RAAF (The Heights) – Chapter – 7)

 Stage – 2, Verse – 175 of 206, Section – 22 of 24 (Part  - 9)

                                                                               

                          

BisMIllaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim    

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

                                                         

And recite unto them the tale of him to whom We gave Our Revelations, but he sloughed them off, so Satan overtook him and he became of those who are led astray.

Wat-lu  ‘alay-him  naba-‘allaziii  ‘aatay-Naahu  ‘AayaatiNaa  fan-salakha  minhaa  fa-‘at-ba-‘ahush-Shaytaanu  fakaana  minal-gaawiin.

                                               

Lesson

                                                       

In the previous verses, the entire human beings have been reminded that every individual is responsible to know Allah Almighty. He should not consider his Lord to any other, being entangled in imitation for anyone else, but should believe that his Lord is God Almighty only.

If he has not stained his soul by imitating the people, then there is no reason of his denial from admitting after knowing Allah Almighty that He is his Lord. His soul has accepted before his coming in this world in front of Allah Almighty that “You are my Lord”. Now in this verse, condition of those people is being described who forget everything being entangled in the greed of casual benefits of this world, and begin to consider their guardian, patron and a giver to any individual or thing. They hear and see the Revelations of God Almighty, examine His Tokens continuously but disregard them totally.

It is commanded: O Messenger (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him)! Recite unto all of them; the tale of that individual whom We gave Our Revelations, from which, he knew clearly that everything is in the obedience of Allah Almighty. But when the time of trial came, he could not perform according to his knowledge and opposed to the Revelations. He became blind; being entangled in the greed of the world. Satan is on the look out for such occasions. He pursued him closely in spite of everything and brought him nowhere by seducing. Consequently, his name was deleted from the list of those who are righteous and was written in the list of those who went astray and perverse.

In this regard, the Commentators differ that who was that person? Maximum of them have told that his name was Bal-‘am bin Baa-‘uur. This man was living during the period of Prophet Moses (peace be upon Him). He was a great devout person and an adorer of God Almighty. His supplication was accepted immediately. He knew well-efficiently that Moses (peace be upon Him) was a Messenger of Allah Almighty. Even then, the enemies of Moses (peace be upon Him) prepared him by giving many rarities that he should imprecate for Moses (peace be upon Him). And he was ready due to the greed of wealth and riches.

But it is clear that we have no concern with the name of that individual. Those signs which have been described, were found in many earlier people also. And today too, there is no deficiency of the people like him, who choose intentionally the wrong way and destroy their Hereafter being entangled in the greed of worldly goods. We should take a warning from such kind of people and hold the Straight Path fast by spurning the avarice and desire.  

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English by Muhammad Sharif)

God details the Revelations, haply we may return

Lesson # 948 from the Noble Quran

God details the Revelations, haply we may return

Surah ‘A’-RAAF (The Heights) – Chapter – 7)

 Stage – 2, Verses – 173 & 174 of 206, Section – 22 of 24 (Part  - 9)

                                                                            

                             

BisMIllaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim    

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

                                                           

173.  Or lest ye should say: (It is) only (that) our fathers ascribed partners to Allah of old and we were (their) seed after them. Will Thou destroy us on account of that which those who follow falsehood did? 174.  And thus We detail the Revelations that haply they may return.

173.  ‘Aw  taquuluuu  ‘innamaaa  ‘ashraka  ‘aabaaa-‘unaa  min-  qablu  wa  kunnaa  zurriyyatam-mim-  ba’-di-him.  ‘Afatuh-likunaa  bimaa  fa-‘alal-mubtiluun. 174.  Wa  kazaa-lika  Nufassilul-  ‘Aayaati  wa  la-‘allahum  yar-ji-‘uun.

                                               

Lesson

                                                       

It was described in the previous verse that (God says): “We made everyone of the Children of Adam testify of themselves before creating them that I am their Lord”, and now by means of this Qur’an, they have been being reminded their covenant, so that, on the Day of Resurrection, they should not bring forward any excuse that neither any covenant is in their remembrance and nor any Individual reminded them.

Now this excuse of any human being will not be acceptable because by means of this verse, everyone is being reminded clearly about the first covenant made by all souls. There is one more excuse which can be made by every individual i.e. “Our fathers taught us plurality with their practices. We were their children, so we could learn only that which they taught. What is our fault? Nab them if You desire to nab, because they made the wrong way current. Why should we pay the penalty of their error?” This verse is explaining the same matter.

It is commanded: We have said clearly that every human being has made the covenant individually that “We will accept You (God) only as our Lord. Therefore, excuse of any individual that “The Plurality was made current by our fore-fathers, we were their followers only” is not pardonable.

It has been commanded in the verse after this: We set the same way that We detail the True Words in the verses of Holy Qur’an, so that every human being should meditate into them, and if one is going astray, should return towards the Straight Path. It appeared from this lesson that ascribing plurality by imitating others, is also punishable as it is committed by oneself, because every individual is responsible in the matter of religion, that one should inquire at one’s own without thinking about one’s relatives, members of family, friends, tribe or nation, and one should believe that “God is my Lord, none is His partner or co-sharer”.

In Arab, there were two kinds of people, the People of the Scripture and the polytheists. They both were not ready to leave the customized religions of their fore-fathers, tribes and dynasties separately. They were caused to hear this Message that they both were treacherous and faithless to their word. Every human being should learn from it that Islam, which teaches, “God is One”, is the actual and natural religion of the mankind.  

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English by Muhammad Sharif)

Yea, verily, God is our Lord

Lesson # 947 from the Noble Quran

Yea, verily, God is our Lord

Surah ‘A’-RAAF (The Heights) – Chapter – 7)

 Stage – 2, Verse – 172 of 206, Section – 22 of 24 (Part  - 9)

                                                                          

                               

BisMIllaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim    

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

                                                           

And (remember) when thy Lord brought forth from the Children of Adam, from their reins, their seed, and made them testify of themselves, (saying): Am I not your Lord? They said: Yea, verily, we testify. (That was) lest ye should say at the Day of Resurrection, lo! of this we were unaware-

Wa  ‘iz  ‘akhaza  Rabbuka  mim-Baniii- ‘Aadama  min-  zuhuu-rihim  zur-riyyatahum  wa  ‘ash-hadahum  ‘alaaa  ‘anfu-sihim.  “’A-lastu  bi-Rabbikum”.  Qaaluu  “Balaa;  shahidnaa”.  ‘An-  taquuluu  Yawmal-Qiyaamati  ‘innaa  kunnaa  ‘an  haazaa  gaa-filiin.

                                               

Lesson

                                                       

Meditating in the subject of this verse it becomes clear that human being does not need any bigger, logical and philosophical arguments for knowing his Lord. With a little attention, he understands that “Lord of mine and everything is there Someone else” Who is Exalted and Higher than these outward things of the universe. Of the outward things, even the greatest thing is able to do nothing at its own, but is bound up in rules and laws, from which it appears that its Lord is there Anyone else Who sets rules and works for it also and Who cannot be seen here. But His characteristics and signs are so clear that no problem happens in accepting Him. That is why the ignorant, the immature and even the illiterate understand with just hints that “My Lord is the Greatest of all appearances”. The reason for it is known from this verse.

It is commanded: O Our Messenger (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him): Thy Lord has taken covenant from every human being, the entire fathers and those all children who had to be borne, before their birth, by collecting their souls and asking from every soul separately that they should reply God’s question: Am I not your Lord? Those entire souls testified: Yes, verily, You are our Lord. But after birth, they forget their covenant being entangled in apparent things. Sometimes they tell about anyone that; that is our lord and sometimes they begin to say: that thing is our lord. Therefore, We remind to every humankind by sending this Qur’an through Our Messenger (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him): Behold! You have accepted that I am your Lord, so you should remember it.

Holy Qur’an has been exclaiming that every human being can know easily his actual Lord because his soul has testified before birth that He is One Lord, and this covenant has been reminded by God’s Messengers (peace be upon Them) and His Scriptures again and again in the world.

“’A-lastu  bi-Rabbikum”

It has been known that a covenant was made by the Jews that they will obey God Almighty and His Commands, and they have been reminded about that covenant again by means of Holy Qur’an, and they have been provided one more opportunity that which covenant, they had made with God Almighty and broken, but such covenant is still standing in the Court of Allah Almighty. And if they get ready, even now, to fulfill their portion of the covenant, Allah Almighty will fulfill according to the custom, His portion of that covenant.

That covenant demands from them that they should enter into Islam entirely. After that, Allah Almighty will bestow them the same dignity which was requested by Prophet Moses (peace be upon Him) for them, and that request was approved with the condition that they should obey the Commands of God’s last Messenger, Muhammad (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him).

On the basis of that covenant, The Jews must come in the circle of Islam just like that; every mankind must accept Islam, but they have been able to be arrested for repeatedly breaking the covenant. They broke three covenants:

·       The covenant of the world of spirits

·       The covenant that they will obey the Prophets and Messengers (peace be upon Them)

·       The covenant that they will embrace Islam  

Actually the mankind is name of the soul, a body has been provided to whom to stay for some time. Because the body or the self is a thing of this world, so it pulls him toward the world. But the soul belongs to the heaven and it has the acquaintance of the Lord naturally. The soul turns toward His Lord if the body is clear from its wishes. Therefore conflict between body and soul is continued. And often the humankind becomes oblivious from the requirements of the soul being trapped in the thought of bodily comforts. For removing this negligence, Allah Almighty sent His Prophets and Messengers (peace be upon Them), they told the human being that the body is a casual thing but the soul will remain for ever.

Therefore, as possible, the mankind should draw his attention towards the necessities of his body only to the extent of need so that it may have so much strength that it may obey the Commands of God Almighty and His Messenger (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) and let the soul set her deep relationship with God Almighty in this life, and be careful, lest it take the body anywhere at its sole discretion like a wicked horse.

When the soul is separated from worldly matters, its internal eye begins to open. It begins to feel: before coming in the body, I made covenant in front of Allah Almighty that: You are my Lord. It is the sign of its prosperity. It will be then possible for the soul to feel about its actual condition; when the mankind pass his leisure time in learning the religion and morality instead of passing whole time in earning worldly wealth and honor. And he should bear happily that loss or injury, which he suffered during his learning period.

The evils were being brought to fore

Lesson # 946 from the Noble Quran

The evils were being brought to fore

Surah ‘A’-RAAF (The Heights) – Chapter – 7)

 Stage – 2, Verse – 171 of 206, Section – 21 of 24 (Part  - 9)

                                                                             

                           

BisMIllaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim    

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

                                                                                                  

Lesson

                                                       

Holy Qur’an has put before us the circumstances of the former people, not as successive history or complete stories, but at different occasions, those circumstances have been described again and again in different ways; from which, we may learn something and any new useful matter may be known for dwelling. Till this time, the circumstances of Prophet Adam, Noah, Hud, Salih, Lot, Shoaib and Moses (peace be upon Them) have been explained in this Chapter, and in every incident; many useful things exist for us. Particularly, we should learn much from the circumstance of the Children of Israel. These people were present at that time; when foundation of human civilization was being laid in that period. They were being taught “how to live straightforward and peacefully, and those evils were being brought to fore, in which germs of human destruction were hidden.

There is no doubt in this matter that if the Children of Israel had obeyed the Commands of Torah with true heart, then this dangerous map of the world would not have existed, which, we have been looking now. Entire responsibility of putting the human being on wrong path is on the same nation, who is called Israelite, the Children of Israel or the Jews. The Holy Qur’an has placed their necessary circumstances in front of us opened. First aim from it is to induce the Jews unto a sense of their responsibility, along with it, it is a stress for us that if they do not accept, you should abstain absolutely from their inhumanity acts, so that; you may produce for the mankind; correct way of living in this world, and may show yourselves as being an example of it. And which responsibility was given to the Jews but they could not perform, now you should complete it and prove yourself worthy of the title of “A Good Nation”.

In the previous lessons, attention was drawn to the invaluable benefits from time to time, which we can acquire from the circumstances of the Children of Israel. At this stage, while the circumstances of the Children of Israel have ended in this Chapter, we should pay attention to those particular matters due to which, the Children of Israel were deprived of being leaders of the mankind. And presently, they have no work to do in the world save spreading the temptation and destruction of the humanity:

They considered that only the life of this world is everything. And despite losing the power of sovereignty, they remained in this effort that helter shelter, they should obtain the mastery and honor over others. The result of which was nothing except that they spread confusion and disorder.

Collecting the wealth and property and hoarding it with themselves had become their habit, and they engaged in the effort of making and keeping other people as their necessitous. It was the result that two permanent classes were in existence into them i.e. the rich and the poor. Those two classes will remain existent always and the rich will press the poor.

Nowadays, which tension has been spreading among the capitalists and the laborers in the world and both classes have been trying to choke each other, and have been frightening to one another with atomic weapons, these entire are the results of the Jewish mindset. 

All these things are necessary for us to avoid. We should not be involved in mutual antagonism like the Jews, but should sow the seed of co-operation, alliance and unity among ourselves; keeping the Islamic principle of equation and human brotherhood in front of us.

Holy Qur’an does not tell the history of the nations but describes the science of the history that “What can be learnt from the life of the nations”?

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English by Muhammad Sharif)

Ward off evil

Lesson # 945 from the Noble Quran

Ward off evil

Surah ‘A’-RAAF (The Heights) – Chapter – 7)

 Stage – 2, Verse – 171 of 206, Section – 21 of 24 (Part  - 9)

                                                                           

                              

BisMIllaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim    

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

And when We shook the Mount above them, as if it were a covering, and they supposed that it was going to fall upon them (and We said): Hold fast that which We have given you, and remember that which is therein, that ye may ward off (evil).

Wa  ‘iz  nataqNal-Jabala  faw-qahum  ka-‘annahuu  zullatunw-wa  zannuuu  ‘annahuu  waaqi-‘um-bihim.  Khuzuu  maaa  ‘aatay-Naakum-  bi-quwwatinw-waz-kuruu  maa  fiihi  la-‘allakum  tattaquun.

                                                                                                  

Lesson

                                                       

NataqNaa – (We shook, elevated), it is past tense, which has been derived from nataqun. Nataqun means “to raise, to lift, to pick up.

Zullatun – (a thatched roof, a sunshade, a shadow), this word is from zillun, which means “a shadow, or to afford shelter, to cast a shadow”.  Zullatun is the thing which overshadows above the head as any roof, shelter etc.

It was explained in the previous verse that the Children of Israel were commanded in Torah that they should act upon those commands which have been written in it and transfer them unto other people “as it is” correctly without any kind of change. They should not make any change in its commands for a little worldly benefit. The abode of the Hereafter is ever so much better than the world and that will be acquired by those people only who are abstinent. God Almighty says: We promise that We shall give full reward to those who will adhere to the Commands of the Scripture and establish worship wholeheartedly, and nothing shall be reduced from their reward.

It has been described about the matter also that they had made covenant that they will perform in accordance with all commands, and this covenant was taken from them particularly, so that; they should remember it always and would not have any pretense of forgetting.

It is commanded: When any special arrangement would have been managed for getting accepted from someone, then there is no reason of forgetting it. They should have in their mind that they disputed instead of accepting the obedience fairly. It was the reason that Allah Almighty shook the Mount above their heads, as if it were covering, and they supposed that it was going to fall upon their head.

They began to tremble with fear and were confident that the Mount would fell upon them if they did not accept at the spot and they would have been pressed under the Mount. In this condition, they were ordered: Hold fast that which Commands have been mentioned in this Scripture (Torah) and bear in mind every time that it was the only form of their being abstemious. If they did not do so, then they would live nowhere.

This terrible scene of the Mount was produced for the purpose that they should remember it forever and that the covenant would come in their mind also which they made, because with which happening; any uncommon incident is paired, that cannot be forgotten easily.

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English by Muhammad Sharif)

The abode of the Hereafter

Lesson # 944 from the Noble Quran

The abode of the Hereafter

Surah ‘A’-RAAF (The Heights) – Chapter – 7)

 Stage – 2, Verses – 169b & 170 of 206, Section – 21 of 24 (Part  - 9)

                                                                             

                           

BisMIllaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim    

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

169b.  Hath not the Covenant of the Scripture been taken on their behalf that they should not speak aught concerning Allah save the truth? And they have studied that which is therein. And the abode of the Hereafter is better, for those who ward off (evil). Have ye then no sense? 170.  And as for those who adhere to the Scripture, and establish worship. Lo! We squander not the reward of reformers.

169b.  ‘Alam  Yu’-khaz  ‘alay-him-Miisaaqul-Kitaabi  ‘allaa  yaquuluu  ‘alAllaahi  ‘illal-haqqa  wa  darasuu  maa  fiih.  Wad-Daarul-‘Aakhiratu  khayrul-lillaziina  yattaquun.  ‘Afa-laa  ta’-qiluun. 170.  Walla-ziina  yumassikuuna  bil-Kitaabi  wa  ‘aqaa-mus-Salaah.  ‘Innaa  laa  Nuzii-‘u  ‘ajral-Mus-lihiin.

                                                                                                  

Lesson

                                                       

Miisaaqul-Kitaabi – (the Covenant of the Scripture, the Instructions mentioned in the Holy Book), the aim from Kitaabi is Holy Torah. Miisaaq – such Command, which is affirmed by the listener that he accepts it.

Darasuu – (they studied), it is a past tense which has been derived from dars. Dars means “to learn, to acquire, to study, to read”. The word tadriis has been derived from it also, which means to teach, to instruct, to discipline”. A word “Mudarras” is from its origin too; which means “the teacher, the school-master. Madrasah is also from dars, that is to say; a place of education i.e. School, College, Academy, Seminary etc.

It was described earlier that the true Words of Allah Almighty and His clear Commandments are entirely changed by the Children of Israel as and when they see any slightest worldly benefit. If any individual criticizes them, they put it aside fearlessly and say: We understand the Scripture of God. If any other desires to understand, he should approach us. We cannot commit any mistake. It is the consequence of this kind of thoughts that every individual considers: I have more knowledge than others. And he wants to assert his own point of view.

It is commanded that in Torah, they were instructed and they made a covenant that they will teach the people only those matters by the name of Allah Almighty, which really; He has taught and caused to understand them. They will never produce any self-invented before the people by saying: It is command of Allah Almighty.

These people have studied the Scripture and understood its commands. Now changing the Commands of Allah Almighty intentionally is just like breaking their covenant. Those people who fear God Almighty, they should bear in mind more about the Day of Resurrection. The Hereafter is better than this world. At last, have they been dull entirely of understanding? Allah Almighty says: We shall not squander the reward of those who adhere to the Scripture and establish worship regularly because they are righteous people.   

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English by Muhammad Sharif)