A PERFECT RELIGION

Thursday, 17 October 2013

Ransom Of Not Fasting

LESSON # 189 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Ransom Of Not Fasting

Verse –184b of 286, Section – 23 (Part - 2)

And for those who can afford it there is a ransom; the feeding of a man in need. But whose doeth good of his own accord, it is better for him:

Wa ‘alal-laziina yutii-quunahuu fidya-tun ta-‘aamu miskiin. Faman- tatawwa-‘a khay-ran fahuwa khayrul-lah.

Lesson

Yutii-quunahuu aims the persons who need to spend extraordinary strength for keeping the Fast and to bear the labour of Fast and it becomes very difficult for them, for example the old people, the pregnant and the mothers for sucking their young, weak and feeble persons etc.

Man- tatawwa-‘a – (whose person does good of his own accord, willingly)

It has been discussed about concession in this part of the verse for those people who have to bear much difficulty and trouble for keeping the Fast. They have been commanded that due to leaving the fasting they should use to feed bellyful any beggar or necessitious person two times daily and the standard of the food should be the same as usually remains their own.

Then it is said that actual ransom of leaving one fast is to feed two times to any poor person for one day. But if any person increases the quantity of the food that is to say if he feeds more than one poor person or keeps the standard up of the food to higher level, then it is much better for him. He will be rewarded surely for this goodness and kindness. His next world will also be dressed.

Islam emphasizes for alms, charity, liberality, kind behavior and good conduct every time, every where and in every condition but during the month of Ramadaan its importance increases. So before or on ending of this month the Alms “Fitr” is paid. That is also an important ring of this chain so that none of the Muslims would remain hungry.

The Messenger of God Almighty Muhammad (may grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) was very much liberal and generous. But it has been known from His (may grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) Sayings that He (may grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) used to become too much generous and liberal likewise fast dust storm.

We should follow the foot-prints of our Great Leader and Guide the Last Prophet of God Almighty (may grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) and take part in liberality and generosity surpassing one another. Perception of hunger of the hungry and poverty of the poor will increase if someone keeps the fast. So it is necessary that this perception should remain alive during prosperity and independence, and the poor deserving persons should not be forfeited from the help and support of the prosperous people.

Transliteration in Roman Script & English Translation of Holy Qur’an written by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazar, Lahore and Paraphrase collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated by Muhammad Sharif) (http://hltsharif.blogspot.com) (muhammadsharif276@gmail.com)

Blessings Of The Fast

LESSON # 190 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Blessings Of The Fast

Verse –184c of 286, Section – 23 (Part - 2)

And that ye fast is better for you if ye did but know.

Wa ‘an- tasuumuu khayrul-lakum ‘inkuntum ta’-lamuun.

Lesson

In this part of the verse importance, good and blessings of the Fasting have been discussed and told that although any reasonable excuse may compel the human being to postpone keeping the fast or pay the ransom, even then the advantages and blessings for keeping the fast which may be gotten only during the month of Ramadaan when someone will keep the fast. Those benefits can not be achieved from expiation or to be kept the postponed fast (kafaarah or Qazaa’). So it has been admonished that if you understand the virtues, advisability and philosophy of the fast then it is better for you to keep the fast and do not try un-necessarily to pick up the advantage from permission of the ransom etc.

Which prescription of the fast, its philosophy and necessary commands have been explained in this regard by the God Almighty in the previous verses of this Section, their summary is being presented again here as under:

1. Fasting is prescribed for every adult Muslim male and female as it is one pillar of Islam out of five pillars. Carelessness, laziness and refusal from it are very big sins. The religious lawyers have fixed infidelity to the refusal from the prescription of the fast.

2. The fast was also prescribed for the previous nations; the Islam has not invented any new thing.

3. Purpose of the fast is to grow purity of the soul, abstinence, fear of God Almighty and devotion in the mankind.

4. Number of the fasts is fixed that is to say during the month of Ramadaan which some times become of 29 days and sometimes 30 days.

5. If any person is sick in the month of Ramadaan and not able to complete the numbers of fasts then that person is permitted to keep the remaining fasts whenever he becomes healthy.

6. If any person is on journey during these days, he also can complete his fasts during other days except Ramadaan whenever he is not in journey.

7. Quantity of the Ransom is fixed equal to feed a beggar for two times. However if any person keeps the fast being entitled these concessions and takes part in the righteousness with his pleasure, that is also much better for him.

The narration of the fasting and its questions has not yet completed. It will remain in flow in this Section. May Allah Almighty bestow us the correct knowledge and deeds, understanding and admonishing.

Excellence Of The Month Of Ramadan

LESSON # 191 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Excellence Of The Month Of Ramadan

Verse –185a of 286, Section – 23 (Part - 2)

The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur-‘an,

Shahru Ramazaa-nallazii ‘unzila fiihil-Qur-‘aanu-

Lesson

Ramazaa-n (the month of Ramadan) this word has come out from the word Ramaza, literal meaning of which is severity of sunlight and heat. It is ninth month of Islamic Calendar. Islamic year runs with lunar system instead of solar system and the lunar months use to exchange during different seasons. So the month of Ramadan also comes in the different seasons and the person who keeps the fast enjoys each type of season.

Allah Almighty has explained in this verse specialty and the cause of keeping fasts during the month of Ramadan, that is revelation of Holy Qur’an during this Holy Month.

The Holy Qur’an was revealed in reality by degrees and completed in between twenty three years. But its revelation had begun during this Holy Month of Ramadan. At first primary five verses of Surah ALAQ-96 (The Colt) were revealed upon the Last Messenger of God Almighty Muhammad (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) in the Cave of Hiraa in this month. It has also come in the Sayings of the Prophet (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) that the entire Holy Qur’an was revealed from the Tablet of the Safe (Laow-hi Mahfuuz) on the Sky of this world during the Night of Power (Lay-la tul Qadr) of the month of Ramadan, and then used to reveal by degrees on the Messenger of Allah Almighty (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him). This Night of Power (Lay-la tul Qadr) is a sacred and blessed night during the month of Ramadan. In the

Speech of Allah Almighty it has been told about this night that it is the most excellent night to one thousand months.

It has also come in the Sayings that as much as the Holy Qur’an were revealed in the year, that were caused to hear by the Angel Gabriel (peace be upon Him) to the Messenger of God Almighty (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) during the month of Ramadan. In the last year of the outward life of the Prophet (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) the Angel of God Almighty caused to hear Complete Speech of Allah Almighty and the Messenger of God Almighty (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) listened.

The Speech of Allah Almighty revealed in the month of Ramadan, so the God Almighty prescribed the fasting to establish it’s token in this month. This Speech is The Guide Book for the life of human beings and fasting in the month of Ramadan is source to make the life pure. Those persons are blessed who find this month and keep fasting completely, and making their lives nice they join the group of sobers, God fearing and temperate.

Characteristics Of The Speech Of Allah

LESSON # 192 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Characteristics Of The Speech Of Allah

Verse –185b of 286, Section – 23 (Part - 2)

Guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion (of right and wrong).

Hudal-linnaasi wa bayyinaatim-minal-hudaa wal-furqaan.

Lesson

To clear the excellence of the blessed month of Ramadan Allah Almighty explained in the beginning of this verse that Holy Qur’an, the Last Heavenly Scripture began to reveal upon the Last Messenger of God Almighty (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) in this month. Now three characteristics of the Holy Qur’an have been expressed as under:

1. Hudan (guidance) – the Holy Qur’an is the spring of guidance for the entire human beings. Every person can get to know the straight path to reach the Creator and the sound destination of life only through the Holy Qur’an. Each source of guidance besides the Holy Qur’an will be wrong. Except it every path will be the path of depravity and deviation. Only Holy Qur’an is the Scripture which can guide towards the straight path. In the aggregate to pass the human life successfully the Holy Qur’an provides all those principles and codes regarding its all aspects which signify towards the straight path and real destination. It has been mentioned in this verse Hudal-linnaas (guidance for the whole mankind). For more details of the word ‘guidance’ please study Lesson # 9 Holy Qur’an (STRAIGHT PATH)

2. Bayyinaatim-minal-hudaa – (clear proofs of the guidance) the Holy Qur’an has so explained all the principles and codes of guidance that these have become entirely clear, easy, simple and light and every person can understand them with ease because excellence of the Holy Qur’an is ‘bayyinaat’ (clear proofs). So the principles of the Holy Qur’an are common sense, simple and practicable. Nothing is against the wisdom and no principle is impracticable.

3. Al-furqaan – (the Criterion (separator of right from wrong) it is the third excellence of the Holy Qur’an that the persons who recite this Sacred Scripture, correct decision power grows into them. They become capable to make a distinction between true and false, just and absurd, truth and lie, faith and infidelity, correction and quarrel, obedience and rebellion, worship and refusal. They can distinguish between good and bad. So ‘Al-Furqaan’ (the Criterion (of right and wrong) is also the characteristic of the Holy Qur’an.

The book like this which has these three characteristics, if Her each command is not the Message of life for the human being then what is this? Its each command has been filled with countless auspiciousness, blessings and wisdom.

Would that the Muslims too get themselves understand this Last Message of God Almighty, as well as admonish also to the world. If we are unable to spread the Speech of Allah Almighty in each corner of the world then it would be dishonesty in the Trust.

Prescription Of The Fast

LESSON # 193 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Prescription Of The Fast

Verse –185c of 286, Section – 23 (Part - 2)

And whosoever of you is present, let him fast the month.

Faman- shahida min-kumush-Shahra fal-yasumh.

Lesson

It has been mentioned in this piece of verse that the person who remains alive till the month of Ramadan, he/she must keep the fasting. Concession is only for the sick (patient) and the passenger. Its detail has been discussed earlier and will also be stated again in the last part of this verse. It is ordered owing to the excellences of the month of Ramadan which are being discussed once again as an abstract.

It is the custom in every nation of the world to keep the fast for example on the day of Ashurah (10^th of the first lunar month) the Prophet Moses (peace be upon Him) and His nation got freedom from the cruelty of the Pharaoh. So the fast of that day was begun in the children of

Israel

. The Law of keeping the fast is also present in the Christians. Concept and custom of fasting is available in the Indians and other nations too. Details are different but the reality is present.

Fasting have countless virtues, it puts good effects on the health and spirit, the rich people are well-informed about the poor practically, equation produces between the people who eat bellyful and the people who suffer starving, Spiritual powers develop with it, sensual wishes are controlled, God fearing becomes strong in the mankind, for example if there is season of summer, every living thing feels severe thirst, the cold water has been placed in the house, no body is there to see the Faster, but he/she doesn’t drink the water.

This all is because the respect of the Command of Allah Almighty has settled down in his/her heart. Now no other power can defeat the person and while according to the Order of God Almighty he has made habit to leave the legal, lawful and pure desires during the month of Ramadan through fasting, then he won’t feel difficulty in leaving the illegal, unlawful and bad habits. This is the moral cleanliness of which purpose of fasting is to grow.

It has come in Sayings of the Prophet (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) that if a faster does not leave to tell a lie, absurd talks and useless deeds, then God Almighty does not care for his leaving to eat and drink. Though, the real purpose of fasting is to correct the morality. If the manners are not corrected, then there is no advantage of the fasting. It is the obligation on (us) the Muslims that due to so much virtue and importance of the fasting, we should keep the fasts every year of this month, respect the month of Ramadan and create physical, spiritual and moral characteristics into us, so that the purpose of the revelation of Holy Qur’an is completed, and the month of Ramadan be proved as the real festival and token of the revelation of Holy Qur’an.

Other Intentions Of The Fast

LESSON # 195 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Other Intentions Of The Fast

Verse –185e of 286, Section – 23 (Part - 2)

And (He desireth) that ye should complete the period, and that ye should magnify Allah for having guided you, and that peradventure ye may be thankful.

Wa litukmilul-‘iddata wa litukabbirullaaha ‘alaa maa hadaakum wa la-‘allakum tashkuruun.

Lesson

Great aim of fasting is fear of God (abstinence) as it has been discussed earlier in the verse 83, (Lesson # 187). Now in the last part of this verse other three purposes of the fasting have been mentioned.

litukmilul-‘iddata (you should complete the period) it means that the disabled people may keep the fasts in another time besides the month of Ramadan and complete the calculation of that month. It is the Grace and Kindness of Allah Almighty that if any person couldn’t perform his prescription in time and might not execute the command on due time, then he is given another chance so that he may fulfill the order of God Almighty and could get His pleasure, though the accomplishment of the commands of the Divine is necessary. Advantage may be gained from the facilities but can not be ignored.

Litukabbirullaaha (that you should magnify Allah) purpose is to sing the songs of magnificence and greatness of Allah Almighty acting upon His bestowed Guidelines. It is also Mercy of God Almighty that He has shown us the straight path with His wisdom and knowledge, the person who goes that path remains safe from each calamity. The mankind should try to gain prestige the name and religion of Allah Almighty, remain busy to magnify the religion day and night, and try to get delight of Allah Almighty every time, elevate His name in the East and the West, so that no nation might remain deprived from the guidance.

la-‘allakum tashkuruun (peradventure you may be thankful) third aim of the fast is that we thank God Almighty on His blessings and be grateful to Him for His favours. Meaning of thanking for blessings of Allah Almighty is that we should use those blessings in the determined manner. We should not disdain and be ungrateful for the facilities which have been provided to us by Allah Almighty. Moreover we should use in good and correct manner His given powers, virtues, blessings and abilities.

Tuesday, 15 October 2013

Allah Desires Ease Not Hardship For You

LESSON # 194 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Allah Desires Ease Not Hardship For You

Verse –185d of 286, Section – 23 (Part - 2)

And whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, (let him fast the same) number on other days. Allah desireth for you ease; He desireth not hardship for you;

Wa man- kaana mariizan ‘aw ‘alaa safarin fa- ‘iddatum-min ‘ayyaa-min ‘u-khar. Yuriidullahu biku-mul-yusra wa laa yuriidu bikumul- ‘usr.

Lesson

This fact has been disclosed in this verse of the holy Qur’an that the Natural Religion i.e. Islam is very easy and simple. Islam does not desire severe hardships, arduous labors and impracticable worships. Moreover a lot of capacity and countless facilities have been kept in Islam. Weak pressed persons have been conceded. There is none likewise command in the Divine Law of Islam in which consideration regarding circumstances, age, health, season and other compulsions and difficulties of the human being would not have been kept front.

It was commanded in the previous verse that whosoever out of you is present during the month of Ramadan, let him fast. Perhaps it might be considered by some persons that the entire persons have come under this command and there is no concession for the excusable persons. So now this command has been repeated that the persons who are sick or on journey, they can keep the fasting during any other month instead of the month of Ramadan and can get pleasure of the God Almighty.

It has also known by us from this verse that although apparently the commands of Divine are felt some quantity arduous and difficult but in fact those are for success, promotion and easiness of the straight path, because the God Almighty has no enmity with us that let He order us difficult. But He is our Creator, Worshiped and the Most Beneficent. He keeps regard in each condition for easiness and facility. His each command is for our advisability of life and prosperity.

The orders to which we suppose difficult, in fact those are easy too. We consider them difficult due to our own laziness and comfort. Really we have never heard till to day that either any person has died due to the fasts of Ramadan or somebody has become sick. In spite of this we have seen that the persons have recovered from illness due to keeping the fast, and then what will let you say about the spiritual power.