Course info

UMMA UNIVERSITY
2020/2021
THE BACHELOR OF ARTS IN EDUCATION
ONLINE FACILITATION MATERIAL FOR STUDENTS
ISL 101: INTRODUCTION TO QURAN STUDIES
MAY – AUGUST 2020

INTRODUCTION TO QURAN:
Definition of Quran: Key words
Divine message
Revealed in portions
Period of 23 years

Names of the Quran
Al-Kitab (The book)
Al-Dhikr (The Reminder)
Al – Furqan (The Criterion)
Al-Tanzil (The Revelation)
Al-Noor (The Light)
Al-Huda (The Guidance)
Al-Rahma (The Mercy)
Al-Majid (The Glorious)





QUESTIONS FOR GROUP DISCUSSIONS TO INCULCATE STUDENT CENTRED ENVIRONMENT

Discuss the reasons why Quran was revealed in stages?

Identify the major themes of the Quran?



Why Allah did preserved the Quran and allow his earlier books to be corrupted or changed?




What do you understand the phrase ‘ Authenticity of the Quran?



Describe ways in which Quran was preserved?



Identify main features of the holy Quran












TAFSEER SOORAH AL-MAA`OON (107)
Name of the Surah
Place of revelation
The reason for this revelation
TAFSEER SOORAH AN-NASR (110)
Name of the Surah
Place of revelation
Reason for this revelation
Hadiths concerning this Surah
TAFSEER SOORAH AL- HUMAZAH (104)
Name of the Surah
Place of revelation
The reason for this revelation.










TAFSEER SOORAH AL-MAA`OON (107)
Soorah
The Qur’aan contains 114 sections which are like chapters. Allah refers to them in the Qur’an as surahs.
“If you are in doubt what we have revealed to our servant (Muhammad), bring one chapter (soorah) like it.’’
(Surah al-Baqarah(2):23).
Name of the Surah
The name maaoon literally means a commonly used instrument like a bucket or a pot. However,in this soorah it refers to help or kindness which everyone should be willing to share. It is the very last word which occurs in the soorah. The soorah, however, has a number of other names. It is called soorah Ara’ayta which literally means ‘have you seen’. This name was chosen because the phrase Ara’ayta represents the opening words of the soorah. Another of its names is soorah ad-Deen which literally means ‘an account or explanation for one’s behaviour’.This name is very suitable because the whole of the soorah represents a list of the main signs by which one who disbelieves in the day of judgement may be recognized . The soorah has also been named soorah al- Yateem which literally means ‘The Orphan’. The soorah talks about the orphan in its opening verses.
Places of Revelation
The soorah was taught to the prothet by angel Jibreel while he was n Makkah. It was revealed immediately after soorah at-Takaathur (102) but the prophet later had it placed after soorah Quraysh (106). The reason why the order of this and other soorahs was changed is because the soorahs were originally revealed to solve particular problems which the prophet and his companions were facing. Once the revelation was complete, the soorahs needed rearranging for reading and recitation. Thus, the prophet was guided by Allah to reorder the soorahs as they were recorded and memorized for future generations of Muslims who would never see him, but who would believe in him and memorize Allah’s Book which he brought.
The Reasons for this Revelation
Allah teaches the Believers some very important lessons in this sort soorah. The main lesson is that true belief, which we call Eemaan, must produce good deeds. Likewise, bad deeds are to be taken as clear proof of either a very weak belief or actual disbelief, which we call Kufr. He also teaches us that good deeds which are not a result of true belief,will not be done properly. Since such deeds are only show, they will never be done regularly nor in the form which is recommended. Therefore, if we find ourselves becoming lazy in our duties to Allah, it is a sign for us to know that something is wrong with our faith. We should remember Allaah, ask His forgiveness, and begin to do our duties well.
SOORAH AL- MAA’OON
Have you seen the one who disbelieves in the Account?
Allaah here asks us if we have noticed the way one who does not believe in the Day of judgement acts. Allah is not asking this question for us to answer yes or no.He is, in acts, telling us that we should carefully observe the way such a disbeliever acts. Those people who do not feel that they will eventually have to stand before God and answer for all that they did, will act in certain ways. These ways are like signs. Whoever has them disbelieves in the judgement,no matter how much they say they believe. The believers have to know and recognize these signs in order that they may be able to spot the enemies of Allaah and beware of them. They also have to know these signs to make sure that they are not themselves showing them, because they are the signs of Kufr(disbelief).
That is the one who pushes away the orphan
The first sign of disbelief in the Day of judgement which Allaah has chosen to mention is that of ‘pushing away the orphan’. ‘pushing away the orphan’ means preventing the child who has no father to look after him from receiving what belongs to him.It was the practice among the Arabs of the Prophet’s time to prevent women and children from inheriting, if their husbands or fathers died. One who does not believe that he will have to answer for all that he does in his life, is prepared to cheat even his own relatives out of their rights. If he is made a guardian over an orphan relative, he spends whatever wealth that his relative has or he simply adds it to his own personal wealth.
When his orphan relatives grows up, he then refuses to return the orphan’s wealth. By pointing out this bad practice, Allaah is also advising us to be trustworthy. Whenever something is given tom us to look after,we must make sure that we return it in the same way that we received it. Allaah emphasizes this point throughout the Qura’aan by commanding the Believers to fulfill their trusts.
“O you who believe. Fullfil (all) obligations”
(soorah al- Maa’idah (5): 1)

Nor does he encourage the feeding of the poor.
The second major sign of disbelief in the Day of judgement is that the disbeliever rarely ever gives charity. He is a stingy individual who holds on to his money very tightly. If he spends his wealth, he does so only on himself and on his family. He feels that his wealth is a result of his own hard work, and that the poor have no money because of their laziness.
But, if he were to look around honestly, he would see many who have worked harder than himself and have much less than him. Likewise, he would also se others who have made much less effort than himself, yet they have more than him. In fact, if wealth and success were the direct result of hardwork,the poor people of this world,who work all day, would be the richest.
Wealth is really only a blessing from Allah which He uses to test mankind. The question on the test is: will man be thankful and prove it by being stingy?
In this verse, Allaah teaches the true Believer to be generous and give charity regularly. Islaam has made charity an obligation on those who have more than their basic needs. Zakaah is the tax system in Isaam which takes wealth from the well-to-do and distributes it among the poor. This system not only protects the weaker members to share their blessings with others. It is a part of man’s nature to want to hold on to what is his,so he has to be taught to share.
So, woe to those who pray,
Woe means bad wishes. But why would Allaah make bad wishes on people who pray. Especially when it was He who made salaah (prayer) a must for Muslims, five times per day.
“Set up regular prayers because prayers are compulsory for believers at set times”.
The Prophet also said that Islaam is built on five pillars,the second of which is making regular prayers. Therefore, this verse cannot be properly understood by itself, as its meaning would then be against the basic teaching of the Qur’aan and Islaam. We have tolook at the following verse in order to find out just exactily what Allaah means here.
Those who are careless about their prayers (salaah)
Now the meaning becomes clear. Allah is not saying woe to all those who make salaah. The woe is only on some people who make salaah.
Bad wishes are on the who only pretend to pray. Those go through aii the motions of prayers, buut in a careless manner. Such careless people often start the salaah late,or,when they are praying alone, they delay the salaah and pray it out of its time. They often do the salaah quickly and without any concentration. They look around or at their watches and even find reason to laugh during the salaah. Such are the people who will be punished even though they made their required prayers.
Salaah, in its proper form, is the first thing which Allaah has made compulsory on those who have declared their belief in Him. It is, therefore, proof of one’s belief Allaah.That is why the careless salaah becomes a sign of a man’s disbelief in the Judgement. The one who prays carelessly can not possibly believe that Allaah is watching him, nor can he believe that he will be asked about how he made his salaah.
Thus, by wishing ill on those who pray carelessly Allaah is advising the believers to be careful with their prayers. Elsewhere in the Qur’aan Allaah encourages care in prayers by describing the true believers as follows:
“And those who guard their prayers”.
(soorah al-Mu’minoon(23):9)
Once when the Prophet was asked,”Which deed is the best?”
He replied,”prayer on time.” On another occasion he said,”If you are praying, you should not look around,for certainly (looking around) is booty which satan steals from Allaah’s servant’s prayer”.
Those who only want to be seen
In this verse Allaah explains the main intention of those who pray carelessly. They do so in order that others may see them. They are not praying to please Allaah, since they do not really believe in Him. They make salaah to make people think that they are Muslims. Because of their fear that, if someone sees them not praying they may be punished or scolded, they pretend to pray. At school where salaah is held, some students pray because they are afraid that one of the teachers or the principal will punish them. At home, some children pray because their parents have threatened to beat them if they do not pray. Those who pray for such reasons do not really know who Allaah is, even though they may have Muslim names and their parents may really be Muslims. Islaam is not something which can be inherited from one’s parents like wealth or nationality. True Islaam has to be chosen by each and every individual. Allaah mentions this bad intention to advise the believers to be sincere in their prayers. In another verse Allaah describes the true believers as:
“Those who humble themselves in their prayers”.
(soorah al-Mu’minoon(23):2)
The Prophet Muhammad was reported to have said, “pray (each prayer) like a farewell prayer.” We should pray every salaah as if it were our last.He also strongly warned us by calling the act of praying to be seen “Hidden shrink”.
And they refuse to give help
The proof that those who are careless in their salaah only pray to be seen is that they are unwilling to do even the simplest acts of kindness. If their neighbours ask to borrow commonly used instruments, like a bucket or a pot, they find some excuse to not lend them salaah which is done because of a true belief in Allaah prevents the one who makes it from extreme levels of unkindness such as this.How can one say,’al-Hamdu lillah(i.e all thanks and praise belongs to Allaah alone)’ at least seventeen times every day and yet refuse to be kind.They thank Allaah for His countless kindness and seek His favours,yet they prefer to be unkind and mean.That does not make sence at all.Allaah says that prayers should stop the believers from bad deeds.
“Surely prayer (salaah) prevents evil speech and evil deeds...”
(soorah al-‘Ankaboot(29):45)
The only way that their unkindness can be understood is if they do not believe in what they are saying in their prayers. They are only repeating words which they memorized like parrots. Because of that,their prayers have no effect on their lives at all. They do not worship Allaah when they make salaah,because they do not really believe in Him.
Summary
By pointing out to the Believers some of the major signs of disbelief, Allaah in fact warns them to avoid these signs. He encourages them to develop the signs of righteousness and true belief which are the opposite of these signs. The true Believer is trustworthy, generous and kind. He is also very careful about his salaah,because it is his main link with Allaah. His firm belief in the Judgement causes him to do good deeds whenever he can.No good deed is unimportant to him no matter how small simple it might seem.












TAFSEER SOORAH AN-NASR (110)
Name of the soorah
The name Nasr literally means ‘help or aid’ and it is taken from the first line of the soorah. This name is very suitable for the soorah because it expresses the main thought of the soorah which is the coming of Allaah’s help. However, this soorah has also been titled soorah at-Tawdee’ which means ‘the farewell chapter’, because it was revealed shortly before the death of the Prophet Muhammad.
Place of Revelation
This soorah was the last soorah of the Qur’aan to be revealed and it was originally preceded by soorah at Tawbah which is now the ninth soorah.The sahaabee Ibn ‘Umar reported that this soorah wasrevealed in Mina during the last three days of the Prophet’s farewell Haji (Hijjah al- Widaa’).

Reasons for Revelation
The sahaabee, Ibn ‘Abbaas reported that when this soorah was revealed, the Prophet said,my death has been announced to me. That (my soul) will be taken during this (coming) year.” Thus, the immediate purpose of this soorah was to inform the Prophet that his end was near, giving him ample time to prepare for his death.
His preparations consisted of givingaway his few remaining possesions, warning his folowers of the greatest dangers which they will face and seeking forginess from Allaah for whatever errors he might have made unintentionally. However,the general reason for the revelation of this soorah is to remind the believers not to forget Allaah and their duties to Him if He grants them success. This reminder is nesrssary because people tend to only remember God in times of difficulty. Instead, the believers are encouraged to praise God and thank Him for his favours, whenever they are blessed with success. In thank Him for His favors, whenever they are blessed with success. In fact,to do so is one of the signs of true belief according to Prohet Muhammad ,who was reported to have said,``The affair of the believer is amazing, for all his situations are beneficial for him,and this is only in the case of the believer. If good times come to him he is thankful,and thus it was good for him; and if bad timesbefall him he is patient,and it is also good for him.”
The believers are also advised to remember to ask Allah’s forginess for their sins, because no one is free from sin, and it is only Allaah who can forgive the sins of men. If one does not seek forgiveness, he will become a truly evil individual destined for Hell.

Hadeeth Concerning This Soorah
The sahaabee,Ibn Abbaas,said ``Umar ibn al-Khattaab (the second Caliph) used to invite me to gatherings with older sahaabah, who had taken part in the battle of Badr along with the Prophet.
However, some of them were bothered by my presence and said, ‘why does he include this little boy along with us when we all have sons just like him(whom we have left at home)?’ When ‘Umar detected their dissatisfaction,he said, ‘ You all do not really know who he is.’ One day he called all of them together and included me among them. He then said, ‘what do you all say concerning Allaah’s statement, Edhaa jaa’a Nasrullaahi wal-Fat-h?’ some of them said, ‘Allaah orders us to praise Him and ask His forgiveness if He helps us and gives us victory.’However, some of them remained silent not saying anything. ‘Umar turned to me and asked me my opinion, and I replied that it was not as they said. He then asked me to explain. So,Isaid, ‘It was the end of Allaah’s messenger (the end of his life) that Allaah was informing him of.Allaah said, Whwn Allaah’s help and victory comes,that is a sign of your end, so glorify and praise your Lord,seeking His forgiveness because He is most forgiving.’ ‘Umar added that he did not know of any other explanation or interpretation than the one which I made.”
In this incident, Umar showed the elder Sahaabah that inspite of Ibn ‘Abbaas’ young age,he was more knowledgeable about the Qur’aan than they were. Therefore, he deserved to be among them on the Council. Though Islaam teaches respect of elders, it teaches a greater respect for knowledge. The Prophet taught that formal prayers (salaah) were to be led by the one who memorized the most Qur’aan. ‘Amr ibn salamah reported that his father once said, ‘when the time for salaah comes, one of you should make the Adhaan and the one with the most Qur’aan (memorized) should lead you . ‘Amr went on to say, “They looked around and found no one knowing more Qur’aan than me, so they put me forward (to lead the prayer) and I was only six or seven years old at that time.”
SOORAH AN-NASR
When the help and victory of Allaah comes
Allaah begins this soorah by recounting to the Propet the great blessings which He had given him. The first being victory over all of his enemies. The Qurayshite tribe which ruled Makkah and which had driven the Prophet and his early companions out of their homes ten years earlier were themselves thoroughly crushed in the eighth year the Hijrah. The Makkans surrendered without a fight and the prophet marched straight to the Ka’bah and destroyed all of the idols and sacrificial altars in and around the Ka’bah . The Prophet and his followers’ conquest of Makkah is reffered to in this verse as the “Victory of Allah” in order to emphasize to the Prophet before Muhammad all preached the message of Islaam and tried to establish it among their people: however, many of them were not given success by Allaah. Some like Prophet Yahyaa,were killed, or tortured by their people, and others,like Prophet Ibraheem,were driven out of their homeland. Since the message of Islaam as brought by prophet Muhammad was to be final one,Allaah gave the last Prophet victory to establish the religion of Islaam in Arabia as a basis for spreading it in its pure form throughout the world. This help from Allaah was very important, because even though the message of Prophet Eesaa (Jesus) was spread after Allaah lifted him up, it did not remain in its original form.
And you see droves of people entering Allaah’s religion
The second blessing which Allaah gave the Prophet was that the majority of the people with whom he had direct contact all accepted Islaam. After the fall of Makkah, huge numbers of people came into Islaam.During the prophet’s thirteen years of preaching Islaam in Makkah, a little more than three hundred people embraced Islaam. However, after his emigration to Madeenah, many more people began to accept Islaam.And, following the prophet’s conquest of Makkah, whole families and tribes began to enter Islaam at one time. In fact, the year after the victory over the Makkans is recorded in history as the “year of the Delegations”, because of the large number of ambassadors sent by tribes from all corners of the Arabian peninsula.These delegations came to the prophet in Madeenah and accepted Islaam on behalf of their clans or tribes.
Before they returned to their tribes, the prophet would assign to each delegation one of his sahaabah, who knew Islaam well enough to teach them.
Many of the early prophets were rejected by their people,so the wide acceptance of Islaam was truly a great blessing for the prophet Muhammad. The spread of Islaam at such an early stage was necessary,since this was the final message of Islaam for aal mankind.
And, the more people who heard it and lived it during the prophet’s lifetime, the better it would be preserved for all times.
Glorify and praise your Lord and ask His forgiveness
In this verse Allaah explains what He wants the prophet to do after he has observed the successes of victory and the nation-wide acceptance of Islaam. First, the Prophet was told to give thanks to his lord for the success which He had given him by glorfying and praising Him.Because, success was not a direct result of his own efforts. And, secondly, since these successes represent the completion of the prophethood and its message, the prophet should now prepare to leave this world by seeking God’s forgiveness.
Forgiveness for his unintentional errors in judging between the good and the better. This did not include intentional sins,because the prophet was Ma’soom,free from such errors.For example, on one occasion a blind Muslim, Ibn Umm Maktoom approached the prophet just as he was about to explain Islaam to a gathering of leaders from the Qurayshite tribe, and the prophet frowned and fignored him. The prophet did not want to lose this golden opportunity to call the Qurayshite leaders to Islaam, because their acceptance would mean the acceptance of the restof the tribe. So he avoided Ibn Umm Maktoom,since he was already Muslim and could be taught later. However, Allah revealed in soorah’ Abasa that the prophet,s decision was wrong.The one who seeking knowledge of Islaam should have been given preference over non- Muslim whom he had to call,no matter how important they might have been .
In fact, when the prophet sat with the Qurayshite leaders and explained Islaam to them, they agreed to follow him on condition that he get rid of all his “low-class” Muslim followers, as they could not accept former slaves and poor people as their equlas. The prophet had to reject their condition, as it was opposed to the Islamic principle of brotherhood of the belivers. These same leaders eventually became the greatest enemies of Islaam, spilled the blood of many Muslims,and most died or were killed without ever accepting Islaam.
Another example can be found in the case of prisonars of the Battle of Badr. After the first battle between the Muslims and the pagan Makkans, the prophet asked the opinion of his companions about what should be done with the pagan prisoners-of-war. Abu Bark suggested releasing them and ‘Umar ibn al – Khattaab suggested that they should all be killed. The prophet chose Abu Bakr’s opinion and freed them for a ransom of 400 dirhams per person and Allaah revealed the verse:
“A Prophet should not take prisoners until he has thoroughly conquered the land”.
(soorah al-Anfaal (8): 67)
The prisoners should have been killed for the many Muslims they killed and tortured in Makkah since this was the first battle against them.
As a result the prisoners who were set free came and killed more Muslims in the Battle of Uhud and later battles. There were a few other errors of judgement like these which the prophet made,but Allaah corrected all of them by revealing verses of the Quar’aan.
The prophet’s third wife. ‘Aa`eshah,noted that Allah’s messenger interpreted this verse of the Qur’aan by frequently repeating in the Rukoo’s (bowings)and sujoods (prostrations) of his prayers the phrase:
Subhaanak Allaahumma wa bihamdik Allahummagh-firlee (Glory and praise be to You OAllaah. O Allaah forgive me)
The Prophet was also told to seek forgiveness for the sins of his followers, as an example to his followers to seek forgiveness for their sins.In other religions such as Catholicism among the Christians,the followwers are told to confess their sins to priests who are supposed to be able to ask God’s forgiveness for them.Most other Christians direct their prayers for forgiveness to Jesus whom they believe died on thr cross to pay for the sins for the sins of all mankind.Jews on the othr hand,consider themselves the chosen children of God who will inherit paradise no matter what they do;hence there is no need for seeking forgiveness.Islaam the believets are told to seek forgiveness for their sins from Allaah alone,for none can forgive them beside Him.
The prophet Muhammad taught Abu Bakr the following Du`aa to be said at the end of his salaah just before Tasleem:
Allaahumma innee dhalamtu nafsee dHulman Katheeraa “O Allah verily I have really wronged myself a lot.
Wa laa yaghfirudh-dhunooba illaa ant
And nine can forgive sins except you
Faghfir lee maghfiratan min indka war hamnee
So forgive me with your forgiveness and have mercy on me
Innaka antal-Ghafoorur – Rahee
Verily you are the most forgiving, the Most Merciful.”




Surely, He is the Oft Forgiving
In the closing verse of this soorah, Allaah explains the major reason for commanding the Prophet and the believers to seek His forginess. Allah,s forgiveness in this life for those who sincerely repent and ask His forgiveness knows no bounds. He will forgive a sinner over and over again, as long as his repentance is sincerely from his heart. As for one who merely says words of repentance is sincerely from his heart. As for one who merely says words of repentance, but in his heart he does not feel real sorrow, there is no forgiveness for him,as the prophet said, “ Deeds are judged by their intentions.”
Thus, a believer should never feel that his or her sins,are too great to be forgiven.
Such a negative thought is from the devil, who wants man to lose hope in Allaah and thereby become a habitual sinner,a truly lodt soul. It is part of man’s nature to make mistakes, or as the Prophet said, “Allaah of Aadam’s descendants habitually err, but the best of them are the habitually repentant.” That is, those who constantly seek Allaah’s forgiveness whenever they sin are the best of mankind.




7. TAFSEER SOORAH AL- HUMAZAH (104)
Name of the soorah
The name Humazah literally means ‘the slanderer or one who tells lies about people.’ It is the last word of the first verse. It is also good title for the soorah, since the whole soorah is a description of the slander’s traits and the punishment which awaits him in the next life.
Place of Revelation
This soorah was also revealed to the Prophet at the beginning of his mission in Makkah. It came immediately after soorah al-Qiyaamah (75) but the Prophet later placed it after soorah al-‘Asr(103).
The Reason for This Revelation
In the early days of the Prophethood, the tribe of Quraysh used to make fun of the Prophet and his followers. They also used to make up bad stories about the Prophet. For example,they used to say that he was bewitched or mad and they would make up jokes about him. They also used to claim that he had Jinn who used to teach him the Qur’aan. Or, they would say that the Qur,aan was a magical spell.
This is the way of the disbelievers even today. They like to make fun of the Believers and they often tell lies about Islaam and its followers. The way muslim women dress is funny to them and they claim that Islaam is unfair to women because it does not allow them to walk around half-naked as many women do in some non- muslim lands.
Thus, Allaah revealed this soorah to point out the traits of the disbelievers in order that the Believers may avoid them. He also wanted to let them know about the punishment prepared for those who make fun of Islaam and its true followers. Allaah describes the punishment in details to scare the disbelievers who have some doubts and to reassure the Believers that their choice of Islaam over Kurf was right.







SOORAH AL- HUMAZAH
Woe be on every slandering backbiter,
Allaah, Most Great and Glorious, sends bad wishes to all who tell lies about innocent people. Those who do that are usually backbiters, because they do so behind people’s backs and not to their faces.
Allah’s bad wish is like a curse on them which causes misfortune to happen to them in this life and the next.
Islaam is firmly against slander and backbiting in all its forms. Abu Hurayrah reported that on one occasion the Prophet asked the companions, “Do you know what backbiting (Gheebah)is? They replied, “Allaah and His Messenger know best.” He said, “It is mentioning something about your brother that he does not like. “ Someone asked, “What if what I say about my brother is true?” The Prophet replied. “If what I say about him is true you have backbitten and if it was not true you have slandered.” One who is caught slanering women by accusing them of having unlawful relations with men is punished with eighty lashes. In another verse of the Qur’aan Allaah says:
“And those who accuse chaste women without bringing four witnesses should be flogged eighty times…”
(soorah an- Noor (24):4)
And, Allah has compared backbiting with eating one’s brother’s flesh after he has died.
“And do not backbite each other. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother?You would dislike it.”
(soorah al-Hujuraat(94):12)

Allah made this comparison to show us how terrible backbiting is.
The believers should hate backbiting the way he would hate to eat his dead brother’s flesh. Thus, even the listening to slander or backbiting without opposing it is considered a sin.
Perhaps the most serious form of slander is that of those who slander Allaah. Some say that Allaah has a son and others say He is the third of three gods. But the worst are those who say that Allaah does not really exist. God, to them, is only superstition which ancient people made up in order to explain things which they did not understand.
Thus, according to them,religion is simply a hoax and the Prophets were all phonies. They lie about Allah, His Prophets, His Books and His Religion.
Who gathered wealth and counted it.
Because Allaah and religion has no meaning to the slanderer, life becomes a meaningless animal existence. According to him there is no purpose to life,so the most important thing is to have a good time. To have a good time one must have a lot of wealth that he can and in any way that he can. A lot of his time is also spent adding it up in order to make sure none is lost and to be certain that it is always increasing.
This blind individual loves to make fun of others who are less fortunate than himself. And, he considered himself to be better than them.
The fact that his wealth is only a part of a test which Allaah has given him does not even cross his mind. As far as he is concerned, his wealth is simply the result of his hard work or his good luck. If he gives away any of his wealth to anyone outside of his family, it is done to buy friends or control enemies. He would never think to give in charity because he has more than he needs for, that would only decrease his wealth.
He thinks that his wealth has made him immortal
The one who slanders God becomes so wrapped –up in the pleasures of this life that he begins to wish that he will not have to die.
He starts to think that his great wealth should be able to keep him alive forever. Consequently, the rich donate countless millions of dollars to scientific research on finding a cure for old- age. They actually believe that man will eventually find a cure for death. Some wealthy people have paid huge amounts of money to have their bodies frozen when they die. Their bodies are then put in refrigerated metal coffins in the hope that when man eventually discovers the cure for death, their bodies will be thawed out and brought back to life! The ancient Egyptians also had a similar belief. The pharaohs and the rich had their dead bodies preserved and buried with their riches in the belief that they would later come back to life. But, their graves have now been robbed and their bodies have been put on display in countless museums around the world. Allah’s Messenger told his companions that there is no cure for old-age. Usaamah ibn Shurayk reported that Prophet Muhammad said, “ servants of Allaah, treat each other’s sicknesses.For surely Allaah, Glory be to Him, his not sent down a disease along with a cure except old age.”
Because of that Muslims would never waste any time or effort in trying to cure death.
Satan tricked Aadam into disobeying God by promising him eternal life. Allah informed us about this incident so that we would not be led astray in this way. Allaah said in the Qur’aan:
“Then satan began to whisper to them…..saying, Your Lord only forbade you this tree so that you do not become angles or of those who live forever.’’
(soorah al-A ‘raaf(7):20)
No; but surely he will be thrown into al- Humatah
Allaah tells this foolish individual no, he will not live forever. Every living thing must die and nothing comes back to life in this world. That is the law which Allaah has set and no living being can break it.In another chapter of the Qur’aan Allaah says:
“Every soul will taste death..”
(soorah Aal ‘Imraan (3):185)
“Behind them is a partition (Barzakh) until the day thay are resurrected.”
(soorah al- Mu’ minoon(23):100).
Instead of coming back to life and enjoying some more good times on the earth,he will be cast into a creature called al-Hutamah. The name al- Hutamah means the crusher,something which smashes into pieces whatever is put into it. There will be no pleasure for him as his body and soul is completely destroyed.All that he will experience afterhis death is pain upon pain.
But, what can make you really understand al – Hutamah?
By asking this question, Allaah is really telling us that al- Hutamah is too much for man’s mind to understand. This creature of Allaah is beyond the imagination. It should be feared and avoided. There is nothing in this world which is like it. Even the atomic bomb which has the power to crush and destroy cannot be compared to al-Hutmah
No man in his right mind who has understood what Allaah is saying here would want to meet al- Hutamah. This verse strikes fear in the hearts of the Believers and encourages them to do as much good as they can. Because, it is only true belief and good deeds which will protect man from al-Hutamah.

It is the blazing fire of Allaah
Here, Allaah explains just exactly what al- Hutamah is. It is simply one of the names of the Hell- fire. The name helps us to understand some of the effects of the fire. This is important because there is no way for us to understand the Hell-fire. It is a living creature created by Allaah. It breathes, sighs and speaks. Allaah describes the Hell fire in the Qur’aan as follows:
“When they are cast in, they will hear the drawing in of its breath as it blazes forth.”
(soorah al- Mulk (67):7)
“One day we will ask Hell, ‘Are you full?’ It will answer, ‘Is there more?’
(soorah Qaaf (50):30)
The flames of this world are nothing compared to al-Hutamah. They are chemical reactions which burn for a while then die out, but the Hell-fire is eternal. Its flames never die out and its heat is so great that it burns things right out of existence.
Allaah refers to it as “His fire “to let us know that it is a very special fire. All fires are Allaah’s , because it is He who has created them, and it is He who has given them the power to burn. But, the Hell-fire is not of this world. It has been specially prepared as a punishment for the wicked in the next world.
Which overcomes the hearts.
This Fire is so powerful that its burning flames reach into the human body and grab the heart in its fiery hands. A man’s heart is the most private thing which he owns. It is where he keeps his secrets hidden from all of those around Him. And all the decision of his life take place there. Therefore, his heart is the home of his disbelief in Allaah.
So the severe punishment which awaits those who slander Allaah will reach every inch of their bodies. Even their souls will be on fire. And there will be no break.
Verily it will be closed tightly over them.9.In columns stretching outward.
The Fire will be sealed shut on top of them and will take the form of tubes of flames. They will be trapped in the centers of these fiery columns and they will be neither dead nor alive. Allaah says of those in Hell:
“For him is Hell in which he will neither die nor live”
(soorah Taa Haa (20):74)

But they will continually feel death coming. Allaah says:
“And death will come to him from everywhere, yet he will not die…”
In this state between life and death they will remain forever. Such will be the end of all those who slander Allaah, His Prophets, His Books and the Belivers.
Summary
Allaah has described the end of the slanderers in detail in order to scare those among them who might listen. And He also did it to remind the Believers that their enemies would not escape Allaah’s punishment. This reminder would naturally encourage the Believers to make more sacrifices for Allaah’s religion,al- Islaam. And it would also give them courage to be patient in times of difficulty which they all must face.

5. Tafsir Su ̅rah az-Zilza ̅l (99)
Name of the Su ̅rah
The name Zilza ̅l (quake ) is the gerund (verbal noun) from the verb “zalzala” which occurs in the passive feminine form (Zulzilat) in the middle of the first verse of the Su ̅rah . The name “zilzal” was not common to the prophet and his companions,,as it was their practice to refer to the Su ̅rahs by quoting either the complete first verse or the first few words of it.The practice of assigning names to the Su ̅rahs was done at a much later time.
Place of revelation
This Su ̅rah was revealed after Su ̅rah an-Nisa ̅’ (4).Ibn ‘Abba ̅s said that Edha ̅ -zulzilat was revealed in Madinah,but Ibn Mas’u ̅d was of the opinion that it was revealed in Makkah.Because Ibn ‘Abba ̅s was considered the greatest Mufassir2 of the Qur’an among the saha ̅bah, his opinion concerning the place of revelation of this su ̅rah is considered to be more accurate than that of Ibn Mas’u ̅ d; thus, this su ̅rah is considered to be Madi ̅nan.
Reason for revelation
Allah describes some of the signs of the Last day in this Su ̅rah in order to warn man of the coming end of the world.Allah further explains that all deeds will be judged and all secrets exposed.Consequently,man is advised to do as much good as he can fill his scale of righteous deeds at the time of judgement.
Hadith concerning this Su ̅rah
Anas reported that the Prophet said,
“Whoever receits ,idha-zulzilatil-ardu’ is given a reward equal to receiting half of the Qur’an.”
Su ̅rah az-Zilza ̅l
1.When the earth is shock mightily
Almighty Allah proceeds in this Su ̅rah to paint for us a picture of the last hour in order that we might reflect on the passing nature of this world and concentrate on what really counts in it. He starts the picture with the mighty heaving and shuddering of the earth’s crust as it slows down and approaches a final end .The globe is rocked with devastating earthquakes in all of its corners, causing everything to crack and splinter into pieces, leaving nothing as it was.
The sinking of large sections of the earth is among the major signs of the approach of the Last hour which were prophesied by the final messenger of God .Hudhayfah ibn usayd reported that on one occasion the prophet came to them while they were busy in discussion and asked,
“About what are you discussing?”They replied, “We were discussing about the last hour.”He then said, “It will come until you see ten signs: the smoke (Qur’an 44:10); Dajja ̅l (the false Christ );the beast (Qur’an 27:82);the rising of the sun in the west; the descent of Jesus;the Gog and the magog;and the sinking of land in three locations,in the East ,the West and in Arabia ,followed by a huge fire which would begin in Yemen and drive people to their place of assembly.”
2. And the earth expels its burdens.
Allah , most Great, continues to describe the awesome events which will befall the earth ,one after the other, while the surface of the earth crumbles and cracks. Corpses and remain of the dead will spew and pour out of their graves and onto the surface .Wherever anyone died ,he will be recovered whether it is from the depths of the ocean, amidst the towering mountains ,or even if the body was reduced to ashes and scattered as done by the Hindus.
In other chapters of the Quran,Allah describes some of the other events which will be happening in the heavens and the seas:
When the sky cracks; and the planets scatter, and the seas explode; and the graves are overturned.
When the sun is folded and loses its light and the stars fall; and the mountains disintegrate...and when the seas are ignited; and the souls are rejoined with their bodies.
The stage is now being set for the final judgment, and all that was hidden in this world will be exposed. This refers also to our hidden deeds and intentions, which Allah may, have covered in this life, but will expose and judge on the Last day. However, not everyone’s faults will be exposed on that day. Allah’s mercy will cover the true believers .Abu Hurayrah mentioned that the Prophet said,
“The righteous servants whose faults Allah conceals in this world, will also have his faults concealed by Allah on the day of resurrection.”
3. All men will say, “What is happening to it?”
Those remaining humans caught in the continual earthquakes and eruptions will cry out in horror as they see before their very eyes graves upturned and their contents poured out around them .They madly ask themselves and those around them, “What in the world is going on?”Those who will be caught alive on the last day are the most Corrupt and degenerate of mankind according to the Prophets’ statement.
“The Last Hour will not come except the most evil of mankind?”
The prophet is quoted by his wife Aishah as saying,
“Allah will send a fragrant wind by which everyone who has even a mustard seed’s weight of faith will die, and only those who have no goodness will survive. They will then revert to the pagan religions of their forefathers.
The people will go back to worshipping idols as their ancestors did and will forget all about the final hour and its signs .Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet said,
“The Last Hour will not come until the women of the Daws tribe will be seen going around the idol of Dhul-khalasah in (pagan worship).”
4. On that day it will reveal its secrets.
The earth will inform them of the secret behind all of this disruption and destruction .This secret was at one time common knowledge to most people ,but later it became lost as disbelief spread, until the whole earth became enveloped in darkness.”Abdullah and Abu Musa quoted the prophet as saying,
“Before the Last Hour, there will be a time when knowledge will be taken away and ignorance will take its place; and bloodshed will take place on a very large scale.”
The earth will tell them in its own way that the final judgment has arrived and the time for answering for all that was done in this life has come. Allah said,
And when the word is fulfilled against them, we will bring out of the earth a beast which will speak to them, because mankind did not believe in our signs.
5. Because your lord has permitted it.
It is by Allah’s permission that the earth will inform the last of mankind of the cause of all that devastation and the expulsion of the dead shortly before the earth itself is destroyed. It might seem strange to us that the earth will speak. But Allah is able to make all of his creation speak as he has informed us:
When they reach (the fire) their ears, eyes and skins will testify against them about what they did. And they will ask their skins, ‘Why do you testify against us?’ They will say,’Allah, who causes all things to speak, has caused us to speak.


6. On that day men will return as individuals and will be shown their deeds.
When all the preceding events take place, all mankind will return from the state of death as individuals, no one recognizing the other. All earthly ties will be Brocken and each will only be concerned with himself .Allah describes this as:
A day when man will flee from his brother, his mother, his father, his wife and his children. Each of them that day will have enough concern of his own to make him indifferent to the others.
Allah will cause them all to come face to face with all that they did in their lives in order that the basis of his justice will prevail. Almighty Allah said:
Read your book. you are sufficient to call yourself to account
7. Whoever does an ant’s weight of good will see it,
8. And whoever does an ant’s weight of evil will see it.
Allah uses the word Dharrah( the smallest ant) to indicate that no matter how insignificant and small an act of good or evil may be ,it has all been recorded by the angels of the right and left, and on that day the complete records will be presented before us. Therefore, we should not consider any good deed as being of no value, but instead, we should strive to accomplish all the good we can as it will not be lost or forgotten. The prophet urged us to do all we could, saying,
“Don’t scorn any form of good, do it even if it is only meeting your brother with a smiling face.”
Every opportunity to point out a good deed should be utilized because the Prophet also informed us that,
“Whoever points out a good deed gets the same reward as the one who does it.”
6. Tafsir Su ̅rah al-Qa ̅ri’ah (101)
Name of the Su ̅rah
Qa ̅ri’ah literally means a thing which knocks or strickes.The Arabs used to say, “the Qa ̅ri’ah struck” if a disaster occurred.
There is some difference of opinion as to whether this Su ̅rah has 10 or 11 verses. Some scholars consider verses 1 and 2 to be a single verse, while other considers them separate verses. Actually the verses of the Qur’an were not numbered in the early Qur’anic manuscripts because the prophet did not specify them .The only chapter in the Qur’an which the prophet specified the number of verses for this Su ̅rah al- Fa ̅tihah.
Place of revelation
This Su ̅rah was revealed after Su ̅rah Quraysh(106).Ibn Mardawayh collected a narration that Ibn ‘Abbas said,” Su ̅rah al- Qa ̅ri’ah was revealed in Makkah.”
Reason for revelation
Su ̅rah al- Qa ̅ri’ah describes for the Makkan pagans ,and for mankind in general, some of the scenes of the day of resurrection. It explains some of the horror of that day and helplessness of mankind in order to makes man reflect on his end. The final day will not come when man least expect it. Like a knocker at the door .Thus, he is encouraged to prepare for that day by accepting true faith and by doing righteous deeds.
Su ̅rah al- Qa ̅ri’ah

Al-Qa ̅ri’ah 2. What is al- Qa ̅ri’ah?
In this Su ̅rah ,Allah takes the idiom al- Qa ̅ri’ah ?(the knocker) and uses it to create wonder ,amazement,worry and fear in the mind of the listener. This was especially important in Makkah in the early days of islam because the pagan Makkans would not listen to the Qur’an .Allah is asking them what is really the Qa ̅ri’ah, and also pointing out that it is not as they had been thinking,but in fact it is much more serious.
3. And what will make you understand what the Qa ̅ri’ah is?
Allah asks another rhetorical question about al -Qa ̅ri’ah to increase in the listeners mind curiosity about this particular al -Qa ̅ri’ah.He does it as if to say that this Qa ̅ri’ah is far beyond man’s ability to comprehend.It is infact,so strange and horrible that man’s mind cannot grasp its full meaning ,so Allah goes on to tell about some of its signs.
4. (It is) a day when men will be like scattered moths.
Al-Qa ̅ri’ah is a day when all mankind will be scattered over all parts of the earth,covering every square inch of it likea swarm of moths bees.
All of the generations of man, from Adam’s time until the last day will be brought back to life by Allah’s command .No matter how far and wide their remains have spread, whether re-absorbed by the earth ,blown by the winds or swept away by rivers and seas, on Allah’s single command”Kun”, all will be recombined and every soul will be reclothed in their bodies in preparation for the final judgment.
The Prophet’s wife Aishah quoted the messenger of Allah as saying,
“Mankind will be gathered barefooted, naked and uncircumcised, “She asked ,”O messenger of Allah, will the men and women stare at each other?””O Aishah ,” he replied, “the circumstance will be much too fearful for any of them to look at each other.”
People will be so afraid that they will almost drown in their swaet .Ibn ‘Umar related concerning the verse, a day when mankind will stand before the Lords of the Worlds that the Prophet said,
“They will stand submerged in sweat up to the middle of their ears.”
Allah’s messenger is quoted by miqdad ibn Aswad as saying,
On the day of resurrection, the sun will come so close to people that only the distance of one mile will be left. People will be submerged in perspiration according to their deeds, some will have bridle of perspiration up to-“and while saying this Allah’s messenger pointed to his mouth.

5. And the mountains will be like multi-colored fluffed wool.
On that day the earth will become unrecognizable, its features changed as if by a child’s paint brush, its familiarity totally lost. In Su ̅rah Ibrahim,verses 48,Allah said, on the day when the earth will be changed to another earth and likewise the heavens. It will be strange new world. The mountains which in this world appear to be unaffected by time and stand their guard solidly, in the new earth will turned to dust and will be scattered like puffs of sheep’s wool in many different colours.Allah gave some the these details in other verses of the Qur’an like:
And when the mountains are blown away.
And the mountains will be moved from their places and become a mirage.
And the mountains will be crumbled to pieces and become floating dust particles.
The new earth will become completely flat and completely devoid of any landmarks .Sahl ibn sa’d related that he heard the prophet say,
“On the day of resurrection mankind will be gathered on a reddish white plain looking like a loaf of flat bread ,”Sahl added,” The land will have no landmarks for anybody to recognize.”
6 & 7 whoever’s scales are heavy then will have a pleasing life.
Allah in this verse lays down the rules by which the judgment will be made. All of the actions which man does in this life will be put in these scales of justice in order to be weighed; good acts on onside of the scale and bad ones on the other. If the quality and quantity of good deeds are heavy enough to outweigh the evil ones, one is guaranteed an eternal life of bliss in which all that one desire will be his. But at the time of setting up of the scales, people will be so fearful that they will forget their loved ones and friends .Aishah reported that she remembered the fire and wept .Allah’s messenger asked her, “What is causing you to cry?” she replied, “I thought about the fire and cried.wil you remember your family (i.e your wives) on the day of resurrection?”The Prophet said, There are three places where no one will remember anyone else: at the scale until he knows whether is scales will be light or heavy at the record will fall in his right hand or in his left or from behind his back and at the bridge when it is placed between the two sides of hell.”
8 & 9 As for he whose scales are light, his mother will then be the abyss(Hawaiyah).
If, on the other hand man’s evil deeds outweigh his good deed, paradise will be placed beyond his grasp and he will be dragged screaming and crying to the edge of Hawaiyah,a bottomless pit. He will then be hurled headlong into its outstretched arms. As he falls into it endlessly, it closes around him in a tight embrace, like a mother hugging her child.
10. What will inform you of what it is?
By repeating this haunting rhetorical question which brings to mind the worst of fears.Allah tells us that this Hawaiyah is so terrible that mere human words cannot convey its reality.
11. A fiercely blazing fire.
The closest thing in this world to describe the Hawiyah,the future mother of the wretched, is a super-heated fire which melts flesh and bones and sears the very soul.Abu Hurayrah reported that Allah’s messenger said,
“The fire of your world is one-seventieth of the Hell-fire.”Someone said,”O messenger of Allah,the fire of this world would have been sufficient to torture the disbelievers.”The prophet said, “The Hell fire is sixty-nine times more hot.”
The hell –fire is so hot that even an ember from it will cause a man’s body to burn.An-Nu’man ibn Bashir quoted the Prophet as saying,
“Among the people of hell, the person with the least punishment on the day of judgment will be a man under the arch of whose feet an ember will be placed which will cause his brains to boil.”
So the Hell-fire is not something to be taken lightly. It is something to be feared by doing righteous deeds and avoiding sin. Otherwise, all who enter it will regret as none have ever regretted before. The prophet is reported to have said.
“Allah will say to the person with the least punishment in the fire on the day no judgement,’If you possessed everything on earth, would you use them to ransom yourself(from the fire)?’He will reply,’Yes,And Allah will say, ‘I wanted much less than this from you while you were in the loins of Adam; that you should worship no other gods besides me,but you refused and worshipped other gods besides me.
This is why the prophet warned us saying,
“Protect yourselves from the fire, even if it is (by giving in charity) half a date. And one who does not have even this should do so by saying a good and pleasant word.”
Hawiyah is, in fact, one of the many names with which Allah has referred to Jahannam (hell), and al- Qa ̅ri’ah is among the names of Qiya ̅mah(Day of Resurrection).Hawiyah means abyss or bottomless pit which is a description of one of the scary features of the Hell-fire.’Utbah ibn Ghazwan said,’
“It was mentioned to us that a stone will be thrown from the edge of hell and it would fall for seventy years and not reach bottom.”
Allah uses this various names to bring out some of the more terrifying features of the next life ionrder to shock man into reflecting onto his end and thus try to set his present life inorder.
The greatest deed that one can do is to believe and declare ones faith in the one true God, Allah and in the messenger of Allah who bought islam to mankind. This is the only act which will ensure man’s salvation. It is the only thing that can save mankind from hell. However ,saying the words of faith like the way a parrot repeats the words of its owner will not benefit us in the least. It is true faith in what is said which will be use to us on the day of resurrection.’Abdullah ibn’Amr reported that the Messenger of Allah said.
“Allah will take out a man from nation in front of creation and spread before him ninety-nine scrolls, each scroll as long as the eye can see. Then he will say, ‘No I have a good deed for you and you will not be wronged on this day. ‘A sentence from the scroll containing,”Ashsadu an la ilaha illalah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan’Asshadu wa rasuluh.”(I bear witness that there is no other god worthy of worship but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is his slave and messenger)will be removed.Allah will say, ‘Be present at the weighing of your deeds. ‘The man will say ‘O Lord, what is this sentence in comparison to the scrolls?”Allah will say, ‘You will not be wronged. ‘The scrolls will become light and the sentence heavy for nothing is heavier than Allah’s name.”
If man’s evil deeds are many, he will be put in hell, even though he declared his faith. However he will be removed from Hell after he has been purified by the fire. The Prophet is quoted by Abu Sa’id al khudri as saying,
“When the people of paradise have entered paradise and the people of hell have entered hell .Allah will then say, ‘Take out of the fire whoever has a mustard seed’s weight of faith in his heart. ‘They will come out, but by that time they will be burnt to coal. They will then be thrown into the river of life and they will spring up like the way a seed grows on the bank of the stream.”
Such is the power of faith.





7. Tafsir Sūrah at- Takāthur (102)
Name of the Sūrah
At-Takāthur literally means. “accumulation,” and it was taken as a name from the first verse of the Surāh. This name was not, however, revealed, as is obvious from the Prophet’s reference to the Surah as “ Alhākum at-takāthur,” which is its first verse.
Place of revelation
This Surahwas revealed immediately after Surah al-Kawthar(108. Ibn Mardawayh collected a narration of Ibn ‘Abbas in which he said, “ Alhakum at-Takathur was revealed in Makkah.’’1
Reason for revelation
Allah invites mankind to give up the worship of this world because such worship blinds them to the realities of this life. The early Muslims of Makkah were mostly poor and oppressed, so Allah encouraged them to be steadfast in their faith and not to allow the riches, when they come, to divert them from their duties to God. They were reminded that this life is short and that they will have to answer for what they did with the blessing of Allah.
‘Amr ibn ‘Awf related that the Ansār2 head of Abu ‘Ubaydah ‘s arrival with Zakah from Bahrain and after the Fajr prayer they came to the Prophet who smiled and said ,
“ I think you have heard about the arrival of Abu ‘Ubaydah and that he has brought something?” They replied, “Yes, O’ Messenger of Allah.” He said , “This is good news, so hope for what will please you. By Allah , I am not afraid that you will become poor, but I am afraid that the worldly wealth will be given to you in abundance as it was given to those nations before you, and you will start competing with each other for it as they did, and then it will divert you as it did them.”3
Hadiths concerning concerning this Sūrah
Ibn ‘Umar reported that Allah’s Messenger asked,
Aren’t any of you able to recite a thousand verses ( of the Qur’an) daily?” The Companions replied, “ Who amongst us is able to recite 1,000 verses daily?” He replied , “Aren’t any of you able to recite ‘Alhakumut-Takāthur’?”4
Addullah ibn ash-Shakh-kheer relat that he came to the Messenger of Allh while he was reciting, “Al-Hākumut-Takāthur”and he said,
“Man says, ‘My wealth .’ But , O’ son of Adam, do you have any of your wealth except what you have eaten and used, worn and worn out, and what you have given in charity and thereby cause it to remain?”5
Sūrah at-Takāthur
Accumulation diverts you.
In this Sūrah , Allah warns us to avoid certain habits of this life which have no real value besides temporary amusement. Man often spends his waking hours busily amassing, wealth, children and fame in order to boast to others and rule the weak and helpless. This pointless activity blinds him to realities of this life. He fails to realize that wealth, children and fame in order to boast , to others and rule the weak and helpless. This pointless activity blinds him to the realities of this life. Ha fails to realize that wealth , children, fame , etc. are only tests as Allah stated,

(know that verify your wealth and children are only a trial and with Allah is a great reward.)
By these test and trials Allah separates the believers from the non – believers and by them He also puts the believers on different levels according to their faith. Allah said,
(O’ Believers! Don’t let your wealth or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah…) (Qur’an 63:9)
The drive to a mass more makes man forget the real purpose of his life, which is the worship of Allah, and it also makes him forget that he will have to answer to Allah for his deeds on the Day of Judgment. Thus Allah remind us:
(Do not let wealth and children amaze you, for Allah only wants to punish them with it in this life and that their souls be taken while they were disbelievers.) (Qur’an 9:55)
Those who fail these tests have allowed their wives and children to become their own personal enemies without realizing it. Yet, Allah tells us in the Qur’an:
(….Surely there is in your wives and children an enemy for you, so beware of…..) (Qur’an 64:14)
Until you visit the graves
The diversion created by the accumulation of this world’s pleasures continue to trick people into believing that everything is all right, until death catches up with them in this state of manifest ignorance.
(So when they forgot ( the warning ) with which they were reminded , we opened to them the gates of every (pleasant) thing, until in the midst of their enjoyment in that which they were given, all of the sudden , we caught them…….) (Qur’an 6:44)
It is only on their beds that they finally awaken from their dream world of fun and games, but then it is too late. Even if they ask for forgiveness at that time it will not be accepted , as it was being sought in a state of fear at a time when the realities of the afterlife are evident. Allah said,
(There is no repentance for those who continue to do evil until death comes one of them and he says, ‘Indeed, I have now repented,’…)
‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar quoted the prophet as saying,
“Allah , Most Great and Glorious, will accept His servant’s repentance until his death rattle begins.”
They will beg for another chance , but Allah said,
(Allah will not delay a soul if their appointed time comes, and Allah knows that you do) (Qur’an 63:11)
Greed is a very dangerous emotions because it is never satisfied. The more wealth and pleasure people have, the more they want. Only death finally and sudden ends this desire. Both Ibn ‘Abbās and Anas reported that the prophet said ,
“If one of Adam’s descendants had a valley of gold, he would wish for two valleys, for nothing will end his greed except the dirt of his grave”6
The believers are, therefore, advised to avoid this trap and the disbelievers are encouraged to wake up before it is too late.
This verse could also be understood to mean that the mutual rivalry and accumulation of wealth diverts men to such a degree that they even go to the graveyards and boast about who their dead relatives were and what they did. They compete with each other in building structures over the graves of their ancestors and forget themselves.
This diversion has become so powerful that even the graveyards do not remind them of their impending death.
But you will soon know.
Here Allah gives us a severe warming against our lives in the useless accumulation of material things and mutual boasting by hinting to us that we will soon know, without actually saying what, when and where. He tells us that this life is very short and we will soon realize just how foolish we were when we are finally lowered into our graves and are confronted with its punishments and torments. On that day it will become very clear to us that all our boasting and hoarding was all in vain , as it was not this life was really about. To illustrate the closeness of the next life, the prophet compared it to the shoes on our feet. Abdullāh quoted the prophet as saying ,
“Paradise is nearer to each of you than the strap of his sandal, and so is the Hell – Fire”7
Then after that you will soon know.
The previous verse is dramatically repeated to increase its impact on the minds of the listeners. It also points to another time shortly after the first encounter with the realities of death, when the follies of this life will seem even more tragic. We will be brought back to life to face the final judgment in which only righteous deeds will be of any avail.
If only you had certain knowledge
Allah adds another warning by assuring us that if we really knew just where we headed, we would not allow our desires for wealth and fame divert us from our real purpose even for a minute. We would be so busy doing righteous deeds and avoiding even deeds that we would not have any time even to think about hoarding money and boasting. This is why the prophet who had certain knowledge, is reported to have said,
“If you knew what I know, you would laugh little and cry a lot.”8
This verse has been purposely left incomplete by Allah to increase its impact , by allowing the listener or reader to complete it in his own mind. This is considered, according to Arabic grammar, the height of eloquence.
You will surely see9 the fire
This verse is also introduced by a particularly by a particular deleted oath to increase the certainly of its subject matter. The complete oath is: “By Allah, you will see the fire.” Everyone will be shown the Hell-fire.”
(There is none among you who wont be brought near to it (the Hell-fire) ) (Qur’an 19:71)
Its heart-rending ferocity will shock the righteous, then they will be overcome with joy and gratitude in the knowledge that they will escape its flames by Allah’s mercy. But for the evil, the initial shock will only increase in intensity as it dawns on them that they are seeing their future eternal home. The Prophet is quoted by Abu Hurayrah as saying,
“No one will enter Paradise without being shown the place he would have occupied in the fire if he had rejected faith, so that he would be more thankful. And no one will enter the fire without being shown the place he would have occupied in Paradise if he had accepted faith, so that he would be more sorrowful.”10
Abu Sa ‘īd al-Khudrī related that the prophet said , concerning the Day of judgement,
“….A bridge will be brought and place over Hell.” The Companions asked, “O” Messenger of Allah, what is the bridge?” He replied, “It is slippery and has hooks…. Some of the believers will cross the bridge in the blinking of an eye, others as quick lighting, or a strong wind, fast horses or she-camels. Some will cross safely without any harm, others will receive some scratches and some will fall down into Hell. The last person will cross as if he were dragged over”11
Then , you will really see it with certainty
The sinners will then be brought very close to the Fire to get an even more hair-raising view. The certainity of their entrance will be burned into their minds as they stand in fear at its very edge.
‘Ayna al-yaqīn is considered the highest level of knowledge about anything since no matter how detailed a description may be, it can never be equal to seeing a thing with one’s own eyes.

Then , verily you will be asked on that Day about the pleasures.
On the Day of Judgement (Qiyāmah), everyone will be questioned about the blessing of ease, comfort and pleasure which Allah gave him in this life as a test. Did we give the thanks which were due? Our wealth and children came to us with virtually no effortson our part. Even if it seems to us that things happen as a direct result of our efforts, if we look around us, we will see many people who made more effort than us, but got less, and others who made less efforts than us, but got more. Therefore, it wasn’t our effort by itself which determined what we got in this life, it was only Alla’s mercy. Did we thank Him by remembering Him and obeying His commands, or were we ungrateful, forgetful and neglectful? That short life is only a test made upof that one fateful question , and its answer will determine our place in the next eternal life. Out of everything in this world, only our good deeds will be of any use to us in the next. Anas ibn Mālik reported that the Prophet said,
(A dead person is followed by three, two of them return and one remains: His relatives , his property and his deeds follow him; The relatives and property return and his deeds remain with him”12
The blessings Allah has granted to us should be put to their right use. This is a means of expressing gratitude to Him. For instance, if we are in health, it can be used for the service of others; with wealth, the less fortune can be helped; if we have knowledge, it can be passed on others. We have not been sent on earth for eternity hence, all the blessings given to us only a means to achieve a worthwhile end, which is seeking Allah’s pleasure. Ibn ‘Abbās quoted the prophet as saying,
“ There are two blessings of which many people are cheated : health and free time”13
These blessings are opportunities to good which most people miss. Ibn ‘Abbās also reported that Allah’s Messenger advised a man saying,
“Avail yourself of five things before five: your life you die, your health before you sick, your free time before you become busy, your youth before you become old, your wealth before you become poor”14













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Tafsir Surah al-Inshirah (or ash-sharh) 94
Name of the Surah
Place of revelation
The reason for this revelation
Tafsir Sura at-Tin (95)
Name of the Surah
Place of revelation
Reason for this revelation
Hadiths concerning this Surah
Tafsir Surah al-Adiyat (100)
Name of the Surah
Place of revelation
The reason for this revelation.










5. Tafsir Surah al-Inshirah
(or ash-Sharh) (94)
Name of the Surah
This Surah is named Surah ash-Sharh in many copies of the Qur’an, however, the literal meanings of “sharh” and “inshirah” are the same. Both mean openining and expanding, but in this surah they refer to the relief which Allah gave to Prophet Muhammad. The Sahaba (Companions of the prophet) often referred to this surah as Surah Alam Nashrah )Literally, “ Did we not open’) since these are the opening words of the Surah. The title “Sharh” and “Inshirah” are very suitable for this chapter of the Qur’an, because the whole chapter describes various ways by which Allah relieved the Prophet of his many burdens.
Place of revelation.
‘A’ishah, the wife of the Prophet, is reported to have said that, “Surah Alam Nashrah was revealed to Prophet Muhammad in the city of Makkah”1 and the Sahabi IBN ‘Abbas added that it was revealed after the revelation of surah ad-Duha (93)2.
The reason for this revelation
In this Surah, Allah reminds the Prophet and the believers of the relief which He has constantly given them after times of difficulty. He also points out to them that no matter how strong and powerful their enemies may seem the fame of the believers to one of the most important characteristics of their earthly live: sabr (patience and endurance). The believers are told not to give up, no matter how difficult things might appear to them, because Allah’s help and mercy are just around the corner. This surah also warns the believers of the negative qualities of impatience, despair, and lack of endurance. The believer, according to this Surah, is not a quitter; he does not give up when times get tough. Instead, he sticks to the right path and continues to struggle until Allah relieves him.
Surah al-Inshirah
Did we not open your chest for you?
Allah reminds the prophet of the times when He guided him and opened his heart to the wisdom behind his many trials and times of extreme difficulty. The term “chest” is used here much in the same way that is used in English. When something is bothering someone, it is said that he has something” on his chest,” and if he is relieved by expressing to others what was bothering him, it is said that he got it “off his chest.” Allah removed from the Prophet’s chest the many worries and doubt which he had concerning the difficult task of spreading the religion of Islam to the people of his time. Allah also removed the bad feelings which the prophet felt when his people rejected him and plotted against him.
When the Qur’an was first revealed to the prophet, he feared that he would forget it, so he used to quickly repeat whatever he heard. However Allah told him no to do so. Instead, he should only listen to it carefully and Allah would cause it to be imprinted in his mind without any effort on his part.3
The explanation was based on the figurative meaning of Allah’s opening of the Prophet’s chest; however, this verse also has a literal meaning Twice in the Prophet’s life Allah had His angels cut open Prophet Muhammad’s stay with his foster mother, Halimah as-Sa‘diyah. While as a five year old tending the goats and sheep of his foster parents, two angels descended on him, cut open his chest and purified his heart.4In this way, Allah protected his final prophet during early childhood and youth and prepared him for prophet hood. As for the second occasion, it was on the night of the prophet while he was sleeping in his house, cut open his chest once again and poured wisdom into his heart.5 This prepared the prophet for his awesome journey out of his world and for the incredible experiences he would have on that journey. He was also being strengthened for the next stage of prophet hood which was to begin shortly after that with his migration to the city of Yathrib (later renamed al-Madinah). (See Islamic studies Book 1)
And we removed your burden for you.
The burden of errors which the prophet had committed before receiving divine revelation and prophet hood bothered him continuously in spite of their insignificance. Allah then removed the prophet’s feelings of remorse and sadness and replaced them with feelings of gratitude and happiness over his countless mercies. Allah tells the prophet in this verse that all of his errors have been forgiven. This message was intended to comfort the prophet and raise his spirits so that his mind would be free to concentrate on the great task of calling mankind to Islam.
Which had become heavy on your back?
The worries of prophet are described in the verse as weighing down his back even though they were of a mental and spiritual nature rather than a physical one. This figurative description of the Prophets problems makes them appear really enormous, thereby, giving us a clearer picture of what he was faced with.
Verses two and three also refer to the many incidents throughout the prophet’s mission in which Allah lightened the weight of prophet hood by providing the prophet with strong support from the people around him. For example, his wife Khadijah was a source of great comfort and warmth when the first revelations left him in doubt and fear. The prophet, not having received revelation before, was not sure whether Jibril was really a messenger from Allah or whether he was a Shaytan. Khadijah assured him that Allah would never allow a righteous person such as him to be sent astray in his way. She also took the prophet to her cousin, Waraqah ibn Nawfal, who was familiar with the scriptures of the Jews and the Christians. When Prophet Muhammad related to Waraqah what had been revealed to him and how it had been revealed, Waraqah confirmed that it was a part of the divine revelation which had come to the prophets of old.
Another example is the prophet’s uncle Abu Talib, who spite of not accepting Islam, supported the prophet and his followers when they were under social and economic boycott by their tribe, the Quraysh. For a period of three years Muhammad and his family, his clan, Banu Hashim, and many of his followers were confined within a mountain pass some distance fromMakkah. The pagans of Makkah had banded together in an attempt to starve the Muslims into giving up Islam, but Abu Talib not only refused to join the pagans, but also decided to stay with the prophet and his companions outside of Makkah.
A further example is that of the prophet’s uncle Hamzah and Umar ibn al-Khattab coming into Islam at a joint when Muslims were being forced to perform their prayers and hold their meetings in utmost secrecy due to the constant harassment of disbelievers. Because Hamzah and Umar were both noted for their strength and bravery, their entrance into Islam allowed Muslims to pray openly at the Ka‘bah and to speak out against the idolatry and corruption of Makkan society.
And we raised your reputation.
Allah continues to mention to the prophet the special favours which were bestowed upon him. The earlier prophets all made covenants with Allah to believe in Prophet Muhammad and to command their followers to do so also. Mention of prophet Muhammad can be found to this day in both the old testament of Jews, as well as the Gospels of Christians, in spite of the many to have said the following to prophet Moses.
“I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their (i.e. the Jews) brethren (i.e the Arabs); and I will put my words in his mouth
(i.e. the Qur’an and Qudsi Hadiths) and he shall speak to them all that I shall command him.”7
In the Gospel, Prophet Jesus is reported to have said to his companions as follows:
“I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
When he, comforter comes, he will guide you into all the truth, For he will not speak on his own authority; but whatever he hears, he will speak ; and he shall declare to you the things that are to come. And he will glorify me, for he shall take what is mine and declare it to you.”8
In the Gospel according to Barnabas, the following is recorded:
“The disciples answered, ‘ O’ Master, who shall that man be of whom thou speakest, who shall come into the world?’ Jesus answered with joy of heart, ‘He is Muhammad, Messenger of God, and when he cometh into the world, even as the rain maketh the earth to bear fruit when for a long time it hath not rained, even so shall he be occasion of good works among men, through the abundant mercy of God which he will bring.”9
Allah also raised the Prophet’s reputation among all generations of Muslims by linking the Prophet’s neme with His. Abu Sa‘eed reported that Allah’s Messenger said,
“Jibril came to me and said, ‘Verily your Lord asks, ‘How have I raised your reputation?’ I replied, ‘ Allah alone knows.’ Jibril then said that Allah said, ‘Whenever I am mentioned you are mentioned with Me.’ ”10
That is, in the adhan (call to prayer), the declaration, “ I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah” is recited at least five times every day in most parts of the world.

For verily with every difficulty there is ease.
After mentioning some of the favours bestowed on the Prophet after times of difficulty, Allah, the Most Merciful assures him that it is the normal pattern of things that after times of hardship there will be time of ease. Elsewhere in the Qur’an we are told that, Allah does not burden a soul with more than it can bear. 11 When an individual is tried and tested by fearsome experiences, test becomes truly unbearable. A test which is impossible to pass is not a test at all and no one would be at fault for failing such a test. A real test is one which lies within the range of our abilities and responsibilities. Success of failure in such a test could then logically be rewarded or punished. Therefore, for the divine judgment of man in the next world to make any sense at all, the misfortunes and burdens of this life cannot be beyond his capacity to handle Based on this divine principle of tests according to abilities, suicide has been classified as haram (forbidden) in Islam. In fact, the Prophet himself informed us that one who kills himself will find himself in the Hell-fire life.13 The one who commits suicide implies by his act that Allah has unjustly burdened him beyond his God-given abilities, and such a concept is, in reality, equivalent to kufr (disbelief). Muslims are not permitted to give up hope in Allah at any time and they are expected to look at difficulties as merely temporary tests from Allah, soon to be followed by a period of ease.
Verily, with every difficulty there is ease.
The divine promise in the previous verse is repeated, word for word, in order to emphasize its certainty and to set the believers’ hearts at rest. At the time of this revelation, the believers were in the most difficult stage of the Islamic movement, the stage in which foundations were laid and the religion was being re-established on a universal basis. All of the forces of disbelief had gathered together to erase Islam and coerce its adherents back into idol-worship at a time when Muslims were forbidden to fight and their numbers were few. A divine promise of this nature greatly needed to boost the spirits of the Prophet and his followers and help them to bear the numerous calamities which befell them with patience and perseverance. Allah further emphasized the promise of ease after difficulty for those who fear Him and are patient by saying,
…For whoever fears Allah-He will make a way out and give
Him provision from `````where he never expected…. (Qur’an 65:2-3)
Thus, when you have finished, you should continue to strive.
On the basis of the above-mentioned promise, the Prophet and his followers are advised to continue to do righteous deeds at all times, no matter how great a deed they may have completed. That is, there is no period in which a true believer may take a rest from doing good; he must be aware of his obligation to Allah at all times. The true believer cannot afford to lose sight of the purpose behind his creation. In created things, man’s purpose is to worship Him (ibadah), and in relation to created things, man’s purpose is to govern them according to the laws of Allah (khilafah). This dual purpose does not allow any “free time” if he has chosen to submit to Allah. The believers are told to strive in sincere prayer to Allah whenever they finished doing the deeds of his world and strive in the propagation their prayers.

The importance of using every opportunity for increasing one’s good deeds was greatly emphasized by the Prophet. Ibn ‘Abbas reported that the Prophet once said,
“ Profit from five before the arrival of five: your life before your death, your health before your sickness, your free time before you become busy, your youth before your age, and your wealth before your poverty.”14
And to your Lord you should direct your desire.
Allah closes the Surah with a very important note: Our major interests and desires should be for the things in the next world which Allah has put aside for the righteous, and not for the few material pleasures of this short life. The importance of this reminder to direct our desires to Allah becomes most obvious when we consider the fact that the pains and pleasures of this life will all cease after a relatively short period, While in the next life, pain in Hell and pleasure in Paradise are everlasting. This vital fact has been mentioned in various ways repeatedly throughout the Qur’an. For example, Allah told the Prophet and the believers.
Do not strain your eyes to see what pleasures we have given some groups of them, for they merely decorations of worldly life given in order to test them, while, the provision with your Lord is better and more lasting. (Qur’an 20:131)
Elsewhere in the Qur’an, Allah tells man,
And whatever things you all have been given are simply pleasures and beauties of the worldly life, but that which is with Allah is better and more lasting. Will you all not come to your senses? (Qur’an 28:60
It is the nature of man to desire things in the worlds which believes will please his physical and spiritual senses. Because of this, Allah has gone to great lengths to describe in detail many of the pleasures of the next life. However, the similarity between pleasures of the afterlife and pleasures of this life are only in the names and the fact that they both bring pleasure. The Prophet is reported by Abu Hurayrah to have said,
“Allah said, ‘I have prepared for my righteous servants things which no eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard of, and no human has ever thought of.’ ”
Abu Hurayrah then added, “Read, if you wish Allah’s statement in the Qur’an.
No soul knows what joys of comfort for eyes are kept hidden for what they used to do.
(Qur’an 32:17)”15
Those who truly believe in Allah, will find the description of the joys of the next world a substitute that is much better that the short-lived joys of this world a substitute that is much better than the short-lived joys of this world. It is their souls alone which have succeeded in casting off the chains of desire for the few cheap pleasures of this passing world. With one’s desires directed towards Allah, the tests and trials of this life become easier to bear and sacrifices which accompany good deeds become easier to make. It is only in this state that one can really reap the rewards of both this life as well as the next, Allah willing.




6. Tafsir Surah at-Tin (95)
Name of the Surah
The name of this Suah, “at-Tin, “ is the Arabic word for “fig,” and it is the second word mentioned in the first verse of the Surah. The Companions of the Prophet commonly referred to this Surah by the whole first verse, “war-tini waz-Zaytun,” and some commentaries on the wide acceptance of the shortened title, it was chosen by the generation of the Surahs at the beginning of each chapter.
Place of revelation
Ibn ‘Abbas and Ibn az-Zunayr were both reported to have said that Surah at-Tin was first revealed in Makkah.1 It was also reported to have been revealed after Surah al-Buruj (85).
Reason for this revelation
This Surah reminds mankind of the many blessings which Allah has bestowed on them in the form of food, revelation, prophets, and even in the perfection of their own physical and spiritual forms. It further points out that disbelief in Allah and disobedience of his commandments will lead to man’s eventual destruction in this life and the next. Consequently, mankind is reminded by Allah in this Surah to reflect on the bounties of the Creator and to give thanks to him by submitting their wills in the acceptance of Islam.
Hadiths concerning this Surah
Al-Bara ibn Azib said,
“While the Prophet was on a journey, he prayed Salatul-Isha’ and read, in one of the rak ‘ahs’ ‘Wat-Tini waz-Zaytun.’ I never heard anyone with a more beautiful voice ar a style of recitation than his.”2 Abdullah ibn Yazid reported that the Prophet read, “Wat-tini waz-Zaytun” during Salatul-Maghrib (Sunset prayer).3
Surah at-Tin
By the fig and the olive
Here Allah makes an oath by two type of fruit, both of which He created man’s benefit. The fig, with its luscious sweetness, soft body, and many little edible seeds, and the olive oil, tart and firm with a single large inedible seed were opposites well known to those to whom this Surah was first directed. The fig was a luxury occasionally enjoyed, while the olive was an everyday food whose oils had many diverse uses. Allah focuses attention on them to remind the people of that time, as well as us, of his countless blessings created specifically for our benefit and in spite of our ingratitude.

By Mount Sinai
Allah then swears by Mount Sinai, 5on which He spoke directly to Prophet Moses. This is also a reminder of another one of Allah’s favours to mankind. He gave us Prophets as examples and divine books of law and guidance so that we might go aright, yet most go astray. This mount was raised up over the heads of the Israelites and a covenant was taken from them, but shortly thereafter they disobeyed Allah’s laws and slaughtered his Prophets. Thus, Mount Sinai represents Allah’s mercy to man in the form of Divine Guidance, the obstinacy of the Jews, as well as most of mankind, in their rejection of the prophets and the guidance.
And by this secure town
The final oath is made by Makkah itself, reminding the Arabs, who were the first to hear this Surah, of yet another mercy which Allah had bestowed on them. Makkah was made secure and safe from all dangers from the time of Ibrahim and Isma ‘il’s building of the Ka ‘bah until their time. In fact, in the year 571 C.E., known as “The Year of the Elephant,” When Abraha and his men came from Yemen to destroy the Ka ‘bah and defeated the army by sending a swarm of birds against them. This historical incident and others like it were well-known to the Quraysh. So, when Allah reffered to Makkah as being secure and safe, it had great significance to them.
Verily, have created man in the best form;
This verse introduces the topic which Allah wants to emphasize by preceding it with a series of oaths. That is, Allah swears by the fig, the olive, Mount Sinai and Makkah: “I have fashioned human beings in the most balanced and upright form.” All other animals are bent over, and even if some of them stand up , their legs remain bent or their backs remain hunched, whereas man stands fully erect. He was also given a mind with which he could rule his instincts and desires and even alter his environment to suit his needs. Additionally, Allah blessed him with an eternal soul endowed with the ability to distinguish between good and evil.
That soul and mind and their qualities have raised man above the rest of creation and blessed him with a reflection of the divine attributes. That is the meaning contained in the following hadith reported by Abu Hurayrah from the prophet.
“Allah, Most Great and Glorious, created Adam in his image. “6
Even though the wonders of man’s own creation are beyond his comprehension and the multiplicity of chemical and physical processes going on within him are mind-boggling, he still fails to realize that they are all simply signs pointing to the Supreme Being who designed them, started them functioning, and who maintains them for a specified time. Look at Allah’s reminder:
There are signs in the earth for those (Whose faith is) certain, and even in your very selves are signs, if you would only reflect. (Qur’an 51:20-20)


Then we sent him back to the lowest of the lows
Allah, after creating man superior to the rest of creation, often returns him to a state lower than the lowest of His Creation. That is, when man disbelieves in Allah after all the blessings Allah has bestowed on him, he in fact lowers himself to a level below that of the rest of creation, which exists in a state of submission to Allah. Man is in rebellion against Allah’s laws, and in his rebellions, he sinks into a mire of filth, exhausting himself with his own inventions (drugs, pornography, war, etc.). Allah in turn places this rebellion individual at the lowest level of the everlasting fire, where he will be consumed, recreated and consumed forever.
Except those who believe and do righteous deeds; they alone will have an unending reward.
All of mankind is destined for the lower reaches of the Hell-fire with the exception of those believe in Allah, His Prophets, His Angels, revealed scriptures, the Day of Resurrection, and Qadar (Allah’s degree), and do deeds which conform to their beliefs and Allah’s commands. Those who submit to Allah’s laws are rewarded by being exempt from the torments of Hel and, instead, are given an everlasting abode of pleasure and fulfillment in a place called Jannah (Paradise). It is worth noting that the condition for attaining Paradise is a combination of both Eeman (faith) and Amal Salih (Righteous deed). The reason for the combination is because righteous deeds are the fruit or natural result of correct belief. Correct belief, without a doubt, necessitates correct action, though mistakes are investable, as man is not a perfect being.
The Messenger of Allah said,
“All of Adam’s descendants constantly repent.”7
The prophet also said,
“If you did not commit sins, Allah would sweep you out of existence and replace you with a people who would commit sins, then ask Allah’s forgiveness, and He would forgive them.”8
So, if we see someone in error we cannot negate his belief or his Eeman unless he proves it by a direct statement of disbelief or some other means. Similarly, we can’t assume that someone has the correct Eeman simply because he does good deeds, as he may have ulterior motives behind them, like seeking popularity. Allah informs us of a plain reality which He alone knows its entirety: The successful are whose belief and actions are correct.
What then makes you a disbeliever in the (Day of) recompense?
This verse has two possible meanings, depending on whom the question is addressed to:
If Allah is speaking to the Kafir (disbeliever), then the verse could be understood to mean, “If you, O’ rebellious disbeliever, have realized that Allah has made you in the best of forms and the highest of states, then lowered you to the worst of forms and lowest of states, what then has caused you to disbelieve and lie about the Resurrection and Judgment?”
If Allah is speaking to the His Messenger, then the verse could be understood to mean, “Who dares to call you a liar concerning what you have said about the Day of Judgment after this clear explanation of man’s reality and Allah’s countless mercies and blessing?”
Whichever of the two meaning is used, the basic message of the verse remains the same: After Allah’s explanation of man’s creation and the choices that determine his development in this life, as well as his future state, there should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that would cause him to deny the reality of Resurrection and final judgment.

Is not Allah the best of Judges?
Allah goes on to ask mankind rhetorically, “ Isn’t the who has blessed mankind physically and spiritually, after creating them in the best of forms and giving them a choice between good and evil, the best to judge them, or is there someone else who feel would be a better judge for them?’ This question is asked to point out the ridiculousness of those who feel that there is no judgment or that there is none who could judge them.
7. Tafsir Sura al-Adiyat (100)
Name of the Surah
Adiyat is the plural of adiyah, which literally means something running quickly. The word mentioned in the first verse of this Surah refers to horses changing towards the enemy.
Place of revelation.
It is reported that Ibn ‘Abbas said, “Surah al-Adiyat was revealed in Makkah.”1 This Surah was revealed after surah al-Asr (103).
The reason for this revelation
The main message of the Surah is that man is ungrateful to Allah in spite of the many favours which have been bestowed on him. However, he will be held responsible for not giving thanks, and all of his sins, hidden and open, will be exposed (unless Allah forgiveness him and conceals them). Nothing escapes Allah, whose justice will and must prevail. This Surah invites the disbelievers to reflect to their state of delusion, and it reminds the believers that their good deeds will not be in vain, regardless of the apparent success that evil seems to have in this life. As Allah said in the Qur’an,
Do not their wealth and children dazzle you. Allah only wishes to punish them with the things of this life and for their souls to perish while they in a state of disbelief.
Sura al- Adiyat.
By the swift charges, thundering
The Surah starts with a divine oath which summons the picture of a violent scene. It is of steeds of war in the middle of a charge. Their hooves are pounding the earth and their nostrils are snorting as they thrust forth mightily. The listeners’ attention is immediately captured by this dynamic image.
By flashing sparks, hammering
Focus is drawn to the pounding hooves of these mighty steeds as they smash against stones and pebbles. Sparks of fire fly off in all directions like blacksmith hammering a bar of red-hot iron on his anvil. The listener is almost overwhelmed by the force behind these vivid scenes as they build toward a climax.
In the early morn, attacking,
Yet another tone is added to the scene. It is a raid dawn. The enemy is caught totally unaware by cavalry attack. There is no opportunity to mount a counter attack or even an organized defence. Every man is for himself, trying to avoid the murderous hooves of the charging horses as they rapidly approach their encampment.
Clouds of dust, churning
As the raiders bust in on the enemy, clouds of dust start to rise around them. The charge begins to slow as the enemy is encountered and the streams of dust which formerly trailed begin to catch up and hide them like a screen. But the momentum continues to build as the rhythm tightens and the climax.
Into the centre of the crowd, Crashing,
Here, in the final scene, the climax is reached. The momentum of the charge reaches its peak and drives them right into the centre of the enemy. Victory is theirs as the heart of the enemy has been pierced to its core. These scenes were familiar to those who first heard of this Surah. Horses were dear to them, as they portrayed the perfect battle: a devastating surprise attack and an immediate, crushing victory.
So it is as if Allah says: By these scenes which you so dearly love, which catch your attention so completely, there is something more important that you ought to consider.
Verily, man is ungrateful to his Lord
Allah wants us to consider the fact that most of mankind deny the blessings which He has given them. Some claim that their wealth and good fortune are a direct result of their own efforts, but a quick analysis of the world situation proves them wrong. There are many who made more effort than they did, yet their wealth was less, and also there are some who made less effort, yet they accumulated more. Therefore, the crux of the matter is not simply the effort made, but really Allah’s distribution of His blessings. Allah said,
Allah has favoured some of you over others with sustenance…
(Qur’an 16:71)
Allah gives freely to whom He pleases, whenever He pleases, regardless of the circumstances. But His bounty is only a test used to expose the ungrateful and confirm the righteous. This is why the Prophet said,
“Look to whoever is below you and don’t look to those above you. It is more appropriate for you in order that you do not deny Allah’s blessings on you.”2
As long one keeps in mind that there are others less fortunate than him, he is more likely to recognize the countless blessing he has and be thankful to Allah.
Some who observe the discrepancy between effort and results use it as a basis for the total denial of Allah’s existence. They attribute success to good luck, which, in their estimation, is blind and impersonal; therefore, there is no need for giving thanks. Doing so, they have stripped Allah of most of His attributes, made Him a blind force not following any discernable laws and called Him by a new name, “Luck.” Often they become very attached to objects, places and times they associated with good fortune, Considering them “lucky,” as in the case of “good charms.” This attachment on their part often involves into a series of rituals differing only slightly from many ancient pagan rituals performed to appease the various gods they worshipped.
And verily, he himself is a witness to that
Man testifies by his own action to his ingratitude. Even the so-called believer, who claims to be thankful, repeating phrases such as “al-Hamdu lillah” thousands of time daily, acts in a way that contradicts his words. He clings to his wealth as if it were truly his own, and not just a trust and rest from Allah. He sees the needy and finds numerous excuses for not helping them. Or, if he does give, it is much less than his ability.3
And verily, his love of (material) good is strong
Man is driven by his intense love of the material benefits of this life to expend all of his energies in its accumulation. He spends most of his waking hours devising ways and means of tricking others out of their wealth. He is totally oblivious to the fact that he will shortly die and will not be able to take any of it with him. Chasing the fantasies of this world has made him short-sighted. He can only see what is immediately in front of him, and is unable to deduce the factors at play behind them. He scoffs at the thought of Allah and makes fun of the religious. Though “his love for good is strong,” without divine guidance he does not know what is really good for him. Consequently, he will seek out evil believing that he is seeking good. Allah described this state of confusion as follows:
…perhaps you dislike something and it is good for you and love something and it is evil for you… (Qur’an 2:216)
Will he not know the contents of the graves are poured out?
Allah ask this rhetorical question, scorning those who carry on their foolishness in this world despite repeated warnings and obvious signs all pointing to a time when an account will be given. At that time all of mankind will be resurrected from their respective graves, regardless of the circumstances surrounding their burial. Therefore, dead bodies that are cremated and the ashes scattered in the Ganges according to the Hindu custom, or dead corpses left to be devoured by vultures according to the Zoroastrian custom, all will be resurrected. All parts of the earth, Seas and winds which contain their remains will pour them out on that fateful day.
And what is in the chest will be exposed
In the instant in which dead bodies are brought back to life, all of their deeds, spiritually imprinted on people’s souls, will be separated into two categories: good and evil. Then they will be weighed in front of them on the scales ultimate justice.
Allah refers to the chest because it encloses the heart, which controls the behavior of each individual. It is where the innermost secrets are kept hidden from all of creation. But Allah holds the key which unlocks all secrets; that key being His unlimited knowledge from which nothing escapes.
Verily on that Day, their Lord will be well aware of them.
The divine scales will only confirm for man what Allah already knew before He even created mankind. On that day the rewards and punishments will be meted out according to the results f the weighing of deeds. This judgment is in reality only for man’s benefit, for Allah could have created men, divided them into two groups, and placed one group in Jannah (Paradise) and the other in Jahannam (Hell) based on His prior knowledge. But then those who were sent to the fires of Jahannam would claim that the division was unfair and that they would have done good in his life, if only they had been given the chance. So Allah has allowed man to prove to himself by his own deeds why he deserves the end which he will meet. Thus, the judgment can be aid to represent the perfection of Allah’s justice found in His description of Himself as “Ahkam al-Hakimin”4 (The wisest of Judges):
The word of your Lord is completed in truth and Justice. None can change His words, for He hears and knows all. (Qur’an 6:115)

















TAFSEER SOORAH AL-‘ALAQ (96)
Name of the soorah
‘Alaq literally means blood clots or leeches. The singular of it is ‘alaqah,and the verb from which it is derived is ‘aliqa, which means “to cling”. The word ‘alaq occurs at the end of the second verse of this soorah. This soorah is also reffered to as soorah Iqra’(“read”),as it is the first word of the first word of the first and third verses and the topic of the first part of the soorah. Ibn Jareer at –Tabari titled it “soorah Iqra’ Brims.”
Some scholars hold that this soorah consist of20verses, while others consider it to have only 19 verses. This difference of opinion confirms the fact that the total number of verses in the soorahs was not specified by revelation except in the case of soorah al- fatihah (Qur’an 1:1-7). The actual numbering of verses, like the naming of the soorahs,took place long after the Qur’an was written down.
Place of revelation
This soorah is Makkan without a shadow of a doubt, and is considered to be the first part of the Qur’an to be revealed. The first revelation of the Qur’an was ‘Iqra bismi rabbikalladhee khalaq.’ ”
Reason for revelation
The prophet’s wife ‘A’ishah narrated, “The first (from) of wahee (revelation)that came to the Messenger of Allah was the true vision in sleep. Whenever he had a dream, it would come (true) like the bright gleam dawn. The solitude became dear to him,and he used to seclude himself in the cabe of Hira, where he would engage in worship for a number of nights before returning to his family and getting provisions again for that purpose.(when they ran out)he would again return to Khadeejah and take provisions for a like period,until the Truth came to him while he was in the cave of Hira. The prophet told ‘A’ishah,.
“He took hold of me and pressed me to the point that it took all of my strength to cope, then he let me go and said. ‘Read.’ I said,’ I can’t read.’ He again took hold of me and pressed me for the second time to the point that it took all of my strength to cope, then let go of me and said, ‘Read,’to which I replied , ‘ I can’t read.’He took hold of me and pressed me for the third time to the point that it took all my strength to cope, the let me go and said,(Recite in the name of your Lord who created,created the human being from a thing that clings.Recite and your lord is the most Generous, who taught by the pen,taught man what he did not know).
‘A’ishah said, “Allah’s messenger returned straight away, with the arteries of his neck trobbing, until he came to Khadeejah and said ‘wrap me up, wrap me up! So they wrapped him until the fear had left him.
He then said to Khadeeja, ‘khadeejah! What has happened to me?’and he informed her of what happened,saying, ‘I fear for myself.’she replied, ‘never (fear). Be happy. I swear by Allah that He will never humiliate you.
‘Never (fear). Be happy. I swear by Allah that He will never humiliate you.
By allah, you go out of your way to nurture the ties of kinship, you speak the truth and support the needy, you earn wealth for those who cannot,entertain the guests and help out in the afflication that try people.’she tok him to her ignorance, he knew Hebrew and could write Arabic,and had translated portions of the Gospel into Arabic. He was by then a very old man and had gone blind. Khadeejah said to him, ‘uncle, please listen to your cousin.’
Waraqah said, ‘what do you see,my cousin?’ The messenger oa Allah then informed him about what he had seen. Waraqah tpold him, this is the same angel that was was sent down to Moses. I just wish I were young and vigorous (help you in your mission). If only I could be alive when your people drive you out.’ Allah’s Messenger asked, ‘will they really drive me out?Waraqah said, ‘yes .No man ever came with what you have brought without meeting hostility. If I see your day I will help you wholeheartedly.’
Hadith concerning this soorah
Muslim and the authors of the sunan reported from Abu Hurayrah that he said ,
“We made sajdah (prostration) along with the prophet in ‘Idhas-ama ‘un shaqqat’ and ‘iqra’ bismi rabbik.’
Soorah al-‘ Alaq
Read in the name of your Lord who created
The prophet and the believers were commanded to recite that which was revealed to them beginning with Allah’s name. Because of that command, the Bsmalah (i.e. the statement “ Bismillah”) is written and read at the beginning of every soorah, with the expection of soorah at-Tawbah, even beginning though it is not actually a verse. It represents an open declaration of intent to recite first and foremeost for Allah’s pleasure alone and not for the admiration and pleasureof those around us. Second, it represents a reaffirmation of Eeman and the commitment to put into practice in order to make Eeman a living and vital force and not just the empty words of a cultural hand-me-down. The completion of the verse also represents an open declaration of the fact that it is Allah alone who creates.It is He alone who has the power to bring a thing into existence from a stste of non-existence. In this admission there is an implicit reminder of the greatest mercy and blessings which Allah has bestowed on humankind. Allah’s attribute of infinite and perfect mercy contained in the derivatives of the noun rahmah, like “ ar – Rahman” and “ar- Raheem.” Manifested itself in the act of creation. What greater mercy is there to each and every individual than the act of bringing him into existence, making him be when he wasn’t?
He created humankind from clinging leech-like clots of blood
Allah goes on reveal to humans something of their lowly origins and the miracles of their creation. Elsewhere in the Qur’an Allah has elaborated on the embryological development of human beings to a degree far beyond the limited scientific knowledge of the seventh century, establishing for all time clear proofs for the divine origin of the Qur’an. But here, Allah suffices with a of the sperm and the ovum. The fertilized egg descends from the fallopian tube egg. The process involves the development of root-like protrusions called villi,which bury themselves in the wall of the uterus in order to extract nourishment from it, the way trees roots operate in soil. The end result is that this reddish-looking clump of cells clings to the uterus in a leech-like fashion.
Here lies human beings’ origin: a mass of reddish cells clinging on for dear life, totally dependent on the processes of the uterine world. Allah suggest that human beings should reflect on their origin,then reflect on their present state, abundant with countless abilities and spiritual independence : blessing upon blessings, mercies upon mercies-should he not give thanks?
Should he not consider his responsibilities?
Read ! And your Lord is the Most Generous
The prophet and the believers are told to proclaim without hesitation that their Lord is the Most Kind and Noble. His generosity knows no bounds and it works in many ways. Sometimes one has to reflect and contemplate to recognize it and sometimes it is plain and obvious. But this divine quality of karamy (generosity) does not only demand from us appreciation and thanks, it also requires us to imitate it and make it an intrinsic part of our own personalities.
The prophet emphasizes this fact by linking generosity and kindness with the presence of Eeman itself, saying’
“Whoever believes in Allah and the last Day should be generous with his guest.”
This is one of the most powerful moral characteristics a muslim can acquire as, if it is sincere, it generates love and attracts all but the hardest of hearts. One who masters his nafs (selfish desires) and radiates kindness may become a da ‘ee,a caller to Islam, of the highest rank by virtue of his character and lifestyle, and, and as it is said, “ Actions speak louder than words.”
This quality is the logical outcome of the realization that all that one possesses has been given to him, and he will be held to account for how he dealt with it. It was not simply the product of his own efforts, because many around him have made more effort and received less. So it was simply a manifestation of Allah’s name, “al- kareem”, the Most Generous. Man’s sincere generosity is therefore an accurate reflection of his belief in Allah’s names and attributes and the settling of accounts on the Day of judgement. The term “sincere” excludes those who practice it out of pride snd cultural hasbit.
Who taught humans by means of the pen
Among the greatest bounties which our lord has bestowed on us is the pen, i.e. the art of writing. It was by means of the pen that many sciences and arts evolved, philosophy and history were preserved,and the divine revelation itself recorded.
The effectiveness of writing on human civilization was not as as evident to the Arabs of the 7th century, when the Qur’an was revealed, as it is today. This is because only a few among them knew the art of writing and reading. But Allah, the ‘Aleem (the knower of all things ), made direct reference to it from the very beginning of the revelation of the final message to humanity. This was in spite of the fact that the chosen recipient of that divine message could neither read nor write!Had the Qur’an been the invention of Muhammad, he would not likely have grasped the significance of the pen and even if he had some intuition as to its future importance, he would not have stressed it at the very beginning. But the Qur’an is Allah’s words from beginning to end. It is divine guidance to humankind for all times and places.

He taught man what he knew
It is Allah alone who teaches humankind. Allah is the source of all knowledge. Thus, all that human beings discover by way of the pen was what Allah allowed them to learn. This fact has been expressed in many different ways throughout the Qur’an. For example, in reference to prophet Adam, Allah said,
And He taught Adam all the names (of things)…. (Qur’an 2:31)
This is among the essential principles of knowledge: the ability to name and categorize things in order to discover co-relationships,etc. This was among Allah’s gifts to Adam and his progeny. Elsewhere.Alaah emphasizes humakind’s limited ability to grasp segments from the infinity of knowledge,saying,
…They are only able to comprehend from Allah’s knowledge what he wills……
Thus,humans are not limitless in their ability to discover and explain the wonders of the world around them. They will only attain that that which has been permitted for them. Similarly, Allah points out the insignificance of what knowledge humans have or will learn. When answering the questions concerning the nature of the spirit, He stated:
….say (to them): The spirit is from the command of my Lord and you have only been given a very little amount of knowledge .
New knowledge is revealed from Allah and not just deduced. This is evident in the vast majority of scientific discoveries, from Newton’s apple falling on his head to Madame curie’s accidental discovery of radium and its effects. Similarly, the scientist who tried to work out the chemical structure of benzene saw in a dream a snake with its tail in its mouth. Upon awaking, he realized that carbon molecules formed a ring. So while scientists have been looking for one thing, they found something else. As for the few cases which weren’t obvious accidents, we find that the scientists involved were working on “hinches.” Once the inspiration or the accident pinpoints a new fact, the pen records it and knowledge of it is conveyed by the fruit of the pen: reading and comprehension.
Nay ,but certainly man transgresses
In spite of Allah’s generosity and guidance, humankind is consistently tyrannical, oppressing those around them as well as themselves and transgressing all limits. For example, forests have been defoliated, rivers and seas polluted, and animal species and human societies exterminated. When Portuguese explorers arrived in Brazil in the early 1500’s, its Indian inhabitants were an estimated 6 million in number. Then wars, massacres,and epidemics left a little more than200,000. The Native Americans in North America were estimated to have been around 12million when British settlers first reached the shoes of America. Today they number around 2 million in the U.S.A and Canada. More recent examples can be found in Serbian Christian attempts to annihilate the muslims of Yugoslavia,whom the press deceptively referred to as “Bosnians” as well as Muslim of Kosovo, whom the western press called “ethnic Albanians,” by “ethnic cleasing”.Hundreds of thousands of muslim men, women and children were brutally massacred.
Furthermore, people transgress the limits of Allaah’s commands. In doing so, one oppresses his own soul by depriving it from the happiness that Allaah grants the righteous in this life and the next. Such transgressors, whether they are disbelievers or “Muslims”, will say upon seeing the Hell-fire on the Day of judgement:
…Woe to us! Indeed we were among the transgressors!
The one who lacks taqwa allows his desires and love for this world to cause him to disobey Allah, even after the right way has been made clear to him. In doing so, he does not recognize, and even denies ,the blessings,mercies,knowledge and kindness that Allah bestowed on him . As a result , he deprives himself from the love of Allaah, for Allah stated:
….Allah does not like the ungrateful sinner (Qur’an 2:276)
Because he sees himself as self-sufficient
Human beings are not self-sufficient. From their conception to their grave,they are social beings,depending on those around them every step of the way.
Because we are dependent,we then have an obligation to our fellow humans,which we cannot honestly deny. But this is exactly what many people do
Furthermore, humans deny their obligation to God, and by doing so, transform themselves into evil oppressors. So Allah points out that the root cause of human beings’tranny is their mistaken belief that they are independent and have to answer to no one. They carry on as if their creator plays no role in their decisions and daily lives, and as such, falsely attribute to Allah an apathetic and meaningless role. If they do remember Allah at all, they do so in times of calamity and affliction,when they see that neither they nor their fellow humans can aid them. This arrogance causes them to think that they have within themselves the ability to do whatever they please, whenever they please, and there is no one who can challenge their right to do so. In this frame of mind they adopt the Machiavellian principle as their first commandment: “The end justice the means.” Good and bad are redefined according to what good and bad from them. Due to their belief that right and wrong are “relative”, all of the higher moral principles become warped and they use them to justify their evil ways. Generosity,honesty and kindness become signs of weakness, while betrayal, deceit and treachery become the keynotes for success. They feel that the education and success they have attained were a result of their own efforts, and that they are thus self-sifficient.
Little do they realize that it is Allah who gave them all they have and it is He who can take it away any time He wishes?
Certainly,to your Lord is the return
No matter what people think or do in this life,no matter what power, ststus, or wealth they acquire, they must eventually return,like all created things, to Allah for assessment. Nothing escapes Allah’s justice, no matter how insignificant it might seem.
Thus. Allah warns humans of their impending end in order to awaken them to the futility of their misplaced pride and childish strutting about among the less fortunate of humankind. Allah said,
Do they think that because of the wealth and sons we have provided them that we are hastening the arrival of good things for them?Nay, but they are unware! (Qur’an 23:55-56)
Hence, each and every individual must be fully conscious of the fact that he or she will stand before Allah and answer for every single thing he or she said or did. Allah describes this fearful day in vivid detail throughout the Qur’an. This is so that any person who can comprehend and fear the intensity of the Judgement will act accordingly, striving to attain Allah’s pleasure and avoid His displeasure. Thus, we should often read and reflect on these realities so that we may attain righteousness and, ultimately, Paradise.
9-10. Have you seen the one who presents the slave from praying?
These verses were revealed in reference to Abu Jahl ibn Hisham,who used to prevent Allah’s slave and messenger Muhammad from praying in the vicinity of the Ka ‘bah. However, this treatment was inflicted on the Muslims in general at the time this soorah was revealed. For example, slaves who were among the first to accept Islam in Makkah, were subjected by their pagan masters to every conceivable type of torture in a devilish attempt to make them stop praying and repudiate Islam. The stories of their suffering and bravery are well known in Islamic history. Bilal ibn Raban,under the greatest of duress, would only reply to his master Umayyah ibn Khalaf. “Ahdun Ahad (Alaah is one and only one)”. Sumayyah bint Khbbat, an old womwn and slave of Abu Hudhayfah patiently bore continual torture until Abu Jahl stabbed her private parts with a spear and she died, becoming the first martyr of Islam. This scene has repeated itself throughout the history of humankind.
Whenever someone chooses the path of Allah and his superiors maintain their deviant path, a battle ensues. Whether it be parents,husbands or relatives,they turn in disgust and hatred and try to prevent the slave of Allah from worshipping his or her lord.
Allah questions this phenomenon rhetorically in order to arouse feelings of wonder and dismay: “How could it be? Why should it be? This is something that really should not be happening, but does, due to human beings’ rejection of accountability and their choice of tyranny and oppression.
11. Have you seen if he is rightly guided
12. Or if he enjoins taqwa?
Allah asks this of Abu Jahl and all those so anxious to turn Muhammad and new Muslims in general, back into their former selves. Often the prior lives of new Muslims, or born “cultural Muslims” who eventually accepted true Islam, were lives of misguidance, full of corruption and ignorance. Whwn they accept Islam, a change takes place. A new outlook appears and the path of righteousness is chosen. The revolution is so radical that the individual becomes a virtual stranger to his or her former relatives and colleagues. His former loved ones and friends then try desperately to bring the new Muslim back, in order to save him or her from what they perceive as misguidance and the rejection of their former false religious beliefs and practices. But Allah questions them rhetorically, encouraging them to give their position some thought. Because a close analysis of “before and after” will, in most cases, show that the new must be one of guidance. A careful listen to what this revolutionary is saying will also show that strong emphasis is being placed on the fear of Allah (taqwa), which is the real beginning of righteousness.
13. Have you seen whether he rejects (the truth)and turns away?
Allah also revealed this verse in reference to Abu Jahl. In this and the previous verses, a contrast is made between the one preventing others from righteousnsss and the one being prevented. The ones being prevented are rightly guided and possess and enjoin taqwa, which is the most virtuous character trait one can have. Meanwhile, those trying to dissuade them from Allah’s path are described with the worst characteristic one may possess: denial and rejection of the Truth. This is due to the fact that Allah revealed undeniable proofs to establish the divinity of Muhammed’s message. He allows everyone to see His signs so they may contemplate and reflect, seek out the reason for their existence, and then believe in Him. He stated:
We will show them our signs in the universe and in their own selves, until it becomes manifest to them that this is the truth…. (Qur’an 41:53)
Hence, the disbelievers know within themselves that Islam is the true religion of Allah, but due to their arrogance,they refuse to acknowledge that those whom they look down upon are indeed correct and to leave their old ways and beliefs in complete submission to Allah. Allah describes this phenomenon in several verses, saying:
And they denied (the signs,wrongfully and arrogantly,though they were certain of its truth within themselves…… (Qur’an 7:146)
By ignoring the reality present within their hearts and minds, they not only deceive themselves, they also disregard the fact that Allah, who is well aware of what they hide inside themselves, is watching them. They forget that they will one Day have to answer to Him for this deliberate rejection. Allah says:
… So this Day we shall forget them as they forgot their meeting on this Day, as they used to reject Our signs.) (Qur’an 7: 51)
14. Doesn’t he realize that Allah sees?
The sequence of rhetorical questions is closed with a foreboding warning from Allah. The evidence is spared out in front of those opposed to the spread of Islam. What Islam calls to in the way of morals and their practical application is far superior to all other existing ethical systems. This is simply due to the fact that, although their origins are divine, they have been modified and distorted in time and replaced to a large degree by man-made amendments. On the hand,the Islamic ethical system remains as pure as it was when it was revealed. Therefore, the true product of such a system will, no doubt, be light years ahead of all others. So now that it is clear, those who oppose the practice of Islam should then reflect on themselves and on Allah’s awerness. For since Allah sees all that they do, they must realize that those who terrorize His slaves, His sincere worshippers, greatly anger Allah. Let them desist from their transgression before it is too late. Let them repent and change their foolish ways.




15. Nay, if he does not desist,
We will snatch him by his forelock
Due to the seriousness of turning away from and opposing Islam in any way, shape or form, Allah issues a grave warning. Allah warns them to stop their devilish practice of trying to make believer revert. If they do not desist from it, He will have them dragged by the hair at the front of their heads and fling it, He will have them dragged by the hair at the spread and practice of Islam will have to pay in the next life. But in this life they are to be hunted down and killed wherever they are found (whenever war is imposed), if the believers are in a position of strength. Allah commanded the believers saying,
Fight in Allah’s way those who fight you, but do not transgress the bounds, for indeed Allah does not love those who transgress. Kill them wherever you find them and drive them out of the places from which they drove you out. And fitnah is worse than killing……. (Qur’an 2:190-91)
Fitnah in this verse represents shirk as well as the trials and pressures which aggressive non- believers place on weak believers place on weak believers, causing them to give up their Islam, compromise it in forbidden ways, or turn to shrink.
Therefore, just as Allah orders us to be merciless with them in this life when I strife, He will also deal with them severely in the next. They will be snatched by the very point of their heads that they like so much to raise high in conceit in this life.
16. A lying, sinful forelock
Their raised heads are cursed by this verse as being full of lies and sinful thoughts. They lie about Allah, either by denying Him altogether as the atheists do, or by attributing to Him a son, mother, daughter, etc., as the Christian and other polythesis do, or by claiming Him exclusively and making Him subject to the whims of humans,as the Jews do. They also lay about the prophets by writing lewd and obsence stories about or by denying them, as the Jews did to Prophet ‘Eesa and both the Jews and Christians do to Prophet Muhammad. They lie to others and to themselves,reassuring themselves that they are “good people” who fully deserve Allah’s grace and mercy. Christians claim that we are were all born in sin as a result of Adam’s mistake, the “Original sin,” and that simply accepting Jesus as our “savior,” who died for our sins,guarantees entrance to paradise. Meanwhile,the Jews claim that the rest of humkind are beasts, created specifically to serve them,that the rest of humakind are beast,created specifically to serve their ignorant and bold claims,saying:
Say (to them): ‘if the home of the Hereafter with Allah is indeed especially for you and not the rest of humankind, then long for death if you are truthful.’ But they will never long for it due to (the sins) their hands have put forth….
17. Let him call on his council (of helpers)
A terrifying challenges is made to those opposed to the spread of Islam and a desolate picture of their helplessness is painted. As they are being dragged off to the Hell-fire in a state of abject terror, they will cry out to their former friends for help,only to find that their earthly companions ans relatives are totally unconcerned about them. Their friends in this life will be so scared and fretful about their own future that they will not have the least amount of time even to look in the direction of anyone else’s cries and pleas. Allah will call on the Zabaniyah, the Guardian Angles of the Hell-fire. Those who live according to their own desires, taking their own insignificant whims and other created beings as their “lords,”should reflect on their helplessness when this occurs. Who can stop Allah’s command to the angles when He orders them?
Seize him and fetter him,then throw him in the blazing fire! Then fasten him with a chain, the length of which is seventy cubits. (Qur’an 69:30-32)
Elsewhere in the Qur’an, Allah warns the believers of this scene, saying,
O’believers, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire fuelled by people and stones, and over which are rough, harsh angles who do not disobey Allah whenever they are commanded. (Qur’an66:6)
Thus, they will be dragged by their hair, screaming, crying and sobbing,to the harsh guardians of the Fire, who will in turn fling them,twisting and squirming, into its searing flames. This is indeed a fitting end for those who rejected Allah in this life.
19. No! Do not obey them, but instead prostrate and draw near
In this closing verse of the soorah,Allah commands the believers to reject the request and demands of those who oppose both the beliefs and implementation of Islam. There is no need to obey the impious,for theirs will be a disgraceful end. They will be the ones humiliated and dishonoured in the next life,even though the believers may suffer great degradation and trials in this life. This is the reality that the truth believer must face up to if he is to pass the test of this life. Allah said,
Did people (honestly) think that they would be left alone to say, ‘we believe,’ without being tested?
The key to success is, of course, that golden attribute on whichtrue Eeman is built, sabr (patience). So,ponder Allah’s statement:
And we will surely try you with some fear, hunger,loss of wealth and lives. So give glad tidings to the sabiroon (the patient), who say whenever a calamity befalls them, “indeed, we belong to Allah, and to Him we will return. (Qur’an 2:155-156)
Thus, Allah tells the believers to not only disregard the pressures of those who have rejected faith, but to alsi patiently continue in their worship, obligatory as well as voluntary, in order to come closer to their worship, the ultimate endeavor of the true slave of Allah: to come close to Allah by complete submission to the path of Islam, which He has laid down way of His last messenger to humankind. This is that state in which Allah and his messenger become dearer than all the rest of creation. This is the state in which Eeman becomes a reality and not just a theoretical goal; its nectar slipped and its heavenly sweetness experienced. In this state of divine servitude, the slave of Allah has made halal(permissible) and avoids the haram(forbidden), as well as the makrooh (disliked). He is well aware of the prophet’s warning:
“Each of Adam’s descendants’s has a share in Zina. His two eyes commit Zina and their Zina is looking …”
Similarly, all of his boby prts only follow the prescribed path and in that way he becomes the embodiment of Allah’s command. This is meant by that often –qouted hadith qudsiin which Allah said,
“my slave does not draw near to Me with anything more beloved to me than that which I have made Fard (obligatory) on him. He continues to draw nearer to me with nawafil until love him. If I love him, I will be his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his hand with which he grasps, and his sight with which he sees, his hand with which he grasps, and his foot with which he walks. And if he were to seek refuge in me, I would protect him.”
Concerning verses 6-19 of this soorah, Abu Hurayrah reported that one day, in the vicinity of the ka ‘bah, Abu Jahl asked the Quraysh if Muhammad was still prostrating (in prayer) in their presence. When they replied in the affirmative he said, “By al- lat and al- Uzza, if I see him praying like that, I will step on his neck and rub his face in the dirt.” He then approached the prophet while he was praying in order to stamp on his neck, but no sooner had he left them than they saw him retreating and shielding himself with hishands. When asked what happened, he replied, “ there was suddenly between him and me a vast trench of fire,horror and wings!” The prophet said,
“ if he had come near me, the angles would have torn him apart limb by limb.”
Abu Hurrayrah went on to say that it was then that Allah revealed from “Nay, but certainly man transgresses until the end of the soorah.”




6. Tafseer Soorah al-Bayyinah (98)
Name of the Soorah
Al-Bayyinah means clear proof or evidence. The name is used at the end of the first verse,and the third of the soorah seems to be concerned with it.
This soorah was also called “soorah Lam Yakun being the first two words of the soorah.
Place of revelation
Ibn Mardawayh collected a narration from ‘Aishah in which she said that this soorah was revealed in Makkah, and he also collected a narration from Ibn ‘Abbas in which he stated that it was revealed in Madeenah. The majority of scholars held that this soorsh was Madeenah. The majority of scholars held that this soorah was Madeenan, based on the fact that the soorah mentions Zakah, which was not made obligatory until after the Hijrah to Madeenah. The soorah also talks about Ahlal-kitab, the people of the earlier revelation (i.e. Jews and Christians), which tends to support the claim that it is Madeenan, since contact with Jews came in Madeenah. Contact with Christians,for the most part,came after the conquest of Makkah. Those who classify it as a Madeenan soorah also point to its style: Mkkah soorahs usually have short,choppy verses, like soorah al-Qadr,which precedes \it, while al- Bayyinah has long,flowing verses.
Hadith concerning this Soorah
Anas reported that he heard Allah’s Messenger say to Ubayy inb Ka ‘b,
“Indeed, Allah has commanded me to recite ‘lam yakunil-ladheena kafroo’to you.” Ubayy asked, “Did He mention me to you by name?” The prophet replied in the affirmative and Ubayy cried.
Soorah al-Bayyinah
Those who disbelieve among Ahl al-kitab (Christians and jews) and the Mushrikeen (idolators) would not have split off until the Bayyinah came to them
This opening verse has two possible tafseers, both of which are equally valid:
The Christians, Jews and idolaters would not have departed from their path of misguidance unless and until the Bayyinah, the clear proof came to them.
They would not reach the end of their lives and die until clear proof (of the right path) reaches them.
In any case,the meaning are closed and a general tafseer could be made as follows: Allah informs us of one of His mercies, which is saving us from ignorance and misguidance. Dis believers would never have left their disbelief and association of partners with Allah until the prophet came to them with the Qur’an, explained their state of loss and ignorance and invited them to true faith.
This event was repeated throughout the history of mankind: whenever a people fell into disbelief, Allah sent prophets to save them from themselves,.
Similarly, in addition to sending prophets,Allah gives each individual guidance and various signs pointing to the truth throughout his or her life. Without this deliverance, people would have never returned to the right path, but they would stray further and further away in their error. This is also why Allah informed us through His prophet that He would send someone to the Muslim ummah (nation) at the turn of every century to revive the deen (religion) in the lives of the people. Allah’s Messenger said,
“Allah will send to this ummah one who will revive their religion at the beginning (or end)of every century.”
For even though the sources of Islamremain available in their pristine purity,the masses can easily lose sight of them if they are not led by righteous leaders. Therefore, Allah has blessed the final message by continually sending those who would guard it and renew the zeal of the Muslim ummah toward it.
The prohet said,
“This knowledge will be carried by the trustworthy ones in every generation. They will expel from it the alterations made by extremists, the false claims of the liars,and the false interpretations of the ignorant.”
On the countrary, all attempts to reform Christianity have failed because the pure message of prophet ‘Eesa has been lost. Thus,Martin Luther and the protestants were only able to remove some of the catholic superstructures, while innovations such as the trinity, the cross,definition of Jesus, the doctrine of original sin. Similarly, the seventh-Day Adverntists returned the day of worship to Saturday and forbade the consumption of swine, but kept the trinity and deification of Jesus. All such attempts are doomed to failure because the only place wherein Prophet Jesus’ teachings are preserved is Islam. So until they come to the clear proof, they will remain astray, no matter how hard they try.
2 .A Messenger from Allah reciting purified pages
In this verse, Allah explains what the Bayyah was: Prophet Muhammad. It was he who recited the Qur’an was not compiled in book form at that time. This was among the signs indicating to the Muslims that the ultimate form of the Qur’an was to be that of a book.
The prophet and his message represent the divine truth in its purest form. The Qur’an is purified in that it contains no falsehood, errors, or defects whatsoever. So, as it is totally pure,its message is also a purification for the hearts and souls of those who follow it. This is why following prophets Muhammad, who was himself a personification of the Qur’an, was
He said,
Indeed Allah has bestowed a great favour on the believers by sending them a Messenger from among themselves, reciting His verses to them, purifying them, and teaching them the Book and wisdom... (Qur’an 3:16)
Only this truth alone, the Qur’an and sunnah, has the ability to save the disbelievers from their erring ways and put them on the right path.
In them are perfect laws
The verses of the Qur’an contain perfect laws because they were laid down by the only perfect being, Allah. These laws are usually suited to human beings’ needs until the end of the world. Unlike man-made laws, which have to change with time and place because of humans’ limited comprehension, the shari ‘ah (divine law) of Islam takes into account all of the countless needs of humanbeings from a spiritual standpoint, which is based on the very nature of humankind. Humankind’s nature is as unchangeable as the nature of the rest of creation, and only Allah, who created that nature, knows its boundaries and its intricacies. Thus, it is only Allah who could devise laws designed to deal effectively with human being’s nature.They are the only “perfect laws”.
Allah also informs us in the purified pages of the laws which are at work around us and which we should know about about in order to be able to function effectively in this life and earn paradise in the next. For example: good deeds erase bad ones, there is no reward for good except good,Allah does npt burden a soul beyond its scope,with every difficulty comes ease, and Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change what is within themselves. These perfect laws operate in our favour. There are other perfect laws as well operate favour, such as the law that whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will be confrontrd withit. However,due to the perfect balance and justice maintained by Allah, He also said that a person will see an atom’s weight of good which he did.
Those who were given the scripture did not split up until after the Bayyinah cmae to them
The Jews were a relatively unified body, even though they had distorted the scriptures and turned the religion of Islam,as brought by prophet Moses and the prophets who came after him, into a nationalist culture of empty rituals. But when prophets Jesus came with clear proof in the form of the Injeel (Gospel), the jews spilt up into two main groups: those who accepted the truth and followed Jesus, and those who rejected it and called him the son of a harlot. In time. Jesus’ teachings were lost and surperseded by paulism, which deified Jesus’, abrogated the shari’ah and over-exalted the church in the name of Christianity. Thus deviant factions, who, each in its own way, rejected the teachings of Prophet Jesus, won the struggle for leadership of the two communities that claimed to be following revealed scriptures. After consolidating their positions, each group stayed fairly unified until the final prophet, Muhammad, was sent with the final law and final book. When they were confronted with clear proof, they again split up into two main groups: believers and dis believers. The people strayed in unison, a prophet was sent, then they became divided amongst themselves. It will continue to reoccur until the last Day, except that Prophet Muhammad has been replaced by his sunnah.
Over time, Muslims have strayed from the clear path of Islam and adopted all colours and shades of innovations, but scholars have arisen among them to call them back to the Qur’an and sunnah. Some accepted the clear proof and gave up their erring ways, while most preferred to continue doing what they found their forefathers doing and branded those calling for a return to the Qur’an and sunnah apostates and enemies of Allah and His Messenger.
Yet they were only commanded to worship Allah alone, making their deen sincerely for Him and including towards Islam and to establish the salah and pay the Zakah. That is the upright deen.
All previous nations to whom prophets were sent received the same basic message of Islam, which consisted of three fundamental principles: tawheed, sunnah, and shari ‘ah.
Tawheed
The first thing that the people were called to was the worship of Allah Alone, and the rejection of all that was worshipped in His stead. This can be found in the Qur’an ic verse,
Indeed, we sent to every nation a messenger saying, ‘worship Allah and avoid false gods….(Qur’an 16:36)
It was also the first of the Ten Commandments received by Prophet Moses, as recorded by the Jews in the Old Testament:
“ I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods besides me.”
Prophet Jesus confirmed this commandment, as recorded by the Christians in the New Testament:
“And one of the scribes came up and…… asked him, ‘which commandment is the first of all? Jesus answered, ‘Hear, O Israel:
The lord our God is one.”
Although this is what Allah specifically commanded the followers of both prophet Mose nad prophet Jesus, both groups began to worship their rabbis and priests, giving them powers greater than those of God. In the Talmud, God is corrected on numerous occasions by the rabbis and to ask their permission to do various deeds on earth. The Jews also deified some of the angels, as in the case of Matatron in the Hebrews book of Enoch (III Enoch), where he is reported to have said,
“God revealed all his secrets to matatron, and he called me ‘The Lesser Jahweh’ in the presence of all His heavenly household, as it is written, for my name is in him.”l
The Christians, on the other hand,under Pauline influence, deified Jesus as well as Gabriel, the angel of revelation known as the “ Holy Spirit .” They turned the unitarian concept of God as taught by prophet Jesus into s polytheistic trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, even though the Gospel s contain many passages like following:
“And as he (Jesus) was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ And Jesus said to him, ‘ why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.’”
B. sunnah
The way of the prophets was Islam, or submission of one’s will to Allah.
The worship of Allah would not be complete without this submission. Thus, the prophets called people to follow their example of submission, which was taught to them by God.
Their whole lives contained gems of divine guidance for all who wished to be rightly guided. Allah, the Most, High, said,
Certainly, there is in the Messenger of Allah a good example for you, for whoever hopes for (the meeting with) Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah often……..(Qur’an 33:21)
But the Christians and Jews do not put much emphasis on the sunnah of the prophets. In fact, they disregard it totally in many instances. Yet, if they were to pay special attention to this vital principle, many would be guided to Islam in its final form. For example, the last prophet placed great stress on the form and content of salah. Once he prayed, stsnding and bowing on the mimbar (a tiered pulpit), then turned to the congregation and said,
“I only did this in order for you to follow me and learn my form of salah.”
And he said,
“pray as you all seen me pray.”
If the Christians and Jews studied the sunnah of the prophets in salah,as recorded in their own distorted scriptures, they would be surprised to find that only Muslims today maintain the sunnah of sajdah (prostration) in salah. As confirmed by Allah in the Qur’an, this has always been the way of the prophets and all those who truly followed divine guidance. He said,
…Indeed those who were given knowledge before it (the Qur’an) fell down on their faces in humble prostration whenever it was recited to them……..(Qur’an 17:107)
Many similar statements can be found in the scriptures of the Jews and Christians. In Genesis 17:3 it is written,
“Then Abraham fell on his face.”
In numbers 16:22 and 20:6 we find,
“And they (Moses and Aaron) fell on their faces.”
And in 1 kings 18:42 it says,
“And he (Elijah) cast himself down upon the earth and put his face between his knees”
Joshua 5:14 says,
“And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshipped.”
In the New Testament, Matthew 26:39, it is written,
“And he (Jesus) went a little further, and fell on his face and prayed.”
Similarly, the practice of women wearing head-scarves which cover the hair and bosom, as well as loose, flowing clothes, has been totally abandoned in favor of halter tops and mini-skirts. Yet they claim to be following the prophets.
Shari’ah
The prophets brought with them laws for the spiritual growth of individuals, as well as the healthy development of God-conscious communities. Prophet Muhammad outlined the spiritual laws of Islam, Eeman and ihsan, as well as the temporal laws of inheritance, food, trade, marriage, etc.., and all Muslims are commanded to observe them. Likewise, Prophet Jesus was quoted to have said:
“Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the (way of) the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them. For, I say to you, till haeaven and earth pass away, not an iota,not a dot,will pass from the law until all is accomplished.”
The law syas,
“The swine, beacause it parts the hoof and is cloven- footed but does not chew the cud, is unclean for you. Of their flesh you shall not eat and their carcasses you shall not touch; they are unclean for you.”
Yet, most Christians now relish the pig.
The law also says,
“A woman shall not wear anything that pertains toa man, nor shall a man put on a woman’s garment; for whoever does these things is an abomination to the lord your God.”
Yet, bracelets, earrings and neckless for men and men’s three-piece suits and ties for women and unisex fashions have becomes commonplace among so-called Christians.
Zakah was also among the commandments revealed to Moses:
“At the end of every three years you shall bring forth all the tithe of your produce in the same year, and lay it up within your towns; and the levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the traveller, the fatherless and the widow who are within your towns shall cime and eat and be filled, that the lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.”
If the Christians and the Jews were to return to the practice of the religion as commanded in the principles of Tawheed,sunnah and shari ‘ah, they would be guided back to Islam,the true religion of the prophets, revealed by the Lord of mankind, Almighty Allah.
The phrase making their deen sincerely for Him (Allah) is among the proofs used to establish the obligatory nature of an-niyyah (correct intention) in all acts of worship because sincerity is expressed in the heart. ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab reported that he eard Allah’s Messengers say,
“Indeed actions are (judged) by intention, and every person will receive what he intended. So whoever intended to migrate for the sake of Allah and His Messenger, then his migration will be for Allah and His Messenger. And whoever intended to migrate for the sake of some wordly benefit or in order to marry a woman, then this migration will be for which he migrated.”
In order for any deed to be accepted by Allah, two conditions must be fulfilled. If either is missing, the deed is invalid. Firstly, it must be done sincerely for the sake of Allah Alone, and secondly, it must be in accordance with the sunnah of Prophet Muhammad. This is why the prophet warned us of riya’(doing good deeds to show off) and advised us to take great caution in avoiding it. He said to his companions,
“Should I inform you that which I fear for you even more than the dangers of Dajjal (the false Messiah)? It is the hidden shirk (i.e.riya’).A person stands to pray and he beautifies his prayer because he sees the people looking at him.” He also said, “The thing thst I fear the most for you is the minor shirk: riya.”
This is also why so much stress has been placed on the Basmalah (saying “Bismillah,” i.e. in Allah’s Name)prior to all significant acts. The purpose of the Basmalah is to correct one’s intentions and make sure they are sincerely for Allah Alone.
Certainly, those who disbelieve among Ahl al-Ktab and the Mushrikeen will be in Hell forever. They are the worst of creation.
Allah makes a sweeping judgement on all those who have heard about the final Messenger and heard the final message, yet reject them; their abode is the Hell-fire. The prophet said,
“By Him whose hands is Muhammad’s soul, any jew or Christian, without exception, who hears about me and then dies without believing in the message with which I have been sent will be a dweller of the Hell-fire.”
Whatever good they do in this life will not get them out of the Fire. They will either be rewarded for it in is this life or have their punishment reduced in the next life by occupying lesser levels of the Fire, but it will be the eternal fire nonetheless. Because they had either rejected Allah or His prophet, both of which occupy a pivotal position in this life and the next, Allah classifies them as the worst of His creation. All of His creation is in a state of Islam, in submission to the divine laws, except the souls of the Jinn and human beings, which have been given the option between voluntary submission and open rebellion. Rebellion takes humans below lowest of creation. This fact is evident in the excesses and corruption in western society.
Certainly, those who believe and do righteous deeds, they are the best of creation
Those whose souls voluntarily submit to Allah by sincere belief in His Divine Unity, His prophets, His revealed books, His angles, the Day of Resurrection, and fate, whether good or bad, and act upon that belief are divinely classified as being above all of creation. Fulfilling one’s duties toward Allah and His creation, i.e righteous deeds, is a natural consequence of true belief. Among the most significant duties of humankind are:
The establishment of righteousness and
The prohibition of sin.
Allah stated,
You are the best nation raised up for humankind (because) you command good and forbid evil, and you believe in Allah…
Once who a believer who believes in Allah and fulfills these duties is the best of creation.
This is so whether Allah gives him success and makes hin a national leader and head of an Islamic state, or whether he is hounded for his firm belief and practice until he is eventually caught and murdered after rotting away in some dark, dingy prison. On the other hand, one who does not believe and does not fulfill these critical duties is the worst of creation, despite any wealth and power he may have. Even a believer who faols to fulfill these duties will be so disliked by Allah, the most merciful, that He will completely ignore his calls for help.
The prophet stated,
“By Him in whose hand is my soul, you must order good and forbid evil or else Allah will soon send upon you a punishment from Himself and then you will supplicate to Him and he will not respond to you.”
Ibn ‘Abbas reported that Allah’s Messenger said to his companions,
“Should I tell you who the best of people is?” They all replied. “why, yes, messenger of Allah.” He said, “It is a man who grabs the reins of his horse in Allah’s path until he dies or is killed. Should I inform you of the next best?”they answered , “yes.” He said, “ Aman who keeps to himself in a canyon, establishes salah, pays Zakah and steers clear of evil people. Should I now inform you of the worst of people?” they again replied, “Most certainly.” He said, “One who is asked in Allah’s name but refuses to give.”
Their eternal reward is with their Lord: Gardens of Eden beneath which rivers flow. Allah will be pleased with them, and they with Him. That is for he who fears his Lord
The reward which Allah has in store for them, because of their Eeman and righteous deeds are the beautiful gardens of paradise, replete with meandering rivers flowing beneath its trees. A life of eternal bliss and contentment, free from the anxieties and worries of this world will be theirs. But besides all of that, there is another pleasure immeasurably greater and especially reserved for the eternal inhabitants of these gardens: It is Allah’s pleasure with them. Abu sa ‘ eed al- Khudri narrated that Allah’s messenger said,
“Allah will say to the people of paradise, ‘O’ people of paradise!’
They will say, ‘we are here, at Your service, O’ lord,seeking to please you. Allah will say, ‘Are you pleased? They will say, ‘why shouldn’t we be pleased when you have given us what you have not given to anyone of your creation? Allah will say, ‘I will give you something better than that.’ Allah will say, ‘I will bestow my pleasure and contentment on you so that I will never be angry with you again.’”
The knowledge of this will fill their hearts with inconceivable happiness until they overflow, joyously showering every particle of their being. Their pleasure with their Lord swells and rises up inside them to meet His pleasure with them.
And the greatest pleasure of all received by the believers is that they will see Allah in the next life. Allah refers to this favour saying,
For them in it (i.e. paradise) is whatever they wish, and with us is something additional.
The two noble companions, ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib and Anas, explained that “something additional” refers to the blessing of looking at Allah.
Allah also said in this regard,
On the Day some faces will be bright, looking at their Lord.
‘Adi ibn Abi Hatim reported that the Prophet said,
“Certainly each one of you will see Allah on the day when you must meet Him, and there will not be between Him and you a veil nor a translator.”
Allah then adds a final touch to this heavenly scene, the key to it all: the fear of Allah. It is not instinctual fear, as that of high places or dangerous animals, etc., but it is a pure fear born of deep and intense love of Allah. It is this fear of divine displeasure which drives the believer to avoid even some of the things which are halal (permissible) for him, so as not to even come near the haram (forbidden). That fears in turn produces in him an extreme hatred for all that displeases his lord. The following hadith reported by Anas strengthens this point. The prophet said,
“ whoever possesses three qualities has tasted the sweetness of Eeman: one to whom Allah and His Messenger are more beloved than anything else, one who loves another slave of Allah only for Allah’s sake, and one who hates to return to kufr after being saved by Allah the way he would hate to be thrown into the fire.”
Thus, his heart finds peace and rest in the struggle between the two components of Eeman: love and hate produced by the fear of Allah. These two emotions complement each other only in the heart of a true believer, while to elsewhere both are highly destructive. Love and hatred of a true believer, while elsewhere cause people to commit all kinds of atrocities. For example, the devastation on Vietnam was justified by Americans’ love of the democratic process and freedom. The Ku Klux Klan perpetrated countless acts of savagery against black Americans in the United States due to their hatred of integration. This why it is only the true believer who can fulfill the requirements necessary to govern the earth with true justice. It is his taqwa which ensures that his reign will be just. Allah, the Most High, said in this regard:
O’ believers! Be steadfast witness for Allah in justice, and do not let your dislike for a people cause you to be unjust. Deal justly, for it is closer to taqwa . And fear Allah, for indeed Allah is well informed of whatever you do…………..(Qur’ an 5:8)
O’ you who believe! Be steadfast in justice and be witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves, parents or relatives, or whether it is the case of a rich man or a poor man, for Allah is a better protector of both. So do not follow your desires, lest you be unjust. For if you lapse or turn away (from the truth) then, certainly, Allah is well nformed of what you do…..(Qur’an 4:135).





























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UMMA UNIVERSITY
2020/2021
THE BACHELOR OF ARTS IN EDUCATION
ONLINE FACILITATION MATERIAL FOR STUDENTS
ISL 101: INTRODUCTION TO QURAN STUDIES
MAY – AUGUST 2020

INTRODUCTION TO QURAN:
Definition of Quran: Key words
Divine message
Revealed in portions
Period of 23 years

Names of the Quran
Al-Kitab (The book)
Al-Dhikr (The Reminder)
Al – Furqan (The Criterion)
Al-Tanzil (The Revelation)
Al-Noor (The Light)
Al-Huda (The Guidance)
Al-Rahma (The Mercy)
Al-Majid (The Glorious)





QUESTIONS FOR GROUP DISCUSSIONS TO INCULCATE STUDENT CENTRED ENVIRONMENT

Discuss the reasons why Quran was revealed in stages?

Identify the major themes of the Quran?



Why Allah did preserved the Quran and allow his earlier books to be corrupted or changed?




What do you understand the phrase ‘ Authenticity of the Quran?



Describe ways in which Quran was preserved?



Identify main features of the holy Quran












TAFSEER SOORAH AL-MAA`OON (107)
Name of the Surah
Place of revelation
The reason for this revelation
TAFSEER SOORAH AN-NASR (110)
Name of the Surah
Place of revelation
Reason for this revelation
Hadiths concerning this Surah
TAFSEER SOORAH AL- HUMAZAH (104)
Name of the Surah
Place of revelation
The reason for this revelation.










TAFSEER SOORAH AL-MAA`OON (107)
Soorah
The Qur’aan contains 114 sections which are like chapters. Allah refers to them in the Qur’an as surahs.
“If you are in doubt what we have revealed to our servant (Muhammad), bring one chapter (soorah) like it.’’
(Surah al-Baqarah(2):23).
Name of the Surah
The name maaoon literally means a commonly used instrument like a bucket or a pot. However,in this soorah it refers to help or kindness which everyone should be willing to share. It is the very last word which occurs in the soorah. The soorah, however, has a number of other names. It is called soorah Ara’ayta which literally means ‘have you seen’. This name was chosen because the phrase Ara’ayta represents the opening words of the soorah. Another of its names is soorah ad-Deen which literally means ‘an account or explanation for one’s behaviour’.This name is very suitable because the whole of the soorah represents a list of the main signs by which one who disbelieves in the day of judgement may be recognized . The soorah has also been named soorah al- Yateem which literally means ‘The Orphan’. The soorah talks about the orphan in its opening verses.
Places of Revelation
The soorah was taught to the prothet by angel Jibreel while he was n Makkah. It was revealed immediately after soorah at-Takaathur (102) but the prophet later had it placed after soorah Quraysh (106). The reason why the order of this and other soorahs was changed is because the soorahs were originally revealed to solve particular problems which the prophet and his companions were facing. Once the revelation was complete, the soorahs needed rearranging for reading and recitation. Thus, the prophet was guided by Allah to reorder the soorahs as they were recorded and memorized for future generations of Muslims who would never see him, but who would believe in him and memorize Allah’s Book which he brought.
The Reasons for this Revelation
Allah teaches the Believers some very important lessons in this sort soorah. The main lesson is that true belief, which we call Eemaan, must produce good deeds. Likewise, bad deeds are to be taken as clear proof of either a very weak belief or actual disbelief, which we call Kufr. He also teaches us that good deeds which are not a result of true belief,will not be done properly. Since such deeds are only show, they will never be done regularly nor in the form which is recommended. Therefore, if we find ourselves becoming lazy in our duties to Allah, it is a sign for us to know that something is wrong with our faith. We should remember Allaah, ask His forgiveness, and begin to do our duties well.
SOORAH AL- MAA’OON
Have you seen the one who disbelieves in the Account?
Allaah here asks us if we have noticed the way one who does not believe in the Day of judgement acts. Allah is not asking this question for us to answer yes or no.He is, in acts, telling us that we should carefully observe the way such a disbeliever acts. Those people who do not feel that they will eventually have to stand before God and answer for all that they did, will act in certain ways. These ways are like signs. Whoever has them disbelieves in the judgement,no matter how much they say they believe. The believers have to know and recognize these signs in order that they may be able to spot the enemies of Allaah and beware of them. They also have to know these signs to make sure that they are not themselves showing them, because they are the signs of Kufr(disbelief).
That is the one who pushes away the orphan
The first sign of disbelief in the Day of judgement which Allaah has chosen to mention is that of ‘pushing away the orphan’. ‘pushing away the orphan’ means preventing the child who has no father to look after him from receiving what belongs to him.It was the practice among the Arabs of the Prophet’s time to prevent women and children from inheriting, if their husbands or fathers died. One who does not believe that he will have to answer for all that he does in his life, is prepared to cheat even his own relatives out of their rights. If he is made a guardian over an orphan relative, he spends whatever wealth that his relative has or he simply adds it to his own personal wealth.
When his orphan relatives grows up, he then refuses to return the orphan’s wealth. By pointing out this bad practice, Allaah is also advising us to be trustworthy. Whenever something is given tom us to look after,we must make sure that we return it in the same way that we received it. Allaah emphasizes this point throughout the Qura’aan by commanding the Believers to fulfill their trusts.
“O you who believe. Fullfil (all) obligations”
(soorah al- Maa’idah (5): 1)

Nor does he encourage the feeding of the poor.
The second major sign of disbelief in the Day of judgement is that the disbeliever rarely ever gives charity. He is a stingy individual who holds on to his money very tightly. If he spends his wealth, he does so only on himself and on his family. He feels that his wealth is a result of his own hard work, and that the poor have no money because of their laziness.
But, if he were to look around honestly, he would see many who have worked harder than himself and have much less than him. Likewise, he would also se others who have made much less effort than himself, yet they have more than him. In fact, if wealth and success were the direct result of hardwork,the poor people of this world,who work all day, would be the richest.
Wealth is really only a blessing from Allah which He uses to test mankind. The question on the test is: will man be thankful and prove it by being stingy?
In this verse, Allaah teaches the true Believer to be generous and give charity regularly. Islaam has made charity an obligation on those who have more than their basic needs. Zakaah is the tax system in Isaam which takes wealth from the well-to-do and distributes it among the poor. This system not only protects the weaker members to share their blessings with others. It is a part of man’s nature to want to hold on to what is his,so he has to be taught to share.
So, woe to those who pray,
Woe means bad wishes. But why would Allaah make bad wishes on people who pray. Especially when it was He who made salaah (prayer) a must for Muslims, five times per day.
“Set up regular prayers because prayers are compulsory for believers at set times”.
The Prophet also said that Islaam is built on five pillars,the second of which is making regular prayers. Therefore, this verse cannot be properly understood by itself, as its meaning would then be against the basic teaching of the Qur’aan and Islaam. We have tolook at the following verse in order to find out just exactily what Allaah means here.
Those who are careless about their prayers (salaah)
Now the meaning becomes clear. Allah is not saying woe to all those who make salaah. The woe is only on some people who make salaah.
Bad wishes are on the who only pretend to pray. Those go through aii the motions of prayers, buut in a careless manner. Such careless people often start the salaah late,or,when they are praying alone, they delay the salaah and pray it out of its time. They often do the salaah quickly and without any concentration. They look around or at their watches and even find reason to laugh during the salaah. Such are the people who will be punished even though they made their required prayers.
Salaah, in its proper form, is the first thing which Allaah has made compulsory on those who have declared their belief in Him. It is, therefore, proof of one’s belief Allaah.That is why the careless salaah becomes a sign of a man’s disbelief in the Judgement. The one who prays carelessly can not possibly believe that Allaah is watching him, nor can he believe that he will be asked about how he made his salaah.
Thus, by wishing ill on those who pray carelessly Allaah is advising the believers to be careful with their prayers. Elsewhere in the Qur’aan Allaah encourages care in prayers by describing the true believers as follows:
“And those who guard their prayers”.
(soorah al-Mu’minoon(23):9)
Once when the Prophet was asked,”Which deed is the best?”
He replied,”prayer on time.” On another occasion he said,”If you are praying, you should not look around,for certainly (looking around) is booty which satan steals from Allaah’s servant’s prayer”.
Those who only want to be seen
In this verse Allaah explains the main intention of those who pray carelessly. They do so in order that others may see them. They are not praying to please Allaah, since they do not really believe in Him. They make salaah to make people think that they are Muslims. Because of their fear that, if someone sees them not praying they may be punished or scolded, they pretend to pray. At school where salaah is held, some students pray because they are afraid that one of the teachers or the principal will punish them. At home, some children pray because their parents have threatened to beat them if they do not pray. Those who pray for such reasons do not really know who Allaah is, even though they may have Muslim names and their parents may really be Muslims. Islaam is not something which can be inherited from one’s parents like wealth or nationality. True Islaam has to be chosen by each and every individual. Allaah mentions this bad intention to advise the believers to be sincere in their prayers. In another verse Allaah describes the true believers as:
“Those who humble themselves in their prayers”.
(soorah al-Mu’minoon(23):2)
The Prophet Muhammad was reported to have said, “pray (each prayer) like a farewell prayer.” We should pray every salaah as if it were our last.He also strongly warned us by calling the act of praying to be seen “Hidden shrink”.
And they refuse to give help
The proof that those who are careless in their salaah only pray to be seen is that they are unwilling to do even the simplest acts of kindness. If their neighbours ask to borrow commonly used instruments, like a bucket or a pot, they find some excuse to not lend them salaah which is done because of a true belief in Allaah prevents the one who makes it from extreme levels of unkindness such as this.How can one say,’al-Hamdu lillah(i.e all thanks and praise belongs to Allaah alone)’ at least seventeen times every day and yet refuse to be kind.They thank Allaah for His countless kindness and seek His favours,yet they prefer to be unkind and mean.That does not make sence at all.Allaah says that prayers should stop the believers from bad deeds.
“Surely prayer (salaah) prevents evil speech and evil deeds...”
(soorah al-‘Ankaboot(29):45)
The only way that their unkindness can be understood is if they do not believe in what they are saying in their prayers. They are only repeating words which they memorized like parrots. Because of that,their prayers have no effect on their lives at all. They do not worship Allaah when they make salaah,because they do not really believe in Him.
Summary
By pointing out to the Believers some of the major signs of disbelief, Allaah in fact warns them to avoid these signs. He encourages them to develop the signs of righteousness and true belief which are the opposite of these signs. The true Believer is trustworthy, generous and kind. He is also very careful about his salaah,because it is his main link with Allaah. His firm belief in the Judgement causes him to do good deeds whenever he can.No good deed is unimportant to him no matter how small simple it might seem.












TAFSEER SOORAH AN-NASR (110)
Name of the soorah
The name Nasr literally means ‘help or aid’ and it is taken from the first line of the soorah. This name is very suitable for the soorah because it expresses the main thought of the soorah which is the coming of Allaah’s help. However, this soorah has also been titled soorah at-Tawdee’ which means ‘the farewell chapter’, because it was revealed shortly before the death of the Prophet Muhammad.
Place of Revelation
This soorah was the last soorah of the Qur’aan to be revealed and it was originally preceded by soorah at Tawbah which is now the ninth soorah.The sahaabee Ibn ‘Umar reported that this soorah wasrevealed in Mina during the last three days of the Prophet’s farewell Haji (Hijjah al- Widaa’).

Reasons for Revelation
The sahaabee, Ibn ‘Abbaas reported that when this soorah was revealed, the Prophet said,my death has been announced to me. That (my soul) will be taken during this (coming) year.” Thus, the immediate purpose of this soorah was to inform the Prophet that his end was near, giving him ample time to prepare for his death.
His preparations consisted of givingaway his few remaining possesions, warning his folowers of the greatest dangers which they will face and seeking forginess from Allaah for whatever errors he might have made unintentionally. However,the general reason for the revelation of this soorah is to remind the believers not to forget Allaah and their duties to Him if He grants them success. This reminder is nesrssary because people tend to only remember God in times of difficulty. Instead, the believers are encouraged to praise God and thank Him for his favours, whenever they are blessed with success. In thank Him for His favors, whenever they are blessed with success. In fact,to do so is one of the signs of true belief according to Prohet Muhammad ,who was reported to have said,``The affair of the believer is amazing, for all his situations are beneficial for him,and this is only in the case of the believer. If good times come to him he is thankful,and thus it was good for him; and if bad timesbefall him he is patient,and it is also good for him.”
The believers are also advised to remember to ask Allah’s forginess for their sins, because no one is free from sin, and it is only Allaah who can forgive the sins of men. If one does not seek forgiveness, he will become a truly evil individual destined for Hell.

Hadeeth Concerning This Soorah
The sahaabee,Ibn Abbaas,said ``Umar ibn al-Khattaab (the second Caliph) used to invite me to gatherings with older sahaabah, who had taken part in the battle of Badr along with the Prophet.
However, some of them were bothered by my presence and said, ‘why does he include this little boy along with us when we all have sons just like him(whom we have left at home)?’ When ‘Umar detected their dissatisfaction,he said, ‘ You all do not really know who he is.’ One day he called all of them together and included me among them. He then said, ‘what do you all say concerning Allaah’s statement, Edhaa jaa’a Nasrullaahi wal-Fat-h?’ some of them said, ‘Allaah orders us to praise Him and ask His forgiveness if He helps us and gives us victory.’However, some of them remained silent not saying anything. ‘Umar turned to me and asked me my opinion, and I replied that it was not as they said. He then asked me to explain. So,Isaid, ‘It was the end of Allaah’s messenger (the end of his life) that Allaah was informing him of.Allaah said, Whwn Allaah’s help and victory comes,that is a sign of your end, so glorify and praise your Lord,seeking His forgiveness because He is most forgiving.’ ‘Umar added that he did not know of any other explanation or interpretation than the one which I made.”
In this incident, Umar showed the elder Sahaabah that inspite of Ibn ‘Abbaas’ young age,he was more knowledgeable about the Qur’aan than they were. Therefore, he deserved to be among them on the Council. Though Islaam teaches respect of elders, it teaches a greater respect for knowledge. The Prophet taught that formal prayers (salaah) were to be led by the one who memorized the most Qur’aan. ‘Amr ibn salamah reported that his father once said, ‘when the time for salaah comes, one of you should make the Adhaan and the one with the most Qur’aan (memorized) should lead you . ‘Amr went on to say, “They looked around and found no one knowing more Qur’aan than me, so they put me forward (to lead the prayer) and I was only six or seven years old at that time.”
SOORAH AN-NASR
When the help and victory of Allaah comes
Allaah begins this soorah by recounting to the Propet the great blessings which He had given him. The first being victory over all of his enemies. The Qurayshite tribe which ruled Makkah and which had driven the Prophet and his early companions out of their homes ten years earlier were themselves thoroughly crushed in the eighth year the Hijrah. The Makkans surrendered without a fight and the prophet marched straight to the Ka’bah and destroyed all of the idols and sacrificial altars in and around the Ka’bah . The Prophet and his followers’ conquest of Makkah is reffered to in this verse as the “Victory of Allah” in order to emphasize to the Prophet before Muhammad all preached the message of Islaam and tried to establish it among their people: however, many of them were not given success by Allaah. Some like Prophet Yahyaa,were killed, or tortured by their people, and others,like Prophet Ibraheem,were driven out of their homeland. Since the message of Islaam as brought by prophet Muhammad was to be final one,Allaah gave the last Prophet victory to establish the religion of Islaam in Arabia as a basis for spreading it in its pure form throughout the world. This help from Allaah was very important, because even though the message of Prophet Eesaa (Jesus) was spread after Allaah lifted him up, it did not remain in its original form.
And you see droves of people entering Allaah’s religion
The second blessing which Allaah gave the Prophet was that the majority of the people with whom he had direct contact all accepted Islaam. After the fall of Makkah, huge numbers of people came into Islaam.During the prophet’s thirteen years of preaching Islaam in Makkah, a little more than three hundred people embraced Islaam. However, after his emigration to Madeenah, many more people began to accept Islaam.And, following the prophet’s conquest of Makkah, whole families and tribes began to enter Islaam at one time. In fact, the year after the victory over the Makkans is recorded in history as the “year of the Delegations”, because of the large number of ambassadors sent by tribes from all corners of the Arabian peninsula.These delegations came to the prophet in Madeenah and accepted Islaam on behalf of their clans or tribes.
Before they returned to their tribes, the prophet would assign to each delegation one of his sahaabah, who knew Islaam well enough to teach them.
Many of the early prophets were rejected by their people,so the wide acceptance of Islaam was truly a great blessing for the prophet Muhammad. The spread of Islaam at such an early stage was necessary,since this was the final message of Islaam for aal mankind.
And, the more people who heard it and lived it during the prophet’s lifetime, the better it would be preserved for all times.
Glorify and praise your Lord and ask His forgiveness
In this verse Allaah explains what He wants the prophet to do after he has observed the successes of victory and the nation-wide acceptance of Islaam. First, the Prophet was told to give thanks to his lord for the success which He had given him by glorfying and praising Him.Because, success was not a direct result of his own efforts. And, secondly, since these successes represent the completion of the prophethood and its message, the prophet should now prepare to leave this world by seeking God’s forgiveness.
Forgiveness for his unintentional errors in judging between the good and the better. This did not include intentional sins,because the prophet was Ma’soom,free from such errors.For example, on one occasion a blind Muslim, Ibn Umm Maktoom approached the prophet just as he was about to explain Islaam to a gathering of leaders from the Qurayshite tribe, and the prophet frowned and fignored him. The prophet did not want to lose this golden opportunity to call the Qurayshite leaders to Islaam, because their acceptance would mean the acceptance of the restof the tribe. So he avoided Ibn Umm Maktoom,since he was already Muslim and could be taught later. However, Allah revealed in soorah’ Abasa that the prophet,s decision was wrong.The one who seeking knowledge of Islaam should have been given preference over non- Muslim whom he had to call,no matter how important they might have been .
In fact, when the prophet sat with the Qurayshite leaders and explained Islaam to them, they agreed to follow him on condition that he get rid of all his “low-class” Muslim followers, as they could not accept former slaves and poor people as their equlas. The prophet had to reject their condition, as it was opposed to the Islamic principle of brotherhood of the belivers. These same leaders eventually became the greatest enemies of Islaam, spilled the blood of many Muslims,and most died or were killed without ever accepting Islaam.
Another example can be found in the case of prisonars of the Battle of Badr. After the first battle between the Muslims and the pagan Makkans, the prophet asked the opinion of his companions about what should be done with the pagan prisoners-of-war. Abu Bark suggested releasing them and ‘Umar ibn al – Khattaab suggested that they should all be killed. The prophet chose Abu Bakr’s opinion and freed them for a ransom of 400 dirhams per person and Allaah revealed the verse:
“A Prophet should not take prisoners until he has thoroughly conquered the land”.
(soorah al-Anfaal (8): 67)
The prisoners should have been killed for the many Muslims they killed and tortured in Makkah since this was the first battle against them.
As a result the prisoners who were set free came and killed more Muslims in the Battle of Uhud and later battles. There were a few other errors of judgement like these which the prophet made,but Allaah corrected all of them by revealing verses of the Quar’aan.
The prophet’s third wife. ‘Aa`eshah,noted that Allah’s messenger interpreted this verse of the Qur’aan by frequently repeating in the Rukoo’s (bowings)and sujoods (prostrations) of his prayers the phrase:
Subhaanak Allaahumma wa bihamdik Allahummagh-firlee (Glory and praise be to You OAllaah. O Allaah forgive me)
The Prophet was also told to seek forgiveness for the sins of his followers, as an example to his followers to seek forgiveness for their sins.In other religions such as Catholicism among the Christians,the followwers are told to confess their sins to priests who are supposed to be able to ask God’s forgiveness for them.Most other Christians direct their prayers for forgiveness to Jesus whom they believe died on thr cross to pay for the sins for the sins of all mankind.Jews on the othr hand,consider themselves the chosen children of God who will inherit paradise no matter what they do;hence there is no need for seeking forgiveness.Islaam the believets are told to seek forgiveness for their sins from Allaah alone,for none can forgive them beside Him.
The prophet Muhammad taught Abu Bakr the following Du`aa to be said at the end of his salaah just before Tasleem:
Allaahumma innee dhalamtu nafsee dHulman Katheeraa “O Allah verily I have really wronged myself a lot.
Wa laa yaghfirudh-dhunooba illaa ant
And nine can forgive sins except you
Faghfir lee maghfiratan min indka war hamnee
So forgive me with your forgiveness and have mercy on me
Innaka antal-Ghafoorur – Rahee
Verily you are the most forgiving, the Most Merciful.”




Surely, He is the Oft Forgiving
In the closing verse of this soorah, Allaah explains the major reason for commanding the Prophet and the believers to seek His forginess. Allah,s forgiveness in this life for those who sincerely repent and ask His forgiveness knows no bounds. He will forgive a sinner over and over again, as long as his repentance is sincerely from his heart. As for one who merely says words of repentance is sincerely from his heart. As for one who merely says words of repentance, but in his heart he does not feel real sorrow, there is no forgiveness for him,as the prophet said, “ Deeds are judged by their intentions.”
Thus, a believer should never feel that his or her sins,are too great to be forgiven.
Such a negative thought is from the devil, who wants man to lose hope in Allaah and thereby become a habitual sinner,a truly lodt soul. It is part of man’s nature to make mistakes, or as the Prophet said, “Allaah of Aadam’s descendants habitually err, but the best of them are the habitually repentant.” That is, those who constantly seek Allaah’s forgiveness whenever they sin are the best of mankind.




7. TAFSEER SOORAH AL- HUMAZAH (104)
Name of the soorah
The name Humazah literally means ‘the slanderer or one who tells lies about people.’ It is the last word of the first verse. It is also good title for the soorah, since the whole soorah is a description of the slander’s traits and the punishment which awaits him in the next life.
Place of Revelation
This soorah was also revealed to the Prophet at the beginning of his mission in Makkah. It came immediately after soorah al-Qiyaamah (75) but the Prophet later placed it after soorah al-‘Asr(103).
The Reason for This Revelation
In the early days of the Prophethood, the tribe of Quraysh used to make fun of the Prophet and his followers. They also used to make up bad stories about the Prophet. For example,they used to say that he was bewitched or mad and they would make up jokes about him. They also used to claim that he had Jinn who used to teach him the Qur’aan. Or, they would say that the Qur,aan was a magical spell.
This is the way of the disbelievers even today. They like to make fun of the Believers and they often tell lies about Islaam and its followers. The way muslim women dress is funny to them and they claim that Islaam is unfair to women because it does not allow them to walk around half-naked as many women do in some non- muslim lands.
Thus, Allaah revealed this soorah to point out the traits of the disbelievers in order that the Believers may avoid them. He also wanted to let them know about the punishment prepared for those who make fun of Islaam and its true followers. Allaah describes the punishment in details to scare the disbelievers who have some doubts and to reassure the Believers that their choice of Islaam over Kurf was right.







SOORAH AL- HUMAZAH
Woe be on every slandering backbiter,
Allaah, Most Great and Glorious, sends bad wishes to all who tell lies about innocent people. Those who do that are usually backbiters, because they do so behind people’s backs and not to their faces.
Allah’s bad wish is like a curse on them which causes misfortune to happen to them in this life and the next.
Islaam is firmly against slander and backbiting in all its forms. Abu Hurayrah reported that on one occasion the Prophet asked the companions, “Do you know what backbiting (Gheebah)is? They replied, “Allaah and His Messenger know best.” He said, “It is mentioning something about your brother that he does not like. “ Someone asked, “What if what I say about my brother is true?” The Prophet replied. “If what I say about him is true you have backbitten and if it was not true you have slandered.” One who is caught slanering women by accusing them of having unlawful relations with men is punished with eighty lashes. In another verse of the Qur’aan Allaah says:
“And those who accuse chaste women without bringing four witnesses should be flogged eighty times…”
(soorah an- Noor (24):4)
And, Allah has compared backbiting with eating one’s brother’s flesh after he has died.
“And do not backbite each other. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother?You would dislike it.”
(soorah al-Hujuraat(94):12)

Allah made this comparison to show us how terrible backbiting is.
The believers should hate backbiting the way he would hate to eat his dead brother’s flesh. Thus, even the listening to slander or backbiting without opposing it is considered a sin.
Perhaps the most serious form of slander is that of those who slander Allaah. Some say that Allaah has a son and others say He is the third of three gods. But the worst are those who say that Allaah does not really exist. God, to them, is only superstition which ancient people made up in order to explain things which they did not understand.
Thus, according to them,religion is simply a hoax and the Prophets were all phonies. They lie about Allah, His Prophets, His Books and His Religion.
Who gathered wealth and counted it.
Because Allaah and religion has no meaning to the slanderer, life becomes a meaningless animal existence. According to him there is no purpose to life,so the most important thing is to have a good time. To have a good time one must have a lot of wealth that he can and in any way that he can. A lot of his time is also spent adding it up in order to make sure none is lost and to be certain that it is always increasing.
This blind individual loves to make fun of others who are less fortunate than himself. And, he considered himself to be better than them.
The fact that his wealth is only a part of a test which Allaah has given him does not even cross his mind. As far as he is concerned, his wealth is simply the result of his hard work or his good luck. If he gives away any of his wealth to anyone outside of his family, it is done to buy friends or control enemies. He would never think to give in charity because he has more than he needs for, that would only decrease his wealth.
He thinks that his wealth has made him immortal
The one who slanders God becomes so wrapped –up in the pleasures of this life that he begins to wish that he will not have to die.
He starts to think that his great wealth should be able to keep him alive forever. Consequently, the rich donate countless millions of dollars to scientific research on finding a cure for old- age. They actually believe that man will eventually find a cure for death. Some wealthy people have paid huge amounts of money to have their bodies frozen when they die. Their bodies are then put in refrigerated metal coffins in the hope that when man eventually discovers the cure for death, their bodies will be thawed out and brought back to life! The ancient Egyptians also had a similar belief. The pharaohs and the rich had their dead bodies preserved and buried with their riches in the belief that they would later come back to life. But, their graves have now been robbed and their bodies have been put on display in countless museums around the world. Allah’s Messenger told his companions that there is no cure for old-age. Usaamah ibn Shurayk reported that Prophet Muhammad said, “ servants of Allaah, treat each other’s sicknesses.For surely Allaah, Glory be to Him, his not sent down a disease along with a cure except old age.”
Because of that Muslims would never waste any time or effort in trying to cure death.
Satan tricked Aadam into disobeying God by promising him eternal life. Allah informed us about this incident so that we would not be led astray in this way. Allaah said in the Qur’aan:
“Then satan began to whisper to them…..saying, Your Lord only forbade you this tree so that you do not become angles or of those who live forever.’’
(soorah al-A ‘raaf(7):20)
No; but surely he will be thrown into al- Humatah
Allaah tells this foolish individual no, he will not live forever. Every living thing must die and nothing comes back to life in this world. That is the law which Allaah has set and no living being can break it.In another chapter of the Qur’aan Allaah says:
“Every soul will taste death..”
(soorah Aal ‘Imraan (3):185)
“Behind them is a partition (Barzakh) until the day thay are resurrected.”
(soorah al- Mu’ minoon(23):100).
Instead of coming back to life and enjoying some more good times on the earth,he will be cast into a creature called al-Hutamah. The name al- Hutamah means the crusher,something which smashes into pieces whatever is put into it. There will be no pleasure for him as his body and soul is completely destroyed.All that he will experience afterhis death is pain upon pain.
But, what can make you really understand al – Hutamah?
By asking this question, Allaah is really telling us that al- Hutamah is too much for man’s mind to understand. This creature of Allaah is beyond the imagination. It should be feared and avoided. There is nothing in this world which is like it. Even the atomic bomb which has the power to crush and destroy cannot be compared to al-Hutmah
No man in his right mind who has understood what Allaah is saying here would want to meet al- Hutamah. This verse strikes fear in the hearts of the Believers and encourages them to do as much good as they can. Because, it is only true belief and good deeds which will protect man from al-Hutamah.

It is the blazing fire of Allaah
Here, Allaah explains just exactly what al- Hutamah is. It is simply one of the names of the Hell- fire. The name helps us to understand some of the effects of the fire. This is important because there is no way for us to understand the Hell-fire. It is a living creature created by Allaah. It breathes, sighs and speaks. Allaah describes the Hell fire in the Qur’aan as follows:
“When they are cast in, they will hear the drawing in of its breath as it blazes forth.”
(soorah al- Mulk (67):7)
“One day we will ask Hell, ‘Are you full?’ It will answer, ‘Is there more?’
(soorah Qaaf (50):30)
The flames of this world are nothing compared to al-Hutamah. They are chemical reactions which burn for a while then die out, but the Hell-fire is eternal. Its flames never die out and its heat is so great that it burns things right out of existence.
Allaah refers to it as “His fire “to let us know that it is a very special fire. All fires are Allaah’s , because it is He who has created them, and it is He who has given them the power to burn. But, the Hell-fire is not of this world. It has been specially prepared as a punishment for the wicked in the next world.
Which overcomes the hearts.
This Fire is so powerful that its burning flames reach into the human body and grab the heart in its fiery hands. A man’s heart is the most private thing which he owns. It is where he keeps his secrets hidden from all of those around Him. And all the decision of his life take place there. Therefore, his heart is the home of his disbelief in Allaah.
So the severe punishment which awaits those who slander Allaah will reach every inch of their bodies. Even their souls will be on fire. And there will be no break.
Verily it will be closed tightly over them.9.In columns stretching outward.
The Fire will be sealed shut on top of them and will take the form of tubes of flames. They will be trapped in the centers of these fiery columns and they will be neither dead nor alive. Allaah says of those in Hell:
“For him is Hell in which he will neither die nor live”
(soorah Taa Haa (20):74)

But they will continually feel death coming. Allaah says:
“And death will come to him from everywhere, yet he will not die…”
In this state between life and death they will remain forever. Such will be the end of all those who slander Allaah, His Prophets, His Books and the Belivers.
Summary
Allaah has described the end of the slanderers in detail in order to scare those among them who might listen. And He also did it to remind the Believers that their enemies would not escape Allaah’s punishment. This reminder would naturally encourage the Believers to make more sacrifices for Allaah’s religion,al- Islaam. And it would also give them courage to be patient in times of difficulty which they all must face.

5. Tafsir Su ̅rah az-Zilza ̅l (99)
Name of the Su ̅rah
The name Zilza ̅l (quake ) is the gerund (verbal noun) from the verb “zalzala” which occurs in the passive feminine form (Zulzilat) in the middle of the first verse of the Su ̅rah . The name “zilzal” was not common to the prophet and his companions,,as it was their practice to refer to the Su ̅rahs by quoting either the complete first verse or the first few words of it.The practice of assigning names to the Su ̅rahs was done at a much later time.
Place of revelation
This Su ̅rah was revealed after Su ̅rah an-Nisa ̅’ (4).Ibn ‘Abba ̅s said that Edha ̅ -zulzilat was revealed in Madinah,but Ibn Mas’u ̅d was of the opinion that it was revealed in Makkah.Because Ibn ‘Abba ̅s was considered the greatest Mufassir2 of the Qur’an among the saha ̅bah, his opinion concerning the place of revelation of this su ̅rah is considered to be more accurate than that of Ibn Mas’u ̅ d; thus, this su ̅rah is considered to be Madi ̅nan.
Reason for revelation
Allah describes some of the signs of the Last day in this Su ̅rah in order to warn man of the coming end of the world.Allah further explains that all deeds will be judged and all secrets exposed.Consequently,man is advised to do as much good as he can fill his scale of righteous deeds at the time of judgement.
Hadith concerning this Su ̅rah
Anas reported that the Prophet said,
“Whoever receits ,idha-zulzilatil-ardu’ is given a reward equal to receiting half of the Qur’an.”
Su ̅rah az-Zilza ̅l
1.When the earth is shock mightily
Almighty Allah proceeds in this Su ̅rah to paint for us a picture of the last hour in order that we might reflect on the passing nature of this world and concentrate on what really counts in it. He starts the picture with the mighty heaving and shuddering of the earth’s crust as it slows down and approaches a final end .The globe is rocked with devastating earthquakes in all of its corners, causing everything to crack and splinter into pieces, leaving nothing as it was.
The sinking of large sections of the earth is among the major signs of the approach of the Last hour which were prophesied by the final messenger of God .Hudhayfah ibn usayd reported that on one occasion the prophet came to them while they were busy in discussion and asked,
“About what are you discussing?”They replied, “We were discussing about the last hour.”He then said, “It will come until you see ten signs: the smoke (Qur’an 44:10); Dajja ̅l (the false Christ );the beast (Qur’an 27:82);the rising of the sun in the west; the descent of Jesus;the Gog and the magog;and the sinking of land in three locations,in the East ,the West and in Arabia ,followed by a huge fire which would begin in Yemen and drive people to their place of assembly.”
2. And the earth expels its burdens.
Allah , most Great, continues to describe the awesome events which will befall the earth ,one after the other, while the surface of the earth crumbles and cracks. Corpses and remain of the dead will spew and pour out of their graves and onto the surface .Wherever anyone died ,he will be recovered whether it is from the depths of the ocean, amidst the towering mountains ,or even if the body was reduced to ashes and scattered as done by the Hindus.
In other chapters of the Quran,Allah describes some of the other events which will be happening in the heavens and the seas:
When the sky cracks; and the planets scatter, and the seas explode; and the graves are overturned.
When the sun is folded and loses its light and the stars fall; and the mountains disintegrate...and when the seas are ignited; and the souls are rejoined with their bodies.
The stage is now being set for the final judgment, and all that was hidden in this world will be exposed. This refers also to our hidden deeds and intentions, which Allah may, have covered in this life, but will expose and judge on the Last day. However, not everyone’s faults will be exposed on that day. Allah’s mercy will cover the true believers .Abu Hurayrah mentioned that the Prophet said,
“The righteous servants whose faults Allah conceals in this world, will also have his faults concealed by Allah on the day of resurrection.”
3. All men will say, “What is happening to it?”
Those remaining humans caught in the continual earthquakes and eruptions will cry out in horror as they see before their very eyes graves upturned and their contents poured out around them .They madly ask themselves and those around them, “What in the world is going on?”Those who will be caught alive on the last day are the most Corrupt and degenerate of mankind according to the Prophets’ statement.
“The Last Hour will not come except the most evil of mankind?”
The prophet is quoted by his wife Aishah as saying,
“Allah will send a fragrant wind by which everyone who has even a mustard seed’s weight of faith will die, and only those who have no goodness will survive. They will then revert to the pagan religions of their forefathers.
The people will go back to worshipping idols as their ancestors did and will forget all about the final hour and its signs .Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet said,
“The Last Hour will not come until the women of the Daws tribe will be seen going around the idol of Dhul-khalasah in (pagan worship).”
4. On that day it will reveal its secrets.
The earth will inform them of the secret behind all of this disruption and destruction .This secret was at one time common knowledge to most people ,but later it became lost as disbelief spread, until the whole earth became enveloped in darkness.”Abdullah and Abu Musa quoted the prophet as saying,
“Before the Last Hour, there will be a time when knowledge will be taken away and ignorance will take its place; and bloodshed will take place on a very large scale.”
The earth will tell them in its own way that the final judgment has arrived and the time for answering for all that was done in this life has come. Allah said,
And when the word is fulfilled against them, we will bring out of the earth a beast which will speak to them, because mankind did not believe in our signs.
5. Because your lord has permitted it.
It is by Allah’s permission that the earth will inform the last of mankind of the cause of all that devastation and the expulsion of the dead shortly before the earth itself is destroyed. It might seem strange to us that the earth will speak. But Allah is able to make all of his creation speak as he has informed us:
When they reach (the fire) their ears, eyes and skins will testify against them about what they did. And they will ask their skins, ‘Why do you testify against us?’ They will say,’Allah, who causes all things to speak, has caused us to speak.


6. On that day men will return as individuals and will be shown their deeds.
When all the preceding events take place, all mankind will return from the state of death as individuals, no one recognizing the other. All earthly ties will be Brocken and each will only be concerned with himself .Allah describes this as:
A day when man will flee from his brother, his mother, his father, his wife and his children. Each of them that day will have enough concern of his own to make him indifferent to the others.
Allah will cause them all to come face to face with all that they did in their lives in order that the basis of his justice will prevail. Almighty Allah said:
Read your book. you are sufficient to call yourself to account
7. Whoever does an ant’s weight of good will see it,
8. And whoever does an ant’s weight of evil will see it.
Allah uses the word Dharrah( the smallest ant) to indicate that no matter how insignificant and small an act of good or evil may be ,it has all been recorded by the angels of the right and left, and on that day the complete records will be presented before us. Therefore, we should not consider any good deed as being of no value, but instead, we should strive to accomplish all the good we can as it will not be lost or forgotten. The prophet urged us to do all we could, saying,
“Don’t scorn any form of good, do it even if it is only meeting your brother with a smiling face.”
Every opportunity to point out a good deed should be utilized because the Prophet also informed us that,
“Whoever points out a good deed gets the same reward as the one who does it.”
6. Tafsir Su ̅rah al-Qa ̅ri’ah (101)
Name of the Su ̅rah
Qa ̅ri’ah literally means a thing which knocks or strickes.The Arabs used to say, “the Qa ̅ri’ah struck” if a disaster occurred.
There is some difference of opinion as to whether this Su ̅rah has 10 or 11 verses. Some scholars consider verses 1 and 2 to be a single verse, while other considers them separate verses. Actually the verses of the Qur’an were not numbered in the early Qur’anic manuscripts because the prophet did not specify them .The only chapter in the Qur’an which the prophet specified the number of verses for this Su ̅rah al- Fa ̅tihah.
Place of revelation
This Su ̅rah was revealed after Su ̅rah Quraysh(106).Ibn Mardawayh collected a narration that Ibn ‘Abbas said,” Su ̅rah al- Qa ̅ri’ah was revealed in Makkah.”
Reason for revelation
Su ̅rah al- Qa ̅ri’ah describes for the Makkan pagans ,and for mankind in general, some of the scenes of the day of resurrection. It explains some of the horror of that day and helplessness of mankind in order to makes man reflect on his end. The final day will not come when man least expect it. Like a knocker at the door .Thus, he is encouraged to prepare for that day by accepting true faith and by doing righteous deeds.
Su ̅rah al- Qa ̅ri’ah

Al-Qa ̅ri’ah 2. What is al- Qa ̅ri’ah?
In this Su ̅rah ,Allah takes the idiom al- Qa ̅ri’ah ?(the knocker) and uses it to create wonder ,amazement,worry and fear in the mind of the listener. This was especially important in Makkah in the early days of islam because the pagan Makkans would not listen to the Qur’an .Allah is asking them what is really the Qa ̅ri’ah, and also pointing out that it is not as they had been thinking,but in fact it is much more serious.
3. And what will make you understand what the Qa ̅ri’ah is?
Allah asks another rhetorical question about al -Qa ̅ri’ah to increase in the listeners mind curiosity about this particular al -Qa ̅ri’ah.He does it as if to say that this Qa ̅ri’ah is far beyond man’s ability to comprehend.It is infact,so strange and horrible that man’s mind cannot grasp its full meaning ,so Allah goes on to tell about some of its signs.
4. (It is) a day when men will be like scattered moths.
Al-Qa ̅ri’ah is a day when all mankind will be scattered over all parts of the earth,covering every square inch of it likea swarm of moths bees.
All of the generations of man, from Adam’s time until the last day will be brought back to life by Allah’s command .No matter how far and wide their remains have spread, whether re-absorbed by the earth ,blown by the winds or swept away by rivers and seas, on Allah’s single command”Kun”, all will be recombined and every soul will be reclothed in their bodies in preparation for the final judgment.
The Prophet’s wife Aishah quoted the messenger of Allah as saying,
“Mankind will be gathered barefooted, naked and uncircumcised, “She asked ,”O messenger of Allah, will the men and women stare at each other?””O Aishah ,” he replied, “the circumstance will be much too fearful for any of them to look at each other.”
People will be so afraid that they will almost drown in their swaet .Ibn ‘Umar related concerning the verse, a day when mankind will stand before the Lords of the Worlds that the Prophet said,
“They will stand submerged in sweat up to the middle of their ears.”
Allah’s messenger is quoted by miqdad ibn Aswad as saying,
On the day of resurrection, the sun will come so close to people that only the distance of one mile will be left. People will be submerged in perspiration according to their deeds, some will have bridle of perspiration up to-“and while saying this Allah’s messenger pointed to his mouth.

5. And the mountains will be like multi-colored fluffed wool.
On that day the earth will become unrecognizable, its features changed as if by a child’s paint brush, its familiarity totally lost. In Su ̅rah Ibrahim,verses 48,Allah said, on the day when the earth will be changed to another earth and likewise the heavens. It will be strange new world. The mountains which in this world appear to be unaffected by time and stand their guard solidly, in the new earth will turned to dust and will be scattered like puffs of sheep’s wool in many different colours.Allah gave some the these details in other verses of the Qur’an like:
And when the mountains are blown away.
And the mountains will be moved from their places and become a mirage.
And the mountains will be crumbled to pieces and become floating dust particles.
The new earth will become completely flat and completely devoid of any landmarks .Sahl ibn sa’d related that he heard the prophet say,
“On the day of resurrection mankind will be gathered on a reddish white plain looking like a loaf of flat bread ,”Sahl added,” The land will have no landmarks for anybody to recognize.”
6 & 7 whoever’s scales are heavy then will have a pleasing life.
Allah in this verse lays down the rules by which the judgment will be made. All of the actions which man does in this life will be put in these scales of justice in order to be weighed; good acts on onside of the scale and bad ones on the other. If the quality and quantity of good deeds are heavy enough to outweigh the evil ones, one is guaranteed an eternal life of bliss in which all that one desire will be his. But at the time of setting up of the scales, people will be so fearful that they will forget their loved ones and friends .Aishah reported that she remembered the fire and wept .Allah’s messenger asked her, “What is causing you to cry?” she replied, “I thought about the fire and cried.wil you remember your family (i.e your wives) on the day of resurrection?”The Prophet said, There are three places where no one will remember anyone else: at the scale until he knows whether is scales will be light or heavy at the record will fall in his right hand or in his left or from behind his back and at the bridge when it is placed between the two sides of hell.”
8 & 9 As for he whose scales are light, his mother will then be the abyss(Hawaiyah).
If, on the other hand man’s evil deeds outweigh his good deed, paradise will be placed beyond his grasp and he will be dragged screaming and crying to the edge of Hawaiyah,a bottomless pit. He will then be hurled headlong into its outstretched arms. As he falls into it endlessly, it closes around him in a tight embrace, like a mother hugging her child.
10. What will inform you of what it is?
By repeating this haunting rhetorical question which brings to mind the worst of fears.Allah tells us that this Hawaiyah is so terrible that mere human words cannot convey its reality.
11. A fiercely blazing fire.
The closest thing in this world to describe the Hawiyah,the future mother of the wretched, is a super-heated fire which melts flesh and bones and sears the very soul.Abu Hurayrah reported that Allah’s messenger said,
“The fire of your world is one-seventieth of the Hell-fire.”Someone said,”O messenger of Allah,the fire of this world would have been sufficient to torture the disbelievers.”The prophet said, “The Hell fire is sixty-nine times more hot.”
The hell –fire is so hot that even an ember from it will cause a man’s body to burn.An-Nu’man ibn Bashir quoted the Prophet as saying,
“Among the people of hell, the person with the least punishment on the day of judgment will be a man under the arch of whose feet an ember will be placed which will cause his brains to boil.”
So the Hell-fire is not something to be taken lightly. It is something to be feared by doing righteous deeds and avoiding sin. Otherwise, all who enter it will regret as none have ever regretted before. The prophet is reported to have said.
“Allah will say to the person with the least punishment in the fire on the day no judgement,’If you possessed everything on earth, would you use them to ransom yourself(from the fire)?’He will reply,’Yes,And Allah will say, ‘I wanted much less than this from you while you were in the loins of Adam; that you should worship no other gods besides me,but you refused and worshipped other gods besides me.
This is why the prophet warned us saying,
“Protect yourselves from the fire, even if it is (by giving in charity) half a date. And one who does not have even this should do so by saying a good and pleasant word.”
Hawiyah is, in fact, one of the many names with which Allah has referred to Jahannam (hell), and al- Qa ̅ri’ah is among the names of Qiya ̅mah(Day of Resurrection).Hawiyah means abyss or bottomless pit which is a description of one of the scary features of the Hell-fire.’Utbah ibn Ghazwan said,’
“It was mentioned to us that a stone will be thrown from the edge of hell and it would fall for seventy years and not reach bottom.”
Allah uses this various names to bring out some of the more terrifying features of the next life ionrder to shock man into reflecting onto his end and thus try to set his present life inorder.
The greatest deed that one can do is to believe and declare ones faith in the one true God, Allah and in the messenger of Allah who bought islam to mankind. This is the only act which will ensure man’s salvation. It is the only thing that can save mankind from hell. However ,saying the words of faith like the way a parrot repeats the words of its owner will not benefit us in the least. It is true faith in what is said which will be use to us on the day of resurrection.’Abdullah ibn’Amr reported that the Messenger of Allah said.
“Allah will take out a man from nation in front of creation and spread before him ninety-nine scrolls, each scroll as long as the eye can see. Then he will say, ‘No I have a good deed for you and you will not be wronged on this day. ‘A sentence from the scroll containing,”Ashsadu an la ilaha illalah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan’Asshadu wa rasuluh.”(I bear witness that there is no other god worthy of worship but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is his slave and messenger)will be removed.Allah will say, ‘Be present at the weighing of your deeds. ‘The man will say ‘O Lord, what is this sentence in comparison to the scrolls?”Allah will say, ‘You will not be wronged. ‘The scrolls will become light and the sentence heavy for nothing is heavier than Allah’s name.”
If man’s evil deeds are many, he will be put in hell, even though he declared his faith. However he will be removed from Hell after he has been purified by the fire. The Prophet is quoted by Abu Sa’id al khudri as saying,
“When the people of paradise have entered paradise and the people of hell have entered hell .Allah will then say, ‘Take out of the fire whoever has a mustard seed’s weight of faith in his heart. ‘They will come out, but by that time they will be burnt to coal. They will then be thrown into the river of life and they will spring up like the way a seed grows on the bank of the stream.”
Such is the power of faith.





7. Tafsir Sūrah at- Takāthur (102)
Name of the Sūrah
At-Takāthur literally means. “accumulation,” and it was taken as a name from the first verse of the Surāh. This name was not, however, revealed, as is obvious from the Prophet’s reference to the Surah as “ Alhākum at-takāthur,” which is its first verse.
Place of revelation
This Surahwas revealed immediately after Surah al-Kawthar(108. Ibn Mardawayh collected a narration of Ibn ‘Abbas in which he said, “ Alhakum at-Takathur was revealed in Makkah.’’1
Reason for revelation
Allah invites mankind to give up the worship of this world because such worship blinds them to the realities of this life. The early Muslims of Makkah were mostly poor and oppressed, so Allah encouraged them to be steadfast in their faith and not to allow the riches, when they come, to divert them from their duties to God. They were reminded that this life is short and that they will have to answer for what they did with the blessing of Allah.
‘Amr ibn ‘Awf related that the Ansār2 head of Abu ‘Ubaydah ‘s arrival with Zakah from Bahrain and after the Fajr prayer they came to the Prophet who smiled and said ,
“ I think you have heard about the arrival of Abu ‘Ubaydah and that he has brought something?” They replied, “Yes, O’ Messenger of Allah.” He said , “This is good news, so hope for what will please you. By Allah , I am not afraid that you will become poor, but I am afraid that the worldly wealth will be given to you in abundance as it was given to those nations before you, and you will start competing with each other for it as they did, and then it will divert you as it did them.”3
Hadiths concerning concerning this Sūrah
Ibn ‘Umar reported that Allah’s Messenger asked,
Aren’t any of you able to recite a thousand verses ( of the Qur’an) daily?” The Companions replied, “ Who amongst us is able to recite 1,000 verses daily?” He replied , “Aren’t any of you able to recite ‘Alhakumut-Takāthur’?”4
Addullah ibn ash-Shakh-kheer relat that he came to the Messenger of Allh while he was reciting, “Al-Hākumut-Takāthur”and he said,
“Man says, ‘My wealth .’ But , O’ son of Adam, do you have any of your wealth except what you have eaten and used, worn and worn out, and what you have given in charity and thereby cause it to remain?”5
Sūrah at-Takāthur
Accumulation diverts you.
In this Sūrah , Allah warns us to avoid certain habits of this life which have no real value besides temporary amusement. Man often spends his waking hours busily amassing, wealth, children and fame in order to boast to others and rule the weak and helpless. This pointless activity blinds him to realities of this life. He fails to realize that wealth, children and fame in order to boast , to others and rule the weak and helpless. This pointless activity blinds him to the realities of this life. Ha fails to realize that wealth , children, fame , etc. are only tests as Allah stated,

(know that verify your wealth and children are only a trial and with Allah is a great reward.)
By these test and trials Allah separates the believers from the non – believers and by them He also puts the believers on different levels according to their faith. Allah said,
(O’ Believers! Don’t let your wealth or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah…) (Qur’an 63:9)
The drive to a mass more makes man forget the real purpose of his life, which is the worship of Allah, and it also makes him forget that he will have to answer to Allah for his deeds on the Day of Judgment. Thus Allah remind us:
(Do not let wealth and children amaze you, for Allah only wants to punish them with it in this life and that their souls be taken while they were disbelievers.) (Qur’an 9:55)
Those who fail these tests have allowed their wives and children to become their own personal enemies without realizing it. Yet, Allah tells us in the Qur’an:
(….Surely there is in your wives and children an enemy for you, so beware of…..) (Qur’an 64:14)
Until you visit the graves
The diversion created by the accumulation of this world’s pleasures continue to trick people into believing that everything is all right, until death catches up with them in this state of manifest ignorance.
(So when they forgot ( the warning ) with which they were reminded , we opened to them the gates of every (pleasant) thing, until in the midst of their enjoyment in that which they were given, all of the sudden , we caught them…….) (Qur’an 6:44)
It is only on their beds that they finally awaken from their dream world of fun and games, but then it is too late. Even if they ask for forgiveness at that time it will not be accepted , as it was being sought in a state of fear at a time when the realities of the afterlife are evident. Allah said,
(There is no repentance for those who continue to do evil until death comes one of them and he says, ‘Indeed, I have now repented,’…)
‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar quoted the prophet as saying,
“Allah , Most Great and Glorious, will accept His servant’s repentance until his death rattle begins.”
They will beg for another chance , but Allah said,
(Allah will not delay a soul if their appointed time comes, and Allah knows that you do) (Qur’an 63:11)
Greed is a very dangerous emotions because it is never satisfied. The more wealth and pleasure people have, the more they want. Only death finally and sudden ends this desire. Both Ibn ‘Abbās and Anas reported that the prophet said ,
“If one of Adam’s descendants had a valley of gold, he would wish for two valleys, for nothing will end his greed except the dirt of his grave”6
The believers are, therefore, advised to avoid this trap and the disbelievers are encouraged to wake up before it is too late.
This verse could also be understood to mean that the mutual rivalry and accumulation of wealth diverts men to such a degree that they even go to the graveyards and boast about who their dead relatives were and what they did. They compete with each other in building structures over the graves of their ancestors and forget themselves.
This diversion has become so powerful that even the graveyards do not remind them of their impending death.
But you will soon know.
Here Allah gives us a severe warming against our lives in the useless accumulation of material things and mutual boasting by hinting to us that we will soon know, without actually saying what, when and where. He tells us that this life is very short and we will soon realize just how foolish we were when we are finally lowered into our graves and are confronted with its punishments and torments. On that day it will become very clear to us that all our boasting and hoarding was all in vain , as it was not this life was really about. To illustrate the closeness of the next life, the prophet compared it to the shoes on our feet. Abdullāh quoted the prophet as saying ,
“Paradise is nearer to each of you than the strap of his sandal, and so is the Hell – Fire”7
Then after that you will soon know.
The previous verse is dramatically repeated to increase its impact on the minds of the listeners. It also points to another time shortly after the first encounter with the realities of death, when the follies of this life will seem even more tragic. We will be brought back to life to face the final judgment in which only righteous deeds will be of any avail.
If only you had certain knowledge
Allah adds another warning by assuring us that if we really knew just where we headed, we would not allow our desires for wealth and fame divert us from our real purpose even for a minute. We would be so busy doing righteous deeds and avoiding even deeds that we would not have any time even to think about hoarding money and boasting. This is why the prophet who had certain knowledge, is reported to have said,
“If you knew what I know, you would laugh little and cry a lot.”8
This verse has been purposely left incomplete by Allah to increase its impact , by allowing the listener or reader to complete it in his own mind. This is considered, according to Arabic grammar, the height of eloquence.
You will surely see9 the fire
This verse is also introduced by a particularly by a particular deleted oath to increase the certainly of its subject matter. The complete oath is: “By Allah, you will see the fire.” Everyone will be shown the Hell-fire.”
(There is none among you who wont be brought near to it (the Hell-fire) ) (Qur’an 19:71)
Its heart-rending ferocity will shock the righteous, then they will be overcome with joy and gratitude in the knowledge that they will escape its flames by Allah’s mercy. But for the evil, the initial shock will only increase in intensity as it dawns on them that they are seeing their future eternal home. The Prophet is quoted by Abu Hurayrah as saying,
“No one will enter Paradise without being shown the place he would have occupied in the fire if he had rejected faith, so that he would be more thankful. And no one will enter the fire without being shown the place he would have occupied in Paradise if he had accepted faith, so that he would be more sorrowful.”10
Abu Sa ‘īd al-Khudrī related that the prophet said , concerning the Day of judgement,
“….A bridge will be brought and place over Hell.” The Companions asked, “O” Messenger of Allah, what is the bridge?” He replied, “It is slippery and has hooks…. Some of the believers will cross the bridge in the blinking of an eye, others as quick lighting, or a strong wind, fast horses or she-camels. Some will cross safely without any harm, others will receive some scratches and some will fall down into Hell. The last person will cross as if he were dragged over”11
Then , you will really see it with certainty
The sinners will then be brought very close to the Fire to get an even more hair-raising view. The certainity of their entrance will be burned into their minds as they stand in fear at its very edge.
‘Ayna al-yaqīn is considered the highest level of knowledge about anything since no matter how detailed a description may be, it can never be equal to seeing a thing with one’s own eyes.

Then , verily you will be asked on that Day about the pleasures.
On the Day of Judgement (Qiyāmah), everyone will be questioned about the blessing of ease, comfort and pleasure which Allah gave him in this life as a test. Did we give the thanks which were due? Our wealth and children came to us with virtually no effortson our part. Even if it seems to us that things happen as a direct result of our efforts, if we look around us, we will see many people who made more effort than us, but got less, and others who made less efforts than us, but got more. Therefore, it wasn’t our effort by itself which determined what we got in this life, it was only Alla’s mercy. Did we thank Him by remembering Him and obeying His commands, or were we ungrateful, forgetful and neglectful? That short life is only a test made upof that one fateful question , and its answer will determine our place in the next eternal life. Out of everything in this world, only our good deeds will be of any use to us in the next. Anas ibn Mālik reported that the Prophet said,
(A dead person is followed by three, two of them return and one remains: His relatives , his property and his deeds follow him; The relatives and property return and his deeds remain with him”12
The blessings Allah has granted to us should be put to their right use. This is a means of expressing gratitude to Him. For instance, if we are in health, it can be used for the service of others; with wealth, the less fortune can be helped; if we have knowledge, it can be passed on others. We have not been sent on earth for eternity hence, all the blessings given to us only a means to achieve a worthwhile end, which is seeking Allah’s pleasure. Ibn ‘Abbās quoted the prophet as saying,
“ There are two blessings of which many people are cheated : health and free time”13
These blessings are opportunities to good which most people miss. Ibn ‘Abbās also reported that Allah’s Messenger advised a man saying,
“Avail yourself of five things before five: your life you die, your health before you sick, your free time before you become busy, your youth before you become old, your wealth before you become poor”14













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Tafsir Surah al-Inshirah (or ash-sharh) 94
Name of the Surah
Place of revelation
The reason for this revelation
Tafsir Sura at-Tin (95)
Name of the Surah
Place of revelation
Reason for this revelation
Hadiths concerning this Surah
Tafsir Surah al-Adiyat (100)
Name of the Surah
Place of revelation
The reason for this revelation.










5. Tafsir Surah al-Inshirah
(or ash-Sharh) (94)
Name of the Surah
This Surah is named Surah ash-Sharh in many copies of the Qur’an, however, the literal meanings of “sharh” and “inshirah” are the same. Both mean openining and expanding, but in this surah they refer to the relief which Allah gave to Prophet Muhammad. The Sahaba (Companions of the prophet) often referred to this surah as Surah Alam Nashrah )Literally, “ Did we not open’) since these are the opening words of the Surah. The title “Sharh” and “Inshirah” are very suitable for this chapter of the Qur’an, because the whole chapter describes various ways by which Allah relieved the Prophet of his many burdens.
Place of revelation.
‘A’ishah, the wife of the Prophet, is reported to have said that, “Surah Alam Nashrah was revealed to Prophet Muhammad in the city of Makkah”1 and the Sahabi IBN ‘Abbas added that it was revealed after the revelation of surah ad-Duha (93)2.
The reason for this revelation
In this Surah, Allah reminds the Prophet and the believers of the relief which He has constantly given them after times of difficulty. He also points out to them that no matter how strong and powerful their enemies may seem the fame of the believers to one of the most important characteristics of their earthly live: sabr (patience and endurance). The believers are told not to give up, no matter how difficult things might appear to them, because Allah’s help and mercy are just around the corner. This surah also warns the believers of the negative qualities of impatience, despair, and lack of endurance. The believer, according to this Surah, is not a quitter; he does not give up when times get tough. Instead, he sticks to the right path and continues to struggle until Allah relieves him.
Surah al-Inshirah
Did we not open your chest for you?
Allah reminds the prophet of the times when He guided him and opened his heart to the wisdom behind his many trials and times of extreme difficulty. The term “chest” is used here much in the same way that is used in English. When something is bothering someone, it is said that he has something” on his chest,” and if he is relieved by expressing to others what was bothering him, it is said that he got it “off his chest.” Allah removed from the Prophet’s chest the many worries and doubt which he had concerning the difficult task of spreading the religion of Islam to the people of his time. Allah also removed the bad feelings which the prophet felt when his people rejected him and plotted against him.
When the Qur’an was first revealed to the prophet, he feared that he would forget it, so he used to quickly repeat whatever he heard. However Allah told him no to do so. Instead, he should only listen to it carefully and Allah would cause it to be imprinted in his mind without any effort on his part.3
The explanation was based on the figurative meaning of Allah’s opening of the Prophet’s chest; however, this verse also has a literal meaning Twice in the Prophet’s life Allah had His angels cut open Prophet Muhammad’s stay with his foster mother, Halimah as-Sa‘diyah. While as a five year old tending the goats and sheep of his foster parents, two angels descended on him, cut open his chest and purified his heart.4In this way, Allah protected his final prophet during early childhood and youth and prepared him for prophet hood. As for the second occasion, it was on the night of the prophet while he was sleeping in his house, cut open his chest once again and poured wisdom into his heart.5 This prepared the prophet for his awesome journey out of his world and for the incredible experiences he would have on that journey. He was also being strengthened for the next stage of prophet hood which was to begin shortly after that with his migration to the city of Yathrib (later renamed al-Madinah). (See Islamic studies Book 1)
And we removed your burden for you.
The burden of errors which the prophet had committed before receiving divine revelation and prophet hood bothered him continuously in spite of their insignificance. Allah then removed the prophet’s feelings of remorse and sadness and replaced them with feelings of gratitude and happiness over his countless mercies. Allah tells the prophet in this verse that all of his errors have been forgiven. This message was intended to comfort the prophet and raise his spirits so that his mind would be free to concentrate on the great task of calling mankind to Islam.
Which had become heavy on your back?
The worries of prophet are described in the verse as weighing down his back even though they were of a mental and spiritual nature rather than a physical one. This figurative description of the Prophets problems makes them appear really enormous, thereby, giving us a clearer picture of what he was faced with.
Verses two and three also refer to the many incidents throughout the prophet’s mission in which Allah lightened the weight of prophet hood by providing the prophet with strong support from the people around him. For example, his wife Khadijah was a source of great comfort and warmth when the first revelations left him in doubt and fear. The prophet, not having received revelation before, was not sure whether Jibril was really a messenger from Allah or whether he was a Shaytan. Khadijah assured him that Allah would never allow a righteous person such as him to be sent astray in his way. She also took the prophet to her cousin, Waraqah ibn Nawfal, who was familiar with the scriptures of the Jews and the Christians. When Prophet Muhammad related to Waraqah what had been revealed to him and how it had been revealed, Waraqah confirmed that it was a part of the divine revelation which had come to the prophets of old.
Another example is the prophet’s uncle Abu Talib, who spite of not accepting Islam, supported the prophet and his followers when they were under social and economic boycott by their tribe, the Quraysh. For a period of three years Muhammad and his family, his clan, Banu Hashim, and many of his followers were confined within a mountain pass some distance fromMakkah. The pagans of Makkah had banded together in an attempt to starve the Muslims into giving up Islam, but Abu Talib not only refused to join the pagans, but also decided to stay with the prophet and his companions outside of Makkah.
A further example is that of the prophet’s uncle Hamzah and Umar ibn al-Khattab coming into Islam at a joint when Muslims were being forced to perform their prayers and hold their meetings in utmost secrecy due to the constant harassment of disbelievers. Because Hamzah and Umar were both noted for their strength and bravery, their entrance into Islam allowed Muslims to pray openly at the Ka‘bah and to speak out against the idolatry and corruption of Makkan society.
And we raised your reputation.
Allah continues to mention to the prophet the special favours which were bestowed upon him. The earlier prophets all made covenants with Allah to believe in Prophet Muhammad and to command their followers to do so also. Mention of prophet Muhammad can be found to this day in both the old testament of Jews, as well as the Gospels of Christians, in spite of the many to have said the following to prophet Moses.
“I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their (i.e. the Jews) brethren (i.e the Arabs); and I will put my words in his mouth
(i.e. the Qur’an and Qudsi Hadiths) and he shall speak to them all that I shall command him.”7
In the Gospel, Prophet Jesus is reported to have said to his companions as follows:
“I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
When he, comforter comes, he will guide you into all the truth, For he will not speak on his own authority; but whatever he hears, he will speak ; and he shall declare to you the things that are to come. And he will glorify me, for he shall take what is mine and declare it to you.”8
In the Gospel according to Barnabas, the following is recorded:
“The disciples answered, ‘ O’ Master, who shall that man be of whom thou speakest, who shall come into the world?’ Jesus answered with joy of heart, ‘He is Muhammad, Messenger of God, and when he cometh into the world, even as the rain maketh the earth to bear fruit when for a long time it hath not rained, even so shall he be occasion of good works among men, through the abundant mercy of God which he will bring.”9
Allah also raised the Prophet’s reputation among all generations of Muslims by linking the Prophet’s neme with His. Abu Sa‘eed reported that Allah’s Messenger said,
“Jibril came to me and said, ‘Verily your Lord asks, ‘How have I raised your reputation?’ I replied, ‘ Allah alone knows.’ Jibril then said that Allah said, ‘Whenever I am mentioned you are mentioned with Me.’ ”10
That is, in the adhan (call to prayer), the declaration, “ I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah” is recited at least five times every day in most parts of the world.

For verily with every difficulty there is ease.
After mentioning some of the favours bestowed on the Prophet after times of difficulty, Allah, the Most Merciful assures him that it is the normal pattern of things that after times of hardship there will be time of ease. Elsewhere in the Qur’an we are told that, Allah does not burden a soul with more than it can bear. 11 When an individual is tried and tested by fearsome experiences, test becomes truly unbearable. A test which is impossible to pass is not a test at all and no one would be at fault for failing such a test. A real test is one which lies within the range of our abilities and responsibilities. Success of failure in such a test could then logically be rewarded or punished. Therefore, for the divine judgment of man in the next world to make any sense at all, the misfortunes and burdens of this life cannot be beyond his capacity to handle Based on this divine principle of tests according to abilities, suicide has been classified as haram (forbidden) in Islam. In fact, the Prophet himself informed us that one who kills himself will find himself in the Hell-fire life.13 The one who commits suicide implies by his act that Allah has unjustly burdened him beyond his God-given abilities, and such a concept is, in reality, equivalent to kufr (disbelief). Muslims are not permitted to give up hope in Allah at any time and they are expected to look at difficulties as merely temporary tests from Allah, soon to be followed by a period of ease.
Verily, with every difficulty there is ease.
The divine promise in the previous verse is repeated, word for word, in order to emphasize its certainty and to set the believers’ hearts at rest. At the time of this revelation, the believers were in the most difficult stage of the Islamic movement, the stage in which foundations were laid and the religion was being re-established on a universal basis. All of the forces of disbelief had gathered together to erase Islam and coerce its adherents back into idol-worship at a time when Muslims were forbidden to fight and their numbers were few. A divine promise of this nature greatly needed to boost the spirits of the Prophet and his followers and help them to bear the numerous calamities which befell them with patience and perseverance. Allah further emphasized the promise of ease after difficulty for those who fear Him and are patient by saying,
…For whoever fears Allah-He will make a way out and give
Him provision from `````where he never expected…. (Qur’an 65:2-3)
Thus, when you have finished, you should continue to strive.
On the basis of the above-mentioned promise, the Prophet and his followers are advised to continue to do righteous deeds at all times, no matter how great a deed they may have completed. That is, there is no period in which a true believer may take a rest from doing good; he must be aware of his obligation to Allah at all times. The true believer cannot afford to lose sight of the purpose behind his creation. In created things, man’s purpose is to worship Him (ibadah), and in relation to created things, man’s purpose is to govern them according to the laws of Allah (khilafah). This dual purpose does not allow any “free time” if he has chosen to submit to Allah. The believers are told to strive in sincere prayer to Allah whenever they finished doing the deeds of his world and strive in the propagation their prayers.

The importance of using every opportunity for increasing one’s good deeds was greatly emphasized by the Prophet. Ibn ‘Abbas reported that the Prophet once said,
“ Profit from five before the arrival of five: your life before your death, your health before your sickness, your free time before you become busy, your youth before your age, and your wealth before your poverty.”14
And to your Lord you should direct your desire.
Allah closes the Surah with a very important note: Our major interests and desires should be for the things in the next world which Allah has put aside for the righteous, and not for the few material pleasures of this short life. The importance of this reminder to direct our desires to Allah becomes most obvious when we consider the fact that the pains and pleasures of this life will all cease after a relatively short period, While in the next life, pain in Hell and pleasure in Paradise are everlasting. This vital fact has been mentioned in various ways repeatedly throughout the Qur’an. For example, Allah told the Prophet and the believers.
Do not strain your eyes to see what pleasures we have given some groups of them, for they merely decorations of worldly life given in order to test them, while, the provision with your Lord is better and more lasting. (Qur’an 20:131)
Elsewhere in the Qur’an, Allah tells man,
And whatever things you all have been given are simply pleasures and beauties of the worldly life, but that which is with Allah is better and more lasting. Will you all not come to your senses? (Qur’an 28:60
It is the nature of man to desire things in the worlds which believes will please his physical and spiritual senses. Because of this, Allah has gone to great lengths to describe in detail many of the pleasures of the next life. However, the similarity between pleasures of the afterlife and pleasures of this life are only in the names and the fact that they both bring pleasure. The Prophet is reported by Abu Hurayrah to have said,
“Allah said, ‘I have prepared for my righteous servants things which no eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard of, and no human has ever thought of.’ ”
Abu Hurayrah then added, “Read, if you wish Allah’s statement in the Qur’an.
No soul knows what joys of comfort for eyes are kept hidden for what they used to do.
(Qur’an 32:17)”15
Those who truly believe in Allah, will find the description of the joys of the next world a substitute that is much better that the short-lived joys of this world a substitute that is much better than the short-lived joys of this world. It is their souls alone which have succeeded in casting off the chains of desire for the few cheap pleasures of this passing world. With one’s desires directed towards Allah, the tests and trials of this life become easier to bear and sacrifices which accompany good deeds become easier to make. It is only in this state that one can really reap the rewards of both this life as well as the next, Allah willing.




6. Tafsir Surah at-Tin (95)
Name of the Surah
The name of this Suah, “at-Tin, “ is the Arabic word for “fig,” and it is the second word mentioned in the first verse of the Surah. The Companions of the Prophet commonly referred to this Surah by the whole first verse, “war-tini waz-Zaytun,” and some commentaries on the wide acceptance of the shortened title, it was chosen by the generation of the Surahs at the beginning of each chapter.
Place of revelation
Ibn ‘Abbas and Ibn az-Zunayr were both reported to have said that Surah at-Tin was first revealed in Makkah.1 It was also reported to have been revealed after Surah al-Buruj (85).
Reason for this revelation
This Surah reminds mankind of the many blessings which Allah has bestowed on them in the form of food, revelation, prophets, and even in the perfection of their own physical and spiritual forms. It further points out that disbelief in Allah and disobedience of his commandments will lead to man’s eventual destruction in this life and the next. Consequently, mankind is reminded by Allah in this Surah to reflect on the bounties of the Creator and to give thanks to him by submitting their wills in the acceptance of Islam.
Hadiths concerning this Surah
Al-Bara ibn Azib said,
“While the Prophet was on a journey, he prayed Salatul-Isha’ and read, in one of the rak ‘ahs’ ‘Wat-Tini waz-Zaytun.’ I never heard anyone with a more beautiful voice ar a style of recitation than his.”2 Abdullah ibn Yazid reported that the Prophet read, “Wat-tini waz-Zaytun” during Salatul-Maghrib (Sunset prayer).3
Surah at-Tin
By the fig and the olive
Here Allah makes an oath by two type of fruit, both of which He created man’s benefit. The fig, with its luscious sweetness, soft body, and many little edible seeds, and the olive oil, tart and firm with a single large inedible seed were opposites well known to those to whom this Surah was first directed. The fig was a luxury occasionally enjoyed, while the olive was an everyday food whose oils had many diverse uses. Allah focuses attention on them to remind the people of that time, as well as us, of his countless blessings created specifically for our benefit and in spite of our ingratitude.

By Mount Sinai
Allah then swears by Mount Sinai, 5on which He spoke directly to Prophet Moses. This is also a reminder of another one of Allah’s favours to mankind. He gave us Prophets as examples and divine books of law and guidance so that we might go aright, yet most go astray. This mount was raised up over the heads of the Israelites and a covenant was taken from them, but shortly thereafter they disobeyed Allah’s laws and slaughtered his Prophets. Thus, Mount Sinai represents Allah’s mercy to man in the form of Divine Guidance, the obstinacy of the Jews, as well as most of mankind, in their rejection of the prophets and the guidance.
And by this secure town
The final oath is made by Makkah itself, reminding the Arabs, who were the first to hear this Surah, of yet another mercy which Allah had bestowed on them. Makkah was made secure and safe from all dangers from the time of Ibrahim and Isma ‘il’s building of the Ka ‘bah until their time. In fact, in the year 571 C.E., known as “The Year of the Elephant,” When Abraha and his men came from Yemen to destroy the Ka ‘bah and defeated the army by sending a swarm of birds against them. This historical incident and others like it were well-known to the Quraysh. So, when Allah reffered to Makkah as being secure and safe, it had great significance to them.
Verily, have created man in the best form;
This verse introduces the topic which Allah wants to emphasize by preceding it with a series of oaths. That is, Allah swears by the fig, the olive, Mount Sinai and Makkah: “I have fashioned human beings in the most balanced and upright form.” All other animals are bent over, and even if some of them stand up , their legs remain bent or their backs remain hunched, whereas man stands fully erect. He was also given a mind with which he could rule his instincts and desires and even alter his environment to suit his needs. Additionally, Allah blessed him with an eternal soul endowed with the ability to distinguish between good and evil.
That soul and mind and their qualities have raised man above the rest of creation and blessed him with a reflection of the divine attributes. That is the meaning contained in the following hadith reported by Abu Hurayrah from the prophet.
“Allah, Most Great and Glorious, created Adam in his image. “6
Even though the wonders of man’s own creation are beyond his comprehension and the multiplicity of chemical and physical processes going on within him are mind-boggling, he still fails to realize that they are all simply signs pointing to the Supreme Being who designed them, started them functioning, and who maintains them for a specified time. Look at Allah’s reminder:
There are signs in the earth for those (Whose faith is) certain, and even in your very selves are signs, if you would only reflect. (Qur’an 51:20-20)


Then we sent him back to the lowest of the lows
Allah, after creating man superior to the rest of creation, often returns him to a state lower than the lowest of His Creation. That is, when man disbelieves in Allah after all the blessings Allah has bestowed on him, he in fact lowers himself to a level below that of the rest of creation, which exists in a state of submission to Allah. Man is in rebellion against Allah’s laws, and in his rebellions, he sinks into a mire of filth, exhausting himself with his own inventions (drugs, pornography, war, etc.). Allah in turn places this rebellion individual at the lowest level of the everlasting fire, where he will be consumed, recreated and consumed forever.
Except those who believe and do righteous deeds; they alone will have an unending reward.
All of mankind is destined for the lower reaches of the Hell-fire with the exception of those believe in Allah, His Prophets, His Angels, revealed scriptures, the Day of Resurrection, and Qadar (Allah’s degree), and do deeds which conform to their beliefs and Allah’s commands. Those who submit to Allah’s laws are rewarded by being exempt from the torments of Hel and, instead, are given an everlasting abode of pleasure and fulfillment in a place called Jannah (Paradise). It is worth noting that the condition for attaining Paradise is a combination of both Eeman (faith) and Amal Salih (Righteous deed). The reason for the combination is because righteous deeds are the fruit or natural result of correct belief. Correct belief, without a doubt, necessitates correct action, though mistakes are investable, as man is not a perfect being.
The Messenger of Allah said,
“All of Adam’s descendants constantly repent.”7
The prophet also said,
“If you did not commit sins, Allah would sweep you out of existence and replace you with a people who would commit sins, then ask Allah’s forgiveness, and He would forgive them.”8
So, if we see someone in error we cannot negate his belief or his Eeman unless he proves it by a direct statement of disbelief or some other means. Similarly, we can’t assume that someone has the correct Eeman simply because he does good deeds, as he may have ulterior motives behind them, like seeking popularity. Allah informs us of a plain reality which He alone knows its entirety: The successful are whose belief and actions are correct.
What then makes you a disbeliever in the (Day of) recompense?
This verse has two possible meanings, depending on whom the question is addressed to:
If Allah is speaking to the Kafir (disbeliever), then the verse could be understood to mean, “If you, O’ rebellious disbeliever, have realized that Allah has made you in the best of forms and the highest of states, then lowered you to the worst of forms and lowest of states, what then has caused you to disbelieve and lie about the Resurrection and Judgment?”
If Allah is speaking to the His Messenger, then the verse could be understood to mean, “Who dares to call you a liar concerning what you have said about the Day of Judgment after this clear explanation of man’s reality and Allah’s countless mercies and blessing?”
Whichever of the two meaning is used, the basic message of the verse remains the same: After Allah’s explanation of man’s creation and the choices that determine his development in this life, as well as his future state, there should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that would cause him to deny the reality of Resurrection and final judgment.

Is not Allah the best of Judges?
Allah goes on to ask mankind rhetorically, “ Isn’t the who has blessed mankind physically and spiritually, after creating them in the best of forms and giving them a choice between good and evil, the best to judge them, or is there someone else who feel would be a better judge for them?’ This question is asked to point out the ridiculousness of those who feel that there is no judgment or that there is none who could judge them.
7. Tafsir Sura al-Adiyat (100)
Name of the Surah
Adiyat is the plural of adiyah, which literally means something running quickly. The word mentioned in the first verse of this Surah refers to horses changing towards the enemy.
Place of revelation.
It is reported that Ibn ‘Abbas said, “Surah al-Adiyat was revealed in Makkah.”1 This Surah was revealed after surah al-Asr (103).
The reason for this revelation
The main message of the Surah is that man is ungrateful to Allah in spite of the many favours which have been bestowed on him. However, he will be held responsible for not giving thanks, and all of his sins, hidden and open, will be exposed (unless Allah forgiveness him and conceals them). Nothing escapes Allah, whose justice will and must prevail. This Surah invites the disbelievers to reflect to their state of delusion, and it reminds the believers that their good deeds will not be in vain, regardless of the apparent success that evil seems to have in this life. As Allah said in the Qur’an,
Do not their wealth and children dazzle you. Allah only wishes to punish them with the things of this life and for their souls to perish while they in a state of disbelief.
Sura al- Adiyat.
By the swift charges, thundering
The Surah starts with a divine oath which summons the picture of a violent scene. It is of steeds of war in the middle of a charge. Their hooves are pounding the earth and their nostrils are snorting as they thrust forth mightily. The listeners’ attention is immediately captured by this dynamic image.
By flashing sparks, hammering
Focus is drawn to the pounding hooves of these mighty steeds as they smash against stones and pebbles. Sparks of fire fly off in all directions like blacksmith hammering a bar of red-hot iron on his anvil. The listener is almost overwhelmed by the force behind these vivid scenes as they build toward a climax.
In the early morn, attacking,
Yet another tone is added to the scene. It is a raid dawn. The enemy is caught totally unaware by cavalry attack. There is no opportunity to mount a counter attack or even an organized defence. Every man is for himself, trying to avoid the murderous hooves of the charging horses as they rapidly approach their encampment.
Clouds of dust, churning
As the raiders bust in on the enemy, clouds of dust start to rise around them. The charge begins to slow as the enemy is encountered and the streams of dust which formerly trailed begin to catch up and hide them like a screen. But the momentum continues to build as the rhythm tightens and the climax.
Into the centre of the crowd, Crashing,
Here, in the final scene, the climax is reached. The momentum of the charge reaches its peak and drives them right into the centre of the enemy. Victory is theirs as the heart of the enemy has been pierced to its core. These scenes were familiar to those who first heard of this Surah. Horses were dear to them, as they portrayed the perfect battle: a devastating surprise attack and an immediate, crushing victory.
So it is as if Allah says: By these scenes which you so dearly love, which catch your attention so completely, there is something more important that you ought to consider.
Verily, man is ungrateful to his Lord
Allah wants us to consider the fact that most of mankind deny the blessings which He has given them. Some claim that their wealth and good fortune are a direct result of their own efforts, but a quick analysis of the world situation proves them wrong. There are many who made more effort than they did, yet their wealth was less, and also there are some who made less effort, yet they accumulated more. Therefore, the crux of the matter is not simply the effort made, but really Allah’s distribution of His blessings. Allah said,
Allah has favoured some of you over others with sustenance…
(Qur’an 16:71)
Allah gives freely to whom He pleases, whenever He pleases, regardless of the circumstances. But His bounty is only a test used to expose the ungrateful and confirm the righteous. This is why the Prophet said,
“Look to whoever is below you and don’t look to those above you. It is more appropriate for you in order that you do not deny Allah’s blessings on you.”2
As long one keeps in mind that there are others less fortunate than him, he is more likely to recognize the countless blessing he has and be thankful to Allah.
Some who observe the discrepancy between effort and results use it as a basis for the total denial of Allah’s existence. They attribute success to good luck, which, in their estimation, is blind and impersonal; therefore, there is no need for giving thanks. Doing so, they have stripped Allah of most of His attributes, made Him a blind force not following any discernable laws and called Him by a new name, “Luck.” Often they become very attached to objects, places and times they associated with good fortune, Considering them “lucky,” as in the case of “good charms.” This attachment on their part often involves into a series of rituals differing only slightly from many ancient pagan rituals performed to appease the various gods they worshipped.
And verily, he himself is a witness to that
Man testifies by his own action to his ingratitude. Even the so-called believer, who claims to be thankful, repeating phrases such as “al-Hamdu lillah” thousands of time daily, acts in a way that contradicts his words. He clings to his wealth as if it were truly his own, and not just a trust and rest from Allah. He sees the needy and finds numerous excuses for not helping them. Or, if he does give, it is much less than his ability.3
And verily, his love of (material) good is strong
Man is driven by his intense love of the material benefits of this life to expend all of his energies in its accumulation. He spends most of his waking hours devising ways and means of tricking others out of their wealth. He is totally oblivious to the fact that he will shortly die and will not be able to take any of it with him. Chasing the fantasies of this world has made him short-sighted. He can only see what is immediately in front of him, and is unable to deduce the factors at play behind them. He scoffs at the thought of Allah and makes fun of the religious. Though “his love for good is strong,” without divine guidance he does not know what is really good for him. Consequently, he will seek out evil believing that he is seeking good. Allah described this state of confusion as follows:
…perhaps you dislike something and it is good for you and love something and it is evil for you… (Qur’an 2:216)
Will he not know the contents of the graves are poured out?
Allah ask this rhetorical question, scorning those who carry on their foolishness in this world despite repeated warnings and obvious signs all pointing to a time when an account will be given. At that time all of mankind will be resurrected from their respective graves, regardless of the circumstances surrounding their burial. Therefore, dead bodies that are cremated and the ashes scattered in the Ganges according to the Hindu custom, or dead corpses left to be devoured by vultures according to the Zoroastrian custom, all will be resurrected. All parts of the earth, Seas and winds which contain their remains will pour them out on that fateful day.
And what is in the chest will be exposed
In the instant in which dead bodies are brought back to life, all of their deeds, spiritually imprinted on people’s souls, will be separated into two categories: good and evil. Then they will be weighed in front of them on the scales ultimate justice.
Allah refers to the chest because it encloses the heart, which controls the behavior of each individual. It is where the innermost secrets are kept hidden from all of creation. But Allah holds the key which unlocks all secrets; that key being His unlimited knowledge from which nothing escapes.
Verily on that Day, their Lord will be well aware of them.
The divine scales will only confirm for man what Allah already knew before He even created mankind. On that day the rewards and punishments will be meted out according to the results f the weighing of deeds. This judgment is in reality only for man’s benefit, for Allah could have created men, divided them into two groups, and placed one group in Jannah (Paradise) and the other in Jahannam (Hell) based on His prior knowledge. But then those who were sent to the fires of Jahannam would claim that the division was unfair and that they would have done good in his life, if only they had been given the chance. So Allah has allowed man to prove to himself by his own deeds why he deserves the end which he will meet. Thus, the judgment can be aid to represent the perfection of Allah’s justice found in His description of Himself as “Ahkam al-Hakimin”4 (The wisest of Judges):
The word of your Lord is completed in truth and Justice. None can change His words, for He hears and knows all. (Qur’an 6:115)

















TAFSEER SOORAH AL-‘ALAQ (96)
Name of the soorah
‘Alaq literally means blood clots or leeches. The singular of it is ‘alaqah,and the verb from which it is derived is ‘aliqa, which means “to cling”. The word ‘alaq occurs at the end of the second verse of this soorah. This soorah is also reffered to as soorah Iqra’(“read”),as it is the first word of the first word of the first and third verses and the topic of the first part of the soorah. Ibn Jareer at –Tabari titled it “soorah Iqra’ Brims.”
Some scholars hold that this soorah consist of20verses, while others consider it to have only 19 verses. This difference of opinion confirms the fact that the total number of verses in the soorahs was not specified by revelation except in the case of soorah al- fatihah (Qur’an 1:1-7). The actual numbering of verses, like the naming of the soorahs,took place long after the Qur’an was written down.
Place of revelation
This soorah is Makkan without a shadow of a doubt, and is considered to be the first part of the Qur’an to be revealed. The first revelation of the Qur’an was ‘Iqra bismi rabbikalladhee khalaq.’ ”
Reason for revelation
The prophet’s wife ‘A’ishah narrated, “The first (from) of wahee (revelation)that came to the Messenger of Allah was the true vision in sleep. Whenever he had a dream, it would come (true) like the bright gleam dawn. The solitude became dear to him,and he used to seclude himself in the cabe of Hira, where he would engage in worship for a number of nights before returning to his family and getting provisions again for that purpose.(when they ran out)he would again return to Khadeejah and take provisions for a like period,until the Truth came to him while he was in the cave of Hira. The prophet told ‘A’ishah,.
“He took hold of me and pressed me to the point that it took all of my strength to cope, then he let me go and said. ‘Read.’ I said,’ I can’t read.’ He again took hold of me and pressed me for the second time to the point that it took all of my strength to cope, then let go of me and said, ‘Read,’to which I replied , ‘ I can’t read.’He took hold of me and pressed me for the third time to the point that it took all my strength to cope, the let me go and said,(Recite in the name of your Lord who created,created the human being from a thing that clings.Recite and your lord is the most Generous, who taught by the pen,taught man what he did not know).
‘A’ishah said, “Allah’s messenger returned straight away, with the arteries of his neck trobbing, until he came to Khadeejah and said ‘wrap me up, wrap me up! So they wrapped him until the fear had left him.
He then said to Khadeeja, ‘khadeejah! What has happened to me?’and he informed her of what happened,saying, ‘I fear for myself.’she replied, ‘never (fear). Be happy. I swear by Allah that He will never humiliate you.
‘Never (fear). Be happy. I swear by Allah that He will never humiliate you.
By allah, you go out of your way to nurture the ties of kinship, you speak the truth and support the needy, you earn wealth for those who cannot,entertain the guests and help out in the afflication that try people.’she tok him to her ignorance, he knew Hebrew and could write Arabic,and had translated portions of the Gospel into Arabic. He was by then a very old man and had gone blind. Khadeejah said to him, ‘uncle, please listen to your cousin.’
Waraqah said, ‘what do you see,my cousin?’ The messenger oa Allah then informed him about what he had seen. Waraqah tpold him, this is the same angel that was was sent down to Moses. I just wish I were young and vigorous (help you in your mission). If only I could be alive when your people drive you out.’ Allah’s Messenger asked, ‘will they really drive me out?Waraqah said, ‘yes .No man ever came with what you have brought without meeting hostility. If I see your day I will help you wholeheartedly.’
Hadith concerning this soorah
Muslim and the authors of the sunan reported from Abu Hurayrah that he said ,
“We made sajdah (prostration) along with the prophet in ‘Idhas-ama ‘un shaqqat’ and ‘iqra’ bismi rabbik.’
Soorah al-‘ Alaq
Read in the name of your Lord who created
The prophet and the believers were commanded to recite that which was revealed to them beginning with Allah’s name. Because of that command, the Bsmalah (i.e. the statement “ Bismillah”) is written and read at the beginning of every soorah, with the expection of soorah at-Tawbah, even beginning though it is not actually a verse. It represents an open declaration of intent to recite first and foremeost for Allah’s pleasure alone and not for the admiration and pleasureof those around us. Second, it represents a reaffirmation of Eeman and the commitment to put into practice in order to make Eeman a living and vital force and not just the empty words of a cultural hand-me-down. The completion of the verse also represents an open declaration of the fact that it is Allah alone who creates.It is He alone who has the power to bring a thing into existence from a stste of non-existence. In this admission there is an implicit reminder of the greatest mercy and blessings which Allah has bestowed on humankind. Allah’s attribute of infinite and perfect mercy contained in the derivatives of the noun rahmah, like “ ar – Rahman” and “ar- Raheem.” Manifested itself in the act of creation. What greater mercy is there to each and every individual than the act of bringing him into existence, making him be when he wasn’t?
He created humankind from clinging leech-like clots of blood
Allah goes on reveal to humans something of their lowly origins and the miracles of their creation. Elsewhere in the Qur’an Allah has elaborated on the embryological development of human beings to a degree far beyond the limited scientific knowledge of the seventh century, establishing for all time clear proofs for the divine origin of the Qur’an. But here, Allah suffices with a of the sperm and the ovum. The fertilized egg descends from the fallopian tube egg. The process involves the development of root-like protrusions called villi,which bury themselves in the wall of the uterus in order to extract nourishment from it, the way trees roots operate in soil. The end result is that this reddish-looking clump of cells clings to the uterus in a leech-like fashion.
Here lies human beings’ origin: a mass of reddish cells clinging on for dear life, totally dependent on the processes of the uterine world. Allah suggest that human beings should reflect on their origin,then reflect on their present state, abundant with countless abilities and spiritual independence : blessing upon blessings, mercies upon mercies-should he not give thanks?
Should he not consider his responsibilities?
Read ! And your Lord is the Most Generous
The prophet and the believers are told to proclaim without hesitation that their Lord is the Most Kind and Noble. His generosity knows no bounds and it works in many ways. Sometimes one has to reflect and contemplate to recognize it and sometimes it is plain and obvious. But this divine quality of karamy (generosity) does not only demand from us appreciation and thanks, it also requires us to imitate it and make it an intrinsic part of our own personalities.
The prophet emphasizes this fact by linking generosity and kindness with the presence of Eeman itself, saying’
“Whoever believes in Allah and the last Day should be generous with his guest.”
This is one of the most powerful moral characteristics a muslim can acquire as, if it is sincere, it generates love and attracts all but the hardest of hearts. One who masters his nafs (selfish desires) and radiates kindness may become a da ‘ee,a caller to Islam, of the highest rank by virtue of his character and lifestyle, and, and as it is said, “ Actions speak louder than words.”
This quality is the logical outcome of the realization that all that one possesses has been given to him, and he will be held to account for how he dealt with it. It was not simply the product of his own efforts, because many around him have made more effort and received less. So it was simply a manifestation of Allah’s name, “al- kareem”, the Most Generous. Man’s sincere generosity is therefore an accurate reflection of his belief in Allah’s names and attributes and the settling of accounts on the Day of judgement. The term “sincere” excludes those who practice it out of pride snd cultural hasbit.
Who taught humans by means of the pen
Among the greatest bounties which our lord has bestowed on us is the pen, i.e. the art of writing. It was by means of the pen that many sciences and arts evolved, philosophy and history were preserved,and the divine revelation itself recorded.
The effectiveness of writing on human civilization was not as as evident to the Arabs of the 7th century, when the Qur’an was revealed, as it is today. This is because only a few among them knew the art of writing and reading. But Allah, the ‘Aleem (the knower of all things ), made direct reference to it from the very beginning of the revelation of the final message to humanity. This was in spite of the fact that the chosen recipient of that divine message could neither read nor write!Had the Qur’an been the invention of Muhammad, he would not likely have grasped the significance of the pen and even if he had some intuition as to its future importance, he would not have stressed it at the very beginning. But the Qur’an is Allah’s words from beginning to end. It is divine guidance to humankind for all times and places.

He taught man what he knew
It is Allah alone who teaches humankind. Allah is the source of all knowledge. Thus, all that human beings discover by way of the pen was what Allah allowed them to learn. This fact has been expressed in many different ways throughout the Qur’an. For example, in reference to prophet Adam, Allah said,
And He taught Adam all the names (of things)…. (Qur’an 2:31)
This is among the essential principles of knowledge: the ability to name and categorize things in order to discover co-relationships,etc. This was among Allah’s gifts to Adam and his progeny. Elsewhere.Alaah emphasizes humakind’s limited ability to grasp segments from the infinity of knowledge,saying,
…They are only able to comprehend from Allah’s knowledge what he wills……
Thus,humans are not limitless in their ability to discover and explain the wonders of the world around them. They will only attain that that which has been permitted for them. Similarly, Allah points out the insignificance of what knowledge humans have or will learn. When answering the questions concerning the nature of the spirit, He stated:
….say (to them): The spirit is from the command of my Lord and you have only been given a very little amount of knowledge .
New knowledge is revealed from Allah and not just deduced. This is evident in the vast majority of scientific discoveries, from Newton’s apple falling on his head to Madame curie’s accidental discovery of radium and its effects. Similarly, the scientist who tried to work out the chemical structure of benzene saw in a dream a snake with its tail in its mouth. Upon awaking, he realized that carbon molecules formed a ring. So while scientists have been looking for one thing, they found something else. As for the few cases which weren’t obvious accidents, we find that the scientists involved were working on “hinches.” Once the inspiration or the accident pinpoints a new fact, the pen records it and knowledge of it is conveyed by the fruit of the pen: reading and comprehension.
Nay ,but certainly man transgresses
In spite of Allah’s generosity and guidance, humankind is consistently tyrannical, oppressing those around them as well as themselves and transgressing all limits. For example, forests have been defoliated, rivers and seas polluted, and animal species and human societies exterminated. When Portuguese explorers arrived in Brazil in the early 1500’s, its Indian inhabitants were an estimated 6 million in number. Then wars, massacres,and epidemics left a little more than200,000. The Native Americans in North America were estimated to have been around 12million when British settlers first reached the shoes of America. Today they number around 2 million in the U.S.A and Canada. More recent examples can be found in Serbian Christian attempts to annihilate the muslims of Yugoslavia,whom the press deceptively referred to as “Bosnians” as well as Muslim of Kosovo, whom the western press called “ethnic Albanians,” by “ethnic cleasing”.Hundreds of thousands of muslim men, women and children were brutally massacred.
Furthermore, people transgress the limits of Allaah’s commands. In doing so, one oppresses his own soul by depriving it from the happiness that Allaah grants the righteous in this life and the next. Such transgressors, whether they are disbelievers or “Muslims”, will say upon seeing the Hell-fire on the Day of judgement:
…Woe to us! Indeed we were among the transgressors!
The one who lacks taqwa allows his desires and love for this world to cause him to disobey Allah, even after the right way has been made clear to him. In doing so, he does not recognize, and even denies ,the blessings,mercies,knowledge and kindness that Allah bestowed on him . As a result , he deprives himself from the love of Allaah, for Allah stated:
….Allah does not like the ungrateful sinner (Qur’an 2:276)
Because he sees himself as self-sufficient
Human beings are not self-sufficient. From their conception to their grave,they are social beings,depending on those around them every step of the way.
Because we are dependent,we then have an obligation to our fellow humans,which we cannot honestly deny. But this is exactly what many people do
Furthermore, humans deny their obligation to God, and by doing so, transform themselves into evil oppressors. So Allah points out that the root cause of human beings’tranny is their mistaken belief that they are independent and have to answer to no one. They carry on as if their creator plays no role in their decisions and daily lives, and as such, falsely attribute to Allah an apathetic and meaningless role. If they do remember Allah at all, they do so in times of calamity and affliction,when they see that neither they nor their fellow humans can aid them. This arrogance causes them to think that they have within themselves the ability to do whatever they please, whenever they please, and there is no one who can challenge their right to do so. In this frame of mind they adopt the Machiavellian principle as their first commandment: “The end justice the means.” Good and bad are redefined according to what good and bad from them. Due to their belief that right and wrong are “relative”, all of the higher moral principles become warped and they use them to justify their evil ways. Generosity,honesty and kindness become signs of weakness, while betrayal, deceit and treachery become the keynotes for success. They feel that the education and success they have attained were a result of their own efforts, and that they are thus self-sifficient.
Little do they realize that it is Allah who gave them all they have and it is He who can take it away any time He wishes?
Certainly,to your Lord is the return
No matter what people think or do in this life,no matter what power, ststus, or wealth they acquire, they must eventually return,like all created things, to Allah for assessment. Nothing escapes Allah’s justice, no matter how insignificant it might seem.
Thus. Allah warns humans of their impending end in order to awaken them to the futility of their misplaced pride and childish strutting about among the less fortunate of humankind. Allah said,
Do they think that because of the wealth and sons we have provided them that we are hastening the arrival of good things for them?Nay, but they are unware! (Qur’an 23:55-56)
Hence, each and every individual must be fully conscious of the fact that he or she will stand before Allah and answer for every single thing he or she said or did. Allah describes this fearful day in vivid detail throughout the Qur’an. This is so that any person who can comprehend and fear the intensity of the Judgement will act accordingly, striving to attain Allah’s pleasure and avoid His displeasure. Thus, we should often read and reflect on these realities so that we may attain righteousness and, ultimately, Paradise.
9-10. Have you seen the one who presents the slave from praying?
These verses were revealed in reference to Abu Jahl ibn Hisham,who used to prevent Allah’s slave and messenger Muhammad from praying in the vicinity of the Ka ‘bah. However, this treatment was inflicted on the Muslims in general at the time this soorah was revealed. For example, slaves who were among the first to accept Islam in Makkah, were subjected by their pagan masters to every conceivable type of torture in a devilish attempt to make them stop praying and repudiate Islam. The stories of their suffering and bravery are well known in Islamic history. Bilal ibn Raban,under the greatest of duress, would only reply to his master Umayyah ibn Khalaf. “Ahdun Ahad (Alaah is one and only one)”. Sumayyah bint Khbbat, an old womwn and slave of Abu Hudhayfah patiently bore continual torture until Abu Jahl stabbed her private parts with a spear and she died, becoming the first martyr of Islam. This scene has repeated itself throughout the history of humankind.
Whenever someone chooses the path of Allah and his superiors maintain their deviant path, a battle ensues. Whether it be parents,husbands or relatives,they turn in disgust and hatred and try to prevent the slave of Allah from worshipping his or her lord.
Allah questions this phenomenon rhetorically in order to arouse feelings of wonder and dismay: “How could it be? Why should it be? This is something that really should not be happening, but does, due to human beings’ rejection of accountability and their choice of tyranny and oppression.
11. Have you seen if he is rightly guided
12. Or if he enjoins taqwa?
Allah asks this of Abu Jahl and all those so anxious to turn Muhammad and new Muslims in general, back into their former selves. Often the prior lives of new Muslims, or born “cultural Muslims” who eventually accepted true Islam, were lives of misguidance, full of corruption and ignorance. Whwn they accept Islam, a change takes place. A new outlook appears and the path of righteousness is chosen. The revolution is so radical that the individual becomes a virtual stranger to his or her former relatives and colleagues. His former loved ones and friends then try desperately to bring the new Muslim back, in order to save him or her from what they perceive as misguidance and the rejection of their former false religious beliefs and practices. But Allah questions them rhetorically, encouraging them to give their position some thought. Because a close analysis of “before and after” will, in most cases, show that the new must be one of guidance. A careful listen to what this revolutionary is saying will also show that strong emphasis is being placed on the fear of Allah (taqwa), which is the real beginning of righteousness.
13. Have you seen whether he rejects (the truth)and turns away?
Allah also revealed this verse in reference to Abu Jahl. In this and the previous verses, a contrast is made between the one preventing others from righteousnsss and the one being prevented. The ones being prevented are rightly guided and possess and enjoin taqwa, which is the most virtuous character trait one can have. Meanwhile, those trying to dissuade them from Allah’s path are described with the worst characteristic one may possess: denial and rejection of the Truth. This is due to the fact that Allah revealed undeniable proofs to establish the divinity of Muhammed’s message. He allows everyone to see His signs so they may contemplate and reflect, seek out the reason for their existence, and then believe in Him. He stated:
We will show them our signs in the universe and in their own selves, until it becomes manifest to them that this is the truth…. (Qur’an 41:53)
Hence, the disbelievers know within themselves that Islam is the true religion of Allah, but due to their arrogance,they refuse to acknowledge that those whom they look down upon are indeed correct and to leave their old ways and beliefs in complete submission to Allah. Allah describes this phenomenon in several verses, saying:
And they denied (the signs,wrongfully and arrogantly,though they were certain of its truth within themselves…… (Qur’an 7:146)
By ignoring the reality present within their hearts and minds, they not only deceive themselves, they also disregard the fact that Allah, who is well aware of what they hide inside themselves, is watching them. They forget that they will one Day have to answer to Him for this deliberate rejection. Allah says:
… So this Day we shall forget them as they forgot their meeting on this Day, as they used to reject Our signs.) (Qur’an 7: 51)
14. Doesn’t he realize that Allah sees?
The sequence of rhetorical questions is closed with a foreboding warning from Allah. The evidence is spared out in front of those opposed to the spread of Islam. What Islam calls to in the way of morals and their practical application is far superior to all other existing ethical systems. This is simply due to the fact that, although their origins are divine, they have been modified and distorted in time and replaced to a large degree by man-made amendments. On the hand,the Islamic ethical system remains as pure as it was when it was revealed. Therefore, the true product of such a system will, no doubt, be light years ahead of all others. So now that it is clear, those who oppose the practice of Islam should then reflect on themselves and on Allah’s awerness. For since Allah sees all that they do, they must realize that those who terrorize His slaves, His sincere worshippers, greatly anger Allah. Let them desist from their transgression before it is too late. Let them repent and change their foolish ways.




15. Nay, if he does not desist,
We will snatch him by his forelock
Due to the seriousness of turning away from and opposing Islam in any way, shape or form, Allah issues a grave warning. Allah warns them to stop their devilish practice of trying to make believer revert. If they do not desist from it, He will have them dragged by the hair at the front of their heads and fling it, He will have them dragged by the hair at the spread and practice of Islam will have to pay in the next life. But in this life they are to be hunted down and killed wherever they are found (whenever war is imposed), if the believers are in a position of strength. Allah commanded the believers saying,
Fight in Allah’s way those who fight you, but do not transgress the bounds, for indeed Allah does not love those who transgress. Kill them wherever you find them and drive them out of the places from which they drove you out. And fitnah is worse than killing……. (Qur’an 2:190-91)
Fitnah in this verse represents shirk as well as the trials and pressures which aggressive non- believers place on weak believers place on weak believers, causing them to give up their Islam, compromise it in forbidden ways, or turn to shrink.
Therefore, just as Allah orders us to be merciless with them in this life when I strife, He will also deal with them severely in the next. They will be snatched by the very point of their heads that they like so much to raise high in conceit in this life.
16. A lying, sinful forelock
Their raised heads are cursed by this verse as being full of lies and sinful thoughts. They lie about Allah, either by denying Him altogether as the atheists do, or by attributing to Him a son, mother, daughter, etc., as the Christian and other polythesis do, or by claiming Him exclusively and making Him subject to the whims of humans,as the Jews do. They also lay about the prophets by writing lewd and obsence stories about or by denying them, as the Jews did to Prophet ‘Eesa and both the Jews and Christians do to Prophet Muhammad. They lie to others and to themselves,reassuring themselves that they are “good people” who fully deserve Allah’s grace and mercy. Christians claim that we are were all born in sin as a result of Adam’s mistake, the “Original sin,” and that simply accepting Jesus as our “savior,” who died for our sins,guarantees entrance to paradise. Meanwhile,the Jews claim that the rest of humkind are beasts, created specifically to serve them,that the rest of humakind are beast,created specifically to serve their ignorant and bold claims,saying:
Say (to them): ‘if the home of the Hereafter with Allah is indeed especially for you and not the rest of humankind, then long for death if you are truthful.’ But they will never long for it due to (the sins) their hands have put forth….
17. Let him call on his council (of helpers)
A terrifying challenges is made to those opposed to the spread of Islam and a desolate picture of their helplessness is painted. As they are being dragged off to the Hell-fire in a state of abject terror, they will cry out to their former friends for help,only to find that their earthly companions ans relatives are totally unconcerned about them. Their friends in this life will be so scared and fretful about their own future that they will not have the least amount of time even to look in the direction of anyone else’s cries and pleas. Allah will call on the Zabaniyah, the Guardian Angles of the Hell-fire. Those who live according to their own desires, taking their own insignificant whims and other created beings as their “lords,”should reflect on their helplessness when this occurs. Who can stop Allah’s command to the angles when He orders them?
Seize him and fetter him,then throw him in the blazing fire! Then fasten him with a chain, the length of which is seventy cubits. (Qur’an 69:30-32)
Elsewhere in the Qur’an, Allah warns the believers of this scene, saying,
O’believers, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire fuelled by people and stones, and over which are rough, harsh angles who do not disobey Allah whenever they are commanded. (Qur’an66:6)
Thus, they will be dragged by their hair, screaming, crying and sobbing,to the harsh guardians of the Fire, who will in turn fling them,twisting and squirming, into its searing flames. This is indeed a fitting end for those who rejected Allah in this life.
19. No! Do not obey them, but instead prostrate and draw near
In this closing verse of the soorah,Allah commands the believers to reject the request and demands of those who oppose both the beliefs and implementation of Islam. There is no need to obey the impious,for theirs will be a disgraceful end. They will be the ones humiliated and dishonoured in the next life,even though the believers may suffer great degradation and trials in this life. This is the reality that the truth believer must face up to if he is to pass the test of this life. Allah said,
Did people (honestly) think that they would be left alone to say, ‘we believe,’ without being tested?
The key to success is, of course, that golden attribute on whichtrue Eeman is built, sabr (patience). So,ponder Allah’s statement:
And we will surely try you with some fear, hunger,loss of wealth and lives. So give glad tidings to the sabiroon (the patient), who say whenever a calamity befalls them, “indeed, we belong to Allah, and to Him we will return. (Qur’an 2:155-156)
Thus, Allah tells the believers to not only disregard the pressures of those who have rejected faith, but to alsi patiently continue in their worship, obligatory as well as voluntary, in order to come closer to their worship, the ultimate endeavor of the true slave of Allah: to come close to Allah by complete submission to the path of Islam, which He has laid down way of His last messenger to humankind. This is that state in which Allah and his messenger become dearer than all the rest of creation. This is the state in which Eeman becomes a reality and not just a theoretical goal; its nectar slipped and its heavenly sweetness experienced. In this state of divine servitude, the slave of Allah has made halal(permissible) and avoids the haram(forbidden), as well as the makrooh (disliked). He is well aware of the prophet’s warning:
“Each of Adam’s descendants’s has a share in Zina. His two eyes commit Zina and their Zina is looking …”
Similarly, all of his boby prts only follow the prescribed path and in that way he becomes the embodiment of Allah’s command. This is meant by that often –qouted hadith qudsiin which Allah said,
“my slave does not draw near to Me with anything more beloved to me than that which I have made Fard (obligatory) on him. He continues to draw nearer to me with nawafil until love him. If I love him, I will be his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his hand with which he grasps, and his sight with which he sees, his hand with which he grasps, and his foot with which he walks. And if he were to seek refuge in me, I would protect him.”
Concerning verses 6-19 of this soorah, Abu Hurayrah reported that one day, in the vicinity of the ka ‘bah, Abu Jahl asked the Quraysh if Muhammad was still prostrating (in prayer) in their presence. When they replied in the affirmative he said, “By al- lat and al- Uzza, if I see him praying like that, I will step on his neck and rub his face in the dirt.” He then approached the prophet while he was praying in order to stamp on his neck, but no sooner had he left them than they saw him retreating and shielding himself with hishands. When asked what happened, he replied, “ there was suddenly between him and me a vast trench of fire,horror and wings!” The prophet said,
“ if he had come near me, the angles would have torn him apart limb by limb.”
Abu Hurrayrah went on to say that it was then that Allah revealed from “Nay, but certainly man transgresses until the end of the soorah.”




6. Tafseer Soorah al-Bayyinah (98)
Name of the Soorah
Al-Bayyinah means clear proof or evidence. The name is used at the end of the first verse,and the third of the soorah seems to be concerned with it.
This soorah was also called “soorah Lam Yakun being the first two words of the soorah.
Place of revelation
Ibn Mardawayh collected a narration from ‘Aishah in which she said that this soorah was revealed in Makkah, and he also collected a narration from Ibn ‘Abbas in which he stated that it was revealed in Madeenah. The majority of scholars held that this soorsh was Madeenah. The majority of scholars held that this soorah was Madeenan, based on the fact that the soorah mentions Zakah, which was not made obligatory until after the Hijrah to Madeenah. The soorah also talks about Ahlal-kitab, the people of the earlier revelation (i.e. Jews and Christians), which tends to support the claim that it is Madeenan, since contact with Jews came in Madeenah. Contact with Christians,for the most part,came after the conquest of Makkah. Those who classify it as a Madeenan soorah also point to its style: Mkkah soorahs usually have short,choppy verses, like soorah al-Qadr,which precedes \it, while al- Bayyinah has long,flowing verses.
Hadith concerning this Soorah
Anas reported that he heard Allah’s Messenger say to Ubayy inb Ka ‘b,
“Indeed, Allah has commanded me to recite ‘lam yakunil-ladheena kafroo’to you.” Ubayy asked, “Did He mention me to you by name?” The prophet replied in the affirmative and Ubayy cried.
Soorah al-Bayyinah
Those who disbelieve among Ahl al-kitab (Christians and jews) and the Mushrikeen (idolators) would not have split off until the Bayyinah came to them
This opening verse has two possible tafseers, both of which are equally valid:
The Christians, Jews and idolaters would not have departed from their path of misguidance unless and until the Bayyinah, the clear proof came to them.
They would not reach the end of their lives and die until clear proof (of the right path) reaches them.
In any case,the meaning are closed and a general tafseer could be made as follows: Allah informs us of one of His mercies, which is saving us from ignorance and misguidance. Dis believers would never have left their disbelief and association of partners with Allah until the prophet came to them with the Qur’an, explained their state of loss and ignorance and invited them to true faith.
This event was repeated throughout the history of mankind: whenever a people fell into disbelief, Allah sent prophets to save them from themselves,.
Similarly, in addition to sending prophets,Allah gives each individual guidance and various signs pointing to the truth throughout his or her life. Without this deliverance, people would have never returned to the right path, but they would stray further and further away in their error. This is also why Allah informed us through His prophet that He would send someone to the Muslim ummah (nation) at the turn of every century to revive the deen (religion) in the lives of the people. Allah’s Messenger said,
“Allah will send to this ummah one who will revive their religion at the beginning (or end)of every century.”
For even though the sources of Islamremain available in their pristine purity,the masses can easily lose sight of them if they are not led by righteous leaders. Therefore, Allah has blessed the final message by continually sending those who would guard it and renew the zeal of the Muslim ummah toward it.
The prohet said,
“This knowledge will be carried by the trustworthy ones in every generation. They will expel from it the alterations made by extremists, the false claims of the liars,and the false interpretations of the ignorant.”
On the countrary, all attempts to reform Christianity have failed because the pure message of prophet ‘Eesa has been lost. Thus,Martin Luther and the protestants were only able to remove some of the catholic superstructures, while innovations such as the trinity, the cross,definition of Jesus, the doctrine of original sin. Similarly, the seventh-Day Adverntists returned the day of worship to Saturday and forbade the consumption of swine, but kept the trinity and deification of Jesus. All such attempts are doomed to failure because the only place wherein Prophet Jesus’ teachings are preserved is Islam. So until they come to the clear proof, they will remain astray, no matter how hard they try.
2 .A Messenger from Allah reciting purified pages
In this verse, Allah explains what the Bayyah was: Prophet Muhammad. It was he who recited the Qur’an was not compiled in book form at that time. This was among the signs indicating to the Muslims that the ultimate form of the Qur’an was to be that of a book.
The prophet and his message represent the divine truth in its purest form. The Qur’an is purified in that it contains no falsehood, errors, or defects whatsoever. So, as it is totally pure,its message is also a purification for the hearts and souls of those who follow it. This is why following prophets Muhammad, who was himself a personification of the Qur’an, was
He said,
Indeed Allah has bestowed a great favour on the believers by sending them a Messenger from among themselves, reciting His verses to them, purifying them, and teaching them the Book and wisdom... (Qur’an 3:16)
Only this truth alone, the Qur’an and sunnah, has the ability to save the disbelievers from their erring ways and put them on the right path.
In them are perfect laws
The verses of the Qur’an contain perfect laws because they were laid down by the only perfect being, Allah. These laws are usually suited to human beings’ needs until the end of the world. Unlike man-made laws, which have to change with time and place because of humans’ limited comprehension, the shari ‘ah (divine law) of Islam takes into account all of the countless needs of humanbeings from a spiritual standpoint, which is based on the very nature of humankind. Humankind’s nature is as unchangeable as the nature of the rest of creation, and only Allah, who created that nature, knows its boundaries and its intricacies. Thus, it is only Allah who could devise laws designed to deal effectively with human being’s nature.They are the only “perfect laws”.
Allah also informs us in the purified pages of the laws which are at work around us and which we should know about about in order to be able to function effectively in this life and earn paradise in the next. For example: good deeds erase bad ones, there is no reward for good except good,Allah does npt burden a soul beyond its scope,with every difficulty comes ease, and Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change what is within themselves. These perfect laws operate in our favour. There are other perfect laws as well operate favour, such as the law that whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will be confrontrd withit. However,due to the perfect balance and justice maintained by Allah, He also said that a person will see an atom’s weight of good which he did.
Those who were given the scripture did not split up until after the Bayyinah cmae to them
The Jews were a relatively unified body, even though they had distorted the scriptures and turned the religion of Islam,as brought by prophet Moses and the prophets who came after him, into a nationalist culture of empty rituals. But when prophets Jesus came with clear proof in the form of the Injeel (Gospel), the jews spilt up into two main groups: those who accepted the truth and followed Jesus, and those who rejected it and called him the son of a harlot. In time. Jesus’ teachings were lost and surperseded by paulism, which deified Jesus’, abrogated the shari’ah and over-exalted the church in the name of Christianity. Thus deviant factions, who, each in its own way, rejected the teachings of Prophet Jesus, won the struggle for leadership of the two communities that claimed to be following revealed scriptures. After consolidating their positions, each group stayed fairly unified until the final prophet, Muhammad, was sent with the final law and final book. When they were confronted with clear proof, they again split up into two main groups: believers and dis believers. The people strayed in unison, a prophet was sent, then they became divided amongst themselves. It will continue to reoccur until the last Day, except that Prophet Muhammad has been replaced by his sunnah.
Over time, Muslims have strayed from the clear path of Islam and adopted all colours and shades of innovations, but scholars have arisen among them to call them back to the Qur’an and sunnah. Some accepted the clear proof and gave up their erring ways, while most preferred to continue doing what they found their forefathers doing and branded those calling for a return to the Qur’an and sunnah apostates and enemies of Allah and His Messenger.
Yet they were only commanded to worship Allah alone, making their deen sincerely for Him and including towards Islam and to establish the salah and pay the Zakah. That is the upright deen.
All previous nations to whom prophets were sent received the same basic message of Islam, which consisted of three fundamental principles: tawheed, sunnah, and shari ‘ah.
Tawheed
The first thing that the people were called to was the worship of Allah Alone, and the rejection of all that was worshipped in His stead. This can be found in the Qur’an ic verse,
Indeed, we sent to every nation a messenger saying, ‘worship Allah and avoid false gods….(Qur’an 16:36)
It was also the first of the Ten Commandments received by Prophet Moses, as recorded by the Jews in the Old Testament:
“ I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods besides me.”
Prophet Jesus confirmed this commandment, as recorded by the Christians in the New Testament:
“And one of the scribes came up and…… asked him, ‘which commandment is the first of all? Jesus answered, ‘Hear, O Israel:
The lord our God is one.”
Although this is what Allah specifically commanded the followers of both prophet Mose nad prophet Jesus, both groups began to worship their rabbis and priests, giving them powers greater than those of God. In the Talmud, God is corrected on numerous occasions by the rabbis and to ask their permission to do various deeds on earth. The Jews also deified some of the angels, as in the case of Matatron in the Hebrews book of Enoch (III Enoch), where he is reported to have said,
“God revealed all his secrets to matatron, and he called me ‘The Lesser Jahweh’ in the presence of all His heavenly household, as it is written, for my name is in him.”l
The Christians, on the other hand,under Pauline influence, deified Jesus as well as Gabriel, the angel of revelation known as the “ Holy Spirit .” They turned the unitarian concept of God as taught by prophet Jesus into s polytheistic trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, even though the Gospel s contain many passages like following:
“And as he (Jesus) was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ And Jesus said to him, ‘ why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.’”
B. sunnah
The way of the prophets was Islam, or submission of one’s will to Allah.
The worship of Allah would not be complete without this submission. Thus, the prophets called people to follow their example of submission, which was taught to them by God.
Their whole lives contained gems of divine guidance for all who wished to be rightly guided. Allah, the Most, High, said,
Certainly, there is in the Messenger of Allah a good example for you, for whoever hopes for (the meeting with) Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah often……..(Qur’an 33:21)
But the Christians and Jews do not put much emphasis on the sunnah of the prophets. In fact, they disregard it totally in many instances. Yet, if they were to pay special attention to this vital principle, many would be guided to Islam in its final form. For example, the last prophet placed great stress on the form and content of salah. Once he prayed, stsnding and bowing on the mimbar (a tiered pulpit), then turned to the congregation and said,
“I only did this in order for you to follow me and learn my form of salah.”
And he said,
“pray as you all seen me pray.”
If the Christians and Jews studied the sunnah of the prophets in salah,as recorded in their own distorted scriptures, they would be surprised to find that only Muslims today maintain the sunnah of sajdah (prostration) in salah. As confirmed by Allah in the Qur’an, this has always been the way of the prophets and all those who truly followed divine guidance. He said,
…Indeed those who were given knowledge before it (the Qur’an) fell down on their faces in humble prostration whenever it was recited to them……..(Qur’an 17:107)
Many similar statements can be found in the scriptures of the Jews and Christians. In Genesis 17:3 it is written,
“Then Abraham fell on his face.”
In numbers 16:22 and 20:6 we find,
“And they (Moses and Aaron) fell on their faces.”
And in 1 kings 18:42 it says,
“And he (Elijah) cast himself down upon the earth and put his face between his knees”
Joshua 5:14 says,
“And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshipped.”
In the New Testament, Matthew 26:39, it is written,
“And he (Jesus) went a little further, and fell on his face and prayed.”
Similarly, the practice of women wearing head-scarves which cover the hair and bosom, as well as loose, flowing clothes, has been totally abandoned in favor of halter tops and mini-skirts. Yet they claim to be following the prophets.
Shari’ah
The prophets brought with them laws for the spiritual growth of individuals, as well as the healthy development of God-conscious communities. Prophet Muhammad outlined the spiritual laws of Islam, Eeman and ihsan, as well as the temporal laws of inheritance, food, trade, marriage, etc.., and all Muslims are commanded to observe them. Likewise, Prophet Jesus was quoted to have said:
“Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the (way of) the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them. For, I say to you, till haeaven and earth pass away, not an iota,not a dot,will pass from the law until all is accomplished.”
The law syas,
“The swine, beacause it parts the hoof and is cloven- footed but does not chew the cud, is unclean for you. Of their flesh you shall not eat and their carcasses you shall not touch; they are unclean for you.”
Yet, most Christians now relish the pig.
The law also says,
“A woman shall not wear anything that pertains toa man, nor shall a man put on a woman’s garment; for whoever does these things is an abomination to the lord your God.”
Yet, bracelets, earrings and neckless for men and men’s three-piece suits and ties for women and unisex fashions have becomes commonplace among so-called Christians.
Zakah was also among the commandments revealed to Moses:
“At the end of every three years you shall bring forth all the tithe of your produce in the same year, and lay it up within your towns; and the levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the traveller, the fatherless and the widow who are within your towns shall cime and eat and be filled, that the lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.”
If the Christians and the Jews were to return to the practice of the religion as commanded in the principles of Tawheed,sunnah and shari ‘ah, they would be guided back to Islam,the true religion of the prophets, revealed by the Lord of mankind, Almighty Allah.
The phrase making their deen sincerely for Him (Allah) is among the proofs used to establish the obligatory nature of an-niyyah (correct intention) in all acts of worship because sincerity is expressed in the heart. ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab reported that he eard Allah’s Messengers say,
“Indeed actions are (judged) by intention, and every person will receive what he intended. So whoever intended to migrate for the sake of Allah and His Messenger, then his migration will be for Allah and His Messenger. And whoever intended to migrate for the sake of some wordly benefit or in order to marry a woman, then this migration will be for which he migrated.”
In order for any deed to be accepted by Allah, two conditions must be fulfilled. If either is missing, the deed is invalid. Firstly, it must be done sincerely for the sake of Allah Alone, and secondly, it must be in accordance with the sunnah of Prophet Muhammad. This is why the prophet warned us of riya’(doing good deeds to show off) and advised us to take great caution in avoiding it. He said to his companions,
“Should I inform you that which I fear for you even more than the dangers of Dajjal (the false Messiah)? It is the hidden shirk (i.e.riya’).A person stands to pray and he beautifies his prayer because he sees the people looking at him.” He also said, “The thing thst I fear the most for you is the minor shirk: riya.”
This is also why so much stress has been placed on the Basmalah (saying “Bismillah,” i.e. in Allah’s Name)prior to all significant acts. The purpose of the Basmalah is to correct one’s intentions and make sure they are sincerely for Allah Alone.
Certainly, those who disbelieve among Ahl al-Ktab and the Mushrikeen will be in Hell forever. They are the worst of creation.
Allah makes a sweeping judgement on all those who have heard about the final Messenger and heard the final message, yet reject them; their abode is the Hell-fire. The prophet said,
“By Him whose hands is Muhammad’s soul, any jew or Christian, without exception, who hears about me and then dies without believing in the message with which I have been sent will be a dweller of the Hell-fire.”
Whatever good they do in this life will not get them out of the Fire. They will either be rewarded for it in is this life or have their punishment reduced in the next life by occupying lesser levels of the Fire, but it will be the eternal fire nonetheless. Because they had either rejected Allah or His prophet, both of which occupy a pivotal position in this life and the next, Allah classifies them as the worst of His creation. All of His creation is in a state of Islam, in submission to the divine laws, except the souls of the Jinn and human beings, which have been given the option between voluntary submission and open rebellion. Rebellion takes humans below lowest of creation. This fact is evident in the excesses and corruption in western society.
Certainly, those who believe and do righteous deeds, they are the best of creation
Those whose souls voluntarily submit to Allah by sincere belief in His Divine Unity, His prophets, His revealed books, His angles, the Day of Resurrection, and fate, whether good or bad, and act upon that belief are divinely classified as being above all of creation. Fulfilling one’s duties toward Allah and His creation, i.e righteous deeds, is a natural consequence of true belief. Among the most significant duties of humankind are:
The establishment of righteousness and
The prohibition of sin.
Allah stated,
You are the best nation raised up for humankind (because) you command good and forbid evil, and you believe in Allah…
Once who a believer who believes in Allah and fulfills these duties is the best of creation.
This is so whether Allah gives him success and makes hin a national leader and head of an Islamic state, or whether he is hounded for his firm belief and practice until he is eventually caught and murdered after rotting away in some dark, dingy prison. On the other hand, one who does not believe and does not fulfill these critical duties is the worst of creation, despite any wealth and power he may have. Even a believer who faols to fulfill these duties will be so disliked by Allah, the most merciful, that He will completely ignore his calls for help.
The prophet stated,
“By Him in whose hand is my soul, you must order good and forbid evil or else Allah will soon send upon you a punishment from Himself and then you will supplicate to Him and he will not respond to you.”
Ibn ‘Abbas reported that Allah’s Messenger said to his companions,
“Should I tell you who the best of people is?” They all replied. “why, yes, messenger of Allah.” He said, “It is a man who grabs the reins of his horse in Allah’s path until he dies or is killed. Should I inform you of the next best?”they answered , “yes.” He said, “ Aman who keeps to himself in a canyon, establishes salah, pays Zakah and steers clear of evil people. Should I now inform you of the worst of people?” they again replied, “Most certainly.” He said, “One who is asked in Allah’s name but refuses to give.”
Their eternal reward is with their Lord: Gardens of Eden beneath which rivers flow. Allah will be pleased with them, and they with Him. That is for he who fears his Lord
The reward which Allah has in store for them, because of their Eeman and righteous deeds are the beautiful gardens of paradise, replete with meandering rivers flowing beneath its trees. A life of eternal bliss and contentment, free from the anxieties and worries of this world will be theirs. But besides all of that, there is another pleasure immeasurably greater and especially reserved for the eternal inhabitants of these gardens: It is Allah’s pleasure with them. Abu sa ‘ eed al- Khudri narrated that Allah’s messenger said,
“Allah will say to the people of paradise, ‘O’ people of paradise!’
They will say, ‘we are here, at Your service, O’ lord,seeking to please you. Allah will say, ‘Are you pleased? They will say, ‘why shouldn’t we be pleased when you have given us what you have not given to anyone of your creation? Allah will say, ‘I will give you something better than that.’ Allah will say, ‘I will bestow my pleasure and contentment on you so that I will never be angry with you again.’”
The knowledge of this will fill their hearts with inconceivable happiness until they overflow, joyously showering every particle of their being. Their pleasure with their Lord swells and rises up inside them to meet His pleasure with them.
And the greatest pleasure of all received by the believers is that they will see Allah in the next life. Allah refers to this favour saying,
For them in it (i.e. paradise) is whatever they wish, and with us is something additional.
The two noble companions, ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib and Anas, explained that “something additional” refers to the blessing of looking at Allah.
Allah also said in this regard,
On the Day some faces will be bright, looking at their Lord.
‘Adi ibn Abi Hatim reported that the Prophet said,
“Certainly each one of you will see Allah on the day when you must meet Him, and there will not be between Him and you a veil nor a translator.”
Allah then adds a final touch to this heavenly scene, the key to it all: the fear of Allah. It is not instinctual fear, as that of high places or dangerous animals, etc., but it is a pure fear born of deep and intense love of Allah. It is this fear of divine displeasure which drives the believer to avoid even some of the things which are halal (permissible) for him, so as not to even come near the haram (forbidden). That fears in turn produces in him an extreme hatred for all that displeases his lord. The following hadith reported by Anas strengthens this point. The prophet said,
“ whoever possesses three qualities has tasted the sweetness of Eeman: one to whom Allah and His Messenger are more beloved than anything else, one who loves another slave of Allah only for Allah’s sake, and one who hates to return to kufr after being saved by Allah the way he would hate to be thrown into the fire.”
Thus, his heart finds peace and rest in the struggle between the two components of Eeman: love and hate produced by the fear of Allah. These two emotions complement each other only in the heart of a true believer, while to elsewhere both are highly destructive. Love and hatred of a true believer, while elsewhere cause people to commit all kinds of atrocities. For example, the devastation on Vietnam was justified by Americans’ love of the democratic process and freedom. The Ku Klux Klan perpetrated countless acts of savagery against black Americans in the United States due to their hatred of integration. This why it is only the true believer who can fulfill the requirements necessary to govern the earth with true justice. It is his taqwa which ensures that his reign will be just. Allah, the Most High, said in this regard:
O’ believers! Be steadfast witness for Allah in justice, and do not let your dislike for a people cause you to be unjust. Deal justly, for it is closer to taqwa . And fear Allah, for indeed Allah is well informed of whatever you do…………..(Qur’ an 5:8)
O’ you who believe! Be steadfast in justice and be witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves, parents or relatives, or whether it is the case of a rich man or a poor man, for Allah is a better protector of both. So do not follow your desires, lest you be unjust. For if you lapse or turn away (from the truth) then, certainly, Allah is well nformed of what you do…..(Qur’an 4:135).





























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