AL BAQARAH

Introduction

 

 

This is the longest Sorah of the Quran, it consists of 286 Aiah.  It is called Al Baqarah, the Cow, as the story of the Children of Israel and the cow is mentioned in this Sorah.  This Sorah was sent down in Medina, that is, after the migration of the Muslims from Makah to Medina.  Therefore we will find that it contains some Shariaa (Islamic law) for this began to be sent down in Medina where the Muslims had a state where this law could be enforced.  Also we will find a great deal has been said about the Jew in this Sorah as there were three Jewish tribes in Medina and there was a great deal of dealings with them. 

 

Sorah Al Baqarah has special character and special blessings.

 

1-    Satan does not enter the home where Sorah Al Baqarah is recited.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “Do not let your homes be like graves, Satan does not enter the home where Sorah Al Baqarah is recited”  (M:Musafreen;208)

2-    It is a great blessing, will intercede for the Muslim and will shade him on the Day of Judgment, and is protection against black magic.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “Read and recite the Quran, for it will be an intercessor for its people on the Day of Resurrection.  Recite the two illuminating ones, Al Baqarah and Al Emran, for they will come on the Day of Resurrection as two clouds or canopies or two flocks of birds (giving shade).  Read the Baqarah, for having it is a blessing, leaving it is sorrow, and the black magicians can not overcome it”.  (M:Mosafreen;252)

3-    The angels surround the Muslim who recites Sorah Al Baqarah to listen.  One of Allah’s messengers companions called Ibn Hadir reported:  “I was reciting Sorah Al Baqarah at night, while his horse was tied near him and his son Yehia was asleep by him.  The horse became restless, so he stopped, and the horse settled.  Then he recited again, the horse became restless, he stopped and the horse settled.  Then he left off ,as he feared for his son Yehia, who was asleep by him.  When he lifted his head he saw a canopy of little lights.  In the morning he went to see Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him and told him what he saw, he said to him: “Recite Ibn Hadir, read Ibn Hadir”.  Then he told him, do you know what was that he saw, Ibn Hadir said no.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “Those were the Angels who came near to hear you, had you continued to recite it, people would have seen them in the morning, not hiding from them”.  (B:Fadael Al Quran,15 & M;Mosafreen & A:3:81)

4-    Sorah Al Baqarah contains the greatest Aiah in the Quran, Aiah Al Korsi.   Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said to one of his companions called Aba Al Monzer: “Aba Al Monzer, do you know which Aiah of Allah’s book is the greatest?” he said: “Allah and His messenger know best”.  Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, repeated the question, the man said:”ALLAH, THERE IS NO GOD OTHER THAN HIM THE LIVING THE SUSTAINER ……………”  Then Aba Al Monzer said: “he (Allah’s messenger) patted my chest and said: ‘By Allah, you enjoy knowledge Aba Al Monzer’”.   (M:Mosafreen;258 & D:Horof; 35 & Da;Fadael al Quran; 14 & A:5;48, 142)

5-    The Last Two Aiahs of Sorah Al Baqarah are particularly blessed.  Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him said: “He who recites the last two Aiahs of Sorah Al Baqarah in a night, they will be sufficient for him”.  (B:Fadael Al Quran;10 & T:Fadael Al Quran, 4 & M:Mosafreen;155,256)

6-    Knowing and understanding Sorah Al Baqarah endows one with a great deal of Islamic knowledge, more than any other Sorah in the Quran. 

Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, sent a group of Muslims on a mission. He asked each of them to tell him how much they knew of the Quran.  When he asked the youngest what he knew of the Quran, he answered: “I know so and so and Sorah al Baqarah”. Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him asked:”Do you have Sorah Al Baqarah committed to memory?” he said: “Yes”.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said:”Go, you are their leader”.  (T: Fadael Al Quran; 2)

 

Historical background to the Sorah:

 

This is the longest Sorah of the Quran, consisting of 286 Ayah.  It was all sent down during the Medina Era.  Medina is the name given to the town called Yathrib, from where the Ansar (supporters) of Allah’s messengers came.  It is the town to where the Muslims migrated 13 years after the beginning of Islam.

 

The Migration to the Medina was the second Migration.  The first was to Abyssinia, now Ethiopia, and did not involve all the Muslims.  Some of the Muslims returned to Makah, before the Migration to Medina, when they had false news that things were much better in Makah.  The Majority returned after the Migration to Medina. 

 

Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him and the rest of the Muslims were persecuted in Makah.  He was mocked verbally and physically abused.  They were also made to suffer financially and socially.  There were long times of boycott.  Allah’s messenger’s daughters, Roqayah and Om Kolthoom, were divorced by their cousins the sons of Abu Lahab because of their Islam.  Some Muslims were tortured like Belal, and some died under this torture like Amar Ibn Yasser’s father and mother. 

 

Allah’s messenger and the Muslims were exiled from Makah where they were boycotted.  No one would buy from them, or sell to them, marry with them, or even sell them food.  There were guards around them to enforce this boycott.   They became so hungry, that they ate the leaves of the trees and any piece of dead animal skin they found.

 

When this boycott was agreed upon, a patch of leather with its terms written on it was placed inside the Kabba.

 

Some idle worshipping men, felt sorry about what was happening to the Muslims, after all, they were all either blood relatives or related by marriage.  They gathered together and demanded to nullify this very oppressive agreement.  Allah the Highest, meanwhile, told His prophet, prayer and peace upon him, that Allah had commanded a small insect to eat this patch of leather.  These men, who wanted the boycott lifted, went to Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him, to tell him that they were going to destroy the boycott document, Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, told them that Allah had already destroyed it. When they(the Mekkans), went to see it, they found it all eaten up, except the words “In the name of Allah”.  The boycott was lifted. 

 

Soon after this, Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, lost both his wife, Khadeja and his uncle Abu Taleb in quick succession.  By their deaths, he lost some of his protection and also the emotional support of his wife.  This is known as the year of grief.

 

Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, used to meet the Arabs who came to Makah during the Hajj season for pilgrimage.  The Hajj was still going on, after starting at the time of Ibrahim, prayer and peace upon him, but in a perverted way.  There were over 360 idles around the Kabba.  There was an Idle by the Safa and another by the Marwa, these are small hills, at that time just outside Makah, which form part of the Hajj. Some of the pilgrims used to do the Tawaf (the encirclement of the Kabba by Hajj pilgrims) naked.  Also there were other perversions of the Hajj.  When he met the Arabs from various tribes he used to tell them about Islam, but none answered him positively.

 

 

Yathrib:

 

This is a town about 450 km north of Makah.  It was inhabited by 3 Jewish tribes, Bano Al-Nadeer, Bano-Qynoqa and Bano Al-Qurizah, and two Idles worshipping Arab tribes, Al-Aws and Al-Khazrag.  Bano Qurizah was allies to Al-Aws, and Bano Qynoqa and Bano Al-Nadeer were allies to Al-Khazrag.  Al-Aws and Al-Khazrag used to fight a great deal, and when they fought, the Jewish tribes also fought each other. 

 

The Jews in Yathrib knew that a new prophet was due to appear.  They talked about him to the Arab tribes and often told them that, when He arrived, they would follow him and fight the idle worshippers.  This made the Arab tribes of Yathrib know about the coming of a prophet and anticipate his appearance.

 

In the 11^th year of the beginning of Islam, Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, met 6 men from Yathrib, they were all from the Al-Aws.  He told them about Islam and recited some of the Quran to them, and they all embraced Islam.  They also promised to tell their people about Islam.

 

The next year, Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, met 12 men from Yathrib, 10 from Al-Khazrag and 2 from Al-Aws.  They met in a place called Aqaba near Makah, the men from Yathrib, embraced Islam and gave Allah’s messenger their covenant to believe in no god other than Allah and to commit no sin.  This was the “First Covenant of Aqaba”.  Mosaab Ibn Omir, was sent to Yathrib with them to teach them about Islam and to help spread the Faith.  Mosaab was the first Ambassador in Islam.

 

Islam spread in the Arab tribes of Al-Aws and Al-Khazrag.  By the next year a group of 75 people, 73 men and 2 women from Yathrib met Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, at Aqaba and gave him their covenant to believe in no god other than Allah, commit no sin, and to protect Allah’s messenger and the Muslims of Makah from the disbelievers when they migrated to Yathrib.  This was called the second covenant of Aqaba.  All the above mentioned meetings were made in total secrecy.

 

Then Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, commanded the Muslims to migrate to Yathrib, which was later called Medina.  They did not want the Makans to know, otherwise they would have been hurt, stopped or imprisoned, so they left in secret, and only a few at a time.  They could not sell their homes and possession because of attracting attention, so they had to leave most of their possessions behind and take only what they could carry. Although, after years of persecution, many had very little left anyway.

 

Abu Bakr kept asking Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, for permission to migrate and the answer was always  to wait, for Allah might give him a companion.  Abu Bakr knew that Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, meant himself.  Abu Bakr bought two strong camels and kept feeding them to prepare them for this day.  When there were no Muslims left except those who could not migrate, the disbelievers of Makah decided to assassinate Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him.  They selected a strong man from each family or tribe, this totaled 40, gave them swords and told them to wait outside Allah’s messenger’s door.  Wait for him to go out to pray, and then kill him. As many men, from many families, would have killed him, his family would have had to accept the compensation, and the whole matter would have to end.

 

Allah the Highest, sent Gabriel down with to Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him, with this information.  Allah the Highest, made the forty men unable to see Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him, when he went out in the middle of the night in front of their very eyes.  He left Ali Ibn Abi Taleb to sleep in his place covered with cloak.  When they looked through the crack in the door they saw a man lying down.  Ali was also commanded to stay, so that he could give back the deposits, which the Makans had entrusted to Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him.  They used to deposit their valuables with him because of what they knew of his honesty.

 

The rest of the events of the migration can be read in Serah books.

 

The spread of Islam in Medina, as well as the Makan Muslims migration to Medina, meant that there the Muslims became the majority, contrary to how they were in Makah.  This lead to the emergence of a new group of people the Muslims did not encounter in the past, the Hypocrites.  They are those people who claim to be Muslims, to please the majority Muslims, without actually being true Muslims.  Some of the Jews of Medina believed, but the majority did not.  This meant that there were 4 groups of people in Medina:

 

1-    Muslims.

2-    Hypocrites.

3-    Jews.

4-    Few Disbelievers.

 

Naturally, the Hypocrites were the only group not easily recognizable. 

 

We will go through the Ayahs of Sorah Al-Baqarah one by one, to try to throw some light on their meaning and the rules and lessons that can be extracted from them.

 

 

B: Bukhari  M: Muslim    Mal: Malek   A: Ahmed   D: Abu Dawood     

 Da: Daremy       Ma: Ibn Magah            N: Nesae          T: Termezi  

 

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH THE MOST MERCIFUL, THE COMPASSIONATE

 

“WHEN YOU RECITE THE QURAN, SEEK THE PROTECTION OF ALLAH FROM SATAN, THE REJECTED ONE *   HE HAS NO POWER OVER THOSE WHO BELIEVE AND PUT THEIR TRUST IN THEIR LORD *   BUT HIS POWER IS OVER THOSE WHO TAKE HIM FOR AN ALLY AND THOSE WHO ASSOCIATE PARTNERS WITH ALLAH” (S: 16 A: 98-100)

 

This is a clear command from Allah the Highest, to seek his protection from Satan when we are about to recite the Quran.  Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, used to say before the Salah: “Allah the Greatest three times, Alhamdlellah (Praise and thanks to Allah) three times and there is no God other than Allah three times, then “I seek Allah’s protection from Satan the rejected one”.  (A: 3; 50 & D: Salah; 22 & T: Mawaqeet; 65)

 

We need to seek Allah’s protection from Satan before reciting the Quran whether in Salah or at other times.  So that our thoughts and hearts will be totally with Allah, for Satan interferes with our thoughts.

 

 

 

                                   ALFATEHA

 

1-    IN THE NAME OF ALLAH THE MOST MERCIFUL THE COMPASSIONATE.

 

2-    GRATITUDE AND PRAISE TO ALLAH THE LORD OF ALL THE WORLDS.

 

 

3-    THE MOST MERCIFUL, THE COMPASSIONATE.

 

4-    THE LORD (OR KING) OF THE DAY OF THE FAITH (DAY OF JUDGEMENT).

 

 

5-    ONLY YOU WE WORSHIP AND ONLY YOU WE SEEK FOR HELP.

6-    GUIDE US TO THE STRAIGHT PATH.

 

7-    THE PATH OF THOSE UPON WHOM YOU BESTOWED YOUR BOUNTY, NEITHER THOSE WHO INCURE YOUR WROTH, NOR THOSE WHO ARE GOING ASTRAY.

 

Alfateha is the first Sorah one meets in the Quran.  It should be recited at least 17 times daily for it should be recited in every Rakaa in every Salah.  Without reciting the Fateha the Salah is not complete.  Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said: ‘Any Salah in which the Fateha of the Book is not recited, it is incomplete, it is incomplete”.  (Ma: Iqamah; 11 & a: 2; 241 & T: Mawaqeet; 69)

 

 

SORAH AL FATEHA HAS MANY NAMES:

 

 

Here are the names of Sorah Alfateha;

 

1-    ALFATEHA:  Meaning the opening.  It has also been called “Fateha Alkitab” meaning the opening of the book (the Quran).

2-    ALHAMD:  Meaning thanks and praise to Allah. Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, also used to call it Alhamd.

3-    OM ALKITAB:  Meaning the mother of the book and OM ALQURAN meaning the mother of the Quran. 

4-    Al SABAA ALMATHANI: Meaning the seven good and great verses.  Allah the Highest said  “We have given you seven good and great verses and the great Quran”  (S:15 A:87)

5-     ALRAQIAH, meaning the cure.

Abu Saead El-Khodary reported that he was traveling with other Muslims, when they stopped by a town.  A girl slave came to tell them that the town’s chief was stung (by a snake or scorpion).  Abu Saead went to see him and blessed him with the mother of the book following which the chief recovered.  He gave Abu Saead 30 sheep and milk for a reward.  Abu Saead’s companions thought that he should not have taken reward for reciting the Quran.  When they went back to Medina, they told Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon, him who said to Abu Saead: “How did you know it is a Raqiah (Cure), divide the gift between you and give me a share”.   (B: Igarah; 16 & a: 3; 2 & D: Ted; 19)

Allah’s messenger’s share was the fund where Zakah and charities went, from which it was spent on the poor, orphans, defense etc.

 

 

      THE STATUS OF THE FATEHA IN THE QURAN

 

 

Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, told us that Al-Fateha is the greatest Sorah in the Quran.  It was reported that a man called Abe Saead Ibn AlMeali said: “While I was praying, Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, called me, and I did not answer him.  I finished praying and went to him, he said to me:”What prevented you from answering me?” I said: “Allah’s messenger, I was praying”.  He said: “Did Allah the Exalted in Power and the Majestic not say “YOU WHO BELIEVE, ANSWER ALLAH’S MESSENGER WHEN HE CALLS YOU TO WHAT GIVES YOU LIFE”.  “I will teach you the greatest Sorah in the Quran before I leave the mosque”.  Later, when he went to go out, I said to him: “Allah’s messenger, what about what you said to me?”  He said: “It is ‘GRATITUDE AND PRAISE TO ALLAH THE LORD OF ALL THE WORLDS’. It is the seven good and great verses I was given and it is the Great Quran’”.  (N: Iftetah; 26 & D: Qeraah; 26 & B: Fadael al Quran; 9)

 

Alfateha and the last 2 Aiahs of Sorah El-Baqarah have great status in the Quran.  Ibn Abas reported: “While Gabriel was with Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, Gabriel heard the sound of a door opening, he raised his head and said: “This is a door in heaven opened today, it has never been open before, and through it an angel came down to the Earth, he never came down before, and the angel said : ‘ Al Salamo Alikom, I give you glade tidings about 2 lights you were given, were not given to any prophet before you, Al Fateha of the Book and the End of Sorah Al Baqarah”.  (M: Mosafreen; 254 & N: Iftetah; 25)

 

 

                         Al Fateha is a Prayer and Do, AA

 

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: Allah the Highest said:”I divided the Salah between Me and My slave into 2 and I will give My slave what he asks.  When My slave says “GRATITUDE AND PRAISE TO ALLAH THE LORD OF ALL THE WORLDS”, Allah the Highest says: “My slave thanked me”.  And when he says: “THE MOST MERCIFUL AND THE COMPASSIONATE”, Allah the Highest says: “My slave praised Me”.  When he says: “THE LORD OF THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT”, Allah the Highest says: “My slave glorified me”.  When he says: “ONLY YOU WE WORSHIP AND ONLY YOU WE SEEKFOR HELP”, Allah the Highest says: “This is between Me and My slave and My slave will have what he asks for”. When he says:”GUIDE US TO THE STRAIGHT PATH, THE PATH OF THOSE UPON WHOM YOU BESTOW YOUR GRACE, NEITHER THOSE WHO INCURE YOUR WROTH, NOR THOSE WHO ARE GOING ASTRAY”.  Allah the Highest says, this is for My slave and My slave will have what he asked for”.  (M: Salah; 38 & T: Tafseer Sorah1, 1 & N: Iftetah, 23 & Mal: Nedaa; 39 & A: 2; 285)

 

Now let us look at the meanings of the Aiahs of Al-Fateha.

 

1-    IN THE NAME OF ALLAH THE MOST MERCIFUL, THE COMPASSIONATE.

 

This is an Aiah we recite before reciting the Quran and at the beginning of a Sorah, but is not a part of the Sorah, except Sorah Al-Fateha of which it is one of its Seven Aiahs.

 

Also we should start every deed we perform with the name of Allah.  It was reported that Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, used to say “in the name of Allah before he eats when food or drink is put in front of him”.  (A: 5; 375)

 

Even when one is about to have marital relationship with his wife, one should remember the name of Allah. Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “If one of you says when he approaches his wife, ‘in the name of Allah, O Allah, protect us from Satan, and protect what You give us from Satan, if they were meant to have a child from this, Satan can never do it harm”.  (B: Nikah; 66)

 

Also this Aiah contain the three most frequently used of the 99 good names of Allah in the Quran; Allah, The Most Merciful and The Compassionate.  These 99 names are descriptions of the Character of Allah the Highest. The aspects of Allah’s Character He mentions more often, are the ones He wishes to tell us more often, enforcing that this aspect is that much more predominant. 

Allah the Highest says “SAY; TO WHO BELONGS WHAT IS IN THE HEAVENS AND WHAT IS IN THE EARTH? SAY: TO ALLAH, HE INSCRIBED MERCY (as a duty) FOR HIMSELF”.           (S: 6 A: 12)

 

And Allah the Highest also says: “WHEN THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN OUR AIAHS COME TO YOU SAY: PEACE BE UPON YOU, YOUR LORD HAS INSCRIBED MERCY FOR HIMSELF, SHOULD ONE OF YOU DO WRONG OUT OF IGNORANCE, THEN REPENTS AND MAKE AMEND, ALLAH IS MOST FORGIVING AND COMPASSIONATE”  (S:6 A:54)

 

Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said:  “When Allah created the creation, He wrote in a book, it is with Him above the Throne “My Mercy overcomes My Anger”.  (M: Tawba; 14-16 & Ma: Zohd; 35 & A: 2,142)

 

Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, explained and clarified the magnitude of Allah’s Mercy saying: “Allah divided Mercy into 100 parts, He kept 99 to Himself and sent earth one part.  From this part all the creation gets its mercy, like a horse lifting its hoof from its offspring so as not to do it harm.  (B: Adab; 19 & M: Tawbah; 17-19 & T: Daawat; 99 &Ma: Zohd; 35)

 

In another Hadith, where Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, draws an analogy of the Mercy of Allah the Highest to His slaves.  Omar Ibn El-Khatab reported:  The spoils of war were brought to Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, and there was a woman among the captives who would take any of the children of the captives, cuddle and breast feed them.  Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said: “Do you think this woman will put her own child in fire?”  We said: “No by Allah, not if she can save him”.  Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said: “Allah is more merciful to his slaves than she is to her child:  (B: Abad; 18 & M: Tawba & D: Ganaiz; 1 & Ma: Zohd, 35)

 

The Most Merciful and the Compassionate, is also repeated in the 3^rd Aiah of Alfateha that is twice in 7 Aiahs.  Allah the Highest mentions and reminds us more of his Mercy and Compassion than of His Wroth and Anger.  We should remember however that His Mercy and Compassion is reserved for the Believers not the Disbelievers.

 

2-    GRATITUDE AND PRAISE TO ALLAH THE LORD OF ALL THE WORLDS. 

 

This Aiah is an expression of gratitude and praise to Allah the Highest, then stating that Allah the Highest is the Lord of all the worlds, those we see and those we do not see those we know and those we do not know.

 

As for the gratitude which is more than thanks, Allah the Highest is teaching us to thank him.  When we recite this Aiah we express gratitude to Allah the Highest more than 17 times every day.   Expressing thanks and gratitude to Allah the Highest is one of the best Dawaa to say to Allah the Highest.  Allah the Highest  said “THOSE WHO BELIEVE AND DID GOOD DEED, THEIR LORD GUIDES THEM BECAUSE OF THEIR BELIEF, RIVERS FLOWING UNDER THEM IN THE GARDENS OF DELIGHTS  *  THEIR DAWAA INCLUDES PRAISING AND EXALTING ALLAH AND THEIR GREETING HAS PEACE AND THE END OF THEIR DAWAA IS GRATITUDE AND PRAISE TO ALLAH THE LORD OR ALL WORLDS”.  (S: 10 A: 10)

 

Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said: “The best Zikr is ‘there is no God other than Allah and the best Dawaa is Gratitude and Praise is to Allah (Alhamdo le Allah).  (Ma: Adab; 55)

 

Indeed it is a great bounty from Allah the Highest upon His slaves to be inspired and to remember to express our thanks to Him.  Allah the Highest told us in the Quran about His prophet Soliman, peace be upon him, who said “MY LORD INSPIRE ME TO THANK YOU FOR THE BOUNTIES YOU BESTOWED UPON ME AND MY PARENTS”.  (S: 27 A: 19)

 

It is a sign that a good believer has reached maturity to thank Allah the Highest  “WHEN HE REACHES THE AGE OF FULL STRENGTH AND REACHES FORTY YEARS HE SAYS: ‘MY LORD INSPIRE ME TO THANK YOU FOR THE  BOUNTIES YOU BESTOWED UPON ME AND MY PARENTS ………”  (S: 46 A: 15)

 

Thanking Allah the Highest and expressing gratitude to him are signs that one recognizes that the bounties that he has, come from Allah, and feeling grateful for them.  Allah the Highest will then be, more generous to those who recognize His bounties and Him as the giver of all bounties and thank Him for them  “AND YOU LORD DECREED; IF YOU GIVE THANKS I WILL BESTOW MORE UPON YOU, BUT IF YOU DENY MY FAVOURS MY PUNISHMENT IS SEVERE”  (S14  A:7)

 

Being inspired to express gratitude to Allah the Highest is part of the Wisdom which Allah the Highest bestows upon some of His slaves, “(ALLAH) GRANTS THE WISDOM TO WHOM HE WILLS.  INDEED THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE WISDOM, THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN A GREAT DEAL OF GOODNESS, ONLY THOSE OF SOUND MINDS WILL REMEMBER THIS” (S: 2 A: 269)

 

“THE LORD OF ALL THE WORLDS”

 

All the worlds, is an indication that there are very many worlds.  On earth there are many worlds, of humans, animals, birds, plants, bacteria, fungus, viruses, sea creatures and insects etc.   There are thousands of species, and we discover more every day. Of course there are also the worlds of Human, Jinn, Angles and Spirits.  Allah the highest said about all these living worlds  “AND ALL CREATURES WALKING THE EARTH OR A BIRD FLYING WITH IT’S WINGS ARE  BUT NATIONS LIKE YOU”.  (S: 6 A: 38)

 

Our planet Earth is but a small particle in the Universe which we can see with our present instruments.  As science advances we can see more and further.   The Universe consists of Billions of Galaxies, each containing Millions or Billions of stars (suns).  Some of them have Planets and some do not, and some planets have moons and some do not.  The spaces in this vast universe are measured in distance the light travels in a second, a minute or years.  Knowing that light travels at the speed of 300 000 Km in a second, and it takes light about 8.5 minutes to travel from the sun to earth, tells us that the distance from earth to the sun is 8.5 x 60 X 300 00 = 153 million km.

 

Many of the galaxies are billions of light years away from Earth.  That is, the distance between us and them is unimaginable.  If it takes billions of years for light and other radiation to travel to us from distant suns and galaxies, then what we see of them is not the present but very distant past.  We do not really know if they still exist or not and in what state, and their current state or position.  What we see in the universe is not what is happening, but what happened very long time ago.  Hence Allah the Highest used the position of the stars for His Oath, telling us that only if we know we will know that it is a great oath.  “BUT I WILL NOT MAKE AN OATH BY THE POSITION OF THE STARS * IT IS A GREAT OATH, IF YOU KNOW”.  (S: 56 A: 75, 76)

 

These are some of the worlds we know, and there are others we do not know.  Allah the Highest is the lord of all of them.  We should remember that the Lord is the one who runs and looks after them and is in charge of them.

 

3-    THE MOST MERCIFUL, THE COMPASSIONATE.

 

Repeating a statement is a way of reaffirming the statement and its message.  Allah the Highest repeated the meaning of  a verse, or repeated it literally, sometimes close to each other as in Alfateha and in Sorah AlEnshera “ INDEED WITH DIFFICULTIES COMES EASE *  INDEED WITH DIFFICULTY COMES EASE”  (S:94 A:5&6)

 

Or they can be apart by many Aiahs such as “ALLAH DOES NOT FORGIVE WORSHIPPING PARTNERS WITH HIM AND FORGIVES WHATEVER ELSE TO WHOM HE WILLS”.   This is repeated in Aiahs 48 and 116 of Sorah Al Nesae.

 

There is a strong message here, which Allah the Highest wishes us to have, and this is about His Mercy, we should never despair of Allah’s Mercy, He said: “O MY SLAVES WHO TRANSGRESSED EXCESSIVLY AGAINST THEIR OWN SOULS, DO NOT DESPAIR OF THE MERCY OF ALLAH, FOR ALLAH FORGIVES ALL SINS, HE IS THE MOST FORGIVING, AND THE COMPASSIONATE”.   (S: 39 A: 53)

 

4-    THE LORD OR KING OF THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT.

 

During this life there are, kings, presidents, primister, ministers, chairmen etc, but on the Day of Judgment, there will be no body that has any authority or say except Allah the Highest.  “WHOSE IS THE KINGDOM TODAY? IT BELONGS TO ALLAH THE ONLY, THE OVERPOWERING”.  (S: 40 A: 16)

 

Those who believe and those who do not believe, will realize that and will submit to His will.  Indeed no one will be able to utter a word without His Permission. “THE DAY WHEN THE SOULS AND THE ANGELS SHALL STAND FORTH IN RANKS, NONE SHALL SPEAK EXCEPT THOSE WHOM THE MERCIFUL PERMITS AND SPEAK TRULLY” (S: 78 A: 39)

 

Allah the Highest also said, “THE DAY IT COMES, And NO SOUL SHALL SPEAK WITHOUT HIS PERMISSION”.  (S: 11 A: 105)

No one will have any authority or power on that day, except Allah the Highest.

 

Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said: “Allah the Exalted in Power, the Majestic will fold the heavens on the Day of Resurrection then hold them in His Right Hand and say ‘I am the King, where are the great and powerful, where are the arrogant’, Then He folds the Earth in His Right Hand and says: ‘I am the King, where are the great and powerful, where are the arrogant’”.  (M: Monafqeen; 24)

 

Allah the Highest called the Day of Judgment, “YOUM EL DEEN”, literally meaning the day of the faith.  This is because on that day our faith will be the first and most important thing that matters to us.  Good deeds do not count in the absence of faith and belief in Allah the Highest.  No one will have wealth or power on that day, our only possessions will be our deeds, and good deeds without faith do not count before Allah the Highest who said: “AND THOSE WHO DISBELIEVE, THEIR DEEDS ARE LIKE A MIRAGE IN A DRY DESERT, THE THIRSTY WILL THINK IT IS WATER, UNTIL HE REACHES IT TO FIND IT NOTHING AND FINDS ALLAH THERE TO RECOMPENSE HIM IN FULL, AND ALLAH IS SWIFT IN RECONNING”.  (S: 24 A: 39)

 

 

5-    ONLY YOU WE WORSHIP AND ONLY YOU WE SEEK FOR HELP.

 

This Aiah is about sincerity in our relationship to Allah the Highest, sincerity in worship and sincerity in faith. 

 

It is important to know that the Arabic words worship and slave come from the same root.  They are very closely related.  Often the word “Abd’ is translated as servant, while it in fact means slave.  The difference between slave and master is great, and the difference in the relationship between a slave and his master and a servant and his master is great indeed.  A slave is owned by his master, his master can do what he wishes to him, but a servant is not.  A slave has to obey his master and can not leave his service, while a servant can leave any time.  The master of a slave is responsible for his welfare and wellbeing and more so if he is an obedient slave, but this does not necessarily apply to a servant.  The relationship of a true believer to Allah the Highest is the relationship of a slave to his master. 

 

Allah the Highest described His prophets and messenger as his slaves.  He called Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him, his slave “GRATITUDE TO ALLAH WHO SENT THE BOOK DOWN UPON HIS SLAVE” (S: 18 A: 1)

 

And called Jesus, peace is upon him, slave “NEITHER CHRIST DISDAINS OF BEING ALLAH’S SLAVE, NOR DO THE ANGELS CLOSE TO ALLAH”.  (S: 4 A: 172)

 

The slavery of man should only be to Allah the Highest, and man’s worship should only be of Allah the Highest.  No one else or any one else other than Allah and of no one besides Him.  This is not forgiven for Allah the highest said “ALLAH DOES NOT FORGIVE ASSOCIATING PARTNERS WITH HIM AND FORGIVES WHATEVER ELSE TO WHOEVER HE PLEASES”.  (S: 4 A: 48&116) 

 

Worshiping is what is due to God, for being God.  For He created us, and every thing around us.  Worship as we know it, is Salah, Fasting, Zakah, Hajj. Every act of obedience to Allah the Highest is an expression of our slavery to Him and is an act of worship. 

 

Allah the Highest created us for this purpose, worshiping Him  “I CREATED JINN AND HUMANS ONLY TO WORSHIP ME, NEITHER DO I REQUIRE PROVISIONS FROM THEM NOR DO I NEED THEM TO FEED ME”.  (S: 51 A: 56, 57)

 

Therefore, the first thing we will be judged by on the day of judgment, after our faith, is our Salah, which is our daily act of worship from which there is very little exemption, only in case of loss of consciousness or mental incapability and for ladies during menstruation and for the few weeks after child birth when they are again loosing fluids.  Other acts of worship require capability.  Fasting requires physical capability, Zakah, requires financial capability and Hajj requires physical and financial capability as well as the safety of the road.  Allah messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said “The first thing a slave of Allah has to give account of (on the Day of Judgment) is the Salah.  If it is right (complete and correct) he will have done well and succeeded.  If it is not right, he will have done badly and lost.  If his Fard (duty) Salah is incomplete, Allah the Exalted and Majestic will say: ’See if my slave has any Nafl (volunteered) Salah, and take it to complete his Fard Salah’.  Then his Nafl Salah will be used to complete his Fard Salah, and the rest of his deeds will be dealt with in this way’.  (T:Salah;188 D:Salah;145 N:Salah,9 Ma:Iqamah;202 Da:Salah;91 A:2;290)

For this reason, reciting this Aiah in every Rakaa in every Salah is a reminder from Allah the Highest that our Salah is our first duty of worship toward Him.

 

Then Allah the Highest tells us that we should seek only Him to help us, which is another aspect of slavery to Him.  Indeed it is the main source of strength for the true believer.  Those, whom Allah is their supporter, need no further support. 

Allah the Highest said “IS ALLAH NOT SUFFICIENT FOR HIS SLAVE, AND THEY THREATEN YOU WITH THOSE WHO ARE BENEATH HIM”.  (S: 39 A: 36)

 

Allah the Highest is near and hears our whisper and the call of our hearts, before our tongues.  He said “AND IF MY SLAVES ASK YOU ABOUT ME, I AM NEAR, ANSWERING THE CALL OF THOSE WHO CALL UPON ME WHEN THEY CALL UPON ME.  LET THEM RESPOND TO ME AND BELIEVE IN ME, THAT THEY ME BE RIGHTLY GUIDED”.   (S: 2 A: 186)

 

Abd Allah Ibn Abas was behind Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, when he said to him:  “O boy, I will teach you few words.  Keep Allah, and Allah will keep you, Keep Allah and you will find Him on your side.  And if you ask, ask Allah, and if you seek help, seek it from Allah, and know that if the whole nation gathered to benefit you with something, they will  not benefit you with anything, except what Allah ordained for you and if they gathered to harm you with something, they will not do you any harm except what Allah has ordained for you.  The pen has been lifted and the papers dried (where our fate has been written)”.  (T: Quiama; 59 A: 1; 293)

 

 

6-    GUIDE US TO THE STRAIGHT PATH.

 

7-    THE PATH OF THOSE UPON WHOM YOU BESTOWED YOUR BOUNTY, NOT THOSE WHO INCURING YOUR WROTH, NOR THE MISGUIDED.

 

 

These two Aiahs are Dawaa which we should say in every Rakaa of every Salah.  Asking, Allah the Highest, to guide us to His straight path.  Allah the Highest shows us the human example of those whose path we should follow in Aiah 7.  Those Allah the Highest bestowed His bounty upon are mentioned in another Aiah  “AND THOSE WHO OBEY ALLAH AND HIS MESSENGER WILL BE IN THE COMPANY OF THOSE WHOM ALLAH BESTOWED HIS BOUNTY, UPON OF THE PROPHETS, THOSE OF DOUBTLESS FAITH, THE MARTYRS AND THE RIGHTEOUS, AND AN EXALTED COMPANY IT IS”.  (S: 4 A: 69)

 

The Straight Path in this world now, is the Path of Islam.  It is the Path which all the Prophets and Messengers followed, before those who came after them, perverted the path.  Since the Prophecy of Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him, as the last prophet and messenger, the religion and teachings sent down to him, the final message, Islam, became the only straight path for humanity.  Allah the Highest said “INDEED THE ONLY RELIGION BEFORE ALLAH IS ISLAM”.  (S: 3 A: 19)

 

Allah the Highest also said “THOSE WHO ADOPT A RELIGION OTHER THAN ISLAM, IT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FROM HIM AND IN THE HEREAFTER THEY WILL BE OF THE LOSSERS”.  (: S: 3 A: 85)

 

Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said : “By Him who has my soul in His hand, no one hears of me of this people, Jew or Christian, and dies before believing in what I was sent with who will not be of the people of the Fire”.  (M: Eman; 240)

 

This is because the message sent down to and through Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him, is the right, final and right message for all mankind to follow.

 

Allah the Highest mentions two groups of people, those incurring His Wroth and those who are going astray.  Adi Ibn Hatem, who was Christian before embracing Islam reported that Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said: “The Jews incur Allah’s Wroth and the Christian are going astray”  (T:Tafseer;2  A:4;378)

 

Allah the Highest said about the Jews  “EVIL IS WHAT THEY SOLD THEIR SOULS FOR, TO DISBELIEVE IN WHAT ALLSH SENT DOWN IN INSOLENT ENVEY BECAUSE ALLAH SENDS DOWN OF HIS BOUNTY UPON WHOM HE WILLS OF HIS SLAVES.  THUS THEY INCURED WROTH UPON WROTH, AND THERE WILL BE HUMILIATING PUNISHMENT FOR THE DISBELIEVERS”.  (S: 2 A: 90)

 

As for the Christians going astray, their greatest misguidance is taking Jesus as Allah or the son of God.  Allah the Highest said in the Quran  “AS ALLAH SAID:’O ESA (JESUS) THE SON OF MARY, DID YOU TELL PEOPLE TO TAKE YOU AND YOUR MOTHER AS TWO GODS INSTEAD OF ALLAH.  HE SAID:’PRAISE BE TO YOU, IF I SAID IT, YOU WOULD HAVE KNOWN IT, YOU KNOW WHAT IS INSIDE ME BUT I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS INSIDE YOU, YOU KNOW ALL HIDDEN THINGS  *  I ONLY TOLD THEM WHAT YOU COMMANDED ME, TO WORSHIP ALLAH MY LORD AND YOUR LORD, AND I WAS OBSERVING OVER THEM WHEN I WAS WITH THEM, AND WHEN YOU CAUSED ME TO DIE YOU BECAME THE ONLY OBSERVER OVER THEM AND YOU ARE OVESERVER OVER ALL THINGS  *  IF YOU PUNISH THEM, THEY ARE  BUT YOUR SLAVES AND IF YOU FORGIVE  THEM, YOU ARE THE EXALTED THE WISE”  (S:5  A:116-118)

 

These two Aiahs are Dowaa, and we say Ameen after a dowaa meaning please God answer.  Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, commands us to say Ameen when the Imam finishes reciting Alfateha, he said: “When the Imam says Ameen, say Ameen.  He who’s Ameen coincides with that of the angels, his past sins will be forgiven”.(B:Salah;111,112  M:Salah;72  D:Salah;70,71  N:Iftetah,33  Ma:Iqamah;14  Da:Salah;38  Mal:Nedaa;44  A:2;238,459)

 

 

 

 

                                  END OF SORAH ALHFATEHA

 

                                        ALHAMD LE ALLAH

 

 

 

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

B: Bukhari        M: Muslim        Mal: Malek        A: Ahmed        D: Abu Dawood       Da: Daremy       Ma: Ibn Magah                            N: Nesae          T: Termezi  

 

Introduction

 

All praise is to Allah, the One and the only.  The First Who has no beginning, and the Last Who has no end.  He has no companion and no equal.  Neither was he begotten and He has begotten none.  The Creator of the Heavens and the Earth, all the things we can see and all the things we can not see. 

 

Our lives, hearts and souls are in His hands.  He Created the Jinn and Humans to worship Him, without needing their worship.  Every thing will perish except Him.  His Mercy overcomes His Anger. He guides us through, His Prophets and Messengers, to Him and to the right way in life; but neither our good deeds benefit Him, nor will our sins harm Him.  He Sees and Hears all things and takes every thing concerning us into account.  It is He, whom there is no escape from except to Him.  He only is worthy of our obedience and worship.

 

Gratitude, to Allah the Highest, who bestowed the bounties of, His Faith, Book, and Messenger upon us, with purification and guidance.  Prayer and peace upon, Mohamed Ibn Abd Allah, the messenger of Allah, the last of His prophets and messengers, prayer and peace upon them all.   We testify that he delivered the message and fulfilled his trust.  For this we ask Allah the Highest to grant him the Wasela, the highest state in Paradise due to one person only, we ask Allah the Highest to make him that man.

 

This is not an explanation of the Quran, for the Quran is Allah’s very word and no one can explain Allah’s very word.  This is an attempt to throw a little light on some of the meanings of the Aiahs, and extract lessons or rules from them.

 

 My policy has always been the following:-

 

1-    State the Historical background to the Aiah.  I should point out that the Quran is not a History Book, however knowing the historical background of the Aiahs helps us to understand them.

 

2-    I tried to throw light on the meaning of Aiahs of the Quran by other Aiahs, then the Hadith, the authenticated ones.  The references to each Hadith are written after them.  The translation of the meaning of the Hadith is my humble effort.  Also the translations of the meanings of the Quran are my humble efforts, after referring to other sources and translations.

3-    I have referred to a number of well respected Tafseer books, Dictionaries, Hadith books, Index of The Quran and Hadith, Serah Books (History of the life of the Prophet Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him).

 

 

Here is a list of references: 

 

Tafseer Books:

 

1-    Tafseer Ibn Kather.

2-    Tafseer El- Tabary.

3-    Tafseer El-Naysabory

4-    Tafseer El-Qurtoby.

5-    In the Shadow of the Quran.

6-    Al-Asas Fe el Tafseer

7-    Tafseer El-Galaleen.

 

 

The code for the Hadith Books will appear as follows:

 

B: Bukhari   M: Muslim    Mal: Malek   A: Ahmed   D: Abu Dawood

     

 Da: Daremy       Ma: Ibn Magah            N: Nesae          T: Termezi