121- THOSE WE HAVE GIVEN THE BOOK, THEY READ IT AS IT OUGHT TO BE READ, THOSE BELIEVE IN IT, AS FOR THOSE WHO DISBELIEVE, THEY ARE THE LOSERS.

 

There is some difference in opinion amongst the Interpreters as to whether this Ayah meant for the People of the book, or the Muslims.  Even if it meant the people of the book, the Ayah will still apply to us, the Muslims.  We have been given a Book from Allah the Highest and this Ayah tells us what we should do with it.

Reading or reciting the Quran as it should, does not mean that a Muslim’s main aim is to recite the Quran properly as most of us do at present, but to understand it and comprehend it’s meanings and it’s commands.

Allah the Highest sent us His Book, the Quran, to tell us how to live and conduct our lives according to His way.  In order to do that, we have to understand the Quran, in the light of the Quran and Hadith.  When we understand the Quran, we can then and only then are guided by it.

We should also know how to recite the Quran properly and nicely.  But not every one is required to do Tajweed.  It is one’s understanding of the Quran however which will teaching the right and wrong, and the Halal and Haram, and Allah’s Path in general.

 

122- O CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, REMEMBER THE FAVOUR I BESTOWED UPON YOU, AND THAT I PREFERED YOU TO ALL OTHERS.

123- AND GUARD YOURSELVES FROM A DAY, WHEN ONE SOUL SHALL NOT AVAIL ANOTHER, NEITHER WILL RANDOM BE ACCEPTED FROM IT, NOR SHALL INTERCESSION HELP IT, NOR WILLTHEY BE HELPED.

 

By these two Ayahs, Allah the Highest is ending the long talk about the Children of Israel in Sorah Al-Baqarah.  They are reminding them of the Allah’s favors upon them, and of they Day of Judgment. 

The two Ayahs have the same meaning as Ayahs 47-48, with very subtle difference. 

It is interesting that while many Christians did and are converting to Islam, this does not happen much with the Jews.  The Jews still believe that they are Allah’s chosen people, and always will, and that whatever they do is right.  They consider that all others are wrong, and they are the only people who know Allah.  This arrogance, is what comes between them and believing.  They do not understand that this status, for them and for the Muslims is conditioned by Obeying Allah the Highest and being on His Straight Path.

 

Ibrahim peace upon him had two sons; Ismail from his second wife Hajar, then Isaac from Sarah.  From Isaac came Jacob (who was also called Israel) then all the lined of the prophets to Jesus peace upon them all. 

Hajar was taken with her son Ismail to live where it is Makah now, where they settled and lived.  The only prophet or messenger from Ismail’s line is Mohamed prayer and peace upon him.

120- NEVER WILL THE JEWS OR THE CHRISTIANS BE PLEASED WITH YOU UNLESS YOU FOLLOW THEIR CREED, SAY: “ALLAH’S GUIDANCE IS THE RIGHT GUIDANCE”.  AND IF YOU FOLLOW THEIR DESIRES AFTER HAVING THE KNOWLEDGE WHICH CAME TO YOU, YOU WILL NEVER FIND IN ALLAH NEITHER AN ALLY NOR A HELPER.

 

Allah the Highest is our Greatest Ally and Supporter.  This is as long as we follow His Guidance.  We have received the right guidance and no other guidance if right for us.  Going astray of this Guidance in the Quran and the Teachings of Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him means that we also Loose Allah the Highest from our side.

The Muslims are going through a phase of weakness, and after being followed, we follow others.  We see in other nations which have technological and military superiority examples to follow, and we try to even come under their wing and protection. 

They might use us, sell us things for profit, use our wealth, and pretend to be our friends and allies, but they are not and they will never be.  Not until we follow their creed and way of life.  If we do, we loose Allah the Highest from our side. 

Having received Allah’s Right Guidance, we have no excuse for doing that, and we should never be tempted.

Learning from any one science and technology as well as ways to improve our life, business, wealth and power is good.  Indeed, the Amawy Khalifas learned methods of Administration from the Roman.  Abasi Khalifas wanted to learn from other civilizations and they started by translating their books, and to encourage the translation, they paid to the translator the weight of the book in gold.  Some translators wrote on Heavy leather and other heavy material to make more money, and they were still paid its weight in gold.

There is not harm in learning from others, even from our enemies.  It is different however to follow their creed, faith and way of life.  We then loose Allah the Highest from our side.

 

 

119- WE SENT YOU WITH THE TRUTH, BEARER OF GLADE TIDINGS AND A WARNER, AND YOU SHALL NOT BE ASKED ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF THE HELL-FIRE.

 

Allah the Highest sent His messenger prayer and peace upon him with three things:

1-    The Truth.

2-    Good News.

3-    Warning people.

Let us discuss each of them. 

The Truth:

1-    ISLAM: Allah the Highest called Islam the truth in the Quran, for it is the true religion.  This does not mean that other religions are not true, but many alterations happened to them over the years, so that what is right and what is wrong are mingled.  Allah the Highest said: 

 

“HE IS WHO SENT HIS MESSENGER WITH THE GUIDANCE AND THE RELIGION OF THE TRUTH”. (S: 9 A: 33)

 

2-    THE QURAN: The Quran contain the True Teachings of the True Religion.  Allah the Highest said: “SENT THE BOOK DOWN UPON YOU WITH THE TRUTH”.  (S:3 A:3)

 

3-    The Teachings and Example of Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him.  This is because these teaching are integral part of the Religion which should be followed and obeyed.  Allah the Highest said about this:

 

“YOU HAVE AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE IN ALLAH’S MESSENGER”.  (S: 33 A: 21)

And said: “AND OBEY ALLAH AND OBEY THE MESSENGER”.  (S: 64 A: 12)

 

And said: “HE, WHO OBEYS THE MESSENGER, HE OBEYS ALLAH”.  (S: 4 A: 80)

 

Also said: “WHATEVER THE MESSENGER BRINGS YOU (OF TEACHINGS) TAKE IT, AND WHATEVER HE FORBIDS YOU FROM, BE FORBIDDEN”.  (S:59 A:7)

 

This proves that Allah’s messengers teachings are integral part of the Islamic Religion, not just an optional extra.

 

The Good News  and Warning:

 

Allah the Highest sends His prophets and messengers peace upon them all with a mission of carrying the message to mankind, and to clarify it.  They do not make people believe, they are the bearers of the message.  This was the mission of Mohamed prayer and peace upon him.  Allah the Highest said: “THE ONLY DUTY OF THE MESSENGER IS THE CLEAR DELIVERY OF THE MESSAGE”.  (S:29 A:18)

 

On Allah’s messenger’s last Hajj, he said at the end of the Sermon “Did I deliver the message” and the Muslims said:”yes”.  Three times.  Then he said: “Allah be our Witness”.   (M: Salah; 208)

 

This message contains good news of great reward and of the Paradise for the guided and obedient believers, and warning of the Hell-Fire for the disbelievers.  Every messenger and prophet since the beginning of time tells mankind or his people the same.  We either take heed or not.  This is our choice and we have free choice.

 

 

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

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

118- AND THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW SAY: “WHY DOES ALLAH NOT SPEAK TO US OR SEND US A SIGN?”, SO DID THOSE BEFORE THEM SPEAK SIMILARLY, THEIR HEARTS ARE SIMILAR.  WE MADE THE AYAHS CLEAR FOR THOSE OF FIRM FAITH.

 

The disbelievers asked of Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him what the Jews asked Of Moses peace upon him, to see Allah the Highest Manifestly as a condition for believing, or a clear sign or a miracle “O MOSES, WE WILL NOT BELIEVE FOR YOU UNTIL WE SEE ALLAH MANIFESTLY”.  (S: 2 A: 55)

Allah the Highest showed the people of Moses and the disbelievers at the time of Mohamed prayer and peace upon him a great deal.  Indeed Allah the Highest sent a great deal of signs, but they did not believe easily, they called it magic and called Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him Magician. 

Let us look at few of such signs to give examples:

1-    The Prophecy of Mohamed prayer and peace upon him himself was a clear sign for the Jews who expected him.

 

2-    The Quran, which the challenges to compose any thing the like of, even a single short Sorah was and still is a clear sign.  Allah the Highest said: “AND IF YOU ARE IN DOUBT ABOUT WHAT WE SENT DOWN UPON OUR SLAVE, THEN PRODUCE A SORAH OF THE LIKE THEREOF, AND CALL UPON YOUR HELPERS OTHER THAN ALLAH IF YOU ARE TRUTHFUL”. (S:2 A:23)

 

3-    Splitting the Moon.  “When the people in Makah asked the prophet prayer and peace upon him to show them a miracle, he showed them the moon splitting asunder”. 

(B:Manaqeb Al-Ansar; 34,36 & M:Monafeqeen;46)

 

Concerning this sing and miracle, Allah the Highest sent Quran mentioning it, saying in Sorah Al-Qamar: “THE HOUR (OF JUDGEMENT) APPROACHED AND THE MOON SPLIT ASUNDER * BUT WHENEVER THEY SEE A SIGN THEY TURN AWAY AND SAY: ‘THIS IS AN ONGOING MAGIC”.  (S: 54 A: 1, 2)

Magic is what the disbelievers claim all the miracles and signs shown to them to be.

 

4-    Allah the Highest sending strong wind which blow away the 10,000 men strong army which besiege the Medina for a month.  This wind did not blow away the Muslims camp or affect it, and it was just few meters away, on the other side of the trench.

 

5-    Before Migration to Medina, an Idolater said to Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him that if shows him a miracle, he will believe.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him called a tree, and the tree moved towards him, then he sent it back to its place, and it went back.  The man called this Magic.  (Ibn Is,haq)  The same miracle happed on several other occasions.

 

 

6-    Before migration, the strongest man in Makah told Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him that he will believe if Allah’s messenger defeats him in wrestling.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him overpowered him easily.  When the man asked for a second chance, Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him overpowered him again.  The man said that this was magic.

The space is not big enough to mention all of Allah’s messenger’s miracles.  These are just few of them.

Allah the Highest sends these signs and miracles to:

1-    Proof their prophecy, and that they are messengers of Allah.

2-    To support the prophets and the believers, particularly at times of great distress, like when the Medina was seized.

 

3-    To give the believers comfort, and remind them that Allah the Highest did not abandon or forget them.

 

 

4-    Or to show that a believer has a special status with Allah the Highest.

 

Allah the Highest still performs miracles to this day on the hands of people He chooses.

 

 

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

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

 

116- AND THEY SAID: “ALLAH HAS TEKEN A SON”, GLORY BE TO HIM, BUT HE HAS ALL THERE IS IN THE HEAVENS AND IN THE EARTH, ALL ARE SUBSERVIENT TO HIM.

117- THE CREATOR OF THE HEAVENS AND OF THE EARTH, AND IF HE DECREES SOMETHING, HE SAYS TO IT: “BE” AND IT WILL BE.

 

The Christians claim that Jesus is the son of God and the Jews claim that Al-ozir is the Son of God.  Some also believe that the Angels are Allah’s daughters.  Allah the Highest is glorifying himself in that He is above all this.  Allah the Highest is not like in any thing or any way. Allah the Highest therefore does not have the characteristics in his creations, of taking a female companion, procreating “THE CREATOR OF THE HEAVENS AND OF THE EARTH, HOW WOULD HE HAVE A SON, WHEN HE DID NOT HAVE A FEMALE COMPANION, AND HE CREATED EVERY THING, AND HE KNOWS ABOUT EVERY THING”.  (S: 6 A: 101)

They and we and every thing are but Allah’s slaves.  “AND THEY SAY: THE MERCIFUL HAS TAKEN A SON FOR HIMSELF.  GLORY IS TO HIM BUT HONOURED SLAVES * THEY DO NOT SPEAK BEFORE HE SPEAKS AND THEY DO AS HE COMMANDS THEM”.  (S: 21 A: 26, 27)

It is insulting and offensive to Allah the Highest to claim that he has sons or daughters.  It angers Him and all who believe that there is no God other than Allah, of His creation.  About this, Allah the Highest said: “AND THEY SAY: ‘THE MERCIFUL HAS TAKEN A SON’ * YOU CAME WITH A MONOSTROUS THING * THE SKIES ALMOST BURST, THE EARTH SPLIT AND THE MOUNTAINS BREAK DOWN INTO DUST * BECAUSE THEY CLAIM THAT THE MERCIFUL HAS TAKEN A SON * IT IS NOT FITTING OF THE OF THE MERCIFUL TO TAKE A SON * FOR INDEED ALL THOSE IN THE HEAVENS AND IN THE EARTH ARE COMING TO THE MERCIFUL AS SLAVES * HE KNOWS THEM AND COUNTED THEM EXACTLY * AND EACH WILL COME TO HIM ON THE DAY OF RESURRECTION ALONE”.  (S: 19 A: 88-95)

 

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “The son of Adam called Me a liar and he should not have done, and insulted Me and he should not have done.  As for calling me liar; it is in saying : ‘He shall not recreate us as we started’ and as for insulting me, it is in saying: ‘Allah has got a son’, while I am the self sufficient, I have begotten none, neither was I begotten, and have not equal or like of what so ever”.   (B: Tafseer Sorah 2; 8 & N: Janaez; 117 & A: 2; 317,350)

If it was not for Allah’s patience, he would not have had a chance to repent or to believe.  However, Allah the Highest is most tolerant of our misdeeds.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “No one is more patient about hurt he hears than Allah.  They claim that He has a son and He still provides for them and gives them health and strength”.  (B: Adab; 71 & M: Monafqeen; 49 & A: 4; 395,401,405)

We see, but not like Allah the Highest seeing, however this might make some think that they are like Allah.  We hear, but not like Allah’s hearing, and strike but not like Allah’s Strike.  All these characteristics might make some think that they are like Allah the Highest.  They are very wrong, for He said about Himself: “THERE IS NOTHING LIKE HIM”. 

When Allah the Highest wants to do something, He says to it: “Be” and it will be.  Can any one of his creations, even those who are claimed to be his sons or daughters do that?

No.

 

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

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