The Blog of aamsaafanquran

123- AND ALLAH SUPPORTED YOU IN BADR WHEN YOU WERE WEAK, THEREFORE, BE PIOUS SO THAT YOU MAY GIVE THANKS.

Allah the Highest is reminding the Muslims of their previous victory at Badr, when they were weak and few, yet Allah the Highest supported them and granted them victory. 

This support is conditioned however, and Allah the Highest reminds them of the condition, which is piety.  They should be righteous, obedient to Allah and His messenger prayer and peace upon him and not to transgress Allah’s limit.  Allah the Highest is always with the pious, for He said: “AND BE PIOUS AND GUARD YOURSELF FROM ALLAH’S DISPLEASURE.   KNOW THAT ALLAH IS WITH THOSE WHO ARE PIOUS”.  (S:2 A:194)

In the battle of Ohud, when the Muslims fought in the cause of Allah the Highest and obeyed His messenger prayer and peace upon him, Allah the Highest supported them.  They were defeating the disbelievers who outnumbered the Muslims by more than 4 to 1. 

However, once they, and not all of them but some of them, disobeyed Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him, Allah’s support was withdrawn and they were left on their own, to their own resources, then the course of the battle turned against them.

The day next to the battle of Ohud, when they went out with Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him to fight the disbelievers if they turn back, which they did, Allah the Highest spared them the fight.  They were 70 men less and many of them, including Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him were injured.  This was Mercy from Allah the Highest and support for them, putting the fear into their enemy’s hearts.

121- AND REMEMBER AS YOU LEFT YOU FAMILY THAT MORNING TO POST THE BELIEVERS INTO BATTLE STATIONS, AND ALLAH HEARS AND KNOWS ALL THINGS.

122- AS TWO PARTIES OF YOU ALMOST FELL AWAY, BUT ALLAH IS THEIR ALLY, AND IN ALLAH THE BELIEVERS SHOULD PUT THEIR TRUST.

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him left the house of Aysha leading the army until he reached the mountain of Ohud.  He started positioning the Muslims in their battle stations. 

He placed 50 Archers lead by Abd Allah Ibn Jabir on the mountain of Ohud to protect the back of the Muslim army and said to them: “Keep the horsemen away from us with your arrows, to stop them attach us from behind.  Regardless of whether it is for us or against us (winning or losing); do not leave your stations, so that we will not be attacked from behind”.  (Ibn Is,haq & Ibn Hesham)

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him gave the banner to Mosaab Ibn Omir.  Al-Zobir Ibn El-Awam lead one wing and Al-Monzer Ibn Amro the other. 

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him offered a sword of his to one of the Muslims to take and fight hard with saying: “Who will take that sword and give it its dues?”.  Some men asked for it, but the sword was not offered to them.  A man from the Ansar called Abu Dajanah asked: “And what is its due Allah’s messenger?”  He said: “To fight the enemy with it until it is bent”.  Abu Dajanah said: “I will take it Allah’s messenger and give it its dues”.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him gave his the sword.  Abu Dajanah tied a red band around his head and walked swaying with pride.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “This is a walk Allah hates except in this situation”.  (Ibn Is,haq & Ibn Hesham)

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him saw a vision before the battle of Ohud, he said: “By Allah I have seen some goodness.  I saw cows, and I saw s piece breaking off the edge of my sword, and I saw that I put my head into a strong shield”.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him interpreted the vision as follows: the cows that some of his companions will be killed, the sword that a man from his household will be killed, and the strong shield as the Medina”.  (Ibn Is,haq & Ibn Hesham)

Allah the Highest tells us about two Muslim groups who almost fell out, but they did not for Allah the Highest was their ally and He guided them.  Allah’s messenger’s companion Jabir Ibn Abd Allah said: “This Ayah was sent about us, we are the two groups; Bano Al-Haretha and Bano Salma.  I would not have liked it to be sent down, except that Allah said: “BUT ALLAH IS THEIR ALLY”.  (B:Tafseer Sorah;3)

It is not clear whether they considered falling out before leaving Medina or considered falling out when Abd Allah Ibn Obi fell out with 300 men.  However, as they are true believers, Allah the Highest did not leave them, but guided and supported them.

As Allah the Highest is our ally and supported we should put our trust in Him “AND IN ALLAH THE BELIEVERS SHOULD PUT THEIR TRUST”.  The disbelievers and evil doers support each other.  Allah the Highest said: “THE EVIL DOERS ARE ALLIES AND SUPPORTERS TO EACH OTHER, WHILE ALLAH IS THE ALLY AND SUPPORTER OF THE BELIEVERS”.  (S:45 A:19)

Trusting Allah the Highest is trusting the one most worthy of trust. The condition is that we should worship and obey Allah the Highest, otherwise our faith will be weak and of no consequence on our live.  It is then that we can qualify for Allah to be our ally and supported, only then we should expect His support.

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

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

118- YOU WHO BELIEVE, DO NOT TAKE THOSE WHO ARE NOT OF YOURSELVES FOR INTIMATE FRIENDS AND CONFIDANTS, THEY SPARE NO EFFORT TO CORRUPT YOU, AND DESIRE YOUR RUIN AND HARDSHIP.  HATRED IS REVEALED THROUGH THEIR MOUTH BUT WHAT THEIR HEARTS HIDE IS EVEN GREATER.  WE MADE OUR AYAHS CLEAR FOR YOU SO THAT YOU MAY UNDERSTAND. 

119- SEE HOW YOU LOVE THEM, BUT THEY DO NOT LOVE YOU, AND YOU BELIEVE IN THE WHOLE BOOK.  WHEN THEY MEET YOU THEY SAY: “WE BELIEVE”, BUT WHEN THEY ARE ALONE THEY BIT BITE THE TIPS OF THEIR FINGERS BECAUSE OF THEIR ANGER WITH YOU.  SAY: “DIE OF YOUR ANGER”, INDEED ALLAH KNOWS WELL WHAT IS IN YOUR HEART.

120- IF SOMETHING GOOD COMES TO YOU, IT UPSETS THEM, BUT IF AN AFFLICTION BEFALLS YOU, IT PLEASES THEM.  INDEED, IF YOU PATIENT AND PIOUS, THEIR CUNNING WILL NEVER HARM YOU, FOR ALLAH KNOWS WELL ALL THEY DO.

Allah the Highest is commanding us not to have the people of the book as close friends and confidants and counselors.  Allah the Highest explains the reasons for that:

1-    “THEY SPARE NO EFFORT TO CORRUPT YOU”.

Their belief and way of life are different from ours, therefore then try to lead us to their ways and this will corrupt us.  Believing in Jesus as the son of God or as being God himself, taking usury, drinking alcoholic drinks etc are bound to affect us even if they do not intend to.

A person drinking Alcoholic drinks is never comfortable with others who do not, and a person committing adultery is comfortable with others who do the same.  They might consider those who do not extremists or fundamentalist.  Upholding fundamentals of Religion is not a bad thing.  The changes in the world and in society sometimes make this very unwelcomed, to the point of equating fundamentalism with murder. 

2-    “AND DESIRE YOUR RUIN AND HARDSHIP.  HATRED IS REVEALED THROUGH THEIR MOUTH BUT WHAT THEIR HEARTS HIDE IS EVEN GREATER.  WE MADE OUR AYAHS CLEAR FOR YOU SO THAT YOU MAY UNDERSTAND * SEE HOW YOU LOVE THEM, BUT THEY DO NOT LOVE YOU”

Allah the Highest tells us that they hate us deep in their hearts, which is shown through what they say, the way they say it and through what they do.   Allah the Highest who knows what is in our hearts tells us that hatred in their hearts is greater even than their words.  This is because people learn to be civil in what they say, hence hiding the real feelings in their hearts.

They wish our ruin, economically, socially, morally and religiously.  The worst ruin we may suffer is the ruining of our Religion and Faith.  Allah the Highest said about that: “MANY OF THE PEOPLE OF THE BOOK WISH TO TURN YOU BACK TO BE DISBELIEVERS AFTER YOU HAVE BELIEVED, OUT OF THEIR ENVY”.  (S: 2 A: 109)

And then Allah the Highest tells us in no uncertain terms that even when we love them, they do not love us.  Love is a feeling in one’s heart, and Allah the Highest knows with certainty what is in our hearts. 

3-    “AND YOU BELIEVE IN THE WHOLE BOOK”

We believe in our book and the book sent to Moses and Jesus peace upon them.  We believe in Mohamed prayer and peace upon him who is our prophet as well as all the prophets of the Children of Israel and of Jesus peace upon them all.  We believe that they are all one continuous line.  On the other hand, they do not believe in our book or prophet prayer and peace upon him.

4-    WHEN THEY MEET YOU THEY SAY: “WE BELIEVE”, BUT WHEN THEY ARE ALONE THEY BIT BITE THE TIPS OF THEIR FINGERS BECAUSE OF THEIR ANGER WITH YOU.  SAY: “DIE OF YOUR ANGER”, INDEED ALLAH KNOWS WELL WHAT IS IN YOUR HEART.

This involves the hypocrite and the people of the book who pretend to believe while in fact they do not.  Their pretence is for the time they meet with us, otherwise they have negative feelings of anger and hatred which Allah the Highest knows and tells us about.  Their negative feelings are such that good things happening to the Muslims upset them and bad things please them.  Again Allah the Highest knows what they feel and what is in their hearts.

Those in power and the leaders of the Muslims should remember this.  What they do is reflected on the rest of the Muslims and their corruption leads to the corruption of many others they rule.  Their responsibility is therefore greater than the rest. 

Our choice of allies and close friends should be on the basis of Islam and Righteousness, not on the basis of wealth, ideology, policies or other reasons.  The same principles should apply to choosing aids like ministers and other people in places of power and responsibility.  They affect what the ruler does and their counsel can be good or bad, can be for the good of every one, or selected minority of beneficiaries. 

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him spoke about that, he said: “Every prophet Allah sent or a Khalifa He appoints, there are two groups of people close to them; one enjoins and encourages him to do what is good, and the other enjoins and encourages him to do what is evil.  Only those Allah protect are protected from misguidance”.  (B: Ahkam; 42 & T: Zohd; 39 & N: Byah; 32 & A: 2; 237,289)

To advise some one, let alone a leader whose actions will affect millions, is a matter of trust and honesty.  To give the leader a bad advice or one which benefits a small interested group, is a betrayal of this trust.  One is often betrayed by the closest people to him.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him used to ask Allah the Highest for protection from such betrayal, saying: “And I seek protection from betrayal, for it is a thing which comes from close ones”.  (D: Wetr; 32 & N: Isteaza; 19, 20)

The Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him and the early Muslim’s Khalifas used to employ as deputies or in positions of power and trust except the righteous and trustworthy people.

“IF SOMETHING GOOD COMES TO YOU, IT UPSETS THEM, BUT IF AN AFFLICTION BEFALLS YOU, IT PLEASES THEM.  INDEED, IF YOU PATIENT AND PIOUS, THEIR CUNNING WILL NEVER HARM YOU, FOR ALLAH KNOWS WELL ALL THEY DO”

Again, Allah the Highest tells us that they are upset by whatever good that happens to us and pleased by afflictions befalling us.  These are feelings which Allah the Highest sees in their hearts, and which we might not see.

Yet, Allah the Highest tells us the way to protecting ourselves from their cunning.  It is to keep being patient, and persevering with what we do obeying Allah the Highest, and to be pious.  When we do, we see the right way, and we gain Allah’s support, then we do not suffer from their cunning.

In these Ayahs, Allah the Highest describes the ailment, its cause and the remedy, for those who understand, thing and take heed.

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

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

116- THOSE WHO DISBELIEVE, NEITHER THEIR WEALTH NOR THEIR CHILDREN WILL IN THE LEAST PROTECT THEM FROM ALLAH; THEY ARE THE PEOPLE OF THE FIRE, WHERE THEY WILL ABIDE FOREVER.

117- THE PARABLE OF WHAT THEY SPEND IS THIS LIFE IS THAT OF A WIND WITH SEVERE HEAT OR COLD, STRIKING THE HARVEST OF PEOPLE WHO WRONGED THEIR OWN SOULS AND DESTROYED IT.  ALLAH WAS NOT UNJUST TO THEM, BUT THEY WERE UNJUST TO THEMSELVES.  

Allah the Highest is telling us about the state of the disbelievers after having told us about the believers. 

In our life on earth, the sources of a person’s power are his wealth and family, mainly children.  These are the things people value most and feel to give them the greatest protection.  However on the Day of Resurrection, neither wealth nor children nor any thing else will protect the disbelievers from Allah’s anger and punishment.

Allah the Highest does not accept the charity of the disbelievers and they are not rewarded for it in the Hereafter, which they do not believe in any way.  This is not unfair, for they do not believe in Allah, or Resurrection and Judgement, and Hereafter.  They did not do their charity for the sake of Allah’s pleasure, but for other reasons.  They get their reward in this life however, financial, self satisfaction, recognition and praise.

Allah the Highest draws for us a very vivid picture of the fate of the disbeliever’s charity as far as the Hereafter is concerned.  The picture is that of a field with a crop ready to be harvested.  Before it is harvested, the crop is struck by wind of extreme weather, hot or cold, destroying it totally.  All the money and work spent on the land is wasted.  The money and work and the crop are the disbeliever’s charity, which becomes nothing when it is time to collect it’s reward and recompense, this is in the Hereafter.

Allah the Highest is not unjust to us.  The disbelievers are unjust to their own souls by their disbelieving.  Allah the Highest sent us prophets and messengers and books to guide us and in order that we may take heed.  Some take heed and others do not.  We have choices to make about faith as in every thing else, and we have to bear the consequences of our choices and actions.

113- THEY ARE NOT ALIKE; OF THE PEOPLE OF THE BOOK, THERE IS AN UPRIGHT GROUP, THEY RECITE THE AYAHS OF ALLAH BY NIGHT, AND THEY PROSTRATE.

114- THEY BELIEVE IN ALLAH AND THE LAST DAY, ENJOIN WHAT IS RIGHT AND FORBID WHAT IS WRONG, AND HASTEN TO DO ALL THAT IS GOOD.  THOSE ARE OF THE RIGHTEOUS.

115- WHATEVER GOOD THEY DO, WILL NOT BE REJECT, AND ALLAH KNOWS THE PIOUS ONES. 

These Ayahs are about the People of the book who embraced Islam; they are not like those who did not.  Allah the Highest describes them as an upright people who recite the Ayahs of Allah at night and prostrate. 

Allah’s messenger’s companion Abd Allah Ibn Omar reported: “We sate one night waiting for Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him to pray Esha.  He came out to us after a third of the night or more has passed and said: “You are waiting for a Salah; none of the people of the other religions is waiting for, only you”.  (B: Mawaqeet, 22 & N: Mawaqeet; 21 & a: 6; 199,215,272)

They are not the same in their faith or in their deeds as the others who did not embrace Islam.  They believe in Allah and the last Day, they pray by day and night, they recite Quran, they enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, they are pious.

Allah the Highest reassures them that their good deeds and worship will be rewarded in the Hereafter most generously.  The disbelievers are rewarded for their good deeds in this life for they do not get any thing in the Hereafter.  Allah the Highest said: “THE EXAMPLE OF THOSE WHO DISBELIEVE IN THEIR LORD, THEIR DEEDS ARE LIKE ASHES WHICH IS BLOWN BY THE WIND IN A WINDY DAY, THEY HAVE NO POWER OVER WHAT THEY EARNED”.  (S: 14 A: 18)

Allah the Highest also said: “THOSE WHO DISBELIEVE, THEIR DEEDS ARE LIKE A MIRAGE IN A DRY DESERT, HE WHO IS THIRSTY WILL THINK IT TO BE WATER, UNTIL HE REACHES IT, HE WILL NOT FIND IT TO BE ANYTHING, AND WILL FIND ALLAH THERE WHO WILL RECOMPENSE HIM IN FULL, FOR ALLAH IS SWIFT IN RECKONING”.   (S: 24 A: 39)

Those who embraced Islam after being of the people of the book (Christians or Jews), Allah the Highest rewards more than those who were born Muslims.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said about three kinds of people who will be given twice the reward, of them: “A man who believed in his prophet and then heard about the prophet (Mohamed) and followed him, he has two rewards”.  (M:Eman;24 & T:Nekah;25 & Da:Nekah;48 & N:Nekah;48 & A:4;402,405)

Those who came across Christians or Jews embracing Islam will see the many difficulties and hardships they usually have to go through.  Changing one’s belief is not easy for a start.  One has to be very convinced and strong willed to change his/her faith.  Then they often come under a great deal of family and social pressures, even hostilities from their communities and families. They do not only change their faith, they also change the way their live and think and dress and eat and drink.  Some even prefer to leave their country to live in a Muslim country, which is not easy.

None of the above is suffered by the borne Muslim Muslims.  Allah’s extra reward for them is not for nothing.

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

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

111- THEY WILL NOT CAUSE YOU ANY HARM BUT CAUSE YOU ANNOYANCE, AND IF THEY FIGHT YOU, THEY WILL TURN THEIR BACKS TO YOU AND WILL NOT BE SUPPORTED.

112- SHAME AND HUMILIATION WILL BE THEIRS WHEREVER THEY ARE TO BE FOUND, EXCEPT WHEN THEY ARE IN A COVENANT FROM ALLAH OR COVENANT FROM PEOPLE, AND THEY INCUR ALLAH’S WROTH AND THEY WILL BE DESTITUTE.  THIS IS BECAUSE THEY USED TO DISBELIEVE IN ALLAH’S AYAHS, KILLING THE PROPHETS IN DEFIANCE OF WHAT IS RIGHT.  THIS BECAUSE THEY DISOBEYED AND TRANSGRESSED BEYOND THE BOUNDS.

When Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him and the Muslims migrated to Medina, there were three Jewish tribes living there.  Some of the Jews embraced Islam such as Abd Allah Ibn Salam, Assad Ibn Abid, and Thalabah Ibn Showbah.  The majority of the Jews however did not.  The Muslims of the Medina, and the newly coming migrants had many commercial dealings with the Jews, and both groups co-existed peacefully. 

The three Jewish tribes had considerable military power, and they lived within fortified walls.  They considered themselves one group against the Muslims.

In these Ayahs, Allah the Highest reassures the Muslims that the Jews will not be able to cause them any harm, but only annoyance.  Also that if they fight the Muslims they will turn their backs to them and run away, and they will not have any support from Allah the Highest.  This was exactly what happened with them in Medina and Khyber.

Although Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him made a treaty with the Jews in Medina for safe co-existence, peace and no aggression with each other, and that neither group will support enemies of the other.  Yet the Jews did not keep their treaties as usual.  After each tribe betrayed the Muslims, they fought, and the three tribes were defeated.  Many of them left Medina and went to live with the Jews in Khyber, another Jewish town in Arabia.  The Muslims fought them there and defeated them there too. 

Allah the Highest tells us that they incur His wrath for a number of reasons:

1-    They disbelieved in Allah’s last prophet and messenger prayer and peace upon him.

2-    They killed many of their own prophets.  They also tried to kill Jesus peace upon him.  They also tried on more than one occasion to kill Mohamed prayer and peace upon him. One time by throwing s big rock over his head, then trying to poison him with a poisoned meat, then plotting to kill him and all the Muslims by raising a very large army from a number of tribes.

3-    Their continuous disobedience of Allah the Highest and transgression over his limits.

Allah the Highest makes them always humiliated and lives in destitution, except for the times when they have covenant from Allah or protection from people.  This is exactly what is happening with the Jewish state at present.

Allah’s support to us is not unconditioned.  In order for Allah the Highest to support us and fulfill His covenant with us, we should fulfill our covenant with Him.  We should be His viceroys on earth and the best nation that was raised to mankind, and then we will deserve Allah’s support.  Otherwise, we will be left to face our enemies alone, without our main ally, Allah the Highest, which is what is happening to us now. 

The Muslim nation is currently suffering the consequences of our neglect of our faith and ignoring Allah’s command, hence, Allah the Highest abandons us.  When we moved towards Allah, Allah moves towards us.  We can see our ailment; know the treatment, but still look under our feet, and for the immediate worldly gains.  We have to change, for Allah the Highest to change His treatment of us.

110- YOU ARE THE BEST NATION THAT HAS BEEN RAISED FOR MANKIND; YOU ENJOIN WHAT IS WRITE, FORBID WHAT IS WRONG AND BELIEVE IN ALLAH.  AND IF THE PEOPLE OF THE BOOK BELIEVED, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER FOR THEM; SOME OF THEM ARE BELIEVERS, BUT MOST OF THEM ARE DISBELIEVERS.

Allah the Highest bestows a great honour on the Muslim nation.  Nation is being used in the religious sense not the territorial sense.  Allah the Highest calls us the best nation that was raised for mankind.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “You will complete seventy nations on the Day of Resurrection, you are the last one of them, and the best one of them”.  (Ma: Zohd; 34)

Allah the Highest honours the Muslim Nation in the Hereafter in other ways:

1-    The Muslim Nation will be the first of the nations to enter the Paradise.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “You are the Last and the First on the Day of Resurrection.  We are the first to enter Paradise, while they were given the books before us, and we were given it after them”.  (M:Jomaa 20 & Ma:Zohd;34)

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him also said: “We are the last of the nations, but the first to be judged”.  (Ma: Zohd; 34 & a: 5; 3)

2-    The Muslims will be two thirds of the people in Paradise.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “Will you be pleased with being a quarter of the People of Paradise?”  The Muslims said: “Yes Allah’s messenger”.  He said: “Will you be pleased with being a third of the People of Paradise?”  They said: “Yes Allah’s messenger”.  He said: “But I hope that you will be half the people in Paradise.  But no one enters the Paradise except a believing soul.  Compared to the disbelievers, you are like a white hair in a black ox or a black hair in a white ox”.  (Reqaq;45 & M:Eman;377 & D:Jehad;162 & T:Janah;13 & Ma:Zohd;34 & A;3;32)

Also Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “The People of Paradise are in a hundred and twenty lines, eighty of them are from this nation and forty from the other nations”.   (T: Janah; 13 & Ma: Zohd; 34 & Da: Reqaq; 111 & A: 1; 453 5; 347,355)

3-    Allah the Highest will make us bear witness over other nations, as Allah the Highest said: “WE HAVE MADE YOU INTO A MIDDLE (JUST) NATION, SO THAT YOU MAY BECOME WITNESSES OVER PEOPLE, AND THE MESSENGER A WITNESS OVER YOU” (S:2 A:143)

4-    Allah the Highest will grant seventy thousands of the Muslim Nation entry to Paradise without judgement.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “Seventy thousands of my Nation will enter Paradise without any judgement”.  (M:Eman;371)

The great honour of being the best nation that was raised for mankind is conditioned by fulfilling its responsibilities.  They are to enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah.  These are the responsibilities of Allah’s viceroys on Earth, who carry His message and his book.

The Muslims should fulfill these commands amongst themselves first before preaching to other nations.  The best way to influence others is not by preaching, but by being a good example ourselves.  Allah the Highest is angered by preachers who do not do what they preach, for they are making a mockery of their faith.

People also look up to the preachers and take them as an example.  When they see that what they do is different from what they say, some might think that there are things to be said that are different from what should be done.  This puts people on the road to hypocrisy.  Allah the Highest spoke about these preachers saying: “HOW WOULD YOU COMMAND OTHERS TO BE RIGHTEOUS WHILE FORGET YOURSELVES WHILE YOU READ THE BOOK? HAVE YOU NO UNDERSTANDING?   (S: 2 A: 44)

This way, they mislead people and will have as much sin as the sins of those they mislead. 

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said about them: “On the night of Israa I passed by people who were having their lips clipped with clippers of Fire, I asked: “Who are they?”  I was told: “They are the preachers of the lower life (on Earth), who used to command others to be righteous and forget themselves while they are reading the book, do they have no understanding”.  (A: 1; 120,180,231,239)

This is important for all of us to remember, particularly those involving in teaching and/or preaching.

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

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

106-WHEN SOME FACES WILL TURN WHITE AND SOME FACES WILL TURN BLACK.  AS FOR WHO’S FACES TURNED BLACK, DID YOU DISBELIEVE AFTER YOU HAVE BELIEVED?  THEN TASTE THE PUNISHMENT BECAUSE OF YOUR DISBELIEF.

107- AS FOR THOSE WHO’S FACES TURNED WHITE, THEY ARE IN ALLAH’S MERCY WHERE THEY WILL ABIDE FOREVER.

108- THESE ARE THE AYAHS OF ALLAH WE RECITE TO YOU, CONTAINING THE TRUTH, FOR ALLAH DOES NOT DESIRE INJUSTICE TO MANKIND.

109- AND TO ALLAH BELONGS ALL THAT IS IN THE HEAVENS AND EARTH, AND TO ALLAH ALL MATTERS WILL BE REFERRED.

Allah the Highest is telling us about how we will be on the Day of Resurrection.  Some faces will be whitened, and others blackened when we know our fate and destination.  The words white and black here may be symbolic of our state on that day.  On the other hand it my be real, for on the Day of Resurrection, the faces of the Muslims observing Salah regularly will be whitened so will their feet. 

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “My basin will be larger than it is from Aylah (Aqabah) to Eden.  It is whiter than snow and sweater than milk and honey, with more cups than there are stars, and I will be stopping people reaching it, just as a man stops another man’s camels from getting to his basin.  The Muslims said: “O prophet of Allah, will you know us?”  He said: “Yes, via a mark no one else has, you will come to me with white faces and feet, a mark of your Wadoo”.  (B:Mosaqah;10 & M:Taharah;36 & D:Sunah,23 & Mal:Taharah;28 & Ma:Zohd;36 & A:2;222)

Those, whose faces are whitened, will enjoy Allah’s Pleasure and Mercy, and they will dwell for ever in the Paradise Allah the Highest prepared for them.

The blackened faces are of those to whom Allah the Highest says: “AS FOR WHO’S FACES TURNED BLACK, DID YOU DISBELIEVE AFTER YOU HAVE BELIEVED?”   They fall into one of three groups:

1-    Those who became disbelievers after being Muslim. We hear about this happening every now and then.                

2-    The Hypocrites.

3-    The People of the Book.  They believed in their prophets, but when the last prophet and messenger prayer and peace upon him came with his message, they did not believe in him.

This is the whole truth Allah the Highest.  Allah the Highest does not desire to do mankind injustice, therefore prophets and messengers were sent to us. Books were sent to guide mankind too.  It is fair and just to reward those who take heed, and punish those who do not.  Allah the Highest said: “HE WHO IS RIGHTLY GUIDED, HE HAS BEEN RIGHTLY GUIDED FOR HIS OWN BENEFIT; AND HE WHO IS MISGUIDED, IT IS UPON HIS OWN HEAD, AND NO ONE WILL CARRY THE BURDEN OF ANOTHER, AND WE WERE NOT TO PUNISH UNTIL WE SEND A MESSENGER”.  (S: 17 A: 15)

It will be all in Allah’s Hands then for all matters will be referred to Him then.  This is Allah’s policy, and has always been.

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

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

104- AND LET THERE ARISE FROM AMONGST YOU, A NATION THAT CALLS UPON PEOPLE TO DO WHAT IS GOOD AND RIGHT, ENJOINS WHAT IS RIGHT AND FORBIDS WHAT IS WRONG, THESE ARE THE SUCCESSFUL ONES.

105- AND DO NOT BE LIKE THOSE WHO BECAME DIVIDED AND DIFFERED AFTER THE CLEAR SIGNS HAVE COME TO THEM, FOR THEM THERE IS A DREADFUL PUNISHMENT.

This is a command for the Muslim nation that they should be a nation which calls upon people in general, Muslims and non-Muslims, to do what is right and good, to tell people to do the righteous things and forbid them from doing wrong.  This is a duty upon the best nation, and in the mean time a condition for being the best nation, which Allah the Highest spoke about saying: “YOU ARE THE BEST NATION THAT WAS RAISED FOR MANKIND, ENJOINING WHAT IS RIGHT, FORBIDDING WHAT IS WRONG AND BELIEVING IN ALLAH”.  (S: 3 A: 110)

This is an integral part of our faith, so that our faith will be deficient without it.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “He who sees something wrong, he should change it with his hand, but if he can not, then with his tongue, but if he can not, then with his heart and this is the least of the faith”.  (M: Eman; 78)

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him also said: “There has never been a prophet of those sent before me who did not have disciples and companions, who followed his example and were guided by his commands.  After them came people who say what they do not do, and do what they are not commanded,  Whoever fights them with his hand is a believer, and whoever fight them with his tongue is a believer, but there is not beyond that a grain of Khardal (mustard) of faith”.  (M: Eman; 80)

If we do not fulfill this very important function, which is an integral part of our faith, Allah the Highest will punish us and stops answering our Dawaa to him.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “By Him who has my soul in his hand, you should enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, lest Allah will send his punishment upon you and you will ask him, but he will not answer”.  (T: Fetan; 9 & D: Malahem; 16 & A: 5; 388, 390, 391)

Such an important responsibility that our faith will be deficient if do not carry it out and we will be punished for it.  In the meantime, those who carry it out will succeed in this life and in the Hereafter.

Allah the Highest warns us about falling in the same mistakes of the nations before us.  They differed and disputed among themselves which lead to their divisions into many factions.  They then seized to be one nation and became weak.

Unfortunately we see this happening to the Muslim nation too.  There are bound to disagreements and different opinions about different issues of faith.  There might be different approaches, and then we have Sunni, Sheat, Sufi, Maliky, Shafay, Hanbaly, Hanafi etc.  But as long as the differences are in the secondary branches not the core of the faith, we are all Muslims.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “He who prays our Salah, and faces our Qibla, eats from the animal we slaughter, this is the Muslim”.  (N: Eman; 9 & D: Jehad; 95 & T: Eman; 2 & A: 3; 199,225)

However, we find people who rush into calling other Muslims, disbelievers, for no just reason.  Allah the Highest is angered by a Muslim calling a Muslim disbeliever so that he considers the first to be the disbeliever.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “Whenever a man accuses another of wickedness or disbelief, it will bounce back on him if the other man was not as he said”.  (B:Adab;44 & M:Eman;112 & T:Iman;16 & A:4;33,34,166

It is an offence we do easily, while it is great in the Allah’s Eyes.

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

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

102- YOU WHO BELIEVE; GUARD YOURSELVES FROM ALLAH’S DISPLEASURE AND BE PIOUS AS YOU OUGHT TO, AND DO NOT DIE AS ANYTHING BUT MUSLIMS.

103- AND HOLD FIRMLY TO ALLAH’S ROBE ALL TOGETHER AND DO NOT DIVIDE, AND REMEMBER ALLAH’S BOUNTY UPON YOU AS YOU WERE ENEMIES, BUT BECAME BROTHERS THROUGH HIS BOUNTY, AND YOU WERE ON THE EDGE OF PIT OF FIRE, BUT HE SAVED YOU FROM IT.  AS SUCH ALL CLARIFIES HIS AYAHS TO SO THAT YOU MAY BE RIGHTLY GUIDED.

The Arabs of the Medina were in two tribes, which often fought each other.  Each one had alliance with some of the Jewish tribes in Medina to help them fight the other tribe.  After the migration of Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him and the Muslims to Medina and the spread of Islam among the two Arab tribes, there was peace and brotherhood between them. 

One day while men from the two tribes sate together happily, a Jewish man passing by passing by stopped and talked with them.  He started to remind them with their last battle against each other and recite some of poetry composed in memory of that battle.  They began to talk about it as well, recite poetry, and gradually getting angry with each other.  They then challenged each other for another battle, and agreed to meet at midday. 

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him heard about this and went to see them.  He reprimanded them about intending to fight each other while they are Muslim.  They regretted what they were about to do, asked Allah the Highest for forgiveness and hugged each other and went peacefully.

We face very similar situations at present, when disbelievers might be behind Muslim nations having animosity or even fighting each other.  This may lead a Muslim to kill a Muslim without a just cause, and they both go the Hell-Fire.

Allah the Highest tells us in these Ayahs that we should fear Him first and foremost.  Fighting other Muslims for not just cause leads us to incurring Allah’s displeasure and wroth.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “GUARD YOURSELVES FROM ALLAH’S DISPLEASURE AND BE PIOUS AS YOU OUGHT TO” means that He (Allah) is to be obeyed, not disobeyed, to be thanked and not to show lack of gratitude, and to be remembered and not forgotten”.  (Ibn Haban & Hakem & Ibn Mardwiah)  

We should remember what Allah the Highest is worth when we are in any situation, and consider Allah’s pleasure or displeasure when we are about to do something and consider other people or reasons more important. 

It is said that Ayah 102 has abrogated by another Ayah “SO GUARD YOURSELVES FROM ALLAH’S DISPLEASURE AND BE PIOUS AS MUCH AS YOU CAN”.  (S: 64 A: 16)

It is reasonable to expect the Muslim to try to be righteous and pious as much as Allah the Highest is worth, but he can do as much as he humanly can, according to his circumstances and ability.

“AND DO NOT DIE AS ANYTHING BUT MUSLIMS”

This is a clear message telling us that the only religion should be following is Islam.  Every one should try to be a Muslim before dying, for afterwards we can not correct the wrong, and Allah the Highest accepts Islam only from us as a religion.  “AND HE WHO SEEKS A RELIGION OTHER THAN ISLAM, IT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FROM HIM, AND IN THE HEREAFTER HE WILL BE AMONG THE LOSERS”.  (S: 3 A: 85)

“AND HOLD FIRMLY TO ALLAH’S ROBE ALL TOGETHER AND DO NOT DIVIDE”.

Allah’s robe is the Quran, for Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “It (the Quran) is Allah’s strong robe”. (T: Fadael el-Quran; 14 & Da; Fadael el-Quran; 1)

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him also said: “Allah’s Book is His Robe stretching from Heavens to Earth”.  (M:Fadael Al-Sahabah;37 & T:Manaqeb;31 & Da;Fadael Al-Quran;1 & A:3;14;17;26)

Holding firmly to the Quran is holding firmly to our Faith and its teachings, and to Allah’s messenger’s teachings. This is a command to all the Muslims.  The Quran also cements the Muslim nation together, for in it is our belief, constitution and law.  The Muslims always divide when they do not follow the Quran, our history as well as present teaches us this.

No Muslim should try to break away from the rest of the Muslim, in his country or in general.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “If any one comes to you while you are united and lead by one man, and wants to cause dispute and division in your group, kill him”.  (M: Emaran; 60 & D: Sonah; 27 & N: Tahreem; 6 & A: 4:261,341 5; 24)

Even if the leader does things which displease them, they should not break away unless he openly disobeys Allah the Highest and cause misguidance and mischief.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “He who sees from his Amer (leader) what he does not like, let him be patient, for he who leaves the Muslim group and dies while leaving them, he dies as a pagan”.  (B: Fetan; 2)

Division means weakness, and then every individual or every country will be an easy pray for the enemy.  We have seen this happen, and we still see it happening to us.

Allah the Highest reminded the Muslims of their state before Islam, as they were enemies fighting each other.  They became brothers only after and through Islam, the greatest bounty then had.

“AND YOU WERE ON THE EDGE OF PIT OF FIRE, BUT HE SAVED YOU FROM IT”

The Muslims were about to fall into a pit of fire by fighting and killing each other, which they are forbidden to do.

This pit of fire is still there, and Muslims fall into it when they kill other Muslims, or non-Muslim without a just cause.

There is never a justification for killing incents people, Muslims or non-Muslims under any pretext, or for a superior cause, or for the good of the majority.  There is precedent of this in the Quran or the teachings or life of Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him.  In Islam, the End DOES NOT justify the Means.

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

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

98- O PEOPLE OF THE BOOK, WHY DO YOU DISBELIEVE IN ALLAH’S AYAHS AND ALLAH ARE A WITNESS ON WHAT YOU DO.<