Qxpiv May, 2007 By Shabbir Ahmed, M. D., Florida Chief Adviser and Editor: Hossein Kowsari, California Reviewed by: Abdullah Ali Bashoeb, Hijaz

Surah 1 – Al-Fatihah – The Opening

Author's note: The first Surah of the Qur’an is a petition the Almighty has taught us. It teaches us to seek His Guidance and support as we pledge to live by His Laws. It has been termed, "The Key” to the Book, and in fact, the title “Al-Fatihah” carries that meaning. God, in His Infinite Mercy, instantly responds in the next Surah, “Here is the Book of Guidance” (you asked for).

A'UZUBILLAHI-MIN-ASH-SHAYITAAN-IR-RAJEEM
I most humbly seek shelter with Allah against the promptings of all evil sources including my own Ego.

[Shayitaan = Satan = The straying Ego = Selfish desire = Desire that rebels against the higher controls of sound judgment = Emotions that overpower Permanent Moral Values = Intrinsic or extrinsic evil prompting = Negative peer pressure = Violent emotions = Self-glorification = Anything distant from goodness and progress = False pride = A rumor monger = Fiery temperament = Slanderer = A hinderer of good = He who spreads corruption and disorder on earth = Anyone who impels others into violating Divine Commands = A hinderer of good = Bad companionship = One who deceives or charms people into violating Divine Laws = Any being or influence that alienates humans from the Creator = One who distances itself from Divine Grace. 2:14, 4:38, 4:60, 4:83, 4:119, 5:90-91, 6:43, 6:143, 7:200, 17:26-27, 22:3-4, 25:28-29, 31:21, 67:5. In Hebrew, Satan = Adversary = One who plots against another]

1:1 BISMILLAH-IR-RAHMAN-IR-RAHEEM

With the Glorious Name of Allah, the Ultimate Source of Instant Beneficence and Eternal Mercy Who encompasses the entire Universe, nourishing and taking care of all things for what they are meant to be; just as a mother's womb nourishes the embryo to completion without any returns.

[Rahm in Rahman and Raheem encompasses all the meanings rendered]

1:2 All Praise is due to God, the Sustainer/Cherisher/Lord of the Universe and everything therein.

[The marvels and the profound harmony in the Universe is a living witness that its Sustainer is truly Worthy of all Praise. All Praiseworthy beings and wonderful things derive their magnificence from Him. Being awe-struck by any of His creation to the exclusion of His realization is nothing but shortsightedness. All human achievements find their ultimate Source in Him since He is the exclusive Provider of all mental and physical resources. [3:189-190, 9:112, 35:27-28]

1:3 The Source of Instant Beneficence and Eternal Mercy Who encompasses the entire Universe, nourishing and taking care of all things for what they are meant to be, just as a mother's womb nourishes the embryo to completion without any returns.

1:4 (He is) the Absolute Owner of the Day when all creation shall have completed their journey of existence, action and evolution to the Ultimate Just outcome. And He is the Supreme Appointer of the System of Life that mankind may live by in order to attain success in both lives. All decisions in this System will be made according to Divine Commands given in this Book. And this System will most certainly prevail over all manmade systems in this world. The Divine Law of Just Recompense is gradually taking mankind to the Day of Final Judgment in His Court to account for all they did with their gift of life. This is a Day the advent of which is beyond any doubt.

[3:189-190, 9:32-33, 17:111, 43:84, 82:18-19. Deen = The Divinely Prescribed System of Life. Yaum-id-Deen = The Day of Judgment = The Time of Ultimate Just Outcome = The Day of Resurrection = When the Divine System rules the earth as it rules the heavens]

1:5 (Realizing these facts), we obey You alone and we ask You alone to help us (as we obey You).

[Such will be the ones to establish the Divinely Prescribed System of Life on earth. Iyyak = You alone. ‘Abd and Ibadah, roots for Na’bud = Obedience = Service = Serving God by serving his creation. Usually, but erroneously translated exclusively as worship. 3:78, 5:44-48, 12:40]

1:6 (Hence,) Guide us to the Straight Path (that leads us to real success by providing us with faculties that listen and not just hear, observe and not just see, analyze and not follow blindly). [17:36]

1:7 The Path of those upon whom You have bestowed blessings (as a natural consequence of obeying the Commands. 2:47, 31:20). Not (the Path) of those who earned Your wrath (the naturally bitter consequences of misdeeds), nor of those who lost their direction.

[2:61, 7:152, 29:69, 37:69-71, 45:23, 61:5. Ghadhab of Maghdhoob = Wrath = Anger = Being seized by Divine Laws due to misdeeds. The term can be taken only figuratively when used in relation to God since He, unlike human tyrants, is not an emotional King and His Rule is the Rule of Law. 3:6, 8:53, 13:11]

2. Al-Baqarah - The Cow

[Author’s Note] This is the 2nd Surah of the Qur’an. It has 286 verses. The cow is merely one of the many quadrupeds made useful and subservient to mankind. The title of a Chapter or Surah of the Qur’an is important mainly for reference purposes. Therefore, we find most Surahs dealing with very diverse concepts completely unrelated to their titles. One major exception is Surah 12 Yousuf that describes the inspiring story of Prophet Yousuf (Joseph son of Jacob). But even that continues to give us very diverse concepts and guiding principles to reflect upon. Also, in the last several short Surahs of the Qur’an the title usually becomes the main center of discussion.

Proper understanding of this most detailed Surah Al-Baqarah will enable the reader to become familiar with the basic concepts and the true meanings of the Qur’anic terminology according to the Quraish dialect. The semantics and nuances of the language of Revelation are not only interesting but mandatory for accurate understanding. Like the QXP in its entirety, my humble rendition of this Surah is not a literal translation, but an understanding from the Big Picture of the Qur’an without compromising the literary meanings.

BISMILLAHIRRAHMANIRRAHEEM

With the Glorious Name of Allah, the Instant and Sustaining Source of all Mercy and Kindness

2:1 A.L.M. Alif-Laam-Meem. (Allah, Lateef the Unfathomable, Majeed the Magnificent, knows and understands your needs.)

2:2 (Here is the Guidance you asked for.) This is a Book whereof there is absolutely no doubt concerning its authority and authenticity. And it leaves no doubts lingering in a seeking mind. It is a Guide for those who wish to journey through life in honor and security.

[Rayib includes the meanings given in the first three lines. This Divine Writ, Al-Qur’an, is a Monograph that, when studied with an open mind, humility and sincerity, finds its own way from the mind to the heart. You will soon notice, as you proceed, that this Scripture leaves no lingering doubts in a sincere, seeking mind. If you remember that this is a Book of Guidance and treat it as such, the glittering reality will dawn upon you that this is a Beacon of Light! It is a Guide for all those who wish to journey through life in honor and security - Recorded on parchment by honorable scribes appointed by the Messenger. 80:15-16. The Almighty Himself guarantees the Truth of this Revelation, its explanation and its preservation. It is absolutely free of contradictions. Al-Qur’an = The Lecture or Monograph that finds its own way to sincere hearts, becoming Az-Zikr = The Reminder. 4:82, 10:37, 15:9, 29:48-49, 32:2, 52:2-3, 75:17-19]

2:3 Those who (wish to journey through life in honor and security), believe in the Unseen. (They recognize the Law of Cause and Effect although the stages may not always be obvious to them) and establish the Divinely Prescribed System of Life, and set up the Economic Order of Zakaat keeping open for others the resources that We have granted them.

[Divine System = A noble society in which Permanent Moral Values rule the hearts and minds of men and women. There are neither masters nor subjects in such a system, since therein prevails the Rule of Law. 2:177, 22:41, 94:7-8. Al-Ghayeb = The Unseen: The likeness of a seed that is beneath the soil hidden from a farmer’s view. Yet the farmer believes that given proper environment and care the seed will sprout. 9:119, 57:20, 89:27-30. Salaat = To follow closely, like a runners-up (Musalli) follows the winning horse (Saabiq) = Follow God’s Commands closely. Aqimussallat = Establish the System that facilitates the following of Divine Commands. Zakaat = The Just Economic Order where everyone works according to one’s capacity and is compensated according to the needs. People spend on others or give to the Central Authority (Islamic government) whatever is surplus (2:219). And they do so whenever they earn any income (6:141). The System of Zakaat is managed by the Central Authority that ensures the development of the individuals and the society. The 2.5 percent annual mandatory charity is a non-Qur’anic concept that trivializes the comprehensive Qur’anic System of Zakaat. Also, the problems of Fiqh (minor but confusing and contradictory jurisprudential details about what and who are exempt and what and who are not exempt etc,) make the manmade Zakaat an absolute impossibility. For example, a man with an ounce of gold should not pay Zakaat, but a poor man with 52.5 ounces of silver, the value of which is less than 10% of the former instance, must pay! No wonder, God warns us not make His verses a laughing stock. The Central Authority can vary this percentage according to the changing times and needs of the society. Charity or Sadaqaat are meant only for the interim period whenever the Divinely Prescribed System of Life is not yet in place. For Central Authority, the Qur’an uses the terms Allah and Rasool (3:32). After the exalted Rasool (Messenger), it is obligatory upon the believers to elect their leadership through a consultative process in a manner suitable for the times. The basic difference between the Western democracy and the Islamic government: Any legislation can pass with the majority approval in the manmade constitutional democracy. On the other hand, no law can pass contradicting the Qur’an in a truly Islamic State. That is one reason why the Qur’an generally gives us the basic Rules with details to be decided by people with mutual consultation according to changing times. 42:38. For God’s Right = Divinely ordained right of the poor, see 6:141, 11:64, 55:10]

2:4 And those who choose to believe in what has been revealed to you (O Messenger) and in the (Truth in) what was revealed before your times. And they have conviction in the Law of Requital, and, therefore, in the life Hereafter.

[Similar were the blessed people who believed in and followed the previous Scriptures. Men and women of understanding use their faculty of reasoning and understand that human intellect is not boundless. It can tell people what is, but it cannot tell what ought to be. The human intellect is also affected by emotional, cultural and environmental conditions. Furthermore, direct Revelation from the Creator economizes human effort and saves them time on trial and error. They also realize that life is no vain sport. It has a sublime purpose and keeps evolving like everything else in the Cosmos. So, the death of the human body is only a transition to a higher form of life for the human ‘self’. Thus, they have conviction in the Hereafter. This can be likened to the birth of a baby who leaves the mother’s womb and moves on to a new and higher level of existence. Anyone failing to understand the eternity of the Nafs (‘Self’ -commonly termed as 'Soul'), bars himself from seeing life in its totality and, hence, toils through this life without a higher objective. 2:185, 6:73, 7:52-53, 7:157-158, 10:4, 21:10, 21:24, 40:11, 45:4-5, 67:2. See verse 2:101 - “Confirming the Truth in what they have” points to human touch in the Bible even before Prophet Muhammad’s times]

2:5 They are the ones who walk on a Path lighted by their Lord, and they are the ones whose crops of effort will flourish and they will truly prosper.

[Muflihoon from Fallaah = Farmer who ploughs the earth for seeding and gets an abundant crop in return. Huda minr-Rabb = The Lord’s light = This Qur’an unto which one must turn with an open mind. Those who approach it without clearing their minds of pre-conceived notions will fail to “touch” this Book. For, that frame of mind defies reason and logic. 4:88, 5:15, 23:1-11, 24:35, 31:2-5, 42:5, 56:79]

2:6 Remember that those who have chosen denial in advance, it is all the same to them whether you apprise them (of the consequences of their actions) or apprise them not. They will refuse to acknowledge the Truth. [2:89-109, 6:26, 27:14, 35:42-43, 36:70, 41:26, 47:32]

2:7 God (His Law of Cause and Effect) has sealed their hearts and their hearing, and on their sight there is a veil. And theirs will be a tremendous suffering.

[Khatam or Taba’ from God, seal on the hearts, is a natural consequence of one’s deeds. Blind following, adamancy, being unjust due to selfish interests and arrogance render the human perception and reasoning unreceptive to Divine Revelation. Thus, one loses sensitivity and the ability to perceive reality. It is easy to see how damaging this fall from the high stature of humanity can be, a tremendous suffering that is built-in as the logical consequence of such attitude. 4:88, 17:46, 18:57, 40:35, 45:23, 83:14]

2:8 And of mankind there are those who claim, “We believe in God and the Last Day", while they are not believers. [Their actions that speak louder than words, contradict their claim. 4:136, 49:15]

2:9 They wish to deceive God and those who have attained belief. But they deceive none but themselves and do not realize it!

[Since reason is a faculty that has to be exercised and they have forsaken it, they are little aware of what opportunity of personal development they are missing. They live in a state of denial]

2:10 (This negative attitude) is a disease in their hearts, and God (His Law) increases their disease. And for them is painful suffering, for, they lie to themselves.

[Their attitude reinforces itself according to the Law of Cause and Effect. The conflict between one’s word and action amounts to self-deception that has its own dire consequences]

2:11 And, when it is said to them, “Do not cause disruption in the land (by violating the law)”, they assert, “We are but reformers, setting things right!”

2:12 Oh, surely, it is they who are the disrupters. But they fail to use reason.

[They bring forth a common argument that they are acting in good faith and in accordance with their ‘conscience’. But conscience is only the "internalized society", a mental reflection of the values prevalent in a given environment. Therefore, it can never be a substitute for Divine Revelation (Wahi). 3:20, 5:79, 9:67, 24:21]

2:13 And when it is said to them, “Acknowledge the Truth as people have acknowledged”, they retort, "Shall we accept what the foolish accept?" Nay, certainly, it is they who are foolish. But they do not know. [Imaan = Belief = Conviction = Acceptance = Acknowledgement = Embracing the Truth]

2:14 And when they meet those who have chosen to believe, they say, “We have attained belief.” But when they go apart to their shayaateen (devilish comrades), they say, "Indeed, we are with you. We were only mocking.”

2:15 God will return their mockery to them, and leave them to wander in their arrogance, blindly stumbling to and fro.

2:16 They have bought straying at the expense of Guidance. But their trade has to go bankrupt because they have not set their caravan in the right direction. [Muhtadi = Guided = He who journeys in the right direction]

2:17 Their example is that of a person who lights up a fire without adequate fuel. As soon as brightness surrounds them, the fuel is consumed and God (His Law) takes away their light leaving them in the dark where they cannot see. [The pursuit of instant gains only grants them a fleeting satisfaction since they have forfeited the long-term goal]

2:18 Deaf, dumb and blind of reason! They will not return to journey in the right direction (unless they use their perceptual and conceptual faculties. 8:22, 16:76, 17:36).

2:19 Another example is that of a rainstorm from the sky with darkness, thunder and lightning. They plug their ears with their fingers for fear of death. And God encompasses the deniers.

[Plugging the ears will not make the storm disappear since denial is no solution to any problem. His changeless Laws are implemented in the Universe without any exceptions and none can escape them. 7:183, 14:8, 29:54, 30:24]

2:20 The lightning almost snatches away their sight and vision. They walk a few steps, in a stop and go fashion. When the light helps them, they walk therein. And when darkness prevails on them, they stand still. And if God willed, He could take away their faculties of hearing and seeing. For God is Able to do all things.

[Absaarahum = Their sight = Their vision = Their sight and insight. Those who defy reason, eventually lose their perceptual and conceptual faculties. Indeed, God is the All Powerful Designer of His Laws and He has supreme control over all things. He has prescribed laws for every thing and event in the Universe. And He does not infringe upon these laws even though He is Able to do so. 2:201, 6:96, 7:182, 10:5, 11:15, 13:8, 14:16-18, 17:18-21, 25:2, 29:54, 30:24, 36:38, 42:20, 54:49, 65:3, 79:36, 87:3. Those who reject the Divine messages and rely solely on their intellect do not realize that Revelation is to the human intellect what sunlight is to the human eye. It takes them out of darkness into Light. 2:257]

2:21 O Mankind! Serve your Lord (by serving His creation). He it is Who has created you and those before your times, so that you may journey through life secure against error. [7:172]

2:22 He Who has made the earth habitable for you, and the sky over it like a canopy, and brought down rain from therein so that fruits of His Bounty may spring forth for you as abundant provision. When you understand this simple fact, (do not insult your intelligence and) do not equate others with God.

[The high atmosphere serves as a protecting canopy against meteorites and keeps balance in the gases and temperature. 2:164]

2:23 (For the real skeptic, here is a reason-friendly offer.) If you are still in doubt concerning what We have revealed to Our servant (Muhammad), call and set up (a committee, commission, organization, association of the highest order) all your helpers besides God, and then produce just one Surah like this, if you are truthful.

[Bring some chapters of comparable merit that even come close to it in magnificence, eloquence, grandeur and wisdom 10:38, 11:13, 17:88. The use of ‘We’ and ‘I’ … God uses for Himself the first person singular ‘I’ as well as the plural ‘We’. The Qur’an being the most eloquent Book on earth has its own unique charisma and style. Slight reflection even on a translation strikes us with the beauty and variety of its usage of semantics. ‘We’ in relation to God indicates His Supreme Royalty, whereas ‘I’ gives us some idea of how close the King of kings is to us. King Cyrus of Persia calls himself ‘We’ in 18:87, and that is just one example. But about God, "There is none like unto Him." 112:4. Likewise, the use of the masculine gender for God in all Scriptures is meant to be in conformity with our social fabric and ease of expression. For third person singular, almost all languages in the world use the male gender except when referring to a specific female]

2:24 And if you fail to do it - and fail you will - yet remain haughty and scornful, then guard yourselves against the Fire that has been readied for those who remain bent on denying the Truth, and its fuel is the masses and their stonehearted leaders alike.

[This Fire is generated in and engulfs the hearts 2:74, 9:110, 66:6, 104:6-7. Hajar = Stone = Rock = A stone-hearted person = Elite leadership = An apparently tough, prominent man = The hard or high segment of a hill]

2:25 Convey the happy news to those who have chosen to be graced with belief, and have done acts of service to humanity. For them will be a most pleasant reward, Paradise in both lives. (Try to understand it in your current vocabulary.) Plush Gardens with streams flowing underneath! When they are provided with the delicious fruit of their deeds, they will say, “This is what we were provided before.” They had tasted some of the reward in this world. For, they will be given sustenance that will recall their past. These men and women will have pure companions therein, an everlasting happy family life.

[This Paradise is not given away as charity. It has to be built in this life and then inherited. It has been described in the Qur’an allegorically and it is not confined to one particular place. It encompasses the entire Universe and is a logical consequence of living upright and contributing to the well-being of humanity. 3:133, 13:35, 14:24, 24:55, 32:17, 39:74, 47:15, 57:21, 76:5-6, 76:17]

2:26 Indeed, God does not shy away from citing any kind of allegory, even of a mosquito or beyond. Those who attain belief by way of reason appreciate the allegories and know that therein is contained some teaching of the Truth from their Lord. On the other hand, those who have chosen to disbelieve, try to ridicule, saying, "What could God mean to teach by this similitude?" Thus He (His Law of Guidance) lets go astray many and shows the Lighted Road to many. But He never lets go astray any but those who drift away from reason.

[Men and women of reason know that abstract phenomena are frequently best understood in the form of examples, metaphors and allegories. Faasiqoon (singular, Faasiq) = Those who drift away = Who slip out of discipline = Those who cross the bounds of what is right = Fruit whose seed slips out = Egg yolk that drops out of its shell = One who transgresses Divine Laws and thus becomes vulnerable to desire and extrinsic challenge. 3:81-82, 5:3, 5:47, 5:108, 6:121, 7:102, 9:24, 9:80, 24:4, 24:55, 59:19]

2:27 (Just as there is One Creator, likewise mankind is but one Community.) Those who break this ratified Bond of God and cut asunder the unity of mankind that God has commanded them to uphold, and thus lay the foundation of chaos on earth, those will be the losers in the long run. [9:33-34, 9:111, 10:19, 13:20-24, 31:28, 83:6, 114:1]

2:28 Think! How can you disbelieve in God knowing that He it is Who gave you life when you were lifeless? Then He will cause you to die and bring you back to life again. And then, all of you will return unto Him. [37:58, 40:11, 44:56, 76:1]

2:29 He it is Who has created for you whatever is on earth – all of it. And He has applied His Design to the Cosmos and fashioned it in several ascending heights. He is the Supreme Knower of what all things are destined to be. [11:7, 53:31, 57:1-2. Saba' indicates seven or several]

2:30 (Now is related to you the creation of Adam or mankind, in allegorical terms; when God decided to create humans who would be given free will, and supremacy on earth.) Your Lord announced His Plan to the angels, “Indeed, I am about to place on earth a new creation that will have dominion over it.” They exclaimed, “Will you place on it such creation as will cause disorder therein and shed blood! - But we strive to manifest Your Glory (in the Universe)!” He answered, “Surely, I know what you do not know.”

[God had programmed the angels (God’s Forces in Nature) with specific tasks that express the Divine Will. He created humans through the process of evolution and granted them the ability to make free choices. They may choose to follow Divine Guidance or deviate from it (33:72). The "angels" were not even remotely aware of any will other than God’s. The Qur’an metaphorically portrays the immense responsibility given to humans in the story of Adam. Free will may be likened to the breathing into humans from the Divine Energy. The angels wondered if a clash of wills would not result in chaos and bloody disorder on earth, while the angelic role had always been that of striving to manifest the Impeccable Glory of their Lord and absolute submission to His Commands. (15:28-29, 16:49-50). Tasbeeh from Sabah = Swim with long strides = Strive hard = Apply oneself to a mission. Moses and Aaron did Tasbeeh - strove hard against Pharaoh 20:33. Human Evolution … 6:2, 7:189, 15:26-27, 22:5, 23:12-13, 25:54, 32:7-9, 35:11, 37:11, 71:17]