Qxpiv May, 2007 By Shabbir Ahmed, M. D., Florida Chief Adviser and Editor: Hossein Kowsari, California Reviewed by: Abdullah Ali Bashoeb, Hijaz
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2:74 Then, even after that, you persisted in defiance so much so that your hearts became hardened as rocks, impermeable to reason. Or even worse, for, certainly, there are rocks out of which gush forth streams, and notice that there are rocks that split asunder so that streams flow from them. And indeed there are rocks that become soft in awe of God. And God is not unaware of what you do. [Rocks may become soft according to Divine Laws in Nature. They are more compliant than the hearts that defy reason] 2:75 Do you still hope that they will join your ranks in Faith? Surely, a party among them used to listen to the Word of God in the Torah, then, distorted its words and true meanings, after they had understood it. And they knew full well what they were doing! 2:76 And when they meet with those who have attained belief, they say, “We have attained belief.” But when they meet each other in private, they say, “Would you inform them (the Muslims) of what God has disclosed to you? Therewith they may engage you in argument before your Lord. Will you not, then, use your sense?” [‘What God has disclosed to you’ = "The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your brethren – him you shall heed --- I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren; and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I Command him." Deuteronomy 18:15-18] 2:77 Do they not realize that God knows what they conceal and what they reveal? 2:78 Among them are unlettered folk who do not know the Scripture, but learn their wishful beliefs through hearsay. They depend on nothing but conjecture. [They go to their clergy saying, “What do we know of religion? So, you tell us.” 2:79, 9:31] 2:79 Then, lost are those (their scholars) who write the Scripture with their own hands and then claim, “This is from God.” They traffic with it for petty gains. And loss is to them for what they write, and for the illicit profits they make thereby.” [In the name of religion, they exploit the masses, feeling unduly proud as they peddle the false notion of them being "the chosen ones". Furthermore, they extort money from the ignorant] 2:80 Yet they say, “The Fire will not touch us but for a few numbered days.” Say, “Have you received a promise from God? – for, God never breaks His promise. Or is it that you say things about God that you have no knowledge of?” 2:81 Nay, but those who disrupt the lives of others, that their crimes surround them, are the rightful companions of the Fire. Therein they will abide. 2:82 And those who choose to be graced with belief, and do acts of benevolence; those are the rightful dwellers of Paradise. Therein they will abide. 2:83 (God never promised unconditional favors to any nation, the Children of Israel being no exception.) And remember when We took a Covenant from the Children of Israel,
Then, after that, you slid back, except a few of you. And you turn away from these Commandments even now. [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. 2:3. Zakaat = Divinely ordained Economic Order in which people work according to their capacity and get compensated according to their needs. It is the System in which all members of the society flourish and, with their basic needs having been met, they are able to rise up on the ladder of self-actualization. The cornerstone of this Economic Order: The God-given natural resources and wealth are the common property of all, and every individual willfully leaves for the welfare of others whatever is over and above his needs. The Central Authority will be responsible for administering and maintaining the Just Economic Order of Zakaat. 2:219, 22:41, 27:12, 53:39] Unfortunately, under the influence of fabricated Hadith, most commentators of the Qur’an confuse Zakaat with Sadaqaat. The latter means voluntary charity. See verse 9:60. It describes eight categories of the recipients of charity and not of Zakaat. With the solitary exception of Allama G.A. Parwez, to my knowledge, all commentators fail to notice the word Sadaqaat and somehow ‘misread’ the word Zakaat which is not there in that verse. So powerful is the influence of blind following! The current 2.5% giving of one's wealth and the complex and contradictory details of Fiqh associated with it find no Authority in the Qur’an. One example is the flagrant disparity between the compulsory 'charity or poor-due' to be paid by a rich man who possesses gold versus a poor man who possesses some silver. The poor will pay charity on less than one tenth of what the wealthy has! Ihsan = An act of balance = Restoring symmetry and beauty = Social and individual equity = Selfless service = An act of equity. Yateem = Orphan = Who is left alone in the society = Lonely = Without immediate family = Helpless = Derivatively, a widow. Miskeen = The needy poor = One with no means to earn livelihood = The disabled = One whose life has stalled for any reason = Jobless = Truly bankrupt of finances = One whose running business has stalled. 17:23, 29:8, 46:15, 4:36, 6:151, 2:177, 2:215, 17:26] 2:84 And watch out! We accepted your solemn pledge that you would desist from mutual bloodshed, and from evicting your own folk from your townships. This is what you agreed to and you were witnesses to it. 2:85 Yet it is you who subdue and slay your own folk, and evict a weak faction among you from their homes. And you support one another in hurting the community and sowing the seeds of discord. And when these homeless people get enslaved by others and are brought to you, you ransom them, whereas it was unlawful for you to evict them in the first place. What! Do you wish to accept one part of the Scripture and reject the other? Think then, what the reward of such wrongdoing must be - nothing but disgrace in the life of this world, and on the Day of Resurrection the most grievous chastisement! For, God is not unaware of what you do. [The verse is referring to the Jewish community of Madinah (Medina), but as is always the case in the Qur’an, the Commands have a wide historical applicability; in this case, to oppressive societies anywhere anytime. Ithm = Any action that depletes individual or communal energy. ‘Udwaan and its derivatives = Wedge = Creating distance between hearts = Discord = Crossing the bounds of Law = Committing excesses = Deeds beyond decency = Transgressing moral values] 2:86 These are the ones who buy instant gratification in exchange for Eternity. The logical consequence of this trade is relentless suffering in a state of utter helplessness. [Numerous verses underscore the point that the Law of Cause and Effect has no room for making amends in the Hereafter, hence, the helplessness. Duniya = This world = Immediate gains = Short term benefits = Short-sightedness = Disregarding the Law of Cause and Effect = Forsaking the Future. Aakhirah = Hereafter = Life to come = Eternity = Long term = Far-sightedness = Future = Logical outcome = Tomorrow as built on today] 2:87 And, surely, We gave the Scripture to Moses, and after him We sent a succession of messengers. And We gave Jesus, son of Mary (Mariam), clear evidence of the Truth and We strengthened him with Gabriel (Jibraeel). Yet, is it not the case that whenever a Messenger came to you with messages that did not conform to your desires, you resorted to self-glorification? And some of them you called impostors, and others you killed or tried to subdue. [Also, you attempted to strike a deal with the messengers to alter the revelations. 10:15, 11:113, 17:74, 68:9. Roohul Qudus = Gabriel 2:87, 2;253, 5:110, 16:2, 16:102, 26:193, 42:52] 2:88 And they say, “Our hearts are bags of knowledge.” Nay, but God has deprived them of His Grace for their persistent rejection of the Truth. Therefore, only a few of them will choose to believe. [2:6. La’nah = Curse = Deprivation of God’s Grace = God’s rejection = Condemnation = Losing citizenship of the Islamic State = To be downgraded = Abasement = Lasting humiliation] 2:89 Whenever Revelation from God is delivered to them, confirming (the Truth in) what they have, they flatly deny it! Yet, before that, they had been praying for winning the hearts of those who denied all Divine Revelation. And now that a Message has come to them that they very well recognize, they deny it and conceal (what they know). God’s condemnation is the due of all those who turn ungrateful. [Kufr = Rejecting, denying or concealing the Truth = Ingratitude. 2:101, 2:41, 7:157] 2:90 Awful indeed is the price for which they sell their ‘selves’. They reject what God has revealed, complaining grudgingly as to why God should bestow His Bounty of Revelation to whomever He may elect among His servants! Thus, (for their bias) they have experienced wrath upon wrath (bitter consequences of their misdeeds). And for all those who deny the Truth, the logical consequence is a humiliating suffering. [Ghadhab = Opposite of Blessing = Bitter consequences = Logical results of defying Divine Laws = Physical and mental destitution for defying God = Suffering loss = Incorrectly translated as anger or wrath in relation to God. See 1:7, 2:61. Grudgingly: They cannot get over the fact that God has elected a non-Israelite Prophet. 2:97, 2:100-101, 2:142, 5:18, 7:157] 2:91 When it is said to them, “Believe in what God has revealed”, they say, “We only accept what has been sent to us.” And they reject all besides that, even though it is the Truth confirming what they possess. Say, “(If you claim to believe in the Scripture that you have), then why did you oppose and even slay the prophets of God before, if you were indeed believers?” [2:101. For Qatl, see 2:54] 2:92 Surely, Moses came to you with all evidence of the Truth, yet you worshiped the golden calf in his absence! You did, thus, exchange the Right with the Wrong and hurt yourselves. 2:93 Recall again that We accepted your solemn pledge, with Mount Sinai towering above you, as witness, “Hold fast to what We have given you, and listen with your hearts!” They (your elite) said, “We hear and we disobey.” (The desire to worship a tangible deity was so intense in them that) their hearts were infused with the love of the golden calf. This led them to persistently refuse to acknowledge the Truth. Say, “Evil indeed is what your faith enjoins on you if you have any faith at all.” [It teaches you to go back to the primitive ways of worshiping tangible objects!] 2:94 Say, “If the Eternal Abode with God is especially reserved for you to the exclusion of the rest of mankind, then show your readiness for death, if you are truthful.” [2:80, 2:211-112, 5:18, 11:7, 67:2. Live an open life in the society instead of your secluded enclaves. 33:26, 59:2] 2:95 But they will never show their readiness for it due to the deeds their hands have sent forth. And God is well Aware of the wrongdoers. [See Zulm in 2:35 and in Preface] 2:96 Of all mankind, you will find them the most ardently desirous of a long life; even more than the idolaters. Every one of them would love to live a thousand years. Yet, the grant of longevity will not save him from the dire consequences of his transgressions. For, God is Seer of all that they do. 2:97 (They are displeased with Gabriel for bringing Revelation to a gentile Prophet. 2:90.) Say (O Prophet), “Who bears a grudge against Gabriel?" For, he has revealed (the Qur’an) upon your heart by God’s Leave, confirming what was revealed before it. And it is a Beacon of Light and glad tiding for all those who accept it. [2:101] 2:98 Whoever bears a grudge against God, His angels, His messengers, and Gabriel and Michael, must know that indeed, God opposes the deniers of Truth. [2:87, 16:2, 16:102, 26:193, 42:52. The Divine Law intervenes between obstinate rejection and true Success. ‘Adu and its derivatives = Enemy = Wedge = Opponent = Causing remoteness = Divider = Bearer of grudge. It must be noted that the Qur’anic terminology carries various shades of meanings according to the context, and whether the terms are referring to humans or to the Creator] 2:99 Surely, We have revealed unto you clear verses, and none will deny them but those who drift away from reason. 2:100 (This reflects in their daily lives.) Is it not so that whenever they make a pledge with others, a party among them breaks it (and others feel liberated from their collective responsibility)? Nay, indeed! Most of them choose to disbelieve. 2:101 And now that a Messenger has come unto them from God confirming the Truth in what they have, a party among those who were given the Scripture before, cast the Book of God (the Bible) behind their backs as though unaware of what it says (concerning the advent of Prophet Muhammad). [Note ‘the Truth in’. 7:157, 61:6. A glimpse of what the Bible says about the advent of Prophet Muhammad (S):
18:15 The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me [Moses]; unto him ye shall hearken; 18:18 I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Farqleet (Arabic) = Paracletos (Greek) = The Comforter = Periclytos (Greek) = The Praised One = Mawhamana (Aramaic) = The Praised One = Muhammad (Arabic)] 2:102 (They had followed conjecture in the past as well.) Some satanic folk spread a rumor in the Kingdom of Solomon. Solomon never disbelieved in the Divine Laws, but the satanic folk did. They fabricated a story that two angels Haaroot and Maaroot had descended in Babylon and taught magic to some people; and that they used to warn people, “We are only a temptation, therefore be not oblivious to the rational Divine Laws.” The rumor further stated that people learned magic from both of them and learned how to create discord between a man and his wife. They could harm none against the Divine Laws. And what they try to learn only harms them and does not profits them. Indeed, they ought to know that any person indulging in this trade (the so-called occult sciences) will be a loser in the long run, and shall have no portion in the Hereafter. And certainly, evil is the price for which they sell their humanity, if they only knew better.
[The entire story of Haaroot Maaroot was Hazaliat (nonsense). Magic, amulets, ghoul, demon-possession, exorcism, witchcraft, evil eye, fortune telling, astrology, palm reading, clairvoyance, knowledge of the future, Voodoo, are nothing but conjecture. These things can neither harm nor benefit anyone since nothing happens in the Universe contrary to the immutable Divine Laws in Nature. However, superstitions can harm people by becoming self-fulfilling prophecies. 3:123-127, 6:73, 7:54, 45:22] 2:103 If they had believed (in the immutability of the Divine Laws) and remained mindful (of this fact), the reward for their actions would have been far better from God’s Presence. This is so because they would have, then, used this knowledge. [Divine Laws never change 33:62, 35:43, 48:23, and you will never find even a slight turn in them 17:77] 2:104 O You who have chosen to be graced with belief! Never say to the Prophet, "Raaina - listen to us.” Instead, say, "Unzurna!” (Grant us attention). And then listen intently. There is a painful consequence for the rejecters of Divine Commands. [Ya ayyuhallazeena aamanu is generally, but inaccurately, translated as “O You who believe!”, “O Believers!”, “O You of faith! O Faithfuls!” etc. - Firstly, aamanu is a verb. Secondly, attaining to belief must be an act consciously undertaken after due reflection and with free will. ‘Passive’ faith such as claiming to be a ‘believer by birth’ has no merit in the Sight of God. See 4:136, 12:108. Also, choosing to believe in Truth is a great blessing of God. Hence, my rendition: O You who have chosen to be graced with belief! Ra’ina with a slight twist of the tongue and in very similar Hebrew words has derogatory meanings to it, e.g. “Be our shepherd”, “O Our proud one!”, “May deafness befall you.” Some Jews resorted to these kinds of insults to the Prophet (4:46). The Lesson is this: Be not ambiguous and speak words straight to the point. 33:70] 2:105 Neither the deniers from among the People of the Book nor the idolaters love that any good thing should be bestowed upon you from your Lord. But God chooses for His Grace (of Revelation) whom He wills. For, God is the (non-discriminating) Lord of Infinite Bounty. [3:70-71, 16:30] 2:106 Any Message (of aforetime) that We revoke or cause to be lost to history, We replace it with a better or similar one. Do you not know that God is the Supreme Controller of all things and events? [Some of the People of the Book question why a new Revelation was necessary. The evolution of human civilization has now come to a point where the Final Message for all mankind can be given, implemented and preserved forever. So, the Qur’an is now the perfected Message for all mankind at all times; its exact preservation guaranteed by none but the Almighty Himself. 5:48, 6:115-116, 15:9, 16:101, 22:52] 2:107 Do you not know that to God belongs the Kingdom of the heavens and the earth? And (if you defy His Commands you will find that) you have no patron or helper besides God. [He is fully Cognizant of your needs, and knows the messages and timings of His revelations] 2:108 Would you demand of your Messenger what was demanded of Moses in the past? But whoever chooses the darkness of Ignorance instead of the Light of Faith has already strayed from the Right Way. [2:67-71. Instead of reflecting on the evidence of the Truth, the people of Moses demanded him to bring God face to face! 4:153. And they kept asking him vain questions 5:101, and kept making excuses. 5:24] 2:109 Out of their envy, many among the People of the Book wish to make you revert back to denying the Truth after you have attained belief; even though the Truth has become clear unto them. Pardon them, bear with them, and leave them with their ways until God issues His decision. Certainly, God has power over all things, and all events take place within the framework of His Laws. [Qadeer = Appointer of Laws = Supreme Controller = Able to do all things = Powerful = Almighty. 5:13, 15:85, 73:10, 74:11. Shayi = Thing = Derived meaning, event. Ethnic and nationalistic prejudices give rise to envy. 2:111, 5:18] 2:110 So, establish the Divine System, and set up the Just Economic Order of Zakaat in the society. Whatever good you send forth for yourselves you will find it with God. Remember, God is Seer of all that you do. [2:3. Inn = Surely, Indeed, Note, Remember, Certainly, Recall, Verily, Ponder] 2:111 And they claim, “None will enter Paradise unless he is a Jew or a Christian.” This is nothing but their wishful thinking. Say, “Bring your proof if you are indeed truthful.” [2:135. Burhan = Clear proof = Firm evidence = Indomitable argument = Strong logic] 2:112 Nay, whoever submits his whole being to God, and he is a doer of good to humanity, his reward is with his Lord. Then, no fear shall come upon them nor shall they grieve. [2:62, 7:180-181, 41:40. They have fulfilled the purpose of life that is, to serve the Creator by serving His creation, thereby developing their personalities in this life, and thus, attaining true immortality with further progress in the life to come] 2:113 Also, the Jews assert that the Christians have no basis, and the Christians assert that the Jews have no basis. Yet, both groups read the Scripture! Such is the behavior of those who have no knowledge (or Scripture). God will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that wherein they differ. [Qaul = Utterance = Thought = Assertion = Tenet = Attitude = Expression. Mankind holding divergent views will acknowledge the Divine Truth in this world as well. 9:33-34, 11:118-119, 41:53, 48:28, 61:9] 2:114 Hence, who could be greater transgressors than those who bar the celebrating of God’s Name from His houses of submission and strive for ruining the System? They have no right to be part thereof except in awe and humility. (Otherwise) theirs is humiliation in this world and for them is a tremendous suffering in the Hereafter. [9:17-19, 9:107, 72:18. Masajid = Mosques = Administration centers of the Divine System = Collective submission and consultation on how best to follow the Divine Commands = Centers that the Islamic government will establish to implement the Qur’anic Order in the society and manage social welfare. These are Centers where people have open access to their office bearers, where government decrees are announced and every member of the society can voice one’s opinion without fear. Masjid = Singular, Mosque = Sincere collective submission 7:29] 2:115 Unto God belong the East and the West. Wherever you go, whichever way you turn, there is God’s Countenance (Presence) and you remain in His Dominion. For, God is All Embracing, All Knowing. [3:95. The benevolent Divinely Prescribed System of Life should be followed everywhere on earth. In the interim, any nation or country or group of people may adopt and follow it] 2:116 But they say, “God has begotten a son!” Glorified is He! Never! Unto Him belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth. All things and beings in the Universe are subservient to Him. [He needs no helpers, associates or offspring to manifest His Magnificence, and there is none like unto Him. 112: 1-4] 2:117 The Originator of the heavens and the earth: when He wills a thing to be, He but says to it “Be” – and it is. [Qaul = Saying = Thought. Badee’ = Initiator = Originator = One Who creates from nothing = The Impeccable Creator] 2:118 Only those who fail to explore the realm of knowledge say, “Why does God not speak to us directly, nor is a miracle shown to us?” Even thus, as they now speak, spoke those who lived before their times. Their ways of thinking, their hearts and minds are all alike (untouched by the passage of time). We have indeed made clear all the Signs for those who wish to attain conviction [by exploring the internal evidence in these revelations and in the Universe. 2:108, 2:256, 18:29, 42:51, 76:3] Yüklə 3,43 Mb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
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