Lesson 143 to 220 Al-Baqarah (The Cow) RELIGION OF WISDOM Part - 2 (First Half)

RELIGION OF WISDOM

PART - 2

Praise belongs to Allah Who is Sufficient for us. And, may glory, grace, blessings and peace of Allah Almighty be upon His chosen servants. fa-‘uu-zu  billaahi minash-Shay-taanir- Rajiim. Bis-millaahir-Rah-maanir-Rahiim. Assalaam o Alaikum wa RahmatUllah i wa Barakatuhuu.

LESSON # 143 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Qiblah Of The Muslims

Verse –142 of 286, Section – 17 (Part  - 2)

And the foolish of the people will say: What hath turned them from the qiblah which they formerly observed? Say: Unto Allah belong the East and the West. He guideth whom He will unto a straight path.

SA-YAQUULUS-SUFA-HAAA-‘U  minan-naasi maa wallaahum ‘an- Qiblati-himul-latii kaanuu ‘alayhaa. Qul-lil-laahil-Mashriqu wal-Magrib. Yahdii many-yashaaa-‘u ‘ilaa Siraatim- Mustaqiim.

Lesson

As-Sufa-haaa-‘u  minan-naas – (the foolish of the people) Sufa-haaa is plural of the word safiah that means childish, low, stupid, foolish. So aim of the As-Sufa-haaa-‘u  minan-naas is the people who protest and criticize the Orders of the God Almighty. Here it is indicated towards the children of Israel.

Qiblah – The thing which is in front, that is to say, the direction and place turning towards which the prayers are offered and worship is done, namely Centre of Attention, side and direction to turn for worship. The Qiblah of the children of Israel was the Temple or city of Jerusalem. Till the time the Messenger of Allah Almighty (may glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) remained in Makkah, He used to turn His face towards Jerusalem. After migration He continued that Qiblah. But He desired over and over to make His Qiblah to the Khana Ka’-ba which was constructed by the Prophet Abraham (peace be upon Him) in Makkah. But He (may glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) was waiting the order of the God Almighty. At last He (may glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) was commanded to change the Qiblah after migration to Madina passing sixteen or thirteen months.

When the children of Israel knew about change of Qiblah, they persecuted in opposition of it. They criticized of various sorts that formerly they used to offer their prayers turning towards the first Qiblah (the Temple or city of Jerusalem) which was the Qiblah of the old times Prophets (peace be upon Them). What happened with them now that have left that Qiblah, they have made the Ka’-ba as their Qiblah. Some of them used to say that it has been done duty to jealousy and enmity of the children of Israel.

The Holy Qur’an replied their objections, “O Messenger! Tell them that we have not changed the Qiblah due to jealously or bigotry, but it has been changed with the order of Allah Almighty.

The East or the West, each direction is of Allah Almighty. Every thing of each direction is in His Control and Knowledge. Guidance is also with Him. He bestows with His Guidance and Message to whom He desires. 

   LESSON # 144 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

A Temperate And Middle Nation  

Verse –143a of 286, Section – 17 (Part  - 2)

And thus We have appointed you a middle nation, that ye may be witnesses against mankind, and that the Messenger may be a witness against you.

Wa kazaalika ja-‘alnaa-kum ‘Ummatanw- Wasatal-li-takuunuu shuha-daaa-‘a ‘alan-naasi wa yakuunar-Rasuulu ‘alaykum Shahiidaa.

Lesson

Wasatan – (Moderate; temperate) it means that the Muslim nation is on right straight path. It has not any crookedness, abundance or deficiency. Teaching of Islam is self-control in behavior. The Followers of Islam are the temperate. They are appointed on acceptance of the middle path leaving all kinds of increases and decreases.

Shahiidun – (Witness) this word is also matter of the words Shaahid and Shahaadat. Shaahid means witness and Shahaadat means Evidence. Technically this word is also used for the killed, martyr in the path of God Almighty. In this verse its meaning may also be taken as ‘Watching’.

Excellence and superiority of the Muslim nation has been declared in this verse. The God Almighty commands, “O Muslims! As your Qiblah is the most excellent than other Qiblahs, like this We have bestowed you merit over all other nations, and your Messenger (may glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) has been selected most superior over all other Prophets and Messengers (peace be upon Them).

It has come in the Sayings of the Messenger of Allah Almighty (may glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) that on the Judgment Day, when all previous nations will be asked about their acts, at that time the Muslim nation will verify the claim of previous Prophets (peace be upon Them) in the light of the teachings of Holy Qur’an and witness that these all Prophets and Messengers (peace be upon Them) came towards their nations and conveyed them the Message of Allah Almighty. But these people did not agree to their Prophets and Messengers (peace be upon Them).

The Muslim nation has been prepared in the both capacities of model individually and collectively for the entire world. Each nation of the world should rise and mould to the situation of this standard. Auspicious Personality of the Blessed Messenger (may glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) has capacity of being an example and model roll for the Muslims. This lesson also results from this verse that we should establish ourselves as model roll for other nations of the world. We should escape ourselves from moral lowness in all respects and never choose the path which differentiates our recognized position. To get this object we should keep the pattern of the Messenger of God Almighty (may glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) in front of us forever. Being a middle nation we should escape ourselves from all kinds of abundance and decrease so that we may be able to keep the honor of the title of “a middle nation”.      

 LESSON # 145 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Philosophy In Change Of Qiblah

Verse –143b of 286, Section – 17 (Part  - 2)

And We appointed the qiblah which ye formerly observed only that We might know him who followeth the Messenger, from him who turneth on his heels.

Wa maa ja-‘alnal-Qiblatal-latii kunta ‘alayhaaa ‘illaa li-na’-lama many-yattabi-‘ur-Rasuula  mim-many-yanqalibu ‘alaa ‘aqibayh.

Lesson

Li-na’-lama – (that We might know) the word ilm (knowledge) is used here only for distinction, identification and recognition.

It was the blessed habit of the Messenger of God Almighty (may glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) that in which matter there was no instruction from the God Almighty, in that matter He (may glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) used to choose the manner of former Prophets (peace be upon Them), for instance the pray had become duty to offer, but there was no clear order available regarding Qiblah. The Messenger of Allah Almighty used to offer prayers turning towards the Temple of Jerusalem, which was the Qiblah of the children of Israel. It has also known clearly from the words of this verse ‘Wa maa ja-‘alnaa’ that in the beginning to face towards the former Qiblah was with the sanction of God Almighty. When He (may glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) migrated from Makkah to Madina, even then the Temple of Jerusalem (Bayt ul Maqaddas) also remained Qiblah. But after a period of nearly sixteen months the God Almighty ordered to change the Qiblah and the Ka’-ba was appointed as Qiblah of the Muslims.

The God Almighty commands in this verse, “It was the purpose to keep the Qiblah to Bayt ul Muqaddas (the Temple of Jerusalem) temporarily for a short time so that the Obedient and the Violent may be separated”. 

The Idolaters of Makkah were not convinced for reverence of the Qiblah as the Temple of Jerusalem. So it was a clear sign of embracing Islam in Makkah that each person has to offer his prayers turning towards the Temple of Jerusalem. Near to the Jews and the Christians of Madina, the Temple of Makkah had no honor. So in Madina it became the sign of embracing Islam that the prayer should be offered facing towards the BaytUl-laah (Khana Ka’-ba), the Temple of Makkah. Here upon it became easy to make a distinction between the Muslims and the Non-Muslims.

If the Temple of Makkah were Qiblah instead of the Temple of Jerusalem (Bayt ul Muqaddas) during the life in Makkah then perhaps the people of Makkah might consider it as a kind of flattery and they might embrace Islam due to their own country’s Qiblah instead of taking this religion as the Order of God Almighty. Thus Islam is pure from all these objects. Teaching of the religion is not for favor of any particular nation or race. Islam has come for the entire world and its teachings are for the entire nations. 

     LESSON # 146 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

The Faith Does Not Lose

Verse –143c of 286, Section – 17 (Part  - 2)

In truth it was a hard (test) save for those whom Allah guided. And it is not Allah’s purpose that your faith should be in vain. For Allah is Full of Pity, Merciful towards mankind.

Wa ‘in- kaanat lakabiiratan ‘illaa ‘alal-laziina hadallaah. Wa maa kaanallaahu liyuzii-‘a    ‘iimaanakum.  ‘Innallaaha bin-naasi la-Ra-‘uu-fur-Rahiim.

Lesson

BaytUl-laah (Khana Ka’-ba), the Temple of Makkah is the most sacred place. It is the oldest and holy place of worship between the Mosques and Temples of the world. Due to native reliability it was the most respectable place near to the Arabians. But the prayers were offered facing towards the Temple of Jerusalem (Bayt ul Muqaddas) during the life of the Messenger of God Almighty (may glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) in Makkah. It was a big trial for the patriot Arabs. It was much arduous and weighty for those people to make the Qiblah to the Temple of Jerusalem. The Arabians and the Quraish were Speakers of the religion of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon Him). So they also used to respect the Ka’-ba, the Temple of Makkah, and dislike to deem the Temple of Jerusalem (Bayt ul Muqaddas) as Qiblah.

The God Almighty commanded that this test and trial was not heavy for those people who were shown Guideline by Allah Almighty and they were aware of its philosophy. They took it as that the Prophet of God Almighty Muhammad (may glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) has been sent as Prophet for the entire world. To make Qiblah to Bayt ul Muqaddas did not astonish them. But they leaned in front of Allah Almighty without dispute and came out with great success in this trial.

When again the BaytUl-laah (Khana Ka’-ba), the Temple of Makkah was appointed as Qiblah then many people had doubt that the prayers offered turning towards Bayt ul Muqaddas have been wasted and particularly those Companions of the Holy Prophet (may glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) who have died before the change of Qiblah, remained in the loss. The God Almighty cleared their doubt and commanded that the actual thing is obedience. Bayt ul Muqaddas was also appointed Qiblah with Our Orders. So the people who offered their prayers turning to words that Qiblah, will not be given loss for their any good act, future reward of their virtues is established. Allah Almighty is extremely Kind and Merciful over the human beings. He does not waste any virtue of any person.

  

LESSON # 147 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Desire Of The Messenger Of God

(glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) 

Verse –144a of 286, Section – 17 (Part  - 2)

We have seen the turning of thy face to heaven (for guidance, O Muhammad). And now verily We shall make thee turn (in prayer) towards a qiblah which is dear to thee. So turn thy face toward Inviolable Place of Worship.

Qad naraa taqalluba waj-hika fis-samaaa’; falanuwalli-yannaka Qiblatan- tarzaahaa. Fa-walli wajhaka shatral-Mas-jidil-Haraam.

Lesson

Qiblatan- tarzaahaa – (towards a qiblah which is dear to thee), Qiblah (Centre of attention, turning towards the direction or place for worship). It has already been explained earlier. Tarzaahaa (which is dear to you) it signifies towards Kahana Ka’-ba which was constructed by the Prophet Abraham (peace be upon Him) and that was the favorite place of worship for all the Arabs. 

Wajhaka – (Thy face) literal meaning is only face or mouth but the entire body is included in it. Here it means attention, wish, liking and fondness.

Al-Mas-jidil-Haraam – (Inviolable Place of Worship) Respectable and Glorious Mosque that is to say The Greatest Mosque of Makkah in which the Khana Ka’-ba is situated. First Drawing of the Present Building of this Mosque was prepared during the time of Caliph Mehdi Abbasi. There are large and magnificent courtyards on its four sides. This Building has forty one doors, six Minarets and one hundred fifty small and large Domes.  It is called Masjid-i-Haraam (Inviolable Place of Worship). To wage a war or go hunting is forbidden (unlawful) here.

Actual Qiblah of the Muslims was the Khana Ka’-ba which was the Qiblah of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon Him). Only for a little time the Bayt ul Muqaddas was appointed as Qiblah for trial. The children of Israel used to reproach, “While the Divine of Muslims is different from us and is conformity to the religion of Abraham (peace be upon Him) then why they fix upon our Qiblah? The Messenger of God Almighty (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) used to desire that the Khana Ka’-ba be appointed as Qiblah by the Order of God Almighty so that we may offer prayers turning toward the Khana Ka’-ba. He (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) used to look towards the sky over and over waiting for the revelation through the Angel (peace be upon Him). This condition is being stated in this verse.

The God Almighty completed His (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) this desire and commanded, “And now verily We shall make thee turn (in prayer) towards a qiblah which is dear to thee. So turn thy face toward Inviolable Place of Worship”. When it was ordered to change the Qiblah, at that time He (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) was offering Zohar prayer. Two Rak-‘at of the prayer had been offered, during their faces toward the Temple of Jerusalem. During offering the prayer He (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) and His followers turned their faces towards the Khana Ka’-ba and completed remaining two Rak-‘ats. That Masjid of the Madina is called Masjid Qiblatayn.        

LESSON # 148 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

The Khana Ka’-ba Became Qiblah

Verse –144b of 286, Section – 17 (Part  - 2)

And ye (O Muslims), wheresoever ye may be, turn your faces (when ye pray) toward it. Lo! Those who have received the Scripture know that (this Revelation) is the Truth from their Lord. And Allah is not Unaware of what they do.

Wa hay-su maa kuntum fawalluu wujuuhakum shatrah. Wa ‘innal-laziina ‘uu-tul-Kitaaba laya’-lamuuna ‘an-nahul-haqqu mir-Rabbihim. Wa mallaahu bi-gaafilin ‘am-maa ya’-maluun.

Lesson

It has been mentioned earlier that the children of Israel and the Christians used to consider themselves on the religion of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon Him) and said that they were out of the children of Them so they did not need to embrace any new religion. The Holy Qur’an proved wrong their saying after providing correct knowledge about the Prophet Abraham (peace be upon Him). Moreover He was steady on pure Unity and was sacred from the Plurality. If the Jews and the Christians say themselves the followers of the Prophet Abraham (peace be upon Him) then they should fix upon the Straight Path explained by the Islam leaving all other paths. They should catch the Law of good acts and Oneness with durability because it was the religion of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon Him).

After it the Holy Qur’an commands that due to the Prayer of the Prophet Abraham (peace be upon Him) the Last Messenger of God Almighty (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) was sent in this world and this nation (Muslim) stood firm due to His (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) teachings. So the spiritual and group centre of this nation will be the same as of the Prophet Abraham (peace be upon Him), that is to say Khana Ka’-ba. Baytul Muqaddas was only temporary Qiblah. Khana Ka’-ba is appointed as the Qiblah of the Muslims. Wherever will be the Muslims, wishing either in the journey or at home, either in the city or in jungle, either in forest or in the desert, either in the vicinity of Inviolable Place of Worship (Masjidi-Haraam) or in the surroundings of Baytul Muqaddas, means in each condition they will turn their faces towards the Ka’-ba.

Along-with it the God Almighty also commanded, O Muslims! Don’t care from the people of the Scripture. “Lo! Those who have received the Scripture know that (this Revelation) is the Truth from their Lord. And Allah is not unaware of what they do”. And now if they produce doubts intentionally, then the God Almighty will see them because He knows their acts.    

LESSON # 149 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Stubbornness Of The People Of The Scripture

Verse –145 of 286, Section – 17 (Part  - 2)

And even if thou broughtest unto those who have received the Scripture all kinds of portents, they would not follow thy qiblah, nor canst thou be a follower of their qiblah; nor are some of them followers of the qiblah of others. And if thou shouldst follow their desires after the knowledge which hath come unto thee, then surely thou will be among be the evildoers.

Wa la-‘in ‘ataytal-laziina ‘uutul-Kitaaba bi-kulli ‘Aayatim-maa tabi-‘uu Qiblatak. Wa maaa ‘anta bi-taabi-‘in- Qiblata-hum. Wa maa ba’-zuhum- bi-taabi-‘’in-Qiblata ba’-z. Wa la-‘inittaba’-ta ‘ahwaaa-‘ahum-mim-ba’-di maa jaaa-‘aka min-al-‘ilmi, ‘innaka ‘izalla-minaz-zaalimiin.

Lesson

In this verse stubbornness and bigotry of the children of Israel has been mentioned. The God Almighty commands, “O Prophet! If you (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) will show them all the tokens of Your Prophet-hood, produce them all the proofs about Truth of Khana Ka’-ba as Qiblah, even then they will not be ready to admit it as Qiblah. Moreover on the base of opposite, jealousy, enmity, stubbornness and bigotry they will stand firm on their ancient Qiblah. And because We have bestowed You the excellent and the Prophet Abraham’s (peace be upon Him) Qiblah, so You (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) have no need to agree upon their ignoble Qiblah. Due to the cause of ending the leadership of the children of Israel, You have been given a permanent and worldwide Qiblah. So the people of the Scripture should become hopeless from this matter that ever you will admit their Qiblah”.

It has also been mentioned that the people of the Scripture do not get themselves followers on one Qiblah. So how can they expect that He (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) will agree upon their Qiblah. At the end the Messenger of Islam (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) has been duly warned that after knowing about final decision of the God Almighty that the actual Qiblah is only the Khana Ka’-ba, if He (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) will admit and fix upon their Qiblah then He will also be included into the unjust people. Although any Messenger of God Almighty (peace be upon Him) never stains with any sin but it is intended to tell the Muslim nation from this warning that it is very heavy sin to follow any false religion. Even in it no body can be favored desiring he has the most superior rank near to God Almighty.

LESSON # 150 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

The People Of The Scripture and The Prophet Of Islam

(glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him)

Verse –146 & 147 of 286, Section – 17 (Part  - 2)

146.  Those unto whom We gave the Scripture recognize (this Revelation) as they recognize their sons. And lo! A party of them knowingly conceals the truth. 147.  It is the Truth from thy Lord (O Muhammad), so be not thou of those waver.

146.  ‘Allaziina ‘aataynaa-humul-Kitaaba ya’-rifuunahuu kamaa ya’-rifuuna ‘abnaaa-‘ahum. Wa ‘inna fariiqam-minhum la-yak-tumuunal-Haqqa wa hum ya’-lamuun. 147.  ‘Al-Haqqu mir-Rabbika falaa takuunanna minal-mum-tariin.

Lesson

It has been mentioned in this verse that the children of Israel and the Christians had known very well through their religious books that a Prophet (peace be upon Him) will come at the last of all. He (peace be upon Him) will not say anything with His heart. Moreover, He will teach likeness of the Revelation of the God Almighty. When the Messenger of God Almighty (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) was sent, they found the tokens and signs into Him, which were written in their Books. They distinguished very well that He (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) is the last of all Holy Prophet and His teachings are True and Right. But they denied believing Him (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) due to only enmity, opposite and malice, and tried to hide all the foretelling which were held in their Heavenly Books, and exposed as that they have not recited these foretelling.

The God Almighty is causing certainty and confidence to His Last Messenger Muhammad (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) that the people of the Scriptures either believe or do not believe on You, either they hide the foretelling about your Prophet-hood or disclose, either they deem Your Qiblah as right or wrong, the Right is in all conditions Right and You are the True Prophet (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him). All the Orders are sent by Us towards the Prophet (peace be upon Him). Permanent Qiblah of the Muslims will remain the Khana Ka’-ba. So don’t lie in any doubt or hesitation. 

It has also known from this verse that the foretelling was held in the former Heavenly Books about coming of the last Prophet (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him). The people of the Scriptures already knew Him and recognized Him as a father can recognize his children out of the many children and he does not feel any difficulty recognizing his own child.

Sorrow on the people of the Scriptures that they found all the tokens of Prophet-hood in the Last Messenger Muhammad (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) , their hearts provided them evidence but till today they did not embrace Islam being apart entirely from the religious persecution.   

God Almighty Is Not Father of Any Person

Let us recite the Holy Qur’an –Surah Maryam (Mary)-19, Section -2 Verses – 16 to 40

16.     And make mention of Mary in the Scripture. When she had withdrawn from her people to a chamber looking East-

17.     So she had chosen seclusion from them. Then We sent unto her Our Spirit and it assumed for her the likeness of a perfect man.

18.     She said: Lo! I seek refuge in the Beneficent One from thee, if thou art God-fearing.

19.     He said: I am only a messenger of the Lord that I may bestow on thee a pure son.

20.     She said: How can I have a son when no mortal hath touched me, neither have I been unchaste?

21.     He said: So (it will be). Thy Lord saith: It is easy for Me. And (it will be) that We may make of him a portent for mankind and a mercy from Us, and it is a thing ordained.

22.     Then she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a far place.

23.     And the pangs of childbirth drove her unto the trunk of the palm-tree. She said: Oh, would that I had died ere this and had become a thing of naught, forgotten!

24.     Then (one) called her from below her, saying: Grieve not! Thy Lord hath placed a rivulet beneath thee.

25.     And shake the trunk of the palm-tree toward thee, thou wilt cause ripe dates to fall upon thee.

26.     So eat and drink and be consoled. And if thou meetest any mortal, say: Lo! I have vowed a fast unto the Beneficent, and may not speak this day to any mortal.

27.     Then she brought him to her own folk, carrying him. They said: O Mary! Thou hast come with an amazing thing.

28.     O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a wicked man nor was thy mother an unchaste woman.

29.     Then she pointed to him. They said: How can we talk to one who is in the cradle, an infant?

30.     He spoke: Lo! I am the slave of Allah. He hath given me the Scripture and hath appointed me a Prophet-

31.     And hath made me blessed wheresoever I may be, and hath enjoined upon me prayer and almsgiving so long as I remain alive-

32.     And (hath made me) dutiful toward my mother, and hath not made me arrogant, unblest.

33.     Peace on me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the Day I shall be raised alive!

34.     Such is Jesus, son of Mary: (this is) a statement of the truth concerning which they doubt.

35.     It befitteth not (the Majesty of) Allah that He should take unto Himself a son. Glory be to Him! When He decreeth a thing, He saith unto it only: Be! And it is.

36.     And lo! Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so serve Him. That is the right path.

37.     The sects among them differ, but woe unto the disbelievers from the meeting of an awful Day.

38.     How well will they hear and see on the Day they come unto Us! Yet the evil-doers are today in error manifest.

39.     And warn them of the Day of anguish when the case shall be decided once for all. Now they are in a state of carelessness, and they believe not.

40.     Lo! We, only We, inherit the earth and all who are thereon, and unto Us they will be brought back.      

Below is the story of first migration of Muslims from Makkah to Ethiopia

Jafar left his uncle Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib’s house when he became a young man and got married to Asma bint Umays. They were among the very first persons to embrace Islam, and as a result suffered greatly at the hands of the Quraish. The Quraish restricted their movements and freedom until they could not bear it anymore. That is why Jafar went to Muhammad and took his permission to immigrate to Ethiopia along with a small group of Sahabas.

They settled down in this new land under the protection of Negus Ashama ibn Abjar, and for the first time since they had become Muslims they knew what freedom was, and could worship God without any hindrances. However, Quraish would not let them enjoy freedom and peace for long; soon they sent Abdullah ibn Abu Rabiah and another man from Quraish in order to negotiate with Negus and get all the Muslims back to Mecca.

They took a lot of presents to the Negus, which pleased him a lot, and then told him that there is a group of wicked men moving about freely in his country and asked him to capture them before they cause any harm to his kingship as they did in Quraish. But the Negus refused to do that until he calls them and questions them regarding Quraish’s allegations. So he asked the group Muslims, among which was Jafar ibn Abu Talib, to come and meet him and the Muslims chose Jafar to be their spokesman.

The Negus asked them "what is this religion that has cut you off from your people, and made you in no need of our religion..?"

Jafar answered him saying "we were living in darkness and this religion came and commanded us to speak the truth, to honor our promises, to be kind to our relations, to cease all forbidden acts, to abstain from bloodshed. To avoid obstinacies and false witness, nor to appropriate an orphan's property or slander chaste women, Muhammed ordered us to worship Allah only and not to associate any god with Him, to uphold Salat, to give Zakat and fast in the month of Ramadan, so we believed in him and what he brought to us from Allah and we follow him in what he has asked us to do and we keep away from what he forbade us from doing."

The Negus was eager to know more about what Jafar said, and so he asked Jafar to read him a part from what Muhammad brought concerning God. Jafar recited for him the first portion of Surah Maryam, which narrates the story of Jesus and his mother Mary. On hearing the words of the Qur'an, the Negus was moved and the bishops around him began to weep. The Negus said that he will never harm them.

However the two Quraish emissaries did not stop at that, they went to the Negus again and told him that the Muslims say that Jesus is a slave, and asked him to call them and ask them what they think of Jesus.

The Negus called the Muslims and asked them, so Jafar answered him saying, "Our Prophet says that Jesus is Allah’s prophet." The Negus gave back the gifts to Amr so he and his companion left broken and frustrated.

THE UNITY

(Surah # 112 of Holly Qur’an)

I seek shelter of God Almighty against the Devil, the Disgraced.

In the name of God Almighty, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

1.  Say: He is Allah (God Almighty), the One!

2.  Allah, the eternally Besought of all!

3.  He begetteth not nor was begotten,

4.  And there is none comparable unto Him. 

Aayat al-Kursi

Quran 2:255- 7

Allah is He besides Whom there is no god, the Ever living, the Self-subsisting by Whom all subsist; slumber does not overtake Him nor sleep; whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth is His; who is he that can intercede with Him but by His permission? He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they cannot comprehend anything out of His knowledge except what He pleases, His knowledge extends over the heavens and the earth, and the preservation of them both tires Him not, and He is the Most High, the Great.

Collected by

Muhammad Sharif 

COMMON EVILS AND DISEASES IN THE SOCIETY

All Praises belong to God Almighty,

And glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon His Messenger,

Then I seek shelter of God Almighty against the Devil, the Disgraced.

In the name of God Almighty, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

All types of creatures of God Almighty live in this world, like the mankind, the animals, beasts, birds, and reptiles, insects along with them trees, crops and wild.

The God Almighty made couple of every living thing i.e. male and female, even the trees and other vegetation have also been paired. These things have also their male and female because without the second of any creature existence can not bud and blossom. So it is a proof that male is necessary for every female of his kind and female is necessary for every male of her kind.

All the males meet the females of their kind and all the females meet the males of their kind except the mankind, the human beings to whom the God Almighty bestowed wisdom, who is called viceroy of the Creator Almighty on earth. This is the condition of that wise mankind that the male completes his sensual wishes with the male or animals and female completes her wishes with other female or animals, which is against the nature, against the wisdom, against the growth of next generation. It is the main cause of diseases like HIV and AIDS. If you wish the goodness of the mankind, you would have to control these acts of the mankind. These types of diseases will automatically be cured.

This evil act was grown in the nation of Prophet Lot, who was nephew of the Prophet Abraham (peace be upon Them) that the males used to do the sensual acts with the males and that nation was ruined. In the Holy Qur’an the God Almighty commands us, (VII- The Heights, Part – 8)(Al-A'-Raaf)

Verse # 80.  And Lot! (Remember) when he said unto his folk: Do ye commit abomination such as no creature ever did before you? 

Verse # 81.   Lo! Ye come with lust unto men instead of women. Nay, but ye are wanton folk. 

Verse # 82.   And the answer of his people was only that they said (one to another): Turn them out of your township. They are folk, forsooth, who keep pure. 

Verse # 83    And We rescued him and his household, save his wife, who was of those who stayed behind. 

Verse # 84.  And We rained a rain upon them. So, see now the nature of the consequence of evildoers!   

USE OF DRUGS

Now let us discuss about the intoxicating drugs. Why the people use these types of drugs? Main cause of the use of these drugs is unjustly division of wealth. If only a few people are capitalists, they don’t wish to pay the poor-dues. The rich persons are becoming richer and the poor becoming poorer. The basic needs of the entire mankind are equal. Every person wants better food, better clothes, and better standard of accommodation for living. When his basic necessities are not fulfilled through legal resources then he wishes to use the wrong path to earn more money, in this process he gets tension and wants to forget every thing. In this way he becomes victim of the Drug sellers. Justly division of the wealth is very necessary.

There is only one system available in the world which is called Islam. In this system the interest is forbidden, every rich person will pay the poor-due 2.5% per year on his wealth, business is lawful but the present banking system is unlawful. Instead of collecting, gathering and depositing the wealth it should be invested in the new projects, factories, businesses so that un-employment may be decreased, maximum people may get employment and the prosperity may be brought in the society. In our country I have seen a lot of opportunities for investment like:

Textile – its process starts from cotton to cloth and clothes for export.

Sugar - the sugarcane is grown in abundant quantity but the sugar mills do not fulfill the requirements of the land owners.

Farming – Goat, Sheep, Cow, Buffalo, poultry

Vegetables through plastic tunnel system – in this system hot weather vegetables are grown in the winter.

Transportation - goods like trucks all types and buses heavy/light duty.

Besides above there are many other field available for investment.

Racism

“All mankind is from Adam and Eve, An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over a white, except by piety and good actions”.   

Prophet Muhammad (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him)

“The greatest Jihad is to battle your own soul, to fight the evil within yourself”. Prophet Muhammad (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him)

None of you (truly) believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself – Quote of Prophet Muhammad (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him),

 If you expect the blessings of God, be kind to His people – Abu Bakr (compliments on him)  

These are the teachings of Islam. I assure the entire world that a true Muslim will never be a Terrorist. If there is any terrorist that is not a Muslim, either he is ignorant from the teachings of Islam or he is agent of any anti-Islam group or country. However I can not say about other nations or races. 

Collected by

Muhammad Sharif

DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE BOYS AND A MUSLIMAH GIRL

««««««« Why Don’t You Have A Boyfriend? »»»»»»»

She replied with confidence: you tell me: why would I have a bf?!

I guess you have no answer for my question, but I have answers for yours :

First, I am a believer, I can’t do what displease my Creator, HE ordered me not to take a bf so I should obey HIM.

Allah says in Qur’an: “nor those who take [secret] lovers. “(surat Al-Nisa-25)

Second, I am a daughter of a man who raised me to be a chaste woman, I am a sister of a man who is proud of my purity, so I don’t want to disappoint them, and most of all I don’t want to disappoint a third man who is my future husband and the father of my children in shaa Allah, because I am preserving myself to him only
My mom raised me to be a righteous woman so that I deserve a righteous man she never raised me to be a toy in any boy’s hand, but she raised me to complete the Deen of a pious man.

Also, I am not an easy girl who would be impressed with sweet love words, but I am a proud Muslimah who is just like a pearl in its shell no one can touch it but a brave man who would value it and cherish its beauty…

Dear Muslimahs…Know your worth! And Be that One In Million who love to have the love of Their Lord than the love of a boyfriend!!! 

A TRUE MUSLIMAH

 To show breast, bare body including legs, discloses the thoughts of the woman that she wants any male partner for love and sexual course, she is hungry of this need. She invites the common people to touch her. But on the other hand a noble woman hides her body from the eyes of each stranger. She is sincere only for her life partner, her husband. It is the cruel act of the West that after snatching the honor from the woman it gave her freedom. I say it is not the freedom that the woman is compelled to earn keeping herself between the strange men. It is the responsibility of the man to afford the domestic expenses. Woman is responsible to hold the domestic affairs and grow up the children. It is impossible for a woman to escape herself from the men while she remains the entire working period with them. As the man wishes more women instead of his alone wife, like this the woman also wishes many friends instead of her husband. It is the nature that the man is for woman to be liked and the woman is for the man to be liked. But the nobility does not permit them to meet other than one’s own partner. If the woman meets with many male persons, then how will it be distinct that whose semen is going to become her child? Who will be called its father? So it’s the matter of understanding. If she passes her life with only one husband then her children will be lawful, otherwise unlawful.

 In our country the persons having noble hearts see the woman in four countenances: Mother, Sister, Daughter and Wife. They don't like to see a woman other than these relations. However each type of peoples is found everywhere. But the respect is for these relations.

Whores are also found everywhere. They may have much wealth but I think mentally they are unsatisfied. Noble women live in veil. Veil is also a respect of the woman. The women with bare bodies are just like animals because animals live bare, they do not need clothes. But the God Almighty has bestowed wisdom to the person who is called human being or mankind and Caliph of God Almighty on the earth, who may distinguish between good and bad, lawful and unlawful because act of each moment will be counted on the Doomsday.

“The children, looking to whom a person feels spiritual happiness and considers them like its own flowers”.

 Collected by

Muhammad Sharif

 

LESSON # 151 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Vie In Good Works

Verse –148 of 286, Section – 18 (Part 2)

And each one hath a goal toward which he turneth; so vie with one another in good works. Wheresoever ye may be, Allah will bring you all together. Lo!  Allah is Able to do all things.

Wa li-kullinw-wijhatun huwa muwalliihaa fastabiqul-khayraat.  ‘Ayna maa takuu-nuu ya’-ti  bikumul-laahu jamii-‘aa.   ‘Innallaaha ‘alaa kulli shay-‘in- Qadiir.

Lesson

Khayraat – (good works) khayr is its singular. Besides Alms and Charity it is also used for each type of good works. Each that work which is done according to the Divine’s Law and cause to do that work is only to please the God Almighty, that is included in the khayraat.

After stating about making separate groups and selfishness of the people of the Scripture, the Holy Qur’an instructed them about the Straight Path and told that the Truth is only one which was bestowed to all. But the former nations failed to keep it. Appointing the Qiblah is not out of the basic questions of the religion that it would be considered the standard of the Right and the Wrong. Every nation has its own Qiblah and each nation does worship turning towards its own Qiblah. Actual thing which is to be understood and done is “khayraat” that means good works. So, try to lead in it from one another and take it for the religion’s actual Base.

The people of the Scripture used to take part in bigotry and stubbornness surpassing each other. They did not use to incline towards the Truth, always put the doubts into the hearts of the Muslims, and remained on the front line in the mischief and conspiracies. These people used to produce confusions in the customary questions being careless from the teachings of their religion. If they did not find any other thing, then they used to go ahead taking the question of Qiblah in front of them. Although this matter is not too much important that much precious time be wasted in its discussion. Deem the Qiblah as from the Order of God Almighty, which depends upon time and advisability. The real task is to lead in the good works.

If the nation’s gathering will be on the goodness and the people will include the goodness in their lives then the God Almighty will gather them on a Centre, all the misunderstandings will end and enmities will expire.    

LESSON # 152 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

The Inviolable Place Of Worship (Khana Ka’-ba & The Perfection Against The Arguments

Verse –149 & 150 of 286, Section – 18 (Part 2)

149.   And whencesoever thou comest forth (for prayer, O Muhammad) turn thy face toward the Inviolable Place of Worship. Lo! It is the Truth from thy Lord. And Allah is not Unaware of what ye do. 150.   And whencesoever thou comest forth turn thy face toward the Inviolable Place of Worship; and wheresoever ye may be (O Muslim) turn your faces towards it (when ye pray) so that men may have no argument against you, save such of them as do injustice-fear them not, but fear Me!-and so that I may complete My Grace upon you, and that ye may be guided.

149.   Wa min hay-su kharajta fawalli waj-haka shatral-Mas-jidil-Haraam. Wa ‘innahuu lal-haqqu mir-Rabbik. Wa mallaahu bi-gaafilin ‘ammaa ta’-maluun. 150. Wa min hay-su kharajta fawalli waj-haka shatral-Mas-jidil-Haraam. Wa hay-su maa kuntum fawalluu wujuuhakum shatrahuu, li-‘allaa yakuuna lin-naasi ‘alaykum hujjatun, ‘illal-laziina zalamuu minhum; falaa takhshawhum wakhshawnii; wa li-‘utimma ni’-matii ‘alay-kum wa la-‘allakum tahtaduun.

Lesson

In these verses there is the Order also regarding the change of the Qiblah and at the same time it is said that it shouldn’t be like that from your works the people get chance of arguments, the Idolaters and Infidels of the Makkah may say that how they are the best followers of the religion of Abraham (peace be upon Him), who don’t accept His (peace be upon Him) Ka’aba as Qiblah. As about the fear, it should be only of Allah Almighty. The completion of the grace and blessings, the guidance and the success all are in His (God Almighty’s) Power. 

Urfi! Not to fear from the uproar of the enemies

Barking dogs don’t lessen sustenance of beggars

LESSON # 153 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Specialties Of The Messenger Muhammad

(glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him)

Verse –151 of 286, Section – 18 (Part 2)

Even as We have sent unto you a Messenger from among you, who reciteth unto you  Our Revelations  and causeth you to grow, and teacheth you the Scripture  and Wisdom, and teacheth you that which ye knew not--

Kamaaa ‘arsalnaa fiikum Rasuulam-minkum  yatluu ‘alaykum  ‘Aayaatinaa  wa  yu-zakkiikum wa  yu—‘allimukumul- Kitaaba  wal-Hikmata  wa  yu-‘allimukum-maa lam  takuunuu ta’-lamuun.

Lesson

Which specialties and characteristics of the Last Messenger of God Almighty (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) have been stated in this verse, four out of them have already been mentioned in the verse # 129, that is to say:

1.   Recite the Revelations of God Almighty.

2.   Instruct the people in the Scripture.

3.   Instruct them in Wisdom.

4.    Make them grow (Purify them).

Now fifth specialty is being discussed in this verse that He (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) teaches you about that which you did never know before this time.

The God Almighty sent His Messengers (peace be upon Them) for different nations during different times for the guidance of human beings and arranged for them to convey the Message of the Truth. Slowly and gradually each nation overtook in the different groups, opposite and religious persecution, and went very far from the path of heavenly knowledge and guidance. Then the God Almighty sent the Last Messenger Muhammad (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) so that a new nation may be raised after becoming un-useful of the former nations, make them justice liking with the impression of His (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) teachings and company and so that this nation may hold the post of guidance and admonition for the entire nations of the world.

This verse points towards the change of the Qiblah, that it is the completion of those blessings, series of which have already been begun. Change of the Qiblah is the last ring of that series of the blessings, the first ring of which is to send a Messenger who would be out of you. So that He (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) may become spring of the entire splendid blessings for you, he may cause to hear you the verses of Holy Qur’an, tell you the manners of getting outward and natural chastity and purity, teach you to follow on the orders and instructions of the Holy Qur’an and admonish you the delicacies and principles of these orders and instructions so that you may get superiority and excellence over all other nations due to knowledge and acts, and they may not find any path except to accept you the Excellent looking your knowledge and acts.

It is clear that if these all arrangements would have not been done by the Messenger of God Almighty (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) then you would have remained ignorant and you would never have known the manners to solve the problems of the life.         

LESSON # 154 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Remember The God & Thanks For Him

Verse –152 of 286, Section – 19 (Part 2)

Therefore remember Me, I will remember you; and give thanks to Me, and do not be ungrateful to Me.

Faz-kuruuniii  ‘az-kurkum  washkuruu  lii  wa laa takfu-ruun.

Lesson

Faz-kuruuniii – (So you remember Me) its matter is Zikr, which means remember, recitation, memory, prayer, talk and mention. Accordingly counting on rosary (count the beads) is called the Zikr because it is source of remembrance to the God Almighty.

Ashkuruu  lii – (give thanks to Me) shukr means thanks, gratitude. Purpose of it is that use of the powers and blessings bestowed by the God Almighty should be on the just, true, right and proper places, and should abstain from under-esteeming which is also called ingratitude of a favor.

The principles regarding improvement of the Muslim Ummah (nation) have been mentioned in the former verses, so now it is necessary that the people who admit the invitation of Holy Qur’an be guided to act according to those principles and tell them to do with zeal keeping in view these matters. So they are being commanded at first, “Remember the God Almighty every moment”.

Meaning of the ‘remember’ to the Lord Almighty is that the person should go on the path guided by Him with full fondness and courage.   

He should keep on priority the liking and assent of the God Almighty in each work, as during standing, sitting, walking, wondering, waking, and sleeping. Particularly the method of worship has also been selected to remember Him. It is our duty to stand firm on it. As its reward the God Almighty commands, “I shall continue to rain over you My particular favors and blessings in this world as well as on the Judgment Day, and you will be bestowed with new and fresh kindness and mercies. 

Secondly the Muslim nation is being commanded, “Give thanks to Me”. The best shape of the Thanks to God Almighty is that His favors and blessings be fixed for His works according to His orders and should work in the limitations which have been ordered by the Lord to do by the human beings. With it the blessings and favors increase. This enlargement and increase is called blessings and fortune.

The third order delivered through Holy Qur’an is, “Esteem highly all the powers, blessings and strength granted by the God Almighty. Due to ungratefulness not only the favor is snatched, but the severe punishment and strong agony is also awarded.

God Almighty has appointed the Muslims for teaching and guidance of the nations. It was necessary to do this duty successfully that at first morality, manners and courtesy of superior quality and needful excellences be produced in to them. Three excellences have been mentioned out of them in the today’s lesson, which are roots (base) of all the excellences. That is to say, we should do worship of Allah Almighty and obey His orders, spend the favors, blessings and powers granted by Him according to His orders and do not fix in disobedience the strength, powers and causes gifted us by Him.  

 LESSON # 155 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Steadfastness And Prayer

Verse –153 of 286, Section – 19 (Part 2)

O ye who believe! Seek help in steadfastness and prayer. Lo! Allah is with the steadfast.

Yaaa-‘ayyuhallaziina  ‘aa-manusta-‘iinuu  bis-Sabri  was-Salaah.   ‘Innallaaha   ma-‘as-saabiriin.

Lesson

‘Ista-‘iinuu – (seek help) infinitive mood of this word is ‘isti-‘aanat and the matter is ‘awn which means help.

It was discussed in the previous lessons that the God Almighty has granted the Muslims a very high post. That is to say, they should remove the plurality and worshipping of Idols from the world, convey the message of Unity (Oneness of God) in all parts of the world and perform the duty of leadership and guidance for the entire nations. It was necessary to support this responsibility that superior virtues and kind manners be grown into the Muslims.

Three out of these qualities have been mentioned in the former lesson, namely:

·       Do worship of the Allah Almighty and obey His orders whole heartedly.

·       Spend the powers and strength granted by Him at the proper places/circumstances.

·       Esteem highly all the blessings and favors of God Almighty and do not be ungrateful. It has been commanded in today’s lesson that “Seek help of God Almighty in steadfastness and offer prayers for success.

Two methods have been narrated here to seek help of the God Almighty:

·       Seek help in steadfastness during difficulties and calamities.

·       Offer prayers regularly.

To achieve the object, the calamities and difficulties will come without fail. So someone should not leave steadfastness for the real point.

Sabr – (steadfastness, patience, power of encounter) to stop oneself from confusion during the circumstances of poverty and displeasing condition, to encounter with strength during difficulties and troubles, control over sensual wishes.

It is the reality of the thought and prayer that the spirit gets power with the remembrance of God Almighty. That group or party never fails in which these two powers grow. 

Then it is commanded that the people who will remain firm on the steadfastness during the coming difficulties on following their cause, they will get particular help and coexistence of the God Almighty. And it is clear that which group or party is supported by Allah Almighty that can never be unsuccessful. We should produce these virtues in ourselves and become zeal for preaching and invitation. 

LESSON # 156 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Martyrs Remain Living Forever

Verse –154 of 286, Section – 19 (Part 2)

And call not those who are slain in the Way of Allah “dead”.  Nay, they are living, only ye perceive not.

Wa  laa  taquuluu  li-many-yuqtalu fii sabiilil-laahi ‘am-waat.  Bal  ‘ah-yaaa-‘unw-wa  laakil-laa  tash-‘uruun.

Lesson

Fii sabiilil-laah – (in the Way of Allah) it is revealed that there is no any particular path in the shape of road or highway. Moreover the path of God Almighty means the manner which He has fixed, for instance to spend the wealth, to strive for the Path of God Almighty etc.

Now the recitation regarding the circumstances and conditions begins where there is need of the steadfastness. Every body will face these circumstances and conditions that is going on the straight path, justice and truth, and inviting others for it, because it is impossible to differentiate between good and bad without calamities, difficulties and troubles. In the Holy Qur’an where the philosophy of fights and killing have been mentioned on many places, there it has also been cleared that the war took place and the Muslims faced difficulties only due to the reason that the difference between Believer and Hypocrite

may be cleared.

 Second reality is that the life of the nations is connected with the blood of the Martyrs as crops need water and heat of the sun like this the independence can not be gotten till the time the necks do not cut, blood of the Crusaders does not flow, the people of the nation are not killed and every body of the nation is not ready to produce his head to be sacrificed.

When the honorable people of the nation begin to be killed then into the nation passion and tumult grows in the nation. Any other nation does not have courage to encounter it. This passion and tumult is the real life and main vein of the nation. So the God Almighty commands that the persons who will produce their lives in Our path, their nation can never become slave of enemies.

Cause of the try and strive is to be prepared to sacrifice oneself for the security of the future generation and coming breeds. It is clear that there is no any act so much true and without affinity which may be collection of passions for security of one’s breed and service of humanity. So it became necessary that its rewards would also be forever and remain always. It has been signified in this verse that while the just can never go to end then how it may be that who sacrifices his life in His path, the death prevails over him, that is to say that he will never die. So the Martyr remains alive always. However, we do not have the sense of his life due to our own misunderstanding.  

 

LESSON # 157 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Trial And Examination

Verse –155 of 286, Section – 19 (Part 2)

And surely We shall try you with something of fear and hunger, and loss of wealth and lives and fruits. And give glad tidings to the steadfast.

Wa lanablu-wannakum-  bi-shay-‘im-minal-khawfi waljuu-‘i    wa  naqsim-minal-‘amwaali  wal-‘anfusi  was-samaraat.  Wa bash-shiris-Saabiriin.

Lesson

It was stated in the previous verse about the people who acquired higher post of steadfastness, that is to say they fought in the way of God Almighty and were put to death as martyrs in the path of Truth. Now in this verse it is mentioned that the Muslims will face these types of trials and tests during their lives which will be more troublesome than the death to maintain its stability. The person should never show weakness and cowardice-ness during these kinds of situations. Moreover they should take strength from the steadfastness and continue to obey the commands of God Almighty happily with His assent.

These tests will appear in the different shapes, for example fear of the enemy, danger of banishment, confinement and imprisonment on speaking the truth, season of dearth or famine, shortage of the basic needs of life, wealth and property, deficiency in livelihood and employment, killing of nearest relatives, friends and supporters in the path of God Almighty, looking mortality, ruin and expiration of own relatives during the war against enemies of Allah Almighty and His Messenger (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him), shortage of fruits, other eatable and drinkable things etc.

The people will be tested through all these difficulties, calamities, and troubles from time to time, their perseverance, steadiness and steadfastness will be seen. It is not too much easy to include one between the steadfast. So it is warned here that a lot of troubles like these may be faced during try for doing benediction and prestige of God Almighty, but it is the demand of steadfastness that instead of being afflicted and broken hearted we should remain zealous and earnest in inclination of our cause. Conception to achieve it should remain firm with full strength and keep it up with the tireless hardworking.  

          

LESSON # 158 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Nature Of The Enduring

Verse –156 of 286, Section – 19 (Part 2)

Who say, when a misfortune striketh them: Lo! We are Allah’s and lo! Unto Him we are returning.

‘Al-laziina ‘izaaa ‘asaabat-hum-musiibatun, qaaluuu ‘innaa  lillaahi  wa  ‘innaaa ‘ilayhi  raaji-‘uun.

Lesson

Musiibatun – (calamity, woe, trouble) its literal meanings are misery, distress, accident, chance. Once the Messenger of Allah Almighty (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) commanded that which thing a Muslim feels un-pleasant that is the musiibat for him. So it is known that this word has many vast and common meanings.  

We have studied in the verse before it that the Muslims will be tested by the God Almighty through different manners of difficulties, calamities, and troubles from time to time, the person who will keep perseverance and steadfastness he will succeed easily in these tests. So the future result of the steadfast will be better. The token of the patients has been mentioned in the today’s verse that the people who say at the time of musiibat, “Lo! We are Allah’s and lo! Unto Him we are returning”, they are included in the steadfast.

We have learnt three things in this verse:

1.   We all and our every thing is the property of the God Almighty. Nothing is our own including ourselves, our every thing, wife, children, wealth, property, native country, dynasty, body and soul. It is the cause of grief, sorrow, pain and desire of the human being that he supposes his beloved things as his own. When this thought will be expelled from the mind and considered that the God Almighty is the Master, Possessor and Owner of every thing then there will be no space for sorrow, sadness and displeasure. We have to repeat these words in each hard, difficult, trouble and calamity, “Ours is nothing here. Every thing is of the God Almighty and has to return towards Him”.

2.   Wishing the sorrows, troubles, pains and difficulties are how much heavy, all are temporary, mortal, transitory, coming and going. These all will end and soon we would have to attend the Court of Real Master Almighty, so why should we be afraid of them.

3.   These calamities and tests are not useless by chance. Their remuneration and reward shall be granted during the second life i.e. on the Doomsday. The person who bore them with steadfastness, remained firm on the Just and did not left the real cause, he shall be rewarded due to his fortitude.

A person how much will have strong faith on these fidelities, so much he will remain in contentment and quiet. We should bear in our minds these things well efficiently so that it may become print on our hearts. Although the relation of steadfastness is with the heart but due to saying these words with tongue, the tongue becomes companion of the heart and the person gets power and strength from it. It has been mentioned about the Messenger of God Almighty (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) that He used to recite “‘innaa  lillaahi  wa  ‘innaaa ‘ilayhi  raaji-‘uun” (Lo! We are Allah’s and lo! Unto Him we are returning) in even light from the light difficulty, trouble or un-pleasant situation.       

                             

    LESSON # 159 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Blessings & Mercy For The Steadfast

Verse –157 of 286, Section – 19 (Part 2)

Such are they on whom are blessings from their Lord, and   mercy. And such are the rightly guided.

“Ulaaa- ‘ika  ‘alayhim  sala-waatum-mir-Rabbihim  wa rahmah.  Wa ‘ulaaa-‘ika  hu-mul-Muhtaduun.

Lesson

Sala-waatun – (blessings) this word is plural of salaaat. Besides its meaning as prayer, it is also used in the meanings of blessings, humbly making requests (to God Almighty for something), do worship, commune with God and mercy.  

Muhtaduun – (the rightly guided persons) this word is for the guidance. It has been explained in the first Surah, verse: 5, 6 & 7 (Show us the straight path, the path of those whom Thou hast favored; Not (the path) of those who earn Thine anger nor of those who go astray).

In this verse there is happy news for those persons who obeyed the orders of the God Almighty and acted upon His commands.

It was mentioned in the previous verses that the Muslims would be used to test their strength of faith, obedience, submission and worship. They will be examined by putting them in difficulties and troubles of various sorts. They would have fear of the opposite of enemies. They will be tortured by the selfish on speaking the truth. They will bear the pressure of the opposite, famine and dearth, starvation and poverty, loss of life and property, deficiency in eatables and drinkables. They will have to endure all these troubles.    

The human being can stray from justice coming in greed, avarice and temptation due to these calamities and troubles. So the persons who will not leave the cause of raising the name of God Almighty and His Religion not to care for the enmities, but will remain firm on it with perseverance, fortitude and steadiness. They will be included in the steadfast. These types of persons will say, “We and our every thing is only for the God Almighty and at last we have to return towards Him. If during try and strive it will harm to us or our things the God Almighty is the Sole Commander to bestow us better reward for it. We believe that He shall give us remuneration for these matters”.

It has been mentioned in this verse that remuneration of the steadfast like these persons is much great. They will be particularly blessed by Us in this world as well as on the Day of Resurrection. We shall continue Our Mercy upon them. So they should not withdraw due to the fear of the enemies of the Truth. Moreover they should rise to these situations of tests. 

It has also been stated that the steadfast in the tests and examinations are on the straight path, and they will reach the God Almighty successfully.     

  LESSON # 160 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Customs Of The Pilgrimage

Verse –158 of 286, Section – 19 (Part 2)

Lo! (the mountains) As-Safa and Al-Marwah are among the signs of Allah. It is therefore no sin for him who is on Pilgrimage to the House (of God) or performs Umrah, to go around them (as the pagan custom is). And he who doeth good of his own accord, (for him) lo! Allah is Responsive, Aware.

‘Innas-Safaa wal-Marwata min-Sha-‘aaa-‘irillaah.  Faman  hajjal-Bayta  ‘awi’-tamara  falaa  junaaha  ‘alayhi  ‘any-yat-taw-wafa  bihimaa.  Wa  man- tataw-wa-‘a  khayran,  fa-‘innallaaha  Shaakirun ‘Aliim.

Lesson

As-Safaa wal-Marwata – (Safaa and Marwah) near the Inviolable Place of Worship (Masjid-i-Haraam) these are two hills. Safaa is on the right hand and the Marwah is on the left side. There is a distance of nearly 275 yards between them. Verbal meaning of the Safaa is pure stone or genuine rock and verbal meaning of the Marwa is white soft stone. Prophet Abraham (peace be upon Him) left His wife Ajar (compliments for Her) and His son Prophet Ishmael (peace be upon Him) in the Faran valley and returned. He (Ishmael) was still an innocent infant. When the eatables and drinkables ended which was held with the mother and the infant, the infant began to flutter due to thirst. His mother used to run on these two hills hither and thither with utmost restlessly and unstrung to see the fountain of water anywhere.

Sha-‘aaa-‘irillaah – (the signs of God Almighty). Sha-‘aaa-‘ir is plural of Sha-‘iirah that means appointed place for worship or manners of worship. During the Pilgrimage on which appointed places and manners the customs of Pilgrimage are performed, those all are included in “the signs of God Almighty”.

 Hajj – in the Islamic worships it is the fourth pillar. During the month of Zil-Hajjah on appointed dates with the proper manner Pilgrimage of the Khana Ka’-ba, to kill an animal particularly during the particular days, going round the Holy Shrine (Khana Ka’-ba), to do endeavor of Safaa and Marwa, and obeying other Customs is called Hajj.

Umrah – (a manner of the pilgrimage of Khana Ka’-ba). Its reward is not equal to the Hajj. There is no date or month fixed for this worship. Its customs are brief also.

Some customs of Hajj have been mentioned in this verse. God Almighty commands that these are not only the customs but these are also the signs of Allah Almighty. Its purpose is to grow passion of goodness into the human beings. He should bow his body and place his forehead on the ground (prostrate) in the Court of Allah 
Almighty being pure from the sins.      

LESSON # 161 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Accursed By Allah

Verse –159 of 286, Section – 19 (Part 2)

Lo! Those who hide the proofs and the guidance which We revealed, after We had made it clear to mankind in the Scripture: such are accursed of Allah and accursed of those who have the power to curse-

‘Innallaziina yaktumuuna maaa ‘anzalnaa  minal-bayyi-naati  wal-hudaa  mim-  ba’-di  maa bayyan-naahu  linnaasi  fil-Kitaabi,  ‘ulaaa-‘ika  yal-anu-humullaahu  wa  yal-‘anu-humul-laa-‘inuun.

Lesson

‘Innallaziina yaktumuuna – (Those persons who hide) this word has come out from the word kat-maan, that means to hide anything intentionally and where it is necessary to disclose, it is not disclosed there. It is signified towards the people of Scripture and all those persons who do so.

Al-bayyi-naatu – (the proofs, clear orders) it means those signs and orders which are clear and splendid themselves. Moreover bayyi-naat also means the proofs of the prophet-hood of Muhammad (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him).

Al-laa-‘inuun – (The persons who have the power to curse) its matter is la’an and single laa-‘in. La’-nat means curse, reproof and reproached. According to the phrase of Divine Law of Religion it signifies the person who is deprived from the Mercy of Allah Almighty, away from the Kindness of God Almighty.

We have read in the previous lessons that the human beings should grow into them superior qualities and the best morality. They should remain busy in the worship of God Almighty and recitation, and preach the others to choose the straight path, not to get rid of the patience during troubles, calamities and difficulties, use the blessings and favors of God Almighty correctly on proper places and should not be ungrateful to Him.

In this verse it has been discussed that the persons who will hide the proofs and the guidance which the God Almighty revealed, will not preach the others, will tell the people false and self made manners, hide the foretelling and proofs mentioned in the Heavenly Books (Scriptures) about the Last Messenger Muhammad (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him), such people are accursed of Allah Almighty and accursed of those people who have the power to curse. Like these people go away from the Mercy and Kindness of the God Almighty, because whenever the misfortune is revealed due to hide the Truth then other creature also falls in its whirlpool.   

LESSON # 162 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Terms And Conditions For Penitence

Verse –160 of 286, Section – 19 (Part 2)

Except those who repent and amend make manifest (the truth). These it is toward whom I relent. And I am the Relenting, the Merciful.

‘Illal-laziina  taabuu  wa  ‘as-lahuu  wa  bayyanuu  fa-‘ulaaa-‘ika  ‘atuubu  ‘alayhim.  Wa  ‘A-nat-Tawwaabur-Rahiim.

Lesson

Taabuu – (repent, the persons who did penitence). Taw-bah means repentance from sins, sorrow for wrongdoings, and return to the straight path, to shun or abstain from any evil and to device or intend to leave it for future.

Allah Almighty has declared three terms and conditions for forgiveness of sins in this verse:

·       Penitence, it means decide to leave the sin with its perception and admission.

·       Correction – rectify the created badness due to sins and mischief.

·       Compensate the oppressed; disclose the matters which were hidden to commit the crime.

It has been expressed in the previous verses that the children of Israel and the Christians used to change the Orders and Instructions revealed by the God Almighty due to worldly greed and avarice or afraid of enmity on speaking the Truth, and used to hide the real Orders. So due to their hiding the Just many people used to go astray, the Believers used to lie down in doubts and the followers of the truth used to face the troubles of various sorts. So the God Almighty determined them Accursed.

The news regarding Prophet-hood of the Messenger Allah Almighty, Muhammad (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) was revealed in the ancient Heavenly Books (Scriptures) of the children of Israel and the Christians, but when they saw that they would get worldly loss due to believing on the Prophet-hood of the last Messenger of God Almighty (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him), their monopoly would end, they began to hide this Glad-tidings.

The God Almighty proclaimed about like these sinners that they will be thrown away from the Mercy of God Almighty as punishment and they will become target of cursing and taunting of the God Almighty’s other creature.

In this verse Allah Almighty has commanded that these accursed persons should not become hopeless entirely. Moreover if they abstain from bad habits and hiding the Truth, and “repent and amend make manifest (the truth). These it is toward whom I relent. And I am the Relenting, the Merciful”. Moreover they will come under the shadow of His Mercy. They will be entitled for His blessings and favors.  

 LESSON # 163 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

The Death of Atheism

Verse –161 & 162 of 286, Section – 19 (Part 2)

161.  Lo! Those who disbelieve, and die while they are disbelievers; on them is the curse of Allah and of angels and of men combined. 162.  They will dwell therein for ever. The doom will not be lightened for them, neither will they be reprieved.

161.  ‘Innallaziina  kafaruu  wa  maatuu  wa hum  kuffaarun  ‘ulaaa-‘ika  ‘alayhim  la’-natul-laahi  wal-‘malaaa-‘ikati  wan-naasi  ‘ajma-‘iin. 162.  Khaalidiina  fiihaa.  Laa  yukhaffafu  ‘anhumul-‘azaabu  wa  laa  hum  yunzaruun.

Lesson

In the previous verse it was commanded by the God Almighty that “those persons who will repent from their sins, evil doings and penitent on these sins, intend not to do so in future and amend make manifest (the truth), I shall forgive them, these are the persons towards whom I relent with Kindness and I shall bring them under the shadow of Mercy. And I am the Relenting, the Merciful”. The sinners and the evildoers were preached through this command and they were induced to become the Good. Those people are really the foreseeing who will get advantage from this concession.

Now in this verse it has been discussed about the persons who do not get advantage from this concession. Moreover they use to remain on the wrong due to bigotry and anger. The persons who adopted the manner of Infidelity and then dwelled on it for ever, they never bent towards the straight and the path of faith, always lived sinful and evildoing life and died in the same condition of infidelity; such persons are accursed of Allah, accursed of His Angels (peace be upon Them) and accursed of entire those people who have the power to curse. It means that they went away from the Mercy of God Almighty, blessing of the Angels (peace be upon Them) and kindness of the human beings. Moreover their punishment would be that they will remain into the Hell for ever, they will meet their doom constantly and continuously and they will never get time to escape themselves from the agony.

The teachings of Islam regarding forgiveness and punishment are infinite natural and fair. At one side the Islam has taught the manner of penitence that whenever the human being will feel the sense of sin, he should correct himself recognizing it then he will get forgiveness from the God Almighty. On the other hand it has been proclaimed that the person who will continue doing sins and evils, and does not shun from the infidelity and partnership with God Almighty, becoming prisoner he is forfeited from the Mercy of Allah Almighty.  

LESSON # 164 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

God Is One God

Verse –163 of 286, Section – 19 (Part 2)

Your God is One God; there is no God save Him, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

Wa  ‘Ilaahukum  ‘Ilaahunw-Waahid.  Laaa  ‘ilaaha  ‘illaa  Huwar-Rahmaa-nur-Rahiim.

Lesson

The important question of Islam is the matter of Unity (Oneness of God Almighty). It has been repeated in the Holy Qur’an again and again. The root of the entire Faiths and base of all the good works establishes on this Belief that Lord of the whole mankind, Master of the Universe, Entitled of the Worship and Accountant for the Day of Resurrection is only One God. Only that person goes near the sins, evils and badness who neither believes on the Existence of the Most Superior and the Excellent Life of God Almighty and nor on His Power, Strength and on the Doomsday.

As the people of Scripture and Atheist nations had much depravity, barbarous-ness, dark notion and worshipping of whims, to remove this tendency Islam has presented the greatest Belief of Unity (Oneness of God) and told that there is only One God Almighty Who completes all the necessities of each human being. He is the God Almighty Who helps during the times of difficulties, troubles and pains, Who tests after granting the blessings and favors, Who provides the eatables and drinkables, and forgives the sins wit His Mercy.  So He is the Only One to be Worshiped, to be Called each time, to be deemed our Master and Lord. We should have sense about counting of our good and bad deeds and answerable in His Court on the Day of Resurrection.

There is the only one faith, which is the Unity (Oneness of God), which helps us to fix upon the straight path. We shall become thoughtful after obeying on this belief, anyhow we might not go astray from the actual path, and we might not treat others with bad behavior. As the God Almighty is the Merciful upon us, likewise we should also behave with mercy and kindness with His creature.

Particularly two matters have come in front of us from this verse:

·       Allah Almighty is the only Life to be worshipped, to be obeyed and our Commander in Chief. There is none to be bent in front except Him.

·       Kind nature with blessings of God Almighty is with whole Grace and Mercy. No doubt He is the Omnipotent and Very Powerful but His Mercy is containing over the entire things. The mankind should never be hopeless and desperate from His mercy.

Desiring the difficulties are how much bigger, contest is how much strong, if we are on the Just God Almighty shall help us. He will never return us disappointed from His Court.                                                                                

LESSON # 165 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Signs Of The God’s Sovereignty

Verse –164 of 286, Section – 20 (Part 2)

Lo! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the   difference of night and day, and the ships which run upon the sea with that which is of use to men, and the water which Allah sendeth down from the sky, thereby reviving the earth after its death, and dispersing all kinds of beasts therein, and (in) the ordinance of the winds, and the clouds obedient between heaven and earth: are signs (of Allah’s Sovereignty) for people who have sense.

‘Inna fii khalqis-samaa-waati wal-‘arzi wakhtilaafil-layli wan-nahaari wal-fulkillatii tajrii fil-bahri bimaa yanfa-‘un-naasa wa maaa ‘anzalallaahu minas-samaaa-‘i mim-maaa-‘in- fa-‘ahyaa bihil-‘arza ba’-da mawtihaa wa bassa fiihaa min kulli daaabbah. Wa tas-riifir-riyaahi was-sahaabil-musakh-khari baynas-samaaa-‘i wal-‘arzi la-‘Aayaatil-li-qawminy-ya’-qiluun.

Lesson

In this verse Allah Almighty explained uncountable signs of His power and sovereignty so that the mankind would think about it and admit His Deity and Highness.

Creation of the earth and skies, circulation of the day and night, floating of ships and the boats in the rivers and seas, raining from the sky, the dead land seems to be alive by the rains, wandering of animals on the earth, subduing of the airs and the clouds between the earth and the sky, if the entire these are not the Signs of Powers and Sovereignty of the God Almighty then what is this? But the people can think about it only those have sense. The nonsense doesn’t take lesson from anything.

LESSON # 166 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Loving Rivals To The God Almighty

Verse –165a of 286, Section – 20 (Part 2)

And yet of mankind are some who take unto themselves (objects of worship which they set as) rivals to Allah, loving them with a love like (that which is the due) of Allah (only). And those who believe are stauncher in their love for Allah.

Wa  minannaasi  many-yattakhizu  min-  duunillaahi  ‘andaadany-yuhibbuunahum  ka- hubbillaah.  Wallaziina  ‘aa- manuuu  ‘ashaddu  hubbal-lillaah.

Lesson

‘Andaadan – (similar, matching, opposite, converse) for instance love for Idols, statues or demi-gods etc or leaders, landlords, spiritual guides or any priest takes place in the heart opposite to the God Almighty and that love overcomes on the heart.

In the earlier verses the God Almighty has mentioned after telling about His Deity, Beneficence and Mercy that We have created the entire Universe for the necessities of the human beings, that is to say the earth, the skies, the day, the night, the boats, the rain, production of the earth, the cattle, the quadruped, the airs and clouds etc. the mankind gets advantage from these things, completes his needs and lives a comfortable life. He should be grateful to Allah Almighty after getting these blessings and favors.

Repentance! Some people forget the God Almighty instead of gratitude to Him. They place others in the position of God Almighty who bestowed them His blessings. They make them their worshiped, settle them His partners and expose their love and faith for them which was required to be kept only for the God Almighty. There is recitation regarding those people in this verse.

Some stupid and un-foreseeing people include idols, demi-gods and spiritual guides in partnership with the God Almighty and consider them powerful, that is to say the Christians do worship of the Jesus Christ and Mary (peace be upon them) along-with the God Almighty. The Japanese consider their king as from the dynasty of God “I seek refuge in ALLAH from Satan the outcast”.

Allah Almighty commanded that the real love should be only for Him Who is the Creator, the Master and the Worshiped. It is the sign of a perfect Believer that he would have kept the most beloved to the God Almighty; he should strengthen excessive love for Him (Allah Almighty) in his heart.

It has come in the Sayings of the Last Messenger (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) “The Believer is that who has friendship and enmity for the God Almighty. The person who is beloved of God Almighty and loves Him, he keeps him his friend, and with whom the God Almighty is angry, he considers him his enemy”.

 

LESSON # 167 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

The Power Belongs Wholly To Allah

Verse –165b of 286, Section – 20 (Part 2)

Oh, that those who do evil had but known, (on the Day) when they behold the doom, that power belongeth wholly to Allah, and that Allah is Severe in punishment!

Wa  law  yarallaziina  zalamuuu  ‘iz  yarawnal-‘azaaba,  ‘annal-Quwwata  lillaahi  jamii-‘anw-wa-‘annal-llaaha  Shadiidul-‘azaab.

Lesson

In the earlier verses after discussion about Oneness of God, Creator of the Universe and dignity of the Believers, Allah Almighty told about His Power and Strength, and commanded that the Infidels and Idolaters settle partnership with the God Almighty to the different things due to their foolishness, ignorance and un-foresightedness. They consider as these things will accede to their wishes, support them at the times of difficulties, give rewards or prizes to them as compensation of their worship and believe that these are masters of the powers.

Allah Almighty asserts in this verse, “Would that! The deniers of the truth and Idolaters would have seen the Doom which We shall descend upon them on the Doomsday. After seeing the doom they will say at once that all kinds of powers and strength, greatness, divinity and magnificence, power of choice and influence are only for Allah Almighty, no body can speak or boast in front of Him. Without Him no body can help or support anyone and every thing is humble opposite to Him.

On that Day neither the wealth/property of anyone will be useful for him, and nor his relatives and friends will help him. Each person will try to run away from his intimate brothers, sisters, mother, father, wife, children, friends and relatives so that he would not have to face their doom upon him. On the Day of Resurrection the Idolaters will forget their false worshiped and liar partners, and use to call “May God save us; forbid”.

During the worldly life various types of difficulties and tests descend on the human beings. Using the sense the person should deem that this all is from the God Almighty and he should bend in front of Allah Almighty getting lesson from these calamities.

In the sayings of the Prophet (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) this humility, indigence and helplessness has been told as penitence and begging mercy, and supplication as worship. The Messenger of God Almighty (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) commanded, “‘Ad-Duaaw- mukh-khul  ‘ibaadah” (Supplication is the Brain of Worship). 

          LESSON # 168 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Helplessness Of The Idolators

Verse –166 & 167 of 286, Section – 20 (Part 2)

166.  (On the Day) when those who were followed disown those who followed (them), and they behold the doom, and all their aims collapse with them. 167.  And those who were but followers will say: If a return were possible for us, we would disown them even as they have disowned us. Thus will Allah show them their own deeds as anguish for them. And they will not emerge from the Fire.

166.  ‘Iz tabarra-‘allazii-nattu-bi-‘uu  minallaziinat-taba-‘uu  wa  ra-‘a-wul-azaaba  wa  taqat-ta-‘at  bihimul-‘asbaab. 167.  Wa  qaalal-laziinat-taba-‘uu  law  ‘anna  lanaa  karratan-  fa-natabarra-‘a  minhum  kamaa  tabarra-‘uu  minnaa.  Kazaalika  yuriihimullaahu  ‘a’-maalahum  hasaraatin  ‘alayhim.   Wa  maa    hum-  bi-khaarijiina  minan-Naar.

Lesson

Allah Almighty has narrated a horrible and dreadful sight of the Doomsday. Would that the evildoer Idolaters might think, get it as warning and shun from the evildoings.

On that day the liar religious or spiritual guides who have compelled the common stupid people to follow them, will leave them who followed them and due to following them they had left the straight path. This time will be very frightful and dangerous for those stupid follower obedient disciples that their spiritual guides would have kept themselves aloof from them, means would have been cut, and the doom would be visible in front.

The stupid followers will say, “would that we may go once again back to the (previous) world and adopt displeasure likewise these wicked religious and spiritual guides disowned us but then it will not be possible. Their evil acts will be in front of them in the shape of an afflicted record and there will be no way to get rid of the Hell fire.  

allazii-nattu-bi-‘uu – (who were followed) ‘It-tibaa’ is its infinitive mood which means to follow. It signifies towards the religious and spiritual guides who are followed. 

al-laziinat-taba-‘uu – (who followed ) that is to say the followers, obedient and disciples of their liar religious and spiritual guides.

LESSON # 169 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Lawful And Pure Food

Verse –168 of 286, Section – 21 (Part 2) 

O mankind! Eat of that which is lawful and wholesome in the earth, and follow not the footsteps of the devil. Lo! He is an open enemy for you.

Yaaa-‘ayyuhan-naasu  kuluu  mimmaa  fil-‘arzi  Halaalan-  tay-yibaa.  Wa  laa  tattabi-‘uu  khutuwaatish-Shay-taan.  ‘In-nahuu  lakum  ‘aduw-wum-mu-biin.

Lesson

In this verse God Almighty addressed the entire human beings and declared the difference between lawful and unlawful, and determined compulsory two conditions for the eatables and drinkable things:

·                                 It should be lawful

·                                 It should be pure and clean

·                                  

Halaalun – the thing which is not forbidden by Allah Almighty to eat or drink that is called lawful according to the Divine’s law, and which has not been disliked or not fixed as unlawful, for example: water, vegetables, meat, pulses etc.  

Tay-yiban – (pure, clean, fine, nice) those things which are lawful including pure and clean from filth and nastiness.

Applying two conditions by Islam in the food (lawful and pure) it has produced a very great excellence. Due to these principles each that thing which is not pure and clean, is dangerous or hurtful for the body and soul, or that has not gotten lawfully, to eat, drink or use of it is forbidden.

The Messenger of Allah Almighty (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) took too much care of pure, clean and lawful that those things smell of which usually take ill upon health, declared odious and their use before coming to the mosque has been prohibited by Him (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) so that it might not take ill on the nature of the devout associates.

The Arabs had declared some things unlawful of their own accords for instance the animals left loose in the name of idols and likewise some other foods. And also they began to use some forbidden things like mother’s milk. Islam forbade from it, accordingly there is a Saying of the Prophet (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him), “The person whose meal is unlawful, clothes are unlawful and food is also unlawful, how his prayer might be accepted?”

Allah Almighty commanded that the people who don’t care about lawful, pure and clean, they follow the devil and the devil is the worst enemy of the human being. He will never be the well-wisher of the mankind.

LESSON # 170 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

The Evil And The Fouls  

Verse –169 of 286, Section – 21 (Part 2)

He enjoineth upon you only the evil and the foul, and that ye should tell concerning Allah that which ye know not.

‘Innamaa  ya’-murukum-  bis-suuu-‘i  wal-fah-shaaa-‘i  wa  ‘an- taquuluu ‘alallaahi  maa  laa  ta’-lamuun.

Lesson

As-suuu-‘u – evil/bad thing (intellectually and legally)

Al-fah-shaaa-‘u – (foul, shamelessness and disliked due to morality and respect, the words fahash (indecent, frivolous) and faahishah (shameless, unchaste) have also been derived from it.

Two characteristics of the Satan (devil) have been mentioned in this verse:

1.   He teaches Always evil and fouls to the human being. The mankind should never hope for advantage/benefit from the devil but it is his nature that he is stained entirely in evil, filth, foul, depravity and impurity/pollution, and he wishes to keep stained the others too. He excites every time for any kind of wickedness, quarrel, sedition, mischief and bustle, and stands in the way of goodness. The entire those wishes and works which are fatal for human brotherhood and humanity itself, those all are entered in the evil and foul. To create a mischief in the safety and peace of society, to sow dissention between mutual brotherhood and fraternity, to extirpate the union and cooperation, not to complete the rights of the servants, it means that all the works due to which tumult spreads belong to mischievous and devil.

2.   The Devil induces the human beings to tell the people false, self invented by themselves talks and show that these are from the commands of the God Almighty, while Allah Almighty never orders for those things, but the followers of the devil do all that for getting casual advantages of frail things, worldly temptation and greediness of wealth.

This disease had become common in the scholars of the children of Israel. To deceive the public they tell the useful for them self invented talks and use to say that it was from the God Almighty. Resultantly the roots of their religion became hollow and they failed for future.

We should learn the lesson from this verse that we should neither take part in the evil and foul nor tell the public false and self invented matters because these both works belong to the Satan.        

 LESSON # 171 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Thoughtless Follow Suit

Verse –170 of 286, Section – 21 (Part 2)

And when it is said unto them: Follow that which Allah hath revealed, they say: We follow that wherein we found our fathers. What! Even though their fathers were wholly unintelligent and had no guidance?

Wa  ‘izaa  qiila  lahumut-tabi-‘uu  maaa  ‘anzalal-laahu  qaaluu  bal  nattabi-‘u  maaa  ‘al-faynaa  ‘alayhi  ‘aabaaa-‘anaa.  ‘A-wa-law  kaana  ‘aabaaa-‘uhum  laa  ya’-qiluuna  shay-‘anw-wa  laa yahta-duun.

Lesson

It has been mentioned in this verse about a habit of the illusion pro/whimsical that is to say whenever they are commanded to do worship for God Almighty, follow His orders and rules in each part of the life, earn and spend the wealth and property according to His instructions, act upon the Divine law of religion in the affairs, business, money dealings, buying and selling, marriage/wedding festivities, divorce, in these cases they reply, “We shall respect only the customs of our elders, forefathers and traditions of our dynasty. We shall go on that path on which we have seen our elders and superiors”. As though these people have faith on the customs of their elders leaving the orders and instructions of the God Almighty, they consider prior their customs and traditions and give importance and force more than the Divine law of the God Almighty.     

Allah Almighty commands that these people follow indiscriminate their elders, while it is possible that their forefathers have not any intelligence and wisdom. They would be going astray in the depravity. They would have totally fallen back from the straight path. So following blind their likewise forefathers these people will fall compulsorily in the destruction and ruin.

Our Wise Doctor and famous Poet of the East Muhammad Iqbal has mentioned the concept in the exaggerated view as under:

‘Aa-iini naw si darnaa,  tarzi kuhun pe arhna

Manzil yahi kathan hai qawmon ki zindgi men

(To fear from the new constitution, to stop on the old form

It is the difficult stage in the existence of the nations     

 

 LESSON # 172 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Likeness Of Disbelievers Of The Messenger

(May glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him)

Verse –171 of 286, Section – 21 (Part 2)

The likeness of those who disbelieve (in relation to the Messenger) is as the likeness of one who calleth unto that which heareth naught except a shout and cry. Deaf, dumb, blind, therefore they have no sense.

Wa  masalullaziina  kafaruu  kamasalillazi yan-‘iqu  bimaa laa  yasma-‘u  ‘illaa  du-‘aaa-‘anw-wa  nidaaa-‘aa.  Summum-  buk-mun  ‘umyun-  fa-hum  laa  ya’- qiluun.

Lesson

In this verse likeness of the disbelievers is being discussed that they are like the animals which are called by their shepherd. The animal listens to his voice surely but does not understand anything. Desiring the shepherd would be singing the sweet songs or abusing them. The animal does not understand except considering it as cry and scream. In this verse the ‘Caller’ signifies towards the Messenger of God Almighty (May glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) and the Infidels have been illustrated by a simile of animals. Surely these people hear the invitation of the Prophet of God Almighty (May glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) but they do not think and care about it that what is hidden in this sound for them and what they have to do answering this voice.

The persons who do not embrace the invitation of the truth are like deaf that the voice of Just enters into their ears but does not affect on their hearts. They show a listened talk as un-listened. They are dumb as they listen and understand the Right but do not recognize it with their tongues. If their hearts agreed to it even then they do not embrace and don’t convey the message of justice up to the other people. They are blind as they do not look the straight path. In spite of having eyes they are unable to see something. If the use of these powers is not for the justice and these are not used in the right path then existence of these things is equal to non existence. Because which Life (God Almighty) has bestowed the powers to the human being, if these things do not work according to His Instructions, do not show the mankind the Path of Real Master Almighty and do not tell the method to meet Him then there is no advantage of their existence.

For example a person has any eatable but he does not bring it in use then it will be said that he has nothing to eat. Or any person has heap amount but he doesn’t spend it, moreover he keeps it holding and counting up then only it will be said that this wealth is equal to nothing. The same condition is of the Infidels that they have ears, tongues and eyes but they do not use these things as these are required to be used.    

      

LESSON # 173 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Forbidden Foods

Verse –172 & 173a of 286, Section – 21 (Part 2)

172.  O ye who believe! Eat of the good things which We have provided you, and render thanks to Allah if it is (indeed) He Whom ye worship.   173a. He hath forbidden you only carrion, and blood, and swine-flesh, and that which hath been immolated to (the name of) any other than Allah.

172.  Yaaa-‘ayyuhallaziina  ‘aa-manuu  kuluu min-  tayyibaati  maa  razaqnaakum  washkuruu  lillaahi  in-kuntum  ‘iyyaahu  ta’- buduun. 173a.  ‘Innamaa  harrama  ‘alay-kumul-  may-tata  waddama  wa lahmal-khin-ziiri  wa  maaa ‘u-hilla  bihii  li-gayrillaah.

Lesson

Allah Almighty has reminded again His blessings in this verse and commanded that He has created uncounted pure and fine things. The human being should not restrict himself from them and eat them without hesitation. It is the demand of the real worship of God Almighty that the human being should enjoy His blessings and favors. The mankind should gratitude to the God Almighty and should not get joined any partner of Him.

Then some forbidden things are being mentioned here:

‘Al-may-tatu – (carrion, dead animal) that is to say the animal which dies itself or killed but not slaughtered according to the Divine. Like this if any piece of meat has been cut from the body of living animal that also will be counted as impure. There are only two animals like which are legal without slaughtering them i.e. Fish and Locust.

In addition to the carrion - blood, and swine-flesh, and that animals which have been immolated to (the name of) any other than God Almighty are included in the forbidden things.

Lahmal-khin-ziiri – (swine flesh) it has clearly mentioned in the Holy Qur’an that hog, pig, boar, swine-flesh and its bacon is forbidden. From the investigations it has been proved that this animal is the most shameless and immodest animal and its flesh has a lot of moral and physical bad effects. The nations which eat the swine-flesh are its live proof.   

 Maaa ‘u-hilla  bihii  li-gayrillaah – (which has been immolated to (the name of) any other than the God Almighty) namely the animal which is slaughtered or altered on the name other than Allah Almighty. Literal meanings of ‘U-hilla is to elevate the voice and call aloud.

LESSON # 174 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Forms Of Compulsion   

Verse –173b of 286, Section – 21 (Part 2)

But he who is driven by necessity, neither craving nor transgressing, it is no sin for him. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

Fa-maniz-turra  gayra  baaginw-wa  laa  ‘aadin- falaaa  ‘isma  ‘alayh.  ‘Innallaaha  Gafuurur-Rahiim.

Lesson

‘az-turra – (who is driven by necessity) the word ‘iz-ta-raarun is its infinitive mood. Zaruu-rat has come out from its matter. Zaruu-rat means necessity. It signifies that if it has become compulsory for the human being and it will not be possible for him to remain alive then under this compulsion form he is allowed to eat unlawful/forbidden food at the very least quantity of which is permissible only so that he may live. For instance food is not attainable and there is nothing except forbidden thing or due to poverty lawful food can not be obtained or the use of forbidden thing is necessary for any disease on the advice of a skillful doctor. Due to these conditions the forbidden things are permitted to be used in as minimum quantity as it is necessary to save one’s life.

Gayra  baagin – ( not to disobey, not to crave, to execute the command) gayra  baagin  means that the person who eats the forbidden food, his intention or will should not be to crave or break the law. He wishes only to save his life because to save the life is also His (God Almighty) command.

laa  ‘aadin – (not to transgress) that is to say the person should not be deviator, sinner of crossing the limitations of Divine. If he has to eat under compulsion form, he should not take much, he should eat only that quantity with which he may save his life. 

Gafuur – (Forgiving) that is to say so Forgiver and Merciful that some times He doesn’t punish on our sins, moreover also the sins are not left by Him (the God Almighty, for example whenever we use the forbidden thing in any situation of compulsion He doesn’t bind and does not punish us.

Allah Almighty has done lawful in some cases to the forbidden things using His excellent Mercy and kindness. But there is condition for it that the human being has been compelled due to any reason as it would have become impossible for saving his life and secondly he should not use the forbidden item to get taste but only too less quantity that he may save his life only because saving the life is duty.

In the situation of compulsion it is sin also not to eat these things because to save the life is first duty. Like these situations it is equal to suicide and it is clear that the act of suicide is forbidden.

We should abstain totally from the forbidden things and whenever it becomes compulsory for us to use them then we should keep the intention good and use at the very least quantity.    

LESSON # 175 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Punishment For Bad Scholars Of The Religions

Verse –174 of 286, Section – 21 (Part 2)

Lo! Those who hide aught of the Scripture which Allah hath revealed and purchase a small gain therewith, they eat into their bellies nothing else than fire. And Allah will not speak to them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He make them grow. And theirs will be a painful doom.

‘Innallaziina  yaktumuuna maaa ‘anzalallaahu  minal-Kitaabi  wa  yashtaruuna  bihii  samanan-qaliilan,  ‘ulaaa-‘ika  maa ya’-kuluuna  fii  butuuni-him  illan-Naara  wa  laa  yukal-limu-humullaahu  Yawmal-Qi-yaamati  wa  laa yuzakkiihim.  Wa  lahum  ‘azaabun  ‘aliim.

Lesson

Samanan-qaliilan – (a small gain) the worldly gains desiring are a lot comparatively to the gains and rewards of the Doomsday even then these are very lesser and unreal. This is the actual meaning of samanan-qaliilan.

God Almighty had also included the orders and instructions regarding lawful and forbidden things in the Divine’s laws of the children of Israel so that the nation may recognize the straight path. But out of that nation a group of persons monopolized the religion and this group was considered as the scholars of the religion and monks. They began to explain and comment on the Scriptures revealed heavenly. Then due to worldly temptation they used to tell the people the points which favored them and purchased a small gain therewith explaining topsy-turvy and exchanging according to the will of people. Hence the purpose of the commands died. So like this class of scholars went astray as well as they misled also the other persons.

In this verse their punishment is being mentioned that due to this crime they eat into their bellies nothing else than fire as if the poison has been mixed in a very delicious food, such then apparently that food will be much tasty but after reaching into the belly it will ignite. Like this these persons are ruining hereinafter due to worldly greed. Although apparently they are passing their lives with pump and show, and comfortably, the people respect them but in fact their end will be much horrible.

Now three more punishments are being narrated for those persons in this verse:

·        Allah Almighty will not speak to them on the Day of Resurrection. So these bad scholars will be kept deprived from the Mercy and Kindness of the God Almighty. The Creator of the universe and Master of the Doomsday will turn His face from them. It will be deprivation from His Mercy and declaration of His anger.

·       They would never be pure from the sins. Due to their sins God Almighty will put them into the Hell. Purification and correction will never be obtainable by them. The God Almighty will forgive some other evildoers after punishment with His Mercy and purify them. But these bad scholars will remain always in the Fire for burning. Neither their sins will fall off nor they will become pure and nor they might enter the Paradise.    

·       Horrible doom will be for them not only physically but also mentally and spiritually, and they will never get rid of this trouble. May God Almighty save us from that Doom.

It is known from this verse that how a great crime is to hide the Just, not to disclose the Truth, to interpret false of the true talks and expose wrongfully the Orders of the God Almighty, which has too many punishments. It is so big sin because due to this sin the entire nation goes to ruin and falls into the dark well of stray leaving the straight path. If on the one side speaking the truth and fearlessness are superior virtues then on the other side hypocrisy and hiding the truth are the worst moral crimes, and the Messenger (May glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) of God Almighty has explained to speak the truth in front of cruel ruler is Jihad (to try and strive).

LESSON # 176 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Business Of Loss

Verse –175 & 176 of 286, Section – 22 (Part One-Fourth of 2)

175.  Those are they who purchase error at the price of guidance, and torment at the price of pardon. How constant are they in their strife to reach the Fire! 176.  That is because Allah hath revealed the Scripture with the truth. And those who find (a cause of) disagreement in the Scripture are in open schism.

175.  ‘Ulaaa-‘ikallazii-nashtara-wuz-zalaalata  bil-hudaa  wal-‘azaaba  bil-magfirah.  Famaaa ‘asbarahum  ‘alan-Naar. 176.  Zaalika  bi-‘annallaaha  nazzalal-Kitaaba  bil-Haqq.  Wa  ‘innallazii-nakhtalafuu  fil-kitaabi  lafii shiqaaqim-  ba-‘iid.

Lesson

The persons, who hide the truth and sell the religion for a few coins, reality of their business has been mentioned in this verse. They personally deem that they have united the wealth selling the Truth earned the world, collected the goods of pleasure and did very good business. But the Holy Qur’an describes that in fact they have lost every thing in this business, they have purchased error at the price of guidance, forgot the straight path and chose the cured way, became refugee in dark leaving the Light, liked depravity instead of Faith, this world instead of the Day of Resurrection, and torment at the price of pardon. Which business will be more harmful and injurious than it? Those people achieved casual gains and did not care for that comfortable life which will be for ever.

It is a very big sin to hide the true speech, to color false to the commands of the God Almighty, to deal in selling the Right, and punishment of this crime is very much painful. We should learn from the misdeeds of the children of Israel so that we may save ourselves from these sins/evildoing.

Why did this all happen? Hence the God Almighty revealed the Right/Just but they opposed it. If there would be any lawful reason then it were right, but they did not believe the Truth due to only opposite and religious persecution. They prepared to contradict for enmity and opposed instead of cooperation. They supposed racial and family inheritance also to the religion. They went against the last Messenger (May glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) of God Almighty only due to the reason that He (May glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) was out of the children of Prophet Ishmael (peace be upon Him) and was not out of the children of Prophet Israel (peace be upon Him), although they were the children of the same Grandfather the Prophet Abraham (peace be upon Him).       

LESSON # 177 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Good Beliefs – Fundamental Righteousness

Verse –177a  of 286, Section – 22 (Part  - 2)

It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces to the East and the West; but righteousness is this that one should believe in Allah and the Last Day and the angels and the Scripture and the Prophets;

Laysal-birra ‘an-  tuwalluu  wujuuhakum  qibalal-Mashriqi  wal-Magribi  wa laakinnal-birra  man  ‘aama-na  billaahi  wal-  Yawmil-‘Akhiri  wal-  malaaa—ikati  wal-Kitaabi  wan-nabiyyiin.

Lesson

al-birra – (Righteousness) it has vast meanings in Arabic language. Each kind of righteousness comes in the comprehension of this word.

al-Mashriqu – (the East, from which direction the sun rises). Many eastern nations have used to worship the Sun believing as god, and because it rises from the east so uneducated nations took it as a sacred direction. The Holy Qur’an stroke this thought severely and told that it is not the righteousness and obedience to take only some direction as sacred. Completion of the righteousness exists only with good beliefs and true deeds.

al-  malaaa—‘ikatu - (the Angels) (peace be upon them) to admit the existence of that bright creature which keeps doing the works commanded by Allah Almighty, it is necessary to believe them (peace be upon them).

al-Kitaabu - (the Scripture) means all the Heavenly Scriptures. It is also necessary to believe all of them.

an-nabiyyiinu – it signifies towards the entire Prophets (peace be upon them) who came in this world time and time again for guidance of the human beings from the God Almighty. It is necessary too to believe all of them.

When the children of Israel heard the proclamation through Holy Qur’an about censure of partnership with God Almighty and punishment of infidelity, they shivered with terror and replied by saying that we do worship confronting Bait-ul-Muqaddas (Jerusalem). So we even follow the Heavenly Scripture. Why the Doom would be revealed upon us? In this verse it has been replied to their stubbornness.

This verse is one of the most important verses. There is given comprehensive concept of the righteousness that the virtue is not only the name of mere devotion and worship, and it is not also the name of worship turning towards any particular direction. Moreover near to Islam the righteousness grows correcting the both, the faith and the action. It has equal importance for belief, affairs, prayers, morality, behavior, sincerity and sacrifice (all).

LESSON # 178 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Fair Affairs – Real Righteousness

Verse –177b  of 286, Section – 22 (Part  - 2)

And give away wealth, for love of Him, to kinsfolk and to orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and to those who ask, and to set slaves free;

Wa  ‘aatal-maala  ‘alaa  hubbihii  zawil-qurbaa  wal-yataamaa  wal-ma-saakiina  wabnas-sabiili,was-saaa-‘iliina  wa fir-riqaab.

Lesson

‘Alaa  hubbihii -  (for love of Him) means for the love of Allah Almighty. It is known from this that only spending the money is not required but the purpose should be to spend in the path of God Almighty for the sake of Him. It has also been gotten from it that, “while the person has love for the wealth and he needs it also, and even then he spends the money”. From this we have also learnt the excellence of a strong believer that he has love for money in his heart, his wishes are alive, he wants to spend for his person and his pleasant charming things but he stoops his neck in front of the orders of Allah Almighty and stopping his wishes he spends for His sake, and sacrifices his personal affection upon the order of Allah Almighty.

zawil-qurbaa (relatives) there is a great wisdom hidden in supporting the relatives to provide them financial help. The Economic System of the entire Nation has been established on it. Every well-to-do person should look after at first his poor relatives, family members, brothers, sisters, brother’s sons, sister’s sons (nephews) and other relatives.

 fir-riqaab (to set slaves free) this is plural of Raqabah. Its literal meaning is neck. In usage it signifies towards the people who aren’t free and are ‘slaves’. From this order it means that by compensating to free them is righteousness.

It was commanded in the first part of this verse that the righteousness is not the name only to turn the face for worship towards any special direction but for becoming the Good first condition is to correct the beliefs and completion of the faith. Now other part of the righteousness is being discussed as financial sacrifice. It is commanded that “it is true that the human being has love for the wealth and property but the good person is he, who having love for money, spends it upon others for the sake and love of 
God Almighty. Out of the needy and helpless deserving people first come near relatives, then the orphans, the poor, the wayfarer, the beggar, and the compelled and slaves who are deprived of freedom.

LESSON # 179 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Proper Worship & Poor-due - Real Righteousness

Verse –177c  of 286, Section – 22 (Part  - 2)

And observe proper worship and pay the poor-due.

Wa  ‘aqaamas-Salaata  wa ‘aataz-Zakaah.

Lesson

It has been being mentioned for the last two lessons that real and true soul of the righteousness is not that a person observes worship considering any direction sacred and turning his face towards that direction. Moreover the real soul of the righteousness is to correct the beliefs, fair deals, to observe proper worships, to correct the manners and to do the works which have been explained in the Holy Qur’an that is to say the beliefs of the persons should be those for which the Holy Qur’an demands and the person should behave with other people as the Divine’s law guides.

After the faiths and the financial sacrifice the Holy Qur’an has discussed about the other part that is observing proper worship. Out of the acts of worship the greatest worship is physical and financial sacrifice. In the shape of physical worship it is offering the prayer and for the financial worship it is to pay the poor-due. Many excellences of the prayer have been explained in the Holy Qur’an itself on different places as well as it can also be found in a lot of Sayings of the Messenger of God Almighty (May glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him).

The Prayer has an important part in the Islamic society. The Prayer stops the human being from the evil and indecency, and keeps away from disobedience. The Prayer is ascension of the Believer. It strengthens the spiritual, moral and social life of the person.

.

In the financial worships paying the poor-due is the most basic worship. It is obligation on every well-to-do person that he should pay 2.5% out of his wealth once a year to the needy people in the path of Allah Almighty. This Zakah (poor-due) fixed by the Holy Qur’an is so much necessary and useful that if the Muslims pay it regularly then none out of the nation may starve to death. The situation of suicide can not arise due to poverty and unemployment. No body can wander from door to door for begging. Displacement, poverty, helplessness and bad situation will not remain in our society, the entire nation will become strong collectively, peace will increase and the doors will open for development.

Discussion about observing proper worship and paying the poor-due has come in the Holy Qur’an nearly together on each place. If those verses are collected in which the matters and orders about the prayer and Zakah are discussed then its collective quantity is about more than three hundred. It appears that how much important and great are these both obligations in Islam. Without observing proper worship and paying the poor-due regularly it is difficult to think about the Islamic society, though the Muslims who don’t perform this duty about them it is thought as adulterers and deniers, and out of the circle of Islam.

LESSON # 180 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Keeping The Treaty - Genuine Righteousness

Verse –177d  of 286, Section – 22 (Part  - 2)

And those who keep their treaty when they make one,

Wal-muufuuna  bi-‘ahdihim  izaa   ‘aahaduu,

Lesson

After discussion about the faiths, affairs and worships now the topic regarding morality, manners and courtesy begins. The most excellent basic characteristic of the human being (to have a good moral character) is that he must keep his treaty, promise and agreement completely when he makes it with any other person. It is very necessary to keep the treaty for his personal life and for those persons with whom he concerns.

There are many forms of the treaty for example; the mankind makes treaty with his Lord Almighty or with the other persons. In our daily lives we have to make a lot of promises and agreements with the God Almighty, brethren, relatives and common people. In other words the treaties mean those responsibilities to which we make necessary upon ourselves to be completed strictly. For instance the God Almighty has taken covenant from us that as He is our Creator and Worshipped so we shall worship only of Him. At the time of trouble/necessity we shall pray only to Him. We shall believe as He is the One (God) and the Authority. Now it is our responsibility not to become the promise breaker.

Likewise we have promised with our brethren that we shall try our best to serve and obey the elders, educate and bring up our children, and correct our deeds. We shall help financially our dears and relatives. We have kept agreement with the common people that we shall perceive, help and care the orphan, the needy, the poor, the wayfarer, the beggar, and the compelled and slaves who are deprived of freedom. Now we should perform completely our responsibilities and not to behave carelessness from them.

Besides this it is also our responsibility that which task has been given in our charge or where we are serving, we should work honestly in exchange of the salary and wages which we get from the employer. It appeared that we have made any covenant in our practical lives with any person out of the countless human beings; we have lifted a very heavy bale of responsibilities over our heads. It is compulsory to complete our all responsibilities and engage ourselves with full honesty and excellent manners.

Today maximum people have become low in this matter. They do not care for the respect of their treaty in both the forms i.e. individually as well as collectively, and do not take the promise as a promise. It has reached the limit that national and countrywide treaties also remain firm till the time to avail against. As soon as anyone gets power, all the written treaties are broken.   

  

LESSON # 181 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Patience And Firmness - Actual Righteousness

Verse –177e  of 286, Section – 22 (Part  - 2)

And the patient in tribulation and adversity and time of stress. Such are they who are sincere. And such are the God-fearing.

Was-Saabiriina  fil-ba’saaa-‘i  waz-zarraaa-‘i  wa  hiinal-ba’s.  ‘Ulaaa-‘ikallaziina  sadaquu.  Wa  ‘ulaaa-‘ika  humul-Mutta-quun.

Lesson

ba’saaa-‘un – (tribulation) it actually relates to the financial miseries.

Az-zarraaa-‘un – ((adversity) it belongs to physical diseases and distresses.

Hiinal-ba’s – (at the time of stress) that is to say during the war in the path of God Almighty.   

Saabiriina – (patients, full of patience) the persons who have capacity of bearing pains, inconvenience, etc., without complaining.

The Holy Qur’an has guided for interpretation of human manners, morality and courtesy, and commanded that these characteristics should be present in the person who has a good moral character. He should keep treaty made by him, accomplish his responsibilities with extremely good manner, pay special attention on the Rights of the God Almighty and the Rights of the devotees/mankind, and during the time of financial distresses, physical diseases and war against the enemies of God Almighty should bear with patience, perseverance and firmness.

In the practical life the human beings have to face different types of troubles, distress, pains and difficulties. Unemployment, adversity, economical misery, starvation and poverty, and likewise all other confusions use to tease the human being every day. The problems of the children’s education and bringing up them, the matters of their marriages and so like other difficult necessities vex him and he use to try and think about these matters day and night. Besides this diseases of various sorts and bodily pains use to besiege him as if today he is ill himself, tomorrow would be laying his any other family member on the bed, their treatment, medicines and cure become his other causes of confusion.

Then danger of enemy, fear of waging the war, possibility of destruction, depravity and ruin, risk of bustle and disorder, these all things keep the human being confused.

This verse ends here in which the Islamic concept of the righteousness has been presented. The persons, who keep the correct belief, sacrifice their property, observe proper worship and pay the poor-due regularly, keep the treaty, and the patient in tribulation and adversity and during the time of stress. Such people are they who are sincere. And such persons are true human beings, the Believers and the God-fearing.  

LESSON # 182 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Murder - Retaliation Of The Murder

Verse –178a  of 286, Section – 22 (Part  - 2)

O ye who believe! Retaliation is prescribed for you in the matter of the murdered; the freeman for the freeman, and the slave for the slave, and the female for the female.

Yaaa-‘ayyuhallaziina  ‘aa-  manuu kutiba  ‘alaykumul-Qisaasu  fil-qatlaa.  ‘Al-hurru  bil-hurri  wal-‘abdu  bil-‘abdi  wal-‘unsaa  bil-‘unsaa.

Lesson

Qatlaa – (the murdered persons) particularly those persons who are killed intentionally and purposely by someone.

Qisaasun – (Retaliation) that is to say for taking the revenge against any crime keeping it in equality/balance. According to the Divine’s Law technically the murderer will be killed or if any body has injured to some other person, he will be punished with the wound at the same scale and at the same part of the body.

Kutiba  ‘alaykum – (prescribed for you) the literal meaning of the word kutiba is ‘written’. Due to use of the word ‘alaa with it, now it means ‘prescribed’ and ‘obliged to do under regulations’.

During the times of darkness before Islam it was custom in the Arabians that if a person from any higher family was killed then they used to kill many persons from the family of murderer. If any slave was killed from the higher family, they used to kill any freeman from the family of killer desiring the killer would also be a slave because they considered the respect of higher family’s slave was equal to the freeman of a lower family; also it was more than that. So instead of killing the slave any freeman was to be murdered as revenge. Then if any female was killed out of the higher family by a female from the lower family, the heirs of the murdered female used to kill any male of that lower family leaving the murderer female. Because they thought that their female was equal to the male of lower family.

The Holy Qur’an finished this racial distinction and difference, and commanded that being the human beings all the persons are equal, their lives are alike, either any person is rich or poor, noble or mean, scholar or illiterate, young or old, healthy or ailing. If any female kills any male then only that woman should be killed. Because her life is equal to that male’s life. If any slave is the killer then only he will be murdered. If any mean person has murdered then in the retaliation that mean person will be killed only, not any other person.   

LESSON # 183 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

According To Usage & Kindness –

Retaliation Of The Murder    

Verse –178b  of 286, Section – 22 (Part  - 2)

And for him who is forgiven somewhat by his the (victims heir’s injured) brother, prosecution according to usage and payment unto him in kindness. This is an alleviation and a mercy from your Lord, He who transgresseth after this will have a painful doom.

Faman ‘ufi-ya  lahuu  min  ‘akhiihi  shay-‘un-  fattibaa-‘um-bil-ma’-ruufi  wa  ‘adaaa-‘un  ‘ilayhi  bi-‘ihsaan.  Zaalika  takhfiifum-mir-Rabbikum  wa  rahmah.  Fama-ni’-tadaa ba’-da zaalika  fala-huu  ’azaabun  ‘aliim.

Lesson

Min  ‘akhiihi – (by his brother) it signifies towards the heir of the murdered. To excite the feeling of love he has been addressed with the word ‘brother’.

Ittibaa-‘um-bil-ma’-ruufi – (prosecution according to usage) its purpose is that if the heirs of the murdered forgive the retaliation of the murder, and agree to take the price of blood then it is the responsibility of the murderer to pay according to usage full reasonable payment with kindness, mercy and righteousness.

We have discussed in the previous lesson that which principle of the natural equation between the entire human beings has been fixed by the God Almighty that is “murder is in retaliation to the murder”. Now it is being commanded that the heirs of the murdered can forgive to the killer or they can give up after getting the blood money from the killer or they can also lessen some of the price of blood. The killer can escape from the punishment of ‘to be killed’ in these conditions.

Then it is ordered that if the heirs of the murdered agree to forgive the murderer and take the blood money then they should not demand too much heavy amount which would be out of the reach of the killer. They should not narrow him intentionally coming into anger or they should not begin to demand the entire blood money after forgiving the price of blood. Moreover they should receive proper and reasonable amount according to usage.

After urging the heirs of the murdered now the killer is being emphasized that he should also remit this amount very elegantly and beautifully. He should not try to prolong purposely, to grow intricacy or displeasure. The God Almighty has imposed perfect physical punishment of murder to the killer along with this method of reduction in punishment. Allah Almighty is the Merciful upon the mankind. With His Kindness He has reduced the punishment but if even then any person opposes or disobeys these laws and steps out of these limitations then The God Almighty will punish him painful.

LESSON # 184 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

The Life Is In The Retaliation Of Murder

Verse –179  of 286, Section – 22 (Part  - 2)

And there is life for you in retaliation, O men of understanding, that ye may ward off (evil).

Wa  lakum  fil-Qisaasi  Ha-yaatuny-yaaa-‘ulil-‘albaabi  la-‘allakum  tattaquun.

Lesson

Apparently it seems that punishment to kill the murderer as retaliation of murder is much heavy and strict, and it is thought that punishing the killer another life is destroyed intentionally. But if it is checked deeply an account about this command’s advisability and philosophy then this fact will be cleared that with it another life is not ruined but the life is gotten.

For example if the punishment of the murder is not fixed murder as retaliation then resultantly value of the human life would not remain. The cruel persons will murder fearless and without hesitation. Because they will know that they will be free after paying some penalty or bearing some imprisonment. Like this the human life will become much cheaper as it was present in the Arab practically during the time of illiteracy.

If the punishment of the murder isn’t murder, every wealthy person will kill the others on also customary matters and paying the penalty, he could be got free himself. But if according to the Islamic method the punishment of murder is fixed as murder means that the lives of all human beings are given equal respect, value of any life is fixed as the life of murderer then quantity of the murders will become very less, because they will know that if any one is killed by them, they won’t be able to get free paying the penalty. And he will be sentenced for the murder. In these situations the incidents of killing will stop and the people will find themselves safe. Though if the punishment of murder is not killing, the lives of the people will be destroyed but while the punishment of killing is killing, the lives of people are safe. This is  fil-Qisaasi  Ha-yaatun (there is life in the retaliation).

The Law of murder in retaliation is the law of justice and equality. It is the best guarantor of discipline, truthfulness and moderateness in all aspects of human life. So that none may tyrannize any other person and the rights of weak and strong become equal. While this law will be followed for some times, its soul will grow in the whole nation and the constitutionalism will become important part of life for mutual national peace.

Islam has fixed apparently severe punishments for the crimes but looking carefully, in fact those crimes deserve even more severe punishments. Less punishment will be cause to make the crime minor. Secondly purpose to punish severely is to stop the crimes not to make the punishment only a funny and enjoyable thing. Now a day this very is happening that the punished criminals commit more crimes. Neither they are corrected, nor do others take it as warning.                                                                                                                                                                   

LESSON # 185 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

The Testament For Property

Verse –180  of 286, Section – 22 (Part  - 2)

It is prescribed for you, when death approacheth one of you, if he leaves wealth, that he should bequeath unto parents and near relatives in kindness. (This is) a duty for all those ward off (evil).

Kutiba  ‘alaykum  ‘izaa  hazara ‘ahadakumul-mawtu  ‘in-  taraka  khay-ranil-wasiyyatu  lil-waalidayni  wal-‘aqrabiina  bil-ma’-ruuf.  Haqqan  ‘alal-Muttaqiin.

Lesson

Khay-ra – (Wealth) the meanings of this word are betterment, welfare and deliverance. It is also used for pure wealth in the Holy Qur’an.

‘Al-wasiyyatu – (Bequeath, testament, making a will) its literal meaning are ‘to order’ and ‘to request’. According to the Divines law it means ‘those instructions which are arranged to make (a will) by the person who is at the death’s door for his/her followers/heirs, which are completed after his/her death. The religious scholars have mentioned many kinds of ‘Testaments’:

1.   Some testaments are proper (Waajib) for example paying the poor-due, security safeguard (trust) or the will to return the loans which is extreme necessary and duty to be completed.

2.   Some wills are Mustahib, likewise to bequeath for any good work or to give something to any that relative who can not get any part of hereditary/inheritance according to the Laws of Will.

3.   Some are only Mubaah that is to say to bequeath for any legal issue.

4.  Some are those which are forbidden to be completed as per the commands of the Holy Qur’an as if any body bequeaths for any unlawful deed which is prohibited to be done.

5.   Some Wills are called Maw-quuf. It is necessary to regard some limitations for this type of Will to be accomplished, for instance if any person bequeaths for more than one third (1/3) part of his property. Its execution depends upon dismissal of the other heirs. Some questions have been mentioned in the coming next verses about the matters of bequeathing. If we keep them also in front then all the matters will be solved.

There were Islamic commands mentioned in the previous verses regarding murder. Now instructions about the property/wealth of the dead are being discussed. On another place in the Holy Qur’an the shares of all the heirs and the rightful have been fixed. So the testament will be examined in the light of those shares. However it may be bequeathed out of the third part of the property.

Bil-ma’-ruuf  - (According to usage) this word has already used earlier. ‘Urf is its matter, that is to say the known matter like this, usually that would be considered as righteousness and betterment. So its one translation may be ‘according to the customs’. Fixing its condition in the Will all those badness have been stopped which a bequeathed could do due to being biased or displeasure that he might give someone more than his right and the other’s right might be lost. 

LESSON # 186 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Change In The Will

Verse –181 & 182  of 286, Section – 22 (Part  - 2)

181.  Then whoso changeth (the will) after he hath heard it-the sin thereof is only upon those who change it. Lo! Allah is Hearer, Knower. 182.  But he who feareth from a testator some unjust or sinful clause, and maketh peace between the parties, (it shall be) no sin for him. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

181.  Famam-baddalahuu  ba’-da  maa  sami-‘ahuu  fa-‘innamaaa  ‘is-muhuu  ‘alallaziina  yubad-diluunah.  ‘Innallaaha  Samii-‘un  ‘Aliim. 182.  Faman khaafa  mim-muusin-janafan  ‘aw  ‘isman-  fa-‘as-laha  baynahum  falaaa ‘isma  ‘alayh.  ‘Innallaaha Gafuurur-Rahiim.

Lesson

In this verse those persons have been warned who were present near the person who was at the death’s door at the time of bequeath, that if they will make any changes in the Will of the person who has died, then its sin will be upon them. It is possible that some people may try to make changes in the Will for their own benefits and then producing the changed Will may complete their wishes. The ignorant persons who don’t know the facts will apparently consider it error of the person who has bequeathed or the person who commanded decision on the Will that he has disinherited to a rightful person. This verse has cleared the compulsion of the both persons i.e. the person who has bequeathed or the person who commanded decision on the Will. And it has been told that the real criminals are those persons who have given false evidence and wrong testimony, and changed the testament (Will), gave the wrong statements and provided liar proofs.

To change the Will there is only one form mentioned lawful according to this verse that if any person feels that the testator has disinherited someone    unjust or sinful, and the bequest has been distributed unlawfully, guided against the Law of Lord Almighty or bequeathed with sin and unjust, for instance he has bequeathed to spend the property for the purpose which is legally forbidden, now in these forms the witness and the judge are allowed to advice the heirs correctly, make peace between the parties, and get the Will be changed.

It shall not be sin for them. So it is found that the real thing is the righteousness and act of sincerity.

LESSON # 187 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Prescription Of The Fasting

Verse –183  of 286, Section – 23 (Part  - 2)

O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, even as it was prescribed for those before you, that ye may ward off (evil)-

Yaaa-‘ayyu-hallaziina  ‘aamanuu  kutiba  ‘alay-kumus-Siyaamu  kamaa kutiba  ‘alallaziina  min-qablikum  la-‘alla-kum  tatta-quun.

Lesson

‘As-Siyaamu – (act of Fasting, abstain from food and drink for a particular time) like Sawm (Fast) it has also infinitive mood. As per Divine’s law of religion act of Fasting means to abstain from drinking, eating and sexual friendship or enjoyment with effect from the dawn to sunset.

Fasting is prescribed for the Muslims during the month of Rama-zaan. In the Sayings of the Holy Messenger (may glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) it has been emphasized again and again to escape from the sins at the time the fast is kept, that is to say back biting, indecent talks, shamelessness, bad tempering etc.

It has been mentioned in the physiology that the best treatment to remove the physical diseases is Fasting. In addition to it self control and military life grows in the human being. As though, the Fasting is spiritual remedy on one side, and to correct the physical powers and to cure the diseases on the other side. 

  ‘Alallaziina  min-qablikum – (the people before you) the The Fasting has been found in each religion and nation of the world in any shape. It had very special importance in the Divine’s law of the religions of Prophets Abraham, Moses, Jesus and other prophets (peace be upon them). So signifying towards the ancestors the God Almighty commanded that ‘Fasting is prescribed for you, even as it was prescribed for those before you’. Intention is that the person who keeps the Fast should abstain to complete his lawful and physical wishes till a particular time.

La-‘alla-kum  tatta-quun – (so that you may ward off (evil)). The God Almighty has also commanded even about the purpose of Fasting that is to say the Fasting is hence prescribed, so that the filth and dirt of the spirit may be removed, the fear of God and abstinence is grown. As physical health becomes fit due to abstinence from the use of harmful things likewise the spiritual ability of the human being develops due to abstinence from all the injurious to spirit and morality habits. This characteristic is called ‘Fear of God’ and piety. Second purpose of the Fast as mentioned in this Section is gratefulness which will be discussed later in the forthcoming verses.

The Fasting is the best useful recipe for health and spirit, individually as well as collectively. We should perform this duty extremely with honor and punctuality. Apparently there is much labour and difficulty in Fasting but if we see its advantages then we shall feel that these difficulties have no position comparing to its benefits.      

LESSON # 188 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Concession For Sick And Passenger

Verse –184a  of 286, Section – 23 (Part  - 2)

(Fast) a certain number of days; and (for) him who is sick among you, or on a journey, (the same) number on other days;

‘Ayyaamam-ma’-duudaat.  Faman-  kaana  minkum-mariizan  ‘aw  ‘alaa safarin-  fa-‘iddatum-min  ‘ayyaamin  ‘ukhar.

Lesson

‘Ayyaamam-ma’-duudaat – (a certain number of days) it has been mentioned in this part of the verse that the Muslims would have to keep the Fast for a certain number of days for example the month of Ramadan during each year, some times which have 29 days ands some times 30 days.

Fixation of this length of time was very necessary for organization of the nation so that no body may change the quantity of the days for keeping or leaving the Fast according to his will. Moreover the Fasting is prescribed for the entire Believers that they all should keep the Fast on the same particular time and for the same particular duration to perform this blessed prescription. One advantage of the month of Ramadan is also that fasts come in different seasons and every person gets chance of fasting in the summer and the winter.

One aspect comes out of it that number of prescribed fasts is not to much long. It neither is that the fasting be kept for the entire year and nor for half or one forth of the year but only one month is prescribed in a year.

Time and duration was determined. But some concession was given to the people, who can not fulfill its limitations and conditions. Whenever these people get rid of their compulsions, they can keep fasting left of the month of Ramadan during any other month.

First of all the persons have been exempted who are ill and unable to keep the Fast due to their illness. There are different aspects of the illness. Moreover besides this the difference of seasons and age also effects. Here the illness aims which creates problem to keep fasting and that illness would be too much severe that the person can not keep the fast. Divine’s law of religion didn’t tell the name of illness but it has been left on the sincerity and truthfulness of the Muslims and on the opinion of a skillful doctor.

Besides the patients, the travelers have also been given concession. These both types of the people i.e. the patient and the traveler will have to complete their number of fasting during any other time during the year. But they should try to complete the left over fasts as soon as possible. Nobody knows that when the life and the time will end.

LESSON # 189 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Ransom Of Not Fasting

Verse –184b  of 286, Section – 23 (Part  - 2)

And for those who can afford it there is a ransom; the feeding of a man in need. But whose doeth good of his own accord, it is better for him:

Wa  ‘alal-laziina  yutii-quunahuu  fidya-tun  ta-‘aamu  miskiin.  Faman- tatawwa-‘a  khay-ran  fahuwa  khayrul-lah.

Lesson

Yutii-quunahuu aims the persons who need to spend extraordinary strength for keeping the Fast and to bear the labour of Fast and it becomes very difficult for them, for example the old people, the pregnant and the mothers for sucking their young, weak and feeble persons etc.

Man- tatawwa-‘a – (whose person does good of his own accord, willingly)

It has been discussed about concession in this part of the verse for those people who have to bear much difficulty and trouble for keeping the Fast. They have been commanded that due to leaving the fasting they should use to feed bellyful any beggar or necessitious person two times daily and the standard of the food should be the same as usually remains their own.

Then it is said that actual ransom of leaving one fast is to feed two times to any poor person for one day. But if any person increases the quantity of the food that is to say if he feeds more than one poor person or keeps the standard up of the food to higher level, then it is much better for him. He will be rewarded surely for this goodness and kindness. His next world will also be dressed.

Islam emphasizes for alms, charity, liberality, kind behavior and good conduct every time, every where and in every condition but during the month of Ramadaan its importance increases. So before or on ending of this month the Alms “Fitr” is paid. That is also an important ring of this chain so that none of the Muslims would remain hungry.

The Messenger of God Almighty Muhammad (may grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) was very much liberal and generous. But it has been known from His (may grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) Sayings that He (may grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) used to become too much generous and liberal likewise fast dust storm.

We should follow the foot-prints of our Great Leader and Guide the Last Prophet of God Almighty (may grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) and take part in liberality and generosity surpassing one another. Perception of hunger of the hungry and poverty of the poor will increase if someone keeps the fast. So it is necessary that this perception should remain alive during prosperity and independence, and the poor deserving persons should not be forfeited from the help and support of the prosperous people.        

LESSON # 190 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Blessings Of The Fast

Verse –184c  of 286, Section – 23 (Part  - 2)

And that ye fast is better for you if ye did but know.

Wa  ‘an- tasuumuu  khayrul-lakum  ‘inkuntum  ta’-lamuun.

Lesson

In this part of the verse importance, good and blessings of the Fasting have been discussed and told that although any reasonable excuse may compel the human being to postpone keeping the fast or pay the ransom, even then the advantages and blessings for keeping the fast which may be gotten only during the month of Ramadaan when someone will keep the fast. Those benefits can not be achieved from expiation or to be kept the postponed fast (kafaarah or Qazaa’). So it has been admonished that if you understand the virtues, advisability and philosophy of the fast then it is better for you to keep the fast and do not try un-necessarily to pick up the advantage from permission of the ransom etc.

Which prescription of the fast, its philosophy and necessary commands have been explained in this regard by the God Almighty in the previous verses of this Section, their summary is being presented again here as under:

1.   Fasting is prescribed for every adult Muslim male and female as it is one pillar of Islam out of five pillars. Carelessness, laziness and refusal from it are very big sins. The religious lawyers have fixed infidelity to the refusal from the prescription of the fast.

2.   The fast was also prescribed for the previous nations; the Islam has not invented any new thing.

3.   Purpose of the fast is to grow purity of the soul, abstinence, fear of God Almighty and devotion in the mankind.

4.   Number of the fasts is fixed that is to say during the month of Ramadaan which some times become of 29 days and sometimes 30 days.   

5.   If any person is sick in the month of Ramadaan and not able to complete the numbers of fasts then that person is permitted to keep the remaining fasts whenever he becomes healthy.

6. If any person is on journey during these days, he also can complete his fasts during other days except Ramadaan whenever he is not in journey.

7.   Quantity of the Ransom is fixed equal to feed a beggar for two times. However if any person keeps the fast being entitled these concessions and takes part in the righteousness with his pleasure, that is also much better for him.

The narration of the fasting and its questions has not yet completed. It will remain in flow in this Section. May Allah Almighty bestow us the correct knowledge and deeds, understanding and admonishing.

LESSON # 191 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Excellence Of The Month Of Ramadan

Verse –185a  of 286, Section – 23 (Part  - 2)

The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur-‘an,

Shahru  Ramazaa-nallazii  ‘unzila  fiihil-Qur-‘aanu-

Lesson

Ramazaa-n (the month of Ramadan) this word has come out from the word Ramaza, literal meaning of which is severity of sunlight and heat. It is ninth month of Islamic Calendar. Islamic year runs with lunar system instead of solar system and the lunar months use to exchange during different seasons. So the month of Ramadan also comes in the different seasons and the person who keeps the fast enjoys each type of season.

Allah Almighty has explained in this verse specialty and the cause of keeping fasts during the month of Ramadan, that is revelation of Holy Qur’an during this Holy Month.

The Holy Qur’an was revealed in reality by degrees and completed in between twenty three years. But its revelation had begun during this Holy Month of Ramadan. At first primary five verses of Surah ALAQ-96 (The Colt) were revealed upon the Last Messenger of God Almighty Muhammad (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) in the Cave of Hiraa in this month. It has also come in the Sayings of the Prophet (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) that the entire Holy Qur’an was revealed from the Tablet of the Safe (Laow-hi Mahfuuz) on the Sky of this world during the Night of Power (Lay-la tul Qadr) of the month of Ramadan, and then used to reveal by degrees on the Messenger of Allah Almighty (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him). This Night of Power (Lay-la tul Qadr) is a sacred and blessed night during the month of Ramadan. In the

Speech of Allah Almighty it has been told about this night that it is the most excellent night to one thousand months.

It has also come in the Sayings that as much as the Holy Qur’an were revealed in the year, that were caused to hear by the Angel Gabriel (peace be upon Him) to the Messenger of God Almighty (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) during the month of Ramadan. In the last year of the outward life of the Prophet (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) the Angel of God Almighty caused to hear Complete Speech of Allah Almighty and the Messenger of God Almighty (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) listened.

The Speech of Allah Almighty revealed in the month of Ramadan, so the God Almighty prescribed the fasting to establish it’s token in this month. This Speech is The Guide Book for the life of human beings and fasting in the month of Ramadan is source to make the life pure. Those persons are blessed who find this month and keep fasting completely, and making their lives nice they join the group of sobers, God fearing and temperate.     

LESSON # 192 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Characteristics Of The Speech Of Allah

Verse –185b  of 286, Section – 23 (Part  - 2)

Guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion (of right and wrong).

Hudal-linnaasi  wa  bayyinaatim-minal-hudaa  wal-furqaan.

Lesson

To clear the excellence of the blessed month of Ramadan Allah Almighty explained in the beginning of this verse that Holy Qur’an, the Last Heavenly Scripture began to reveal upon the Last Messenger of God Almighty (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) in this month. Now three characteristics of the Holy Qur’an have been expressed as under:

1.   Hudan (guidance) – the Holy Qur’an is the spring of guidance for the entire human beings. Every person can get to know the straight path to reach the Creator and the sound destination of life only through the Holy Qur’an. Each source of guidance besides the Holy Qur’an will be wrong. Except it every path will be the path of depravity and deviation. Only Holy Qur’an is the Scripture which can guide towards the straight path. In the aggregate to pass the human life successfully the Holy Qur’an provides all those principles and codes regarding its all aspects which signify towards the straight path and real destination. It has been mentioned in this verse Hudal-linnaas (guidance for the whole mankind). For more details of the word ‘guidance’ please study Lesson # 9 Holy Qur’an (STRAIGHT PATH)

2.   Bayyinaatim-minal-hudaa – (clear proofs of the guidance) the Holy Qur’an has so explained all the principles and codes of guidance that these have become entirely clear, easy, simple and light and every person can understand them with ease because excellence of the Holy Qur’an is ‘bayyinaat’ (clear proofs). So the principles of the Holy Qur’an are common sense, simple and practicable. Nothing is against the wisdom and no principle is impracticable.

3.   Al-furqaan – (the Criterion (separator of right from wrong) it is the third excellence of the Holy Qur’an that the persons who recite this Sacred Scripture, correct decision power grows into them. They become capable to make a distinction between true and false, just and absurd, truth and lie, faith and infidelity, correction and quarrel, obedience and rebellion, worship and refusal. They can distinguish between good and bad. So ‘Al-Furqaan’ (the Criterion (of right and wrong) is also the characteristic of the Holy Qur’an.

The book like this which has these three characteristics, if Her each command is not the Message of life for the human being then what is this? Its each command has been filled with countless auspiciousness, blessings and wisdoms.

Would that the Muslims too get themselves understand this Last Message of God Almighty, as well as admonish also to the world. If we are unable to spread the Speech of Allah Almighty in each corner of the world then it would be dishonesty in the Trust.       

LESSON # 193 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Prescription Of The Fast

Verse –185c  of 286, Section – 23 (Part  - 2)

And whosoever of you is present, let him fast the month.

Faman-  shahida  min-kumush-Shahra  fal-yasumh.

Lesson

It has been mentioned in this piece of verse that the person who remains alive till the month of Ramadan, he/she must keep the fasting. Concession is only for the sick (patient) and the passenger. Its detail has been discussed earlier and will also be stated again in the last part of this verse. It is ordered owing to the excellences of the month of Ramadan which are being discussed once again as an abstract.

It is the custom in every nation of the world to keep the fast for example on the day of Ashurah (10^th of the first lunar month) the Prophet Moses (peace be upon Him) and His nation got freedom from the cruelty of the Pharaoh. So the fast of that day was begun in the children of Israel. The Law of keeping the fast is also present in the Christians.  Concept and custom of fasting is available in the Indians and other nations too. Details are different but the reality is present.

Fasting have countless virtues, it puts good effects on the health and spirit, the rich people are well-informed about the poor practically, equation produces between the people who eat bellyful and the people who suffer starving, Spiritual powers develop with it, sensual wishes are controlled, God fearing becomes strong in the mankind, for example if there is season of summer, every living thing feels severe thirst, the cold water has been placed in the house, no body is there to see the Faster, but he/she doesn’t drink the water.

This all is because the respect of the Command of Allah Almighty has settled down in his/her heart. Now no other power can defeat the person and while according to the Order of God Almighty he has made habit to leave the legal, lawful and pure desires during the month of Ramadan through fasting, then he won’t feel difficulty in leaving the illegal, unlawful and bad habits. This is the moral cleanliness of which purpose of fasting is to grow.

It has come in Sayings of the Prophet (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) that if a faster does not leave to tell a lie, absurd talks and useless deeds, then God Almighty does not care for his leaving to eat and drink. Though, the real purpose of fasting is to correct the morality. If the manners are not corrected, then there is no advantage of the fasting. It is the obligation on (us) the Muslims that due to so much virtue and importance of the fasting, we should keep the fasts every year of this month, respect the month of Ramadan and create physical, spiritual and moral characteristics into us, so that the purpose of the revelation of Holy Qur’an is completed, and the month of Ramadan be proved as the real festival and token of the revelation of Holy Qur’an.

LESSON # 194 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Allah Desires Ease Not Hardship For You

Verse –185d  of 286, Section – 23 (Part  - 2)

And whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, (let him fast the same) number on other days. Allah desireth for you ease; He desireth not hardship for you;

Wa  man-  kaana  mariizan  ‘aw  ‘alaa  safarin  fa-  ‘iddatum-min  ‘ayyaa-min  ‘u-khar.  Yuriidullahu  biku-mul-yusra  wa  laa  yuriidu  bikumul- ‘usr.

Lesson

This fact has been disclosed in this verse of the holy Qur’an that the Natural Religion i.e. Islam is very easy and simple. Islam does not desire severe hardships, arduous labors and impracticable worships. Moreover a lot of capacity and countless facilities have been kept in Islam. Weak pressed persons have been conceded. There is none likewise command in the Divine Law of Islam in which consideration regarding circumstances, age, health, season and other compulsions and difficulties of the human being would not have been kept front.

It was commanded in the previous verse that whosoever out of you is present during the month of Ramadan, let him fast. Perhaps it might be considered by some persons that the entire persons have come under this command and there is no concession for the excusable persons. So now this command has been repeated that the persons who are sick or on journey, they can keep the fasting during any other month instead of the month of Ramadan and can get pleasure of the God Almighty.

It has also known by us from this verse that although apparently the commands of Divine are felt some quantity arduous and difficult but in fact those are for success, promotion and easiness of the straight path, because the God Almighty has no enmity with us that let He order us difficult. But He is our Creator, Worshiped and the Most Beneficent. He keeps regard in each condition for easiness and facility. His each command is for our advisability of life and prosperity.

The orders to which we suppose difficult, in fact those are easy too. We consider them difficult due to our own laziness and comfort. Really we have never heard till to day that either any person has died due to the fasts of Ramadan or somebody has become sick. In spite of this we have seen that the persons have recovered from illness due to keeping the fast, and then what will let you say about the spiritual power.  

LESSON # 195 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Other Intentions Of The Fast

Verse –185e of 286, Section – 23 (Part  - 2)

And (He desireth) that ye should complete the period, and that ye should magnify Allah for having guided you, and that peradventure ye may be thankful.

Wa  litukmilul-‘iddata wa litukabbirullaaha ‘alaa maa hadaakum wa la-‘allakum tashkuruun.

Lesson

Great aim of fasting is fear of God (abstinence) as it has been discussed earlier in the verse 83, (Lesson # 187). Now in the last part of this verse other three purposes of the fasting have been mentioned.

litukmilul-‘iddata (you should complete the period) it means that the disabled people may keep the fasts in another time besides the month of Ramadan and complete the calculation of that month. It is the Grace and Kindness of Allah Almighty that if any person couldn’t perform his prescription in time and might not execute the command on due time, then he is given another chance so that he may fulfill the order of God Almighty and could get His pleasure, though the accomplishment of the commands of the Divine is necessary. Advantage may be gained from the facilities but can not be ignored.

Litukabbirullaaha (that you should magnify Allah) purpose is to sing the songs of magnificence and greatness of Allah Almighty acting upon His bestowed Guidelines. It is also Mercy of God Almighty that He has shown us the straight path with His wisdom and knowledge, the person who goes that path remains safe from each calamity. The mankind should try to gain prestige the name and religion of Allah Almighty, remain busy to magnify the religion day and night, and try to get delight of Allah Almighty every time, elevate His name in the East and the West, so that no nation might remain deprived from the guidance.

la-‘allakum tashkuruun (peradventure you may be thankful) third aim of the fast is that we thank God Almighty on His blessings and be grateful to Him for His favours. Meaning of thanking for blessings of Allah Almighty is that we should use those blessings in the determined manner. We should not disdain and be ungrateful for the facilities which have been provided to us by Allah Almighty. Moreover we should use in good and correct manner His given powers, virtues, blessings and abilities.

LESSON # 196 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

The Supplication

Verse –186a of 286, Section – 23 (Part  - 2)

And when My servants question thee concerning Me, then surely   I am nigh. I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he calleth unto Me.

Wa ‘izaa sa-‘alaka ‘ibaa-dii ‘annii fa-‘innii Qariib. ‘Ujiibu da’- watad-daa-‘i   ‘izaa da-‘aani,

Lesson

Annii (concerning Me, about Me) that is to say they ask about My nearness and distance. Some religions have considered that the God Almighty has so much distance and high from us that reaching there is entirely impossible. Islam rejected this wrong belief and told that Allah Almighty is extremely near to the human being.

Innii Qariibun (surely I am nigh (near) it means that Allah Almighty is also near to the mankind in accord with His knowledge and acquaintance, as well as near to him for listening his prayer and admitting too. In the Holy Qur’an it is commanded in another place “Surely I am nearest too than his main vein (of human being)”.

It is the Soul of the religion that the person would cut off every one and be just of only one God (Allah), pay for a boon from Him , raise hands for asking in front of Him, his life and death, his worship and sacrifice would be for Him only. For growing this soul Allah Almighty taught to pray and commanded that I am not far away from the human beings. Moreover while any person calls Me with complete sincerity leaving every thing, then I hear his supplication, answer him, accept his prayer, and fulfill his desire.

In the Saying (Hadith) it comes that during the last third part of the night Allah Almighty comes to the nearest sky and proclaims, “Is there any suppliant, I accept whose prayer? Is there any beggar, to whom I bestow? Is there any one asking for forgiveness to whom I forgive? The Prophet of God Almighty (Peace Be upon Him) once said that the prayer is worship. In another Hadith it has come that Allah Almighty is so much modest and kind that He does not wish to return any one who prays with empty handed. But there is a condition for accepting the prayer that the heart shouldn’t be indolent and careless. It does not depend only in this last part of night, Allah Almighty hears call of every caller (the person who requests earnestly) every time, on every place, on the condition that he should call with sincere and honesty.

In this verse how the God Almighty has filled strength and trust for the helpless human beings, hope for broken hearts, expectation for the sinners, support for the tired ones. If the mankind doesn’t ask from Him then from whom he would ask. But how much indolent and cruel is this human being that he feels shame when requesting to Him and hesitates spreading hands in front of Him.

LESSON # 197 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Two Conditions For The Supplication

Verse –186b of 286, Section – 23 (Part  - 2)

So let them hear My call and let them believe in Me, in order that they may be led aright.

Fal- yastajiibuu  lii  wal-yu’-minuu  bii  la-‘allahum  yar-shuduun.

Lesson

It was stated in the previous lesson that Allah Almighty is extremely near to the human beings. He is aware most of their circumstances. He is apprised their needs, knows their advisability, wishes their welfare and betterment, hears their call, accepts their supplication, and treat them with kindness and blessing. Now two conditions have been commanded by God Almighty for acceptance of the supplication:

Fal- yastajiibuu  lii – (So let them hear My call, they should obey My order) it also includes the meanings – to agree, to believe, to suppose, to confess, to admit. First condition of the supplication is that the suppliant should obey the commands, guidelines and manners instructed by the God Almighty.

Wal-yu’-minuu  bii – (and let them believe in Me) the words iimaan (belief) and Mu’-min (believer) have also derived from this word. It has already been explained about the word ‘Belief’ that is to say, to promise, to accept with the tongue, to believe in the heart and to devise for practice likewise the belief. It is the second condition for acceptance of the supplication. Besides these basic conditions many other conditions have also been mentioned in the Holy Qur’an and the Sayings of the Messenger of God Almighty (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him), for instance; to pray for right and correct thing, to beg with faith and sincerity, lawful earnings, to eat pure food, to be remained good etc.   

Some times our prayers are not accepted, then we should not become desperate and broken hearted, and think that any command or decision of the God Almighty is never without philosophy and advisability. However it may be suspicion of defects and weaknesses in our supplication. It is also possible that the acceptance of supplication may be hurtful for us. So we should believe of betterment on the decision and philosophy of God Almighty.

Secondly we should bear in mind that due to non acceptance of some supplications it is not reasonable that there is no use of praying. Because some times no medicine becomes useful in any disease, but the treatment is not left. So there is no reason to leave the praying due to non acceptance. It would be certainly any reason in non acceptance. The God Almighty knows our advisability. He desires our betterment. So we should also pray all the times, again and again in front of Him, practice on His Guidelines, because it is the path of success. 

 LESSON # 198 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Relation Between Husband And Wife

Verse –187a of 286, Section – 23 (Part  - 2)

It is made lawful for you to go in unto your wives on the night of the fast. They are raiment for you and ye are raiment for them.

‘U-hilla  lakum  laylatas-Siyaamir-rafasu  ‘ilaa  nisaaa-‘i-kum.  Hunna  libaasul-lakum  wa  ‘antum  libaasul-lahunn.

Lesson

‘Ar-rafasu – (to go in unto (wives), literal meaning of the word rafasa is ‘the speech or talk which excite sexual feelings and sensual wishes. Here it means ‘to sleep together of husband and wife for intercourse’.

You know that the orders of the Islamic Divine were revealed slowly and gradually. Like the people of the Scripture (the children of Israel) the Muslims also used to refrain to commit sexual intercourse with their wives after sleeping at night during the month of Ramadan. It has been softened through this verse, and permitted to commit sexual intercourse at night.

It discloses that the Islam doesn’t desire to efface entirely the wishes and feelings. Moreover it desires to put all the works into the orders and will of the God Almighty. Do any work whenever Allah Almighty wishes and stop to do it whenever it is forbidden by Him because He understands best about our betterment and advisability. We don’t know about profit and loss for ourselves.

Besides the fasting there is no restriction for husband and wife of day and night. But it is forbidden in the day time during the fasting. If anybody disobeys this order, he will either keep the fasts for sixty days continuously as punishment of one broken fast or set free a slave or feed sixty poor persons.  

Libaasun – (raiment, clothing), it has been revealed about near relation of husband and wife commanding them clothing of each other which is inference from one another to them with the permission of God Almighty. this simile of raiment is present in many forms for instance their near relationship between them, their need of each other, their perfect bodily nearness, grace and beauty for one another, and being reason of satisfaction and facility, best of all that concealing blemishes although being perfect trusty of one another.  

Please think that how much things have been made one to understand using the one word Libaasun ‘the raiment’. It is necessary for husband and wife (both) that they should prove themselves clothing (confident), trustworthy, secret keepers, hearty rest provider and cause of pleasure for one another.   

     

LESSON # 199 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Object Of Holding Intercourse

Verse –187b of 286, Section – 23 (Part  - 2)

Allah is aware that ye were deceiving yourselves in this respect and He hath turned in mercy towards you and relieved you. So hold intercourse with them and seek that which Allah hath ordained for you,

‘Alimallaahu  ‘annakum  kuntum  takhtaanuuna  ‘anfusakum  fataaba  ‘alaykum  wa  ‘afaa  ‘an-kum.  Fal-‘aana  baashiruu-hunna  wabtaguu  maa  kataballahu  lakum,

Lesson

Takhtaanuuna  ‘anfusakum – (you were deceiving yourselves) some weak Muslims used to convict themselves of deception.

Baashiruu-hunna – (hold intercourse with your wives)

In the previous lesson it has been mentioned that in the beginning of Islam the Muslims did not use to go in unto their wives on the night of the fast like the people of the Scripture. But some of them could not control themselves and either broke this restriction due to being subdued of their sexual feelings or grew desire and intention of deception in the heart of someone. The God Almighty cleared this matter and permitted to hold intercourse with their wives also like eating and drinking at night.

‘Abtaguu  maa  kataballahu  lakum – (seek that which Allah hath ordained for you) ‘abtagaa’ means to try to get and seek for any thing. maa  kataballahu  lakum (which Allah hath ordained for you). It signifies towards ‘the children’ and breed which is produced in the conclusion of intercourse.

In addition to the permission a warning has also been given. That is to say the purpose of going in unto wives should be to produce the children. Although someone gets natural taste also from the act of intercourse but Islam has kept the real and bigger intention from this act which is attainment of the children and augmentation of the breed, so that the individual deliciousness may become the cause of collective gain.

It has become evident from this guidance of the Holy Qur’an that birth control and pregnancy prohibition etc all are the wrong and unlawful paths. It is the natural result of holding intercourse. One should keep hope of it and wait for it. Only the sensualist-ness has no object.  

LESSON # 200 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Timings Of The Fasting

Verse –187c of 286, Section – 23 (Part  - 2)

And eat and drink until the white thread becometh distinct to you from the black thread of the dawn. Then strictly observe the fast till nightfall.

Wa  kuluu  wash-rabuu  hattaa  yata-bayyana  lakumul-khaytul-‘abyazu  minal-khaytil-‘aswadi  minal-Fajr.  Summa  ‘atimmus-Siyaama  ‘ilal-layl.

Lesson

Al-Fajr – (the dawn) it does not mean the false dawn but that is the light of early in the morning which can be seen some time later than just before daybreak, while the light begins to spread towards east and the west, that is called ‘dawn of the day’. Till that time (dawn of the day) meals (or food) may be taken for keeping a fast. It has been much appreciated in the Sayings of the Prophet (Grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) to take meals (or food) during the last time. The Messenger of God Almighty (Grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) commanded that Bilaal (May Allah be pleased on him) uses to call very early (during false dawn) for preparing the people for prayer, so don’t stop eating on his call or looking only light in the north and south. Moreover consider reliable spreading the light.

Once Omar (May Allah be pleased on him) instructed that care to eat and drink at the time of keeping the fast is necessary when morning light becomes clear on the paths and peaks of the hills.

‘Al-layl – (the nightfall) commencement of the night in Arabic begins immediately at the end of the day and sunset, so the next date of Islamic Calendar (Lunar Year) begins immediately after the sunset. On the contrary the date of solar year is changed after passing the midnight. ‘ilal-layl (till nightfall) means “break the fast as soon as the night enters”. It does not mean to keep the fast till spreading the darkness of the night.  

Before this order the Muslims used to sleep after breaking the fast. Then they did not use to eat anything till next evening. They have been permitted to eat, drink and sleep with their wives after breaking the fast till the light of early in the morning.

It is another concession and facility which was bestowed afterward that it is permitted to the people to eat and drink till the time the white thread becomes distinct from the black thread of the dawn and then the fast will be observed the entire day after finishing the time of meals (or food) for keeping a fast till the time sun sets and the darkness begins to spread.

It is also known from this order that without taking meals for keeping and breaking the fast continuously is odious. Islam teaches us the path of temperance, does not like severity and strictness. So the manner which has been fixed by the Divine, we should follow it strictly and which concessions have been given we should get advantage from them.  

LESSON # 201 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Orders During Being At Devotions In Mosque

Verse –187d of 286, Section – 23 (Part  - 2)

And touch them not, but be at your devotions in the mosques.

Wa  laa tubaashi-ruuhunna  wa  ‘an-tum  ‘aakifuuna, fil-masaajid.

Lesson

Laa tubaashi-ruuhunna – (touch the wives not) here the word ‘to go in unto the wives’ has been used in the spacious meanings that is to say, not only to stop from committing a sexual intercourse but kissing and bugging is also forbidden during curbing one’s passion from religious motives continuing in the mosque (sitting by oneself in the mosque and think of God Almighty) particularly during the third Ashrah of the month of Ramadan.

‘Aakifuuna – (to be at devotions) its literal meanings are “to keep oneself preventing from the use of anything or make something necessary over oneself. Technically it means ‘endowing oneself for worship sitting in the mosque’

Another order has been delivered regarding the fasting, “don’t go in unto your wives while you are being at your devotions in mosque”. Some more necessary commands regarding “e’tikaaf” (being at devotions in mosque) are stated below:

It is necessary for the persons who have to be at devotions that they should remain in the mosques every time during that period, also eat, drink, sleep and wake there. They may come out of the mosque only at the time of bodily and lawful needs. The minimum period for the devotions is one day and there is no limit for excessive period. It is declared from the word fil-masaajid that the devotions should always be in the mosques. However it can be observed by the women in any corner of the home instead of the mosques.  

Conversation is lawful during the devotions on the condition it should not be against the reverence of the mosque and the respects of the devotions.

It was the habit of the Messenger of God Almighty (Grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) that He used to be at His devotions in the mosque complete ten days during the last Ashrah of the month of Ramadan and broke His entire relation from the worldly matters. So to be at one’s devotions in the mosque is reasonable practice of the Prophet Muhammad (Grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him), which means that if any one person out of a ward observes this practice then this responsibility ends from others.

Being at devotions has many advantages – there is no any other method to become fresh for the purpose of belief and to achieve the spiritual strength, because during that period the mankind passes his time continuously in worship and obedience. He remains in solitude and loneliness.

We should act accomplished upon this practice of the Messenger of God Almighty (Grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him), get the light of faith, achieve the vicinity of God Almighty, be entitled of pleasure of the Messenger Muhammad (Grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) and purify ourselves completely at the very least a few days, break the relation with worldly relations and matters for some time and attend to the Real Worshiped.      

LESSON # 202 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

The Limits Imposed By Allah

Verse –187e of 286, Section – 23 (Part  - 2)

These are the limits imposed by Allah, so approach them not. Thus Allah expoundeth His Revelation to mankind that they may ward off (evil).

Tilka  huduudullahi  falaa taq-rabuuhaa.  Kazaalika  yubay-yinullaahu  ‘Aayaatihii  linnaasi  la-‘allahum  yatta-quun.

Lesson

Tilka (These) it signifies towards those six/seven orders which have been expounded in the earlier lessons.

Huduudun – (plural of Hadd which means limits) it aims the limits of the customs, codes and regulations imposed by the God Almighty not to approach them as pressed again and again in the Holy Qur’an.

‘Aayaat – (Verses) means orders, customs, laws, rules and regulations.

The Holy Qur’an has explained all concerning rules and regulations after discussing about blessings and becoming obligation of the fasting also cleared the necessities and codes of being at one’s devotions in the mosque. Now it has been warned in this last piece of this verse that all the laws, principles, limits and prohibitions have been deduced by the God Almighty.

It will not be a customary thing to turn the face from them and disobey. Moreover the God Almighty has exposed them Who has the Knowledge and Philosophy, His Guidance and Commands are rightful, based on advisability and guarantor of betterment and success. This world and the hereinafter will become better with their execution and following. Disobedience and refusal from them will become forerunner of distressed and destruction. So nobody should cross these limits and should remain within the imposed limits of Him.

As the God Almighty has expounded in detail the commands regarding the fast, its limits, timing, to be at devotions in mosque and other concerning matters, like this He commands about remaining orders for mankind’s betterment and prosperity in detail. Fear of God, control of the passions, spirit of obeying and obedience, sincerity and sacrifice, chastity and honesty, good nature and well wishing will grow in the human being due to strongly abide by these rules.

The person can not establish himself any path for his advisability and betterment due to less sense nature. He needs instructions of a Sage and Excellent Life, an Aggregate Scholar and an Absolute Master which is One i.e. the God Almighty. He has guided us towards success and prosperity with His extremely Kindness. So we should go on the straight path without hesitation and get the real object.        

LESSON # 203 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

To Take Over Others' Property Unjustly

Verse –188a of 286, Section – 23 (Part  - 2)

And eat not up your property among yourselves in vanity,

Wa  laa  ta’-kuluu  ‘am-waalakum-   bay-nakum-  bil-baa-tili

Lesson

Laa  ta’-kuluu – (do not eat) this word has been originated from the word ‘akala which means ‘to eat’. Technically it doesn’t mean only ‘to eat’ but it also signifies to use the property after getting it unlawfully.

‘Am-waalakum – (property of one another) all the Muslims are being addressed and here it doesn’t mean ‘your property’ but it aims ‘the property of one another out of you’.

Bay-nakum – (mutually themselves) the wise persons have told that the circle of this word is very spacious. This order is not limited only on the property of the Muslims; it also means the property of the entire human beings. Desiring they are either Muslims or Infidels, getting the property of any person with treachery, deception, oppression and in vanity is illegal and unlawful.  

Bil-baa-tili – (unjustly, unfairly) it aims every illegal manner of the possession of others property. There can be a lot of forms of it but the lawful method is only one. The method, which will be adopted except this one, will be considered unlawful and unjust.

It was intended from the prescription of the fasting that the spirits of the persons of nation would become pure, they may grow first of all the habit into them to leave the usage of lawful things to get the willingness of God Almighty, so that it may become easier for them to leave the unlawfully gotten property in future and they abstain entirely from it.

To live collectively and mixing up with each other the need to exchange the things is certain. So it is commanded, “And eat not up your property among yourselves in vanity” (you should not try to eat up the property of any other person in vanity during mutual money dealings), you should leave all at once to plunder, to entangle in gambling, to get the property with deception, fraud, cleverness and other unfair means, like this the charges of singing and playing upon the musical instruments, business of wine for example making, buying and selling it etc, to take bribe, false evidence, to embezzle in trust, to eat up the property of weak and helpless person in vanity are unfair methods. The human beings should ward off these evils.

The Holy Qur’an has left its decision usually on the people’s own conscience that every person should feel his responsibility at his own, correct his behaviour and character, keep fear of his actions’ accounts in his mind, every matter be dealt with honesty and trust so that the government might need to interfere only in the proper and particular matters.

Abridgement of this verse is, “it is not the only goodness to leave the pure and lawful things during the month of Ramadan but the real goodness is to leave eating up and getting unlawful property of others forever. Never acquire any one’s property with deception, fraud, dishonest, tyranny, oppression or unjust. To get bribe and illegal gifts is unlawful. As the spirits of the Muslims will become pure with the fasting like this their deeds and actions will become nice by following these orders. It will affect blessed on morality, social deeds, politics, and justice as far as every field of life.     

LESSON # 204 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Bribe

Verse –188b of 286, Section – 24 (Part  - 2)

Nor seek by it to gain the hearing of the judges that ye may knowingly devour a portion of the property of others wrongfully.

Wa tudluu bihaaa ‘ilal-huk-kaami  li-ta’-kuluu  fariiqam-min  ‘amwaalin-naasi  bil-‘ismi  wa  ‘antum  ta’-lamuun.

Lesson

Tudluu – (don’t seek gain by supplying money or any other valuable thing to the officials for getting their favor. Don’t put affect on the rulers/officers either bribing them or giving them property as financial gifts t0 approach and get unlawful advantage).

Fariiqan – (part, share) it also means any group or party but here it has been used as portion or part.

Bil-‘ismi – (unjust, untrue) all kinds of evils are included in the meanings of the word ‘ism.

The Holy Qur’an has forced here on two things for justice, equity and security of the rights of people in the society:

1.   If any body intends to put affect on the rulers and officials, and wins their influence through tributes, presents, gifts, holding feasts and bribe, and uses all other likewise means, these all are unlawful. Because doing so the rulers may become partial and supporter, the balance/scale of the justice is bent, existence of the truth-loving and justice ends, tyranny and rights destruction becomes common, liar claims, false documents, liar evidences, false oath forms and slinking away from the true talk becomes public. Due to these evils corruption spreads, ratio of murder and killing increases. This law has been made to escape from all these evils because it is necessary to keep the rulers/officials neutral, just-lovers and partial of the right so that nobody may try to temp the officials with his property/wealth.

1.       Secondly the Holy Qur’an has commanded us that due to each person’s conscience the mankind attends towards goodness in each matter and business/money dealings and his heart reproaches him on evil. It is clear that however the matters will be decided by the best court and the best just ruler according to situation of the law-suit and evidence of the witnesses and it is possible to err and slip into them. So in spite of the decision of any Justice or Ruler actual criminal may escape from crime in their eyesight and the evil-doer from punishment of his evil. But the conscience of the human being can not deceive him on the condition that he would not have killed his conscience pressing it again and again.

It has come in the Sayings that once the Messenger (Grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) commanded that any case is brought to Me, the plaintiff proves it correct while the Right is on the other side, I decide according to the statement. But he should understand that unlawfully getting the property of a Muslim is likewise getting the Fire.        

LESSON # 205 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

Account Of The Moon

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

  Verse –189a of 286, Section – 24 (Part  - 2)

They ask thee, (O Muhammad), of new moon. Say: They are fixed seasons for mankind and for the Pilgrimage.

Yas-‘aluunaka  ‘anil- ‘Ahil-lah.  Qul  hiya  mawaaqiitu  lin-naasi  wal-Hajj.

Lesson

‘Ahil-lah – (the new moon) ‘Ahil-lah is plural of Hilaal. About the moon the questions of the people were nearly like, “first rising of the moon, then it’s increasing date-wise and then its decreasing date-wise, and then till the time its disappearing – why it is so? And what is the reason of these changes?

Mawaaqiitu – (time, season) it is plural of miiqaat which means prescribed time or instrument and a measure of the time.

The changes which come in the moon, those may be commonly seen and felt. It is a natural thing to ask about these things by the mankind because he remains restless to get the more and excessive sciences. Some people asked from the Messenger of God Almighty (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) about the reasons of increase and decrease of the moon. What are the causes of rising and disappearing of it? The Prophet (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) replied these questions with the inspiration of God Almighty, “it is the advantage of increasing and decreasing of the moon that it becomes easy to fix the days, dates, months and years for worldly matters and lawful accounts of the people with it.

The root of worshiping the whims and plurality would be cut with this clear statement of the Holy Qur’an. Many nations of the world used to adore the moon. These like nations adored the new moon believing it demi-god, increasing moon was considered blessed and the decreasing as wretched. So these people did not use to even marry during the last dates of the moon. The Holy Qur’an declared the purpose of increasing and decreasing of the moon that the times and period for work of the human being can be fixed easily with it. It also helps in worships and lawful accounts besides the worldly matters. The word ‘Pilgrimage’ has been particularly used here because it was a very important section of the lives of Arabian people.  

Due to some extra advantages in the Lunar account the Holy Qur’an has preferred it from the Solar account:

·       In the solar calendar a lot of difficulties happen because it remains in the same condition. Which customary change comes due to rising to the sun and setting, the people can not guess it.

·       Availability of well acquainted person who keeps the correct solar account is much difficult in backward and uncivilized territories.

·       Every body (literate and illiterate) can estimate the time and date due to regularly equal changes in the conditions of the moon.

·       The weather doesn’t affect on the rising to the moon and setting. So different months use to come in different weathers on the entire earth and the Muslims of each country and territory can perform their worships turn by turn in each season.

   LESSON # 206 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

A Custom Of Ignorance

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

  Verse –189b of 286, Section – 24 (Part  - 2)

It is not righteousness that ye go to houses by the backs thereof (as do the idolaters at certain seasons), but the righteous man is he who wardeth off (evil). So go to houses by the gates thereof, and observe your duty to Allah, that ye may be successful.

Wa  laysal-birru  bi-‘an-  ta’-tul-  bu-yuuta  min- zuhuurihaa  wa  laakinnal-birra  manittaqaa.  Wa’-tul-bu-yuuta min  ‘abwaabihaa;  wat-taqullaaha  la-‘allakum  tuflihuun.

Lesson

Before Islam it was tradition during the time of ignorance that when the people of Arab used to fasten their determination dress during the days of pilgrimage, they considered inauspicious and ill-omened to enter their houses through the gates/doors. Moreover they used to enter making doors in the back walls of their houses or climb on the roofs from the backyard of their houses and leap in their houses. They used to suppose it unto themselves a great worship and respect of the temple of Makkah (Ka’-ba). Looking them doing so some Companions (may God Almighty be pleased with them) of the Holy Prophet (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) also were fallen in this misunderstanding and deemed against the respects of determination to enter through the doors of their houses in determination dresses.

In this verse this misunderstanding has been removed and told that righteousness is not in it to enter the house from its back and the righteousness is not in it also to consider worship to any self invented statement. Moreover it is the righteousness that the Orders of God Almighty is obeyed, be frightened from disobedience of His Commands, be temperate from evil doings and whenever you wish to enter your house, come in from its door/gate, leave ancient customs and invented concoctions/wrongs and act upon the Guidance of the God Almighty.

It has also been cleared from it that each those actions which are not verified or supported by Holy Qur’an and the Sayings of Holy Messenger (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him), to understand them as worship in personal heart and admit them in the Divine law of religion or make them compulsory over personal life are sins and that is called heresy.

Then it has also become evident that the real righteousness is the fear of God Almighty, that is to say, to embrace His Orders whole heartedly and act upon them, to have fear from disobedience of Allah Almighty, use to escape from His forbidden affairs. This righteousness is required by the God Almighty and this is the touch-stone of mankind’s’ actions and his life’s goodness and badness.

At the end it has been expounded that the result of the righteousness like this is perfect success and achievement of the object. This verse reminds us again that God fearing and success have how much deep relation between each other. The Fear of God Almighty is the basic principle of fame/respect and comfort forever in both the Worlds.

LESSON # 207 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

Fight In The Way Of Allah Almighty

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

  Verse –190 of 286, Section – 24 (Part  - 2)

And fight in the Way of Allah against those who fight against you, but begin not hostilities. Lo! Allah loveth not aggressors.

Wa  qaatiluu  fii  sabiilil-laahil-laziina  yuqaatiluunakum  wa  laa  ta’-taduu.  ‘Innallaaha  laa yuhibbul-mu’-tadiin.

Lesson

Qaatiluu – (fight) it is derived from the word Qataal which means ‘to fight’. The Muslims are being commanded at the stage when the enemies and oppressors of Islam have pulled down tyranny upon them. This oppression was not only for a few days, it also was used to pull down for thirteen years during the stay in Makkah. Having patience in reply of aggression and cruelty of Infidels, when the Muslims left their homes and native land, and colonized in Madina then they were permitted to fight against the enemies for protection after so long and hard trial which was also due to their attacks and strictures again and again.

Fii  sabiilil-laahi – (in the Way of God Almighty) that is to say not for their own need, but only for benediction of Allah Almighty, to efface the plurality, to support the Right Religion and to get pleasure of the God Almighty.

Al-laziina  yuqaatiluunakum – (those who fight against you) namely those people who raised the weapons over you. There have been revealed two things from these words:

·       The war was neither begun first by the Muslims and nor they were to be so. All the battles fought by the Muslims against Infidels in which Holy Prophet (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) participated were only for defence and protection purpose.

·       The war would only be fought against those people who participate practically in it. All the old persons, children, women, patients and impartial persons are excluded. It is not lawful in Islam to fight against them. However all the enemies are included in Al-laziina  yuqaatiluunakum who are busy in preparations against Islam and the Muslims, and are helping the fighters in any form.

Laa  ta’-taduu – (don’t begin hostilities) this word has come out from the word ‘i’-ta-daa which means ‘to advance from the just’ and go forth from the limits. It may have many forms:

·       The meaning of ‘the Limits’ can be the limits of Divine of the Religion, for instance to kill also those persons of enemy nation emotionally as revenge and anger who have not participated in the battle, to burn their crops, gardens and fruit-bearing trees and to kill their speechless animals.

·       Aim of ‘the limit’ may also be the limit of agreement, for example ‘not to care also the agreements personally following the other nations and attack starting faithlessness to their promise’.

·       One other form of crossing ‘the limit’ may be ‘to fight for any other cause or purpose besides Fii  sabiilil-laahi (in the Way of God Almighty)’.    

LESSON # 208 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

The Battle And Expatriation

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

  Verse –191a of 286, Section – 24 (Part  - 2)

And slay them wherever ye find them, and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out,

Waq-tuluuhum  hay-su  saqif-tumuuhum  wa  ‘akhrijuu-hum-min  hay-su  ‘akhrajuukum

Lesson

‘Uq-tuluuhum – (slay them, kill them) hum means those persons who have come out for battle. This command is not for all the times but it is only for the duration of the war.

hay-su  saqif-tumuuhum – (wherever you find them) that is to say the persons who fight against you and kill the persons out of you, slay them wherever you find them in the battlefield, then don’t stop your hands.

min  hay-su  ‘akhrajuukum – (the places whence they drove you out) it signifies towards Makkah – the Infidels and Idolaters drove the Muslims out from Makkah.

It has been commanded to slay, to fight and to strive in this verse. The enemies of Islam remain in endeavour that the Muslims may not raise,

They should be removed from the face of the earth. Therefore the existence of these like enemies is the cause of danger every time for the Muslims. So wherever the Muslims overcome upon them, if they don’t like to live as peaceful citizens and don’t shun from the wickedness then ‘slay them’.

The Prophet Abraham (peace be upon Him) constructed the Temple of Makkah (Baytul-laah, Khana Ka’-ba) for the purpose that all the persons of the entire earth should come for purely worship of the God Almighty. His real heirs were the Muslims, because only they were the representatives of the religion of Abraham (peace be upon Him) out of the entire nations, and were regular on the Divine of God Almighty and the true religion. The Muslims wished to make it the centre of the Religion Islam from the beginning. But the Infidels and Idolaters opposed the Muslims. They stood in their way, prevented them to say the truth, oppressed and tyrannized them. Even that they exiled the Muslims from Makkah.

 Leaving their native land and the centre the Oppressed Muslims came to Madina for living.  The Infidels didn’t let them remain also  in peace there, did different types of conspiracies, continued vexing and to go against them, prevented the Muslims from Pilgrimage, hindered extremely in Islamic invitation, and began attacking on the Madina. In these circumstances, the Muslims were ordered to slay these types of Infidels wherever you find them. And exile them for getting back your native land and spiritual centre, because their harassments have crossed the limits.  

Life of a Muslim is the correct model for the humanity. He is follower of the natural religion i.e. Islam. He is a flag-holder of excellent manners with his word and deed. Being pattern of the perfect humanity he should be provided the right of living with complete freedom. The Islam neither snatches freedom of anyone, nor can sacrifice its own freedom, nor can tolerate like this any constitution, way of life and system which might be peace-breaker, false worshipper, enemy of God, and cause of dishonour for the nobility and humanity.

LESSON # 209 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

Persecution Is Worse Than Slaughter

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

  Verse –191b of 286, Section – 24 (Part  - 2)

for persecution is worse than slaughter.

wal-fitnatu  ‘ashaddu  minal-qatl.

Lesson

al-fitnatu – (persecution, mischief) it has been derived from the word fatana. Its literal meaning is to put the gold into the fire for purifying. It also means only to put into the fire. Technically it is also called for the meanings of ‘trouble, difficulty, pain, test/trial and examination. Besides it, it comes in the meanings of ‘to persecute in the way of God Almighty, unrest, murder, plundering, and to push back forcibly from the religion too. In this verse it has been used as these last meanings.

To slaughter a person is very great badness. But greater badness than it is ‘to try to snatch any person’s independence by someone as though the right of the life, crush their rights, wish to remove a nation only for the purpose that she is displeased from the plurality and convinced with Oneness of God Almighty, wish to spread infidelity and plurality in place of Unity (Oneness of God Almighty). If this persecution and mischief will not be removed, then its spreading day by day will become so common that any nation would not remain living. Moreover the entire mankind will come into the entanglement of the fire of war, altercation and slaughter. So, if it is compulsory to kill a few persons to burry the persecution, then there is no harm because a little sacrifice has no significance for stopping the great badness.

Islam is the religion which shows the path of humanity, good manners, truth and just, goodness and God fearing to the human being. So opposing this religion is just like enmity against the humanity and to renounce it is like denying the life. The person, who falls back from Islam, invites his own destruction and ruin. So who becomes separate from it, likewise goes into the mouth of death. Each that person who stops the people from the natural religion like Islam, he is mischief-monger. If he will remain living, he will deform the morality and good actions of the people. So the existence of this enemy class of the humanity is unbearable. It is better to finish it so that one sheep may not spoil the entire. His mischievousness, hostile enmity of peaceful preaching is synonymous of plundering the natural independence of the mankind. And at last it will bring the world towards persecution and mischief, massacre, rebellion and unrest. So it is better to cut the root of it even now, before starting slaughter and bloodshed at the spacious range.

It is also worth considering that ‘to kick out from homes, to banish or slaughter’ are the matters for afterward, the real thing is due to which these things appear. So there is a need to cut the root for stopping the expulsion, exilement and bloodshed, and that root is persecution/mischief. All the forms of persecution and mischief should be removed, desiring it becomes necessary to slaughter for them, because it produces the spacious slaughter. To spread the unjust persecution is very bad thing and also worse than slaughter. So killing the mischief-makers is very great kindness over the humanity.    

LESSON # 210 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

Reverence Of The Inviolable Place Of Worship 

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

  Verse –191c & 192 of 286, Section – 24 (Part  - 2)

191.  And fight not with them at the Inviolable Place of Worship until they first attack you there, but if they attack you (there) then slay them. Such is the reward of disbelievers. 

191.  Wal  laa tuqaatiluuhum  ‘indal-Masjidil  Haraami  hatta  yu-qaatiluukum  fiih.  Fa-‘in-  qaata-luukum  faqtuluuhum.  Kazaa-lika  jazaaa-‘ul-Kaafiriin.  

192.  But if they desist, then lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.    

  

192.  Fa-‘ininta-haw  fa-‘innal-laaha  Gafuurur-Rahiim.           

 Lesson

‘indal-Masjidil  Haraami –(near the Inviolable Place of Worship) technically area of several miles on all sides of the Temple of Makkah (Khana Ka’-ba) is called ‘Haram’. It is also included in its Determination (‘Ihraam) that neither the battle should be fought here, and nor shed the blood of any person, even that ‘to go a hunting’ is also prohibited.

In the beginning of this verse it has been mentioned that ‘to prevent from the religion, to spread the persecution/quarrel, to vex, unrest, plundering, destruction and forcibly push back from the religion are included in mischief. It should be pressed in each form, desiring there is a dire need to slay someone. If the war is not waged in the beginning to press the sedition, then spreading day to day it will take in fold the entire nation and country and then quarrels, disturbance, loot, unrest and bloodshed will begin. 

In this verse it has been stated that if the enemies of Islam do not refrain from their mischief and start waging a war into the limits of Haram (the four walls of Makkah), then you can also fight with them at that sacred place. During the normal circumstances the battle and bloodshed is not allowed near the Inviolable Place of Worship (Khana Ka’-ba) because this House is the Place of peace and respectable, but to suppress the mischief has become so much necessary that it may come in the fold of war. It is the Punishment for the enemies of Peace that they should either be exiled from their native land or slain. However, if they refrain from mischief and persecution, forswear from evil-doings and misdeeds and come under the shelter of Islam, then don’t raise the sword over them. Moreover consider them as your brothers because the God Almighty forgives previous sins of the repentant.   

Three things have been proved from this verse:

•           The Inviolable Place of Worship (Khana Ka’-ba) is the place of peace. Killing and shedding blood should not be done here.

•           If anybody attacks then the battle may be fought here. 

•           Killing and striving is collective obligation so it has been commanded again and again in the plural form on each place. 

 LESSON # 211 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

Last Limit Of Massacre

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Verse –193 of 286, Section – 24 (Part  - 2)

And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for Allah. But if they desist, then let there be no hostility except against wrongdoers.  

           

Wa  qaatiluuhum  hatta  laa  takuunu  fitnatunw – wa  ya-kuunad-Diinu-lillaah.  Fa-‘ininta-haw  falaa  ‘udwaana  ‘illaa  ‘alaz-zaalimiin.

 Lesson

Qaatiluuhum – (fight them) it may be signified towards all the Infidels, but the religious scholars have aimed only the Idolaters of Makkah, because here it appears the face of words toward them.

Ad-Diinu – (the religion) this word is used for reward and punishment in Arabic, which means revenge, exchange. It has come for several meanings in the Holy Qur’an that is to say, revenge, exchange, the method of conception and action, the religion, the worship of the God Almighty and obedience etc.

It has been commanded in this verse that waging a war should be continued against the infidel persecutors and the enemies of Islam till the time that persecution and mischief ends, Rule of God Almighty overcomes, nobody should have the power to oppose or attack without just cause on the Rule of Allah Almighty and if any person insults it then he should be punished properly and immediately.

Islam desires that the Rule of God Almighty should be public and common. All the people believers of other religions may pass their lives satisfactorily at their own places. Places of worship and prayers, and religious stations may remain safe from their tyranny. No hindrance may be produced in the path of Islam. This is the only one form with which Peace may be maintained in the world. Otherwise persecution/mischief will use to raise its head always and the people may never remain in comfort. Islam has three options for it:

1.   Invite the people to embrace Islam. If they agree to it, believe that God Almighty is One, Muhammad (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) is the last Messenger of God Almighty and the Day of Resurrection, then Allah Almighty will forgive their evildoings and they will get all equal rights of the Muslims in the Islamic society.

2.  If the people are not ready to embrace Islam, however they promise to refrain its opposition, then they may remain fondly in the Islamic state. In this form it will be the responsibility of the Muslims to provide them protection and security.

3.   If they don’t agree to the above mentioned two options and continue to oppose the Rule of God Almighty, that is to say they become mad in selfishness then their decision should be finalized with the sword. Their punishment is not less than slaughter. Persecutors and enemies of the peace can never be forgiven.  

    

LESSON # 212 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

The Forbidden Months

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Verse –194a of 286, Section – 24 (Part  - 2)

The forbidden month for the forbidden month, and forbidden things in retaliation. And one who attacketh you, attack him in like manner as he attacked you.

‘Ash-Shahrul-Haraamu  bish-Shahril-Haraami  wal-hurumaatu    qisaas. Famani’-tadaa  ‘alaykum  fa’-taduu  ‘alayhi  bi-misli ma’-tadaa ‘alaykum.

Lesson

‘Ash-Shahrul-Haraamu – (The forbidden month) during the time of ignorance different tribes of the Arab used to fight always but they had settled this matter that the war would have been stopped during the following four months and this period would be passed with peace and truce. Near to them these four months were very sacred and reverent. These four months are:

·       Muharram    -  first month of lunar calendar

·       Rajjab            -  seventh month of lunar calendar

·       Zii-Qa’dah         -  eleventh month of lunar calendar

·       Zul-Hajjah    -  twelfth month of lunar calendar

Descending situation (Shaani Nazuul) and historical background of this verse is told that the Messenger of God Almighty (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) set on toward Makkah for the purpose of pilgrimage (Umrah) with His some Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) in the month of Zii-Qa’dah seventh Hirah calendar. But the Idolaters of Makkah became ready to fight against them. Moreover they began the archery and stoning. They didn’t care also this forbidden and sacred month. This verse indicates toward this month.

The God Almighty commands that dignity and respect of any month can remain still the time that the other party also respects and honors. If it is no so then there is not any base of any forbidden month. If the opposite party doesn’t refrain from war also during the forbidden month, then you should also attack them in like manner as they attacked you. If they have not respected either the forbidden month or the forbidden place, or the Muslims have been dressed with Determination (‘Ih-raam), even then you should be ready and carry your weapons.

Afterwards it has been proclaimed that if they have oppressed you not caring for all the forbidden matters then you should also reply them. Here the word a’-tadaa (attack him) has come because it is the usage in the Arabic language that which action requires punishment, the same word will be used for its punishment. That is to say ‘punish in answer and slaughter them’. It never aims that ‘you should oppress them also’.         

LESSON # 213 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

Allah Is With Those Who Ward Off (Evil)

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Verse –194b of 286, Section – 24 (Part  - 2)

And observe your duty to Allah, and know that Allah is with those who ward off (evil)

Wattaqullaaha  wa’-lamuuu  ‘an-nallaaha  ma-‘al-Muttaqiin.

Lesson

‘Attaqullaaha – (observe your duty to Allah, use to fear from God) order to fix upon the abstinence, control of the passions and God fearing has come again and again in the holy Qur’an that the person should have fear of God Almighty at the time of doing any work, should adopt abstinence, should control his passions, ward off bad manners, feel disgust from the sins, evildoing and devilishness. These all commands come under one sentence i.e. ‘Attaqullaaha. The origin of God fearing is very important in each field of the Muslim’s life. Till the time this thing does not manifest in the word and deed of the Muslim, his Islam can not become complete. Fear of God teaches him temperance, inclines towards the good deeds and takes away from the bad acts.

It is 194th verse of Surah Al-Baqarah. We have recited ‘14’ times about Fear of God (Taqwa) up to this verse, particularly after the order about worship, after the remembrance of the children of Israel, after the mention of the principles of the code of morality, after the command regarding retaliation, after the sanction of bequest, after the order of fasting. (Taqwa) has been signified as ‘intended’ and ‘required’ by the mankind to be adopted on each place.

Desiring it is being stated about lawful and unlawful in the Holy Qur’an, discussing the matters of marriage and divorce, telling the laws of the property and wealth of the orphans and the poor, debating about the distribution of heritage and bequest, clearing the principles of association and mutual social intercourse or enlightening on the matters of slaughter and strive, everywhere It shall teach the lesson of Taqwa (God fearing) and shall inform certain about its importance, utmost why?

The mankind is page of passions, slave of feelings and servant of perceptions. At the time of doing each work he remains under its impression. He drops down for unjust instead of remaining on temperance and justice. Leaving the level brings him towards cruelty, violation of right, injustice and oppression. These all things are at very low level of a Muslim, so it is necessary that wishing he is earnest in any field of life, he should not leave the temperance from his hand.

This lesson is taught to keep him on the level that he should keep in view the Existence of the God Almighty, His commands and attendance in His Court. He should consider that all the worldly property and valuables, respect and fame are casual. Real thing is the success near to Allah Almighty. So if any person has to face even some loss casually due to liking the justice, then he should bear it because God Almighty helps only the persons who have His fear and it is clear that the person who has been provided the support by Allah Almighty, there is none lucky, obedient and successful person more than him.      

LESSON # 214 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

Spend For The Cause Of God Almighty

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Verse –195 of 286, Section – 24 (Part  - 2)

And spend your wealth for the Cause of Allah, and cast not (yourselves) by your own hands to ruin; and do good. Lo! Allah loveth the beneficent.

Wa ‘anfiquu fii  sabiilil-laahi  wa  laa    tulquu  bi-‘aydii-kum  ‘ilat-tahlukah.  Wa  ‘ahsinuuu    ‘innallaaha  yuhibbul-Muh-siniin.

Lesson

laa  tulquu  bi-‘aydii-kum  ‘ilat-tahlukah – (cast not (yourselves) by your own hands to ruin) there was the command about fighting and strive (qataal & jihaad) in the previous verses, and it has been ordered to spend the wealth for the cause of God Almighty before this sentence of this verse. As though it is the command of the God Almighty that whenever there is a need to strive for the country and nation, and the sacrifice of the wealth is required, don’t show the avarice, and don’t stop your hands to spend the wealth for the cause of Allah. If you will do so, then it will be like that you will cut your own feet, you will slaughter yourselves. Doing so, not only it will harm the nation and country, but the defeat of the nation will be your own defeat and the harm of the religion will be your decline.  

Some persons take its meaning wrong, “plunge not into the danger intentionally and don’t put your life into the risky affairs”. This motive is entirely not from this sentence, it is true, but neither there is situation of it and nor it has been mentioned here.

Commanding for the fighting and the strive, it has been prescribed upon the Muslims in the earlier verses that they should sacrifice their lives in the way of God Almighty, fight the enemies of His religion to raise it. If the Idolaters and Infidels resist their work, then they should fight also against them and elevate upon them their swords to stop the cruelty. In this verse the God Almighty has ordered to spend their wealth for the Cause of Allah Almighty.

Sacrifice of the lives is required to crush the enemies and to press the mischief and the rebellion, so that the soldiers of God Almighty plunge into the battlefield keeping their lives on their palms, with full excitement of Islam without caring of their death and slaughter, and strive for the only one purpose ‘Raising the name of Allah Almighty’. For this intention spending the wealth and property is needed at the second stage, so that the arms, weapons and equipment for the war may be bought, security may be provided to the left behind family members of the soldiers, necessities of life of the martyrs’ children and widows may be completed, eating and drinking items for the Army may be amassed and goods of ration may be stored in case of being besieged.

‘ahsinuuu – (do good) the meanings of ‘ih-saan (favour, kindness)  are “to do good behaviour and goodness”. It aims that what would you do, that should be done with good intention and sincerity. Don’t do any work only as bringing down the forced labour (taken without wages or remuneration) and paying debt. Also that nothing can become hindrance in the good behaviour during fighting and strive (qataal & jihaad). The Messenger of God Almighty preached so more for the good behaviour that while you begin to sacrifice the animal, and then do so that it feels the pain at the very least too.

LESSON # 215 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

Standing Orders For Fighting And Strive

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

(Up to Verse –195 of 286, Section – 24 (Part  - 2)

Lesson

The orders regarding fighting and strive (Qataal  wa Jihaad) end on the verse – 195. After it the matter of Pilgrimage will start. It seems reasonable that the obligatory aspects of the fighting and strive, its terms and conditions should be stated briefly. Since the some misled persons are apparent totally as Deniers of the fighting on one side and on the other side our enemy historians particularly the western authors defame the Muslims and Islam narrating the strive as only beating and bawl out, slaughter and plundering, and religious bloody fight.

Now we are going to discuss the matter numerically in the light of the verses upto 195 of Surah Al-Baqarah:

·       Fight for the cause of Allah Almighty.(190)

·       Fight with only the persons who fight with you (190), in other words don’t fight with the people who like peace and love that is to say the children, the women, the ailing, the excusable and unarmed people.

·       Don’t intensify; God Almighty doesn’t like the persons who oppress. (190).

·       Slay them wherever ye find the enemy in the battlefield (191); remember that this order is only for the situation of war and not during peace time.

·       Drive your enemies out of the areas whence they drove you out (191).

·       Try neither to make mischief/disturbance and quarrel, nor let any person to do this. The persecution is worse than slaughter (190).

·       You can fight only against the persons at the Inviolable Place of Worship (Masjidil-Haraam) (Khana Ka’ba) who fight there otherwise you can’t.(191)

·       If the enemy desists from the war then stop it (192).

·       Fight until the sedition/persecution is no more and the Religion of God Almighty excels. (192)

·       Let there be no hostility except against the wrongdoers (193).

·       Respect the Forbidden Months and stop fighting during these months (194).

·       Observe your duty to God Almighty and know that Allah Almighty is with those who ward off (evil) (194).

·       Spend your wealth for the cause of Allah Almighty. If you will not do so, then you will cast yourselves by your own hands to ruin. (195).

·       Do good and honouring. Lo! Allah Almighty loves the beneficent. (195)

Think about all above. Which point is against the wisdom, justice and nobility out of them?

LESSON # 216 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

The Pilgrimage

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Verse –196a of 286, Section – 24 (Part  - 2)

And perform the Pilgrimage

Wa  ‘atimmul-Hajja

Lesson

‘Al-Hajja – it is the fifth pillar of Islam. It is the duty of every that person to perform the Pilgrimage once in the life who has power to do it. Otherwise he/she will be the sinner. The Pilgrimage is performed on Ninth Zul-Hajjah (last month) of Islamic Calendar year. At first all the Muslims gather in Makkah city to visit the Inviolable Place of Worship (Khana Ka’-ba), then unite in the Arafat Field.

The matters relating to the Fighting and Strive have been discussed before the orders regarding Pilgrimage and after the verses of the Pilgrimage in this Surah. It is revealed clearly that ‘how much deep relation have these both matters with each other’. There is none Pillar of Islam in which aim of the National Social Welfare, Improvement and Prosperity, and Exaltation has not been mentioned in addition to Personal Goodness and Purity.

Especial thing which belongs to the Pilgrimage is that all the Muslims out of the entire world unite once a year in the Centre of Islam. There is no difference between ups and downs. Black and White, Rich and Poor, King and Beggar, Scholar and Uneducated, Young and Old, they all stand at the same place mixing shoulder with shoulders and saying with one tone the same words, “Lab-baika  Allaahumma  Lab-baika  Lab-baika  Laa  Shariika  laka Lab-baika  ‘Innal  Hamda  wan-na’-mata  Laka  wal-Mulk  Laa Shariika lak”  (I am present, O Allah! I am present, I am present – there is no partner of Thee, I am present. Lo! Praise and Blessing is of Thee, and Sovereignty, there is no co-sharer of Thee).

Every Pilgrim fastens determination dress (‘Ihraam). It contains two un-sewn (cotton) sheets – for each Pilgrim this same kind of dress declares equality, simplicity, friendship and Love for God Almighty. During the Pilgrimage to get shaved the head, cut the nails, hunting and intercourse with one’s wife are prohibited. As though the object to refrain from the wishes, physical elegance and dressing is to get a permanent training. 

All the Pilgrims unite at the stipulated time in the Arafaat Field on the day of Pilgrimage, listen to the Speech (Address of the Pilgrimage), Pray in the court of God Almighty, get forgiven their sins and collect treasures of the Mercy and Kindness of Allah Almighty.

Then they sacrifice the animals in the Minaa’,  throw pebbles at Jamaraat, go round the Holy Shrine (the Inviolable Place of Worship – Khana Ka’-ba), Kiss the Black Stone (Hajri Aswad), quench the thirst with Aabi Zamzam (the water of a sacred well at Khana Ka’-ba), do the Endeavour (Sa-ii) between Safaa’ and Marwah (hills), use to stop all kinds of evildoing, sins and bad inherent, as though after getting forgiven their sins they are starting their lives’ accounts from the beginning today.  

Fortunate are those persons who are bestowed with the chance of Pilgrimage and they performed it, understood its objects and passed their remaining lives with goodness and chastity.           

LESSON # 217 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

Some Orders For Hajj And Umrah

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Verse –196b of 286, Section – 24 (Part  - 2)

And perform the Visit (Umrah) for Allah. And if ye are prevented, then send such offering as can be obtained with ease,

Wal-‘umrata  lillaah.  Fa-‘in  ‘uh-sir-tum  famas-taysara  minal-hady.

Lesson

‘Al-‘umrata – (Umrah) it is also named as little Pilgrimage. Instructions for performing the Umrah are just like the Pilgrimage also. However there is no restriction of the days of Pilgrimage for performing the Umrah. It can be performed any time. Secondly its rituals and traditions also are less than the Pilgrimage.

Lillaah – (for Allah, for God Almighty) perform the Pilgrimage (Hajj) and Umrah (Visit) for the sake of Allah Almighty, keep your intention pure and take care honestly those customs and orders which have been prescribed by God Almighty, escape yourself from the matters which are prohibited, otherwise sake of God will remain no more.

In reality all the deeds and intentions should be for the pleasure of Allah Almighty but it has been emphasized here particularly that the journey involves with the Pilgrimage and the Visit (Hajj and Umrah) in which a lot of good and bad objects, Cruises and Entertainment can join easily. So it is necessary that your first object should not be any other except to delight the God Almighty. Travel and entertainment will become automatically. Trade is permitted; you can get advantage of it. But you can neither make the trade – the purpose of Pilgrimage (Hajj) nor can deal with dishonestly and theft, these are not allowed.    

‘uh-sir-tum – (if you are prevented) this word is derived from Ihsaar, whose literal meanings are to be surrounded or encaged. Whether this surrounding would be due to any reason, here it means ‘the person who intends to perform the Pilgrimage but can’t reach the designation because of either any illness or enemy would have blocked his way or any seasonal or other stoppage would have intervened.

 Hady – (sacrifice) the literal meanings are ‘the offer’ which would be sent for the Khana Ka’ba, here its meaning is the animals required to be sacrificed during the Pilgrimage.

In this verse Allah Almighty has ordered the Muslims that there should be only one object to be intended i.e. the worship along with the Pilgrimage and Visit (Hajj and Umrah) that is for pleasure and willingness of Allah Almighty. Neither the play nor show should be intended from this journey, nor travel and entertainment. But the Rules which Allah Almighty has explained, those should be acted upon. Allah almighty has kept some exemption too in this order for excusable people. May be a person wears ‘Ih-raam (Determination Dress) for Hajj and Umrah but unfortunately he would either become ill in the way or any other difficulty or problem happens. For example either he doesn’t find the way or doesn’t remain the provision for his journey etc. In all these situations he has been commanded that he should send the animal to sacrifice to the BaitUllah by anyone else according to his submission.

LESSON # 218 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

Instruction About Shaving The Head

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Verse –196c of 286, Section – 24 (Part  - 2)

And shave not your heads until the offering has reached their destination. And whoever among you is sick or hath an ailment of the head must pay a ransom of fasting or alms-giving or offering.

Wa  laa  tah-liquu  ru-‘uusakum    hattaa  yablugal-hadyu    mahil-lah. Faman-kaana  minkum-mariizan ‘awbihiii    ‘azam   fa-fidyatum-min-    siyaa-min ‘aw  sadaqatin    ‘aw  nusuk.

Lesson

Nusuk – (offering) literally it means sacrifice. Here it aims to sacrifice in the pathway of God Almighty, which should not be less than a goat and it is better if a cow or camel is sacrificed.

Mahil-lah – (its destination) that is to say, the place of sacrifice which signifies toward the Bayt-Ullaah (Makkah).

Islam is a natural religion. Its Commands have been legislated entirely according to the nature of human beings. Each person’s qualities and weaknesses have been kept in sight in Islam. His needs and desires have been considered. The matters which were necessary for evaluation, promotion and success of the mankind, those have been prescribed compulsory and needful. Which things were not useful for the life and object of the mankind, have been fixed unlawful and forbidden.

Primary part of the verse is Appendix of the order of Muh-sir (who has been prevented) recitation of which was begun in the previous verse. It was stated up to the point that the person who has fastened the Determination Dress (Ih-raam) for Pilgrimage or Visit (Hajj or Umrah) and any objection/excuse has been happened for him in the pathway that he can’t perform the Hajj or Umrah, then he should send the animal to sacrifice toward BaytUllah (Khana Ka’-ba). This Order has been finalized in this verse stating that till the time this animal doesn’t reach the Haram and is not sacrificed there, this person (Muh-sir) can’t shave his head; it means that he can’t open the Ihraam.

Common Orders Regarding Hajj

Allah Almighty has set another concession for the excusable/disabled persons in the command of Hajj. That is to say the person who can’t obey the order of shaving his head during the time of Hajj, for example he is compelled not to shave his head due to either any disease or any other cause, then either he should keep the fasts for three days as its ransom so that his spirit may remain pure from the rebellion or he should give 1-3/4 KG wheat (at the scale of Sadaqah Fitr – Alms – Fitranah) to the six poor persons so that he may not fall back from the pathway of God Almighty due to non obeying the first command or he should sacrifice an animal.   

LESSON # 219 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

Sacrifice During Hajj And Umrah

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Verse –196d of 286, Section – 24 (Part  - 2)

And if ye are in safety, then whosoever contenteth himself with Visit (Umrah) for the Pilgrimage (shall give) such offering as can be had with ease. And whosoever cannot find (such offering), then a fast of three days while on the Pilgrimage, and of seven when ye have returned; that is, ten in all.

Fa-‘izaaa  ‘amintum, faman-    tamatta-‘a  bil- ‘Um-rati    ‘ilal-Hajji  famastaysara   minal-hady.  Famal-lam    yajid  fa-siyaamu  salaasati  ‘ayyaamin-  fil-Hajji    wa sab-‘atin  ‘izaa  raja’-tum. Tilka  ‘asharatun-    kaamilah.

Lesson

‘Amintum – (you are in safety) that is to say whenever you come in safety and peace out of the situations of danger and disease. 

Tamatta-‘a – (get benefit) in the sense of religious theology it aims to perform the Pilgrimage and Visit (Hajj and Umrah) joining the both, namely performing Umrah duly fastened with ‘Ihraam during the times of Pilgrimage and then with another ‘Ihraam the Pilgrimage Hajj) is performed. During the time of Ignorance the Arabs had invented this false belief that it was sin to perform the Umrah in the season of Pilgrimage.

 ‘Izaa  raja’-tum – (whenever you return) it signifies that while you return after the completion of the Rituals of Pilgrimage, whether the Pilgrim is staying still in Makkah and he has not yet returned to his native country. However some scholars have taken the meanings of this narration that whenever you reach your home from Makkah.

This order is for that Pilgrim in this verse, who wishes to perform the both (Hajj and Umrah) in the season of Pilgrimage. It is called Tamatta’ or Qir’aan. This type of Pilgrim is required to sacrifice either one goat or seventh share out of the cow or camel. This sacrifice is not required by that Pilgrim who performs only Pilgrimage and he doesn’t perform the Umrah with It. Those persons who perform the Pilgrimage Tamatta’ or Qir’aan but they can’t attain the sacrifice due to poorness or any other strong reason, then it is compulsory for them to fast for ten days, three during the days of Pilgrimage which are finished on the ninth Zul-Hajjah (the Day of ‘Arafah) and seven after reaching the native land. This expiation has been fixed in the shape of fasting due to the reason that while any person is unable to obey the command of God Almighty then his spirit may not bring him towards the rebellion or disobedience. So he should keep the fasts so that his spirit may remain pure and his intention remains good.

  LESSON # 220 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

Description Of The Order Of Sacrifice

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Verse –196e of 286, Section – 24 (Part  - 2)

That is for him whose folk are not present at the Inviolable Place of Worship. And observe your duty to Allah, and know that Allah is Severe in punishment.

Zaalika  limal-lam  yakun    ‘ah-luhuu  haa-ziril-Masjidil- Haraam.  Watta-qullaaha  wa’-lamuuu    ‘annal-laaha  Shadiidul- ‘iqaab.

Lesson

Zaalika – (this) it is a demonstrative pronoun and it signifies towards the matter of previous verse, namely Tamatta’ (to perform Hajj and Umrah duly joined). Aim of the verse is that the permission to gain the Hajj and Umrah duly joined is only for the foreigners, not for the residents of Makkah.

Haa-ziril-Masjidil-Haraam – (the folk who are present at the Inviolable Place of Worship, the persons who live near the Khana Ka’-ba). It means the entire natives of Makkah and its vicinity. That is to say, all people living with in the limits of Meeqaat.

Meeqaat – that place is called Meeqaat from where the limits of Haram begin and it is required to intend for Hajj and Umrah, and fasten (wear) the (dress of) ‘Ihraam reaching there. Meeqaat is separate in various directions for the persons coming for performing the Hajj in the Inviolable Place of Worship from all around the world.

Watta-qullaaha – (observe your duty to Allah) that is to say, keep the concept of presence and fear of the God Almighty in front because foundation of all the goodness is this Piety. Think once again that God-fearing is being demanded after every command/order.

Shadiidul- ‘iqaab – (severe in punishment) the Scholars of the religion say that the word Shadiid (severe) has been used particularly here with ‘Iqaab (the punishment) for the reason that ‘as any person acts goodness at the very Sacred Place i.e. the Inviolable Place of Worship (BaytUllah), he gets more reward, likewise if he commits any sin after reaching here, then he will also be punished more severely due to Sacred Place respectively.

It is the condition for that concession which was given in the previous lesson. The concession was, “If the people wish to perform the Hajj and Umrah duly united then they can do so. However they would have to sacrifice according to their power. Permission for uniting the Hajj and Umrah is only for those persons who are not the residents of Makkah and its surrounding villages”. With this Order it has been declared again that the real thing is the God-fearing. It is necessary to keep in sight at the time of obeying each order, performing any duty/worship and pleasure of the God Almighty, because purpose of the entire Orders/Commands is purity of the spirit/soul and completion of the morality/manners. These are the highest orders and Commands from the God Almighty on which foundation of the Islamic life is standing. If any body will try to change or deny them then the God Almighty will punish him severely.      

Transliteration in Roman Script & English Translation of Holy Qur’an written by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazar, Lahore and Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’an published By Idara Islah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated by Muhammad Sharif)