Table of Contents
- Class 1
- Class 2
- Definition of Mu’jiza vs Karamaat
- The Nature of Prophetic Miracles
- The Miracles of the Qur’aan
- Division and Arrangement of the Qur’aan
- Class 3
- Reasons the Revelation was gradual
- Makki vs Madani Surahs
- Reasons of Revelation
- History of the Compilation of the Qur’aan
- Class 4
- Fundamental and Allegorical Ayaat
- Types of Mutashaabih
- Dealing with Mutashaabih
- Interpreters of the Qur’aan
- Class 5
- Definition of Tafseer
- The Source of Tafsir
- Tafseer of Surah Al Fatiha (Chapter 1)
- Class 6
- Types of Recitation
- The Differences in Recitations
- The Ten Qirats
- The Conditions for Legit Recitation
- Tafsir of Surah Al Baqarah (Verse 1-2)
- Class 7
- Description of the Believers
- Description of the Disbelievers
- Description of the Hypocrites
- Diseases of the Hypocrite’s Heart
- Class 8
- Hypocrisy
- Foolishness
- Human Devils
- Poor Transactions (this life for the next)
- Examples of the hypocrites
- Class 9
- Ibaadah
- Taqwa
- Example of Mosquito
- Challenge of Imitating the Qur’aan
- The beginning of Creation
- Class 10
- The Children of Israel
- Slaughtering the Cow
- Rejection of the Prophet by the Jews
- Musa and Jibreel
- Class 11
- Haroot and Maroot
- Sihr (Magic)
- Abrogation in the Qur’aan
- The Refusal of the Madinan Jews to Convert
Introduction to the Sciences of the Qur’aan
The value of an area of knowledge is best determined by looking at the subject that area of knowledge covers. By virtue of the subject of this class being the Qur’aan, the Word of Allah, the area of knowledge covering it, the Sciences of Qur’aan, is one of the most important areas of study among all sciences.
Dealing with the Qur’aan
Our approach to reading the Qur’aan should not be as it is when we read a magazine or any other book. We must show it a great deal of respect, taking our time in reading, comprehending, and contemplating it.
Try your best to advance in your Arabic studies – the Qur’aan was revealed in Arabic, and when it is read in a language like English, meaning is lost and a third party is coming between you and the words your Lord is communicating to you. It’s an immense blessing to be able to read and understand Allah’s words to you with no intermediary, and when you read the Qur’aan in Arabic, you will find that new meanings come out each time.
There will be some difficulties in understanding the Qur’aan in Arabic, but don’t be discouraged by this, as even the Companions who understood the language well had difficulties with the language and came to the Prophet seeking clarification.
The Purpose of Revealing the Qur’aan
- Reciting and Memorizing the Qur’aan
- Virtue of Recitation: The Prophet said that for every letter (harf) recited, the reciter will receive 10 hasanaat.
- Virtue of Memorization:
- On the Day of Judgement, the Qur’aan will come like a frail man, and it will tell you to recite everything you memorized. For every ayaah memorized, you will be raised one level in Paradise.
- The Parents of a haafidh will be crowned with a crown with which is filled with gems, one of which is worth more than anything in this world.
- Reflecting on its Meanings
- Implementing it in your daily life
- There was a scholar who said he was afraid that on the Day of Judgement, every ayah from the Qur’aan would testify against him for not following it.
- Aisha narrated that the Prophet was the walking Qur’aan, meaning he implemented in everything he did. If you were asked how much of it you’ve implemented, what would your answer be?
- There could be other objectives for its revelation, such as challenging the disbelievers and so on, we won’t get into those now.
The Qur’aan is meant to be for the living, not the dead, yet the only time many people pick it up is when someone dies to recite for them.
Excerpt from Ibn Taymiyyah’s Introduction to the Book “Introduction to Tafseer”
- It’s the strong rope of Allah to hold
- The message of wisdom to believe
- And the straight path to follow
- Evil thoughts will never corrupt it
- And wicked tongues will never distort it
- (No matter) how much you study it, it will never wear out
- Nor shall it cease to inspire
- Scholars will never be able to fathom it’s depths
- Whoever utters it speaks the truth
- Whoever acts upon it shall be rewarded
- Whoever judges according to it does justice
- Whoever preaches it calls to the truth
- Whoever turns away from it in arrogance is doomed
- And whoever seeks guidance elsewhere is lost
Definition of Qur’aan
Linguistic Definition
Qur’aan comes from the root QARA’, and it means a recitation, or to recite. It also means to gather / collect and it gathers or collects the rulings and the news
Technical Definition
It is the word of Allah revealed to Muhammad contained in the mushafs starting from and including al-faatiha and ending with and including an-Naas, having arrived in mutawaatir transmissions.
Sampling of Topics in the Sciences of the Qur’aan
Imam as-Suyooti mentions there are over 70 different topics within the sciences of the Qur’aan. Here is a sampling of some of them:
- Reasons of Revelation
- Makki vs Madani ayaahs
- Methods of Wahy
- Quantification of ayaahs, surahs, words, and letters
- Stories of the Qur’aan
- Miracles of the Qur’aan
- Recitations of the Qur’aan
- First and Last ayaahs / surahs revealed
- Proverbs and Parables in the Qur’aan
- Preservation of the Qur’aan
- Writing of the Qur’aan
- Divisions of the Qur’aan
- Waqf and Ibtida
- The 7 Styles of Recitation
- Virtues of the Qur’aan
- Names of the Qur’aan
- Characteristics of the Qur’aan
- Abrogation in the Qur’aan
- Firsts of the Qur’aan (ayaah, command, prohibition, etc)
- Sciences that are derived from the Qur’aan
- Ayaahs revealed in the day vs the night
- Ayaahs revealed during specific seasons
- Ayaahs revealed with Companions present vs no Companions present
Our focus will be knowledge that is practical, specifically from Tafseer.
Quiz
1. What is the virtue of memorizing the Quran?
2. What is the definition of the Quran?
3. What is the root word of Quran and what does it mean?
4. Name 3 objectives of the Quran.
Quiz Answers
1. On the Day of Judgment Quran will come like a frail man. The one who memorize the Quran will be told to read and recite and recite as you use to recite in the dunia for you rank will be on the last ayah you stop at.
2. Miraculous book of Allah swt which is revealed to Muhammad saw starting with fatiha and ending with an-Naas
3. Quran is from the root word QARA’ meaning to recite or to gather
4. Recite and memorize, Reflect on it, and Implement it
Miracles of the Qur’aan
What is A Miracle?
- Mu’jiza: A supernatural act or violation of nature that none can do in order to prove the truthfulness of a prophet or messenger. This type of miracle happens “on demand”, meaning, if it’s asked for, its delivered.
- Karamaat: These are also supernatural acts, but they are done to benefit a righteous person, and they do not happen on demand.
Linguistic Use of Mu’jiza
Comes from a’jiza, comes from being unable to, ajuz is a very old person. The Prophet used to seek refuge from ‘ajz (inability).
The Nature of the Mu’jiza
The miracles performed by the Prophets were such that they were easy to understand, and they were in fields which the people who were brought the miracle excelled in, but that they could not perform.
- Musa and the Magicians: The magicians of firaun’s people were the best magicians among a people who were the best at magic, but Musa’s staff bested and destroyed their magic. They were capable of tricking people’s eyes, but none could turn a staff into a snake.
- ‘Iesa Raises the Dead: The people of ‘Iesa’s time excelled in medicine, so ‘Iesa did what they could not – by the will of Allah, he raised the dead.
- Muhammad and the Qur’aan: The Quraysh were the best of the best in poetry, yet the Prophet, an illiterate man, was receiving revelation and poetry that could not be challenged in its sheer eloquence, style, and beauty.
Miracles of the Qur’aan
1. The Challenge:
- Allah challenges the people to bring something like the Qur’aan.
- Today, there are orientalists who say the Qur’aan was plagiarized from christian and jewish sources, so respond, if it’s plagiarism, then bring the like of it.
- “They say we certainly know that the one teaching him is a human.”
- If people were able to come later and meet the challenge, this would be something, but none are able to do it. Example would be pyramids – can’t do it back then, can do it easily now.
So Allah is challenging all human beings, from its revelation til the Day of Judgement, to bring something like the Qur’aan. People who speak Arabic and understand it can attest to it.
Musaylimah tried to claim prophethood, so ‘Amr bil Aas visited him when he wasn’t a Muslim, so Musaylimah claimed to have some ayaat, and when he recited them, ‘Amr told him, “You know that I know that you’re a liar.”
- First Challenge: In Surah Israa, if mankind and jinn gathered to bring the like fo the Qur’aan, they would not be able to do so.
- Second Challenge: You cannot bring the like of the Qur’aan, bring 10 surahs like it (Hud:13). Do they claim this fabricated? Let them bring 10 surahs like it.
- Third Challenge: Bring only one surah like the Qur’aan, (baqarah:32, yunus:38). Even this challenge could not be met.
Therefore, this is proof that the Qur’aan is from Allah subhaanahu wa ta’aala. The Prophet was one illiterate man, and the challenge is open to all eloquent people to take up.
2. The Preservation of the Qur’aan
- Not even one letter from the Qur’aan has been changed, “indeed we have revealed the dhikr, and indeed, we are preserving it.”
- the other books (tawrah, gospel) are changed, and their own followers admit this but claim it’s not a big deal. The reason these books were changed was because people were left to preserve the Qur’aan, thus the failure. Translations also cause meaning to be lost.
- We are too weak to protect and preserve the Qur’aan. No matter what happens, the Qur’aan is preserved. If one word changes, everyone will take notice.
- Last month (Dec 2008), there were manuscripts of the Qur’aan discussed at a conference in Turkey from before 100 hijra.
3. Scientific Miracles
- The Qur’aan came with ideas unheard of – the Qur’aan said that when it is day in one area, it will be night in another when the Day of Judgement comes.
- Waves upon waves: Nur:40 What moves waves? Waves underneath waves move in the opposite direction.
- Barrier between salt water and fresh water in the Qur’aan.
- The bible is full of scientific inconsistencies.
- Exploding of fire and burning of fire underwater during day of judgement – today we know that it is underwater. If hydrogen and oxygen separate, you’ll have explosions.
- Allah made the earth easy to walk, like a crib for a baby. If it was just sharp edges, it would be uninhabitable. He flattened the earth and made it accessible.
Keep in mind the Qur’aan is not a book of science, and we mention it just to let you know, the Qur’aan doesn’t depend on this to prove itself true.
4. The Eloquence of the Qur’aan (similar to the challenge)
The Makkan surahs in particular are very short yet powerful in meaning because this is when the kuffaar were most challenging and defiant, and so the ayaahs came openly against them.
There was a man traveling on a ship from egypt to the US, so with a group of Muslims, they decided to have friday prayer there. There were nonMuslims, and one woman came to the man, and she mentioned, at the beginning and ending, you said something differently, and she realized that Qur’aan was different from the rest of the Arabic spoken, and she can’t even understand it.
5. Historical Miracles
Where was Yusuf? Egypt. The one talking to Yusuf was not a pharoah, but a king, and the word king is used rather than pharoah, and historically, this accurate, and this was discovered in 1913 or 1917 when they deciphered the old hieroglyphics.
In the story of Musa, it chronicles a pharoah.
6. Prophecies
Persians vs Romans, and the persians were idolators, and the romans were people of the book, and the prophecy stated that the romans would win soon. Abu Bakr made a bet that the Romans would win. The Qur’aan gave what would happen and the time it would happen (beginning of surah rum).
Documentation of the Qur’aan
Every ayaah was collected at the time of the Abu Bakr and what it was written on was corroborated by two witnesses. Today, we have documented all the people who have narrated the Qur’aan from the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam down to the reciters of today. For hafs ‘an ‘asim, we have over 78 narrators.
The Ijaazah system, you’ll not find in any other religion or group except Islam.
Number of Surahs
- What’s the meaning of Surah? It can mean a wall, rank, or elevation (it’s raising or elevating you)
- Ayah means sign, and every ayaah is a sign.
- Who named the surahs? The correct opinion is that some and many were given by the Prophet, but not every single surah, and that means it is not tawqeef, it is not a revelation.
- Example: Surat an-Nasr, if someone says I’m calling it al-Fath, is that wrong? Doesn’t appear so.
- What is the first complete Surah revealed? Mudaththir
- What is the first ayaah revealed? Iqra’
- What is the last Surah revealed? an-Nasr – indication of the Prophet’s death coming.
- What is the last ayah revealed? 2:281, the ayaah before the longest ayaah, another opinion says the last ayaah of nisaa, 4:176
Makki and Madani Surahs
- Makkan surahs are more, but Madani surahs are longer.
- We have 82 Makkan Surahs and 20 Madinan Surahs.
- There are 12 surahs scholars differed about.
Words and Letters
- How many words? 77439 (some difference of opinion)
- Letters? 340740
- Multiply this by 10 and you know approximately how much hasanaat you get for reciting the Qur’aan.
Divisions of the Qur’aan
- We have 30 juz, each juz is divided into 2 hizb, and each hizb is divided into 4 parts. Each quarter hizb is about 2 and a half pages.
- Is dividing the Qur’aan a bid’ah? If you are not worshipping or adding to the worship of Allah something strange, it is not bid’ah. This is facilitation, to make something easier. The same with the dots added to the arabic script.
The Way of the Companions
- Aws ibn Hudhayfa asked the companions how they divided the Qur’aan, and they said 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and the rest [abu dawood, ibn majaah]. This means it was divided into seven parts, from fatiha to nisa, then the next 5 make the next 7th, then the next 7 make the next 7th, then the next 9 make the next 7th, then the next 11 make the next 11th, and then the next 13 make the next 7th.
- On average, the sahabah completed the Qur’aan in 7 days.
Who Arranged the Qur’aan
- The Messenger put it in their order, although it was not compiled in one book in his time, it was abu bakr who compiled the qur’aan as well as uthmaan, but it was the Prophet who told them what order to put everything in.
- Some scholars hold the opinion that when reciting in prayer, you shouldn’t go back to earlier surahs.
- One of the reciters of the Qur’aan, Hamza, had no bismillah in his Qur’aan, and he considered it one long surah.
- Scholars differed as to whether Bismillaah is part of the Qur’aan.
Quiz
1. Give two differences between a miracle and karama? Sahi Baba in India claimed to be present in two locations at a time. Is that a karama? Bonus: give one example of a karama (we didn’t mention this in class?)
2. You are making daawah to a Christian. He asks you what is so special about Quran, what makes it a miracle? Which two miracles would you mention?
3. Mention one historical miracle and one scientific miracle from the quran? Provide the references as well
4. Give the levels of challenge: Quran, 10 surahs,….?
5. Describe how the linguistic meanings of surah and ayah apply in the context of shariah?
6. A non muslim comes to you and show you two copies of Quran and shows you tat surah 76 has two different names in each. How will you respond?
7. Name any 2 surahs which were names by the prophet
8. What is the first whole surah to be revealed? What’s the lat one?
9. How many makki surahs and how many are madni?
10. While reciting the quran, is it ok for me to recite surah an-nasr and then an-naas? How about reciting surah an-nasr and then surah mulk? Why
Answers:
1. i. Miracle is exclusive to the prophets while karama happens to the pious people
ii. Miracle is often on demand or predicted while this may not be the case for karamats.
Karamats can only happen with the pious believers, hence any other kufar who claims to show miracle is in fact just using the jins to accomplish that
Example of Karamats: Khalid bin Waleed drank poison when he challenged musallama. Another example would be Saad bin abi waqas and army walking on water?
2. Some of the things you can mention is:
a. Preservation: How Quran is preserved unlike Bible and other books. We even know the narrators of the Quran
b. Quran’s challenge hasn’t been answered yet i.e. no one has been able to come up with something similar to it
It is recommended to not talk about the scientific miracles because you never know if in future they will be refuted or not
3. Historical Miracles:
a. Prediction that Romans will win (30:2-4)
b. Surah yousuf the king is referred to as Malik and not Pharoh
Scientific Miracles:
a. Waves upon waves: Nur:40
b. Barrier between salt water and fresh water 55:19-20
c. Verses from Surah Naba
4. Quran, 10 surahs, 1 surah, produce something similar
5. Surah: 1. elevation – elevate you through the reward you earn 2. Wall – separate the verses into surahs
Ayah: sign – Every Ayah is a sign from Allah
6. Only Some of the surahs were named by the prophet
7. Surah Bakrah, AleImran
8. Mudaththir and an-Nasr
9. 82 are Makki, 20 are Madani, and difference of opinion on 12
10. Yes for the first case because the prophet himself recited surah bakrah and then surah nisa. For the second case, some scholars dislike going back in order.
Length of Revelation
Time to Reveal: 23 years
Why didn’t Allah reveal it all at once? Allah could have revealed it all at once, as He can do everything.
The Torah was sent down piece by piece. Why did Musa take 40 days to come down from his meeting with Allah?
Lessons
- This is a mercy from Allah (Rahmah): When something happens and an ayaah is revealed addressing that incident, the people will have better understanding, and those ayaat will stick to their minds.
- There were commandments that were gradually enforced rather than all it once to ease people into practicing the law rather than going cold turkey.
- Another reason was to comfort the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, in Surah Furqaan:32 Allah said, “Thus, to comfort and assure your heart.” This was a response to the kuffaar who asked him why everything was not revealed at once.
- Also, think of the people who say, they saw a dream or a vision, and it helped them, now imagine what it means when you’re receiving wahy from Allah, and the comfort one would receive from that.
- It was also sent according to topic or pieces so that it was easier to memorize, understand, and implement.
- Imagine in college if all four years of a college education were crunched into one year, how many would pass? They would all fail. But if you take your time, it’s easier.
To Summarize:
- Assuring the heart of the Messenger
- To challenge the disbelievers: every time they tried to bring a new argument, Allah would destroy their argument. “And they don’t come down with any parable except that we came down with a better example…” [reference needed]
- Easing its memorization and understanding
- Easier to implement and respond to (prayer, then fasting, then zakaat, etc)
- Humoring the incidents and gradual legislation: For example, incident with aisha.
Makkan vs Madinan Surahs
Makki: Surahs before hijra
Madani: Surahs during and after Hijrah
Characteristics of Makkan Surahs
- Focused on Tawheed: This is what you start daw’ah with – the Oneness of Allah, before anything else.
- Warning Against Shirk
- Eloquence in style, words, and meanings: Anytime you find eloquent responses and challenges, likely Makkan. For example, if idolators reject, Allah would respond with the punishment of the previous nations.
- Refuting the suspicions of the idolators: Allah responds to the false allegations and arguments of the kuffaar.
- Every ayaah has the word “Nay” or “Kalla!”
- Short sentences in general: Not all short surahs are makkan, but most are.
Characteristics of the Madinan Surahs
- Calling for Jihaad: Muslims were told to restrain themselves in Makkah, but in Madinah they were granted permission to fight back against those who oppressed them.
- Explaining the details of the rulings of Islam
- Exposure of the hypocrites: any surah discussing hypocrites is a madinan surah because in Makkah, being a believer was a disadvantage, whereas in Madinah, the Muslims became strong and people wanted to be muslim.
- Longer ayaat
- Easier style with details
Benefits of Knowing the Difference
- Helps in Interpretation of the Qur’aan: It will help you understand how to better implement the Qur’aan in your life and context, and it will help you understand if something is still valid or not.
- Knowing the Seerah of the Messenger: His life is documented here, and we know what happened in Makkah and what happened in Madinah.
- Appreciating the different styles of the qur’aan, which helps us appreciate how to approach different people when making daw’ah to them.
Ibn Taymiyyah said, “Whoever lived in a land in which he’s weak in it or in a time of weakness, then let him implement the ayaah of patience and forgiveness, but the strong people should apply the ayaah of fighting the disbelievers.” [Drawn Sword Against the Offender of the Messenger 1/224]
Makki or Madani
- 5:1 – Madinan
- 53:19-21 – Makkan
- 48:27 – Madinan
- 5:3 – Madinan
Reasons of Revelation
Ayaat are divided into two categories:
- Revealed initially without a previous reason, but for further instructions and commands: Most ayaat revealed this way.
- An incident that occurs, and so the ayaah is revealed to bring further clarification.
- To answer a question: the question of ashaab ul kahf
- An incident needs clarification and a ruling: ‘Abasa, where Allah tells the Muhammad to go to the sincere and poor rather than the kuffaar and rich.
- Something Allah wants to caution the believers against / something Allah wants the Muslims to avoid: Allah revealed the ayaat of jihaad, telling people not to throw themselves into destruction by abandoning jihaad.
Benefit of Knowing the Reason of Revelation
- Proving that the Qur’aan is from Allah: Sometimes the Messenger had the answer, and sometimes he did not have it right away and had to wait for the revelation.
- Defending the Messenger
- Showing the Mercy of Allah: Tayammum was revealed when there was no water during traveling.
- Understanding the ayaah correctly: why did Allah reveal a specific ruling – a man asked, what should I do if I see another man on my wife? should I go and get four witnesses?
Recording the Qur’aan
During the Prophetic Era
Specific companions of the Prophet would scribe the wahy. Their job was to write down the ayaat were revealed because writing is not common. He himself could not write it down because he was not literate.
- Zayd ibn Thaabit
- Ali ibn abi Talib
- Ubay ibn Ka’ab
- Muawiyah
- and many others
Til today, some nonMuslims claim the Qur’aan is like the bible, it wasn’t written til long afterwards which is untrue, it was written immediately upon revelation.
Hadeeth Muawiyah: the Prophet sent for him, and he was eating, and then the person was sent again, and he came back saying, he’s eating, and he said, he’s eating too much, may he not get full =) This is a du’aa.
the materials for recording included rocks, bones, tree bark, etc.
The Companions would also memorize the Qur’aan, and many companions did so, not just a few. In one battle, 70 of the full huffadh were killed in a battle. Some memorizers:
- Abu Bakr
- Umar
- uthman
- ali
- ubai ibn ka’ab
When the qur’aan was put together, was it arranged according to the order of revelation? It wasn’t, the Prophet himself instructed the Companions on the ordering. it is not correct to re-arrange it back according to the order of revelation.
After the Death of the Messenger
- The Companions used to memorize the Qur’aan, so they didn’t worry about documenting the Qur’aan til the battle of yamaama against musaylimah the liar, in which many of the qur’a were martyred.
- ‘Umar advised Abu Bakr to document the Qur’aan, so Abu Bakr established a committee to compile the Qur’aan into one book, headed by Zayd ibn Thaabit.
- Zayd ibn thaabit confirmed each ayaah with two witnesses from those who scribed the wahy. This was called al mushaf al jamee’a.
- The last two ayaahs he memorized, and he found it with only one companion, khuzayma ibn thaabit. His testimony was made by the Prophet worth two people because a bedouin denied a transaction the prophet made and khuzayma said, no I saw the transaction you made with the Prophet. The prophet said later to him, how can you testify when you weren’t there, and he said, I testify that you receive revelation, how can I not testify that you are telling the truth here? so the prophet said his testimony was made worth two men.
- this mus-haf was kept as a reference. when abu bakr died, it was given to ‘umar.
- During uthmaan’s caliphate, things changed. When ‘umar died, the mus-haf went to hafsa.
- Hudhayfa ibn al Yamama went to armenia and heard two people disputing on the qira’a of one ayaah, and they were telling one that the other was reading it wrong. He was afraid because they were disputing about the words. So he went to Uthmaan went back and told him he has to do something about this before people start fighting about this.
- Uthmaan brought the original mus-haf and had 6 copies made and distributed them in the regions (headed by Zayd ibn Thaabit). This was done because there were differences that were confusing people, so they said, burn all other copies except this one. Ibn Mas’ood refused because he wrote it and recited it to the prophet. Later, for the sake of unity, he destroyed it.
- Since that time, we have mus-haf al-uthmaani, the script approved by the Prophet. The only difference between this mus-haf and the original of abu bakr is that abu bakr’s could be recited different ways.
- These copies didn’t have any vowels (harakaat) or vowels.
Quiz and Answers
1. Mention 3 reasons why Allah did not reveal the entire Quran at once?
2. Is this a characteristic of a Makki or a Madani Surah?
a. Long ayaats and long surahs
b. Warning against shirk
c. Every ayat that has the work ‘nay’ or ‘kallah’ in it.
d. Legislations – explaining the rulings of Islam
e. Exposure of the hypocrites
f. Easy style with details
3. True/False
a. All the ayaats were revealed with a previous reason.
b. Only 30 huffadh were killed in a battle that led to the compilation of the Quran.
c. Abu Bakr established a committee to compile the Qur’aan into one book, headed by Zayd ibn Thaabit.
d. Uthman brought the original mushaf and made 8 copies of it to be distributed.
e. Prophet made the testimony of Khuzaima bin thabit worth 2 people.
f. Zayd ibn Thaabit didn’t accept an ayah without 3 witnesses who scribed the wahy.
g. The original mushaf written at the time of Abu-bakr was kept with Ali and then to Hafsa (daughter of Omar)
Answers
1.
1. Assuring the heart of the Messenger
2. To challenge the disbelievers: every time they tried to bring a new argument, Allah would destroy their argument. “And they don’t come down with any parable except that we came down with a better example…”
3. Easing its memorization and understanding
4. Easier to implement and respond to (prayer, then fasting, then zakaat, etc)
5. Humoring the incidents and gradual legislation: For example, incident with Aisha.
2.
a. Madani
b. Makki
c. Makki
d. Madani
e. Madani
f. Madani
3.
a. False- some ayaats were revealed with no previous reason.
b. False- 70
c. True
d. False- 6 copies
e. True
f. False- 2
g. False- kept with Omar then passed to Hafsa
Fundamental and Allegorical (Similar) Ayaat (al Muhkam w’al Mutashaabih)
- “It is He who sent down to you the Book. In it are ayaat that are entirely clear – they are the foundations of the Book. And others not entirely clear. So as for those in whose hearts there is deviation, they follow that which is not entirely clear, seeking al-Fitna” [3:7]
- Alif Laam Raa A Book whose ayaat are fundamental and are also detailed [11:1]
- Allah is the one who sent down the best of speech, it is a book with similar ayaat [39:23]
Some would look at these ayaahs and become confused because there appears to be a contradiction among the three ayaat. So how should we understand this?
The Qur’aan is divided into types from this perspective:
- The general “ihkaam”: from these angles, all ayaat are clear
- The eloquence and fluency in all the ayaat of the Qur’aan
- All the news in the Qur’aan is true: No amendments to these ayaat
- No lies or ill speech in the Qur’aan
- The general “Similarity”: From the angles listed below, all ayaat are similar
- All ayaat are similar in that they’re from Allah
- All ayaat are similar in their value, truthfulness, and perfection.
- The specific “Ihkaam” and “Similarity”: From the angle of being specific, some are clear, some similar
- Specific Ihkaam: The interpretation of the ayaats (eg verses of wudu)
- Specific Similarity: The meaning is unclear to many people (eg what’s the meaning of al-’adiyaat?)
The question has to be asked, do you mean general or specific muhkaam and mutashaabih – generally speaking, if a question is asked, you must determine from what angle the question is to be addressed if there are several possibilities.
Keep this story in mind everytime someone talks about the Qur’aan:
During the time of the Prophet, two people disputed about the meaning of the Qur’aan. He saw them arguing, the Companions described the anger on his face as his complexion being dark red. He told them, “Follow what you understand and leave what you don’t understand.”
Question: If the Qur’aan was sent for guidance, why would Allah send Ayaahs that are unclear? Yes, because if one reads ayaah 3:7, Allah states that there exist ayaat which no one will understand, and those grounded in knowledge, those who have true iman, accept both those they understand and those they don’t. This is a test for the believers.
Types of Mutashaabih
- Real Mutashaabih: No one wil be able to understand them.
- Partial Mutashaabih: Some people will find it difficult to understand them, others will understand them.
Dealing with the Mutashaabih
- Always approach the ayaat with certain belief that you will follow them, no matter what. There should not be doubts in your heart.
- If a person of knowledge says to you that an ayaah is mutashaabih, don’t take this as a license to say the Qur’aan is wrong or doubtful. Instead, we remember ayaah 3:7 and the advice of the Prophet on unclear verses. Why? While it is legitimate to seek knowledge, Allah has defined the limit for us and made clear there are certain areas in which the knowledge is beyond our ability, and we follow Allah’s advice in dealing with these ayaat.
Interpreters of the Qur’aan
From the Companions
- Ali ibn abi Taalib
- Ibn Abbas: called tarjumaan al qur’aan (interpreter of the qur’aan) and the Prophet prayed for him to have understanding of the religion and the qur’aan.
- Ibn Mas’ood: he said he knows no one who knows more about the Qur’aan than him, and if someone knew more about an ayaah of the Qur’aan than him, he would go traveling to him.
- Ubay ibn ka’b: rabbi who converted to Islam.
From the Successors: Most narrations come from them on Tafseer
- Makkah: Mujaahid, Ikrima, Ata’ ibn abi Rabah
- Kufa: Qatada, alqama, and asha’bi
- Madeenah: Abu al-Aliyah, Zayd ibn Aslam
Interpreting the Qur’aan
The steps for interpreting the Qur’aan is as follows:
- The Qur’aan: A general ayaah can be explained by a more specific ayaah.
- The Sunnah: The Qur’aan states the Prophet was sent to explain the Qur’aan.
- The Companions: present when it was revealed and understand the context of revelation.
- The Successors: Most of the tafseer taken from the Companions went to the successors. Mujaahid went through the Qur’aan ayaah by ayaah 3 times with ibn abbas.
- The Arabic Language (eg 5:6, do we wash up to and not including the elbows, or do we include the elbows? how much of the hand is chopped off for the thief?)
The Prophet warned us that whoever interprets the Qur’aan with his own desires rather than with knowledge, even if someone interprets the Qur’aan correctly, let him choose his place in the Hellfire.
Quiz and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Muhkam? Mutashabah?
2. Quran is divided into how many types from the aspect of clear/unclear ayat? Name the types.
3. Explain the general Ihkam.
4. What is the Prophet Muhammad’s (sallahuAlayheWasallam) advice to those who cannot interpret the Quran?
5. Who was given the title, “Interpreter of the Quran”?
6. Name two students of Ibn Masood, and what was their location?
7. List 5 steps to interpreting the Quran?
Answers
1. Muhkam: entirely clear; Mutashabah: not entirely clear
2. Three: The general Ihkam, The general Similarity, and the specific Ihkam and Similarity.
3. All the ayat of the Quran are eloquent and fluent. All news in the Quran is true (clear) and there are no lies or ill speech in the Quran.
4. He (sallahuAlayheWasallam) said, “Do not contradict the ayat of the Quran. Read what you don’t understand and follow what you understand.”
5. Ibn Abbas
6. Qatada, Alqama, and Asha’bi in Kufa
7. Quran itself-the primary source, sunnah of the messenger (sallahuAlayheWasallam), the companions of the messenger, the successors of the companions, and the language.
Tafseer
- Tafseer is described in Arabic as ‘Bayyan ma’ani Al Quran’ which can be translated to ‘Explaining the meaning of the Quran’.
The Source for Tafsir
- The best method to explain the Quran is through the Quran itself in the sense what is mentioned in one place in the Quran is explained in another
- It is in the Sunnah that one can find these links because one of the purposes of the Sunnah is to explain the Quran.
وَمَاۤ اَنۡزَلۡنَا عَلَيۡكَ الۡـكِتٰبَ اِلَّا لِتُبَيِّنَ لَهُمُ الَّذِىۡ اخۡتَلَـفُوۡا فِيۡهِۙ وَهُدًى وَّرَحۡمَةً لِّـقَوۡمٍ يُّؤۡمِنُوۡنَ﴿۶۴﴾ English Qaribullah: We have not revealed to you (Prophet Muhammad) the Book except that you may clarify for them that upon which they differ, and as guidance and mercy to a nation who believe. [16:64]
- If it cannot be found in the Quran and Sunnah, one turns to the statement of Companions for they witnessed the situations and incident that we do not witness
The most particularly noticed among them include the four right guided Khalifahs, Abdullah ibn Masud and Abdullah bin Abbas
- Sometime, there would be differences in Tafsir between the Salaf which are more of differences of variation than of contradictions. There are different types of differences:
1. Differences in Expression of the same idea
2. Differences in Illustration of the same word
3. Statements regarding revelatory background in the sense for which incident was it revealed
4. Differences Due to Ambiguity is due to an Arabic word having to possible meanings
5. Differences in the Choice of Words in the sense two different salaf would use words for explanation that are similar but not synonymous
6. Difference in opinion
- Sometimes book of Hadith also mention Israelite accounts and this is allowed due to the following statement of the Prophet (saw)
“Convey on my behalf, even it is one Ayah (sentence) and narrate from the Children of Israel, as there is no sin in this. And whoever intentionally lies on me, let him assume his assured seat in the Fire” [Bukhari: Fath Al Bari 6:572]
- Even then Israelite accounts should not be used as evidence themselves but only as supporting evidence. There are three types of these accounts and tales:
1. A kind that we are sure is authentic because we have in our religion something that testifies to its truth
2. A kind in which what we know to be false based on what we have
3. A kind which we cannot authenticate nor prove it to be false
- When we are unable to find the Tafsir in the Quran, the Sunnah or with the Companions, the scholars then look to the Tafsir of the Tabi’in (second generation of Islam). Among them, we have:
Mujahid bin Jabr; Sa’id bin Jubayr; Ikrimah – freed slave of Ibn Abbas; Ata’ bin Abi Rabah, Al Hasan Al-Basri; Masruq bin Al-Ajda; Sa’id bin Al Musayyib; Abu Al-‘Aliyah; Ar-Rabi bin Anas, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak bin Muzahim, etc.
- It is forbidden to attempt Tafsir on mere opinions and it is equally forbidden to attempt to explain what one has no knowledge of:
Muhammad bin Jarir reported that Ibn Abbas said that the Prophet (saw) said, “Whoever explains the Quran with his opinion or with what he has no knowledge of, then let him assume his seat in the Fire.” [At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa’i, Abu Dawud] [Hasan hadith]
Tafseer of Surah Al Fatiha (Chapter 1)
Revealed in Makkah
سُوۡرَةُ الفَاتِحَة
بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ﴿۱﴾
اَلۡحَمۡدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الۡعٰلَمِيۡنَۙ﴿٢﴾ الرَّحۡمٰنِ الرَّحِيۡمِۙ﴿۳﴾ مٰلِكِ يَوۡمِ الدِّيۡنِؕ﴿۴﴾ اِيَّاكَ نَعۡبُدُ وَاِيَّاكَ نَسۡتَعِيۡنُؕ﴿۵﴾ اِهۡدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الۡمُسۡتَقِيۡمَۙ﴿٦﴾ صِرَاطَ الَّذِيۡنَ اَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَيۡهِمۡۙ غَيۡرِ الۡمَغۡضُوۡبِ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا الضَّآلِّيۡنَ﴿٧﴾
Translation
The Opening
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Most Merciful [1]
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, [2] the Merciful, the Most Merciful [3] Master of the Day of Recompense. [4] You (alone) we worship; and You (alone) we rely for help. [5] Guide us to the Straight Path, [6] the Path of those upon whom You have favored, not those upon whom is the anger, nor the astray.[7]
Meaning and Names
- This is surah is commonly known as Al-Fatiha (The Opening) but it has many other names used by the Prophet (saw) himself.
- It is also called Umm Al-Kitab (the Mother of the Book), the Seven Repeated Ayat of the Quran, Al Hamd, As-Salah, and Ar-Ruqyah (Remedy)
Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah (swt) said “Al-Hamdu lillahi Rabiil-‘Alamin is the Mother of the Quran, the Mother of the Book, and the seven repeated Ayat of the Glorious Quran” [At-Tirmidhi]
It is narrated by Abu Sa’id that he telling the story of the Companion who used Al-Fatihah as a remedy for the chief who was poisoned. Later, the Messenger of Allah (saw) said to a Companion, “How did you know that it is a Ruqyah?” [Saheeh]
Virtues of Al-Fatihah
- It is said that this Surah contains the meaning of the Quran
- It is the cure as confirmed with the story mentioned in the hadith above
- It is a pillar in the prayer as it must read in all prayers
- It is the greatest Surah in the Quran
Abu Hurayrah reported from Ubayy bin Ka’b who said that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “All has never revealed in the Tawrah or the Injil anything similar to Umm Al-Quran. It is the seven repeated verse and it is divided into two halves between Allah and His servant.” [At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa’i]
The prophet (saw) called once called over Abu Sa’id bin Al-Mu’alla and told him, “I will teach you the greatest Surah in the Quran before you leave the Musjid.” He held his hand and when he was about to leave the Musjid, Abu Sa’id said ‘O messenger of Allah! You said: I will teach you the greatest Surah in the Quran.’ He said, “Yes, it is the seven repeated verses and glorious Quran that I was given” [Al Bukhari, Abu Dawud, An Nasai and Ibn Majah]
Ibn ‘Abbas said, “While Jibril was with the Messenger of Allah (saw), he heard a noise from above. Jibril lifted his sight to the sky and said, “This is a door in heaven being open, and it is never been opened before now. Any angel descended from that door and came to the Prophet (saw) and said “Receive the glad tidings of two lights that you have been give, which no other Prophet before you was give: the Opening of the Book and the last three Ayah of Surah Al-Baqarah. You will not read a letter of them, but will gain its benefit.” [Muslim]
Al-Fatihah in Prayer
Abu Hurayrah said that the Prophet (saw) said, “Whoever performs any prayer in which he did not read Umm Al-Quran, then his prayer is incomplete.” He said it thrice.
Abu Hurayrah was asked, “[When] we stand behind the Imam?” He said, “Read it to yourself, for I heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) say “All, the Exalted, said, ‘I have divided the prayer (Al-Fatihah) into two halves between Myself and My servant, and My servant shall have what he asks for.”
If he says,
اَلۡحَمۡدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الۡعٰلَمِيۡنَۙ﴿۲﴾
All praise and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of existence [1:2]
Allah says, ‘My servant has praised Me.’
When the servant says,
الرَّحۡمٰنِ الرَّحِيۡمِۙ﴿۳﴾
The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful [1:3]
Allah says, ‘My servant has glorified Me’
When he says,
مٰلِكِ يَوۡمِ الدِّيۡنِؕ﴿۴﴾
The Owner of the Day of Recompense[1:4]
All says, ‘My servant has related all matters to Me’
When he says,
اِيَّاكَ نَعۡبُدُ وَاِيَّاكَ نَسۡتَعِيۡنُؕ﴿۵﴾
You (alone) we worship, and You (alone) we ask for help [1:5}
Allah says, ‘This is between me and My servant, and My servant shall acquire what he sought’
When he says,
اِهۡدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الۡمُسۡتَقِيۡمَۙ﴿6﴾ صِرَاطَ الَّذِيۡنَ اَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَيۡهِمۡۙ غَيۡرِ الۡمَغۡضُوۡبِ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا الضَّآلِّيۡنَ﴿7﴾
Guide use to the straight path. The way of those on whom You have granted Your grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray [1:6-7]
Allah says, ‘This is for My servant, and My servant shall acquire what he asked for.’” [Muslim]
The Tafsir of Isti’adhah (seeking Refuge)
- Allah commanded that we be lenient human enemy, so that his soft nature might make him an ally and a supporter. He also commanded that we seek refuge from the satanic enemy, because the devil does not relent in this enmity if we treat him with kindness and lenience in the ayah [7:199-200], [23:96-98] and [41:34-36]
- The devil only seeks the destruction of the Son of Adam due to the vicious enmity and hatred he has always had towards man’s father, Adam. We must seek refuge in Allah (swt) from shaytan for shaytan declared that he will mislead us all except for those chosen [38:82-83] and also because Allah (swt) commands us to do so before reciting Quran Al Kareem [16:98-100]
- Seeking Refuge should also be done when in a state of anger
Sulayman bin Surad said, “Two men disputed in the presence of the Prophet (saw) while we were sitting with him. One of them was cursing the other fellow and his face turned red due to anger. The Prophet (saw) said, “I know of a statement which if he said it, will make what he feels disappear:
الرجيم الشيطان من بالله أعوذ
The say to the man, “Do you near hear what the Messenger of Allah is saying?” He said, “I am not insane” [Bukhari and Muslim]
Virtues of the Isti’adhah
- Cleanses the mouth from the foul speech that it has indulged in
- Purifies the mouth and prepares it to recite the speech of Allah
- Entails seeking Allah’s help and acknowledging His ability to do everything
- Affirms the servant’s meekness, weakness and inability to face the enemy of his inner evil, whom Allah alone, Who created this enemy, is able to repel and defeat [17:65]
- A form of drawing closer to Allah and seeking refuge with Him from the evil of every evil creature.
Meaning of Isti’adhah
- “I seek refuge with Allah from the cursed Satan so that he is prevented from affecting my religious or worldly affairs, or hindering me from adhering to what I was commanded, or luring me into what I was prohibited from”
- Allah (swt allows us to be lenient and kind with the human devil, so that his soft nature might cause him to refrain from the evil he is indulging in. However, Allah commands us to seek refuge with him from the evil of Satan, for he is pure evil and only Allah can fight pure evil
وَلَا تَسۡتَوِىۡ الۡحَسَنَةُ وَ لَا السَّيِّئَةُ ؕ ادۡفَعۡ بِالَّتِىۡ هِىَ اَحۡسَنُ فَاِذَا الَّذِىۡ بَيۡنَكَ وَبَيۡنَهٗ عَدَاوَةٌ كَاَنَّهٗ وَلِىٌّ حَمِيۡمٌ﴿۳۴﴾ وَمَا يُلَقّٰٮهَاۤ اِلَّا الَّذِيۡنَ صَبَرُوۡاۚ وَمَا يُلَقّٰٮهَاۤ اِلَّا ذُوۡ حَظٍّ عَظِيۡمٍ﴿۳۵﴾ وَاِمَّا يَنۡزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ الشَّيۡطٰنِ نَزۡغٌ فَاسۡتَعِذۡ بِاللّٰهِؕ اِنَّهٗ هُوَ السَّمِيۡعُ الۡعَلِيۡمُ﴿۳۶﴾
English Qaribullah: Good and evil deeds are not equal. Repel with that which is most just, and see, the one whom there is enmity between you will be as if he were a loyal guide. But none will receive it except those who are patient and, none shall receive it, except he who has a great share. If a provocation from satan should provoke you, seek refuge in Allah. He is the Hearer, the Knower. [41:34-36]
- Shaytan is derived from Shatana (something far, far from the path, rebel) and Shata (burned}
- Ar-Rajim means being expelled from all types of righteousness. It can also mean the person who throws or bombards things also the devil throws doubts and evil thoughts in people’s heart.
Abu Dharr said that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “O Abu Dharr! Seek refuge with Allah from the devils of mankind and the Jinns.” Abu Dharr said, “I asked him (saw), ‘Are there human devils?’ He said, “Yes”. [Ahmad]
Bismillah is the First Ayah of Al-Fatihah
- There is an opinion that Bimillah is an Ayah for every Sura except Al Bara’ah (chapter 9). This opinion is taken by Ibn ‘Abbas, Ibn Umar, Ibn Az-Zubayr, Abu Hurayrah, Ali, Ashafi’e.
- There is an opinion that is is not an Ayah in al-Fatihah or any other Surah. This position is taken by Malik and Abu Hanifah
- There is the opinion that it is a separate ayah in the beginning of every Surah and this opinion is taken by Dawud.
- As for reciting it aloud, Ashafi’e says that we should and the following hadith supports this statement:
It is recorded that Anas bin Malik was asked about the recitation of the Prophet (saw). He said, “His recitation was unhurried.” He then demonstrated that and recited, while lengthening the recitation of Bimillah Ar’Rahman Ar’Rahim.” [Bukhari]
- Other scholars tated that Bismillah should not be recited aloud in the prayer, and this is the established practice of the four Khalifahs, Abu Hanifah, Ath-Thaqri and Ahmad bin Hanbal
The virtue of Bismillah
Usamah bin Umayr said, “I was riding behind the Prophet and the Prophet’s anima tripped, so I said, ‘Cursed Shaytan.’ The prophet (saw) said, “Do not these words, because then Satan becomes larger; as large as a house. Rather say, ‘Bismillah,’ because Satan then becomes as small as a fly.” [An-Nasai]
- Due to this hadith, Basmalah is recommended before starting any action or deed.
The Meaning of “Allah”
هُوَ اللّٰهُ الَّذِىۡ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا هُوَۚ عٰلِمُ الۡغَيۡبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِۚ هُوَ الرَّحۡمٰنُ الرَّحِيۡمُ﴿۲۲﴾ هُوَ اللّٰهُ الَّذِىۡ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا هُوَۚ اَلۡمَلِكُ الۡقُدُّوۡسُ السَّلٰمُ الۡمُؤۡمِنُ الۡمُهَيۡمِنُ الۡعَزِيۡزُ الۡجَـبَّارُ الۡمُتَكَبِّرُؕ سُبۡحٰنَ اللّٰهِ عَمَّا يُشۡرِكُوۡنَ﴿۲۳﴾ هُوَ اللّٰهُ الۡخَـالِـقُ الۡبَارِئُ الۡمُصَوِّرُلَـهُ الۡاَسۡمَآءُ الۡحُسۡنٰىؕ يُسَبِّحُ لَهٗ مَا فِىۡ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالۡاَرۡضِۚ وَهُوَ الۡعَزِيۡزُ الۡحَكِيۡمُ﴿۲۴﴾
English Qaribullah: He is Allah, there is no god except He. He knows the Unseen and the Visible. He is the Merciful, the Most Merciful. He is Allah, there is no god except He. He is the King, the Pure, the Peace, the Confirmer, the Watchful, the Almighty, the Compeller, the Sublime. Exalted is Allah, above all that they associate! He is Allah, the Creator, the Originator, the Shaper. To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names. All that is in the heavens and earth exalt Him. He is the Almighty, the Wise. [59:22-24]
- Similarity it is recorded that Abut Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said “Allah has ninety-nine Names, one hundred minus one, whoever counts (and preserves) them, will enter Paradise.” [Muslim and Bukhari]
http://www.islamicity.com/Mosque/99names.htm contains the 99 names of Allah, inshallah
The Meaning of Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim – The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
- Ar-Rahman and Ar-Rahim are two names derived from Ar-Rahmah (the mercy), but Rahman is the softer of the two, meaning it carries more implication of mercy.
- This name of Ar-Rahman is a name exclusively his and no others.
The Meaning of Al-Hamd
- To say this is that all thanks are due purely Allah alone and not any of the objects that are being worshipped instead of Him, nor any of His creation.
- We are thanking Allah (swt) for his many favors and bounties that only He knows the amount of
- Hamd is a statement of praise for Allah’s characteristic as opposed to thanks, which is just for what was done, which is sometime just an singular act
- The Al before Hamd serve to encompass all types of thanks and appreciation for Allah
Musa bin Ibrahim bin Kathir related that Talhah bin Khirash said that Jabir bin ‘Abdullah said that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “The best Dhikr is La ilaha illaLlah and the best supplication is Al-Hamdu Lillah” [An-Nasa’i and Ar-Tirmidhi]
The Meaning of Ar-Rabb and Al-‘Alamin
- Ar-Rabb is the owner who has full authority of his property.
- Ar-Rabb, linguistically, means the master or the one who has the authority to lead.
- Used by itself, it refers to Allah (swt).
- Al-‘Alamin is the plural for ‘Alam, which encompasses everything in existence except Allah which in itself is a plural word.
- Alam include all that Allah has created with a soul, which does not include the animals.
- This ayah is a statement of warning, a reminder who is your Master.
The Meaning of Maliki Yawm Ad-Din
- Malik means owner, reminding us that Allah owns everything in this world and everything besides it.
- Yawm means the Day. The day of what? The day of Ad-Din, the reckoning, the reward or punishment.
- No one would dare to say that he is the owner of the Day of Judgment except Allah (swt) showing his power and reality
The Meaning of İyyake na’büdü wa iyyake nesteıyn
- İyyake na’büdü: You alone do we worship
It is you who we sing out, whom we fear and Whom we hope in , You alone, our Lord and none else
Tawhid Al-Uluhiyyah
- iyyake nesteıyn: You ask for help from
To obey you and in all of our affairs, commanding us to perform sincere worship for Him and to seek his aid concerning all of our affairs.
Tawhid Ar-Rububiyyah
The Meaning of İhdinas sıratal müstekıym
- Guide us to the straight path meaning guid, direct, lead and grant us the correct guidance.
- We are all guided in everything that we do, for it is by Allah’s grace that the baby knows how to breast freed and that smokers what they do is evil
This alone is not enough to stop the smokers for not everyone avoid evil or embrace what is beautiful
- It is Allah that allows us to believer, so it is Him we must ask.
Definition of the Straight Path
An-Nawwas bin Sam’an said that the Prophet said, “Allah has set an example: a Sirat that is surrounded by two walls on both sides, with several open doors within the walls covered with curtains. There is a caller on the gate of the Sirat who heralds, ‘O people! State on the path and do not deviate from it.’ Meanwhile, a caller from above the path is also warning any person who wants to open any of these doors, ‘Woe unto you! Do not open it, f or if you open it you will pass through.’ The straight path is Islam, the two walls are Allah’s set limit, while the doors resemble what Allah has prohibited. The call on the gate of the Sirat is the Book of Allah, while the caller above the Sirat is Allah’s admonishment is in the heart of every Muslim.” [Ahmad]
The Meaning of Sıratallezine en’amte aleyhim ğayril mağdubi aleyhim ve ladaa’ leen
- The Path of those upon whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not those upon whom is the anger, nor the astray.
- Means guide unto the straight path, the path of those upon you have bestowed Your grace, that is the people of guidance, sincerity and obedience to Allah and His Messengers. Help us to avoid the path of those whom Allah is angry with, who intentions are corrupt, who know the truth, yet deviate from it (Jews). Also help us avoid the path of those who were led astray, who lost the true knowledge and, as a result, are wandering in misguidance, unable to find the correct path (Christians)
- There is an ayah in Surah An-Nisa that describe these four people of Allah’s favor:
وَمَنۡ يُّطِعِ اللّٰهَ وَالرَّسُوۡلَ فَاُولٰٓٮِٕكَ مَعَ الَّذِيۡنَ اَنۡعَمَ اللّٰهُ عَلَيۡهِمۡ مِّنَ النَّبِيّٖنَ وَالصِّدِّيۡقِيۡنَ وَالشُّهَدَآءِ وَالصّٰلِحِيۡنَۚ وَحَسُنَ اُولٰٓٮِٕكَ رَفِيۡقًاؕ﴿۶۹﴾ ذٰلِكَ الۡـفَضۡلُ مِنَ اللّٰهِؕ وَكَفٰى بِاللّٰهِ عَلِيۡمًا﴿۷۰﴾
English Qaribullah: Whosoever obeys Allah, and the Messenger, they are with those whom Allah has favored, the Prophets, the sincere, the martyrs and the righteous, and these are the best company. This is the Bounty of Allah. It is sufficient that Allah is the Knowledgeable. [4:69 – 70]
Saying Amin
- It is recommended to say Amin after finishing th recitation of Al-Fatihah
- Amin means “Oh Allah! Accept our invocation.”
Wa’il bin Hujr said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) recite [the end of Fatihah] and he said Amin extending it with his voice.” [Ahmad, Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi]
Quiz and Answers
1. List 6 names of Surat at Fatiha?
2. Why is Surat al Fatiha called Umm Al-Kitab?
3. Is the recitation of Surat Al-Fatiha in salah, a recommended or required act?
4. What is opinion of Ash Shafi, regarding bismillah and Surat Al-Fatiha?
5. What is the difference between Ar-Rahmaan and Ar-Rahim?
6. Al-Hamd necessitates: ___________, ___________, and ___________.
7. Scholars say the whole meaning of Quran is in Surat Fatiha, and the whole meaning of Surah Fatiha is in these 2 words: __________ and ___________.
8. As Muslims why do we ask for guidance?
9. Name 4 people (type) who Allah bestowed his grace upon?
Answers
1. Umm Al-Kitab or Umm Al-Quran, As-Salah, Ar-Ruqyah, Ash-Shifa, Al-Hamd, and Sabu’ Mathani (7 repeated Ayat of the Quran)
2. It is called Umm Al-Kitab because the Quran starts with it and prayer is started by reciting it. Also because it is said that it contains the meanings of the entire Quran.
3. Required act. The Messenger of Allah said, “There is no prayer for whoever does not recite the Opening of the Book.”
4. According to Ash Shafi, Bismillah is an Ayah of every surah including Surat Al-Fatiha, and must be recited in prayer or the prayer is invalid.
5. Some scholars say, Ar-Rahmaan carries a broader meaning of mercy towards all His creations, muslims and non-muslims. Ar-Rahim is the mercy of Allah exclusively for the believers.
6. Al-Hamd necessitates: love, humility and servitude.
7. Iyyaka Na’bodo
8. We ask to stay guided, more guidance (increase in ranks), and guidance to follow what is right and prevent what is wrong.
9. Prophets, siddiqin (truthful), martyrs, and righteous.
Types of Recitation
- There are ten different accepted 10 types of recitations
- Originally it was 7 but then a man by the name of Aljazari tracked the whole chain of narrators for the three additional ones.
- These Qirats are different and even the qirats themselves were said slightly different depending on the region
- We accept and use these qirats due to the hadith of the prophet (saw):
Ibn ‘Abbas says the Prophet said, “Gabriel taught me to read the Qur’an in one dialect, and when I recited it he taught me to recite it in another dialect, and so on until the number of dialects increased to seven.” [Mishkiit, Book ii. Ch. ii.]
The Differences in Recitations
- The hadith says there are seven ways, meaning that some of the 10 recitations may have one thing that different from norm or two.
- So, what are those differences?
1. The difference in singular and plural
بَلٰى مَنۡ كَسَبَ سَيِّئَةً وَّاَحَاطَتۡ بِهٖ خَطِيۡٓـَٔـتُهٗ فَاُولٰٓٮِٕكَ اَصۡحٰبُ النَّارِۚ هُمۡ فِيۡهَا خٰلِدُوۡنَ﴿۸۱﴾
English Qaribullah: Indeed, he who earns evil and becomes engrossed in his sin(s), they are the people of the Fire; in it they shall remain for ever [2:81]
i. Sin can pronounces in the plural or singular sense
2. The difference in conjugation (joining) of the words
اِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالۡمَرۡوَةَ مِنۡ شَعَآٮِٕرِ اللّٰهِۚ فَمَنۡ حَجَّ الۡبَيۡتَ اَوِ اعۡتَمَرَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيۡهِ اَنۡ يَّطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَاؕ وَمَنۡ تَطَوَّعَ خَيۡرًاۙ فَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيۡمٌ﴿۱۵۸﴾
English Qaribullah: Safah and Marwah are the waymarks of Allah. Whoever performs the pilgrimage to the House or the visit, there shall be no guilt on him to circumambulate between both of them. And whoever volunteers good, Allah is Thankful, the Knower. [2:158]
i. You can recite it as ta-ta or ta; either join them or leave them separate
3. The difference in grammar
اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا يَظۡلِمُ مِثۡقَالَ ذَرَّةٍۚ وَّاِنۡ تَكُ حَسَنَةً يُّضٰعِفۡهَا وَيُؤۡتِ مِنۡ لَّدُنۡهُ اَجۡرًا عَظِيۡمًا﴿۴۰﴾
English Qaribullah: Surely, Allah shall not harm so much as the weight of an atom, and if it is a good deed He will double it, and give from His Own a great wage. [4:40]
i. It can be hasana-tun or hasana-teen, it is his good deed or a good deed
4. The difference in omitting or mentioning a letter or a word
اۨلَّذِيۡنَ يَبۡخَلُوۡنَ وَيَاۡمُرُوۡنَ النَّاسَ بِالۡبُخۡلِؕ وَمَنۡ يَّتَوَلَّ فَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ هُوَ الۡغَنِىُّ الۡحَمِيۡدُ﴿۲۴﴾
English Qaribullah: Nor those who are mean, and encourage others to be mean. And he that turns away, (know) that Allah is Rich and Praised. [57:24]
i. You can add a woow before the word Allah
5. The difference in mentioning the word in advance or later
فَاسۡتَجَابَ لَهُمۡ رَبُّهُمۡ اَنِّىۡ لَاۤ اُضِيۡعُ عَمَلَ عَامِلٍ مِّنۡكُمۡ مِّنۡ ذَكَرٍ اَوۡ اُنۡثٰىۚ بَعۡضُكُمۡ مِّنۡۢ بَعۡضٍۚ فَالَّذِيۡنَ هَاجَرُوۡا وَاُخۡرِجُوۡا مِنۡ دِيَارِهِمۡ وَاُوۡذُوۡا فِىۡ سَبِيۡلِىۡ وَقٰتَلُوۡا وَقُتِلُوۡا لَاُكَفِّرَنَّ عَنۡهُمۡ سَيِّاٰتِهِمۡ وَلَاُدۡخِلَنَّهُمۡ جَنّٰتٍ تَجۡرِىۡ مِنۡ تَحۡتِهَا الۡاَنۡهٰرُۚ ثَوَابًا مِّنۡ عِنۡدِ اللّٰهِؕ وَ اللّٰهُ عِنۡدَهٗ حُسۡنُ الثَّوَابِ﴿۱۹۵﴾
English Qaribullah: And indeed their Lord answers them: ‘I do not waste the labor of any that labors among you, male or female – you are from each other. And those who emigrated, and were expelled from their houses, those who suffered hurt in My way, and fought, and were killed – those I shall surely acquit of their evil deeds, and I shall admit them to Gardens underneath which rivers flow.’ A reward from Allah, and Allah – with Him is the best reward. [3:195]
i. Could say kuteloo before kataloo
6. The difference in ibdal (placing a letter)
يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡۤا اِنۡ جَآءَكُمۡ فَاسِقٌ ۢ بِنَبَاٍ فَتَبَيَّنُوۡۤا اَنۡ تُصِيۡبُوۡا قَوۡمًا ۢ بِجَهَالَةٍ فَتُصۡبِحُوۡا عَلٰى مَا فَعَلۡتُمۡ نٰدِمِيۡنَ﴿۶﴾
English Qaribullah: Believers, if an evildoer brings you a piece of news, inquire first, in case you should unwittingly wrong others and then repent of what you have done. [49:6]
i. NEED INFO
7. The difference in dialect
وَالضُّحٰىۙ﴿۱﴾
English Qaribullah: By the mid-morning
i. You can pronounce it oud-duha or oud-duhee
The Ten Qirats
Region Qirah Recitor 1 Recitor 2 Notes
Madinah Nafi (D 169) Qalun Warsh
Makkah Ibn Katheer (D 120) Al Bazzi Qunbul
Damascus Ibn Amir (D 118) Hisham Ibn Thakwan
Basarah Abu Amr (D 154) Adduri Assusi
Kufah Asim (D127) Shuba Hafs This the one we read. Most common.
Kufah Hamza (D156) Khalaf Khallad Extremely beautiful, possibly the most.
Kufah Alkisaie (D189) Adduri Abdul Harith maaliki as opposed to meleke
Madinah Abu Jafar (D 130) Ibn Jammaz Ibn Wardan
Basarah Yaqub (D 205) Rawh Ruwais
Kufah Khalaf (D 229) Idrees Ishaq
- Each of the above Qirat are mutawatir
- Each of the 10 recitors had two students whom he taught and thus spread them
- All these recitations were recited by the prophet (saw) himself, who had 23 years as a prophet – 10 of them in Madinah – to recite each one of them many times.
- There are four more but they are not mutawatir
11. Ibn Muhaisin
12. Al Hasan
13. Al Amash
14. Al Yazeedi
The Conditions for Legit Recitations
- Any type of recitation must meet three conditions before it is accepted
1. It has to be acceptd linguistically
2. It has to be accompanied by the Ottoman Script
3. It has to be multiply narrated
- A word of the wise: Do not combine qirat for it could possibly change the meaning too much.
Tafsir of Surah Al Baqarah (Verse 1-2)
Revealed in its entirety in Madinah
سُوۡرَةُ البَقَرَة
بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
الٓمّٓۚ﴿۱﴾ ذٰلِكَ الۡڪِتٰبُ لَا رَيۡبَ ۚ فِيۡهِ ۚ هُدًى لِّلۡمُتَّقِيۡنَۙ﴿۲﴾
Translation
The Cow
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Most Merciful
Ali- Laam-Meem. [1] That is the (Holy) Book, where there is no doubt. It is a guidance for the cautious (of evil and Hell). [2]
The Virtues of Surah Al-Baqarah
- Those who recite Surah Al-Baqarah in their house provide protection from Shaytan
It is recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Prophet (saw) said: “Do not turn your houses into graves. Verily, Shaytan does not enter the house where Surat Al-Baqarah is recited.” [Tirmidhi]
- Surah Al Baqarah along with Surah Al Imran will provide protection for you on the Day of Judgment
It is recorded that Abu Umamah al-Bahili said that he heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “Read the Quran, because it will intercede on behalf of its people on the Day of Resurrection. Read the two lights, Al-Baqarah and Al-Imran, because they will come in the shape of two clouds, two shades or two lines of birds on the Day of Resurrection and will argue on behalf of their people on that Day. Read Al Baqarah, because in having it there is blessing, and in ignoring there is a sorrow and the sorceresses cannot memorize it.” [Ahmad]
The Discussion of the Individual Letters
- There is no solid proof as to the meaning of these individual letter mentioned throughout the Quran but there are three opinions about it:
1. There are simply alphabetical letters with no literal meaning
a. Its purpose is to simply show the beauty of the Quran, how All (swt) can take the very letters used by the Arabs of that time and turn it into something beautiful
b. It is a challenge, using only fourteen letters of the Arabic alphabet, and leaving the rest for those who disbelieve to come up with something better or even equal
2. There is a literal meaning to the letters but only Allah (swt) and those he guides know it
3. We do not discuss it for Allah (swt) knows best.
- Ibn Abbas puts it beautifully when he says there only four types of ayahs
1. The interpretation of the ayah is in the language
2. The type in which no one is excused from knowing the meaning
3. The type in which only scholars know the meaning
4. The type which Allah (swt) only knows
Where to Pause
- There is two ways to read this ayah
1. Stop at رَيۡبَ , then continue
a. There is the Book of no doubt
b. In it, guidance for those who are pious
2. Stop at فِيۡهِ, then continue
a. This the book in which there is no doubt
b. A guidance for those who are pious
i. This way is preferred by Ibn Kathir for it gives the attribute of guidance to the Quran
There is No Doubt in the Quran
- The Quran is from Allah (swt), of this fact there is no doubt
- Of its truth and ruling there is no doubt
- There is no doubt in its meaning, for all of its meaning is provided proof
1. A lesson for us not to make up stuff about its meaning without proof
A Rule of Grammar
- It definitely refers to the Quran
- In Arabic, the verb applies to the last pronoun which in this case is “the Book”
Guidance is granted to Those Who have Taqwa
- Hidayah is granted to only those that Allah wills which are those who have Taqwa, fear of Allah
1. Taqwa implies that you are commanded, whether you dislike it or not, out of fear for Allah (swt)
- There are two types of Hidayah
1. Huda means the faith that resides in the heart
• This is something that only Allah (swt) can grant
2. Huda means to explain the truth
• This is the mission of the Prophet (saw) and those who follow him, to explain and spread the truth to those ignorant
Meaning of Al-Muttaqin
- Muttaqin, as explained by Ibn Abbas, are the believers who avod sShirk with Allah and who work in His obedience
- Ibn Abbas also defines the Muttaqin as those who fear Allah’s punishment, which would result if the abandoned the true guidance that they recognize and know. They also hope in Allah’s mercy by believing n what He revealed.
It is narrated that ‘Atiyah As-Sa’di said that the Mesenger of Allah (saw) said, “The servant will not acquire that status of the Muttaqin until he abandons what is harmless out of fear of falling into that which is harmful.” [At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah]
Quiz and Answers
1. According to Ibn Abbas, what are the four types of ayat?
2. What are the four opinions regarding the meaning of Alim Lam Meem?
3. How many conditions are there for a Qiraat to be accepted? What are they?
4. Match the recitor with the correct location
a. Makkah b. Madina c. Basra d. Kufah e. Damascus
1. Abu Ja’far
2. Ibn Amir
3. Yaqub
4. Hamza
5. Ibn Katheer
6. Nafi
7. Alkisaie
8. Abu Amr
9. Khalaf
10. Hafs
5. What does it mean when Allah says “there is no doubt” in ayah 2 of Surat Baqarah?
6. Who was the Imam who tracked down all the 10 different recitations?
7. What is the difference between 7 harf (styles) and 10 Qiraat?
Answers
1. The interpretation of the ayah is in the language, no one is excused of being ignorant of, only scholars know its interpretation, and only Allah knows it meaning.
2. It could have no meaning (only alphabet letters), only Allah knows if there is a meaning, not for discussion because Allah knows best, or there is a meaning for it, whether it’s a meaning of Allah, or its name of the surah, or its an indication of the length of this Ummah.
3. Three conditions. It has to be multiply related (Mutawattir), it has to be acceptable linguistically, and it has to be accommodated in the Ottoman script.
4. Match the recitor:
1. b 6. b
2. e 7. d
3. c 8. c
4. d 9. d
5. a 10. d
5. To strengthen the Iman of the believer and you have to implement what is in the Quran because there is no doubt in it. One must accept all the rulings and every ayah is equal to another ayah.
6. Imam Ibn Aljazari
7. There were 7 Harf (ways/styles) of reading the Quran during the time of the Prophet sallahualahewasallam. The different Qiraat consist of the same words but 10 different ways of reading them. 7 Harfs were revealed to Prophet sallahualahewasallam, and these harfs are incorporated in the 10 Qiraat. Harf is not 1 recitation but includes several recitations together.
Tafseer of Surat al-Baqarah
The Qur’aan begins with a description of the different types of people
1. The Believers
- They believe in the al-Ghayb (the Unseen)
- Partial Ghayb: Something in someone’s pocket
- Total Ghayb: Things you can never see right now, but you believe in it as part of faith, but there is proof of its existence.
- Establish Prayer
- Allah doesn’t just say pray, but that you establish prayer.
- Establishing means doing it over and over again
- It also means that you pray with khushoo’
- It also means that you pray on time.
- Coming early and performing the act fully (including wudu’)
- Spend from what We provided them
- The believer is not stingy – they spend in the cause of Allah
- They are generous with their money
- Another point of benefit – you cannot spend if you’re not a hard worker, so the believer must also work as well, not be a beggar.
- Another point of benefit – you spend what Allah provides, so this is lawful, halaal income, not stolen or from an illegal job, and such.
- They believe in all the Messengers and what was sent to them.
- Believing in what was sent to the messengers because it shows this is one message.
- They believe in the Prophet and what was sent to him
- If a person believes in Allah and not the Prophet, he’s not a believer.
- “No one who hears of me and does not believe in me…”
- If you claim to love the Prophet, then you have to not only believe, you have to follow.
- Certain in the Hereafter
- It’s not believing – it’s certainty in the heart that the believer has in the Hereafter.
- If you are certain, then you should fear abusing others, disobeying Allah, and so forth, if you truly feel it in your heart.
- You exert everything of yourself as a result to avoid a bad ending and to get a good ending.
A person with these characteristics is on correct guidance from Allah.
2. The Disbelievers
[Baqarah:6 -7]
Verily, those who disbelieve, it is the same to them, whether you warn them or don’t warn them, they will not believe. Allah has set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing. And, on their eyes is a covering. Theirs will be a great punishment.
Allah is saying they will not believe because of His Knowledge of the future, not because He is forcing them into disbelief. Why would He tell the Prophet this?
- To comfort the Prophet, and ease his mind, because he spends a lot of effort on them.
- If you know someone won’t become Muslim, you still have to convey the message to them, and still have to invite them, even if you know they won’t listen. So don’t understand from this ayaah that if someone won’t listen, you don’t give them daw’ah. In A’raaf, when one group of people asked another, “why are you telling people to do something when they won’t listen?” They replied, “So that we will not be questioned before Allah about it?”
The Heart
- If there is a seal on something, it cannot be opened. The prophet warned the believers and said that Allah intervenes between a man and his heart, and because of someone’s excessive sins, even if he wants to do good, the man will not be able to do good.
- The hearts are either white or black – if there is no repentance from sins, the black dots continually accumulate until their hearts are covered and sealed with it.
- This is not a physical seal.
The Hearing
- They are not physically deaf, but hearing is different from listening.
- The difference is in one’s response – you might hear something, but did you listen and obey?
- This means they don’t respond to guidance.
The Eyes
- They are not physically blind, but they look to what Allah forbade.
3. The Hypocrites
[Baqarah:8 - 20]
And of mankind are some who say, “We believe in Allah and the Last Day,” but they don’t believe. They try to deceive Allah and those who believe while they only deceive themselves and don’t realize it. In their hearts is a disease and Allah has increased their disease. A painful punishment is theirs because they used to tell lies.
- There are more ayaat here because the hypocrite is more dangerous and destructive than the disbeliever because it is more destructive to have people inside the community attacking from within rather than those from outside of it attacking in.
- Allah did not single them out as a particular group in name because they will keep coming, and that they are mixed with people and are hard to identify.
- They are separated because they claim belief while they are disbelievers.
Definition of Nifaaq:
- Comes from Nafaq: comes from tunnel, something which is underground. The hypocrite has something underneath that you can’t see. Nifaaq is to claim belief while in truth they are disbelievers.
When did Nifaaq (hypocrisy) start? Not in Makkah, no one wanted to be oppressed. It started in Madinah, when Islam was powerful.
Two types of Hypocrisy
- Practical hypocrisy: A person who prays, but lies and breaks his promises is committing this type of nifaaq. So the ahadeeth are talking about actions and practical hypocrisy, NOT people with hypocrisy in belief.
- Hypocrisy in Belief: the ayaat are talking about this type of hypocrisy.
- These people go where there is benefit – they claim belief when benefit is in being a believer, and when the believers lose, they go to the disbelievers and say, “We’re actually with you.”
- They’re always afraid of being exposed while looking for a benefit, so they deceive no one but themselves into thinking they are benefiting by all this.
Lessons:
- Nature of the hypocrite
- The hypocrites harm themselves the most
- Caution against the hypocrite
- Evil deeds can blind your heart.
Diseases of the Hypocrite’s Heart
Why would Allah increase their disease, instead of helping them get the cure? That’s what they chose, so since they wanted that, they were given it, and even increased it. They were not prevented from a cure, it was offered, but they didn’t want it, so Allah gave them more of what they wanted.
Lessons:
- Disease of the hypocrites is chronic
- Fear of sins
- Allah is Just
- The punishment that’s awaiting the hypocrites on the Day of Judgement
- Lying is a great sin.
Quiz and Answers
1.Why did Allah specify the characteristics of hypocrites in ayah 8 of Surah Baqarah?
2. What is literal meaning of hypocrisy?
3. Name the 4 types of heart that are mentioned in the Hadith of Prophet sallalahualayhiwasallam.
4. What is the technical meaning of hypocrisy?
5. Practical hypocrisy is hypocrisy in _______. They are considered _______.
6. On the Day of Judgment, there will either be Muslims or non-Muslims. Which group will the hypocrites be in?
7. What are the four characteristics of a pure hypocrite?
8. What are the lessons learned from Aya 9 {They try to deceive Allah and those who believe, while they only deceive themselves and perceive (it) not}.
9. Why do people commit hypocrisy?
10. Why would Allah increase the disease of their heart as mentioned in Aya 10, {in the hearts is a disease and Allah has increased their disease}. Shouldn’t Allah cure the disease?
11. Aya 10 {… a painful punishment is theirs because they used to _________}.
Answers
1.To show it is very hard to find them. They are mixed among the people so the only way to identify them is to know their characteristics. Also if the believers know the characteristics of a hypocrite, the believers would not be deceived by them.
2. Nifaq (hypocrisy) comes from nafq: underground that is hidden but has two ways; something covered unlike what you see.
3. Polished as shiny as the radiant lamp (believers), a sealed heart with a knot tied around its seal (disbelievers), a heart that is turned upside down (hypocrite), wrapped heart (belief and hypocrite).
4. Showing Islam and hiding disbelief.
5. Actions; Muslims.
6.Hypocrites (in belief) will be with the disbelievers.
7. When he talks he lies, when he is entrusted he is not trustworthy, when he promises he breaks his promise, and when he disputes he is violent.
8. The nature of the hypocrites is defective, they harm themselves most, evil deeds could blind ones heart, and be cautious against the hypocrites.
9. To gain benefits in this life. In Medina, Islam was strong so people would loose privileges if they were not Muslims.
10. That’s the danger of committing sin. This is what they chose and Allah is giving it to them. Allah didn’t prevent them from cure, but that is what they want. Allah doesn’t love to punish but they are punished because of their lies.
11. Tell lies. A hypocrite is a liar.
Hypocrisy
When it is said to them, “Don’t cause mischief on earth,” they reply, “Why, we only want to make peace!” [2:11]
- People say, we just want to spread peace, and all they are spreading is war, all in the name of peacemaking.
- Any system that comes to say we’re here to reform, unless it is islamically based, it will continue to ruin the world.
- True mischief is disbelieving in Allah, no matter what they do.
Truly, they are the ones who make mischief, but they don’t see it. [2:12]
- They claim they were believers, but they were not
- They plotted against the believers, Quraysh and Jews.
Lessons
- Hypocrisy is one of the great types of mischief.
- One of the worst things is for Satan to beautify evil deeds to you.
- Claims need evidences to be proven correct.
- Not everyone who thinks they are doing good is really doing good.
Foolishness
And when it is said to them, “Believe as the people believe,” they say, “shall we believe as the fools have believed?” Verily, they are the fools, but they don’t know (it).
- To be foolish and not know it is a whole other level of stupidity.
- They called the sahabah fools.
- Allah responded to the munaafiqeen and said they were fools, and they would understand on the day of judgement.
- The basis of everything in Islam is the Companions, not our secular and scientific achievements later.
- Modern-Day example: “Don’t pray at work, be smart, don’t be a fool, keep your job!”
Lessons
- Arrogance is a characteristic of the hypocrites – people not wanting to be with the poor, or others of another race.
- Inviting hypocrites to Islam is difficult – they know the truth, but they refuse to follow it.
- Belittling the worshipers of Allah is a characteristic of the hypocrites.
- Hypocrites are the most ignorant people because they don’t know, and they think they know. They don’t know that they don’t know – unconscious incompetent.
- Allah defends His servants
The Human Devils
And when they meet with those who believe, they say, “We believe,” but when they are alone with their devils, they say, “Truly, we are with you – verily, we were but mocking.” [2:14 - 15]
- they are fearful because they are always having to show multiple faces.
- when they meet muslims, they say one thing, but when they meet with nonMuslims of some sort, they show another face. these specific people are called devils.
- The rabbis who they turn to know the Prophet like their own sons, as Allah says in the Qur’aan. This shows the influence of knowledge. The hypocrites opened their secrets to the rabbis.
Allah mocks at them and leaves them increasing in their deviation to wander blindly.
- Mocking – interpreted to mean that when they are trying to go with the believers on the Day of Judgement, Allah will block them, letting them think they were going forward when they’re not.
- This is appropriate as a verb, but not as a name for Allah.
- The mocking is restricted to these people, not everyone.
- Imagine an employee who pretends to come to work by filling out a timecard and then comes at the end of the month looking for money and he gets none because the employer says, “You didn’t work.” He’ll be more infuriated by that.
- They did not see what they were doing, and that deviation they did was increased.
A Poor Business Transaction
Those are the ones who have purchased error [in exchange] for guidance, so their transaction has brought no profit, nor were they guided. [2:16]
- The only way to purchase error is to trade it in with the currency of guidance.
- These people preferred misguidance over guidance.
The Example of the Hypocrites
They are like one who kindled a fire, and it lit all around him. Allah took away their light and left them in the darkness so they could not see. [2:17]
- They pretended belief and received the benefits in the beginning, but their light was taken from them. This light is Eman.
They are deaf, dumb, and blind, so they don’t return (to the right path). [2:18]
- They chose the wrong direction, and so they are blinded and not able to come back to the right path.
- This is because of their darkness and hypocrisy.
- Even though they were hearing the Qur’aan, and from the Prophet, it didn’t matter – they were still misguided.
Another Example of the Hypocrites
Or like the rainstorm from the sky, wherein is darkness, thunder, and lightning – they thrust their fingers in their ears to keep out the stunning thunderclap for fear of death. But Allah ever encompasses the disbelievers. [2:19]
- Guidance is also like a rainstorm, and the guidance is like thunder on the hypocrites, when they hear the ayaat against them.
The lightning almost snatches their sight, whenever it flashes for them, they walk therein, and when darkness covers them, they stand still. And if Allah willed, He could have taken away their hearing and their sight. Certainly, Allah has power over all things. [2:20]
When the light is there, they briefly have some guidance, but then it’s taken away from them. These people were left and not revealed publically so that we know what hypocrites are like. If you find the ayaat of Allah too much on you, you might be a munaafiq.
Ayah 21
O mankind! Worship your Lord (Allah), Who created you and those who were before you so that you may acquire Taqwa
-
- “Worship” This the first command in the Qur’an so far, the call to Tawheed Al-Uloohiyyah
- “your Lord Who created you” Allah is mentioning his Ruboobiyyah. The one who created you is the one worthy of worship. Ruboobiyyah necessitates Uloohiyyah.
- “And those before you” Worship the Lord that Jesus and those before him worshipped
- “So that you may acquire Taqwa” Taqwa is one of the goals of worshipping, and worship is a means to attaining Taqwa.
Ayah 22
Who has made the earth a resting place for you, and the sky as a canopy, and sent down water (rain) from the sky and brought forth therewith fruits as a provision for you. Then do not set up rivals unto Allah (in worship) while you know (that He alone has the right to be worshipped)
- “The sky as a canopy”
- How is it a canopy? The canopy is a layer of oxygen
- “Send down water from the sky and brought forth therewith fruits”
- Look at the blessings from water, and how it brings about different kinds of vegetation that we can eat. This is a miracle
- “As a provision for you”
- Where would we get food if there was no water? What if there was water but it didn’t produce food?
- “Then do not set up rivals while you know”
- Allah reminds us again that Ruboobiyyah necessitates Uloohiyyah, by mentioning an aspect of his Ruboobiyyah (Him sustaining us), and then warning us against shirk.
Ayah 23
And if you are in doubt about what We have sent down upon Our ‘Abd, then produce a surah the like thereof and call upon your witnesses other than Allah , if you should be truthful.
- “‘Abd” Benefits of ibaadah:
- Fulfilling purpose of life
- Increases us in discipline
- Gaining Allah’s pleasure
- Wealth and children:
- “And said, ‘Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers. And give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and provide for you rivers.” [71:10-12]
- Being an ‘abd is the highest status
- “Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al- Aqsa” [17:1]
- The verses of Challenge
- “Then bring a Book from Allah” [28:49]
- “Say, “If mankind and the jinn gathered in order to produce the like of this Qur’an, they could not produce the like of it”" [17:88]
- “Say, “Then bring ten surahs like it that have been invented”" [11:13]
- “Say, “Then bring forth a surah like it” [10:38]
- Examples of the Miracle of the Qur’an
- Stories of the past occurred exactly as the Qur’an stated
- The Qur’an is eloquent, but meaningful and true. Arabic poems may have been eloquent, but they contained exaggerations, and meaningless descriptions (they brought no benefit except to prove the poet’s eloquence)
- All the laws either forbid every evil or amoral act, or they command every type of righteousness and good.
Ayah 24
But if you do not – and you will never be able to – then fear the Fire, whose fuel is men and stones, prepared for the disbelievers.
- “Fear the fire” Fear Allah by going to Allah
- “Men and Stones” “Men” means the disbelievers, and stones could be horrible black stones, or the idols that were worshipped
- ” Indeed, you [disbelievers] and what you worship other than Allah are the firewood of Hell.” [21:98]
- “Prepared” Already prepared in advance, to show it’s reality.
- “for the disbelievers”
- The primary residents are the disbelievers, so do not cause yourself to enter it.
- Do not be like the disbelievers and commit sins.
- If you do, you may visit the Hellfire temporarily. Know that not all muslims are safe from the Fire (although safe from it eternally if shirk is avoided). Of our goals is to avoid the fire.
Ayah 25
And give good tidings to those who believe and do righteous deeds that they will have gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow. Whenever they are provided with a provision of fruit therefrom, they will say, “This is what we were provided with before.” And it is given to them in likeness. And they will have therein purified spouses, and they will abide therein eternally.
- “And it is given to them in likeness” The fruits of paradise look the same, but taste different and better.
- “Purified Spouses” Wives that are pure from impurity.
Ayah 26
Indeed, Allah is not timid to present an example – that of a mosquito or what is smaller than it. And those who have believed know that it is the truth from their Lord. But as for those who disbelieve, they say, “What did Allah intend by this as an example?” He misleads many thereby and guides many thereby. And He misleads not except the defiantly disobedient,
- “Indeed, Allah is not timid to present an example” Response to hypocrites who said, “Allah is far more exalted than for Him to make such examples” (referring to the fire and rainstorm)
- As long there is a lesson, it will be mentioned
- “that of a mosquito”
- Example of the life of this world. Mosquitoes eat until they are fat, then die. Allah gives them until they think get everything and then they die.
- “So when they forgot that by which they had been reminded, We opened to them the doors of every [good] thing until, when they rejoiced in that which they were given, We seized them suddenly, and they were [then] in despair.” [16:44]
- Mosquitoes can kill you; size doesn’t matter. This example shows you how weak and insignificant you are.
- “He misleads many thereby and guides many thereby” Believers believe in everything, and it increases them in guidance. The hypocrites reject these parables and it increases them in misguidance.
- Allah misguides the disbelievers because that is what they want (because they rejected faith in the first place)
- “Faasiq” A date has “fasaqat” when it leaves it’s skin. A mouse is called fuwaysiqah because it leaves the den to cause mischief.
Ayah 27
Who break the covenant of Allah after contracting it and sever that which Allah has ordered to be joined and cause corruption on earth. It is those who are the losers.
- “Covenant”
- Covenant with creation, to obey Him and avoid the sins He prohibited
- People of the Book: the pledge taken from the Tawrah, to follow Muhammad (sal Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and believe in him.
- “Loss”
- Loss refers to disbeliefs in the context of disbelievers; sins in the context of believers
- Loss of mercy; something the disbeliever and they hypocrite desperately need.
- Loss in the afterlife by doing sins, hypocrisy, nifaq. This is true loss; otther losses can be compensated for.
Ayah 28
How can you disbelieve in Allah when you were lifeless and He brought you to life; then He will cause you to die, then He will bring you [back] to life, and then to Him you will be returned.
- “You were dead and He gave you life” You were in a state of non-existence, and he gave you life.
Ayah 29
It is He who created for you all of that which is on the earth. Then He directed Himself to the heaven, [His being above all creation], and made them seven heavens, and He is Knowing of all things
- The Beginning of Creation is described in [41:9-12] and [79:27-33]
- The Earth was created before the Heavens
- “He is Knowing of all things” His knowledge encompasses all of His Creation.
Ayah 30
And remember when your Lord said to the angels, “Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority.” They said, “Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and heds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?” Allah said, “Indeed, I know that which you do not know.”
Creation of Adam
- Khaleefah:
- People reproducing generation after generation
- The person who judges disputes that occur between people [Qurtubi]
- Was Adam first?
- The Quran is a book of guidance, not of history
- Jinns were there first
- Angels know that Free will leads to disobedience. This was knowledge they were given.
- The question of the angels
- They wished to learn the wisdom behind the action: “What is the point of worshippers who cause mischief, while we praise and glorify you and never indulge in mischief?”
- It could also be that they requested to inhabit the Earth instead of Adam.
- Allah says, “Indeed, I know that which you do not know”
Ayah 31
And He taught Adam the names – all of them. Then He showed them to the angels and said, “Inform Me of the names of these, if you are truthful.”
- “And He taught Adam the names”
- The virtue of Adam over the Angels was the knowledge given to him by Allah.
- “Names” means names of everything
- “Inform Me of the names”
- Allah responds to their previous question. If they can’t provide the names of objects Allah showed them, then they have even less knowledge of what will occur on Earth (that does not exist yet)
Ayah 32
They said, “Exalted are You; we have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed, it is You who is the Knowing, the Wise.”
- Allah is the Wisest because he is All-Knowing.
Ayah 33
He said, “O Adam, inform them of their names.” And when he had informed them of their names, He said, “Did I not tell you that I know the unseen [aspects] of the heavens and the earth? And I know what you reveal and what you have concealed.”
- After the virtue of Adam over the angels was apparent, Allah reminded them of His Attributes.
- “I know that what you reveal and what you have concealed”
- The angels asked, “Do you create in it, that which would commit mischief and shed blood?” The hidden meaning was, “We have more knowledge and honor than any creation our Lord would create”
- Allah reminded them that He knows what reveal and conceal
Ayah 34
And [mention] when We said to the angels, “Prostrate before Adam”; so they prostrated, except for Iblees. He refused and was arrogant and became of the disbelievers.
- Prostrate before Adam
- The prostration was obedience to Allah, but of greeting, peace, and honor to Adam. Just like the prostration to Yusuf (as) [cf. 12:100]
- This prostration of respect was allowed for previous nations, but abrogated for ours. “If I was to command any human to prostrate before another human , I would command the wife to prostrate before her husband because of the enormity of his right upon her”
- Except for Iblees
- “He was of the Jinn” [18:50]
- He was made of fire and not light
- Angels don’t disobey, jinns do, and they can be arrogant.
- “Refused and became arrogant”
- Ibn Abbas said he was of the residents of the Earth, of the most active worshippers, and knowledgeable among the angels. This fact caused him to be arrogant. Iblis was from a genus called Jinn.
- First error was arrogance. ” No person who has the weight of a mustard seed of arrogance in his heart shall enter Paradise.
- “Became of the disbelievers” Believed his knowledge was better than Allah’s.
Ayah 35
And we said, “O Adam! Dwell you and your wife in the Paradise and eat both of you freely with pleasure and delight, of things therein as wherever you will, but come not near this tree or you will both be of the Wrongdoers.
- Your wife
- After Adam was taught the names and was prostrated to, he went to sleep, and Allah took his left rib and made Hawwaa.
- But come not near this tree
- If you are told to do 100 things, but not do 1 thing, you will do the thing that you are not supposed to do.
Ayah 36
Then the Shaytan made them slip therefrom (the Paradise), and got them out from that in which they were. We said: “Get you down (all) with enmity between yourselves. On earth will be a dwelling place for you and and enjoyment for a time.”
- The bad deed was beautified by Shaytaan.
- “When Adam ate from the forbidden tree, his cover fell off, and the first thing that appeared was his private area. When he saw his private area, he ran away in Paradise and his hair got caught in a tree. He tried to free himself and Ar-Rahman called him, ‘O Adam! Are you running away from Me’ When Adam heard t he words of Ar-Rahman (Allah), he said, ‘No, O my Lord! But I am shy”
- They had to suffer some consequences because of their sin.
Ayah 37
Then Adam received from his Lord [some] words, and He accepted his repentance. Indeed, it is He who is the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful.
- They said, “Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers.” [7:23]
- Don’t lose hope in Allah’s Mercy. “Do they not know that it is Allah who accepts repentance from His servants” [9:104]
Ayah 38
We said, “Go down from it, all of you. And when guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance – there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.
- “Go down” Allah accepted the repentance, but there was still a consequence from their sin.
Ayah 39
And those who disbelieve and deny Our signs – those will be companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.
- meaning, they will remain in Hell for eternity and will not find a way out of it.
Ayah 40
O Children of Israel, remember My favor which I have bestowed upon you and fulfill My covenant [upon you] that I will fulfill your covenant [from Me], and be afraid of [only] Me.
- Encouraging Jews to accept Islam by calling them by a good name, and reminding them of His favors
- Israa-eel = Ya’qoob. Israel means Slave of Allah.
- Calling the Jews (3 tribes) by a good name: “O sons of the righteous man!”
- Remember my favor which I have bestowed upon you
- Favor #1: Sending prophets among them. “O my people, remember the favor of Allah upon you when He appointed among you prophets and made you possessors and gave you that which He had not given anyone among the worlds.” [5:20]
- Fulfill my covenant
- And Allah had already taken a covenant from the Children of Israel, and We delegated from among them twelve leaders. And Allah said, “I am with you. If you establish prayer and give zakah and believe in My messengers and support them and loan Allah a goodly loan,” [5:12]
- I will fulfill my covenant
- ” I will surely remove from you your misdeeds and admit you to gardens beneath which rivers flow.”[5:12]
- And be afraid of only Me
- “But whoever of you disbelieves after that has certainly strayed from the soundness of the way.” [5:12]
- This ayah contains encouragement, and warning together.
Ayah 41
And believe in what I have sent down confirming that which is [already] with you, and be not the first to disbelieve in it. And do not exchange My signs for a small price, and fear [only] Me.
- “Believe in what I have sent down confirming that which already with you” because they find the description of Prophet Muhammad (sal Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) in it.
- “And be not the first to disbelieve” when you have more knowledge about it than other people.
- “ And do not exchange My signs for a small price”, do not exchange the life of this world and it’s temporary pleasures for Eman in His Aayaat and Messenger.
- “fear Me” Have taqwa, and not hide the truth and spread falsehood
Ayah 42
And do not mix the truth with falsehood or conceal the truth while you know [it].
- “Do not mix the truth with falsehood.” Do not mix your false religion with Islam.
- “Or conceal the truth” since you know the truth which is in your Book.
Ayah 43
And establish prayer and give zakah and bow with those who bow [in worship and obedience].
- “And establish prayer and give zakah” pray behind the Prophet (sal Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), and pay the Zakah to the Prophet
- Bow with those who bow, be of and bow with the Ummah of Muhammad.
Ayah 44
Do you order righteousness of the people and forget yourselves while you recite the Scripture? Then will you not reason?
- Just like the hypocrites, they use to command others to pray and fast, but not do so themselves.
- They forbid the people from rejecting Prophethood and the Covenant, but they did so themselves. People accepted Islam through the Jews’ description, but the Jews didn’t.
- The caller is required to implement what he guides others to.
The Children of Israel
Why did Allah make them choose a cow to strike the dead person with? Can’t Allah just do it?
- One reason is to remove the remnants of shirk in them – they previously worshipped the calf, so they are given something greater than that to slaughter.
- Another reason is to teach people to do their part before asking Allah, similar to when he told Maryam to shake the tree to get the dates – even though He could have sent it to her, He had her take the means.
The ayaah doesn’t mention what part they were struck with because it is an unimportant detail.
Then, after that your hearts were hardened and became as stones or even worse in hardness. And indeed, there are stones out of which rivers gush fourth. [2:74]
- The natural reaction after receiving what one has asked for, one should be grateful and their hearts should be softened, but their reaction was the exact opposite.
- Better translation is “…stones and even worse in hardness.”
- In matters of spirituality, hearts can be soft, or they can be very hard. The heart of the believer becomes softer and softer the more it listens to guidance. The heart of the hypocrite gets harder.
And indeeed, there are of them which split asunder so that water flows from them, and indeed, there are of them which fall down for fear of Allah. And Allah is not unaware of what you do. [2:75]
- When was the last time you thought of an avalanche as connected to this ayaah?
- The same is true of meteors – it could also be falling due to fear of Allah.
- Even after the hearts became hardened, and there is disobedience, Allah is aware of all of this.
Do you covet that they will believe in your religion in spite of the fact that a party of them used to hear the Word of Allah, then they used to change it knowingly after they understood it? And when they meet those who believe, they say, “We believe,’” but when they meet one another in private, they say, “Shall you tell them what Allah has revealed to you that you may argue with you about it before your Lord?”
- The people of Madinah became Muslim because of the Jews speaking of the Prophet who was coming, yet the Jews themselves rejected the Prophet for tribal reasons – he was an Arab and not a Jew.
- These Jews know and are choosing not to disbelieve, and they are reprimanding one another for spreading information about the Prophet, and do not want to be held to account in front of Allah because it is evidence to be used against them.
Have you then no understanding? Know they not that Allah knows what they conceal and what they reveal?
- They act as though they are afraid more of people than of Allah, and they think that Allah doesn’t know what they are discussing among themselves in private
And there are among them unlettered people who know not the book, but they trust upon false writings and they but guess.
- The knowledge they have, they’re not sure if it’s true or not. This is true, even today. Ask who is a true Rabbi to speak about what is in the Talmud, they can’t say anything about it. Due to their own sins, knowledge was taken away from them.
Then woe to those who write the book with their own hands and they say, “This is from Allah.” to purchase with it a little price. Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for that which they earn thereby.
- The reason they altered the texts was to receive small material gains in this world. The goal of these people was money rather than guidance for themselves or others.
- The threat against these people is severe, but if you have no true belief, then the threat doesn’t affect you.
And they say, “The fire shall not touch us but a for a few numbered days.” Say, “Have you taken a covenant with Allah, so that Allah will not break His Covenant? Or is it that you say of Allah what you know not?”
- They acknowledged that they worshipped the calf, changed the scriptures, and kept sinning, but they said that they are only going to be punished for a little while.
- One day of hell is one thousand years. This shows the stupidity of these people.
Yes! Whosoever earns evil and his sin surrounded him, they are the dwellers of the fire – they will dwell therein forever. And those who believe and do righteous good deeds, they are the dwellers of Paradise, they will dwell therein forever.
- This ayaah is evidence that the Jews are disbelievers because it is a continuation of the discussion of the Jews.
- If someone says this is only for the rabbis who changed the scripture, realize that even the followers for the most part know what is going on with these changes as well, the same with the christians.
And (remember) when we took a covenant from the children of israel: worship none but Allah, and be dutiful and good to parents, and to kindred, and to orphans and the poor, and speak good to people and perform salaat and give zakaat. Then you slid back, except for a few of you, while you are backsliders.
- The Jews have a word – sabaaqah = sadaqah.
- This shows that the religion that Allah has mandated upon the Muslims is the same that was taken from the Jews as well.
- Most of the children of israel were disobedient, except for a few, and the current group of Jews is from these people who slide back.
And (remember) when We took your covenant (saying), “Shed not the blood of your (people), nor turn out your own people from their dwellings. Then, (this) you ratified and…”. After this, it’s you who kill one another and drive out a party of you from their homes, assist (their enemies) against them in sin and transgression. And if they come to you as captives you ransom them although their expulsion was forbidden to you. Then do you believe in a part of the book and reject the rest.
- When the Aws and Khazraj of Madinah fought among themselves, the Jews would fuel this fighting, taking sides and fighting one another as well as them. These battles were not for the sake of Allah, it was for pride, arrogance, and worldly things, and 2 tribes from the Jewish people would join the Aws, and one for the Khazraj.
- The Jews then say, we cannot have captives among the Jews, so they free them because it’s in the covenant, so Allah asks them, how is it that you fight them, which is also part of the covenant, and yet you then say you have to free them?
- this is similar to contemporary muslims, who take what they wish and leave the rest – you don’t take part and leave part, you take all of it. No one of the believers should do something only when it benefits them and not when it doesn’t (on the surface, it may benefit later).
Then what is the recompense of those who do so among you except disgrace in the life of this world, and on the Day of Resurrection they shall be consigned to the most grievous punishment. And Allah is not unaware of what you do.
- The people who followed only what they liked lose out both in this life and the hereafter.
- We don’t have an option in choosing what to believe and what to reject.
Those are the ones who have bought the life of this world at the price of the Hereafter. Their torment shall not be lightened, nor shall they be burdened.
- They’ve traded away Jannah for this life.
And indeed, We gave Musa the Book and followed him up with a succession of messengers. And we gave ‘Eesa, the son of Maryam, clear signs and supported him with Ruh al Qudus. Is it that whenever a Messenger with what you yourselves desired not, you grew arrogant? Some you disbelieved, and some you kill?
- They rejected ‘Eesa, they also had Sulaymaan and Dawud afterwards. They killed Yahya as well.
And they say, “Our hearts are screened.” Nay, Allah has cursed them for their disbelief so little is that which they believe.
- They are claiming they are blocked by Allah from believing, but they are choosing disbelief due to their own desires not receiving guidance.
How bad is that for which they have sold their own selves, that they should disbelieve in that wich Allah has revealed grudging that Allah should reveal of His Grace unto whom He wills of His servants
- The Rabbis begrudged Allah for putting the Prophet as an Arab rather than a Jew
So they have drawn upon themselves wrath upon wrath. And for the disbelievers, there is a disgracing punishment.
- Why wrath upon wrath – they both disbelieved and chose a little price.
- The real disgrace is what comes in the Hereafter when billions upon billion witness it.
And indeed Musa came to you with clear proofs, yet you worshipped the calf after he left, and you were wrongdoers. And remember when We took your covenant and We raised above you the Mount, “Hold firmly to what We have given you and Hear.” They said, “We have heard and disobeyed.” And their hearts absorbed the calf because of their disbelief. Say, “Worst indeed is that which your faith enjoins on you if you are believers.”
- From this ayaah, we see how many covenants were taken and violated, even after 9 miracles provided by Musa.
- The mount was raised over them to threaten them and to show them the consequences of their disobedience.
- It is said that absorbing something is the highest level of love, and this shows their level of disbelief.
Say, “If the abode of the Hereafter with Allah is indeed for you especially and not for others of mankind, then long for death if you are truthful”. But they will never long for it because of what their hands have sent before them. And Allah is aware of the wrongdoers.
- They claim they are chosen and know they are going to paradise, so they should be happy to die and meet with Allah rather than coveting this life and running away from the idea.
And verily, you will find them the greediest of mankind for life than those who ascribe partners to Allah. One of them wishes that he could be given a life of a thousand years. But the grant of such a life will not save him even a little from punishment. And Allah is the Seer of what they do.
- Their greed for life, though they believe in the afterlife, exceeds the polytheists who don’t believe in the resurrection and have everything in this life only in their mind.
- No matter how long they live, the disbelievers will not escape punishment.
Say, “Whoever is an enemy to Jibreel, for indeed he has brought it down to your heart by Allah’s permission, confirming what came before it.” Whoever is an enemy to Allah, His Angels, His Messengers, Jibreel, Mikaeel, then verily, Allah is an enemy to the disbelievers.
- They said, “Who brings the revelation to you?” When it was said it was Jibreel, they said, no no, he came with the punishment for us.
- By being an enemy to one angel, you’re an enemy to all and Allah.
- Jibreel is mentioned separately as a means of honoring him.
- They are lying, if they wanted to believe, the angel who sent the message is irrelevant.
The Children of Israel
Why did Allah make them choose a cow to strike the dead person with? Can’t Allah just do it?
- One reason is to remove the remnants of shirk in them – they previously worshipped the calf, so they are given something greater than that to slaughter.
- Another reason is to teach people to do their part before asking Allah, similar to when he told Maryam to shake the tree to get the dates – even though He could have sent it to her, He had her take the means.
The ayaah doesn’t mention what part they were struck with because it is an unimportant detail.
Then, after that your hearts were hardened and became as stones or even worse in hardness. And indeed, there are stones out of which rivers gush fourth. [2:74]
- The natural reaction after receiving what one has asked for, one should be grateful and their hearts should be softened, but their reaction was the exact opposite.
- Better translation is “…stones and even worse in hardness.”
- In matters of spirituality, hearts can be soft, or they can be very hard. The heart of the believer becomes softer and softer the more it listens to guidance. The heart of the hypocrite gets harder.
And indeeed, there are of them which split asunder so that water flows from them, and indeed, there are of them which fall down for fear of Allah. And Allah is not unaware of what you do. [2:75]
- When was the last time you thought of an avalanche as connected to this ayaah?
- The same is true of meteors – it could also be falling due to fear of Allah.
- Even after the hearts became hardened, and there is disobedience, Allah is aware of all of this.
Do you covet that they will believe in your religion in spite of the fact that a party of them used to hear the Word of Allah, then they used to change it knowingly after they understood it? And when they meet those who believe, they say, “We believe,’” but when they meet one another in private, they say, “Shall you tell them what Allah has revealed to you that you may argue with you about it before your Lord?”
- The people of Madinah became Muslim because of the Jews speaking of the Prophet who was coming, yet the Jews themselves rejected the Prophet for tribal reasons – he was an Arab and not a Jew.
- These Jews know and are choosing not to disbelieve, and they are reprimanding one another for spreading information about the Prophet, and do not want to be held to account in front of Allah because it is evidence to be used against them.
Have you then no understanding? Know they not that Allah knows what they conceal and what they reveal?
- They act as though they are afraid more of people than of Allah, and they think that Allah doesn’t know what they are discussing among themselves in private
And there are among them unlettered people who know not the book, but they trust upon false writings and they but guess.
- The knowledge they have, they’re not sure if it’s true or not. This is true, even today. Ask who is a true Rabbi to speak about what is in the Talmud, they can’t say anything about it. Due to their own sins, knowledge was taken away from them.
Then woe to those who write the book with their own hands and they say, “This is from Allah.” to purchase with it a little price. Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for that which they earn thereby.
- The reason they altered the texts was to receive small material gains in this world. The goal of these people was money rather than guidance for themselves or others.
- The threat against these people is severe, but if you have no true belief, then the threat doesn’t affect you.
And they say, “The fire shall not touch us but a for a few numbered days.” Say, “Have you taken a covenant with Allah, so that Allah will not break His Covenant? Or is it that you say of Allah what you know not?”
- They acknowledged that they worshipped the calf, changed the scriptures, and kept sinning, but they said that they are only going to be punished for a little while.
- One day of hell is one thousand years. This shows the stupidity of these people.
Yes! Whosoever earns evil and his sin surrounded him, they are the dwellers of the fire – they will dwell therein forever. And those who believe and do righteous good deeds, they are the dwellers of Paradise, they will dwell therein forever.
- This ayaah is evidence that the Jews are disbelievers because it is a continuation of the discussion of the Jews.
- If someone says this is only for the rabbis who changed the scripture, realize that even the followers for the most part know what is going on with these changes as well, the same with the christians.
And (remember) when we took a covenant from the children of israel: worship none but Allah, and be dutiful and good to parents, and to kindred, and to orphans and the poor, and speak good to people and perform salaat and give zakaat. Then you slid back, except for a few of you, while you are backsliders.
- The Jews have a word – sabaaqah = sadaqah.
- This shows that the religion that Allah has mandated upon the Muslims is the same that was taken from the Jews as well.
- Most of the children of israel were disobedient, except for a few, and the current group of Jews is from these people who slide back.
And (remember) when We took your covenant (saying), “Shed not the blood of your (people), nor turn out your own people from their dwellings. Then, (this) you ratified and…”. After this, it’s you who kill one another and drive out a party of you from their homes, assist (their enemies) against them in sin and transgression. And if they come to you as captives you ransom them although their expulsion was forbidden to you. Then do you believe in a part of the book and reject the rest.
- When the Aws and Khazraj of Madinah fought among themselves, the Jews would fuel this fighting, taking sides and fighting one another as well as them. These battles were not for the sake of Allah, it was for pride, arrogance, and worldly things, and 2 tribes from the Jewish people would join the Aws, and one for the Khazraj.
- The Jews then say, we cannot have captives among the Jews, so they free them because it’s in the covenant, so Allah asks them, how is it that you fight them, which is also part of the covenant, and yet you then say you have to free them?
- this is similar to contemporary muslims, who take what they wish and leave the rest – you don’t take part and leave part, you take all of it. No one of the believers should do something only when it benefits them and not when it doesn’t (on the surface, it may benefit later).
Then what is the recompense of those who do so among you except disgrace in the life of this world, and on the Day of Resurrection they shall be consigned to the most grievous punishment. And Allah is not unaware of what you do.
- The people who followed only what they liked lose out both in this life and the hereafter.
- We don’t have an option in choosing what to believe and what to reject.
Those are the ones who have bought the life of this world at the price of the Hereafter. Their torment shall not be lightened, nor shall they be burdened.
- They’ve traded away Jannah for this life.
And indeed, We gave Musa the Book and followed him up with a succession of messengers. And we gave ‘Eesa, the son of Maryam, clear signs and supported him with Ruh al Qudus. Is it that whenever a Messenger with what you yourselves desired not, you grew arrogant? Some you disbelieved, and some you kill?
- They rejected ‘Eesa, they also had Sulaymaan and Dawud afterwards. They killed Yahya as well.
And they say, “Our hearts are screened.” Nay, Allah has cursed them for their disbelief so little is that which they believe.
- They are claiming they are blocked by Allah from believing, but they are choosing disbelief due to their own desires not receiving guidance.
How bad is that for which they have sold their own selves, that they should disbelieve in that wich Allah has revealed grudging that Allah should reveal of His Grace unto whom He wills of His servants
- The Rabbis begrudged Allah for putting the Prophet as an Arab rather than a Jew
So they have drawn upon themselves wrath upon wrath. And for the disbelievers, there is a disgracing punishment.
- Why wrath upon wrath – they both disbelieved and chose a little price.
- The real disgrace is what comes in the Hereafter when billions upon billion witness it.
And indeed Musa came to you with clear proofs, yet you worshipped the calf after he left, and you were wrongdoers. And remember when We took your covenant and We raised above you the Mount, “Hold firmly to what We have given you and Hear.” They said, “We have heard and disobeyed.” And their hearts absorbed the calf because of their disbelief. Say, “Worst indeed is that which your faith enjoins on you if you are believers.”
- From this ayaah, we see how many covenants were taken and violated, even after 9 miracles provided by Musa.
- The mount was raised over them to threaten them and to show them the consequences of their disobedience.
- It is said that absorbing something is the highest level of love, and this shows their level of disbelief.
Say, “If the abode of the Hereafter with Allah is indeed for you especially and not for others of mankind, then long for death if you are truthful”. But they will never long for it because of what their hands have sent before them. And Allah is aware of the wrongdoers.
- They claim they are chosen and know they are going to paradise, so they should be happy to die and meet with Allah rather than coveting this life and running away from the idea.
And verily, you will find them the greediest of mankind for life than those who ascribe partners to Allah. One of them wishes that he could be given a life of a thousand years. But the grant of such a life will not save him even a little from punishment. And Allah is the Seer of what they do.
- Their greed for life, though they believe in the afterlife, exceeds the polytheists who don’t believe in the resurrection and have everything in this life only in their mind.
- No matter how long they live, the disbelievers will not escape punishment.
Say, “Whoever is an enemy to Jibreel, for indeed he has brought it down to your heart by Allah’s permission, confirming what came before it.” Whoever is an enemy to Allah, His Angels, His Messengers, Jibreel, Mikaeel, then verily, Allah is an enemy to the disbelievers.
- They said, “Who brings the revelation to you?” When it was said it was Jibreel, they said, no no, he came with the punishment for us.
- By being an enemy to one angel, you’re an enemy to all and Allah.
- Jibreel is mentioned separately as a means of honoring him.
- They are lying, if they wanted to believe, the angel who sent the message is irrelevant.
anchor point
The Story of Haroot and Maroot
And when there came to them a Messenger from Allah confirming what was with them, a party of those who were given the Scripture threw away the Book of Allah behind their backs as if they did not know. They followed what the shayaateen gave out in the lifetime of Sulaymaan. Sulaymaan did not disbelieve, but the shayateen disbelieved, teaching men magic and such things that came down at Babylon to the two angels Haroot and Maroot, but neither of these two taught anyone till they had said, “We are for trial, so disbelieve not.” And from these, people learn that by which they cause separation between a man and his wife, but they could not thus harm anyone except by Allah’s leave. [2:102-103]
- This ayaah is known as the ayaah about Sihr (magic).
- Sulaymaan is mentioned here because in other places in the Qur’aan, he’s mentioned, but the Jews said he’s a magician and Allah responded to this criticism.
- It also shows the behavior of some of the Jews, following the shayateen, and shows that one of their professions is that of magician.
- The Jews had the tawrah, but they abandoned it in favor of magic because they said Sulaymaan ruled them through magic, so they wanted the same for themselves.
- Magic is kufr from these ayaat. One cannot learn or teach magic without committing kufr.
- Haroot and Maroot are angels.
- There is a narration that these angels asked why Allah is so patient with humans, since they don’t disobey. But humans are better if they obey because despite their inclinations, they may believe and obey. So for them to understand, he made them like humans, and they were given a choice of being punished either in this life or the next, and they chose this life. They were hung upside down and the woman whom they sinned with was turned to a planet – Venus. The narration is weak.
- Allah has created trials in life, but forbids it as well (pork, etc). The same with this magic being taught.
- There are 3 evidences in this ayaah that magic study and practice is disbelief.
- There are types of magic for separating spouses, but always believe that it cannot surpass Allah’s Qadr.
And they learn that which harms them and profits them not. And indeed they knew that the buyers of would have no share in the Hereafter. And how bad indeed was that for which they sold their own selves, if they but knew.
- Although there may be some material benefit, but overall, the loss is huge, and the benefit is relatively small.
- The buyers of the magic are those learning it.
- The consequence of dealing in magic is disbelief, and the place of the person is Hellfire forever.
- They knew, but they did not apply the knowledge, so they didn’t really know. Also, refers to not knowing the punishment for the actions done.
Oh you who believe! Say not Ra’ina, but say Unthurna, and hear. And for the disbelievers, there is a painful punishment. Neither those who disbelieve among the people of the scripture nor idolators like that there should be sent down unto you any good from your Lord. But Allah chooses for His Mercy whom He wills. And Allah is the Owner of great bounty.
- Ra’ina was a bad word asking for more time used by Jews. Unthurna means the same, but it’s not the same meaning. So as a Muslim, we should cut all the doors to something bad, and the children of Israel would use this term to make fun of and laugh at people. So Allah says, say a proper word.
- Allah says that the idolators and the people of the scripture don’t want good for the Muslims. They neither take the good for themselves, nor do they want it for anyone else.
- Allah reminds us that though they don’t want us to have the good, we have received it, and they have rejected it out of arrogance, and Allah rejected their claims that they are chosen.
Abrogation in the Qur’aan
Whatever an ayaah We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring a better one or similar to it. Know you not that Allah is able to do all things? [2:106]
Naskh means the removal of an existing ruling by a new evidence.
- The Jews objected because the Prophet was facing Jeruselem, and then it was switched to ka’bah for the Qiblah. So there were ayaat that were removed, and they questioned it, so Allah responds to them.
- There are benefits for abrogation, such as gradual change rather than cold turkey change.
- By allowing things to become easier, that’s more merciful for us, and if they become harder, they have more virtue and take away something evil or difficult our lives.
- Allah can do all things, He knows what He’s doing.
Naskh in the Qur’aan
- Naskh of the Ruling, Ayaah remains:
- No longer implemented.
- Eg (alcohol, house arrest for adulterer)
- Naskh of the ayaah, Ruling Remains
- Stoning to death for adultery, to test us and see if we submit to the ruling.
- Naskh of the ayaah and the ruling
- Ayaah of suckling – it used to be 10 known feedings to establish the relationship, the recitation and ruling is no longer in the Qur’aan. Now it takes 5 sucklings. This is from a hadeeth Aisha, and this is of the last of the abrogated.
- If Allah changed something for the benefit of people, then take this lesson that you yourself do not need to hold rigidly to your opinions, be willing to change.
Or do you want to ask your Messenger as Musa was asked before? And he who changes faith for disbelief, verily, he has gone astray from the right way [2:108]
- Asking questions can cause a prohibition – the Prophet was asked if Hajj was obliged every year, and it could have been made so, and it would have been made difficult.
- This is what happened with Musa and the cow – asking about all the characteristics of the cow. Do what you are instructed to do and don’t make it too tight or difficult.
- When one is asking too many questions, they often don’t want to implement.
- The Tawrah told the Jews to follow the Prophet, but they chose not to.
And they say, “None shall enter Paradise unless he be a Jew or a Christian.” These are their own desires. Say, “Produce your evidence if you are truthful.”
- You have to work to prove your belief.
Yes! But whoever submits his face to Allah, and he is a doer of good, then his reward with his Lord, on such shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.
- Belief is not enough – it must comes with good deeds.
The Jews said that the Christians follow nothing, and the Christians say the Jews follow nothing, though they both recite the Scripture. Like unto their word, said those who know not. Allah will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection about that wherein they have been differing.
- How is it that the two are reading the same books and coming to completely different conclusions – their books are corrupted.
- This is a reminder not to waste time arguing with them – Allah will judge them.
And who are more unjust than those who forbid that Allah’s name be mentioned in Allah’s masjids and strive for their ruin? It was not fitting that such should themselves enter them except in fear. For them, there is disgrace in this world and they will have a great punishment in the Hereafter.
- The disbelievers were trying to prevent the Prophet and the Companions from worshipping Allah and the disbelievers wasn’t allowing it. He said that as a consequence, it is not fitting that they enter except in fear.
- If you are working hard against a house of Allah, this is your punishment.
- Some scholars said this is only for masjid al haram.
And to Allah belongs the east and the west, so wherever you turn, there is the Face of Allah. Surely, Allah is sufficient, knowing.
- Don’t make excuses for not worshipping – pray and worship Allah.
- By His Knowledge, Allah is with us. He is in the heavens, and He is beyond physical space and so forth that are relevant to us.
And they say, “Allah has begotten a son.” Glory to Him. Nay, to Him belong all that is in the heavens and on earth, and all are devout in submission to Him. The Originator of the heavens and the earth. When he decrees a matter, He only says to it, “Be!” and it is.
- Allah is Most Merciful and has no need of sacrificing a son to be merciful to others.
- How is everything belonging to Allah a response to the claim that He begot a son? He defines everything as creation, while He is the Creator, and needs no helper.
And those who have no knowledge say, “Why does not Allah speak to us, or why does not a sign come to us?” So said the people before them words of similar import. Their hearts are alike, We have indeed made plain the signs for people who believe with certainty.
- The people were given so many signs, yet they are still denying, even after seeing the miracles, like the Qur’aan, like the fulfillment of prophecies in their scriptures.
- The Jews requested that the Prophet speak to Allah like Musa.
- People have to be certain in their belief, after seeing the signs. If you don’t want to believe, you’ll never be certain and will reject the signs.
Verily, We have sent you with the truth, a bringer of glad tidings and a warner. And you will not be asked about the dwellers of the Blazing Fire.
- The Prophet would become distressed at people not accepting Islam, and he was comforted and told that this wasn’t his job. In another recitation, he is being commanded not to ask.
- We have to balance between teaching about Paradise and Hellfire, not lean on one exclusively, as that has it’s problems.
And the Jews and the Christians will not be pleased with you until you follow their religion. Say, “Verily, the guidance of Allah is the only guidance. And if you were to follow their desires after what you have received of knowledge, then you would hve against Allah neither any protector nor any helper.”
- They will not be happy with you until you become like them. Otherwise, there would be no difference in the religions. Therefore, if you are bothered with something, you will work hard until that thing is taken care of.
- If you follow them in their religion, then you’re a disbeliever.
- The prophet is being told that if he followed them, it would be rejected from him. THe prophet would not do this, but if emphasizes the point for the rest of the Muslims.
Those to whom we give the book recite it as it should be recited – they are the ones who believe therein. And whoso disbelieve in it, those are they who are the losers.
- The people who are truly guided are the ones who recite it as it deserves to be recited and follow it. Others had scripture, but they twisted it, or rejected it.
- The true loss is ending in hellfire and dying on disbelief.
- It is interesting today that they are united, though it is the Muslims who believe in Jesus, not the Jews.
) after the right path has been shown clearly to him, and follows other than the believers’ way. We shall keep him in the path he has chosen, and burn him in Hell – what an evil destination.