How to Study The Quran

By: Maged Taman

1- Be assured that the Quran is from God:

27:6 Lo! as for thee (Muhammad), thou verily receivest the quran from the presence of One Wise, Aware. وَإِنَّكَ لَتُلَقَّى الْقُرْآنَ مِن لَّدُنْ حَكِيمٍ عَلِيمٍ (27:6)

10:37 And this quran is not such as could ever be invented in despite of Allah; but it is a confirmation of that which was before it and an exposition of that which is decreed for mankind-- Therein is no doubt--from the Lord of the Worlds. وَمَا كَانَ هَـذَا الْقُرْآنُ أَن يُفْتَرَى مِن دُونِ اللّهِ وَلَـكِن تَصْدِيقَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيلَ الْكِتَابِ لاَ رَيْبَ فِيهِ مِن رَّبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ (10:37)

2- A little doubt to the truth could happen to Muslims: even prophet Muhammad (PBUH) himself had the doubt as God mentioned in the Quran likely for few minutes, but we have to go back quickly to the truth and assert that the Quran is the truth.

10:94 And if thou (Muhammad) art in doubt concerning that which We reveal unto thee, then question those who read the Scripture (that was) before thee. Verily the truth from thy Lord hath come unto thee. So be not thou of the waverers. فَإِن كُنتَ فِي شَكٍّ مِّمَّا أَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ فَاسْأَلِ الَّذِينَ يَقْرَؤُونَ الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلِكَ لَقَدْ جَاءكَ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ فَلاَ تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُمْتَرِينَ (10:94)

3- If this doubt happen: you have to remember that the prophet did not read or write, he was never known to be a liar:

62:2 It is He Who has sent amongst the Unlettered an apostle from among themselves, to rehearse to them His Signs, to sanctify them, and to instruct them in scripture and Wisdom,- although they had been, before, in manifest error;- هُوَ الَّذِي بَعَثَ فِي الْأُمِّيِّينَ رَسُولًا مِّنْهُمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِهِ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَإِن كَانُوا مِن قَبْلُ لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ (62:2)

4- Besides, God promised to preserve the Quran: He kept his promise with no change in one verse or letter over 1400 years.

15:9 Lo! We, even We, reveal the reminder, and lo! We verily are its Guardian. إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ (15:9)

5- In fact God challenges the Jinn and Mankind to bring the like of the Quran: and no one have brought like the Quran including any government in the world.

17:88 Say: Verily, though mankind and the jinn should assemble to produce the like of this Qur'an, they could not produce the like thereof though they were helpers one of another. -قُل لَّئِنِ اجْتَمَعَتِ الإِنسُ وَالْجِنُّ عَلَى أَن يَأْتُواْ بِمِثْلِ هَـذَا الْقُرْآنِ لاَ يَأْتُونَ بِمِثْلِهِ وَلَوْ كَانَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ ظَهِيرًا (17:88)

6- Even if you are strong believer Satan can influence your thinking: even when you read the Quran, to seek God refuge from Satan. Satan even inspired some to say that the Quran is his own invention and book.

16:98 And when thou recitest the quran, seek refuge in Allah from Satan the outcast. فَإِذَا قَرَأْتَ الْقُرْآنَ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ (16:98)

7- If you are not Muslim and reading the Quran to defeat it beware: you have the right to have doubt but to read the Quran to defeat God you are willingly chose the hell-fire.

22:51 "But those who strive against Our signs, to frustrate them,- they will be Companions of the Fire." وَالَّذِينَ سَعَوْا فِي آيَاتِنَا مُعَاجِزِينَ أُوْلَئِكَ أَصْحَابُ الْجَحِيمِ (22:51)

8- Go nice and slow when study the Quran: this was the way recited and brought in:

17:106 And (it is) a quran that We have divided, that thou mayest recite it unto mankind at intervals, and We have revealed it by (successive) revelation.
وَقُرْآناً فَرَقْنَاهُ لِتَقْرَأَهُ عَلَى النَّاسِ عَلَى مُكْثٍ وَنَزَّلْنَاهُ تَنزِيلاً (17:106)

9- The Quran is very powerful: If the mountain can understand Arabic he would rent asunder by fear of God. Similarly it could cause the mountains to move, the earth to shatter and the dead to listen. So take him seriously the speaker is God.

59:21 If We had caused this Qur'an to descend upon a mountain, thou (O Muhammad) verily hadst seen it humbled, rent asunder by the fear of Allah. Such similitudes coin We for mankind that haply they may reflect. لَوْ أَنزَلْنَا هَذَا الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى جَبَلٍ لَّرَأَيْتَهُ خَاشِعًا مُّتَصَدِّعًا مِّنْ خَشْيَةِ اللَّهِ وَتِلْكَ الْأَمْثَالُ نَضْرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ (59:21)

13:31 Had it been possible for a Lecture to cause the mountains to move, or the earth to be torn asunder, or the dead to speak, (this quran would have done so). Nay, but Allah's is the whole command. Do not those who believe know that, had Allah willed, He could have guided all mankind? As for those who disbelieve, disaster ceaseth not to strike them because of what they do, or it dwelleth near their home until the threat of Allah come to pass. Lo! Allah faileth not to keep the tryst. وَلَوْ أَنَّ قُرْآنًا سُيِّرَتْ بِهِ الْجِبَالُ أَوْ قُطِّعَتْ بِهِ الأَرْضُ أَوْ كُلِّمَ بِهِ الْمَوْتَى بَل لِّلّهِ الأَمْرُ جَمِيعًا أَفَلَمْ يَيْأَسِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ أَن لَّوْ يَشَاء اللّهُ لَهَدَى النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا وَلاَ يَزَالُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ تُصِيبُهُم بِمَا صَنَعُواْ قَارِعَةٌ أَوْ تَحُلُّ قَرِيبًا مِّن دَارِهِمْ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَ وَعْدُ اللّهِ إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ (13:31)

10- Have a simple summary to the Quran: which is chapter the Opening or Al fataha.

1:1 In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيمِ (1:1)

1:2 Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, الْحَمْدُ للّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ (1:2)

1:3 The Beneficent, the Merciful: الرَّحْمـنِ الرَّحِيمِ (1:3)

1:4 Owner of the Day of Judgment, مَـالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ (1:4)

1:5 Thee (alone) we worship; Thee alone we ask for help. إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ (1:5)

1:6 Show us the straight path, اهدِنَــــا الصِّرَاطَ المُستَقِيمَ (1:6)

1:7 The path of those whom Thou hast favored; Not (the path) of those who earn Thine anger nor of those who go astray. صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنعَمتَ عَلَيهِمْ غَيرِ المَغضُوبِ عَلَيهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّالِّينَ (1:7)

11- The Quran is statements and all kinds of similitude: So when you study the Quran find in the verses the statements and try to memorize them.

30:58 Verily We have coined for mankind in the quran all kinds of similitudes; and indeed if thou comest unto them with a miracle, those who disbelieve would verily exclaim: Ye are but tricksters!وَلَقَدْ ضَرَبْنَا لِلنَّاسِ فِي هَذَا الْقُرْآنِ مِن كُلِّ مَثَلٍ وَلَئِن جِئْتَهُم بِآيَةٍ لَيَقُولَنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا مُبْطِلُونَ (30:58)

12- The Quran is two kind of verses clear and allegorical: Many of the verses that were allegorical came to be more clear over the years as the verses that talk about science as we sent down iron, we created the heavens with might and we are expanding, and so forth.

3:7 He it is Who hath revealed unto thee (Muhammad) the Scripture wherein are clear revelations--They are the substance of the book--and others (which are) allegorical. But those in whose hearts is doubt pursue, forsooth, that which is allegorical seeking (to cause) dissension by seeking to explain it. None knoweth its explanation save Allah. And those who are of sound instruction say: We believe therein; the whole is from our Lord; but only men of understanding really heed.هُوَ الَّذِيَ أَنزَلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ مِنْهُ آيَاتٌ مُّحْكَمَاتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ وَأُخَرُ مُتَشَابِهَاتٌ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ في قُلُوبِهِمْ زَيْغٌ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَابَهَ مِنْهُ ابْتِغَاء الْفِتْنَةِ وَابْتِغَاء تَأْوِيلِهِ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِلاَّ اللّهُ وَالرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ يَقُولُونَ آمَنَّا بِهِ كُلٌّ مِّنْ عِندِ رَبِّنَا وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلاَّ أُوْلُواْ الألْبَابِ (3:7)

12:3 We narrate unto thee (Muhammad) the best of narratives in that We have inspired in thee this quran, though aforetime thou wast of the heedless. نَحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ أَحْسَنَ الْقَصَصِ بِمَا أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ هَـذَا الْقُرْآنَ وَإِن كُنتَ مِن قَبْلِهِ لَمِنَ الْغَافِلِينَ (12:3)

13- Know the main topics of the Quran: the creation, faith including what it entails, defining its truth and refuting other falsehoods, the moral code, the sharia or God's laws in various topics of our lives, stories of the prophets and the hereafter.

3:190 Lo! In the creation of the heavens and the earth and (in) the difference of night and day are tokens (of His sovereignty) for men of understanding,
إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلاَفِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لآيَاتٍ لِّأُوْلِي الألْبَابِ (3:190)

47:2 And those who believe and do good works and believe in that which is revealed unto Muhammad--and it is the truth from their Lord--He riddeth them of their ill deeds and improveth their state. وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَآمَنُوا بِمَا نُزِّلَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَهُوَ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ كَفَّرَ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ وَأَصْلَحَ بَالَهُمْ (47:2)

8:2 They only are the (true) believers whose hearts feel fear when Allah is mentioned, and when the revelations of Allah are recited unto them they increase their faith, and who trust in their Lord; إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَعَلَى رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ (8:2)

5:48 And unto thee have We revealed the Scripture with the truth, confirming whatever Scripture was before it, and a watcher over it. So judge between them by that which Allah hath revealed, and follow not their desires away from the truth which hath come unto thee. For each We have appointed a divine law and a traced out way. Had Allah willed He could have made you one community. But that He may try you by that which He hath given you (He hath made you as ye are). So vie one with another in good works. Unto Allah ye will all return, and He will then inform you of that wherein ye differ.
وَأَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَمُهَيْمِنًا عَلَيْهِ فَاحْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ وَلاَ تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءهُمْ عَمَّا جَاءكَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ لِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مِنكُمْ شِرْعَةً وَمِنْهَاجًا وَلَوْ شَاء اللّهُ لَجَعَلَكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَلَـكِن لِّيَبْلُوَكُمْ فِي مَآ آتَاكُم فَاسْتَبِقُوا الخَيْرَاتِ إِلَى الله مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيعًا فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ (5:48)

12:3 We narrate unto thee (Muhammad) the best of narratives in that We have inspired in thee this quran, though aforetime thou wast of the heedless. نَحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ أَحْسَنَ الْقَصَصِ بِمَا أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ هَـذَا الْقُرْآنَ وَإِن كُنتَ مِن قَبْلِهِ لَمِنَ الْغَافِلِينَ (12:3)

3:185 Every soul shall have a taste of death: And only on the Day of judgment shall you be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved far from the Fire and admitted to the Garden will have attained the object (of Life): For the life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception. كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ وَإِنَّمَا تُوَفَّوْنَ أُجُورَكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَمَن زُحْزِحَ عَنِ النَّارِ وَأُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَ وَما الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلاَّ مَتَاعُ الْغُرُورِ (3:185

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72-e0S_ezE4&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aI-BpP19fgs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WFFZv0pLlU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGC_zr88W1c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=688lbAJkBLA

The Day Of Judgment.

By: Maged Taman

1- We did not justly estimate God: He is the one who owns the day of judgment. If we estimate his glory we would not make partners to him (all idols, humans and non-humans):39:67 No just estimate have they made of Allah, such as is due to Him: On the day of judgment the whole of the earth will be but His handful, and the heavens will be rolled up in His right hand: Glory to Him! High is He above the Partners they attribute to Him!وَمَا قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ وَالْأَرْضُ جَمِيعًا قَبْضَتُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَالسَّماوَاتُ مَطْوِيَّاتٌ بِيَمِينِهِ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ

2- There is no doubt about the day of judgment:
4:87 Allah, There is no god but He; of a surety He will gather you together against the day of judgment, about which there is no doubt. And whose word can be truer than Allah's?اللّهُ لا إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ لَيَجْمَعَنَّكُمْ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ لاَ رَيْبَ فِيهِ وَمَنْ أَصْدَقُ مِنَ اللّهِ حَدِيثًا

3- We continue to ignore the signs of God: Those who did not estimate God would have no weight on the day of judgment:18:105 They are those who deny the Signs of their Lord and the fact of their having to meet Him (in the Hereafter): vain will be their works, nor shall We, on the day of judgment, give them any weight.أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِمْ وَلِقَائِهِ فَحَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ فَلَا نُقِيمُ لَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَزْنًا

4- That is the day that Satan promised to have most of us in his camp:
17:62 He said: "Seest Thou? this is the one whom Thou hast honored above me! If Thou wilt but respite me to the day of judgment, I will surely bring his descendants under my sway - all but a few!"قَالَ أَرَأَيْتَكَ هَـذَا الَّذِي كَرَّمْتَ عَلَيَّ لَئِنْ أَخَّرْتَنِ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ لأَحْتَنِكَنَّ ذُرِّيَّتَهُ إَلاَّ قَلِيلاً

5- God will justly judge us in that day:
21:47 We shall set up scales of justice for the day of judgment, so that not a soul will be dealt with unjustly in the least, and if there be (no more than) the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it (to account): and enough are We to take account.
وَنَضَعُ الْمَوَازِينَ الْقِسْطَ لِيَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ فَلَا تُظْلَمُ نَفْسٌ شَيْئًا وَإِن كَانَ مِثْقَالَ حَبَّةٍ مِّنْ خَرْدَلٍ أَتَيْنَا بِهَا وَكَفَى بِنَا حَاسِبِينَ

6- The judgment is according to our deeds:
يَوْمَ تَجِدُ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّا عَمِلَتْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ مُّحْضَرًا وَمَا عَمِلَتْ مِن سُوَءٍ تَوَدُّ لَوْ أَنَّ بَيْنَهَا وَبَيْنَهُ أَمَدًا بَعِيدًا وَيُحَذِّرُكُمُ اللّهُ نَفْسَهُ وَاللّهُ رَؤُوفُ بِالْعِبَادِ (3:30) 3:30 (Picktall) On the day when every soul will find itself confronted with all that it hath done of good and all that it hath done of evil (every soul) will long that there might be a mighty apace of distance between it and that (evil). Allah biddeth you beware of Him. And Allah is full of pity for (His) bondmen.

7- The idols (humans, gold, money...) they took as partners to God will not stand for them on the day of judgment:
16:27 Then, on the day of judgment, He will cover them with shame, and say: "Where are My 'partners' concerning whom ye used to dispute (with the godly)?" Those endued with knowledge will say: "This day, indeed, are the Unbelievers covered with shame and misery,-ثُمَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يُخْزِيهِمْ وَيَقُولُ أَيْنَ شُرَكَآئِيَ الَّذِينَ كُنتُمْ تُشَاقُّونَ فِيهِمْ قَالَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْعِلْمَ إِنَّ الْخِزْيَ الْيَوْمَ وَالْسُّوءَ عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ

8- They will not be only devoid of partners, every one will present singly to God on the day of judgment:
19:95 And everyone of them will come to Him singly on the day of judgment.
وَكُلُّهُمْ آتِيهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَرْدًا

9- The leaders of the disbelievers will turn down those who f0llowed them in this life:
إِذْ تَبَرَّأَ الَّذِينَ اتُّبِعُواْ مِنَ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُواْ وَرَأَوُاْ الْعَذَابَ وَتَقَطَّعَتْ بِهِمُ الأَسْبَابُ (2:166)
2:166 (Picktall) (On the day) when those who were followed disown those who followed (them), and they behold the doom, and all their aims collapse with them.

10- The possessions in this life will not help any in the day of judgment:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَن تُغْنِيَ عَنْهُمْ أَمْوَالُهُمْ وَلاَ أَوْلاَدُهُم مِّنَ اللّهِ شَيْئًا وَأُولَـئِكَ هُمْ وَقُودُ النَّارِ (3:10) 3:10 (Picktall) (On that day) neither the riches not the progeny of those who disbelieve will aught avail them with Allah. They will be fuel for fire.

11- What is left for them in that day is shame:
يَوْمَئِذٍ يَوَدُّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَعَصَوُاْ الرَّسُولَ لَوْ تُسَوَّى بِهِمُ الأَرْضُ وَلاَ يَكْتُمُونَ اللّهَ حَدِيثًا (4:42) 4:42 (Picktall) On that day those who disbelieved and disobeyed the messenger will wish that they were level with the ground, and they can hide no fact from Allah.

Prayers in the Quran

By: Maged Taman

1- The second command of God is prayers: after believing in him and his prophets, books, angels and the day of judgment.

14:31 Speak to my servants who have believed, that they may establish regular prayers, and spend (in charity) out of the sustenance we have given them, secretly and openly, before the coming of a Day in which there will be neither mutual bargaining nor befriending. قُل لِّعِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ يُقِيمُواْ الصَّلاَةَ وَيُنفِقُواْ مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلانِيَةً مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَ يَوْمٌ لاَّ بَيْعٌ فِيهِ وَلاَ خِلاَلٌ (14:31)

2- Prayers have stated times:

4:103 When ye pass (Congregational) prayers, celebrate Allah's praises, standing, sitting down, or lying down on your sides; but when ye are free from danger, set up Regular prayers: For such prayers are enjoined on believers at stated timesفَإِذَا قَضَيْتُمُ الصَّلاَةَ فَاذْكُرُواْ اللّهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَى جُنُوبِكُمْ فَإِذَا اطْمَأْنَنتُمْ فَأَقِيمُواْ الصَّلاَةَ إِنَّ الصَّلاَةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَابًا مَّوْقُوتًا (4:103)

3- We are ordered to be regular in prayers:

30:31 Turn ye back in repentance to Him, and fear Him: establish regular prayers, and be not ye among those who join gods with Allah,مُنِيبِينَ إِلَيْهِ وَاتَّقُوهُ وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَلَا تَكُونُوا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ (30:31)

4- We are ordered to be humble in prayers:

2:238 Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers, especially the Middle Prayer; and stand before Allah in a devout (frame of mind). حَافِظُواْ عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ والصَّلاَةِ الْوُسْطَى وَقُومُواْ لِلّهِ قَانِتِينَ (2:238)

5- Prayers are followed by giving to charity in many verses of the Quran: the first is the connection with God and the second is the connection with humanity.

8:3 Who establish regular prayers and spend (freely) out of the gifts We have given them for sustenance: الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلاَةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ (8:3)

6- Prayers are ordained to God's people over human history:

5:12 Allah did aforetime take a covenant from the Children of Israel, and we appointed twelve captains among them. And Allah said: "I am with you: if ye (but) establish regular prayers, practise regular charity, believe in my apostles, honour and assist them, and loan to Allah a beautiful loan, verily I will wipe out from you your evils, and admit you to gardens with rivers flowing beneath; but if any of you, after this, resisteth faith, he hath truly wandered from the path or rectitude." وَلَقَدْ أَخَذَ اللّهُ مِيثَاقَ بَنِي إِسْرَآئِيلَ وَبَعَثْنَا مِنهُمُ اثْنَيْ عَشَرَ نَقِيبًا وَقَالَ اللّهُ إِنِّي مَعَكُمْ لَئِنْ أَقَمْتُمُ الصَّلاَةَ وَآتَيْتُمُ الزَّكَاةَ وَآمَنتُم بِرُسُلِي وَعَزَّرْتُمُوهُمْ وَأَقْرَضْتُمُ اللّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا لَّأُكَفِّرَنَّ عَنكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَلأُدْخِلَنَّكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الأَنْهَارُ فَمَن كَفَرَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ مِنكُمْ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ سَوَاء السَّبِيلِ

7- Praise to God between prayers keep the connection with God most of the times: doing good deeds is the third way of the continuous daily connection with God.

4:103 When ye pass (Congregational) prayers, celebrate Allah's praises, standing, sitting down, or lying down on your sides; but when ye are free from danger, set up Regular prayers: For such prayers are enjoined on believers at stated times. فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُمُ الصَّلاَةَ فَاذْكُرُواْ اللّهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَى جُنُوبِكُمْ فَإِذَا اطْمَأْنَنتُمْ فَأَقِيمُواْ الصَّلاَةَ إِنَّ الصَّلاَةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَابًا مَّوْقُوتًا (4:103)

8- Prayers are important part of the unity of Muslims: they unite in prayers which in most part should be in groups, as well in enjoining good, forbidding evil and giving to charity.

9:71 The Believers, men and women, are protectors one of another: they enjoin what is just, and forbid what is evil: they observe regular prayers, practise regular charity, and obey Allah and His Messenger. On them will Allah pour His mercy: for Allah is Exalted in power, Wise. وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاء بَعْضٍ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلاَةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ اللّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ أُوْلَـئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللّهُ إِنَّ اللّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ (9:71)

9- Those Muslims who did not follow true prayers are lost: a lot of Muslims now are missing prayers or do not sincerely pray. They commonly do not follow prayers by enjoining the good and forbidding the evil. No wonder God let the worst of them to be their leaders in most part. If they will not go back to him and follow him they will have the tribulation over their heads. I am not the most devout Muslim, however I feel it is my duty as a Muslim to do so.

19:59 But after them there followed a posterity who missed prayers and followed after lusts soon, then, will they face Destructionفَخَلَفَ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ أَضَاعُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَاتَّبَعُوا الشَّهَوَاتِ فَسَوْفَ يَلْقَوْنَ غَيًّا (19:59)

Look above for the Glory of God

By: Maged Taman

When you read the Quran you feel that the words are too powerful for a man to make it up. The thing astonishes me as well is the feeling that God talk to us in the Quran as he in heaven looking down at us. If you look with the naked eye or the telescope you appreciate the glory of God creation.
Examine these verses and think about it:

1- God created The heavens and the earth:

"Your Guardian-Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and is firmly established on the throne (of authority): He draweth the night as a veil o'er the day, each seeking the other in rapid succession: He created the sun, the moon, and the stars, (all) governed by laws under His command. Is it not His to create and to govern? Blessed be Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds!" (Qur'an, 7:54).

15:16 And verily in the heaven We have set mansions of the stars, and We have beautified it for beholders.

16:3 He hath created the heavens and the earth with truth. High be He exalted above all that they associate (with Him).

2- The universe is expanding:

"And it is We Who have constructed the heaven (universe) with hands (might), and verily, it is We Who are steadily expanding it". (Qur'an, 51:47).

3- The cyclic movments of the heaven bodies:

"[I swear] by Heaven with its cyclical systems," (Qur'an, 86:11).

4- The stars have magnificent positions:

"And I swear by the stars' positions-and that is a mighty oath if you only knew." (Qur'an, 56:75-76).

5- The tremendous phenomenon of the black holes: which are the collapsed stars. They are black since the light can not escape from sich high concentration of matter in small space. This is can be seen barely with the telescope.

"When the stars are extinguished," (Qur'an, 77:8).

6- The lighting and thunder: So more close to us but more impressive.

"He it is Who shows you the lightning causing fear and hope and (Who) brings up the heavy cloud. And the thunder declares His glory with His praise, and the angels too for awe of Him; and He sends the thunderbolts and smites with them whom He pleases, yet they dispute concerning Allah, and He is mighty in prowess." (Qu'ran, 13:11-13).

7- The mountains move with the earth not a standstill: as the people at time of the prophet thought.

"You see the mountains you reckoned to be solid going past like clouds." (Qur'an, 27:88).

8- The day and night as they wrap over the earth globe.

"He has created the Heavens and the Earth for Truth. He wraps the night up in the day, and wraps the day up in the night." (Qur'an, 39:5)

9- The earth atmosphere that is protecting us: from harmful light rays and radiation.

"We made the sky a preserved and protected roof yet still they turn away from Our Signs. (Qur'an, 21:32).

10- The heavens above us held up with no pillars:

"It is Allah Who created the heavens with no support-you can see them-and cast firmly embedded mountains on the earth so that it would not move under you, and scattered about in it creatures of every kind. And We send down water from the sky and make every generous plant grow in it, in pairs." (Qur'an, 31:10)

11- The iron in earth is from meteors from heaven that fall on the earth:

"We have sent Our Messengers with proofs, and sent them with the Book and the Scales, so that people might establish the Scale (of justice). We have sent down iron in which there is great might and diverse benefit for people, so that Allah knows those who help Him and His Messengers in the Unseen. Indeed, Allah is the Strong, the Almighty." (Qur'an 57:25)

12- The stars help to Guide people:

6:97 And He it is Who hath set for you the stars that ye may guide your course by them amid the darkness of the land and the sea We have detailed Our revelations for a people who have knowledge.

Follow me: I am your Servant and your Leader

By: Maged Taman

I welcome to my blog Soul Surgeon as a follower. I invite a lot of Muslims and non-Muslims to follow me.

Just let me tell you about myself first I was never in a political group or leader to any group. I am like a passenger that found chaos in the street and have beaten up by two criminals so he decided to take over and find order and peace.
Let me give you more points here:

1- Politics is just to important to be left to politicians.

2- As you see in much in the world they are the elites who wants to be elitists (with some exceptions). They want to have it all and in the process they have to cheat, lie and work for the rich and corrupt. It is specially so in the Arab counties.

3- The time took you to know about me tell you how good guy I am. If I was a jerk, hypocrite and connected to tyrants you would have known me very early.

4- The media do not want to let you know me since I have plans that are rejected by the agents of Satan in this earth.

5- Muslims agents who are connected to the Arab tyrants lobby in America so people would not hear my voice.

6- They even try to convince Israel that they are the best for its interest though they are the source of all anger and extremism in this area.

7- In USA the war machine and the defense political empire is looking to improve the killing capability of their arms.

8- If they would have given me 1/10 th of billions they destroyed in wars I could made a new middle East with happily living Arabs and Israeli.

9- What the world is seeing now is the default for rejecting me. The two who are better than me were rejected: Jesus and Muhammad.

10- I have to continue however to try to work with a lot of good people to find a better world to all of us.

11- I will be going soon to Egypt in September 2009 and I like to have followers before I arrive.

So please feel free to add yourself to my web site but you should not be extremist or koskos. the later koskos (it is a food in the Middle East) are the Muslims who are standing with the tyrants and enjoying to be enslaved or loving the west without pointing out their injust policies towards us or getting real change in policies.

We need Muslims who are fair, reasonable, dissent but strong in their faith and the right for Muslims and non-Muslims to have dissent lives. Actually convert Jews and Christians who lived in the west would be the best Muslims and non-Muslims among the Jews and Christians will understand our struggle.

Spirituality In Islam.

By: Maged Taman

According to http://www.answer.com/ Spirituality and personal well-being are identified:
Due to its broad scope and individual nature, spirituality is perhaps better understood by highlighting a number of key concepts that have arisen for people when asked to describe what spirituality means to them. Research by Martsolf & Mickley (1998) highlighted the following areas as worthy of consideration:
Meaning – significance of life; making sense of situations; deriving purpose
Values – beliefs and standards that are cherished
Transcendence – experience and appreciation of a dimension beyond self
Connecting – relationships with self, others, God/Higher Power, and the environment.
Becoming – an unfolding of life that demands reflection and experience; includes a sense of who one is and how one knows.

We all have this high spiritual humans inside our earthy body. The conflict between the body (material) and soul (spirit) is a continuous process. Materialism believes in the political existence of humans. They work in a social acceptance that allow everyone to enjoy his desires without stepping on other people shoes.

In real life materialism is what you can get to fulfill the highest of your desires without self-compromise. The soul has no existence or is an imaginary shadow that we do not see or touch for materialistic people. They fell to this false reality. Material fulfilment is never complete and endless. Even for the most achievers they feel empty or lost oneself in the process to reach high materialistic gains.

Depression, anxiety, drugs and alcohol abuse are some of the manifestations of the loss of one's soul. Materialistic endeavours also affect in large the state of most countries where the immoral capitalism and the desire to attain wealth result in the crush of other people and countries.

Total spiritualism is to divorce all the material life and live like a Monk. In Islam there is a balance between the soul and the body & between spirituality and materialism. Moral capitalism has allowed Muslims to enjoy the free capitalistic system and feel good by giving a certain percent to the poor and play the market morally.

The good feeling of Muslims of being parts of one body that everyone feel for one another and the justice to non Muslims give a spiritual fulfillment. Superiority of oneself and selfishness is replaced by common goal to all Muslims is to make God happy of us.

The daily activities of high morality in Islam make you feel a spiritual being. The 5 prayers to God a day, reciting Quran (which is very enjoyable for Muslims) make you walk like a spirit in earth. It is an ultimate state of Godliness. You are not isolated from materialism or humanity but you live with the guidance of God as a righteous person. You submit to God and enjoy the peace that Islam creates in its people and to non-Muslims around them. You give in in some of the excessive desires and you contribute to a happy and peaceful society. It is a win-win to everyone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7d37r3iUds

Laurence Brown, M.D.: Being True to a Promise

From: http://www.islamreligion.com/

In the winter of 1990, when my second daughter was born, she was whisked from the birthing room to the neonatal intensive care unit, where she was diagnosed with a coarctation of the aorta. This meaning a critical narrowing in the major vessel from the heart, she was a dusky gunmetal blue from the chest to the toes, for her body simply was not getting enough blood and her tissues were suffocating.

When I learned of the diagnosis, I was shattered. Being a doctor, I understood this meant emergency thoracic surgery with a poor chance of long-term survival. A consultant cardio-thoracic surgeon was called from across town at the pediatric hospital in Washington, D.C., and upon his arrival I was asked to leave the intensive care unit, for I had become overly emotional. With no companion but my fears, and no other place of comfort to which to go while awaiting the result of the consultant’s examination, I went to the prayer room in the hospital and fell to my knees.

For the first time in my life I prayed with sincerity and commitment. Having spent my life as an atheist, this was the first time that I even partially recognized God. I say partially, for even in this time of panic I was not fully believing, and so prayed a rather skeptical prayer in which I promised God, if, that is, there was a God, that if He would save my daughter then I would seek and follow the religion most pleasing to Him. Ten to fifteen minutes later, when I returned to the Neonatal ICU, I was shocked when the consultant told me that my daughter would be fine. And, true to his assessment, within the next two days her condition resolved without medicine or surgery, and she subsequently grew up a completely normal child.

Now, I know that there is a medical explanation for this. As I said, I am a doctor. So when the consultant explained about a patent ductus arteriosis, low oxygenation and eventual spontaneous resolution, I understood. I just didn’t buy it. More significantly, neither did the Intensivist – the Neonatal ICU specialist who made the diagnosis. To this day I remember seeing him standing, blank-faced and speechless. But in the end, the consultant was right and the condition spontaneously reversed and my daughter, Hannah, left the hospital a normal baby in every respect.

And here’s the rub -- many who make promises to God in moments of panic find or invent excuses to escape their part of the bargain once the danger is past. As an atheist, it would have been easy to maintain my disbelief in God, assigning my daughter’s recovery to the doctor’s explanation rather than to God. But I couldn’t. We had cardiac ultrasound taken before and after, showing the stricture one day, gone the next, and all I could think of was that God had made good on His part of the deal, and I had to make good on mine. And even if there were an adequate medical explanation, that too was under the control of Almighty God, so by whatever means God chose to effect His decree, He had answered my prayer. Period. I did not then, and I do not now, accept any other explanation.

The next few years I tried to fulfill my side of the bargain, but failed. I studied Judaism and a number of sects of Christianity, but never felt that I had found the truth. Over time I attended a wide variety of Christian churches, spending the longest period of time in Roman Catholic congregation. However, I never embraced Christian faith. I never could, for the simple reason that I could not reconcile the biblical teachings of Jesus with the teachings of the various sects of Christianity. Eventually I just stayed home and read, and during this time I was introduced to the Holy Quran and Martin Lings’ biography of the prophet, Muhammad, entitled, Muhammad, His Life Based on the Earliest Sources.

During my years of study, I had encountered the Jewish scriptures referencing three prophets to follow Moses. With John the Baptist and Jesus Christ being two, that left one according to the Old Testament, and in the New Testament Jesus Christ himself spoke of a final prophet to follow. Not until I found the Holy Quran teaching the oneness of God, as both Moses and Jesus Christ had taught, did I begin to consider Muhammad as the predicted final prophet, and not until I read the biography of Muhammad did I become convinced. And when I did become convinced, suddenly everything made sense. The continuity in the chain of prophethood and revelation, the One-ness of Almighty God, and the completion of revelation in the Holy Quran suddenly made perfect sense, and it was then that I became Muslim.

Pretty smart, hunh? No, not at all. For I would err greatly if I believed that I figured it out for myself. One lesson I have learned over the past ten years as a Muslim is that there are a lot of people much more intelligent than I am, but who have not been able to figure out the truth of Islam. It is not a matter of intelligence but of enlightenment, for Allah has revealed that those who disbelieve will remain upon disbelief, even if warned, for in punishment for having denied Allah, Allah in turn has denied them the treasure of His truth. As Allah teaches in the Holy Quran:
“Indeed, those who disbelieve – it is all the same for them whether you warn them or do not warn them – they will not believe. God has set a seal upon their hearts and upon their hearing, and over their vision is a veil.” (Quran 2:6-7)

But, on the other hand, the good news is that…
“…whoever believes in God – He will guide his heart” (Quran 64:11)
“God chooses for Himself whom He wills and guides to Himself whoever turns back [to Him]” (Quran 42:13)
…and:
“And God guides whom He wills to a straight path.” (Quran 24:46)

So I thank God that He chose to guide me, and I attribute that guidance to one simple formula: recognizing God, praying to God Alone, sincerely promising to seek and follow His religion of truth, and then, once receiving His mercy of guidance, DOING IT .

About the author:Laurence B. Brown, MD, is the author of two published books. His first book, The First and Final Commandment, is an analysis of the claim of continuity in the chain of revelation from Judaism to Christianity to Islam. His second book, Bearing True Witness, is a brief Islamic primer. Forthcoming books are a historical thriller, The Eighth Scroll, and a second edition of The First and Final Commandment, rewritten and divided into two books, MisGod’ed and its sequel, God’ed.

Conversion To Islam or Better Say Invitation To Islam.

By: Maged Taman

It is true that Muslims want the whole world to convert to Islam. But they want it the right way:
1- Free will.
2- In depth study of Islam.
3- Sincere belief it is true.
4- Knowing all the critics to Islam.
5- One should deal normally with his member of family who did not convert.
6- If it is hard to convert for social or other fears you can keep your faith in your heart until the right time.
7- To argue religion very pleasantly.
8- Let them express any hate or critics to Islam after they get it out they are more likely to perceive the opposite view.
9- Make it always look scientific let them prove Islam by trying to disprove it.
10- Be prepared to argue or at least to know were to refer them if you do not know the answer of an inquiry.
11- Use the word invitation and let them use the word convert.
12- Do not let them feel any pressure or temptations to be Muslims. You doing that for their good and let them think that. Islam is true and Eternity is true and the worst surprise man can have is to find he is resurrected after death and he was not ready to that day.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ اسْتَجِيبُواْ لِلّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُم لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ وَاعْلَمُواْ أَنَّ اللّهَ يَحُولُ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَقَلْبِهِ وَأَنَّهُ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ (8:24) 8:24 (Picktall) O ye who believe; Obey Allah, and the messenger when He calleth you to that which quickeneth you, and know that Allah cometh in between the man and his own heart, and that He it is unto Whom ye will be gathered.

قُلْ هَـذِهِ سَبِيلِي أَدْعُو إِلَى اللّهِ عَلَى بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَاْ وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِي وَسُبْحَانَ اللّهِ وَمَا أَنَاْ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ (12:108) 12:108 (Picktall) Say: This is my Way: I call on Allah with sure knowledge, I and whosoever followeth me--Glory be to Allah!--and I am not of the idolaters.

ادْعُ إِلِى سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ وَجَادِلْهُم بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ (16:12516:125 (Picktall) call unto the way of thy Lord with wisdom and fair exhortation, and reason with them in the better way. Lo! thy Lord is best aware of him who strayeth from His way, and He is Best Aware of those who go aright.

اسْتَجِيبُوا لِرَبِّكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَ يَوْمٌ لَّا مَرَدَّ لَهُ مِنَ اللَّهِ مَا لَكُم مِّن مَّلْجَأٍ يَوْمَئِذٍ وَمَا لَكُم مِّن نَّكِيرٍ (42:47) 42:47 (Picktall) Answer the call of your Lord before there cometh unto you from Allah a Day which there is no averting. Ye have no refuge on that Day, nor have ye any (power of) refusal. -

آمَنَ الرَّسُولُ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِن رَّبِّهِ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ كُلٌّ آمَنَ بِاللّهِ وَمَلآئِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ لاَ نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّن رُّسُلِهِ وَقَالُواْ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا غُفْرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ (2:285) 2:285 (Y. Ali) The Messenger believeth in what hath been revealed to him from his Lord, as do the men of faith. Each one (of them) believeth in Allah, His angels, His books, and His apostles. "We make no distinction (they say) between one and another of His apostles." And they say: "We hear, and we obey: (We seek) Thy forgiveness, our Lord, and to Thee is the end of all journeys."

وَلَا تُجَادِلُوا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ إِلَّا بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْهُمْ وَقُولُوا آمَنَّا بِالَّذِي أُنزِلَ إِلَيْنَا وَأُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ وَإِلَهُنَا وَإِلَهُكُمْ وَاحِدٌ وَنَحْنُ لَهُ مُسْلِمُونَ (29:46) 29:46 (Y. Ali) And dispute ye not with the People of the book, except with means better (than mere disputation), unless it be with those of them who inflict wrong (and injury): but say, "We believe in the revelation which has come down to us and in that which came down to you; Our Allah and your Allah is one; and it is to Him we bow (in Islam)."

فَإنْ حَآجُّوكَ فَقُلْ أَسْلَمْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلّهِ وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِ وَقُل لِّلَّذِينَ أُوْتُواْ الْكِتَابَ وَالأُمِّيِّينَ أَأَسْلَمْتُمْ فَإِنْ أَسْلَمُواْ فَقَدِ اهْتَدَواْ وَّإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْكَ الْبَلاَغُ وَاللّهُ بَصِيرٌ بِالْعِبَادِ (3:20) 3:20 (Y. Ali) So if they dispute with thee, say: "I have submitted My whole self to Allah and so have those who follow me." And say to the People of the book and to those who are unlearned: "Do ye (also) submit yourselves?" If they do, they are in right guidance, but if they turn back, Thy duty is to convey the Message; and in Allah's sight are (all) His servants. -

قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ تَعَالَوْاْ إِلَى كَلَمَةٍ سَوَاء بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ أَلاَّ نَعْبُدَ إِلاَّ اللّهَ وَلاَ نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَلاَ يَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضاً أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ اللّهِ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ فَقُولُواْ اشْهَدُواْ بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ (3:64) 3:64 (Y. Ali) Say: "O People of the book! come to common terms as between us and you: That we worship none but Allah (God); that we associate no partners with him; that we erect not, from among ourselves, Lords and patrons other than Allah." If then they turn back, say ye: "Bear witness that we (at least) are Muslims (bowing to Allah's Will).

وَلَمَّا جَاءهُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْ عِندِ اللّهِ مُصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَهُمْ نَبَذَ فَرِيقٌ مِّنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَابَ كِتَابَ اللّهِ وَرَاء ظُهُورِهِمْ كَأَنَّهُمْ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ (2:101) 2:101 (Y. Ali) And when there came to them an apostle from Allah, confirming what was with them, a party of the people of the book threw away the book of Allah behind their backs, as if (it had been something) they did not know! -

الَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَعْرِفُونَهُ كَمَا يَعْرِفُونَ أَبْنَاءهُمْ وَإِنَّ فَرِيقاً مِّنْهُمْ لَيَكْتُمُونَ الْحَقَّ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ (2:146) 2:146 (Y. Ali) The people of the book know this as they know their own sons; but some of them conceal the truth which they themselves know.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَا أَنزَلْنَا مِنَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالْهُدَى مِن بَعْدِ مَا بَيَّنَّاهُ لِلنَّاسِ فِي الْكِتَابِ أُولَـئِكَ يَلعَنُهُمُ اللّهُ وَيَلْعَنُهُمُ اللَّاعِنُونَ (2:159) 2:159 (Y. Ali) Those who conceal the clear (Signs) We have sent down, and the Guidance, after We have made it clear for the people in the book,-on them shall be Allah's curse, and the curse of those entitled to curse,-

وَإِنَّ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ لَمَن يُؤْمِنُ بِاللّهِ وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِمْ خَاشِعِينَ لِلّهِ لاَ يَشْتَرُونَ بِآيَاتِ اللّهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلاً أُوْلَـئِكَ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ إِنَّ اللّهَ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ (3:199) 3:199 (Y. Ali) And there are, certainly, among the People of the book, those who believe in Allah, in the revelation to you, and in the revelation to them, bowing in humility to Allah. They will not sell the Signs of Allah for a miserable gain! For them is a reward with their Lord, and Allah is swift in account.

وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ الْقُرَى آمَنُواْ وَاتَّقَواْ لَفَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِم بَرَكَاتٍ مِّنَ السَّمَاء وَالأَرْضِ وَلَـكِن كَذَّبُواْ فَأَخَذْنَاهُم بِمَا كَانُواْ يَكْسِبُونَ (7:96) 7:96 (Y. Ali) If the people of the towns had but believed and feared Allah, We should indeed have opened out to them (All kinds of) blessings from heaven and earth; but they rejected (the truth), and We brought them to book for their misdeeds.

وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن ذُكِّرَ بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِ فَأَعْرَضَ عَنْهَا وَنَسِيَ مَا قَدَّمَتْ يَدَاهُ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ أَكِنَّةً أَن يَفْقَهُوهُ وَفِي آذَانِهِمْ وَقْرًا وَإِن تَدْعُهُمْ إِلَى الْهُدَى فَلَن يَهْتَدُوا إِذًا أَبَدًا (18:57)
18:57 (Picktall) And who doth greater wrong than he who hath been reminded of the revelations of his Lord, yet turneth away from them and forgetteth what his hands send forward (to the Judgment)? Lo! on their hearts We have placed coverings so that they understand not, and in their ears a deafness. And though thou call them to the guidance, in that case they can never be led aright.

Going Astray in the Quran

By: Maged Taman

1- Before Islam people went astray:

2:198 It is no sin for you that ye seek the bounty of your Lord (by trading). But, when ye press on in the multitude from Arafat, remember Allah by the sacred monument. Remember Him as He hath guided you, although before ye were of those astray. لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَبْتَغُواْ فَضْلاً مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ فَإِذَا أَفَضْتُم مِّنْ عَرَفَاتٍ فَاذْكُرُواْ اللّهَ عِندَ الْمَشْعَرِ الْحَرَامِ وَاذْكُرُوهُ كَمَا هَدَاكُمْ وَإِن كُنتُم مِّن قَبْلِهِ لَمِنَ الضَّآلِّينَ (2:198)

2- God guides to Islam and also take them away from Islam: this is because of what they earned both in their faith and deeds. Hypocrites at time of prophet were not passive disbelievers they were doing everything to harm Islam in wicked ways.

4:88 What aileth you that ye are become two parties regarding the hypocrites, when Allah cast them back (to disbelief) because of what they earned? Seek ye to guide him whom Allah hath sent astray? He whom Allah sendeth astray, for him thou (O Muhammad) canst not find a road.
فَمَا لَكُمْ فِي الْمُنَافِقِينَ فِئَتَيْنِ وَاللّهُ أَرْكَسَهُم بِمَا كَسَبُواْ أَتُرِيدُونَ أَن تَهْدُواْ مَنْ أَضَلَّ اللّهُ وَمَن يُضْلِلِ اللّهُ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُ سَبِيلاً (4:88)

4:143 Swaying between this (and that), (belonging) neither to these nor to those. He whom Allah causeth to go astray, thou (O Muhammad) wilt not find a way for him: مُّذَبْذَبِينَ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ لاَ إِلَى هَـؤُلاء وَلاَ إِلَى هَـؤُلاء وَمَن يُضْلِلِ اللّهُ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُ سَبِيلاً (4:143)

6:125 And whomsoever it is Allah's will to guide, He expandeth his bosom unto the Surrender, and whomsoever it is His will to send astray, He maketh his bosom close and narrow as if he were engaged in sheer ascent. Thus Allah layeth ignominy upon those who believe not. فَمَن يُرِدِ اللّهُ أَن يَهْدِيَهُ يَشْرَحْ صَدْرَهُ لِلإِسْلاَمِ وَمَن يُرِدْ أَن يُضِلَّهُ يَجْعَلْ صَدْرَهُ ضَيِّقًا حَرَجًا كَأَنَّمَا يَصَّعَّدُ فِي السَّمَاء كَذَلِكَ يَجْعَلُ اللّهُ الرِّجْسَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ (6:125)

3- Satan is the default if you reject God and his signs Satan takes over:

7:175 Recite unto them the tale of him to whom We gave Our revelations, but he sloughed them off, so Satan overtook him and he became of those who lead astray. وَاتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبَأَ الَّذِيَ آتَيْنَاهُ آيَاتِنَا فَانسَلَخَ مِنْهَا فَأَتْبَعَهُ الشَّيْطَانُ فَكَانَ مِنَ الْغَاوِينَ (7:175)

4- So it is mutual relation if you seek guidance he supports you: otherwise you chose to go astray. So you have the free will.

7:178 He who Allah leadeth, he indeed is led aright, while he whom Allah sendeth astray they indeed are losers. مَن يَهْدِ اللّهُ فَهُوَ الْمُهْتَدِي وَمَن يُضْلِلْ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ (7:178)

7:186 Those whom Allah sendeth astray, there is no guide for them. He leaveth them to wander blindly on in their contumacy. مَن يُضْلِلِ اللّهُ فَلاَ هَادِيَ لَهُ وَيَذَرُهُمْ فِي طُغْيَانِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ (7:186)

5- A common way to go astray is to deny God 's path: thus people who denied God path and unlike self-confessing sinners they root out his right to have us purify our selves are the one in deep fault and far astray.

14:3 Those who love the life of the world more than the Hereafter, and debar (men) from the way of Allah and would have it crooked: such are far astray. الَّذِينَ يَسْتَحِبُّونَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا عَلَى الآخِرَةِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللّهِ وَيَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًا أُوْلَـئِكَ فِي ضَلاَلٍ بَعِيدٍ (14:3)

6- A lot of work that not related to God can take you astray: Know the right work which takes you to heaven which is submission to God. You can excel in science, art, sport, music, and so on and forget about the work that take you to heaven. So excel in your work and talent but make it add on to the true work which is submission to God. Thus if you are a comedian and wants people to laugh for God's pleasure you added on to your real work of submission.

18:103 Say: Shall We inform you who will be the greatest losers by their works? قُلْ هَلْ نُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِالْأَخْسَرِينَ أَعْمَالًا (18:103)
18:104 Those whose effort goeth astray in the life of the world, and yet they reckon that they do good work. الَّذِينَ ضَلَّ سَعْيُهُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ يُحْسِنُونَ صُنْعًا (18:104)
18:105 Those are they who disbelieve in the revelations of their Lord and in the meeting with Him. Therefore their works are vain, and on the Day of Resurrection We assign no weight to them. أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِمْ وَلِقَائِهِ فَحَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ فَلَا نُقِيمُ لَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَزْنًا (18:105)

7- We asked as Muslims to read to all people the Quran : the benefit is for the people who are guided and if they to go astray we are just warners.

27:92 And to recite the Qur'an. And whoso goeth right, goeth right only for (the good of) his own soul; and as for him who goeth astray (unto him) say: Lo! I am only a warner. وَأَنْ أَتْلُوَ الْقُرْآنَ فَمَنِ اهْتَدَى فَإِنَّمَا يَهْتَدِي لِنَفْسِهِ وَمَن ضَلَّ فَقُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُنذِرِينَ (27:92)

8- If they do not listen to the Quran and goes astray they have no support in the day of judgement:

42:44 He whom Allah sendeth astray, for him there is no protecting friend after Him. And thou (Muhammad) wilt see the evil doers when they see the doom, (how) they say: Is there any way of return? وَمَن يُضْلِلِ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِن وَلِيٍّ مِّن بَعْدِهِ وَتَرَى الظَّالِمِينَ لَمَّا رَأَوُا الْعَذَابَ يَقُولُونَ هَلْ إِلَى مَرَدٍّ مِّن سَبِيلٍ (42:44)

42:46 And they will have no protecting friends to help them instead of Allah. He whom Allah sendeth astray, for him there is no road. وَمَا كَانَ لَهُم مِّنْ أَوْلِيَاء يَنصُرُونَهُم مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ وَمَن يُضْلِلِ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِن سَبِيلٍ (42:46

45:23 Hast thou seen him who maketh his desire his god, and Allah sendeth him astray purposely, and sealeth up his hearing and his heart, and setteth on his sight a covering? Then who will lead him after Allah (hath condemned him)? Will ye not then heed? أَفَرَأَيْتَ مَنِ اتَّخَذَ إِلَهَهُ هَوَاهُ وَأَضَلَّهُ اللَّهُ عَلَى عِلْمٍ وَخَتَمَ عَلَى سَمْعِهِ وَقَلْبِهِ وَجَعَلَ عَلَى بَصَرِهِ غِشَاوَةً فَمَن يَهْدِيهِ مِن بَعْدِ اللَّهِ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ (

17:97 And he whom Allah guideth, he is led aright; while, as for him whom He sendeth astray, for them thou wilt find no protecting friends beside Him, and We shall assemble them on the Day of Resurrection on their faces, blind, dumb and deaf; their habitation will be hell; whenever it abateth, We increase the flame for them. وَمَن يَهْدِ اللّهُ فَهُوَ الْمُهْتَدِ وَمَن يُضْلِلْ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُمْ أَوْلِيَاء مِن دُونِهِ وَنَحْشُرُهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عَلَى وُجُوهِهِمْ عُمْيًا وَبُكْمًا وَصُمًّا مَّأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ كُلَّمَا خَبَتْ زِدْنَاهُمْ سَعِيرًا (17:97)

How Islam's understanding of divinity and science effected Western Civilization?

From: www.islamicity.com

By: Jonathon Lyons

Recent public opinion surveys show a majority of Americans see "little'' or "nothing'' to admire in Islam or the Muslim world. Seventy percent say Islam has nothing in common with their own faith, an increase from 59 percent two years earlier.Those with the strongest anti-Muslim views rely most on the media -- not personal experience, travel or study -- for their information about Islam. Nor is the nation's educational elite any less immune to the power of the predominant media narrative of Islam as irrevocably violent, anti-modern, anti-women and anti-democratic.This same narrative dominates every aspect of the way we think and speak about Islam. It shapes how we listen to what Muslims say and how we interpret what it is they do. As such, it exercises a corrosive effect on everything from politics and theology to international relations, human rights and national security policies, including today's "war on terrorism.''

This has left the West intellectually and politically unable to respond successfully to some of the most significant challenges of the early-21st century -- the rise of Islamist political power, the more narrow emergence of terrorism in the name of Islam, tensions between Western social values and multicultural rights on the part of growing Muslim immigrant populations.Often overlooked in discussions of contemporary relations between Islam and the West are the broad historical, intellectual and philosophical ideas that literally dictate how we as Westerners apprehend the world of Islam and the Muslims. If we take just one obscure corner of this vast field -- that of the history of medieval science -- we may be able to learn much about our views of Islam, and about ourselves as well.Our starting point is the 11th century, the era of the Crusades. Before that, Christian Europe looked upon the Muslims with indifference; they were a nuisance to shipping and coastal settlements, but they were certainly not seen as an existential threat. All that changed in the run-up to the First Crusade, proclaimed in 1095.

Now, a distinct portrait of Islam began to take shape in the medieval Western mind, with the practices and beliefs of the Muslims conceived as mirror-opposites of self-evident Christian virtues.Where Christianity stands for love, Islam is a religion of violence; where Christ stands for truth, Muhammad and the Quran stand for falsehood; where Christians are chaste, Muslims are sexual deviants. Over time, these notions acquired a number of corollaries: Muslims are backward, and fearful of modernity; the West is rational, Islam is irrational and fanatical.

In an observation as apt now as when it was first advanced 900 years ago, one chronicler of the First Crusade acknowledged that it was not important to actually know anything about Islam in order to attack it: "It is safe to speak evil of one whose malignity exceeds whatever ill can be spoken.''One of the most salient aspects of the medieval history of science is the relationship between sacred and profane knowledge. Under the influence of Augustine and other Church Fathers, the early Christian world saw no reason to explore what the Ancient Greeks had called "the nature of things.''Yet, things looked quite different to the Muslims. Arab scholars found divine support for science in the Quran, the revealed Word of God.

A number of verses refer to the order inherent to God's universe and to man's capacity to exploit this order for his own needs, such as keeping time. Elsewhere, the Quran advocates the use of God's creation for orientation amid the featureless deserts and navigation across the oceans. By one scholar's count, the Arabic word for "knowledge'' (ilm) and related terms comprise almost 1 percent of the Quran's 78,000 words and are among its most frequently used terms, a feature that highlights just how important the concept was for the first Muslims.At the same time, many of Islam's rituals demand a sophisticated understanding of the natural world.

Believers could not simply follow the example of Augustine and close their eyes "to the course of the stars.'' Rather, Muslims are required to know the proper times of the five daily prayers, the precise direction of Mecca -- known as the qibla -- and the start of the lunar fasting month of Ramadan.

Nowhere was the interaction of faith and science more important than in the question of the qibla. The earliest Muslims of Central Asia and Spain simply directed their prayers to the south, in imitation of the Prophet Muhammad when he was in Medina, which is to the north of the holy city. As Muslims' scientific understanding of their universe became more sophisticated, they began to demand greater accuracy in conforming their practice to the sacred geography of Islam.

What is noteworthy here is the way medieval Muslim opinion deferred to the scientists on such an important question of religious ritual. One of the greatest treatises on mathematical geography was a work by Abu Raihan Mohammed Ibn Ahmad al-Biruni, written in the 11th century, to find the direction of Mecca from Afghanistan. His "Determination of the Coordinates of Cities'' is the first work in history to determine accurate geographic locales with the techniques of spherical trigonometry.

As early as the 9th century, all six trigonometric functions -- sine and cosine, tangent and cotangent, secant and cosecant -- were known. Only the sine function was an import, from Hindu astronomy; the other five were Arab discoveries. This allowed the use of calculations in the place of geometric diagrams and paved the way for the development of modern mathematical astronomy.Urban areas saw the rise of the mosque-based timekeeper. These were professional scientists, who determined local prayer times, built astronomical instruments, wrote treatises on astronomy, and taught students. Their work included the production of meticulous almanacs -- from the Arabic "al-manakh'' -- to list the prayer times for each day of the year in such distant locales as China and Morocco.

In medieval Cairo, 200 pages of special tables were available for keeping time by the sun and other celestial markers.Islamic teachings also went hand in hand with other disciplines. Injunctions in the Quran to heal the sick provided great impetus to the study of medicine. The religious ritual of the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca created a need for cartography and navigation. Speculation among Sufi mystics on the transformation of the soul in union with God helped fuel the alchemists' search for ways to transform base metals, laying the groundwork for modern chemistry.Even many of the foods we eat -- artichokes, oranges, apricots -- and our technical vocabulary -- words like algebra, azimuth, zenith, and zero -- all come from the Arabs.

Most important, there evolved the very idea that man was capable of understanding God's universe and of interpreting it for his benefit.I have gone into considerable detail to challenge the notion of Islam's inherent enmity toward science and innovation because I believe this is a first, crucial step toward restoring the Muslims' rightful place in the history of Western ideas -- and toward transforming the ways in which we think about the Islamic world in general.

When Western ideas of science do allow a role for the Arabs, it is often as caretakers of Greek learning, preserved from loss by Arabic translators until its discovery by Latin scholars, beginning in the 12th century. This notion would have come as a complete shock to medieval Christian thinkers.The philosopher Roger Bacon, one of the earliest Western proponents of the scientific method, praised the Muslims for their intellectual innovations: "Philosophy is drawn from the Muslims.'' A leading translator from the Arabic urged his fellow Latin scholars to follow the Muslim lead in astronomy; another hailed Arabs as the only people to truly understand geometry.

It was only with the later rise of the Renaissance that the West -- having feasted on Arab learning for several centuries -- set about to erase the Arab contribution from the historical record. Eager to claim direct descent from the likes of Aristotle and Archimedes, Western thinkers marginalized the role of Arab learning. Francesco Petrarch, often called the father of Renaissance humanism, went so far as to decree: "I shall scarcely be persuaded that anything good can come from Arabia.''Here, then, is the origin of the notion of the Renaissance as the "recovery'' of classical learning, which comprised the natural birthright of Christian Europe. Such accounts are colored profoundly by a Western consensus, often invoked to explain the state of the Muslim world today, that Islam is inherently hostile to innovation.But what if we were to reject this view? Suddenly, a number of possibilities suggest themselves, and miscellaneous facts that have been floating around start to fall into place.

The origins of the Western scientific lexicon -- from azimuth to zenith, from algebra to zero; the unmistakable strains of Arab philosophy throughout the works of Thomas Aquinas and other seminal Western thinkers; the mark of Arabic poetry on the works of the troubadors; the everyday presence on our dinner tables of such crops as hard wheat, watermelon and spinach -- all this starts to take on new meaning.

Suddenly, it becomes possible to reimagine the relationship between Islam and the West as one of internal cultural rivalry, rather than that of unavoidable civilizational conflict. In effect, this would mark a return to the world view captured in one of the most remarkable landmarks in the history of ideas: the world atlas produced by the Muslim scholar Muhammad al-Idrisi in the 12th century by commission of the Christian king of Sicily, which was then multi-faith -- Muslim, Catholic and Orthodox.

Jonathan Lyons is the author, most recently, of The House of Wisdom: How the Arabs Transformed Western Civilization. He teaches at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.
Source: Miami Herald

Arrogance In The Quran.

By: Maged Taman

In Hadith to the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) he identified arrogance as "denying the truth and cut short people their rights (deeds)".

Non-believers denied God and his messengers for a lot of reasons, arrogance is the most important of these reasons. See the verses below:

1- Arrogance started by Satan:

وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلاَئِكَةِ اسْجُدُواْ لآدَمَ فَسَجَدُواْ إِلاَّ إِبْلِيسَ أَبَى وَاسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ (2:34)
2:34 (Picktall) And when We said unto the angels: Prostrate yourselves before Adam, they fell prostrate, all save Iblis. He demurred through pride, and so became a disbeliever.

قَالَ فَاهْبِطْ مِنْهَا فَمَا يَكُونُ لَكَ أَن تَتَكَبَّرَ فِيهَا فَاخْرُجْ إِنَّكَ مِنَ الصَّاغِرِينَ (7:13)
7:13 (Picktall) He said (God): Then go down (to Satan) hence! It is not for thee to show pride here, so go forth! Lo! thou art of those degraded. -

2- Arrogance extended to the disbelievers when God sends guidance:

وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ لَا يَرْجُونَ لِقَاءنَا لَوْلَا أُنزِلَ عَلَيْنَا الْمَلَائِكَةُ أَوْ نَرَى رَبَّنَا لَقَدِ اسْتَكْبَرُوا فِي أَنفُسِهِمْ وَعَتَوْ عُتُوًّا كَبِيرًا (25:21)

25:21 (Picktall) And those who look not for a meeting with Us say: Why are angels not sent down unto us and (why) do we not see our Lord? Assuredly they think too highly of themselves and are scornful with great pride.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُجَادِلُونَ فِي آيَاتِ اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ سُلْطَانٍ أَتَاهُمْ إِن فِي صُدُورِهِمْ إِلَّا كِبْرٌ مَّا هُم بِبَالِغِيهِ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ (40:56)

40:56 (Picktall) Lo! those who wrangle concerning the revelations of Allah without a warrant having come unto them, there is naught else in their breasts save pride which they will never attain. So take thou refuge in Allah. Lo! He, only He, is the Hearer, the Seer.

3- Kings are particularly competing with God for the kingship: over history kings were competing with God for pride. Which is very stupid but arrogance is the first enemy of wisdom:

2:258 Hast thou not Turned thy vision to one who disputed with Abraham About his Lord, because Allah had granted him power? Abraham said: "My Lord is He Who Giveth life and death." He said: "I give life and death". Said Abraham: "But it is Allah that causeth the sun to rise from the east: Do thou then cause him to rise from the West." Thus was he confounded who (in arrogance) rejected faith. Nor doth Allah Give guidance to a people unjust. أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِي حَآجَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ فِي رِبِّهِ أَنْ آتَاهُ اللّهُ الْمُلْكَ إِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّيَ الَّذِي يُحْيِـي وَيُمِيتُ قَالَ أَنَا أُحْيِـي وَأُمِيتُ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ فَإِنَّ اللّهَ يَأْتِي بِالشَّمْسِ مِنَ الْمَشْرِقِ فَأْتِ بِهَا مِنَ الْمَغْرِبِ فَبُهِتَ الَّذِي كَفَرَ وَاللّهُ لاَ يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ2-

وَقَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ يَا أَيُّهَا الْمَلَأُ مَا عَلِمْتُ لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَهٍ غَيْرِي فَأَوْقِدْ لِي يَا هَامَانُ عَلَى الطِّينِ فَاجْعَل لِّي صَرْحًا لَّعَلِّي أَطَّلِعُ إِلَى إِلَهِ مُوسَى وَإِنِّي لَأَظُنُّهُ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ (28:38)
28:38 (Picktall) And pharaoh said: O chiefs! I know not that ye have a god other than me, so kindle for me (a fire) , O Haman, to bake the mud; and set up for me a lofty tower in order that I may survey the god of Moses; and lo! I deem him of the liars.

4- Commonly they see and deny God s' signs: in the universe, supernatural and scripture:
7:36 But those who reject Our signs and treat them with arrogance,- they are companions of the Fire, to dwell therein (for ever). وَالَّذِينَ كَذَّبُواْ بِآيَاتِنَا وَاسْتَكْبَرُواْ عَنْهَا أُوْلَـَئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ

5- Pharaoh and his people had all the signs and they denied them until their drowning:

7:133 So We sent (plagues) on them: Wholesale death, Locusts, Lice, Frogs, And Blood: Signs openly self-explained: but they were steeped in arrogance,- a people given to sin. فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ الطُّوفَانَ وَالْجَرَادَ وَالْقُمَّلَ وَالضَّفَادِعَ وَالدَّمَ آيَاتٍ مُّفَصَّلاَتٍ فَاسْتَكْبَرُواْ وَكَانُواْ قَوْمًا مُّجْرِمِينَ (7:133)

6- Commonly they see the signs of God and they deny them though their hearts believe in them:

27:14 And they rejected those Signs in iniquity and arrogance, though their souls were convinced thereof: so see what was the end of those who acted corruptly!وَجَحَدُوا بِهَا وَاسْتَيْقَنَتْهَا أَنفُسُهُمْ ظُلْمًا وَعُلُوًّا فَانظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُفْسِدِينَ

7- For some they are filled with arrogance: this does not even let them read the Quran or examine God's signs, or doing so with no real intention to find the truth but to conceal it.

31:7 When Our Signs are rehearsed to such a one, he turns away in arrogance, as if he heard them not, as if there were deafness in both his ears: announce to him a grievous Penalty.وَإِذَا تُتْلَى عَلَيْهِ آيَاتُنَا وَلَّى مُسْتَكْبِرًا كَأَن لَّمْ يَسْمَعْهَا كَأَنَّ فِي أُذُنَيْهِ وَقْرًا فَبَشِّرْهُ بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ

8- Commonly their arrogance allows them to continue to sin and do the evil things:

35:43 On account of their arrogance in the land and their plotting of Evil, but the plotting of Evil will hem in only the authors thereof. Now are they but looking for the way the ancients were dealt with? But no change wilt thou find in Allah's way (of dealing): no turning off wilt thou find in Allah's way (of dealing).اسْتِكْبَارًا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَكْرَ السَّيِّئِ وَلَا يَحِيقُ الْمَكْرُ السَّيِّئُ إِلَّا بِأَهْلِهِ فَهَلْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّا سُنَّتَ الْأَوَّلِينَ فَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّتِ اللَّهِ تَبْدِيلًا وَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّتِ اللَّهِ تَحْوِيلًا

9- They commonly do not repent or reconsider their arrogance:

63:5 And when it is said to them, "Come, the Messenger of Allah will pray for your forgiveness", they turn aside their heads, and thou wouldst see them turning away their faces in arrogance.وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ تَعَالَوْا يَسْتَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ لَوَّوْا رُؤُوسَهُمْ وَرَأَيْتَهُمْ يَصُدُّونَ وَهُم مُّسْتَكْبِرُونَ

71:7 "And every time I (Noah) have called to them, that Thou mightest forgive them, they have (only) thrust their fingers into their ears, covered themselves up with their garments, grown obstinate, and given themselves up to arrogance. وَإِنِّي كُلَّمَا دَعَوْتُهُمْ لِتَغْفِرَ لَهُمْ جَعَلُوا أَصَابِعَهُمْ فِي آذَانِهِمْ وَاسْتَغْشَوْا ثِيَابَهُمْ وَأَصَرُّوا وَاسْتَكْبَرُوا اسْتِكْبَارًا

10- In fact they may sin more to express more of their arrogance:

2:206 When it is said to him, "Fear Allah., He is led by arrogance to (more) crime. Enough for him is Hell;-An evil bed indeed (To lie on)! وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُ اتَّقِ اللّهَ أَخَذَتْهُ الْعِزَّةُ بِالإِثْمِ فَحَسْبُهُ جَهَنَّمُ وَلَبِئْسَ الْمِهَادُ

The Story of the Quran (part 1 of 2): God’s Final Revelation

From: www.islamreligion.com

By Aisha Stacey

Muslims believe the Quran to be God’s final revelation. They believe it is the literal word of God, revealed over many years, to His final prophet, Muhammad. The Quran is full of wisdom. It is full of the wonder and glory of God, and a testament to His mercy and justice. It is not a history book, a storybook, or a scientific textbook, although it contains all of those genres. The Quran is God's greatest gift to humanity – it is a book like no other. In the second verse of the second chapter of the Quran, God describes the Quran by calling it a book whereof there is no doubt, a guidance to those who are pious, righteous, and fear God. (Quran 2:2)

The Quran is core to Islam. Believing in it is a requirement. One who does not believe in the Quran, in its entirety, cannot claim to be a Muslim.
"The Messenger (Muhammad) believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, and (so do) the believers. Each one believes in God, His Angels, His Books, and His Messengers. (They say,) ‘We make no distinction between one another of His Messengers’ — and they say, ‘We hear, and we obey. (We seek) Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the return (of all)’." (Quran 2:285)

Islam has two primary sources, the Quran, and the authentic traditions of Prophet Muhammad, that explain and sometimes expand on that of the Quran.
“And We have not sent down the Book (the Quran) to you (O Muhammad, except that you may explain clearly unto them those things in which they differ, and (as) a guidance and a mercy for a folk who believe.” (Quran 16:64)

The Quran was delivered to Prophet Muhammad by the Angel Gabriel and revealed in stages over a period of 23 years.
“And (it is) a Quran which We have divided into parts, in order that you might recite it to men at intervals. And We have revealed it by stages.” (Quran 17:106)

Prophet Muhammad was commanded by God to convey the Quran to all of humankind and the responsibility weighed heavily upon him. Even in his farewell address he called on the people present to bear witness that he had delivered the message.

The Quran explains the concept of God, it explains in detail what is permissible and what is forbidden, it explains the basics of good manners and morals, and gives rulings about worship. It tells stories about the Prophets and our righteous predecessors, and describes paradise and hell. The Quran is a guidance, a mercy and a book of glad tidings for those who have submitted themselves to God. (Quran 16:89) The Quran was revealed for all of humankind.
The book in which the Quran (the words of God) are contained in is called a mus haf. The Quran is considered so unique in content and style that it cannot be precisely translated; therefore, any translation is considered an interpretation of the meanings of Quran.

When God sent Prophets to the various nations He often allowed them to perform miracles that were relevant to their particular time and place. In the time of Moses magic and sorcery were prevalent therefore Moses’ miracles appealed to the people he was sent to guide. In the time of Muhammad, the Arabs, although predominantly illiterate, were masters of the spoken word. Their poetry and prose was considered outstanding and a model of literary excellence.

When Prophet Muhammad recited the Quran – the words of God – the Arabs were moved tremendously by its sublime tone and extraordinary beauty. The Quran was Prophet Muhammad’s miracle from God. Muhammad was unable to read or write therefore the Arabs knew that he was unlikely to have produced such eloquent words, but even so some refused to believe that the Quran was the word of God. God therefore challenged them, in the Quran, to produce a rival text.
“And if you (Arab pagans, Jews, and Christians) are in doubt concerning that which We have sent down (i.e. the Quran) to Our slave (Muhammad), then produce a chapter of the like thereof and call your witnesses (supporters and helpers) besides God, if you are truthful.” (Quran 2:23)

Of course they were unable to do so. In contrast to those who questioned the origin of the Quran, many Arabs converted to Islam after hearing the recitation. They knew immediately that such sublime beauty could originate only from God. Even today it is possible to see Muslims moved to tears while listening to or reciting the Quran. In fact some people, unable to understand even one word of the Arabic language are moved by the intrinsic beauty of the Quran.

After establishing that Quran is the word of God and that it is a recitation, it is also important to understand that Quran has remained unchanged for more than 1400 years. Today when a Muslim in Egypt holds his mus haf in his hands and begins to recite you can be sure that in far away Fiji another Muslim is looking at and reciting the exact same words. There are no differences. The child in France holding his first mus haf is tentatively reciting the same words that flowed from the lips of Prophet Muhammad.

God assures us in Quran that He will surely protect His words. He says, “Verily, it is We Who have sent down the Quran and surely, We will guard it (from corruption).” (Quran 15:9)

This means that God will guard against anything false being added or any part of it being taken away.[1] It is protected from tampering and if anyone attempts to distort the meanings of Quran, God will guide someone to expose the deception.[2] Muslims believe that the previous revelations from God, including the Torah and the Gospels of Jesus were either lost in antiquity, or changed and distorted, so it is a source of comfort to them knowing that God’s words – the Quran – are now well guarded.

God sent down Quran, from above the heavens, to the angel Gabriel in the glorious month of Ramadan. The story of how this recitation was revealed and how Quran came to be available worldwide, with an interpretation of the meanings translated into over 100 languages[3] will be covered in part 2.

Footnotes:
[1] From the tafseer of Ibn Jareer al-Tabari
[2] From the tafseer of Al-Sa’di
[3] The Centre for African studies at the University of Pennsylvania claims that the Quran has been translated into 114 languages.

Quran: Introduction: Surah Az Zumar

From: http://www.parvez-video.com/islam_divine_quran_troops.asp

It is a 39th surah of the Holy Quran in order. Surah Az Zumar "In The form of groups" was revealed in Mecca, Arabia on Muhammad (peace be upon him) the last Prophet and Messenger of God (Allah) Almighty .The surah has taken its title from verse 73. The subject of the surah describes that this Divine Code is revealed from Allah Almighty who wields supremacy over everything and runs the entire universe according to His plan. (O Rasool!) We have revealed to you this Code of Laws in a perfect manner. It will bring out positive and constructive results.The thing to do now is leave everything aside and follow it with complete devotion. who had lived according to the Divine Laws will be led in groups towards 'Jannat' and when they arrive they will find its gates open and the keepers would greet them saying, Peace be upon you. Abide herein and enjoy the pleasantries of life.The total number of verse in this surah are 75.


Summary of Surah explanation not translation : verse 1-75

1: This Divine Code is revealed from Allah Almighty who wields supremacy over everything and runs the entire universe according to His plan.

2: (O Rasool!) We have revealed to you this Code of Laws in a perfect manner. It will bring out positive and constructive results. The thing to do now is leave everything aside and follow it with complete devotion.

3: Proclaim that obedience is due only to Allah's Laws. The people who leave Allah Almighty aside and take to following (worshipping) other 'protectors', in the pretext that these would help bring them close to Almighty , are in gross error. (In fact to achieve proximity to Allah, all that is needed is to follow the Code of Laws given by Him, without any intermediaries whatsoever ~ 5:35; 17:57).In any case, people have adopted many different ways. Now Allah Almighty the Almighty (through this Quran) will settle all the disputed matters. (He will tell that) Whosoever attributes false things to Allah Almighty or conceals what has been revealed by Us, will never be able to reach his destination.

4: (The erroneous belief that intermediaries were needed to attain proximity to Allah, also produced the false notion that in order to be near Him, there is no better way than approaching Him through His progeny. The Christian concept that Jesus is Allah's son is based on this notion). Tell them that if Allah Almighty wanted to have a son He could have directly chosen anyone from amongst His creations. (What was the need for going through the trouble of obtaining the child through a woman's womb?) Verily He is far above requiring the assistance of a son. He alone is Almighty and holds absolute control over all forces.

5: He created the heavens and the earth in true and perfect proportions, to bring out positive and constrictive results. He made the earth revolve in such a manner that the night blankets the day and the day covers the night. He has made the sun and the moon subservient to His Laws. Each heavenly body follows a set course, up to a limited time. All this is happening according to the Laws of Allah, Who has absolute control and supremacy and has the provisions for protecting everything. (So why should He have a son).

6: He initiated your creation from a single living cell (6:79) and then caused it to split into two parts, one becoming the male and the other female. He also created eight types of cattle (namely camel, cow, sheep and goats, all in pairs ~ 6:144-145). When you are still in the mothers womb, He fashions you, inculcating creative changes in different stages. These changes constitute one act of creation after another; and all this takes place (not in one but) under three veils3 of darkness. This then is your Allah, according to Whose Laws of Rabubiyyat your development and nourishment take place. He alone wields total authority and power in the universe. No one else has such power or authority. (In leaving Him aside) Just reflect on where are you going? (After leaving God's Laws, is there another way).

7: (In view of the above facts, wisdom and rationale should demand that you obey only the Divine Laws, but) Your rejection of these laws brings no harm to Allah; only you shall suffer. He does not need your obedience. If you follow your self-made laws, your way of life will not be that which has been ordained by Him for your development. If you follow the Divine Laws, then you are following the course which He has approved for your development. (Therefore it is entirely up to you to either obey and follow His Laws for your own benefit or to reject them and suffer the consequences. It should also be clearly understood that according to His Laws of Mukafat) Everyone has to bear the burden and consequences of one's own deeds, not anyone else's. Every step of yours takes you towards His Law of Mukafat, and you cannot escape its ambit. Accordingly, you are bound to face the result of every action of yours. And this refers not only to those actions which you do openly, but also to the thoughts and intentions which pass through the depths of your hearts. __________________________________________________________________ ^ 3 The veils of darkness are the external skin, the womb and the placenta that holds the baby. Even the placenta itself is in 2 layers, and if these are counted as two, the womb could be the third layer.

8: Man, however, is strange. When he is afflicted he cries out to Allah Almighty from the depth of his heart. But as soon as he obtains comfort, he forgets all the cries with which he had implored the Almighty , and starts claiming that the affliction was removed by so and so. Thus not only does he himself go astray, he misleads others too. Just tell them, "By denying the Divine Laws, you can derive as much benefit as you like for a while, but ultimately all this will come down to ashes".

9: (While there is one who leads his life in the manner mentioned afore, in contrast) There is a person who very earnestly follows Divine Laws and has dedicated all his abilities for the Divine Order. He is busy doing so all day long and (if the situation so warrants) he continues standing and prostrating in obedience during the night. He does all this not only for his immediate gains, but he is also mindful of future life. He is extremely cautious that there should be no lapse in this regard. It is his desire that the Divine System of Rahmat and Rabubiyyat should reach every one. Ask them if the two, namely those who have the knowledge of this reality (about the aim and objective of life) and those who are unaware of it, ever be alike? Only those who utilize their wisdom and rationale can derive benefit from these admonitions (but not those who only follow their own desires).

10: Tell them (that the Almighty says), "O you people who are convinced of these realities, you should (fully) guard the Laws of your Rabb. Remember that for people who lead their lives in a righteous manner; there are many pleasantries in this life (as well in the hereafter). Therefore try to live a life in this way. If you do not find a favourable environment in one particular place, then look for another). Allah's earth is wide open (but do not sit down and give up so easily. Be steadfast for) Allah Almighty will reward you beyond your reckoning for this fortitude and steadfastness".

11: Tell them, "(You can do whatever you like but) I have been commanded to obey the Divine Laws in such a way that it does not imply any obedience to others.

12: "And I have been commanded to be the first amongst those who submit to the Divine Laws. (In other words my task is not only to deliver the sermons, but as a first step to become subservient to these laws and thereafter, to invite others to follow and form a group of like minded people)".

13: And tell them that, Allah's Law of Mukafat is such that (in terms of consequences no one is spared or given any sort of concession; and let alone others) if even I were to disobey these laws, I too will be unable to escape the chastisement on the Great Day (of Decisions). (If this is my own position, then how can I save others from facing the consequences. No one can help in this regard).

14: "Therefore, I obey only the Divine Laws with full devotion (and you too had better do so).

15: "My point of view is very clear. If you want to obey some other authority besides Allah Almighty you can do so; but only you will suffer. Remember! The true losers shall be those who together with their companions, bring losses upon themselves in their future life. Indeed such a loss is most obvious".

16: This unpleasant life would be such that a scorching fire would blaze above them, and they will also burn from a similar fire from underneath. This is the widespread destruction about which Allah Almighty warns His subjects. He tells them that in order to remain safe from this destruction, they should come within the protection provided by His Laws.

17: These are the glad tidings for people who avoid obeying non-divine powers and who turn only to Divine Laws at every step.

18: These glad tidings are for those who listen to the Quran very attentively, (understand it) and then follow the injunctions which are well suited and practicable in view of the issues under consideration. (This is what is referred to as pondering on the Quran ~ 7:145; 39:55). These are the people who tread the way specified by Allah Almighty and they are the ones endowed with insight and understanding. (The people who ponder on the Quran and its light use their own intellect).

19: As per Divine Laws, the end result for the one who goes against this will be nothing, but destruction. No one can save him from that doom.

20: As they go ahead in widespread development, all the pleasantries of an elevated life are available to the people who follow the Laws of their Rabb and lead their lives according to His Law of Rabubiyyat. They continue to achieve more as they evolve higher and higher and attain an ever rising status. Since the edifice of their life is based on very sound foundations, there will be no shortage in the flow of His bounties to them. This is the final and unalterable result of Allah's Law of Rabubiyyat. Nothing can happen contrary to it.

21: (Everyday you can observe how Allah's Law of Rabubiyyat works. For example) Allah Almighty sends down rain from the clouds and then causes it to flow on the earth (as rivulets, brooks and springs). This helps the growth of various crops. Then the crops ripen, dry up and crumble away (thus separating the grain and the husk). For those who are rational and wise, there is lot of food for thought in the Law of Rabubiyyat.

22: (After reflecting on these matters one's heart opens up to accept Divine Laws). Hence, can you equate the one whose heart is opened up for Islam and who spends his life in the light of Wahi endowed by his Rabb, with one whose heart has hardened and become too stiff to accept the Divine Laws? The latter are most obviously lost in error, and for them there is doom and destruction.

23: Allah Almighty the Almighty has revealed this Wahi which is perfect in beauty and balance. Everyone of its parts juxtaposes perfectly with the other and it is fully consistent within itself. No differences or contradictions can be found therein. Furtheremore, its contents are explained by pairing its statements with antonyms, for example light and darkness and life and death. Such comparison make the matters more clear and obvious. Also, the repetition of (some) verses over and over, also makes their meaning more clear. In this way the Book presents its own exposition (15:87). People who ponder over the Quran in this manner and comprehend the results of doing anything contrary to its teachings, shiver at the very thought of how destructive this would be. However, they do not become disheartened because of this. Instead their hearts become mellower and more receptive to obeying the Divine Laws. Thus, this is the Divine Code which provides correct guidance to every one who seeks it. However, no one can take the person who adopts a way of life against the Wahi, to the desired goal. (Always remember a wrong path can never lead any one to the right destination).

24: Consider a person who (instead of making the Divine Law his protective shield) makes himself the protective shield. How can he be saved? This would surely be an error. On that Day of Decisions, all those who have rebelled against the Divine Laws, will be asked to taste the fruit of their own deeds. No one will be able to save them from this chastisement.

25: Many earlier nations had also belied the Divine Laws. Accordingly, doom and destruction befell them from sources which they could not perceive.

26: Although in this life they suffered disgrace and humiliation according to Allah's Law, a much severer punishment awaits them in the life hereafter. If only they (who deny the truth) knew it.

27: In this Quran We thus propound various kinds of parables and historical episodes so that such people may contemplate.

28: It is for this purpose that We have revealed the Quran in a language (Arabic) which is precise and expounds all things clearly; and is free from perplexities, crookedness, ambiguities and doubts. This is so that they may clearly understand it and escape the pitfalls of life.

29: How much peace and tranquility is obtained by a man (if he follows the laws of Unitary God) can be understood from one example. Consider a person who is a common servant to several masters who in turn are short sighted and at variance with each other due to bad temper. (Can you imagine the plight of such a servant?) Can the state of mind of these two be deemed equal? Also, compare him to a man serving only one master. (Think of the plight of) One person has to either obey different masters or follow his own emotions which are in conflict with each other; while the other has to obey only the Divine Code, wherein there is no ambiguity, doubt or psychological conflict or anxiety. Say, which of these two is leading a peaceful life (12:39).This, then is the Divine Code! It most certainly deserves all Hamd (praise) and by following this Code all issues or controversies of life are sorted out straightway. However, most people (do not use their intellect) do not understand this fact (that real and lasting happiness, can be achieved by following the Laws of one Allah Almighty only).

30: Anyway, there is no need to quarrel with these people. You have to die and they too are bound to die one day.

31: On the Day of Judgment, all your disputes will be presented and settled as per the Laws of your Rabb. The results of the deeds themselves will declare who was right and who was wrong. (The pragmatic test is the best way to prove or disprove any claim).

32: The reality that no one can be more zalim than the one who attributed his own opinion to Allah Almighty and further denied the truth when it was placed before him, will confront them on that day. It will also be explicitly clear that Jahannum is the proper abode for those who reject the Divine Laws.

33: On the contrary, those who presented the truth as well as confirmed it will remain safe from the destructive results of following the erroneous way of life.

34: Those who lead a virtuous and a balanced life shall have all that they wish for from their Rabb's Law of Mukafat. Obviously they would only yearn for that which is justifiable and proper according to the Divine Law.

35: Their good deeds will efface from their record the wrongs that they had ever done (by mistake); and reward them in accordance with the best that they have done (in life).

36: These people frighten you that their deities, religious leaders and chieftains will harm you because you oppose them. Tell them that there is no reason for me to be afraid. Allah Almighty alone is enough as a guard for His subjects. (Infact these people do not want to use their intellect; they blindly follow either self interests or their ancestors. The Divine Law is that the one who adopts such an attitude and sticks to old prejudices and stubbornness, can never find the straight path of life. Obviously) No one can bring back to the right path those who follow such a course.

37: On the other hand, a person who uses his intellect as well as wisdom and adopts the path as indicated by the Divine Code, cannot be lead astray. (All this happens according to Allah's Law of Mukafat. Nothing can happen against it. This is because it is the law of God). He is all-powerful and exercises His might to ensure the correct outcome of everyone's deeds.

38: If you ask them about the creator of the heavens and the earth, they will say, "Surely it is Allah" (29/61). Ask them: if Allah Almighty is the creator and owner of the entire universe, then how can the deities that you invoke possess such power to offset any harm Allah Almighty wants to do to me (according to his Law of Mukafat)? Or if He wants to (according to the same Law) bestow His blessings on me, can they withhold it.Ask them that if this is the situation, would it not be factually correct to say that Allah Almighty is enough for my protection? (I have full faith and trust in His Law of Mukafat). All those who have trust, place it in him alone.

39-40: Tell them that (in order to see how the Law of Mukafat brings out its results) they should do all that they want to according to their programme, whereas I will do my work according to my programme. The result will indicate who will become inflicted with ignominy and ever lasting suffering which cannot be reversed; and that is complete destruction. (6:136; 11:93-121; 20:135; 39:39).

41: (You should challenge them with confidence because) The claims of the Divine Code that has been revealed to you are based on facts; and its purpose is for the benefit of entire humanity. Whosoever lives by it will benefit from it, while the one who adopts an erroneous way of life by ignoring it will only harm himself. (Now it is up to them to choose their course of life). You have not been made responsible for them (to force them on to the right path).

42: (One can exercise his choice and discretion only when he is conscious. When his consciousness is suspended or becomes dormant, he simply cannot make decisions. This is observed in every day life. For example) In the state of sleep the conscious mind stops functioning; but when one wakes up, it starts functioning again. (As such the conscious state was temporarily suspended). However in case of death, the conscious and physical body are permanently dislodged (or as far as this worldly life is concerned, it is finally taken away). In both these cases the consciousness does not function and therefore choice or discretion cannot be utilized. (The situation is similar to one's moral life. When one is overpowered by his emotions or follows something blindly, his mind becomes practically ineffective. Under such circumstances if he is neither stubborn nor prejudiced, there is still a possibility that his conscience could take him to the right course. On the other hand if he remains stubborn and stiffens further, then his mind becomes redundant and there is no possibility of re-awakening. These are the people about whom it is said that their minds or centers of consciousness are sealed - 2:7).In these facts there are clear signs for those who want to reach the truth by thinking and utilizing their intellect.

43: In the light of the above explanations, just imagine the state of people who are so ignorant and superstitious that in adverse times, they leave Allah Almighty and seek the help of idols carved with their own hands and their own imagined deities. They do so despite it being obvious that they have neither any power whatsoever, nor any intellect or mental capability. (How can they be regarded as people who possess vision and consciousness).

44: Tell them that the quality of being useful to people in difficult times belongs exclusively to Allah's Law. It is the Law of that Allah Almighty Who has absolute control over the entire universe. No human being is outside the ambit of His Law of Mukafat. Every step brings one nearer to Allah Almighty and eventually everybody shall revert to Him.

45: However, people who do not believe in Allah's Law of Mukafat and life hereafter become extremely upset when told that supremacy and authority belongs to Allah Almighty alone; and that no one has any share in it. On the other hand when those who consider others besides God as being capable of intercession are mentioned, they begin to rejoice (17:46; 18:57; 40:12).

46: (In spite of their resentment and opposition) You should continue proclaiming that, "O Allah! You are the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and know everything that which is beyond human perceptions as well as all that he can see. It is You alone Who appropriately decides in matters on which people differ. (This is because human knowledge is limited and Yours is unlimited).

47: (You should continue pursuing your mission and not worry about the reaction of these people). On the Day of Judgment, even if these people offer all the wealth of this earth, or twice as much, in ransom to get away from the destructive consequences of their deeds, they will be unable to escape the terrible suffering. They can never imagine how much, as per the Divine Law of Mukafat would confront them.

48: As such, all the chaos that their deeds had created will become visible to them and the doom they used to ridicule will surround them from all sides (79:36).

49: Man's plight is such that when he is in trouble he cries out for our help and when We bestow a favour on him, he claims that to be the result of his own wisdom and craft! This however, is clearly a sign of his ignorance and stupidity. (Where is the Law? And what has God got to do with it?) But most people do not understand this. (Whatever human beings earn is partly due to labour, while the rest is due to reasons and elements provided by God free of cost. The foundation of man's self made way of life is based on the wrong assertion that whatever one earns is purely due to his own skill. And that accordingly, God's Laws should not be party to its utilization).

50: (This is not something new being said for the first time). Similar beliefs were also held by earlier people. (Capitalists in every era have given such excuses in support of their system - 28:78). However when the destructive consequences of their wrong ideology confronted them, their skills and craft could not help them.

51: The disorder and chaos created by their erroneous deeds overtook them (Whatever happened to these earlier people can also happen to those who at present are on the course of oppression). The destructive results of their evil deeds are bound to confront them. They will neither be able to defeat nor avoid Our Law of Mukafat.

52: They should know that the restriction or abundance of wealth takes place according to Allah's Law; The wealth for those who follow His Law increases while for those who negate it, it becomes restricted (20/124). In this, for those who negate it while for those who want there are many signs to understand the ultimate reality. However, only those who believe in the truthfulness of the laws can benefit from these signs.

53: Therefore tell My subjects that those who have committed excesses against themselves by opposing Our Laws, should not be disappointed. This is because their situation, which has worsened due to the going against Our Laws, can be improved again by following them. This Law can not only make good the damage done by previous lapses but it also provides sustenance for further growth. Twofold opportunities are provided in this way. On the one hand protection against destructive elements; and on the other further nourishment of one's 'self'.

54: Therefore, you should turn towards the Divine Laws and submit before them. But do not cause any more delay, as when the time of respite is over and the hour of Judgment comes, there will be no one who can help you.

55: Before that oncoming suffering suddenly overtakes you (without you being aware of it), you should follow the Law revealed by your Rabb. In all matters, you should carefully examine the clause of the Divine Law that is most appropriate for that particular situation, and accordingly act upon it. (39:18).

56: We are repeating this warning again and again lest anyone may say, "Alas, in sheer ignorance I failed to properly evaluate the Divine Law of Mukafat and took it lightly".

57: Or he may say, "Had I received guidance from Allah Almighty the Almighty , I too could have been amongst the Muttaqeen".

58: Or lest, on seeing the on-coming suffering he may say, "Had the course of life been reversed just once, I could also have done a lot of good work".

59: (As has been mentioned, We have been repeatedly warning them so that) At that time they will be told, "Yes indeed, Our Laws had been repeatedly conveyed to you, but you belied and rebelled against them; and refused to accept them.

60: On the Day of Decisions you will see all those who attributed falsehoods to Allah. How disgraced they will be! Jahannum will be the abode for these haughty and arrogant people.

61: Allah Almighty will bless the people who successfully lived according to Divine Code. Neither will any harm come to them; nor will they feel any grief.

62: (All this will happen according to Allah's Law of creation and evolution because) He is the creator of all things (and He knows the developmental potentialities of everything); and He ensures that everything becomes what it ought to be. That is why He also keeps a watch over everything.

63: He has complete authority and control over everything in the universe. People who contravene His Laws will be the losers. (It is just not possible that one can obtain positive results in spite of opposing His Laws. This would amount to defeating God, which is not possible).

64: Ask them, "Do you want me to leave obedience to Allah's Laws and obey other beings? How stupid and ignorant you are (to expect me to do such a thing)".

65: In the past also We have sent revelations through different Rasool. Now you are being sent the revelation. (Let alone others). Even if you were to obey others in addition to Allah, all your deeds would go to waste and you would be amongst the losers (6:15; 10:16).

66: Therefore, you should obey Allah's Laws only. Accordingly your deeds will produce fruitful results.

67: In fact, they have not been able to properly gauge the role and true position of Allah Almighty (6:92; 22:75). (That is why they believe that His Law should apply only to the outer universe and that human affairs should function according to man-made laws. This is the practical form of shirk that has been referred to above). However this would not be the situation when the Quranic revolutionary order is established.[1] The duality of control, that is one in the outer universe and the other in human society, would no longer exist. Allah Almighty 's Laws would be in operation in both the spheres. At that time the duality of control would end as on one hand He would have control of the earth; while on the other that of heavens. Allah Almighty the Almighty is far above this shirk. (He is sublimely exalted above anything to which they may ascribe a share of His Divinity - 21:20-23; 43:84).

68: When the first trumpet of this Revolution is sounded, everyone in the heavens and on earth would be shocked with panic; except those who as per Allah's Law of Mashiyyat2 did not let their senses swoon (27:87). Then, at the time of the second sounding of the trumpet, they will all stand up and see for themselves the Divine Rabubiyat unveiled (83:6).

69: At that time the Earth (the human society) will glow with the effulgence of Allah's Law of Rabubiyyat and every matter would be decided according to the Divine Code. In this way the (perfect) order for which Anbia had been sent and the Momineen had stood witness to, would be established and completed. All human affairs would be decided with justice and no one will be wronged or given less than his due.

70: Every person shall receive the full recompense of his deeds. Nobody's deed shall remain obscured.

71: Those who had denied and rebelled against the Divine Laws would be driven in groups towards Jahannum and the moment they arrive there, its gates will be opened and their keepers will ask them, "Did not the Rusul of God come to you? Were they not from amongst you and did they not convey to you the Divine Laws and cautioned you to remember that one day you will have to face the consequences of what you do?" Their answer will be affirmative (6:13). In this way the Divine Law, according to which human beings are requited for their misdeeds, will become a stark reality which the people who had denied it will see it with their own eyes.

72: They will be told, "Enter the doors of Jahannum and see for yourself how vile and terrible the abode of those who arrogantly rebel against Divine Laws is".

73: On the contrary, those who had lived according to the Divine Laws will be led in groups towards 'Jannat'; and when they arrive they will find its gates open and the keepers would greet them saying, "Peace be upon you. Abide herein and enjoy the pleasantries of life".

74: On seeing the wonderful outcome of their deeds, they will spontaneously proclaim (from the depths of their hearts), "Indeed worthy of all 'Hamd' is Allah's Law of Mukafat, according to which all promises are fulfilled and which bestowed on us the land; and gave us the freedom to dwell thereon and manage it (24:55; 33:27)". The reward for those who do righteous deeds is indeed excellent.

75: And all heavenly forces will be surrounding Allah's seat of authority and will be active in making His system of Rabubiyyat worthy of all Hamd and appreciation. At that time all human affairs will be decided with (perfect) justice and Allah's universal order of Rabubiyyat will come into force in such an outstanding manner that everyone will spontaneously cry out, "Most certainly all 'Hamd' is for Allah Almighty the Almighty , Who is the sustainer and Rabb of all the worlds.------------------------------------------------------------


[1] Life after death (in the hereafter), resurrection and Jamat Jahannum are realities in which we firmly believe. Nobody can claim to be a Muslim without this belief. However, the Quran also tells us that that the Law of Mukafat becomes operative from life in this world. The pattern of the society established in accordance with the Divine Law would be similar to that in the hereafter; i.e. every matter would be decided justly and the result of every deed would be accurate - pleasant results of virtuous deeds, destructive results of evil deeds. In view of this reality, what has been said from Verses 67 to the end can also be taken to mean the Quranic Revolution in this world; and also pertain to resurrection (after death). We have taken the former meaning, particularly because Verse 74 mentions inheritance of land. It would be more appropriate to take their meaning as conquests in this world.