TAFSEER-E-ASEDI

By
Shaikh Mir Asedullah Quadri

Juz 13 - وَمَا أُبَرِّئُ

سورة يوسف

Yusuf

Yusuf | Sura # 12 | 111 verses | Makkan

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate and Most Merciful

وَمَا أُبَرِّئُ نَفْسِي ۚ إِنَّ النَّفْسَ لَأَمَّارَةٌ بِالسُّوءِ إِلَّا مَا رَحِمَ رَبِّي ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّي غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ٥٣

12:53 (Prophet Yusuf عليه السلام also said) Yet I do not absolve my (own Nafs), for the Nafs indeed prompts to evil, except those upon whom my Lord has Mercy.  Indeed my Lord is All Forgiving, All Merciful.'

It is reported that when Yusus (عليه السلام) settled down in Egypt along with his family and parents, Zulaikha (عليها السلام) who was the wife of the Aziz earlier, in whose house Yusuf (عليه السلام) had spent many years, grew very old and her husband Aziz had died. Her love for a Prophet of Allah paid back. Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) forgave her and returned her youth back and Yusuf (عليه السلام) married her and together they had children. (واللهُ اعلم).

It is important that while we describe about the Prophets and their families, we should keep their respect in view.

It is in Hadith - The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) said : ‘Adam and Musa (عليهم السلام) debated, and Musa (عليه السلام) said to him : 'O Adam (عليه السلام), you are our father but have deprived us and caused us to be expelled from Paradise because of your sin.' Adam (عليه السلام) said to him : 'O Musa (عليه السلام), Allah chose you to speak with, and he wrote the Tawrah for you with His own Hand. Are you blaming me for something which Allah decreed for me forty years before He created me?' Thus Adam (عليه السلام) won the argument with Musa (عليه السلام). (Bukhari, Muslim)

وَقَالَ الْمَلِكُ ائْتُونِي بِهِ أَسْتَخْلِصْهُ لِنَفْسِي ۖ فَلَمَّا كَلَّمَهُ قَالَ إِنَّكَ الْيَوْمَ لَدَيْنَا مَكِينٌ أَمِينٌ٥٤

12:54 And the king said, "Bring him to me; I will appoint him exclusively for myself.' And when he spoke to him, the King said from now on you will be an honored and trusted person (in the Court) among us.

قَالَ اجْعَلْنِي عَلَىٰ خَزَائِنِ الْأَرْضِ ۖ إِنِّي حَفِيظٌ عَلِيمٌ٥٥

12:55 Yusuf (عليه السلام) said, 'Appoint me  In-Charge of  the storehouses of the land. Indeed, I am a skilled custodian.'

وَكَذَٰلِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِيُوسُفَ فِي الْأَرْضِ يَتَبَوَّأُ مِنْهَا حَيْثُ يَشَاءُ ۚ نُصِيبُ بِرَحْمَتِنَا مَنْ نَشَاءُ ۖ وَلَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ٥٦

12:56 And thus We gave control to Yusuf (عليه السلام) over this land wherein he might live wherever he wished. We confer Our mercy on whomever We wish, and We do not waste the reward of the virtuous.

وَلَأَجْرُ الْآخِرَةِ خَيْرٌ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَكَانُوا يَتَّقُونَ٥٧

12:57 And the reward of the Hereafter is the best, for those who believe and are consistent in righteousness.

وَجَاءَ إِخْوَةُ يُوسُفَ فَدَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ فَعَرَفَهُمْ وَهُمْ لَهُ مُنْكِرُونَ٥٨

12:58 (A few years later ) The brothers of Yusuf (عليه السلام) came and presented themselves (for food grains) before him.  He recognized them, but they did not recognize him.

وَلَمَّا جَهَّزَهُمْ بِجَهَازِهِمْ قَالَ ائْتُونِي بِأَخٍ لَكُمْ مِنْ أَبِيكُمْ ۚ أَلَا تَرَوْنَ أَنِّي أُوفِي الْكَيْلَ وَأَنَا خَيْرُ الْمُنْزِلِينَ٥٩

12:59 When he had furnished them with their provision, he said, ‘Bring me a brother that you have through your father. Do you not see that I give full measure and that I am the best in hospitality?

فَإِنْ لَمْ تَأْتُونِي بِهِ فَلَا كَيْلَ لَكُمْ عِنْدِي وَلَا تَقْرَبُونِ٦٠

12:60 'But if you do not bring him to me, then there will be no rations for you from me, and don’t come near me (again).'

قَالُوا سَنُرَاوِدُ عَنْهُ أَبَاهُ وَإِنَّا لَفَاعِلُونَ٦١

12:61 They said : 'We will strive to make his father yield in respect of him, and we are sure to (bring him)'.

وَقَالَ لِفِتْيَانِهِ اجْعَلُوا بِضَاعَتَهُمْ فِي رِحَالِهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَعْرِفُونَهَا إِذَا انْقَلَبُوا إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ٦٢

12:62 He said to his servants, ‘Put their money (back) in their saddlebags. Maybe they will recognize it when they return to their folks, and maybe they will come back.

فَلَمَّا رَجَعُوا إِلَىٰ أَبِيهِمْ قَالُوا يَا أَبَانَا مُنِعَ مِنَّا الْكَيْلُ فَأَرْسِلْ مَعَنَا أَخَانَا نَكْتَلْ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ٦٣

12:63 Now when they returned to their father, they said : 'O our father! No more measure of grain we will get (unless we take our brother).  So send our brother with us, that we may get our measure; And indeed, we will be his guardians.

قَالَ هَلْ آمَنُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا كَمَا أَمِنْتُكُمْ عَلَىٰ أَخِيهِ مِنْ قَبْلُ ۖ فَاللَّهُ خَيْرٌ حَافِظًا ۖ وَهُوَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ٦٤

12:64 He said, ‘Should I trust you with him just as I trusted you with his brother before? Yet Allah is the best of protectors, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy!

وَلَمَّا فَتَحُوا مَتَاعَهُمْ وَجَدُوا بِضَاعَتَهُمْ رُدَّتْ إِلَيْهِمْ ۖ قَالُوا يَا أَبَانَا مَا نَبْغِي ۖ هَٰذِهِ بِضَاعَتُنَا رُدَّتْ إِلَيْنَا ۖ وَنَمِيرُ أَهْلَنَا وَنَحْفَظُ أَخَانَا وَنَزْدَادُ كَيْلَ بَعِيرٍ ۖ ذَٰلِكَ كَيْلٌ يَسِيرٌ٦٥

12:65 And when they opened their baggage, they found their money returned to them (along with the provisions). They said, ‘Father, what (more) do we want?  This is our money, given back to us.  We will get provisions for our family and take care of our brother, and add another camel-load of rations. These are meager rations.'

قَالَ لَنْ أُرْسِلَهُ مَعَكُمْ حَتَّىٰ تُؤْتُونِ مَوْثِقًا مِنَ اللَّهِ لَتَأْتُنَّنِي بِهِ إِلَّا أَنْ يُحَاطَ بِكُمْ ۖ فَلَمَّا آتَوْهُ مَوْثِقَهُمْ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ مَا نَقُولُ وَكِيلٌ٦٦

12:66 He said, ‘I will not let him go with you until you  pledge by Allah that you will surely bring him back to me, unless you are made to perish.' When they had given him their (solemn) pledge, he said : 'Over all that we say, be Allah the witness and guardian!'

وَقَالَ يَا بَنِيَّ لَا تَدْخُلُوا مِنْ بَابٍ وَاحِدٍ وَادْخُلُوا مِنْ أَبْوَابٍ مُتَفَرِّقَةٍ ۖ وَمَا أُغْنِي عَنْكُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ ۖ إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ ۖ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ ۖ وَعَلَيْهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ٦٧

12:67 Then he told his sons, O' my sons, do not enter the town by a single gate, but  enter from different gates. I cannot help you against Allah's decree.  Sovereignty belongs only to Allah. In Him I have put my trust. Whoever needs a trustee must put his trust in Allah.'

وَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا مِنْ حَيْثُ أَمَرَهُمْ أَبُوهُمْ مَا كَانَ يُغْنِي عَنْهُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ إِلَّا حَاجَةً فِي نَفْسِ يَعْقُوبَ قَضَاهَا ۚ وَإِنَّهُ لَذُو عِلْمٍ لِمَا عَلَّمْنَاهُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ٦٨

12:68 When they entered as their father had advised them, nothing could avail them against (the will of) Allah, yet it confirmed a premonition Yaqoob (عليه السلام) had, for verily he had knowledge as We had taught him, though most men do not know.

وَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ آوَىٰ إِلَيْهِ أَخَاهُ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّي أَنَا أَخُوكَ فَلَا تَبْتَئِسْ بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ٦٩

12:69 And when they entered into the presence of Yusuf (عليه السلام), he set his brother close to himself, and said, ‘Indeed I am your brother, so do not sorrow for what they used to do.'

فَلَمَّا جَهَّزَهُمْ بِجَهَازِهِمْ جَعَلَ السِّقَايَةَ فِي رَحْلِ أَخِيهِ ثُمَّ أَذَّنَ مُؤَذِّنٌ أَيَّتُهَا الْعِيرُ إِنَّكُمْ لَسَارِقُونَ٧٠

12:70 When he had furnished them with their provision, he put his drinking-cup into his brother’s saddlebag. Then a herald shouted: ‘O (people of the) caravan! You are indeed thieves.

قَالُوا وَأَقْبَلُوا عَلَيْهِمْ مَاذَا تَفْقِدُونَ٧١

12:71 They said, as they turned towards them, ‘What are you missing?’

قَالُوا نَفْقِدُ صُوَاعَ الْمَلِكِ وَلِمَنْ جَاءَ بِهِ حِمْلُ بَعِيرٍ وَأَنَا بِهِ زَعِيمٌ٧٢

12:72 They said, ‘We miss the king’s goblet.’ ‘Whoever brings it shall have a camel-load (of grain as reward), ‘I will guarantee that.' (said the caller).

قَالُوا تَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمْ مَا جِئْنَا لِنُفْسِدَ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَا كُنَّا سَارِقِينَ٧٣

12:73 They said, ‘By Allah! You certainly know that we did not come to make trouble in this country, and we are not thieves.’

قَالُوا فَمَا جَزَاؤُهُ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ كَاذِبِينَ٧٤

12:74 They (King's men) said, ‘What shall be its requital if you (prove to) be lying?’

قَالُوا جَزَاؤُهُ مَنْ وُجِدَ فِي رَحْلِهِ فَهُوَ جَزَاؤُهُ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي الظَّالِمِينَ٧٥

12:75 (The brothers) said, 'Its requital is that he, in whose bag it is found, he (himself) will be its requital. Thus do we requite the wrongdoers.'

فَبَدَأَ بِأَوْعِيَتِهِمْ قَبْلَ وِعَاءِ أَخِيهِ ثُمَّ اسْتَخْرَجَهَا مِنْ وِعَاءِ أَخِيهِ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ كِدْنَا لِيُوسُفَ ۖ مَا كَانَ لِيَأْخُذَ أَخَاهُ فِي دِينِ الْمَلِكِ إِلَّا أَنْ يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ ۚ نَرْفَعُ دَرَجَاتٍ مَنْ نَشَاءُ ۗ وَفَوْقَ كُلِّ ذِي عِلْمٍ عَلِيمٌ٧٦

12:76 So he searched their saddle-bags before his brother's, then produced the cup from his brother's bag. That is how We planned an excuse for Yusuf (عليه السلام) for under the law of the king he could not detain his brother unless Allah so willed. We raise the status of whom We please. Over every man of knowledge there is one more knowing.

It was the wisdom and Allah's mercy on the 10 step brothers of Yusuf (عليه السلام). They were made to realize their mistake, and as they sought forgiveness from their Lord, and requested their father as Waseelah to ask forgiveness for their past deeds. they were forgiven and were allowed to live in Egypt.

قَالُوا إِنْ يَسْرِقْ فَقَدْ سَرَقَ أَخٌ لَهُ مِنْ قَبْلُ ۚ فَأَسَرَّهَا يُوسُفُ فِي نَفْسِهِ وَلَمْ يُبْدِهَا لَهُمْ ۚ قَالَ أَنْتُمْ شَرٌّ مَكَانًا ۖ وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا تَصِفُونَ٧٧

12:77 They said, ‘If he has stolen (there is no wonder); a brother of his had stolen before.' Thereupon Yusuf (عليه السلام) kept the matter to himself and he did not disclose it to them. He said, 'You are in a worse state! And Allah knows best what you allege.'

قَالُوا يَا أَيُّهَا الْعَزِيزُ إِنَّ لَهُ أَبًا شَيْخًا كَبِيرًا فَخُذْ أَحَدَنَا مَكَانَهُ ۖ إِنَّا نَرَاكَ مِنَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ٧٨

12:78 They said, ‘O Emir! Indeed he has a father, a very old man; so take one of us in his place. Indeed we see that you are a virtuous man.’

قَالَ مَعَاذَ اللَّهِ أَنْ نَأْخُذَ إِلَّا مَنْ وَجَدْنَا مَتَاعَنَا عِنْدَهُ إِنَّا إِذًا لَظَالِمُونَ٧٩

12:79 He replied, 'I take the refuge of Allah, how could I take someone in his place? In doing so I would be committing injustice.'

فَلَمَّا اسْتَيْأَسُوا مِنْهُ خَلَصُوا نَجِيًّا ۖ قَالَ كَبِيرُهُمْ أَلَمْ تَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ أَبَاكُمْ قَدْ أَخَذَ عَلَيْكُمْ مَوْثِقًا مِنَ اللَّهِ وَمِنْ قَبْلُ مَا فَرَّطْتُمْ فِي يُوسُفَ ۖ فَلَنْ أَبْرَحَ الْأَرْضَ حَتَّىٰ يَأْذَنَ لِي أَبِي أَوْ يَحْكُمَ اللَّهُ لِي ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الْحَاكِمِينَ٨٠

12:80  When they lost hope of (persuading) him (Yusuf  عليه السلام), they went aside to confer. The oldest of them said : 'You know that your father has pledged you in the name of Allah, and you have been guilty of iniquity in the case of Yusuf (عليه السلام) before. I will not leave this place unless my father permits or Allah decides for me, for He is the best of all judges.

ارْجِعُوا إِلَىٰ أَبِيكُمْ فَقُولُوا يَا أَبَانَا إِنَّ ابْنَكَ سَرَقَ وَمَا شَهِدْنَا إِلَّا بِمَا عَلِمْنَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِلْغَيْبِ حَافِظِينَ٨١

12:81  Go to our father and tell him, 'Father, your son committed theft. We say only what we have seen and we have no control over the unseen.

وَاسْأَلِ الْقَرْيَةَ الَّتِي كُنَّا فِيهَا وَالْعِيرَ الَّتِي أَقْبَلْنَا فِيهَا ۖ وَإِنَّا لَصَادِقُونَ٨٢

12:82 'Inquire from the people of that city, or ask the men of the caravan with whom we have come. We are indeed speaking the truth.'

قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنْفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا ۖ فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ ۖ عَسَى اللَّهُ أَنْ يَأْتِيَنِي بِهِمْ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ٨٣

12:83 (When they came back and told the whole story) Yaqoob  (عليه السلام) said, 'your Nufoos have tempted you to make up the whole story. Let us be patient, perhaps Allah will bring them all back to me. Allah is certainly All Knowing and All Wise.'

وَتَوَلَّىٰ عَنْهُمْ وَقَالَ يَا أَسَفَىٰ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ وَابْيَضَّتْ عَيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْحُزْنِ فَهُوَ كَظِيمٌ٨٤

12:84 (And he turned away from them and said, 'Alas for Yusuf (عليه السلام)!' His eyes had turned white with grief, and he choked with suppressed agony.

قَالُوا تَاللَّهِ تَفْتَأُ تَذْكُرُ يُوسُفَ حَتَّىٰ تَكُونَ حَرَضًا أَوْ تَكُونَ مِنَ الْهَالِكِينَ٨٥

12:85 They said, 'You always remember Yusuf (عليه السلام). It will either make you sick or you may die (in this grief).'

قَالَ إِنَّمَا أَشْكُو بَثِّي وَحُزْنِي إِلَى اللَّهِ وَأَعْلَمُ مِنَ اللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ٨٦

12:86 He replied, 'I only complain of my anguish and grief to Allah. I know from Allah what you do not know.

يَا بَنِيَّ اذْهَبُوا فَتَحَسَّسُوا مِنْ يُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ وَلَا تَيْأَسُوا مِنْ رَوْحِ اللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُ لَا يَيْأَسُ مِنْ رَوْحِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا الْقَوْمُ الْكَافِرُونَ٨٧

12:87 ‘Go, my sons, and look for Yusuf and his brother (عليهم السلام), and do not give up on Allah’s Mercy.  Indeed no one looses hope of Allah’s Mercy except the faithless lot.'

فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ قَالُوا يَا أَيُّهَا الْعَزِيزُ مَسَّنَا وَأَهْلَنَا الضُّرُّ وَجِئْنَا بِبِضَاعَةٍ مُزْجَاةٍ فَأَوْفِ لَنَا الْكَيْلَ وَتَصَدَّقْ عَلَيْنَا ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَجْزِي الْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ٨٨

12:88 Then when they reached Yusuf (عليه السلام), they said, 'O Amir, distress has struck us and our family, and we have come with meager capital, but you give us full measure and be charitable to us. No doubt, Allah rewards the charitable.

قَالَ هَلْ عَلِمْتُمْ مَا فَعَلْتُمْ بِيُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ إِذْ أَنْتُمْ جَاهِلُونَ٨٩

12:89 He said, ‘Have you realized what you did to Yusuf and his brother (عليهم السلام), when you were senseless?’

قَالُوا أَإِنَّكَ لَأَنْتَ يُوسُفُ ۖ قَالَ أَنَا يُوسُفُ وَهَٰذَا أَخِي ۖ قَدْ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا ۖ إِنَّهُ مَنْ يَتَّقِ وَيَصْبِرْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ٩٠

12:90 They said, 'Are you really Yusuf (عليه السلام)?!’ He said, ‘I am Yusuf (عليه السلام), and this is my brother. Certainly Allah has shown us His favor. Certainly, he who fears Allah and is patient, Allah does not waste the reward of the virtuous.’

قَالُوا تَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ آثَرَكَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا وَإِنْ كُنَّا لَخَاطِئِينَ٩١

12:91 They said, 'By Allah, Allah has certainly preferred you over us, and we have indeed been erring.'

قَالَ لَا تَثْرِيبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْيَوْمَ ۖ يَغْفِرُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۖ وَهُوَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ٩٢

12:92 He said, ‘There shall be no reproach on you today. Allah will forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.

اذْهَبُوا بِقَمِيصِي هَٰذَا فَأَلْقُوهُ عَلَىٰ وَجْهِ أَبِي يَأْتِ بَصِيرًا وَأْتُونِي بِأَهْلِكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ٩٣

12:93 Take this shirt of mine, and put it upon my father’s face; he will regain his sight, and bring me all your folks.’

وَلَمَّا فَصَلَتِ الْعِيرُ قَالَ أَبُوهُمْ إِنِّي لَأَجِدُ رِيحَ يُوسُفَ ۖ لَوْلَا أَنْ تُفَنِّدُونِ٩٤

12:94  As their caravan set off (from Egypt ), their father said, ‘I sense the scent of Yusuf (عليه السلام), if you will not consider me a senile.’

قَالُوا تَاللَّهِ إِنَّكَ لَفِي ضَلَالِكَ الْقَدِيمِ٩٥

12:95 (His people said), 'By Allah, you are still making the same old error.'

فَلَمَّا أَنْ جَاءَ الْبَشِيرُ أَلْقَاهُ عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِ فَارْتَدَّ بَصِيرًا ۖ قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُلْ لَكُمْ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ مِنَ اللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ٩٦

12:96 When (they) the bearer of good news arrived, the (shirt) was placed on his (Yaqoob عليه السلام ) face and he regained his sight.  He said, 'Did I not tell you, I know from Allah what you do not know?'

قَالُوا يَا أَبَانَا اسْتَغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا إِنَّا كُنَّا خَاطِئِينَ٩٧

12:97 They (the sons) said,  'O our father, pray for us that our sins be forgiven, for we were really erring.'

قَالَ سَوْفَ أَسْتَغْفِرُ لَكُمْ رَبِّي ۖ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ٩٨

12:98 He said, 'soon I shall beg my Lord to forgive you.' He is  Most Forgiving,  Most Merciful.

The above verses confirm that seeking forgiveness from Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) is required. But if we request a virtuous person, dead or alive, as Waseelah to ask forgiveness for our past deeds, it is expected that Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) will forgive us.

(i) It is in Quran - وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ إِذ ظَّلَمُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ جَاءُوكَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُوا اللَّهَ وَاسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمُ الرَّسُولُ لَوَجَدُوا اللَّهَ تَوَّابًا رَّحِيمًا- [ If they had only, when they were unjust to themselves, come to you and asked Allah's forgiveness, and the Apostle had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah indeed Oft-returning, Most Merciful.] ( An-Nisa - 64).

(ii) It is in Hadith -"It is related from Malik al-Dar (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) who was Hadhrat Umar's (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) treasurer, that the people suffered a drought during the Caliphate of `Umar, (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) whereupon a man came to the grave of the Prophet and said: "O Apostle of Allah (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم), ask for rain for your Community, for verily they have but perished," after which the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) appeared to him in a dream and told him: "Go to `Umar (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) and give him my greeting, then tell him that they will be watered. Tell him: You must be clever (cautious), you must be clever (cautious)!" The man went and told `Umar (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ). The latter said : "O my Lord, I spare no effort except in what escapes my power!"

The above Hadith has been mentioned by Imam Bukhari in his book Taarikh al-Kabir - Biography of Malik al-dar. It is also is narrated by Bayhaqi. Salafi scholar Ibn Taymiyyah wrote this Hadith in Sirat al Mustaqim - page 373. Ibn Kathir cited it in al-Bidaya wa al-nihaya and said: isnaduhu sahih. Ibn Abi Shayba cited it in his Musannaf with a sound (sahih) chain as confirmed by Ibn Hajar who says: rawa Ibn Abi Shayba bi isnadin sahih and cited the hadith in Fath al-Bari. He identifies Malik al-Dar as `Umar's (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) treasurer (khazin `umar) and says that the man who visited and saw the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) in his dream is identified as the Companion Bilal ibn al-Harith (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ), and he counts this Hadith among the reasons for Bukhari's naming of the chapter "The people's request to their leader for rain if they suffer drought."

The narrators of the above Hadith are : (a) Abu Mu‘awiya, (b) Imam A‘mash, (c) Abu Salih Abd al Rahman bin Sa’eed, (d) Malik bin Ayyad al-Dar. All of them are considered as authentic and famous narrators of Ahadith whose narrations were taken by Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawood, and others.

(iii) Imam Malik as asked the following question by the Caliph Abu Ja`far al- Mansur :

'Shall I face the Qibla with my back towards the grave of the Apostle of Allah (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) when making du`a (after salams)?' He replied : 'How could you turn your face away from him (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) when he is the means (Waseela) of your and your father Adam's forgiveness to Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) on the Day of Resurrection? Nay, face him and ask for his intercession (Istashfi bihi) so that Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) will grant it to you as He said - وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ إِذ ظَّلَمُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ جَاءُوكَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُوا اللَّهَ وَاسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمُ الرَّسُولُ لَوَجَدُوا اللَّهَ تَوَّابًا رَّحِيمًا- (If they had only, when they were unjust to themselves, come to you and asked Allah's forgiveness, and the Apostle had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah indeed Oft-returning, Most Merciful) ( An-Nisa - 64).

The above is narrated by al-Qadi `Iyad in al-Shifa (2:92-93). Subki in Shifa' al-siqam. Qastallani in al-Mawahib al-laduniyya. Ibn Jama`a in Hidayat al-salik. Haytami in al-Jawhar al-munazzam and Tuhfat al-zuwwar and others.

(iv) Al-Utbi a Sahabi, (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) said : "As I was sitting by the grave of the Prophet, a Beduin Arab came and said: "O Apostle of Allah- صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم! I have heard Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی) saying: وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ إِذ ظَّلَمُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ جَاءُوكَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُوا اللَّهَ وَاسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمُ الرَّسُولُ لَوَجَدُوا اللَّهَ تَوَّابًا رَّحِيمًا- [If they had only, when they were unjust to themselves, come to you and asked Allah's forgiveness, and the Apostle (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah indeed Oft-returning, Most Merciful). ( An-Nisa - 64). So I have come to you asking forgiveness for my sins, seeking your intercession with my Lord."

Then he left, and I dozed and saw the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) in my sleep. He said to me : "O `Utbi (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ), run after the Beduin and give him glad tidings that Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) has forgiven him."

The above report is graded as mashhur (established and well-known) and narrated by - Nawawi Adhkar, al-Majmu` 8:217 and al-Idah fi manasik al-hajj, chapters on visiting the grave of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم). Ibn Jama`a, Hidayat al-salik 3:1384. Ibn `Aqil, al-Tadhkiraal-Mughni. al-Qurtubi, Tafsir of 4:64 in Ahkam al-Qur'an 5:265. Samhudi, Khulasat al-Wafa. Ibn Kathir, Tafsir 2:306 Taqi al-Din al-Subki, Ibn al-Jawzi, Muthir al-gharam al-sakin ila ashraf al-amakin p. 490 Ibn Hajar al-Haytami, al-Jawhar al-munazzam (commentary on Nawawi's Idah) and others.

(v) It is in Hadith - Narrated by al-Hakim hat Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) placed his forehead on the grave of Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم). Marwan Ibn al-Hakam saw him and held his neck. Abu Ayyub (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) said I did not come to the Stone. I came to the Apostle of Allah (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم). I heard the Apostle of Allah (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) say : Do not weep for Islam if the qualified people were in-charge, but weep for it, if it was under the charge of unqualified. (Al-Hakim related this Hadith in Mustadrak and said it is Sahih. ad-Dhahabi (who is held in great respect by Salafis) agreed to his authentication.

From the above it is proved that we can request for assistance (Istishfah) from Awliya Allah, Sahabah and Prophets who have died and we also get the required assistance from them.

(vi) It is in Quran - - إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَهُمْ رَاكِعُونَ [Your guardian (or solver of grievances) can be Allah ( عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) and His Apostle ( صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم ) and those who believe, who establish Salah, and pay Zakat and bow down (in prayer). ] (Al-Maida - 55).

فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ آوَىٰ إِلَيْهِ أَبَوَيْهِ وَقَالَ ادْخُلُوا مِصْرَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ آمِنِينَ٩٩

12:99 When they went back to Yusuf (عليه السلام) he gave his father and mother a place of honor, and said : 'Enter Egypt in peace by the will of God.'

Prophet Yusuf's (عليه السلام) mother's name was Raheel (عليها السلام). It is reported that Prophet Yusuf (عليه السلام) and his mother were the most beautiful persons on planet Earth. Yusuf's (عليه السلام) brother's name was Binyameen (عليه السلام) who was also a Prophet.

Some reports suggest that Yusuf's (عليه السلام) mother had died during the delivery of his younger brother Binyameen (عليه السلام). Thus the parents who visited Yusuf (عليه السلام) consisted of his father and step mother (who was the mother of his 10 step brothers) .

وَرَفَعَ أَبَوَيْهِ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ وَخَرُّوا لَهُ سُجَّدًا ۖ وَقَالَ يَا أَبَتِ هَٰذَا تَأْوِيلُ رُؤْيَايَ مِنْ قَبْلُ قَدْ جَعَلَهَا رَبِّي حَقًّا ۖ وَقَدْ أَحْسَنَ بِي إِذْ أَخْرَجَنِي مِنَ السِّجْنِ وَجَاءَ بِكُمْ مِنَ الْبَدْوِ مِنْ بَعْدِ أَنْ نَزَغَ الشَّيْطَانُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ إِخْوَتِي ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّي لَطِيفٌ لِمَا يَشَاءُ ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ١٠٠

12:100 And he seated his parents high upon the throne, and they fell down prostrate before him. He said, ‘Father! This is the interpretation of my dream (seen) long time ago, which my Lord has made come true. He was certainly gracious to me when He brought me out of the prison and brought you over from the desert, after that Satan had incited ill feeling between me and my brothers. Indeed my Lord is all-attentive in bringing about what He wishes. Indeed He is the All Knowing,  All Wise.’

رَبِّ قَدْ آتَيْتَنِي مِنَ الْمُلْكِ وَعَلَّمْتَنِي مِنْ تَأْوِيلِ الْأَحَادِيثِ ۚ فَاطِرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ أَنْتَ وَلِيِّي فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ ۖ تَوَفَّنِي مُسْلِمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِي بِالصَّالِحِينَ١٠١

12:101 My Lord! You have granted me a share in the kingdom, and taught me the interpretation of dreams. O' Originator of the heavens and earth, You are my guardian in this world and in Hereafter! Let my death be (in submission to You) as Muslim, and unite me with the Righteous.’

ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ أَنْبَاءِ الْغَيْبِ نُوحِيهِ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَمَا كُنْتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ أَجْمَعُوا أَمْرَهُمْ وَهُمْ يَمْكُرُونَ١٠٢

12:102  These are the news of the Unseen which We reveal to you (O Prophet ﷺ) and you were not with them when they conspired together and schemed.

وَمَا أَكْثَرُ النَّاسِ وَلَوْ حَرَصْتَ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ١٠٣

12:103  But most men will not believe though you desire it eagerly.

وَمَا تَسْأَلُهُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ ۚ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِلْعَالَمِينَ١٠٤

12:104  You do not ask them any reward for it.   It (the Quran) is a reminder for all the nations.

وَكَأَيِّنْ مِنْ آيَةٍ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ يَمُرُّونَ عَلَيْهَا وَهُمْ عَنْهَا مُعْرِضُونَ١٠٥

12:105  And how many Signs in the heavens and the earth do they pass by? Yet they turn  away from them!

وَمَا يُؤْمِنُ أَكْثَرُهُمْ بِاللَّهِ إِلَّا وَهُمْ مُشْرِكُونَ١٠٦

12:106  And most of them believe not in Allah except that they attribute partners (with Him).

أَفَأَمِنُوا أَنْ تَأْتِيَهُمْ غَاشِيَةٌ مِنْ عَذَابِ اللَّهِ أَوْ تَأْتِيَهُمُ السَّاعَةُ بَغْتَةً وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ١٠٧

12:107  Then do they feel secure that there will not come to them an overwhelming punishment from Allah or that the Hour will not come upon them suddenly while they are unaware?

قُلْ هَٰذِهِ سَبِيلِي أَدْعُو إِلَى اللَّهِ ۚ عَلَىٰ بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَا وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِي ۖ وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ١٠٨

12:108  Say, 'This is my way; I invite to Allah with insight (sure knowledge), I and those who follow me. And exalted is Allah ; and I am not of those who associate partners with Him.'

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًا نُوحِي إِلَيْهِمْ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْقُرَىٰ ۗ أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَيَنْظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ ۗ وَلَدَارُ الْآخِرَةِ خَيْرٌ لِلَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا ۗ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ١٠٩

12:109 All the Apostles We had sent before you were persons (residents) of those regions, to whom We sent Our revelations. Have they not traveled on the earth and seen what befell upon the people before them? Surely the abode of the Hereafter is better for those who fear straying from the right path. Do you not understand?

حَتَّىٰ إِذَا اسْتَيْأَسَ الرُّسُلُ وَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ كُذِبُوا جَاءَهُمْ نَصْرُنَا فَنُجِّيَ مَنْ نَشَاءُ ۖ وَلَا يُرَدُّ بَأْسُنَا عَنِ الْقَوْمِ الْمُجْرِمِينَ١١٠

12:110 When the apostles were discouraged (by their people) and were certain that they had been denied, our help came to them, and We saved whomever We wished.  But the guilty ones can not escape Our wrath.

Under the Divine Law of Respite, when the prophets' message is rejected by his people, they are provided with a respite from punishment as long as there is the possibility that some of them might accept the message. But when there is no hope and only evil element remain among them, the collective punishment comes. The virtuous people, the followers of the Prophets are separated from the evil ones, and the entire evil lot is discarded. Even the collective punishment is the Mercy of Allah on future generations of the people who have accepted the faith because if they had survived, their children would have troubled the children of the people who had accepted the faith.

لَقَدْ كَانَ فِي قَصَصِهِمْ عِبْرَةٌ لِأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ ۗ مَا كَانَ حَدِيثًا يُفْتَرَىٰ وَلَٰكِنْ تَصْدِيقَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيلَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ١١١

12:111 There is certainly a moral in their (the Prophets') accounts for those who possess intellect. This (Quran) is not a fabricated discourse; rather it is a confirmation of what was (revealed) before it, and a detailed explanation of all things, and a guidance and mercy for a people who have faith.

سورة الرعد

The Thunder

Ar-Ra'd | Sura # 13 | 43 verses | Madinan

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate and Most Merciful

المر ۚ تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ ۗ وَالَّذِي أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ الْحَقُّ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ١

13:1 Alif-Laam-Meem-Ra. These are the verses of the Book; and what has been revealed to you from your Lord is the truth, but most of the people do not believe.

ر [ Alif-Laam-Meem-Ra ] - 'Alif-Laam-Meem-Ra' is known as ‘Solemn Verse' (Ayat-e-Muqatta'at - آیتِ مقطعات).

Fourteen Arabic alphabets have been used, in varied combinations, in 14 ‘Solemn Verses' (Ayaat-e-Muqatta'at - آیاتِ مقطعات) in the form of initials of 29 Chapters (سورة) of holy Quran. Alif-Laam-Meem-Ra ( المر) is one of them

Since Quran is 'Mubeen' (الْمُبِينِ); its description is clear and manifest. The meanings of all the verses of Quran, including 'Solemn Verses' (آیاتِ مقطعات) are surely known to its principle addressee, ie., Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم). It is also likely that Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) has informed the meanings of these Verses to some of his Sahabah and Awliya Allah.

We believe in whatever is meant by the 'Solemn Verses' (آیاتِ مقطعات) by Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) and His Apostle Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم).

Since we have been commanded to read the Quran carefully and try to understand the significance of every verse of the Quran, we do ponder over these verses. And when we think, by focusing our attention towards Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) and His Apostle Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) for guidance, it comes to our mind that the 'Solemn Verses' (آیاتِ مقطعات) are actually the 'Solemn Titles of Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) given by Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) throughout the Quran. Our understanding is based on the fact that Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) has addressed Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) in the Quran by specific names, like Muzzammil (مزمل - O' beloved who covers self in a coverlet), Muddassir (مدثر - O' beloved, who covers self in a bed sheet). With this understanding, it is most likely that Prophet’s (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) other names / titles have been mentioned in Quran by denoting certain initials/alphabets.

اللَّهُ الَّذِي رَفَعَ السَّمَاوَاتِ بِغَيْرِ عَمَدٍ تَرَوْنَهَا ۖ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ ۖ وَسَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ ۖ كُلٌّ يَجْرِي لِأَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى ۚ يُدَبِّرُ الْأَمْرَ يُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ بِلِقَاءِ رَبِّكُمْ تُوقِنُونَ٢

13:2 It is Allah who raised the skies without support, as you can see, then assumed His throne, and subjcted the sun and the moon (so that) each runs to a predetermined course. He disposes all affairs, distinctly explaining every sign that you may be certain of the meeting with your Lord.

وَهُوَ الَّذِي مَدَّ الْأَرْضَ وَجَعَلَ فِيهَا رَوَاسِيَ وَأَنْهَارًا ۖ وَمِنْ كُلِّ الثَّمَرَاتِ جَعَلَ فِيهَا زَوْجَيْنِ اثْنَيْنِ ۖ يُغْشِي اللَّيْلَ النَّهَارَ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ٣

13:3 It is He who has spread out the earth and set in it firm mountains and streams, and of every fruit He has made in it two kinds. He draws the night’s cover over the day. There are indeed signs in that for the people who reflect.

وَفِي الْأَرْضِ قِطَعٌ مُتَجَاوِرَاتٌ وَجَنَّاتٌ مِنْ أَعْنَابٍ وَزَرْعٌ وَنَخِيلٌ صِنْوَانٌ وَغَيْرُ صِنْوَانٍ يُسْقَىٰ بِمَاءٍ وَاحِدٍ وَنُفَضِّلُ بَعْضَهَا عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ فِي الْأُكُلِ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ٤

13:4 In the earth are neighboring (diverse) terrains  and grape gardens, farms, and date palms growing from the same root and from diverse roots, (all) irrigated by the same water, and We give some of them an advantage over others in flavor. There are indeed signs in that for the people who apply reason.

وَإِنْ تَعْجَبْ فَعَجَبٌ قَوْلُهُمْ أَإِذَا كُنَّا تُرَابًا أَإِنَّا لَفِي خَلْقٍ جَدِيدٍ ۗ أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِرَبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأُولَٰئِكَ الْأَغْلَالُ فِي أَعْنَاقِهِمْ ۖ وَأُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ٥

13:5 If you are surprised, then (more) surprising is (their) speech (who say) 'Having turned to dust (after death) shall we be raised as a new creation?' They are the ones who deny their Lord, and they will have shackles around their necks. They are the inmates of Hell, where they will abide for ever.

وَيَسْتَعْجِلُونَكَ بِالسَّيِّئَةِ قَبْلَ الْحَسَنَةِ وَقَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمُ الْمَثُلَاتُ ۗ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَذُو مَغْفِرَةٍ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَىٰ ظُلْمِهِمْ ۖ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَشَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ٦

13:6 They ask you to hasten on the punishment in preference to the Mercy, while there has already occurred before them similar punishments (to what they demand). And verily your Lord awards forgiveness even on the injustices of the people. And no doubt,  the torment of your Lord is severe.

وَيَقُولُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَوْلَا أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْهِ آيَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِ ۗ إِنَّمَا أَنْتَ مُنْذِرٌ ۖ وَلِكُلِّ قَوْمٍ هَادٍ٧

13:7 And the disbelievers say: ‘Why has a sign (miracle) not been sent down to this (Apostle ﷺ) from his Lord?’ (O' Apostle ﷺ) You are a warner and provider of guidance to every community (in the world).

The polytheists during Prophet's (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) time did not realize that if a miracle is shown on their request, then they have to accept the truth. If they disbelieve after the miracle, they would be subjected to a massive punishment as had been the case with earlier nations.

اللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَحْمِلُ كُلُّ أُنْثَىٰ وَمَا تَغِيضُ الْأَرْحَامُ وَمَا تَزْدَادُ ۖ وَكُلُّ شَيْءٍ عِنْدَهُ بِمِقْدَارٍ٨

13:8 Allah knows what every female carries (in her womb), and what the wombs reduce and what they increase (during pregnancy) and everything is by (accurate) measure with Him,

Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) knows everything before its creation and while it is being created if there is gestation in the process of creation. Everything is created with an accurate measure, which is known to Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ).

It is in Quran - وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ مِن سُلَالَةٍ مِّن طِينٍ - ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَاهُ نُطْفَةً فِي قَرَارٍ مَّكِينٍ - ثُمَّ خَلَقْنَا النُّطْفَةَ عَلَقَةً فَخَلَقْنَا الْعَلَقَةَ مُضْغَةً فَخَلَقْنَا الْمُضْغَةَ عِظَامًا فَكَسَوْنَا الْعِظَامَ لَحْمًا ثُمَّ أَنشَأْنَاهُ خَلْقًا آخَرَ ۚ فَتَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنُ الْخَالِقِينَ [And verily We did create man from a quintessence (of clay). Then We placed him (as a drop of sperm) in a place of rest, firmly fixed. Then We made the sperm into a clot of congealed blood (zygote). Then of that clot We made a lump (fetus). Then We made out of that lump, bones and clothed the bones with flesh. Then We developed out of it another creature (by breathing life into it). So blessed be Allah, the most marvelous Creator.] ( Al-Mu’minun - 12-14).

It is in Hadith Abdullah bin Masud (رضئ الله تعالى عنه) narrates that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) said - إنَّ أحدكم يُجمَع خَلْقُه في بطن أمه أربعين يومًا، ثم يكون علقةً مثل ذلك، ثم يكون مُضغةً مثل ذلك ، ثم يَبعث الله ملكًا فيُؤمر بأربع كلمات، ويقال له: اكتُبْ عملَه، ورزقَه، وأجلَه، و شقيٌّ أو سعيدٌ، ثم يُنفخ فيه الروح [Each one of you is constituted in the womb of the mother for forty days and then he becomes a clot of thick blood for a similar period and then a piece of flesh for a similar period. Then Allah sends an angel who is ordered to write four things. He is ordered to write down his deeds, his livelihood, his (date of) death, and whether he will be blessed or wretched (in religion). Then the soul is breathed into him] (Bukhari)

The above Quranic verse and Hadith confirm that the soul enters the fetus 120 days (4 months) after gestation. Thus, first human body is created in the womb of the mother, and then the soul gets associated with it. The moment the soul gets associated with human body, the person/human being comes into existence.

Where were we before birth?

We all existed in Allah's (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) knowledge as His awareness. Meaning, Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) knew about all His creations before their birth. Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) knew horse as horse and tiger as tiger. Among humans, he knew who was a believer, who was a non-believer and who was an apostate.

It is in Quran وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ [And Allah knows about everything.] (An-Noor - 64).

How did we exist in Allah's (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) knowledge?

We existed in Allah's knowledge as 'Probate Architype' (Ain-e-Thabita - عینِ ثابتہ).

What is Probate Archetype (عینِ ثابتہ)?

A 'probate archetype' (عینِ ثابتہ) is a unit of information about every single creation of Allah. It is an 'individual fact' or 'innate' (ذات)' of every creature which existed in Allah's (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) knowledge.

When Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) wanted to bring us into external existence (in this world), He first created our material body as per the requirement of this world, then associated a specific soul with it. When these two joined with our innate/person (ذات), we came into existence.

Thus, there are three things involved in our creation, viz (i) the 'human self' or 'person' (ذات), (ii) the human body (جسم), and (iii) human soul (روح).

عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ الْكَبِيرُ الْمُتَعَالِ٩

13:9 He is knower of the 'seen' and 'unseen'   the Mighty and Most High.

When Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) says He has the knowledge of unseen, it means that He has knowledge about everything that is unseen by human beings. Therefore, the reference of 'unseen' is related to Human beings, not with Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ).

It is in Quran - وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ [ And He is the knower of all things’. (Al-Hadeed – 3).

It is in Quran - وَكَانَ اللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ مُّحِيطًا [And Allah encompasses all the things.] (An-Nisa - 126)

It is in Quran - وَعِندَهُ مَفَاتِحُ الْغَيْبِ لَا يَعْلَمُهَا إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ ۚ وَمَا تَسْقُطُ مِن وَرَقَةٍ إِلَّا يَعْلَمُهَا وَلَا حَبَّةٍ فِي ظُلُمَاتِ الْأَرْضِ وَلَا رَطْبٍ وَلَا يَابِسٍ إِلَّا فِي كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ [ With Him are the keys of the unseen, the treasures that none knows but He. He knows whatever there is on the earth and in the sea. Not a leaf that falls but with His knowledge: there is not a grain in the darkness (or depths) of the earth, nor anything fresh or dry (green or withered), but is (inscribed) in a manifest book.] (Al-An'aam - 59)

سَوَاءٌ مِنْكُمْ مَنْ أَسَرَّ الْقَوْلَ وَمَنْ جَهَرَ بِهِ وَمَنْ هُوَ مُسْتَخْفٍ بِاللَّيْلِ وَسَارِبٌ بِالنَّهَارِ١٠

13:10 It is the same (to Him) whether any of you conceal his speech or declare it openly; try to hide in the darkness of night or walk in the brightness of day.

لَهُ مُعَقِّبَاتٌ مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ يَحْفَظُونَهُ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا مَا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ ۗ وَإِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍ سُوءًا فَلَا مَرَدَّ لَهُ ۚ وَمَا لَهُمْ مِنْ دُونِهِ مِنْ وَالٍ١١

13:11 His angels keep watch over him (the servant) in succession (night and day), in front and behind, by Allah's command.  Verily Allah does not change the state of a people till they change themselves. When Allah intends misfortune for a people no one can avert it, and no savior will they have apart from Him.

هُوَ الَّذِي يُرِيكُمُ الْبَرْقَ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَيُنْشِئُ السَّحَابَ الثِّقَالَ١٢

13:12 It is He who shows you the lightning of fear and hope, and He produces heavy clouds (of His Mercy with which you get the peace in heart).

وَيُسَبِّحُ الرَّعْدُ بِحَمْدِهِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ مِنْ خِيفَتِهِ وَيُرْسِلُ الصَّوَاعِقَ فَيُصِيبُ بِهَا مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَهُمْ يُجَادِلُونَ فِي اللَّهِ وَهُوَ شَدِيدُ الْمِحَالِ١٣

13:13 The Thunder exalts His praise, and so do the angels with awe.  He sends the thunder-bolts, and therewith strikes whomsoever He wills.   Yet these (are the people) who (dare to) dispute about Allah who is Mighty in Wrath.

لَهُ دَعْوَةُ الْحَقِّ ۖ وَالَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِهِ لَا يَسْتَجِيبُونَ لَهُمْ بِشَيْءٍ إِلَّا كَبَاسِطِ كَفَّيْهِ إِلَى الْمَاءِ لِيَبْلُغَ فَاهُ وَمَا هُوَ بِبَالِغِهِ ۚ وَمَا دُعَاءُ الْكَافِرِينَ إِلَّا فِي ضَلَالٍ١٤

13:14 Prayer to Him is the true prayer. For those they invoke other than Allah do not answer them at all, except like a man who stretches his hands towards the water that it reach his mouth, but it will never reach it.

Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) is explaining facts with various examples. A beautiful parable about idol worship is provided in the above verse.

Polytheists create imaginary gods or partners of God in their minds with specific shape and characteristics. Then fabricate idols based on their imagination and give certain meanings to these idols saying this is the god responsible for this and that. Then they start worshiping these idols devising various customs. They start believing in them as gods or partners of god and supplicate to these idols to alleviate their problems and believe that their worship of the idol will bear fruit. This is the example of a man who stretches his hands towards a water source from a far off place and expect that the water will reach his mouth. Worshiping idols and expecting them to alleviate their problems is indeed a similar exercise.

وَلِلَّهِ يَسْجُدُ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ طَوْعًا وَكَرْهًا وَظِلَالُهُمْ بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصَالِ ۩١٥

13:15 And to Allah prostrates whosoever is in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly, as do their shadows in the morning and the evening hours.

The above is 'the verse of Sajda' (آیت سجدہ). If someone is reading it alone, should do prostration (سجدة) alone. If it is read loudly in an audience, the reciter and all the listeners should do 'Prostration of Recitation' (Sajda-e-Tilaawah - سجدة التلاوة) individually.

The Prostration can be done in sitting or standing position. In the Hanafi school of thought, 'Prostration of Recitation' (Sajda-e-Tilaawah - سجدة التلاوة) is obligatory (Fardh). With Shafii and Maliki, it is Sunnah.

It is in Hadith - 'When you have recited a verse requiring Sajdah-e-Tilaawaah, you should go down for Sajdah with Allahu-Akbar and rise from Sajdah with Allahu-Akbar, which may be performed sitting, though it is preferable to prostrate oneself from the standing position (Abu Dawood)

Have the intention to do Prostration of recitation (سجدة التلاوة). The place where you are reading/reciting Quran should be clean. Turn towards Qibla, say (quietly) Allahu Akbar, go into prostration once, recite the 'Tasbih of Sajdah' 'Subhana Rabbi al-A'alaa' (سبحان ربّي الاعلى ) at least 3 times and raise from the Sajda saying Allahu Akbar.

قُلْ مَنْ رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ قُلِ اللَّهُ ۚ قُلْ أَفَاتَّخَذْتُمْ مِنْ دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ لَا يَمْلِكُونَ لِأَنْفُسِهِمْ نَفْعًا وَلَا ضَرًّا ۚ قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الْأَعْمَىٰ وَالْبَصِيرُ أَمْ هَلْ تَسْتَوِي الظُّلُمَاتُ وَالنُّورُ ۗ أَمْ جَعَلُوا لِلَّهِ شُرَكَاءَ خَلَقُوا كَخَلْقِهِ فَتَشَابَهَ الْخَلْقُ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ قُلِ اللَّهُ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ الْوَاحِدُ الْقَهَّارُ١٦

13:16 Ask (them) : 'Who is the Lord and Sustainer of the heavens and the earth?' Tell (them): '(It is) Allah.' Ask (them) : 'Do you then take (for worship) (your so called) protectors other than Him who have no power either for good or harm to their own selves?' Ask : 'Are the blind equal with those who see? Or the depths of darkness equal with light?' Or do they assign to Allah partners who have created (anything) as He has created, so that the creation seemed to them similar? Say, Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the One, the Almighty.

أَنْزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَسَالَتْ أَوْدِيَةٌ بِقَدَرِهَا فَاحْتَمَلَ السَّيْلُ زَبَدًا رَابِيًا ۚ وَمِمَّا يُوقِدُونَ عَلَيْهِ فِي النَّارِ ابْتِغَاءَ حِلْيَةٍ أَوْ مَتَاعٍ زَبَدٌ مِثْلُهُ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَضْرِبُ اللَّهُ الْحَقَّ وَالْبَاطِلَ ۚ فَأَمَّا الزَّبَدُ فَيَذْهَبُ جُفَاءً ۖ وَأَمَّا مَا يَنْفَعُ النَّاسَ فَيَمْكُثُ فِي الْأَرْضِ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَضْرِبُ اللَّهُ الْأَمْثَالَ١٧

13:17 When Allah sends down water from the sky and floods run through the valleys, certain quantities of foam rise on the surface of the flood water. This is similar to that foam which rises when you expose something to the heat of a fire to manufacture ornaments or for other reasons. To Allah, truth and falsehood are like these examples. The foam disappears but what benefits to the human being stays in the land. That is how Allah draws comparisons.

لِلَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُوا لِرَبِّهِمُ الْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ وَالَّذِينَ لَمْ يَسْتَجِيبُوا لَهُ لَوْ أَنَّ لَهُمْ مَا فِي الْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا وَمِثْلَهُ مَعَهُ لَافْتَدَوْا بِهِ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ سُوءُ الْحِسَابِ وَمَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَبِئْسَ الْمِهَادُ١٨

13:18 For those who obey their Lord is excellence. For those who fail to obey, the reckoning will be hard, even if they possess and give as ransom all that there is on the earth, and as much more. Hell will be their abode. How wretched is its wide expanse!

Surely, the expanse of Hell is extremely wide and deep as it will accommodate all disbelievers and hypocrites from the beginning of human kind till the day of resurrection. In addition Jinns, Shayateen will also dwell in the Hell.

It is in Hadith - It is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurairah (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) said : "The first one to be called on the Day of Resurrection will be Adam (عليه السلام). He will be shown his progeny and it will be said : This is your father Adam. He will say : Here I am at Your service.' He will be asked : ‘Bring forth those who are to be sent to Hell from among your progeny.’ He will say, ‘O Lord, how many should I bring forth?’ Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) will say, ‘Bring forth from every hundred, ninety nine.’ They said : 'O Apostle of Allah (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم), if ninety nine are taken from every hundred of us, what will be left of us?' He said, 'My Ummah, among the other nations, is like a white hair on a black bull.' (Bukhari)

It is in Hadith - It is narrated on the authority of Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ), that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) said : 'Allah will say, ‘O Adam (عليه السلام)!’ and he will say, ‘Here I am at Your service, and all goodness is in Your hand.’ He will say, ‘Bring forth those who are to be sent to Hell.’ He will say, ‘Who are those who are to be sent to Hell?’ He will say, ‘From every thousand, nine hundred and ninety nine. (Part of the Hadith) (Bukhari, Muslim)

It is in Quran - وَلَقَدْ ذَرَأْنَا لِجَهَنَّمَ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ الْجِنِّ وَالْإِنسِ ۖ لَهُمْ قُلُوبٌ لَّا يَفْقَهُونَ بِهَا وَلَهُمْ أَعْيُنٌ لَّا يُبْصِرُونَ بِهَا وَلَهُمْ آذَانٌ لَّا يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَا ۚ أُولَـٰئِكَ كَالْأَنْعَامِ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ ۚ أُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْغَافِلُونَ [ And certainly We have created for Hell many of the jinn and the men; they have hearts with which they do not understand, and they have eyes with which they do not see, and they have ears with which they do not hear; they are as cattle, nay, they are in worse errors; these are the heedless ones. ] (Al-A'raaf - 179)

أَفَمَنْ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ الْحَقُّ كَمَنْ هُوَ أَعْمَىٰ ۚ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ١٩

13:19 Can a man who knows what has been revealed to you from your Lord is the truth, and one who cannot see, be the same? They alone take warning who are wise,

الَّذِينَ يُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ وَلَا يَنْقُضُونَ الْمِيثَاقَ٢٠

13:20 who fulfill their covenant with Allah and do not break their agreement,

وَالَّذِينَ يَصِلُونَ مَا أَمَرَ اللَّهُ بِهِ أَنْ يُوصَلَ وَيَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ وَيَخَافُونَ سُوءَ الْحِسَابِ٢١

13:21 who keep together what Allah has ordained held together, and fear their Lord and dread the hardship of the Reckoning,

وَالَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا ابْتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ رَبِّهِمْ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَأَنْفَقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً وَيَدْرَءُونَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ السَّيِّئَةَ أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ٢٢

13:22 who persevere in seeking the way of their Lord, who establish Salah, and spend from what We have given them, secretly or openly, who repel evil with good,  For (all of) them is the recompense of Paradise.

جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا وَمَنْ صَلَحَ مِنْ آبَائِهِمْ وَأَزْوَاجِهِمْ وَذُرِّيَّاتِهِمْ ۖ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ يَدْخُلُونَ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ كُلِّ بَابٍ٢٣

13:23 The Gardens of Eden, which they will enter along with whoever is righteous from among their forebears, their spouses, and their descendants, and the angels will call on them from every door, 

سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ بِمَا صَبَرْتُمْ ۚ فَنِعْمَ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ٢٤

13:24   'peace be on you, for your patience.’ How excellent is the reward of the (ultimate) abode. 

وَالَّذِينَ يَنْقُضُونَ عَهْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ بَعْدِ مِيثَاقِهِ وَيَقْطَعُونَ مَا أَمَرَ اللَّهُ بِهِ أَنْ يُوصَلَ وَيُفْسِدُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ ۙ أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمُ اللَّعْنَةُ وَلَهُمْ سُوءُ الدَّارِ٢٥

13:25  As for those who break Allah's covenant after validating it, and sever that which Allah has ordered to establish, and spread corruption in the land, there is condemnation for them and an evil abode.  

اللَّهُ يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَقْدِرُ ۚ وَفَرِحُوا بِالْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا فِي الْآخِرَةِ إِلَّا مَتَاعٌ٢٦

13:26  Allah increases the livelihood for whom He will, and restricts (it for whom He will); and they rejoice in the life of the world, whereas the life of the world is but brief comfort as compared with the Hereafter.

The above verse explains that those who judge a man's worth in this world by his wealth and prosperity and not by his Sahih Iman and good deeds, are wrong. The followers of deviant sects and non-believers often claim that they are the favorites of Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) because if they were not, then Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) would not have made them prosperous in the world.

During the life of Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) the rich and the powerful among infidels also had this erroneous belief that they were close to Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ). They considered the poor and indigent Muslims were under Allah's (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) wrath. They used to say, 'You can see for yourselves that Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) is with the chiefs of the Quraish and not with the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) and his followers.

The above verse clarifies that this understanding is absolutely wrong. The real criterion for judging the people is from their truthful faith in Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) and His Apostle (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) and virtuous deeds.

It is in Quran - يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ [ O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted. ] (Al-Hujuraat - 13)

وَيَقُولُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَوْلَا أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْهِ آيَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِ ۗ قُلْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُضِلُّ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَهْدِي إِلَيْهِ مَنْ أَنَابَ٢٧

13:27 The disbelievers say, ‘Why has not some sign (miracle) been sent down to him from his Lord?’ Say, ‘Indeed Allah leads astray whomever He wishes, and guides those who turn penitently (towards Him).

The polytheists during Prophet's (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) time did not realize that if a miracle is shown on their request, then they have to accept the truth. If they disbelieve after the miracle, they would be subjected to a massive punishment as had been the case with earlier nations.

الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُمْ بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ٢٨

13:28 Those who have believed, their hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah. Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest!

What is invocation (Zikr - ذکر)? To remember Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ), and not to forget. The remembrance could be oral or in heart. It can be done while sitting, standing, walking or lying on your back . It can be done by holding your breath or without. The objective of invocation is mindfulness of Allah.

It is in Hadith - Ibn Abbas (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) narrated that the zikr in a loud voice after obligatory prayers was (a common practice) during the lifetime of the Apostle of Allah (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم); and when I heard that I came to know that they (the people) had finished the prayer. (Muslim, Book 5, Hadith 156).

Different invocation have different effects. Most important invocation is the invocation of 'Islamic Testimony' (Kalima Tayyiba - كلمه طيِّبه) ' [La Ilaha Illallahu - لا اله الاّ الله] which has a significant effect in the prevention of evil considerations (Wasaawis - وساوس).

It is in Quran - شَرَعَ لَكُم مِّنَ الدِّينِ مَا وَصَّىٰ بِهِ نُوحًا وَالَّذِي أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ وَمَا وَصَّيْنَا بِهِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ ۖ أَنْ أَقِيمُوا الدِّينَ وَلَا تَتَفَرَّقُوا فِيهِ [To you He has prescribed the faith which He had commended to Nooh (عليه السلام), and which We have revealed to you and which We had commended to Ibrahim (عليه السلام), Musa (عليه السلام) and Isa (عليه السلام) enjoining. Adhere to this faith and do not divide yourself into sects.] (Ash-Shura - 13).

The purport of the above is Islamic law (Shariat - شریعت). What is Shariat? Divine commandments are called Shariat.

It is in Quran - اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ [O' our Lord, guide us to the straight path] (Fateha - 6).

The meaning of Sirat (صراط) is 'Tareeq' (طریق), the way, path. Therefore, Tareeqat (طریقت) is to walk on the divine path.

It is in Quran - أَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْحَقُّ الْمُبِينُ [Certainly, Allah is the Absolute truth who discloses the exact truth] (An-Noor - 25).

It is in Hadith - إِنَّ أَصْدَقَ كَلِمَةٍ قَالَهَا الشَّاعِرُ كَلِمَةُ لَبِيدٍ : أَلا كُلُّ شَيْءٍ مَا خَلا اللَّهَ بَاطِلٌ [It is the true statement of Labied, the Arab Poet, in all these things nothing is created as spurious by Allah] (Bukhari).

Thus cognizance of truth (Haqeeqat - حقیقت) is to understand the Unity and Attributes of Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ). And this understanding is Gnosis (Ma'arefath - معرفت). To remain in Allah's (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) thought day and night is 'engrossment' (Mahwiyet - محویت). Its opposite is fallacy (Sahu - صہو).

It is in Quran إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ [The true believers are those whose hearts tremble when Allah is mentioned, and when His revelations are recited to them, their faith is strengthened, and they trust in their Lord.] (Al-Anfaal - 2)

الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ طُوبَىٰ لَهُمْ وَحُسْنُ مَآبٍ٢٩

13:29 Those who have faith and do righteous deeds, happy they are,  and good is their (ultimate) destination.

To work for the acquisition of worldly comforts day in and out and forgetting completely about Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) does not provide happiness. Wealth is not a means of happiness. Happiness is contentment of heart which can only be achieved in remembrance of Allah and in doing good deeds.

People get involved in this world to an extent that they completely forget that they will have leave this world one day. Remember, death is a fact and it will come any moment, all of a sudden. While you are working for earning your livelihood, it is also important that you do not forget about Sahih Iman and good deeds. A balance in both these activities provides ultimate happiness in this life and as well as in Hereafter.

كَذَٰلِكَ أَرْسَلْنَاكَ فِي أُمَّةٍ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهَا أُمَمٌ لِتَتْلُوَ عَلَيْهِمُ الَّذِي أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ وَهُمْ يَكْفُرُونَ بِالرَّحْمَٰنِ ۚ قُلْ هُوَ رَبِّي لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ مَتَابِ٣٠

13:30 Thus We have sent you to a nation before which many nations have passed away, that you may recite to them what We have revealed to you. Yet they defy the Most Compassionate (Allah).   Say, ‘He is my Lord; there is no god but He; in Him I have put my trust, and to Him will be my return.

وَلَوْ أَنَّ قُرْآنًا سُيِّرَتْ بِهِ الْجِبَالُ أَوْ قُطِّعَتْ بِهِ الْأَرْضُ أَوْ كُلِّمَ بِهِ الْمَوْتَىٰ ۗ بَلْ لِلَّهِ الْأَمْرُ جَمِيعًا ۗ أَفَلَمْ يَيْأَسِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْ لَوْ يَشَاءُ اللَّهُ لَهَدَى النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا ۗ وَلَا يَزَالُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا تُصِيبُهُمْ بِمَا صَنَعُوا قَارِعَةٌ أَوْ تَحُلُّ قَرِيبًا مِنْ دَارِهِمْ حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِيَ وَعْدُ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ٣١

13:31 Thus if there were a Qur'an with which mountains were moved, or the earth would be broken apart, or the dead were made to speak, (this would be the one) But, truly, the command is with Allah in all things.  Don't the Believers know that, had Allah (so) willed, He could have guided all mankind? As for unbelievers, they will be visited by misfortune endlessly for what they have done; or it would sit in their homes till the  promise (of punishment) of Allah comes to pass. Surely Allah does not go back on His promise.

The effect of Quran is such that mountains would move listening to it, or earth will be broken apart or the dead would speak the glory of their Lord.

It is in Quran - لَوْ أَنزَلْنَا هَـٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ عَلَىٰ جَبَلٍ لَّرَأَيْتَهُ خَاشِعًا مُّتَصَدِّعًا مِّنْ خَشْيَةِ اللَّهِ ۚ وَتِلْكَ الْأَمْثَالُ نَضْرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ [ If We had sent down this Qur'an upon a mountain, you would have seen it humbled and coming apart from fear of Allah. And these examples We present to the people that perhaps they will give thought. ] (Al-Hashr - 21)

Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) says that when these polytheists are unable to comprehend such a Quran, they will surely not accept the truth even if a miracle is produced before them. At that time they will say that it is a magic which has overtaken their vision. Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) says that if He willed, everyone on the planet would have accepted the faith. This is not possible because of the exigencies of individual natures. Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) knows before creating the individuals who has the capacity to accept the faith and who does not.

وَلَقَدِ اسْتُهْزِئَ بِرُسُلٍ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ فَأَمْلَيْتُ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ثُمَّ أَخَذْتُهُمْ ۖ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عِقَابِ٣٢

13:32 Many an apostle have they mocked before you; but I allowed the unbelievers (some) respite, then I seized them. How severe was My punishment then!

When the prophets' message is rejected by his people, they are provided with a respite from punishment as long as there is the possibility that some of them might accept the message. But when there is no hope and only evil element remain among them, the collective punishment comes. The virtuous people, the followers of the Prophets are separated from the evil ones, and the entire evil lot is discarded.

In fact, even the collective punishment is the Mercy of Allah on future generations of the people who have accepted the faith.

أَفَمَنْ هُوَ قَائِمٌ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ نَفْسٍ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ ۗ وَجَعَلُوا لِلَّهِ شُرَكَاءَ قُلْ سَمُّوهُمْ ۚ أَمْ تُنَبِّئُونَهُ بِمَا لَا يَعْلَمُ فِي الْأَرْضِ أَمْ بِظَاهِرٍ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ ۗ بَلْ زُيِّنَ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مَكْرُهُمْ وَصُدُّوا عَنِ السَّبِيلِ ۗ وَمَنْ يُضْلِلِ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِنْ هَادٍ٣٣

13:33 Who is it who stands (watch) over every soul for what it does? Yet they ascribe partners to Allah. Say : 'Then name them. Or are you announcing to Allah what He does not know on the earth? Or is it only empty talk? In fact, the unbelievers' plots are made to look attractive to them, so that they are held back from the right path. Whosoever  Allah allows to go astray has none to show him the way.

لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَلَعَذَابُ الْآخِرَةِ أَشَقُّ ۖ وَمَا لَهُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ مِنْ وَاقٍ٣٤

13:34 For them is punishment in this world; and the punishment of the Hereafter is far more severe. They will have none to save them from Allah.

مَثَلُ الْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي وُعِدَ الْمُتَّقُونَ ۖ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ ۖ أُكُلُهَا دَائِمٌ وَظِلُّهَا ۚ تِلْكَ عُقْبَى الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا ۖ وَعُقْبَى الْكَافِرِينَ النَّارُ٣٥

13:35 A description of the paradise promised to the righteous (is) streams run in it, its fruits and shade are everlasting. Such is the requital of those who are righteous; and the requital of the unbelievers is the Fire.

وَالَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَمِنَ الْأَحْزَابِ مَنْ يُنْكِرُ بَعْضَهُ ۚ قُلْ إِنَّمَا أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ وَلَا أُشْرِكَ بِهِ ۚ إِلَيْهِ أَدْعُو وَإِلَيْهِ مَآبِ٣٦

13:36 And (the people who have accepted faith from) those to whom We have given the (earlier) Scripture rejoice at what has been revealed to you, (O Prophet ﷺ), but among the (non believing) factions are those who deny part of it. Say, 'I have only been commanded to worship Allah and not associate (anything) with Him. To Him I invite, and to Him is my return.'

وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَنْزَلْنَاهُ حُكْمًا عَرَبِيًّا ۚ وَلَئِنِ اتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَاءَهُمْ بَعْدَمَا جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ مَا لَكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ مِنْ وَلِيٍّ وَلَا وَاقٍ٣٧

13:37 (O' People) We revealed it (the Quran) as a code of conduct in the Arabic language, if you follow their (non-believers') desires after the knowledge has been given to you, you shall not have against Allah any guardian or a protector.

وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلًا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُمْ أَزْوَاجًا وَذُرِّيَّةً ۚ وَمَا كَانَ لِرَسُولٍ أَنْ يَأْتِيَ بِآيَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ۗ لِكُلِّ أَجَلٍ كِتَابٌ٣٨

13:38  We sent many Apostles before you, and bestowed upon them wives and children, but it was not (in the honorable attributes) of any Apostle to come up with a miracle unless commanded by Allah.  (Surely) For every age there is a law.

يَمْحُو اللَّهُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَيُثْبِتُ ۖ وَعِنْدَهُ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ٣٩

13:39  Allah effaces and confirms whatever He wishes and with Him is the Mother Book. 

وَإِنْ مَا نُرِيَنَّكَ بَعْضَ الَّذِي نَعِدُهُمْ أَوْ نَتَوَفَّيَنَّكَ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْكَ الْبَلَاغُ وَعَلَيْنَا الْحِسَابُ٤٠

13:40 Whether We show you (O' Prophet ﷺ) a part of (the punishment) what We promise them, or take you away (before that), your responsibility is only to communicate, and it is for Us to do the reckoning.

أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّا نَأْتِي الْأَرْضَ نَنْقُصُهَا مِنْ أَطْرَافِهَا ۚ وَاللَّهُ يَحْكُمُ لَا مُعَقِّبَ لِحُكْمِهِ ۚ وَهُوَ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ٤١

13:41 Don't they see that We gradually reduce the land (in their control) from its outlying borders? (When) Allah commands, there is none to put back His Command, and He is swift in calling (people) to account.

وَقَدْ مَكَرَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ فَلِلَّهِ الْمَكْرُ جَمِيعًا ۖ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَكْسِبُ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ۗ وَسَيَعْلَمُ الْكُفَّارُ لِمَنْ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ٤٢

13:42 Those before them had plotted; but in all the things it is Allah's master-planning, for He has knowledge of what everyone does. The unbelievers will soon learn for whom is the reward of Paradise.

وَيَقُولُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَسْتَ مُرْسَلًا ۚ قُلْ كَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ شَهِيدًا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكُمْ وَمَنْ عِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ الْكِتَابِ٤٣

13:43 And the disbelievers say, 'You are not an Apostle.' Say, (O Apostle  ﷺ) "Sufficient is Allah as Witness between me and you, and (the witness of) whoever has knowledge of the book.'

سورة ابراهيم

Ibrahim

Ibrahim | Sura # 14 | 52 verses | Makkan

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate and Most Merciful

الر ۚ كِتَابٌ أَنْزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ لِتُخْرِجَ النَّاسَ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَمِيدِ١

14:1 Alif-Laam-Ra. This is a Book which We have revealed to you so that you may bring mankind out of the darknesses (of disbelief and evil) to the light (of faith). (And) by the command of their Lord, (guide them) to the path of the Praiseworthy Almighty.

الر [ Alif-Laam-Ra ] - 'Alif-Laam-Ra' is known as ‘Solemn Verse' (Ayat-e-Muqatta'at - آیتِ مقطعات).

Fourteen Arabic alphabets have been used, in varied combinations, in 14 ‘Solemn Verses' (Ayaat-e-Muqatta'at - آیاتِ مقطعات) in the form of initials of 29 Chapters (سورة) of holy Quran. Alif-Laam-Ra (الر) is one of them.

Since Quran is 'Mubeen' (الْمُبِينِ); its description is clear and manifest. The meanings of all the verses of Quran, including 'Solemn Verses' (آیاتِ مقطعات) are surely known to its principle addressee, ie., Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم). It is also likely that Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) has informed the meanings of these Verses to some of his Sahabah and Awliya Allah.

We believe in whatever is meant by the 'Solemn Verses' (آیاتِ مقطعات) by Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) and His Apostle Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم).

Since we have been commanded to read the Quran carefully and try to understand the significance of every verse of the Quran, we do ponder over these verses. And when we think, by focusing our attention towards Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) and His Apostle Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) for guidance, it comes to our mind that the 'Solemn Verses' (آیاتِ مقطعات) are actually the 'Solemn Titles of Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) given by Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) throughout the Quran. Our understanding is based on the fact that Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) has addressed Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) in the Quran by specific names, like Muzzammil (مزمل - O' beloved who covers self in a coverlet), Muddassir (مدثر - O' beloved, who covers self in a bed sheet). With this understanding, it is most likely that Prophet’s (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) other names / titles have been mentioned in Quran by denoting certain initials/alphabets.

What is the meaning of 'darknesses' (الظُّلُمَاتِ). And what is the meaning of 'light' (النُّورِ). It means that all the religions and deviant sects among Muslims in the world are not truthful, these are darknesses, except Islam (Sahih Iman) which is the light of truthful faith. And the salvation depends upon truthful faith.

اللَّهِ الَّذِي لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ ۗ وَوَيْلٌ لِلْكَافِرِينَ مِنْ عَذَابٍ شَدِيدٍ٢

14:2 (This is the path of) Allah, to whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And woe to the disbelievers for a severe torment.

الَّذِينَ يَسْتَحِبُّونَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا عَلَى الْآخِرَةِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَيَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًا ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ فِي ضَلَالٍ بَعِيدٍ٣

14:3 Those who prefer the life of this world to the Hereafter, and stop (others) from the way of Allah, and seek to make it (look) crooked. They are in extreme error.

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ رَسُولٍ إِلَّا بِلِسَانِ قَوْمِهِ لِيُبَيِّنَ لَهُمْ ۖ فَيُضِلُّ اللَّهُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ٤

14:4 We did not send any Apostle except with the language of his people, so that he might make (Our messages) clear to them. Then Allah leads astray whomever He wishes, and He guides whomever He wishes, and He is the Almighty, All Wise.

وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا مُوسَىٰ بِآيَاتِنَا أَنْ أَخْرِجْ قَوْمَكَ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ وَذَكِّرْهُمْ بِأَيَّامِ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِكُلِّ صَبَّارٍ شَكُورٍ٥

14:5 Certainly We sent Musa (عليه السلام) with Our signs (and commanded him) ‘Bring your people out of darkness into light and remind them of the days of Allah. There are indeed signs in that for every patient and grateful (servant).’

Musa (عليه السلام) was given the responsibility to bring his people out of the darkness of disbelief into the light of Iman and to explain the ups and downs in the life of the people and the changes around them. These are all the days of Allah that keep on changing on His command. Surely, there were signs for the patient and grateful servants.

وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ أَنْجَاكُمْ مِنْ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَسُومُونَكُمْ سُوءَ الْعَذَابِ وَيُذَبِّحُونَ أَبْنَاءَكُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيُونَ نِسَاءَكُمْ ۚ وَفِي ذَٰلِكُمْ بَلَاءٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ عَظِيمٌ٦

14:6  So Musa (عليه السلام) said to his people : 'Remember the favors of Allah when He saved you from the people of Pharaoh who afflicted you with oppression, slaying your sons but keeping your women alive, which was a great trial from your Lord.'

وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِنْ شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ ۖ وَلَئِنْ كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِي لَشَدِيدٌ٧

14:7  And remember when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will surely enhance you (in blessing), but if you are ungrateful, My punishment is indeed severe.’

وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ إِنْ تَكْفُرُوا أَنْتُمْ وَمَنْ فِي الْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَغَنِيٌّ حَمِيدٌ٨

14:8  And Musa (عليه السلام) said : 'What if you and all the people of the world deny, Allah is unconcerned about it  and is indeed praiseworthy.

أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ نَبَأُ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ قَوْمِ نُوحٍ وَعَادٍ وَثَمُودَ ۛ وَالَّذِينَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ ۛ لَا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلَّا اللَّهُ ۚ جَاءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُمْ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ فَرَدُّوا أَيْدِيَهُمْ فِي أَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَقَالُوا إِنَّا كَفَرْنَا بِمَا أُرْسِلْتُمْ بِهِ وَإِنَّا لَفِي شَكٍّ مِمَّا تَدْعُونَنَا إِلَيْهِ مُرِيبٍ٩

14:9 Has there not come to you the news of those who were before you, the people of Nooh (عليه السلام), ʿAa'd and Thamūd, and those who were after them, whom no one knows except Allah? Their Apostles brought them manifest proofs, but they did not respond to them and said, ‘We disbelieve in what you have been sent with. Indeed we have grave doubts concerning that you invite us.’

قَالَتْ رُسُلُهُمْ أَفِي اللَّهِ شَكٌّ فَاطِرِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۖ يَدْعُوكُمْ لِيَغْفِرَ لَكُمْ مِنْ ذُنُوبِكُمْ وَيُؤَخِّرَكُمْ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى ۚ قَالُوا إِنْ أَنْتُمْ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِثْلُنَا تُرِيدُونَ أَنْ تَصُدُّونَا عَمَّا كَانَ يَعْبُدُ آبَاؤُنَا فَأْتُونَا بِسُلْطَانٍ مُبِينٍ١٠

14:10 Their Apostles said : 'Can there be doubt about Allah, the originator (creator) of the heavens and the earth? He calls you to forgive some of your sins, and give you respite for a time ordained.' They said : 'You are only men like us, and yet you wish to turn us away from what our fathers worshiped. Bring to us then a clear proof.'

قَالَتْ لَهُمْ رُسُلُهُمْ إِنْ نَحْنُ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِثْلُكُمْ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَمُنُّ عَلَىٰ مَنْ يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ ۖ وَمَا كَانَ لَنَا أَنْ نَأْتِيَكُمْ بِسُلْطَانٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ۚ وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ١١

14:11 Their apostles told them, 'Indeed we are human beings like yourselves; but Allah favors whomever of His servants He wishes. It is not (our work) to bring a miracle except by Allah’s permission, and in Allah let all the believers put their trust.

وَمَا لَنَا أَلَّا نَتَوَكَّلَ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَقَدْ هَدَانَا سُبُلَنَا ۚ وَلَنَصْبِرَنَّ عَلَىٰ مَا آذَيْتُمُونَا ۚ وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ١٢

14:12 And why should we not put our trust in Allah, seeing that He has guided us in our ways? Surely, we will bear patiently with whatever harm you may cause, and in Allah let all the trusting put their trust.'

وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِرُسُلِهِمْ لَنُخْرِجَنَّكُمْ مِنْ أَرْضِنَا أَوْ لَتَعُودُنَّ فِي مِلَّتِنَا ۖ فَأَوْحَىٰ إِلَيْهِمْ رَبُّهُمْ لَنُهْلِكَنَّ الظَّالِمِينَ١٣

14:13 And those who disbelieved said to their Apostles, 'We will surely drive you out of our land, or you must return to our religion.' So their Lord revealed to the Apostles, 'We will surely annihilate the wrongdoers.'

وَلَنُسْكِنَنَّكُمُ الْأَرْضَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَنْ خَافَ مَقَامِي وَخَافَ وَعِيدِ١٤

14:14 And surely We will settle you in the land after them. This (promise) is for someone who fears standing in My presence and afraid of My warnings. '

وَاسْتَفْتَحُوا وَخَابَ كُلُّ جَبَّارٍ عَنِيدٍ١٥

14:15 Then (the Apostles) supplicated for Allah's assistance and every arrogant (disbelieving) tyrant was frustrated,

مِنْ وَرَائِهِ جَهَنَّمُ وَيُسْقَىٰ مِنْ مَاءٍ صَدِيدٍ١٦

14:16 with Hell lying ahead of him, (where) he shall be given to drink boiling, festering water,

يَتَجَرَّعُهُ وَلَا يَكَادُ يُسِيغُهُ وَيَأْتِيهِ الْمَوْتُ مِنْ كُلِّ مَكَانٍ وَمَا هُوَ بِمَيِّتٍ ۖ وَمِنْ وَرَائِهِ عَذَابٌ غَلِيظٌ١٧

14:17 (which he will be) gulping it down, but hardly swallowing it. Death will assail him from every side, but he will not die, and there is (yet) a harsh punishment ahead of him.

مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِرَبِّهِمْ ۖ أَعْمَالُهُمْ كَرَمَادٍ اشْتَدَّتْ بِهِ الرِّيحُ فِي يَوْمٍ عَاصِفٍ ۖ لَا يَقْدِرُونَ مِمَّا كَسَبُوا عَلَىٰ شَيْءٍ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الضَّلَالُ الْبَعِيدُ١٨

14:18 The example of those who disbelieve in their Lord is (that) their deeds are like ashes which the wind blows forcefully on a stormy day; they are unable (to keep) from what they earned a (single) thing. (What they have done) is a manifest error.

أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ بِالْحَقِّ ۚ إِنْ يَشَأْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ وَيَأْتِ بِخَلْقٍ جَدِيدٍ١٩

14:19 Do you not see that Allah has created the heavens and the earth with truth.  If He so wills He could take you away from the earth and raise a new creation (in your place).

وَمَا ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ بِعَزِيزٍ٢٠

14:20 This is well within the power of Allah.

وَبَرَزُوا لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًا فَقَالَ الضُّعَفَاءُ لِلَّذِينَ اسْتَكْبَرُوا إِنَّا كُنَّا لَكُمْ تَبَعًا فَهَلْ أَنْتُمْ مُغْنُونَ عَنَّا مِنْ عَذَابِ اللَّهِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ ۚ قَالُوا لَوْ هَدَانَا اللَّهُ لَهَدَيْنَاكُمْ ۖ سَوَاءٌ عَلَيْنَا أَجَزِعْنَا أَمْ صَبَرْنَا مَا لَنَا مِنْ مَحِيصٍ٢١

14:21  When they will all appear before Allah together, the weak will say to those who were arrogant : 'We were your followers, so can you now save us a little from Allah's punishment?' They will say : 'If we had been guided by Allah we would surely have shown you the way. To lament or endure is all the same to us now. There is no getting away for us now.

وَقَالَ الشَّيْطَانُ لَمَّا قُضِيَ الْأَمْرُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَعَدَكُمْ وَعْدَ الْحَقِّ وَوَعَدْتُكُمْ فَأَخْلَفْتُكُمْ ۖ وَمَا كَانَ لِيَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ سُلْطَانٍ إِلَّا أَنْ دَعَوْتُكُمْ فَاسْتَجَبْتُمْ لِي ۖ فَلَا تَلُومُونِي وَلُومُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ ۖ مَا أَنَا بِمُصْرِخِكُمْ وَمَا أَنْتُمْ بِمُصْرِخِيَّ ۖ إِنِّي كَفَرْتُ بِمَا أَشْرَكْتُمُونِ مِنْ قَبْلُ ۗ إِنَّ الظَّالِمِينَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ٢٢

14:22  When the matter is all over, Satan will say, 'Indeed Allah made you a promise that was true and I (too) made you a promise, but I failed you. I had no authority over you, except that I called you and you responded to me. So do not blame me, but blame yourselves. I cannot respond to your distress calls, neither can you respond to my distress calls. Indeed I disavow your taking me for (Allah’s) partner earlier. There is indeed a painful punishment for the wrongdoers.'

وَأُدْخِلَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ ۖ تَحِيَّتُهُمْ فِيهَا سَلَامٌ٢٣

14:23 And those who believed and did good deeds shall be made to enter gardens, beneath which rivers flow, abiding there in (for ever) with the command of their Lord. Their greetings at the time of their meeting are Peace (be on you).

أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ ضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا كَلِمَةً طَيِّبَةً كَشَجَرَةٍ طَيِّبَةٍ أَصْلُهَا ثَابِتٌ وَفَرْعُهَا فِي السَّمَاءِ٢٤

14:24 Have you not regarded how Allah has drawn a parable? A good word is like a good tree: its roots are steady and its branches are in the sky.

تُؤْتِي أُكُلَهَا كُلَّ حِينٍ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهَا ۗ وَيَضْرِبُ اللَّهُ الْأَمْثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ٢٥

14:25 It gives its fruit at all times by the command of its Lord and Allah presents examples for the people that they may understand.

وَمَثَلُ كَلِمَةٍ خَبِيثَةٍ كَشَجَرَةٍ خَبِيثَةٍ اجْتُثَّتْ مِنْ فَوْقِ الْأَرْضِ مَا لَهَا مِنْ قَرَارٍ٢٦

14:26 And the parable of an evil word is that of an evil tree, uprooted from the earth, having no stability.

يُثَبِّتُ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِالْقَوْلِ الثَّابِتِ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ ۖ وَيُضِلُّ اللَّهُ الظَّالِمِينَ ۚ وَيَفْعَلُ اللَّهُ مَا يَشَاءُ٢٧

14:27 Allah keeps the believers firm on the word of truth in the life of this world and the Hereafter, and Allah leads astray the wrong doers, and Allah does what He pleases.

أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ بَدَّلُوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ كُفْرًا وَأَحَلُّوا قَوْمَهُمْ دَارَ الْبَوَارِ٢٨

14:28 Have you not looked at those who repaid Allah's favors with ingratitude; who pulled their people down to ruin,

جَهَنَّمَ يَصْلَوْنَهَا ۖ وَبِئْسَ الْقَرَارُ٢٩

14:29 (and) Hell, where they will roast in the fire? And what an evil repository!

وَجَعَلُوا لِلَّهِ أَنْدَادًا لِيُضِلُّوا عَنْ سَبِيلِهِ ۗ قُلْ تَمَتَّعُوا فَإِنَّ مَصِيرَكُمْ إِلَى النَّارِ٣٠

14:30 They have attributed to Allah His equals to mislead people from His path. Tell them : 'Enjoy yourselves (for the time being). In the end you have to go to Hell.'

قُلْ لِعِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا يُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَيُنْفِقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَأْتِيَ يَوْمٌ لَا بَيْعٌ فِيهِ وَلَا خِلَالٌ٣١

14:31 Tell My servants who have believed to establish Salah and to spend out of what We have given them, secretly and openly before there comes a day on which there will be neither any bargaining nor friendship.

اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَأَنْزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَخْرَجَ بِهِ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ رِزْقًا لَكُمْ ۖ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ الْفُلْكَ لِتَجْرِيَ فِي الْبَحْرِ بِأَمْرِهِ ۖ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ الْأَنْهَارَ٣٢

14:32 It is Allah who created the heavens and the earth, and He sends down water from the sky and with it He brings forth crops for your sustenance and subjected for you the ships to sail through the sea by His command and subjected for you the rivers.

وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ دَائِبَيْنِ ۖ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ٣٣

14:33 And He subjected for you the sun and the moon continuous (in orbit), and subjected for you the night and the day.

وَآتَاكُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ مَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُ ۚ وَإِنْ تَعُدُّوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَا ۗ إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ لَظَلُومٌ كَفَّارٌ٣٤

14:34 And He gave you all that you had asked Him (as per the exigency of your nature). If you enumerate Allah’s blessings, you will not be able to count them. Indeed man is most unfair and ungrateful!

وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّ اجْعَلْ هَٰذَا الْبَلَدَ آمِنًا وَاجْنُبْنِي وَبَنِيَّ أَنْ نَعْبُدَ الْأَصْنَامَ٣٥

14:35 When Ibrahim (عليه السلام) said, ‘My Lord! Make this city (Makka) a sanctuary, and save me and my children from worshiping idols.

رَبِّ إِنَّهُنَّ أَضْلَلْنَ كَثِيرًا مِنَ النَّاسِ ۖ فَمَنْ تَبِعَنِي فَإِنَّهُ مِنِّي ۖ وَمَنْ عَصَانِي فَإِنَّكَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ٣٦

14:36 My Lord! Indeed they have misled many people. So whoever follows me indeed belongs to me, and as for someone who disobeys me, well, You are indeed All Forgiving, Most Merciful.

رَبَّنَا إِنِّي أَسْكَنْتُ مِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي بِوَادٍ غَيْرِ ذِي زَرْعٍ عِنْدَ بَيْتِكَ الْمُحَرَّمِ رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ فَاجْعَلْ أَفْئِدَةً مِنَ النَّاسِ تَهْوِي إِلَيْهِمْ وَارْزُقْهُمْ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْكُرُونَ٣٧

14:37  I have settled some of my children, O Lord, in a barren valley near Your sacred House so that, O our Lord, they may be constant in devotion. So put in the hearts of men some kindness for them, and provide fruits for them so that they may be grateful.

The above supplication was made by Ibrahim (عليه السلام) when he left his wife and infant son Ismail (عليهم السلام) in the valley between Safa and Marwa hillocks near Ka'ba. This was years before he built K'aba along with his grown up son Ismail (عليه السلام).

The verse also confirms that the foundations of the building of Ka'ab were visible.

It is in Quran - وَإِذْ بَوَّأْنَا لِإِبْرَاهِيمَ مَكَانَ الْبَيْتِ أَن لَّا تُشْرِكْ بِي شَيْئًا وَطَهِّرْ بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْقَائِمِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ [ We showed Ibrahim the site of the House, saying, ‘Do not assign partners to Me. Purify My House for those who circumambulate around it, those who stand to pray, and those who bow and prostrate themselves. (Al-Hajj - 26)

Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) says that His house is 'a sanctuary for people. People feel safe when they are in it.

Prior to Islam, even the pagans who abandoned the religion of Ibrahim (عليه السلام) and his descendants, believed in making pilgrimage to the sanctified house. They used to guarantee the safety of those visiting the Ka'ba.

It is in Quran - وَإِذْ جَعَلْنَا الْبَيْتَ مَثَابَةً لِلنَّاسِ وَأَمْنًا وَاتَّخِذُوا مِنْ مَقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى وَعَهِدْنَا إِلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ أَنْ طَهِّرَا بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْعَاكِفِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ [ And We made the House a place of return and a sanctuary for people, saying, ‘Take the spot where Ibrahimؑ stood as your place of prayer.’ We commanded Ibrahimؑ and Ismailؑ : ‘Purify My House for those who walk round it, those who make it a retreat, and those who bow and prostrate.] (Al-Baqara - 125)

In this verse, Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) commands us to pray at the place where Ibrahim (عليه السلام) stood while raising the wall of Ka'ba. The rock on which Ibrahim (عليه السلام) stood, is still preserved.

Ibrahim and Ismail (عليهم السلام) rebuild Ka'ba and took care of its maintenance as well. Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) commanded them to purify the House (and its surroundings). Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) commanded Ibrahim and Ismail (عليهم السلام) to clean the place for everyone (i) who do Tawaaf, (ii) who take time to retreat, and (iii) who devote themselves for worship for a longer time in bowing and prostrating. It is obvious that Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) wanted to make Ka'ba a focal point and Qibla for all Muslims of the world.

رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ مَا نُخْفِي وَمَا نُعْلِنُ ۗ وَمَا يَخْفَىٰ عَلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي السَّمَاءِ٣٨

14:38  Our Lord! Indeed You know whatever we hide and whatever we disclose, and nothing is hidden from Allah on the earth or in the heavens.

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي وَهَبَ لِي عَلَى الْكِبَرِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّي لَسَمِيعُ الدُّعَاءِ٣٩

14:39  All praise belongs to Allah, who, despite (my) old age, gave me Ismail (عليه السلام)  and Ishaq (عليه السلام).  Indeed my Lord hears all supplications.

رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةِ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي ۚ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاءِ٤٠

14:40  O my Lord! make me one who establishes regular Prayer, and also (raise such) among my children O our Lord, and accept my supplication.

رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ٤١

14:41 'O our Lord, forgive me, my parents and the believers on the Day (when) the reckoning is done.'

In the above verse, Ibrahim (عليه السلام) is praying for protection for himself, his both parents (who were Momineen) and general believers on the Day of Judgment. This Quranic verse shows Azar, who was an Idol worshiper, was the brother of the father of Ibrahim (عليه السلام).

It is in Hadith - Anas Ibn Malik (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) narrates that one day Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) stood on the pulpit and informed (sahabah) the names of his ancestors:

The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) said: Ana, Mohammad Ibn Abdullah, bin Abdul Muttalib, bin Hashim, bin Abd Manaf, bin Qusa'i, bin Kilab, bin Ka'b, bin Lu'ayy bin Ghalib bin Fihr, bin Malik, bin an-Nadr, bin Kinanah, bin Khuzaimah, Mudrikah , bin Elias, bin Mudar, bin Nizar, bin Ma'ad, bin Adnan, bin Udad, bin Asha'b, bin Saleh, bin Salooq, bin Hameesa, bin Nabad, bin Khizaar, bin Ismail (عليه السلام), bin Ibrahim (عليه السلام), bin Tariq.

(Baihaqi, Hakim, Ahmed, Ibn Asakir and Ibn Kathir Bidaya wan Nihaya).

Ibn Jarir at-Tabari in his Tafsir and History book has mentioned that Azar was not the father of Ibrahim (عليه السلام). ( History of Tabari, Vol. 1, Page 119. and Tafsir-e-Tabari, Vol. 7, page 158).

Shaikh Mohammad Abdul Qadeer Siddiqui (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ) has written in his Tafseer, Verse 41, Surah Ibrahim that Azar was the brother of the father of Ibrahim (عليه السلام).

وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ اللَّهَ غَافِلًا عَمَّا يَعْمَلُ الظَّالِمُونَ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ لِيَوْمٍ تَشْخَصُ فِيهِ الْأَبْصَارُ٤٢

14:42 And never think that Allah is unaware of what the wrongdoers are doing. He only delays them for a Day when (their) eyes will stare (in horror).

مُهْطِعِينَ مُقْنِعِي رُءُوسِهِمْ لَا يَرْتَدُّ إِلَيْهِمْ طَرْفُهُمْ ۖ وَأَفْئِدَتُهُمْ هَوَاءٌ٤٣

14:43 As they come hurrying on in fear, their necks outstretched, their heads uplifted, their gaze returning not towards them, and their hearts void (in fear)!

وَأَنْذِرِ النَّاسَ يَوْمَ يَأْتِيهِمُ الْعَذَابُ فَيَقُولُ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا رَبَّنَا أَخِّرْنَا إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ نُجِبْ دَعْوَتَكَ وَنَتَّبِعِ الرُّسُلَ ۗ أَوَلَمْ تَكُونُوا أَقْسَمْتُمْ مِنْ قَبْلُ مَا لَكُمْ مِنْ زَوَالٍ٤٤

14:44 And warn the people about the Day when the torment will come upon them. Those who did injustice will say : 'O our Lord, grant us respite for a while so that we may accept Your message and follow the Apostles.’ (But they will be told) 'Are you not those who used to swear before,  that you would never fall?

وَسَكَنْتُمْ فِي مَسَاكِنِ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ وَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمْ كَيْفَ فَعَلْنَا بِهِمْ وَضَرَبْنَا لَكُمُ الْأَمْثَالَ٤٥

14:45 While you lived in the houses of those who had wronged themselves (before), and it had been made clear to you how We had dealt with them (earlier), and We gave many examples to you?'

وَقَدْ مَكَرُوا مَكْرَهُمْ وَعِنْدَ اللَّهِ مَكْرُهُمْ وَإِنْ كَانَ مَكْرُهُمْ لِتَزُولَ مِنْهُ الْجِبَالُ٤٦

14:46 Mighty indeed were the plots which they made, but their plots were (well) within the sight of Allah, even though they were such as to shake the hills!

فَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ اللَّهَ مُخْلِفَ وَعْدِهِ رُسُلَهُ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ ذُو انْتِقَامٍ٤٧

14:47 Don't think that Allah would fail his Apostles in His promise: for Allah is Exalted in power, and is the Lord of Retribution.

يَوْمَ تُبَدَّلُ الْأَرْضُ غَيْرَ الْأَرْضِ وَالسَّمَاوَاتُ ۖ وَبَرَزُوا لِلَّهِ الْوَاحِدِ الْقَهَّارِ٤٨

14:48 The day the earth is transformed into another earth and the heavens (as well), and everyone will appear before Allah, the One, the All Supreme.

وَتَرَى الْمُجْرِمِينَ يَوْمَئِذٍ مُقَرَّنِينَ فِي الْأَصْفَادِ٤٩

14:49  On that day you will see the guilty bound together in chains,

سَرَابِيلُهُمْ مِنْ قَطِرَانٍ وَتَغْشَىٰ وُجُوهَهُمُ النَّارُ٥٠

14:50 their garments made of molten (copper)  pitch and the Fire covering their faces,

لِيَجْزِيَ اللَّهُ كُلَّ نَفْسٍ مَا كَسَبَتْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ٥١

14:51 So that Allah will give retribution to everyone for what he/she has earned. Indeed, Allah is swift in (taking) account.

هَٰذَا بَلَاغٌ لِلنَّاسِ وَلِيُنْذَرُوا بِهِ وَلِيَعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا هُوَ إِلَٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ وَلِيَذَّكَّرَ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ٥٢

14:52  This is a message for mankind that they may take a warning from it, and may know that He is the one and only God, and that men of wisdom may reflect.

سورة الحجر

The Rock

Al-Hijr | Sura # 15 | 99 verses | Makkan

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate and Most Merciful

الر ۚ تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ وَقُرْآنٍ مُبِينٍ١

15:1 Alif-Laam-Ra. These are the verses of the Book, the manifest Quran.

الر [ Alif-Laam-Ra ] - 'Alif-Laam-Ra' is known as ‘Solemn Verse' (Ayat-e-Muqatta'at - آیتِ مقطعات).

Fourteen Arabic alphabets have been used, in varied combinations, in 14 ‘Solemn Verses' (Ayaat-e-Muqatta'at - آیاتِ مقطعات) in the form of initials of 29 Chapters (سورة) of holy Quran. Alif-Laam-Ra (الر) is one of them.

Since Quran is 'Mubeen' (الْمُبِينِ); its description is clear and manifest. The meanings of all the verses of Quran, including 'Solemn Verses' (آیاتِ مقطعات) are surely known to its principle addressee, ie., Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم). It is also likely that Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) has informed the meanings of these Verses to some of his Sahabah and Awliya Allah.

We believe in whatever is meant by the 'Solemn Verses' (آیاتِ مقطعات) by Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) and His Apostle Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم).

Since we have been commanded to read the Quran carefully and try to understand the significance of every verse of the Quran, we do ponder over these verses. And when we think, by focusing our attention towards Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) and His Apostle Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) for guidance, it comes to our mind that the 'Solemn Verses' (آیاتِ مقطعات) are actually the 'Solemn Titles of Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) given by Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) throughout the Quran. Our understanding is based on the fact that Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) has addressed Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) in the Quran by specific names, like Muzzammil (مزمل - O' beloved who covers self in a coverlet), Muddassir (مدثر - O' beloved, who covers self in a bed sheet). With this understanding, it is most likely that Prophet’s (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) other names / titles have been mentioned in Quran by denoting certain initials/alphabets.

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