TAFSEER-E-ASEDI

By
Shaikh Mir Asedullah Quadri

Juz 9 - قَالَ ٱلْمَلَأُ

سورة الأعراف

The Heights

Al-A'raaf | Sura # 7 | 206 verses | Makkan

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

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

قَالَ الْمَلَأُ الَّذِينَ اسْتَكْبَرُوا مِنْ قَوْمِهِ لَنُخْرِجَنَّكَ يَا شُعَيْبُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَكَ مِنْ قَرْيَتِنَا أَوْ لَتَعُودُنَّ فِي مِلَّتِنَا ۚ قَالَ أَوَلَوْ كُنَّا كَارِهِينَ٨٨

7:88 Said the Chieftains who were arrogant among his people, 'We will surely evict you from our town O' Shu'aib (عليه السلام), and those who have believed with you, unless you return to our religion.' He said, 'Even if we were unwilling?'

قَدِ افْتَرَيْنَا عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا إِنْ عُدْنَا فِي مِلَّتِكُمْ بَعْدَ إِذْ نَجَّانَا اللَّهُ مِنْهَا ۚ وَمَا يَكُونُ لَنَا أَنْ نَعُودَ فِيهَا إِلَّا أَنْ يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ رَبُّنَا ۚ وَسِعَ رَبُّنَا كُلَّ شَيْءٍ عِلْمًا ۚ عَلَى اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا افْتَحْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ قَوْمِنَا بِالْحَقِّ وَأَنْتَ خَيْرُ الْفَاتِحِينَ٨٩

7:89 We shall then have fabricated a lie against Allah if we return to your religion after Allah has rescued us from it; and it is not for any of us  to return to your religion except if Allah, Who is our Lord, wills.  The knowledge of our Lord encompasses all things. In Allah only we have trust. O' Our Lord,  decide between us and our people, and (surely) Yours is the best decision.

وَقَالَ الْمَلَأُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ قَوْمِهِ لَئِنِ اتَّبَعْتُمْ شُعَيْبًا إِنَّكُمْ إِذًا لَخَاسِرُونَ٩٠

7:90 The chiefs among his people who did not believe said (to the people who believed) 'If you follow Shuaib (عليه السلام) and his way, you will surely be ruined.'

فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الرَّجْفَةُ فَأَصْبَحُوا فِي دَارِهِمْ جَاثِمِينَ٩١

7:91 Then they were seized by an earthquake, and lay overturned on the ground (as corpses) in their homes in the morning.

الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا شُعَيْبًا كَأَنْ لَمْ يَغْنَوْا فِيهَا ۚ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا شُعَيْبًا كَانُوا هُمُ الْخَاسِرِينَ٩٢

7:92 They who called Shuaib (عليه السلام) a liar (disappeared) as though they had never existed; and those who called Shuaib (عليه السلام) a liar were the ones who were ruined.

The stories of the Prophets and their people in the Quran are reminders to the people that if they reject the faith and involve in transgression, they should know that they are under the wrath of Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) in the world. By recounting the tragic end of each of these nations people are cautioned that they may face the same end as had been the case of earlier nations.

فَتَوَلَّىٰ عَنْهُمْ وَقَالَ يَا قَوْمِ لَقَدْ أَبْلَغْتُكُمْ رِسَالَاتِ رَبِّي وَنَصَحْتُ لَكُمْ ۖ فَكَيْفَ آسَىٰ عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍ كَافِرِينَ٩٣

7:93 So Shuaib (عليه السلام) turned away from them and said : O' people, I conveyed to you the message of my Lord, and warned you. (But you paid no heed). How can I grieve for a people who do not believe?'

Shuaib (عليه السلام) also addressed his nation after they were perished in the Earthquake saying : O' people, I conveyed to you the message of my Lord, and warned you. (But you paid no heed). How can I grieve for a people who do not believe?'. This clarifies that the people who are dead can hear.

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا فِي قَرْيَةٍ مِنْ نَبِيٍّ إِلَّا أَخَذْنَا أَهْلَهَا بِالْبَأْسَاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَضَّرَّعُونَ٩٤

7:94 And never did We send any Prophet to a place but We seized its people with hardship and adversity so that they may become humble.

ثُمَّ بَدَّلْنَا مَكَانَ السَّيِّئَةِ الْحَسَنَةَ حَتَّىٰ عَفَوْا وَقَالُوا قَدْ مَسَّ آبَاءَنَا الضَّرَّاءُ وَالسَّرَّاءُ فَأَخَذْنَاهُمْ بَغْتَةً وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ٩٥

7:95 But when We changed hardship to ease, and they became numerous and prospered, (they forgot Our favors) and said : 'Our ancestors had also known suffering and joy.' So We caught them unawares.

وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ الْقُرَىٰ آمَنُوا وَاتَّقَوْا لَفَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ بَرَكَاتٍ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلَٰكِنْ كَذَّبُوا فَأَخَذْنَاهُمْ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ٩٦

7:96 But if the people of these regions had believed and feared Allah, We would surely have showered on them blessings of the heavens and the earth; but they only denied, and We punished them for their deeds.

When we look the present state of affairs of Muslims in the world, we realize that it is the result of unabated sinfulness and insistence on wrong doings that has brought the downfall and destruction of Muslims in the world. They should know that nothing can save them except Allah's (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ). And to become eligible for Allah's (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) Mercy, they need to come back to Sahih Iman, repent for the wrong doings and walk on the straight path of Islam.

أَفَأَمِنَ أَهْلُ الْقُرَىٰ أَنْ يَأْتِيَهُمْ بَأْسُنَا بَيَاتًا وَهُمْ نَائِمُونَ٩٧

7:97 Are the people of the town so secure that they lie asleep unaware as Our punishment overtakes them?

أَوَأَمِنَ أَهْلُ الْقُرَىٰ أَنْ يَأْتِيَهُمْ بَأْسُنَا ضُحًى وَهُمْ يَلْعَبُونَ٩٨

7:98 Or, are the people of the towns so fearless that (even when) Our retribution comes upon them in the hours of the morning they remain engrossed in sport and play?

أَفَأَمِنُوا مَكْرَ اللَّهِ ۚ فَلَا يَأْمَنُ مَكْرَ اللَّهِ إِلَّا الْقَوْمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ٩٩

7:99 Can they remain secure against Allah's punishment? Only they feel secure against Allah's punishment who are certain of being ruined.

أَوَلَمْ يَهْدِ لِلَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ الْأَرْضَ مِنْ بَعْدِ أَهْلِهَا أَنْ لَوْ نَشَاءُ أَصَبْنَاهُمْ بِذُنُوبِهِمْ ۚ وَنَطْبَعُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ فَهُمْ لَا يَسْمَعُونَ١٠٠

7:100 Do not the people who inherited the earth from the (earlier) inhabitants perceive that We could afflict them as well  for their sins if We will, and put seals on their hearts that they may not hear (the voice of truth)?

تِلْكَ الْقُرَىٰ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ أَنْبَائِهَا ۚ وَلَقَدْ جَاءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُمْ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ فَمَا كَانُوا لِيُؤْمِنُوا بِمَا كَذَّبُوا مِنْ قَبْلُ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَطْبَعُ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِ الْكَافِرِينَ١٠١

7:101 These were the (earlier) habitations whose accounts We have given to you. Their Apostles came with clear proofs, but they did not believe what they once denied. That is how Allah seals the hearts of those who do not believe.

وَمَا وَجَدْنَا لِأَكْثَرِهِمْ مِنْ عَهْدٍ ۖ وَإِنْ وَجَدْنَا أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَفَاسِقِينَ١٠٢

7:102 We did not find many of them truthful about their promises, and found many of them disobedient.

ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَا مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ مُوسَىٰ بِآيَاتِنَا إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَئِهِ فَظَلَمُوا بِهَا ۖ فَانْظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُفْسِدِينَ١٠٣

7:103 So We sent Musa (عليه السلام) with miracles after (these Apostles) to the Pharaoh and his nobles, but they behaved unjustly.  See then the end of the mischief mongers.

Qur'anic narrative regarding Musa (عليه السلام) refers to two Pharaohs. The first was the one during whose reign Musa (عليه السلام) was born and in whose palace he was brought up. The second is the one whom Musa (عليه السلام) invited to Islam and who was asked to liberate the Israelis. It was this Pharaoh who was drowned.

The first Pharaoh is considered to be Rameses I, while the second Pharaoh was his son, who had become a co-sharer in his father's authority during the latter's lifetime and who, after his death, became the ruler of Egypt. There is no authentic record of the dates and years of their rule. The historical accounts and dates of their rules are disputed in view of the discrepancies in Egyptian, Israeli and Christian calendars.

PHARAOH'S DEAD BODY FOUND

It is reported that Pharaoh's (Ramses II) mummified dead body was discovered in 1881 in the tomb of a high priest named Pinedjem II who lived almost 400 years after the pharaoh’s reign. The mummy was likely moved from the pharaoh’s original tomb in the Valley of the Kings, designated KV7, after looters desecrated the burial chamber and the priests of the time feared that someone might even try to ruin or steal the body of the Pharaoh.

Upon discovery, the body of Ramesses II was found to be in pristine condition as compared to other Mummies. His skin was entirely preserved, as well as most of the hair on his head. Since his facial features remained virtually intact, researchers compared them to the statues which represented him. They concluded that many statues accurately depicted Ramesses II, his strong jaw and aquiline nose. Pharaoh had died by drowning in the sea and later his dead body was found by the people at the seashore.

It was realized in 1970s that, in view humidity in the room in which the Mummy of the Pharaoh was kept in Egyptian Museum in Cairo, its condition started to deteriorate. This prompted Egyptian authorities to search for experts to help them restore the Mummy.

In 1980s, the Mummy was transferred to France for its restoration. In France, the mummy was taken to a special wing of the French Monuments Center, and renowned archeologists, surgeons and anatomists started to conduct a study on the mummy in an attempt to delve into its mysteries and restoration.

Professor Maurice Bucaille, the senior surgeon and scientist in-charge at this Center was the Head of the team of restoration of the Mummy. Maurice Bucaille was the most famous surgeon in France. In their final report, the experts at this center concluded that the death of the Mummified Pharaoh was because of drowning into the sea. The remains of the salt stuck on his body and inside ears was the conclusive evidence in this context. They also concluded that the body was mummified in haste over 3000 years ago after recovering it from the sea. The experts were puzzled over a question. How did this body, to the exclusion of other mummified bodies of ancient Egyptians, remain that intact although it was recovered from the sea?

The Mummy was restored in France and it was sent back to Egypt in a splendid glass coffin which is being displayed in Cairo Museum till date.

The Head of the restoration Team in France Prof. Maurice Bucaille was amused by their findings. He realized that the facts described in Quran about it were truthful.

It is in Quran - وَجَاوَزْنَا بِبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ الْبَحْرَ فَأَتْبَعَهُمْ فِرْعَوْنُ وَجُنُودُهُ بَغْيًا وَعَدْوًا حَتَّى إِذَا أَدْرَكَهُ الْغَرَقُ قَالَ آَمَنْتُ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا الَّذِي آَمَنَتْ بِهِ بَنُواْ إِسْرَائِيلَ وَأَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ [ And We brought the people of Israel across the sea, but the Pharaoh and his army pursued them wickedly and maliciously till he was on the point of drowning, and he said : 'I believe that there is no god but He in whom the people of Israel believe, and I submit to Him.' ] (Yunus - 90).

It is in Quran - آَلْآَنَ وَقَدْ عَصَيْتَ قَبْلُ وَكُنْتَ مِنَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ [ (You surrender) Now, but before this, you always rebelled and were of those engaged in causing disorder and corruption? ] (Yunus - 91).

It is in Quran - فَالْيَوْمَ نُنَجِّيكَ بِبَدَنِكَ لِتَكُونَ لِمَنْ خَلْفَكَ آَيَةً وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِنَ النَّاسِ عَنْ آَيَاتِنَا لَغَافِلُونَ [ This day We shall salvage your body so that you may be a pointer for those after you; and indeed most people are neglectful of Our signs.' ] (Yunus - 92).

وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ يَا فِرْعَوْنُ إِنِّي رَسُولٌ مِنْ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ١٠٤

7:104 And Musa (عليه السلام) said, O'  Pharaoh,  Indeed I am an Apostle from the Lord of the Worlds.

حَقِيقٌ عَلَىٰ أَنْ لَا أَقُولَ عَلَى اللَّهِ إِلَّا الْحَقَّ ۚ قَدْ جِئْتُكُمْ بِبَيِّنَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ فَأَرْسِلْ مَعِيَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ١٠٥

7:105 'I am duty bound to speak nothing  about Allah but the truth.  I have brought from your Lord a clear sign; so let the people of Israel go with me.'

قَالَ إِنْ كُنْتَ جِئْتَ بِآيَةٍ فَأْتِ بِهَا إِنْ كُنْتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ١٠٦

7:106 He said : 'If you have brought a sign then display it, if what you say is true.'

فَأَلْقَىٰ عَصَاهُ فَإِذَا هِيَ ثُعْبَانٌ مُبِينٌ١٠٧

7:107 Thus,  Musa (عليه السلام) put down his staff, 'lo it  turned into a real python'.

وَنَزَعَ يَدَهُ فَإِذَا هِيَ بَيْضَاءُ لِلنَّاظِرِينَ١٠٨

7:108 And he drew out his hand;  it was white (radiating) for the onlookers.

قَالَ الْمَلَأُ مِنْ قَوْمِ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَسَاحِرٌ عَلِيمٌ١٠٩

7:109 The nobles of Pharaoh said : 'He surely is a clever magician'.

يُرِيدُ أَنْ يُخْرِجَكُمْ مِنْ أَرْضِكُمْ ۖ فَمَاذَا تَأْمُرُونَ١١٠

7:110 'He wishes to drive you away from the land. So what do you advise?'

قَالُوا أَرْجِهْ وَأَخَاهُ وَأَرْسِلْ فِي الْمَدَائِنِ حَاشِرِينَ١١١

7:111 They said, 'Hold on about him and his brother, and send announcers to different cities to gather people,

يَأْتُوكَ بِكُلِّ سَاحِرٍ عَلِيمٍ١١٢

7:112 to bring all the expert magicians to you.

وَجَاءَ السَّحَرَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ قَالُوا إِنَّ لَنَا لَأَجْرًا إِنْ كُنَّا نَحْنُ الْغَالِبِينَ١١٣

7:113 The magicians came to the Pharaoh and said : 'Is there reward for us if we are victorious.'

قَالَ نَعَمْ وَإِنَّكُمْ لَمِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ١١٤

7:114 'Yes,' said he, 'you will be among the honored and close ones to me.'

قَالُوا يَا مُوسَىٰ إِمَّا أَنْ تُلْقِيَ وَإِمَّا أَنْ نَكُونَ نَحْنُ الْمُلْقِينَ١١٥

7:115 The (Magicians) said, O' Musa (عليه السلام), either you throw, or we will be the ones to throw (first).'

قَالَ أَلْقُوا ۖ فَلَمَّا أَلْقَوْا سَحَرُوا أَعْيُنَ النَّاسِ وَاسْتَرْهَبُوهُمْ وَجَاءُوا بِسِحْرٍ عَظِيمٍ١١٦

7:116 Musa (عليه السلام) said, 'You throw'; when they threw, they cast a magic spell upon the people’s eyes and terrified them, and they displayed a great magic.

وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰ أَنْ أَلْقِ عَصَاكَ ۖ فَإِذَا هِيَ تَلْقَفُ مَا يَأْفِكُونَ١١٧

7:117 And We revealed Musa (عليه السلام), 'Put forth your staff; it immediately began swallowing up their fabrications.

فَوَقَعَ الْحَقُّ وَبَطَلَ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ١١٨

7:118 Thus the truth was upheld, and the falsehood that they practiced was exposed.

فَغُلِبُوا هُنَالِكَ وَانْقَلَبُوا صَاغِرِينَ١١٩

7:119 And Pharaoh and his people were defeated and they turned back humiliated.

وَأُلْقِيَ السَّحَرَةُ سَاجِدِينَ١٢٠

7:120 And the magicians fell down in prostration.

قَالُوا آمَنَّا بِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ١٢١

7:121 And said : 'We  believe in the Lord of the worlds,

رَبِّ مُوسَىٰ وَهَارُونَ١٢٢

7:122 The Lord of Musa and Haroon (عليهم السلام).

قَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ آمَنْتُمْ بِهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ آذَنَ لَكُمْ ۖ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَمَكْرٌ مَكَرْتُمُوهُ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ لِتُخْرِجُوا مِنْهَا أَهْلَهَا ۖ فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ١٢٣

7:123 But Pharaoh said : 'You have come to accept belief in Him without my permission.'  This surely is a plot you have hatched to expel the people from the land. You will soon come to know.

لَأُقَطِّعَنَّ أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ مِنْ خِلَافٍ ثُمَّ لَأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ١٢٤

7:124 I will surely cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides; then I will surely crucify you all.

قَالُوا إِنَّا إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا مُنْقَلِبُونَ١٢٥

7:125 They answered: 'We have to (in any case) go back to our Lord.

وَمَا تَنْقِمُ مِنَّا إِلَّا أَنْ آمَنَّا بِآيَاتِ رَبِّنَا لَمَّا جَاءَتْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَتَوَفَّنَا مُسْلِمِينَ١٢٦

7:126 'The only reason you have to hate us is that we believed in the signs of our Lord as they came to us. O our Lord, give us sufficient endurance that we may die submitting (to You).'

Why the magicians fell down in prostration and accepted the truth?

It is because they knew the art of sorcery and its rules. And they knew what Musa (عليه السلام) displayed was not sorcery. It was a divine miracle. They understood the truth immediately and became Muslims. Whereas Pharaoh was a King. He was not a sorcerer and he did not know what sorcery is. He suspected the sorcerers to have colluded with Musa (عليه السلام), therefore he decided to kill them for associating with Musa (عليه السلام). The magicians were later killed and their dead bodies were hanged in public to scare people from turning against Pharaoh.

وَقَالَ الْمَلَأُ مِنْ قَوْمِ فِرْعَوْنَ أَتَذَرُ مُوسَىٰ وَقَوْمَهُ لِيُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَيَذَرَكَ وَآلِهَتَكَ ۚ قَالَ سَنُقَتِّلُ أَبْنَاءَهُمْ وَنَسْتَحْيِي نِسَاءَهُمْ وَإِنَّا فَوْقَهُمْ قَاهِرُونَ١٢٧

7:127 And the prominent among the people of Pharaoh said, 'Will you leave Musa (عليه السلام) and his people to cause tribulation in the land and abandon you and your gods?' (Pharaoh) said, 'We will kill their sons and keep their women alive; and surely we have power over them.

قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ اسْتَعِينُوا بِاللَّهِ وَاصْبِرُوا ۖ إِنَّ الْأَرْضَ لِلَّهِ يُورِثُهَا مَنْ يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ ۖ وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ١٢٨

7:128 Musa (عليه السلام) said to his people, 'seek the help of Allah and patiently endure; indeed the owner of the earth is Allah.  He appoints, as its successor, whoever He wills; and the final triumph is for the pious.'

قَالُوا أُوذِينَا مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ تَأْتِيَنَا وَمِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جِئْتَنَا ۚ قَالَ عَسَىٰ رَبُّكُمْ أَنْ يُهْلِكَ عَدُوَّكُمْ وَيَسْتَخْلِفَكُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَيَنْظُرَ كَيْفَ تَعْمَلُونَ١٢٩

7:129 They said, 'We have been oppressed before you came to us, and also after you have come to us'.  Musa (عليه السلام) said, 'It is likely that your Lord may destroy your enemy and in his place make you the rulers of the earth, and then see what deeds you perform.'

وَلَقَدْ أَخَذْنَا آلَ فِرْعَوْنَ بِالسِّنِينَ وَنَقْصٍ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ١٣٠

7:130 And We seized the people of Pharaoh with a famine of several years and with reduction of fruits, so that they may follow advice.

It is believed that the Egyptians were struck by famines spread over several years. Whenever a fertile season occurred, the Egyptians would assume that it was due to their adherence to polytheism but when they faced droughts, they would blame it on the magical machination of Musa (عليه السلام). And they would say 'Whatever sign you bring to harm us (by sorcery), we will not believe in you.' The Pharaoh and his advisors were determined to oppose Musa (عليه السلام) let whatever happens.

فَإِذَا جَاءَتْهُمُ الْحَسَنَةُ قَالُوا لَنَا هَٰذِهِ ۖ وَإِنْ تُصِبْهُمْ سَيِّئَةٌ يَطَّيَّرُوا بِمُوسَىٰ وَمَنْ مَعَهُ ۗ أَلَا إِنَّمَا طَائِرُهُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ١٣١

7:131 Yet when good came their way they said : 'It is our due;' but when misfortune befell them they put the omen on Musa (عليه السلام) and those who were with him. But surely the omen was with Allah, yet most of them did not understand.

وَقَالُوا مَهْمَا تَأْتِنَا بِهِ مِنْ آيَةٍ لِتَسْحَرَنَا بِهَا فَمَا نَحْنُ لَكَ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ١٣٢

7:132 And (they) said, 'You may come with any sign in order to cast a magic spell on us,  yet by no means are we going to believe in you.'

فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ الطُّوفَانَ وَالْجَرَادَ وَالْقُمَّلَ وَالضَّفَادِعَ وَالدَّمَ آيَاتٍ مُفَصَّلَاتٍ فَاسْتَكْبَرُوا وَكَانُوا قَوْمًا مُجْرِمِينَ١٣٣

7:133 So We sent upon them the flood and locusts and vermin (insects) and frogs and blood as distinct signs, but they were arrogant and were a criminal people.

After the famine, it was the flood, which came as a result of torrential rainfall. It ruined all growing crops and fruit, penetrated their barns, and blighted their stores of food.

It was followed by the locusts. The third was Qummal (الْقُمَّلَ) (lice, termites). In fact, all types of vermin are included in Qummal that cause damage.

The fourth was the plague of frogs, which infested every human habitation. It is reported that they were afraid to even open their mouth fearing that a frog will jump into their mouth. Every time they were afflicted, they would come to Musa (عليه السلام) requesting to invoke the Lord that if the punishment is withdrawn from them, they will believe in Him. But when the punishment was removed, they would go back from their promise.

The last among the punishment was the blood. Every source of potable water turned red because of blood. This proved to be too much for Pharaoh who decided to kill Musa (عليه السلام).

وَلَمَّا وَقَعَ عَلَيْهِمُ الرِّجْزُ قَالُوا يَا مُوسَى ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ بِمَا عَهِدَ عِنْدَكَ ۖ لَئِنْ كَشَفْتَ عَنَّا الرِّجْزَ لَنُؤْمِنَنَّ لَكَ وَلَنُرْسِلَنَّ مَعَكَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ١٣٤

7:134 And whenever the punishment came upon them they said, 'O Musa (عليه السلام) Pray to your Lord for us, by means of His covenant which you have; indeed if you lift the punishment from us we will surely accept faith in you and let the descendants of Israel go with you.'

فَلَمَّا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُمُ الرِّجْزَ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ هُمْ بَالِغُوهُ إِذَا هُمْ يَنْكُثُونَ١٣٥

7:135 But no sooner was the punishment withdrawn for a time to enable them to make good their promise than they turned away.

When the Pharaoh had made up his mind to kill Musa (عليه السلام), Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) ordered him to leave Egypt along with the Israelis.

It is in Quran - وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰ أَنْ أَسْرِ بِعِبَادِي إِنَّكُم مُّتَّبَعُونَ [ Depart with my servants by night, for surely you will be pursued.] ( Ash-Shuara - 52)

Israelis in the leadership of Musa (عليه السلام) left their homes in the dark of the night and traveled towards sea. The Pharaoh and his army pursued the Israelis but were eventually drowned in the sea.

فَانْتَقَمْنَا مِنْهُمْ فَأَغْرَقْنَاهُمْ فِي الْيَمِّ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا وَكَانُوا عَنْهَا غَافِلِينَ١٣٦

7:136 So as retribution for their deeds, We drowned them in the sea because they denied Our signs and were heedless about them.

وَأَوْرَثْنَا الْقَوْمَ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا يُسْتَضْعَفُونَ مَشَارِقَ الْأَرْضِ وَمَغَارِبَهَا الَّتِي بَارَكْنَا فِيهَا ۖ وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ الْحُسْنَىٰ عَلَىٰ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ بِمَا صَبَرُوا ۖ وَدَمَّرْنَا مَا كَانَ يَصْنَعُ فِرْعَوْنُ وَقَوْمُهُ وَمَا كَانُوا يَعْرِشُونَ١٣٧

7:137 And We made the people who were oppressed, the inheritors of the eastern and western parts of the land with our blessings; and the good promise of your Lord was fulfilled for the descendants of Israel, the reward of their patience; and We destroyed whatever Pharaoh and his people built and whatever they had contrived.

وَجَاوَزْنَا بِبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ الْبَحْرَ فَأَتَوْا عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍ يَعْكُفُونَ عَلَىٰ أَصْنَامٍ لَهُمْ ۚ قَالُوا يَا مُوسَى اجْعَلْ لَنَا إِلَٰهًا كَمَا لَهُمْ آلِهَةٌ ۚ قَالَ إِنَّكُمْ قَوْمٌ تَجْهَلُونَ١٣٨

7:138 When We brought the children of Israel across the sea, and they came to a people who were devoted to their idols, they said: 'O Musa (عليه السلام), make us also a god like theirs.' Musa (عليه السلام) replied, (indeed) you are ignorant people.'

After crossing the Red Sea, Israelis probably entered into Sinai Peninsula. They traveled towards south and reached a place known as Mafqah which had a big temple dedicated to moon god of the Semites. Passing by these places the Israelis, who had been in slavery under Pharaohs for a long time and were influenced by their traditions, felt the desire to go back to idol-worship in spite of the fact that they were the followers of Musa (عليه السلام).

إِنَّ هَٰؤُلَاءِ مُتَبَّرٌ مَا هُمْ فِيهِ وَبَاطِلٌ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ١٣٩

7:139 He (Musa عليه السلام) said, the condition they (the idol worshipers) are in is, in fact, one of destruction,  and all what they do is utter falsehood.

قَالَ أَغَيْرَ اللَّهِ أَبْغِيكُمْ إِلَٰهًا وَهُوَ فَضَّلَكُمْ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ١٤٠

7:140 He said, 'Shall I seek for you a God other than Allah, whereas He has given you superiority above the entire world?'

وَإِذْ أَنْجَيْنَاكُمْ مِنْ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَسُومُونَكُمْ سُوءَ الْعَذَابِ ۖ يُقَتِّلُونَ أَبْنَاءَكُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيُونَ نِسَاءَكُمْ ۚ وَفِي ذَٰلِكُمْ بَلَاءٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ عَظِيمٌ١٤١

7:141 'Remember (the day) when He saved you from the people of Pharaoh who oppressed and afflicted you, and killed your sons and spared your daughters. In this was a great trial from your Lord.

وَوَاعَدْنَا مُوسَىٰ ثَلَاثِينَ لَيْلَةً وَأَتْمَمْنَاهَا بِعَشْرٍ فَتَمَّ مِيقَاتُ رَبِّهِ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً ۚ وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِأَخِيهِ هَارُونَ اخْلُفْنِي فِي قَوْمِي وَأَصْلِحْ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ سَبِيلَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ١٤٢

7:142 And We appointed for Musa (عليه السلام) thirty nights (of solitude), and added ten (more), and he completed the time appointed by his Lord for forty nights. And Musa (عليه السلام) said to his brother Haroon (عليه السلام), 'Act for me among the people, and do what is right, and do not let the ways of the mischievous enter (Bani Israel).

After safely crossing the Red Sea, Musa (عليه السلام) led his people southeast towards the holy mountain of Tur. It is at this mountain that Musa (عليه السلام) went for 40 days solitude where he was given the Tawrait (Torah) tablets inscribed by the commandments of Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ). His brother Haroon (عليه السلام) deputized him in his absence.

وَلَمَّا جَاءَ مُوسَىٰ لِمِيقَاتِنَا وَكَلَّمَهُ رَبُّهُ قَالَ رَبِّ أَرِنِي أَنْظُرْ إِلَيْكَ ۚ قَالَ لَنْ تَرَانِي وَلَٰكِنِ انْظُرْ إِلَى الْجَبَلِ فَإِنِ اسْتَقَرَّ مَكَانَهُ فَسَوْفَ تَرَانِي ۚ فَلَمَّا تَجَلَّىٰ رَبُّهُ لِلْجَبَلِ جَعَلَهُ دَكًّا وَخَرَّ مُوسَىٰ صَعِقًا ۚ فَلَمَّا أَفَاقَ قَالَ سُبْحَانَكَ تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَأَنَا أَوَّلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ١٤٣

7:143 When Musa (عليه السلام) arrived at the appointed time and his Lord spoke to him.  He said : "O Lord, reveal Yourself to me that I may behold You.' 'You cannot behold Me,' He said. 'But look at the mountain, if it remains firm in its place you may then behold Me.'  When his Lord reflected His effulgence on the  mountain, it crumbled into a heap of dust, and Musa (عليه السلام) fell unconscious. When he came back to senses, he said: 'All glory to You. I turn to You in repentance, and I am the first to believe.'

What happened to Musa (عليه السلام) when Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) reflected His Tajalli on the Mountain was the state of annihilation or deliverance (فنائيت).

The first one to see Allah's Tajalli-e-Zaati (تجلئ ذاتي) and Tajalli-e-Sifaati (تجلئ صفاتي) (both) was Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم).

What is the meaning of Vision of Allah ((عَزَّ وَجَلَّ)?

We believe in all Quranic verses, in all Ahadith that have reached to us from authentic sources. We also believe in sayings of Sahaba, the interpretations of Imams of Fiqh and Theology and our Shuyook of Ihsan.

It is in Quran - وَالَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا ۚ [The people who strive in Our way, We (Allah) show and put them on the right path' (Al-Ankaboot - 69).

The meanings of 'Manifestation' are (i) Sign ( آيت ), (ii) Refulgence (تجلي ) (iii) Expression (إظهار), (iv) Appearance ( ظهور ), and (v) Materialization (تجسد or التحقق).

Absolute Existence of Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) cannot be manifested in a shape, body, form of any kind - exclusive, divine or creature like. Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) is free from time, place, form and composition, physical or spiritual. He does not live in a place and is not made up of parts like hands, eyes, face, etc. He is pure from the consideration of any kind of body; physical, spiritual, visible or invisible. His Unity (Zaat-e-Elahi) cannot be expressed within the limitations of time, space and dwelling. Therefore, it cannot be seen by human beings, from their physical eyes or the eyes of their hearts or spiritual eyes. No one can see Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ), including Prophets, Awliya Allah or anybody, in this world, or in Hereafter, or beyond." This is the meaning of the following Quranic verses and Ahadith that negate the vision of Allah.

It is in Quran - لَيۡسَ كَمِثۡلِهِۦ شَىۡءٌ۬‌ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلۡبَصِيرُ [ Nothing is like Him, and He is the Seer and Hearer.] (Ash-Shura - 11).

It is in Quran - لَّا تُدۡرِڪُهُ ٱلۡأَبۡصَـٰرُ وَهُوَ يُدۡرِكُ ٱلۡأَبۡصَـٰرَ‌ۖ وَهُوَ ٱللَّطِيفُ ٱلۡخَبِيرُ [Peoples' eyes (be it physical eyes or heart eyes or spiritual eyes) cannot see Him, He sees their eyes (them). He has minute vision and is aware of everything. (Al-An'aam - 103).

(iii) It is in Quran - وَمَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَن يُكَلِّمَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا وَحۡيًا أَوۡ مِن وَرَآىِٕ حِجَابٍ [It is not fitting for a human being that Allah should speak to him except by inspiration, or from behind a veil, or by sending of an Apostle to reveal with Allah's permission what Allah wills, for He is Most High, All Wise.] (Ash-Shura - 51).

Whoever has seen Him, has either seen His Tajalli-e-Zaati ( نُور ) or Tajalli-e-Sifaati (in the shape of His creatures).

There are 99 famous names of Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ).

What is name?

Name is the mixture of Zaat (person) + Sifat (attribute). Allah's (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) name is "Rahman", (الرحمن - Compassionate) meaning it is the mixture of His Zaat + His attribute of compassion (towards His creatures). Similarly, His name is "Raheem", (الرحيم - Merciful) which is the mixture of His Zaat + His attribute of Mercy (towards His creatures). The same is the case with His other names (epithets of Allah- عَزَّ وَجَلَّ).

Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) likes to show His "Compassion", His "Mercy" and His other attributes to His creatures so that they see His magnificence, independence (self subsistence) and their dependence upon Him. Thus, Allah's (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) Tajalliyat-e-Asma wa al-Sifaat or Signs ( الآيات ) appear in front of us in various shapes and forms continuously.

It is in Quran - وَقُلِ ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ سَيُرِيكُمۡ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ فَتَعۡرِفُونَہَا‌ۚ وَمَا رَبُّكَ بِغَـٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعۡمَلُونَ [( Say O' Prophet ﷺ) Praise be to Allah. He will show you His signs and you will recognize them. Your Lord is not heedless of anything you do.] (An-Naml - 93).

The entire cosmos and all worlds in it, are the places of manifestation of Allah's (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) Signs or Tajalliyat which can appear in any form or shape.

It is in Hadith - Ibn Abbas (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) narrated that Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) said, I saw my Lord, the Exalted and Glorious in the most beautiful form. Akrama (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) said, on this I submitted, does not Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) say that “Peoples’ eyes cannot perceive Him. He perceives their eyes.”, then Ibn Abbas (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) said, Hey ’ this is true when Allah’s (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) refulgence (Tajalli) is from the divine light which is the “Light of His Unity”. Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) has seen his Sustainer (Rab) twice”. (Tirmidhi).

It is in Hadith - Abdullah bin Shaqiq reported : I said to Abu Dharr (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) : Had I seen the Apostle of Allah, I would have asked him. He (Abu Dharr - رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) said : What is that thing that you wanted to inquire of him? He said : I wanted to ask him whether he had seen his Lord. Abu Dharr (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) said : I, in fact, inquired of him, and he replied : I saw Light نُور (Allah's Tajalli-e-Zaati). (Muslim).

The above Ahadith clearly distinguish between Manifestation of Allah's (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) Tajalli-e-Zaati (which is referred to as 'Light of His Unity') and Tajalli-e-Sifaati - Manifestation of Allah's (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) Attributes.

Prophet Mohammad ( صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) saw Allah in both Tajalli-e-Zaati and Tajalli-e-Sifaati. In Tajalli-e-Zaati, what the Prophet ( صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) witnessed is formless light ( نُور ); and in Tajalli-e-Sifaati, the Prophet ( صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) saw Allah in the shape of a human being.

In this context, the following points are important.

(i) Sighting of Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) in Tajalli-e-Asma wo Sifaat will be in the shape of His creatures or in the shape of a human being or any other shape.

(ii) Sighting of Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) in Tajalli-e-Zaati is (نُور) formless light.

(iii) If a person has seen Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) in a dream in the shape of human being and he remembers that shape and dream very well. He can remember that shape and hold it in highest respect. However, it is not allowed for him to draw the picture of that human shape, place it in front of him as Allah's (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) picture and prostrate. If he does that, it will be treated as Shirk. Similarly, if he considers that what he saw is the shape of Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) and imaginatively confines / encompasses Allah's (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) Unity into that shape and performs Salah five times a day with that belief, his Salah will be treated as idol worship.

(iv) Salafis, Hindus, Christians (and their like minded people) have made terrible blunder in understanding Allah's (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) Unity (Zaat). They imagine Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) in a physical shape which has eyes, hands, face, body, etc. This kind of belief is Idol worship. Salafis' so-called-Salah five times a day, with this belief, is nothing but absolute idol worship because, as per their belief, they are encompassing/confining/arresting the Unity of Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) (Zaat-e-Elahi) into an imaginary body sitting on a big chair over the skies. (La Haula wala QuwwataIlla Billah)

DIFFERENCES OF OPINIONS AMONG SAHABAH

We will discuss briefly the differences of opinions of Sahaba and Imams in this regard.

It is in Hadith - narrated by Masruq (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) - I said to Ummul Momineen Aisha (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہا), "O' Mother! Did Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) see his Lord?" Aisha (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہا) said, "What you have said makes my hair stand on end! Know that if somebody tells you one of the following, he is a liar.

Whoever tells you that Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) saw (absolute existence of) his Lord, is a liar. Then Ummul Momineen Aisha (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہا) recited this verse - لَّا تُدۡرِڪُهُ ٱلۡأَبۡصَـٰرُ وَهُوَ يُدۡرِكُ ٱلۡأَبۡصَـٰرَ‌ۖ [ Peoples' eyes (be it physical eyes or heart eyes) cannot see Him. He sees their eyes (them).] (Al-An'aam - 103). ; and this verse - "وَمَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَن يُكَلِّمَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا وَحۡيًا أَوۡ مِن وَرَآىِٕ حِجَابٍ [It is not fitting for a human being that Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) should speak to him except by inspiration, or from behind a veil.] (Ash-Shuara - 51). (Part of the Hadith)(Bukhari, Muslim)

Read carefully the above Hadith. Ummul Momineen Aisha (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہا) is not narrating a Hadith, rather she is clarifying the meanings of the verses of Quran and the reasons for her observations on a narration (Hadith). What Ummul Momineen Aisha (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہا) is referring is Allah's - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ Absolute Existence which cannot be seen by anyone and therefore she is quoting the verses of Quran that negate sighting of Allah's absolute existence. Nothing can encompass Zaat-e-Elahi.

Look at the following Ahadith that confirm sighting of Allah's manifestations in (i) Tajalli-e-Zaati (Light of His Unity), and (ii) Tajalli-e- Sifaati (His attributes Refulgence).

It is in Hadith - Ibn Abbas (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) narrated that Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) said - I saw my Lord, the Exalted and Glorious in the most beautiful form. Akrama (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) said, on this I submitted, does not Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) say that “Peoples’ eyes cannot perceive Him. He perceives their eyes.”, then Ibn Abbas (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) said, Hey ’ this is true when Allah’s (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) refulgence (Tajalli) is from the divine light which is the “Light of His Unity” (Tajalli-e-Zaati). Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) has seen his Sustainer (Rab) twice”. (Tirmidhi).

It is in Hadith - It is narrated on the authority of Abu Dharr (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) - I asked the Apostle of Allah ( صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) - Did you see your Lord? He (the Prophet - صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) said "He is light نُور, I saw Him.] (Muslim, Book # 1, Hadith # 341).

It is important to note that Allah's light ( نُور ) is within his Zaat. It is not that Zaat-e-Elahi is within His light ( نُور ). We cannot confine Zaat-e-Elahi into His own light, ( نُور ) or into a form, shape, or body; exclusively, divine or creature like. If you do that, it will be shirk.

It is in Quran - ٱللَّهُ نُورُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ‌ۚ [Allah is the light (existence) of the Heavens and Earth’.] (An-Noor -35).

It is in Quran – Indeed he (Prophet Mohammad ﷺ) saw clearly the greatest of the Signs (manifestations) of his Lord (during Me'raj)’. (An-Najm – 18).

Bayhaqi narrated a Hadith with a sound chain - Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) said ' I saw my Lord ( in al-Asma' wa al-Sifat) in the form of a curly-haired, beardless young man wearing a green robe'.

Thus, Sahaba and Imams rightly said that Zaat-e-Elahi (the absolute existence of Allah) cannot be encompassed by human beings from the physical or spiritual eyes. However Sighting of Allah's (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) Tajalli-e-Zaati is (نُور ) formless light. And sighting of Allah's (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) Tajalli-e-Asma wo Sifaat can be witnessed in the shape of His creatures.

قَالَ يَا مُوسَىٰ إِنِّي اصْطَفَيْتُكَ عَلَى النَّاسِ بِرِسَالَاتِي وَبِكَلَامِي فَخُذْ مَا آتَيْتُكَ وَكُنْ مِنَ الشَّاكِرِينَ١٤٤

7:144 Allah commanded, O' Musa (عليه السلام), 'I have chosen you from mankind by (making you an Apostle and bestowing) My messages and by speaking to you.  Take  what I have bestowed upon you and be among the thankful.'

وَكَتَبْنَا لَهُ فِي الْأَلْوَاحِ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مَوْعِظَةً وَتَفْصِيلًا لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ فَخُذْهَا بِقُوَّةٍ وَأْمُرْ قَوْمَكَ يَأْخُذُوا بِأَحْسَنِهَا ۚ سَأُرِيكُمْ دَارَ الْفَاسِقِينَ١٤٥

7:145 And We wrote for him on the tablets, the advice for all things and the details of all things; and commanded 'hold on to it firmly and enjoin your people to follow its good advises. Soon I shall show you the destination of the disobedient.'

سَأَصْرِفُ عَنْ آيَاتِيَ الَّذِينَ يَتَكَبَّرُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَإِنْ يَرَوْا كُلَّ آيَةٍ لَا يُؤْمِنُوا بِهَا وَإِنْ يَرَوْا سَبِيلَ الرُّشْدِ لَا يَتَّخِذُوهُ سَبِيلًا وَإِنْ يَرَوْا سَبِيلَ الْغَيِّ يَتَّخِذُوهُ سَبِيلًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا وَكَانُوا عَنْهَا غَافِلِينَ١٤٦

7:146 'And I shall turn away from My signs the people who unjustly wish to be admired in the earth; and if they see all the signs, they would not believe them; and if they see the path of guidance, they would not prefer to tread it; and if they see the way of error, they would present themselves to tread it; that is because they denied Our signs and were ignoring them.

وَالَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا وَلِقَاءِ الْآخِرَةِ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ ۚ هَلْ يُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ١٤٧

7:147 Those who denied Our signs and the meeting of the Hereafter,  their deeds have become worthless.  Do they expect to be rewarded with anything except what they used to do?

وَاتَّخَذَ قَوْمُ مُوسَىٰ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ مِنْ حُلِيِّهِمْ عِجْلًا جَسَدًا لَهُ خُوَارٌ ۚ أَلَمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّهُ لَا يُكَلِّمُهُمْ وَلَا يَهْدِيهِمْ سَبِيلًا ۘ اتَّخَذُوهُ وَكَانُوا ظَالِمِينَ١٤٨

7:148 In the absence of Musa (عليه السلام) his people carved the image of a calf from their ornaments, which gave out the mooing of a cow. Yet they did not see it could neither speak to them nor guide them to the right path. Even then they took it (for a deity) and did wrong.

وَلَمَّا سُقِطَ فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ وَرَأَوْا أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ ضَلُّوا قَالُوا لَئِنْ لَمْ يَرْحَمْنَا رَبُّنَا وَيَغْفِرْ لَنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ١٤٩

7:149 And when they realized that they had gone astray, they repented and said, 'If our Lord does not have mercy on us and forgive us, we will be ruined.'

وَلَمَّا رَجَعَ مُوسَىٰ إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِ غَضْبَانَ أَسِفًا قَالَ بِئْسَمَا خَلَفْتُمُونِي مِنْ بَعْدِي ۖ أَعَجِلْتُمْ أَمْرَ رَبِّكُمْ ۖ وَأَلْقَى الْأَلْوَاحَ وَأَخَذَ بِرَأْسِ أَخِيهِ يَجُرُّهُ إِلَيْهِ ۚ قَالَ ابْنَ أُمَّ إِنَّ الْقَوْمَ اسْتَضْعَفُونِي وَكَادُوا يَقْتُلُونَنِي فَلَا تُشْمِتْ بِيَ الْأَعْدَاءَ وَلَا تَجْعَلْنِي مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ١٥٠

7:150 And when Musa (عليه السلام) returned to his people, angry and upset, he said, Evil is the course you have followed after me! Have you forsaken your Lord's commandment to hasten your destruction?' And he cast down the stone tablets, and catching hold of his brother's hair, began pulling him towards him.  Haroon (عليه السلام) said, 'O son of my mother, the people thought I was weak and would have probably killed me; so do not make my enemies laugh at me and do not identify me with the unjust people.'

The historical accounts testify that Israelis, during their slavery in the hands of the people of Pharaoh, used to work in the fields and in the homes of the Egyptians. They used to steal rich Egyptians' gold ornaments and this way had accumulated some gold with them. When Prophet Musa (عليه السلام) went to Mount Tur (Sinai) for 40 days, the Israelis were under the care of Prophet Haroon (عليه السلام), who was Prophet Musa's (عليه السلام) elder brother. During those days, a person among Israelis named Samri did a mischief. He made a small hallow calf of gold collected from Israelis (which they had stolen from the people of Pharoah). When air passed through the hollow portion of that calf, it made a sound like that of a calf's call. Samri convinced Israelis that it is their God. Many Israelis started worshiping it. Prophet Haroon (عليه السلام) tried to stop them from this wrongdoing. But he could stop only a few. The others continued this worship. When Musa (عليه السلام) returned from Mount Sinai, he was very angry seeing the calf being worshiped by his people.

It is in Quran - قَالُوا مَا أَخْلَفْنَا مَوْعِدَكَ بِمَلْكِنَا وَلَـٰكِنَّا حُمِّلْنَا أَوْزَارًا مِّن زِينَةِ الْقَوْمِ فَقَذَفْنَاهَا فَكَذَ‌ٰلِكَ أَلْقَى السَّامِرِيُّ [ They said : "We did not break our promise to you of our own accord (with intent), but we were loaded with sinful loads of ornaments of the people (of Pharaoh), and we threw them in the same way as Samiri did.]. (Taa Haa - 87)

They were punished severely for their wrongdoing. Later, Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) forgave them.

قَالَ رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِأَخِي وَأَدْخِلْنَا فِي رَحْمَتِكَ ۖ وَأَنْتَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ١٥١

7:151 Musa (عليه السلام) said, 'My Lord, forgive me and my brother and admit us into Your mercy, for You are the most merciful of all.'

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا الْعِجْلَ سَيَنَالُهُمْ غَضَبٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ وَذِلَّةٌ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُفْتَرِينَ١٥٢

7:152 Surely those who have taken the calf (as a god) will suffer the anger of their Lord, and disgrace in the world. and this is how they receive the retribution who fabricate lies.

وَالَّذِينَ عَمِلُوا السَّيِّئَاتِ ثُمَّ تَابُوا مِنْ بَعْدِهَا وَآمَنُوا إِنَّ رَبَّكَ مِنْ بَعْدِهَا لَغَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ١٥٣

7:153 Yet those who do wrong, then repent and believe, are forgiven, for your Lord is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful.

وَلَمَّا سَكَتَ عَنْ مُوسَى الْغَضَبُ أَخَذَ الْأَلْوَاحَ ۖ وَفِي نُسْخَتِهَا هُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِرَبِّهِمْ يَرْهَبُونَ١٥٤

7:154 When his anger subsided, Musa (عليه السلام) picked up the tablets. Inscribed on them was guidance and grace for those who fear their Lord.

وَاخْتَارَ مُوسَىٰ قَوْمَهُ سَبْعِينَ رَجُلًا لِمِيقَاتِنَا ۖ فَلَمَّا أَخَذَتْهُمُ الرَّجْفَةُ قَالَ رَبِّ لَوْ شِئْتَ أَهْلَكْتَهُمْ مِنْ قَبْلُ وَإِيَّايَ ۖ أَتُهْلِكُنَا بِمَا فَعَلَ السُّفَهَاءُ مِنَّا ۖ إِنْ هِيَ إِلَّا فِتْنَتُكَ تُضِلُّ بِهَا مَنْ تَشَاءُ وَتَهْدِي مَنْ تَشَاءُ ۖ أَنْتَ وَلِيُّنَا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا ۖ وَأَنْتَ خَيْرُ الْغَافِرِينَ١٥٥

7:155 Musa (عليه السلام) had chosen seventy of his people for the appointment (on Mount Sinai). When they arrived they were seized by a tremor. Musa (عليه السلام) said: 'O Lord, if You had so pleased You could have annihilated them and me before this. Will You destroy us for something the foolish among us have done? This is but a trial from You whereby You will lead whom You will astray and guide whom You please. You are our savior, so forgive us and have mercy on us, for You are the best of forgivers.

وَاكْتُبْ لَنَا فِي هَٰذِهِ الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ إِنَّا هُدْنَا إِلَيْكَ ۚ قَالَ عَذَابِي أُصِيبُ بِهِ مَنْ أَشَاءُ ۖ وَرَحْمَتِي وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ ۚ فَسَأَكْتُبُهَا لِلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ بِآيَاتِنَا يُؤْمِنُونَ١٥٦

7:156 Enjoin for us good in the world, and good in the world to come. We turn to You alone.' And the Lord said : 'I punish only those whom I will, but My mercy enfolds everything. I shall enjoin it for those who take heed for themselves, who pay the Zakat and believe in My signs,

الَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ الرَّسُولَ النَّبِيَّ الْأُمِّيَّ الَّذِي يَجِدُونَهُ مَكْتُوبًا عِنْدَهُمْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالْإِنْجِيلِ يَأْمُرُهُمْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَاهُمْ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْخَبَائِثَ وَيَضَعُ عَنْهُمْ إِصْرَهُمْ وَالْأَغْلَالَ الَّتِي كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ فَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِهِ وَعَزَّرُوهُ وَنَصَرُوهُ وَاتَّبَعُوا النُّورَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ مَعَهُ ۙ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ١٥٧

7:157 “Those who will obey Apostle Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم),  who is taught only by Allah, whom they will find mentioned in the Tawraat and the Injeel with them; he will command them to do good and forbid them from wrong, and he will make lawful for them the good clean things and prohibit the foul for them, and he will unburden the loads and the neck chains which were upon them; so those who believe in him, and revere him, and help him, and follow the light which came down with him, it is they who are successful.

قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا الَّذِي لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۖ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ ۖ فَآمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ النَّبِيِّ الْأُمِّيِّ الَّذِي يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَكَلِمَاتِهِ وَاتَّبِعُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ١٥٨

7:158 Say, (O' Prophet ﷺ), O' mankind, indeed I am the Apostle of Allah for you all,  to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. There is no god except Him; He gives life and causes death.' So believe in Allah and His Apostle (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم), who was taught only by Allah, who believes in Allah and His words and follow him that you may be guided.

وَمِنْ قَوْمِ مُوسَىٰ أُمَّةٌ يَهْدُونَ بِالْحَقِّ وَبِهِ يَعْدِلُونَ١٥٩

7:159 And among the people of Musa (عليه السلام) is a group that shows the true path, and establishes justice with it.

وَقَطَّعْنَاهُمُ اثْنَتَيْ عَشْرَةَ أَسْبَاطًا أُمَمًا ۚ وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰ إِذِ اسْتَسْقَاهُ قَوْمُهُ أَنِ اضْرِبْ بِعَصَاكَ الْحَجَرَ ۖ فَانْبَجَسَتْ مِنْهُ اثْنَتَا عَشْرَةَ عَيْنًا ۖ قَدْ عَلِمَ كُلُّ أُنَاسٍ مَشْرَبَهُمْ ۚ وَظَلَّلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ الْغَمَامَ وَأَنْزَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَنَّ وَالسَّلْوَىٰ ۖ كُلُوا مِنْ طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ ۚ وَمَا ظَلَمُونَا وَلَٰكِنْ كَانُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ١٦٠

7:160 We divided them into twelve (different) tribes. When his people asked for water, We said to Musa (عليه السلام) : 'Strike the rock with your staff; and behold, twelve springs of water gushed out, so that each of the tribes had a place of its own to drink; and We made the clouds spread shade over them and sent for them manna and Salwa (quails, and said) : 'Eat of the good things We have provided for you.' But (by disobeying) they did not harm Us, they harmed themselves.

وَإِذْ قِيلَ لَهُمُ اسْكُنُوا هَٰذِهِ الْقَرْيَةَ وَكُلُوا مِنْهَا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمْ وَقُولُوا حِطَّةٌ وَادْخُلُوا الْبَابَ سُجَّدًا نَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ خَطِيئَاتِكُمْ ۚ سَنَزِيدُ الْمُحْسِنِينَ١٦١

7:161 And  when it was said to them, 'Dwell in this land and eat from it wherever you will and say, 'Relieve us of our burdens,' and enter the gate bowing humbly; We will forgive your sins. We shall soon bestow more upon the pious.'

فَبَدَّلَ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْهُمْ قَوْلًا غَيْرَ الَّذِي قِيلَ لَهُمْ فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ رِجْزًا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ بِمَا كَانُوا يَظْلِمُونَ١٦٢

7:162 So the unjust among them changed the words, contrary to what they had been commanded.  So We sent down upon them a punishment from the sky as a retribution for all their wickedness.

When Israilis were wandering in desert, Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) provided them with food and sustenance. Manna (الْمَنَّ) was a sweet exudate which used to appear on tree leaves in the shape of red drops at daybreak. The Israelis used to gather it in the early morning by spreading sheets under the trees then shaking the branches. It was a delicious desert for them that provided energy for their survival in desert. Quail (السَّلْوَى) is a type of bird which used to come in flocks and remain around Israelis for easy catch. They used to eat meat of this bird for their protein and nourishment. The harshest was the scorching sun in the desert. For their protection, Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) provided cloud cover over that desert to stop sun rays reaching the ground. All this they got without making any effort. It was indeed a gift to them from Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ).

When Israelis complained about the scarcity of water, Prophet Musa (عليه السلام) prayed for them. Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) accepted the prayer and he was asked to strike his wooden staff on a rock. He did that and a miracle happened. Twelve springs gushed out of that rock and all 12 tribes of Israelis benefited from that miraculous water.

The Israelis were not content with that. They started complaining about one type of food, ie., Manna and Salwa. They asked Prophet Musa (عليه السلام) to pray Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) to provide Earth's produce like herbs, cucumbers, garlic, lentils, onions etc. Prophet Musa (عليه السلام) chided them and said 'you want inferior food in place of a superior food provided to you'.

Later, when Prophet Musa (عليه السلام) prayed, Israelis were asked to enter the gate of a nearby town called 'Arbaha' (probably in the present day Palestine) by prostrating and uttering the word 'Hittatun' (حِطَّةٌ), meaning 'our Lord forgive us'. They were promised abundance of food in that town. They were also promised that they will be forgiven for all their past wrongdoings. But, as the Israelis were arrogant, they changed that word and said 'Hintatun', meaning 'Wheat' as they were longing for the food produced by Earth.

Their continued rejection of Allah's (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) commands and disregard for his bounties resulted in another punishment. Plague caught them and many of the wrongdoers perished.

وَاسْأَلْهُمْ عَنِ الْقَرْيَةِ الَّتِي كَانَتْ حَاضِرَةَ الْبَحْرِ إِذْ يَعْدُونَ فِي السَّبْتِ إِذْ تَأْتِيهِمْ حِيتَانُهُمْ يَوْمَ سَبْتِهِمْ شُرَّعًا وَيَوْمَ لَا يَسْبِتُونَ ۙ لَا تَأْتِيهِمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَبْلُوهُمْ بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْسُقُونَ١٦٣

7:163 And ask them about the town that was by the sea; when they transgressed in the sabbath, when their fish came to them openly on their sabbath day, and the day they had no sabbath the fish did not come to them. We tried them in this way, for they were disobedient.

وَإِذْ قَالَتْ أُمَّةٌ مِنْهُمْ لِمَ تَعِظُونَ قَوْمًا ۙ اللَّهُ مُهْلِكُهُمْ أَوْ مُعَذِّبُهُمْ عَذَابًا شَدِيدًا ۖ قَالُوا مَعْذِرَةً إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمْ وَلَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ١٦٤

7:164 And when a group among them said, 'Why do you warn  a people whom Allah is  to destroy or to punish with a severe punishment?' They (the advisors) said, 'To be absolved before your Lord and perhaps they may fear Him.'

فَلَمَّا نَسُوا مَا ذُكِّرُوا بِهِ أَنْجَيْنَا الَّذِينَ يَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ السُّوءِ وَأَخَذْنَا الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا بِعَذَابٍ بَئِيسٍ بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْسُقُونَ١٦٥

7:165 But when they forgot to remember the warning, We saved those who prohibited evil, but inflicted on the wicked a dreadful punishment as retribution for their disobedience.

فَلَمَّا عَتَوْا عَنْ مَا نُهُوا عَنْهُ قُلْنَا لَهُمْ كُونُوا قِرَدَةً خَاسِئِينَ١٦٦

7:166 When they persisted in doing what they had been forbidden, We said to them: 'Be apes despised.'

Sabbath is an important day (Saturday) in Jewish tradition which was granted to them on their own request. Israelis wanted to relax one day in a week when they would not work in order to focus on their worship. This kind of break allowed them to balance between worldly pursuits and worship/meditation.

It is reported that during the time of Dawood (عليه السلام) a small community of Jews lived by the side of a Sea. Their livelihood was catching fish from the ocean and selling it in nearby towns. It so happened that a lot of fish used to appear near the shore on Saturday. On other days, they had to fish far away in the sea. In this, it was a trial for them from their Lord. Their episode is described in above 4 verses (163, 164, 165 and 166).

It is in Quran - وَاسْأَلْهُمْ عَنِ الْقَرْيَةِ الَّتِي كَانَتْ حَاضِرَةَ الْبَحْرِ إِذْ يَعْدُونَ فِي السَّبْتِ إِذْ تَأْتِيهِمْ حِيتَانُهُمْ يَوْمَ سَبْتِهِمْ شُرَّعًا وَيَوْمَ لَا يَسْبِتُونَ ۙ لَا تَأْتِيهِمْ ۚ كَذَ‌ٰلِكَ نَبْلُوهُم بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْسُقُونَ [And ask them (O'Prophet ﷺ) about the town that was by the sea, when they transgressed in Sabbath, when their fish came to them openly on their sabbath day, and the day they had no Sabbath they did not come to them. Thus did We give them trial because they were defiantly disobedient. ] (Al-Araaf - 163).

A difference of opinion occurred in that town among people. Some people did not like that practice and opposed it. They warned others against catching the fish appearing on Saturday. When matters could not be resolved, the people who opposed left that town and started living at a nearby place. They knew that the people who were attempting to catch the fish appearing on Saturday (Sabbath day) may face Allah's (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) wrath.

It is in Quran - وَإِذْ قَالَتْ أُمَّةٌ مِّنْهُمْ لِمَ تَعِظُونَ قَوْمًا ۙ اللَّهُ مُهْلِكُهُمْ أَوْ مُعَذِّبُهُمْ عَذَابًا شَدِيدًا ۖ قَالُوا مَعْذِرَةً إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمْ وَلَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ [And when a community among them said, "Why do you advise (or warn) a people whom Allah is (about) to destroy or to punish with a severe punishment?" they [the advisors] said, "To be absolved before your Lord and perhaps they may fear Him.] (Al-Araaf - 164).

The people who wanted to catch the fish appearing on Saturday devised a plan. They started putting their nets in the water on Friday night, in order for fish to get trapped on Saturday. On Sunday they used to go and catch that fish. With this practice, they claimed that they were not braking the religious laws and at the same time making a lot of money by selling excessive catch. This practice was continued for some time.

It so happened that one day the people who had left this community realized that there is no activity in the town they left. No one was seen selling the fish either. When they went their to see what was going on, they were aghast to see their relatives who had been turned into apes. Certain facial features allowed them to recognize them individually. And within 3 days, all the apes died. That is how the entire town was destroyed.

It is in Quran - فَلَمَّا نَسُوا مَا ذُكِّرُوا بِهِ أَنجَيْنَا الَّذِينَ يَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ السُّوءِ وَأَخَذْنَا الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا بِعَذَابٍ بَئِيسٍ بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْسُقُونَ [ And when they forgot that by which they had been reminded, We saved those who had forbidden evil and seized those who wronged, with a wretched punishment, because they were defiantly disobeying.] (Al-Araaf - 165).

وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكَ لَيَبْعَثَنَّ عَلَيْهِمْ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ مَنْ يَسُومُهُمْ سُوءَ الْعَذَابِ ۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَسَرِيعُ الْعِقَابِ ۖ وَإِنَّهُ لَغَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ١٦٧

7:167 And your Lord declared He would send men against them who would inflict dreadful suffering on them till the Day of Doom, for your Lord is swift in retribution, though He is certainly forgiving and kind.

وَقَطَّعْنَاهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ أُمَمًا ۖ مِنْهُمُ الصَّالِحُونَ وَمِنْهُمْ دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ ۖ وَبَلَوْنَاهُمْ بِالْحَسَنَاتِ وَالسَّيِّئَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ١٦٨

7:168 And We divided them throughout the earth into nations. Of them some were righteous, and of them some were otherwise. And We tested them with good  and bad that perhaps they would return (to obedience).

فَخَلَفَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ وَرِثُوا الْكِتَابَ يَأْخُذُونَ عَرَضَ هَٰذَا الْأَدْنَىٰ وَيَقُولُونَ سَيُغْفَرُ لَنَا وَإِنْ يَأْتِهِمْ عَرَضٌ مِثْلُهُ يَأْخُذُوهُ ۚ أَلَمْ يُؤْخَذْ عَلَيْهِمْ مِيثَاقُ الْكِتَابِ أَنْ لَا يَقُولُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ إِلَّا الْحَقَّ وَدَرَسُوا مَا فِيهِ ۗ وَالدَّارُ الْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لِلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ ۗ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ١٦٩

7:169 And after them in their place, came those unworthy successors who inherited the Books.  They accept the goods of this world (as bribes) and say, 'We shall soon be forgiven'; and if similar goods come to them again, they would accept it; was not the covenant taken from them in the Book, that they must not relate anything to Allah except the truth, and they have studied it? And indeed the abode of the Hereafter is better for the pious; so do you not have sense?

وَالَّذِينَ يُمَسِّكُونَ بِالْكِتَابِ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُصْلِحِينَ١٧٠

7:170 And those who hold fast to the Book, and have kept the prayer established, We do not allow the recompense of the righteous go wasted.

وَإِذْ نَتَقْنَا الْجَبَلَ فَوْقَهُمْ كَأَنَّهُ ظُلَّةٌ وَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُ وَاقِعٌ بِهِمْ خُذُوا مَا آتَيْنَاكُمْ بِقُوَّةٍ وَاذْكُرُوا مَا فِيهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ١٧١

7:171 And when We raised the Mount (Sinai) above them as if it were a canopy, and they thought that it would fall upon them; (and commanded) 'Accept firmly what We have given you, and remember what is in it, so that you may become pious.'

When Prophet Musa (عليه السلام) received Torah during his 40 days seclusion on Mount Tur (Sinai), he came down and saw his people worshiping a calf idol made of gold. He was angry on them and Israelis were punished for their idol worship. After their repentance, Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) pardoned them. After their pardon, when things became normal, Musa (عليه السلام) informed them about the commandments of Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) he received during his stay at Mount Sinai. Listening to these commands, Israelis got divided. Some wanted to reject all the commandments and others accepted a few commandments and rejected the others. They started making all types of excuses to avoid following these commandments. At this time, the mountain was raised over their heads and they were reprimanded to 'hold fast to what Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) has given them. They were warned to bear the contents of all commandments in mind and to implement them in their lives as a whole.

وَإِذْ أَخَذَ رَبُّكَ مِنْ بَنِي آدَمَ مِنْ ظُهُورِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ وَأَشْهَدَهُمْ عَلَىٰ أَنْفُسِهِمْ أَلَسْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا بَلَىٰ ۛ شَهِدْنَا ۛ أَنْ تَقُولُوا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّا كُنَّا عَنْ هَٰذَا غَافِلِينَ١٧٢

7:172 And (mention) when your Lord took from the children of Adam, from their loins, their descendants and made them testify of themselves, 'Am I not your Lord?' They said, 'Yes, we have testified.' Lest you would say on the day of Resurrection, "Indeed, we were unaware of it.'

To seek the truth about our Creator, know about Him and follow His commandments is part of the nature of human beings. A person who follows Taghut (Devils) and evil desires, is indeed going against his own nature. If you go against your own nature, surely you will suffers in this world and in Hereafter. It is important that we realize this fact. Some of us realize it while others fall victim to Devils and evil desires.

Who has instilled this nature in us? It is Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ), our Creator who has instilled in us the drive to seek truth.

It is obvious from the above verse that it is part of our nature to seek the truth about our Creator and walk on His way. Why it is so? It is because, it has been instilled in our nature by Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ).

How was it instilled in our nature?

We all existed in Allah's (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) knowledge before our birth and it is there we have promised Him that we will walk on His way after our births. To assist us in following His path, Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) has sent many Prophets/Apostles who have guided us on His way.

It is in Quran - وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولًا أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُوا الطَّاغُوتَ ۖ فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ هَدَى اللَّهُ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِ الضَّلَالَةُ ۚ فَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَانظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ [And We certainly sent into every nation an Apostle, (saying), 'Worship Allah and avoid Taghut' (devils). And among them were those whom Allah guided, and among them were those upon whom error was (deservedly) decreed. So proceed through the Earth and observe how was the end of the deniers (who followed Taghut). ] (An-Nahl - 36)

Every Prophet took solemn pledges from their followers individually and collectively on the instance of Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ). Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) also took collective and individual pledges from Sahabah.

Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) also took a collective pledge from all Prophets saying that, when Apostle Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) arrives, they should believe in him and support him.

It is in Quran - وَإِذْ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِيثَاقَ النَّبِيِّينَ لَمَا آتَيْتُكُم مِّن كِتَابٍ وَحِكْمَةٍ ثُمَّ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مُّصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَكُمْ لَتُؤْمِنُنَّ بِهِ وَلَتَنصُرُنَّهُ ۚ قَالَ أَأَقْرَرْتُمْ وَأَخَذْتُمْ عَلَىٰ ذَ‌ٰلِكُمْ إِصْرِي ۖ قَالُوا أَقْرَرْنَا ۚ قَالَ فَاشْهَدُوا وَأَنَا مَعَكُم مِّنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ [ Allah took a pledge from all prophets, saying, ‘If, after I have bestowed Scripture and wisdom upon you, an Apostle comes confirming what you have been given, you must believe in him and support him. Do you affirm this and accept My pledge as binding on you? They said, ‘We do.’ He said, ‘Then bear witness and I too will bear witness. ] (Aal-e-Imran - 81).

Where was the above promise made? It was in Aalam-e-Mithaal. At the time of Me'araj, Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) led all Prophets in two raka Salah. Where did it happen? It was carried out in the world of similitude (Aalam-e--Mithaal - عالمِ مثال). In which world we are currently living? It is our physical world known as 'the world of manifestation (عالمِ شهاده). After our death, where are we transferred? We are transferred to 'the world of similitude', a part of this world is known as 'the world after death' (عالمِ برزخ).

Can someone help a person of our physical world after his death? Of course yes. All prophets who came before Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) have promised to believe in him and support him in his endeavor. The message of Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) is the culmination of the messages of all previous prophets. They all pledged and Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) said, He stands witness to the pledge given by all the Prophets.

أَوْ تَقُولُوا إِنَّمَا أَشْرَكَ آبَاؤُنَا مِنْ قَبْلُ وَكُنَّا ذُرِّيَّةً مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ ۖ أَفَتُهْلِكُنَا بِمَا فَعَلَ الْمُبْطِلُونَ١٧٣

7:173 Or you may say, 'It is our ancestors who first ascribed partners (to Allah) and we were (their) children after them; so will You destroy us on account of the deeds of the followers of falsehood?'

وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ وَلَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ١٧٤

7:174 That is how We explain Our signs distinctly so that they may come back (to the right path).

وَاتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبَأَ الَّذِي آتَيْنَاهُ آيَاتِنَا فَانْسَلَخَ مِنْهَا فَأَتْبَعَهُ الشَّيْطَانُ فَكَانَ مِنَ الْغَاوِينَ١٧٥

7:175 And recite to them, (O' Prophet ﷺ), the news of him to whom we gave (knowledge of) Our signs, but he detached himself from them; so that Satan came after him, and he went astray.

The person mentioned in the verse as the representative of the evil, possessed knowledge of Allah's (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) signs. This should have helped him to give up the attitude which he knew was wrong and to act in a manner which he knew to be right. Had he followed the truth and acted righteously Allah would have enabled him to rise to higher levels.. He, however, occupied himself with the pleasures, and embellishments of the worldly life. Instead of resisting worldly temptations, he totally, succumbed to them and brazenly violated all limits and turned away from the truth. Because of his moral weakness he was misled by Satan. In the company of Satan he was driven from one act of depravity to another until he landed in the company of those who are totally under Satan's control and who have lost all capacity for rational judgement.

Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) compares this person to a dog. A dog's protruding tongue and the unceasing flow of saliva from his mouth symbolize the unquenchable greed. Some people say that this person was from the Israelis who lived during the time of Musa (عليه السلام).

وَلَوْ شِئْنَا لَرَفَعْنَاهُ بِهَا وَلَٰكِنَّهُ أَخْلَدَ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ وَاتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ ۚ فَمَثَلُهُ كَمَثَلِ الْكَلْبِ إِنْ تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْهِ يَلْهَثْ أَوْ تَتْرُكْهُ يَلْهَثْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مَثَلُ الْقَوْمِ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا ۚ فَاقْصُصِ الْقَصَصَ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ١٧٦

7:176 And had We willed We could have raised him because of the revelations, but he clung to the earth and followed his own desires; his condition therefore is like that of a dog; if you attack him he hangs out his tongue and if you leave him he hangs out his tongue; this is the state of the people who denied Our signs; therefore preach, so that they may reflect.

سَاءَ مَثَلًا الْقَوْمُ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا وَأَنْفُسَهُمْ كَانُوا يَظْلِمُونَ١٧٧

7:177 What an evil example is of those who denied Our signs and used to do wrong to only their own Nufoos.

مَنْ يَهْدِ اللَّهُ فَهُوَ الْمُهْتَدِي ۖ وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ١٧٨

7:178 Whomever Allah guides is rightly guided, and whomever He leads astray, it is they who are the losers.

وَلَقَدْ ذَرَأْنَا لِجَهَنَّمَ كَثِيرًا مِنَ الْجِنِّ وَالْإِنْسِ ۖ لَهُمْ قُلُوبٌ لَا يَفْقَهُونَ بِهَا وَلَهُمْ أَعْيُنٌ لَا يُبْصِرُونَ بِهَا وَلَهُمْ آذَانٌ لَا يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَا ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ كَالْأَنْعَامِ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْغَافِلُونَ١٧٩

7:179 And indeed We have created many jinns and men for Hell; they have hearts in which there is no understanding; and the eyes they do not see with; and the ears they do not hear with. Those are like livestock; rather, they are more astray.  It is they who are the heedless.

وَلِلَّهِ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَىٰ فَادْعُوهُ بِهَا ۖ وَذَرُوا الَّذِينَ يُلْحِدُونَ فِي أَسْمَائِهِ ۚ سَيُجْزَوْنَ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ١٨٠

7:180 And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them. And leave (the company of) those who practice deviation concerning His names. They will get retribution of what they have been doing.

وَمِمَّنْ خَلَقْنَا أُمَّةٌ يَهْدُونَ بِالْحَقِّ وَبِهِ يَعْدِلُونَ١٨١

7:181 And among those We created is a community which guides by truth and thereby establishes justice.

وَالَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُمْ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ١٨٢

7:182 And those who denied Our signs, We shall  slowly lead them towards punishment in a way that is not known to them.

وَأُمْلِي لَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ كَيْدِي مَتِينٌ١٨٣

7:183 And I will give them time. But  my punishment for them is certain.

أَوَلَمْ يَتَفَكَّرُوا ۗ مَا بِصَاحِبِهِمْ مِنْ جِنَّةٍ ۚ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ مُبِينٌ١٨٤

7:184 Do they not ponder that their companion is (an icon of excellence) far removed from uncertainty? In fact he is ( the Apostle  ﷺ), the Herald of Warning.

أَوَلَمْ يَنْظُرُوا فِي مَلَكُوتِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ مِنْ شَيْءٍ وَأَنْ عَسَىٰ أَنْ يَكُونَ قَدِ اقْتَرَبَ أَجَلُهُمْ ۖ فَبِأَيِّ حَدِيثٍ بَعْدَهُ يُؤْمِنُونَ١٨٥

7:185 Have they not pondered deeply regarding the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, and whatever things Allah has created? And that probably their promise (of death) may have come near? So after this, in what will they believe?

مَنْ يُضْلِلِ اللَّهُ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ ۚ وَيَذَرُهُمْ فِي طُغْيَانِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ١٨٦

7:186 Whoever Allah sends astray, there is no guide for him. And He leaves them wandering in their  transgression.

يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ السَّاعَةِ أَيَّانَ مُرْسَاهَا ۖ قُلْ إِنَّمَا عِلْمُهَا عِنْدَ رَبِّي ۖ لَا يُجَلِّيهَا لِوَقْتِهَا إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ ثَقُلَتْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ لَا تَأْتِيكُمْ إِلَّا بَغْتَةً ۗ يَسْأَلُونَكَ كَأَنَّكَ حَفِيٌّ عَنْهَا ۖ قُلْ إِنَّمَا عِلْمُهَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ١٨٧

7:187 They ask you, (O' Prophet ﷺ), about the Hour and when is its arrival? Say, its knowledge is only with my Lord. None will reveal its time except Him. It lays heavily upon the heavens and the earth. It will not come upon you (O' People) except unexpectedly.' They ask you as (an Apostle you are probably) informed about it. Tell them, its knowledge is only with Allah, but most of the people do not know.'

قُلْ لَا أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِي نَفْعًا وَلَا ضَرًّا إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ ۚ وَلَوْ كُنْتُ أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ لَاسْتَكْثَرْتُ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ وَمَا مَسَّنِيَ السُّوءُ ۚ إِنْ أَنَا إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ وَبَشِيرٌ لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ١٨٨

7:188 Say, 'I have no autonomy to benefit or hurt myself, except what Allah wills; and,  were I to procure knowledge of the hidden on my own, it would be that I had accumulated a lot of good; and no misfortune would touch me; I am purely a Herald of Warning and Glad Tidings to the people who believe.'

Salafis, Deobandis and their like minded groups quote this verse to down grade the respect of Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) and to claim that he does not have knowledge of unseen.

(i) It is in Quran - عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ فَلَا يُظْهِرُ عَلَىٰ غَيْبِهِ أَحَدًا- إِلَّا مَنِ ارْتَضَىٰ مِن رَّسُولٍ [ He (alone) knows the Unseen, nor does He make any one acquainted with His Mysteries, except an Apostle whom He has chosen (Prophet Mohammad ﷺ). (Al-Jinn - 26-27).

(ii) It is in Quran - يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ شَاهِدًا وَمُبَشِّرًا وَنَذِيرًا [ Certainly We have sent to you (O' Prophet ﷺ) as witness, deponent and the one who gives good tiding and as a fore warner (Ahzab - 45).

Who is a witness (as per the law)?

He is the one who sees things from his eyes. Statement of a Deponent who has only heard about a thing is not acceptable in the Court of law.

The above Quranic verse establishes that Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) sees our conditions, individually and collectively.

(iii) It is in Quran - لَقَدْ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُم بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ [ Apostle (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) has been raised from yourselves. Your living wrongly with its consequent suffering presses heavily upon him. He is ardently desirous of your welfare; and for those (of you) who are believers, he is full of pity, merciful. (At-Tawba-128).

(iv) It is in Hadith - It is narrated on the authority of Ibn Abbas (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) said - 'My Sustainer came to me in a very good face and said, O'Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم), I submitted 'Yes, my Lord, present', He said, do you know that the sublime angels argue with each other in what?, I submitted, I do not know'. Then He placed His hands of Omnipotence (Dust-e-Qudrat) in between my shoulders and I found the coolness of the hand into my chest and then I knew whatever there is, in the skies and the earth. (Bukhari, Tirmidhi, Mishkaat)

(v) It is in Hadith - Narrated Umar (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) : One day the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) stood up among us for a long period and informed us about the beginning of creation (and talked about everything in detail) till he mentioned how the people of Paradise will enter their places and the people of Hell will enter their places. Some remembered what he had said, and some forgot it. (Bukhari)

(vi) It is in Hadith - Narated Hudhaifa (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) : The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) once delivered a speech in front of us wherein he left nothing but mentioned (about) everything that would happen till the Hour. Some of us stored that in their minds and some forgot it. (After that speech) I used to see events taking place (which had been referred to in that speech) but I had forgotten them (before their occurrence). Then I would recognize such events as a man recognizes another man who has been absent and then sees and recognizes him. (Bukhari)

(vii) It is in Hadith - Abu Dharr (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) narrates; “When the Apostle of Allah (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) left us, there was not a bird that flies in the sky but that he had given us some knowledge about it.” (Ahmed, Tabarani)

(viii) It is in Quran - وَكَذَلِكَ نُرِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ مَلَكُوتَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلِيَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُوقِنِينَ [ Thus we showed to Ibrahim (عليه السلام) visible and invisible world of the heavens and the earth that he could be among those who have certainty of believe. ] (Al-An'aam 75)

هُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ مِنْ نَفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَجَعَلَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا لِيَسْكُنَ إِلَيْهَا ۖ فَلَمَّا تَغَشَّاهَا حَمَلَتْ حَمْلًا خَفِيفًا فَمَرَّتْ بِهِ ۖ فَلَمَّا أَثْقَلَتْ دَعَوَا اللَّهَ رَبَّهُمَا لَئِنْ آتَيْتَنَا صَالِحًا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الشَّاكِرِينَ١٨٩

7:189 It is He who created you from single Nafs and created from it its mate that he might gain comfort with her.  And when he (the man) covers her (his wife), she carries a light burden and continues therein. And when it becomes heavy, they both pray Allah, their Lord, 'If You should give us a good (child), we will surely be among the grateful.'

It is evident from the above verse that we, all human beings are the children of our father Hadhrat Adam (عليه السلام) and our mother Hawwa (عليها السلام). It also describes that human beings pray to their Lord before the birth of their child for a good child. But when they are given a child, some of them ascribe it to other powers/false gods a share in what Allah has bestowed upon them. This aspect has been described in the following verse.

فَلَمَّا آتَاهُمَا صَالِحًا جَعَلَا لَهُ شُرَكَاءَ فِيمَا آتَاهُمَا ۚ فَتَعَالَى اللَّهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ١٩٠

7:190 But when they are given a healthy child, they start ascribing to other powers a share in what Allah had bestowed on them. But Allah is above what they ascribe to Him.

أَيُشْرِكُونَ مَا لَا يَخْلُقُ شَيْئًا وَهُمْ يُخْلَقُونَ١٩١

7:191 Do they associate those with Him who cannot create a thing, and are themselves created,

وَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ لَهُمْ نَصْرًا وَلَا أَنْفُسَهُمْ يَنْصُرُونَ١٩٢

7:192 Who can neither help them, nor (can) help themselves?

وَإِنْ تَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى الْهُدَىٰ لَا يَتَّبِعُوكُمْ ۚ سَوَاءٌ عَلَيْكُمْ أَدَعَوْتُمُوهُمْ أَمْ أَنْتُمْ صَامِتُونَ١٩٣

7:193 And if you (O' believers) invite them to guidance, they will not follow you. It is all the same for you whether you invite them or you are silent.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ عِبَادٌ أَمْثَالُكُمْ ۖ فَادْعُوهُمْ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ١٩٤

7:194 Indeed, those of you  call upon besides Allah are servants like you. So call upon them and let them respond to you, if you are truthful.

أَلَهُمْ أَرْجُلٌ يَمْشُونَ بِهَا ۖ أَمْ لَهُمْ أَيْدٍ يَبْطِشُونَ بِهَا ۖ أَمْ لَهُمْ أَعْيُنٌ يُبْصِرُونَ بِهَا ۖ أَمْ لَهُمْ آذَانٌ يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَا ۗ قُلِ ادْعُوا شُرَكَاءَكُمْ ثُمَّ كِيدُونِ فَلَا تُنْظِرُونِ١٩٥

7:195 Do they have feet to walk on, or hands to hold with, or eyes to see and ears to hear with? Tell them (O' Prophet ﷺ) 'Call your ascribed partners, and conspire against me, and do not give me time.

إِنَّ وَلِيِّيَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي نَزَّلَ الْكِتَابَ ۖ وَهُوَ يَتَوَلَّى الصَّالِحِينَ١٩٦

7:196 My savior is Allah who has revealed this Book; and He protects those who are righteous.

وَالَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِهِ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ نَصْرَكُمْ وَلَا أَنْفُسَهُمْ يَنْصُرُونَ١٩٧

7:197 'And those whom you worship besides Him cannot help you nor do they help themselves.'

The above verses are meant for the Idol worshipers and polytheists. But, the deviant sects like Kharijis, Salafis, Deobandis and their like minded groups impose these verses on Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم), Sahabah, Aimma and Awliya Allah and claim that after death they cannot hear or talk. In this state they equate them with the idols of Idol worshipers and claim that visiting their graves for baraka is shirk.

It is in Quran - إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَهُمْ رَاكِعُونَ [ Your guardian (or solver of grievances) can only be Allah 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-Ma'ida - 55)

It is in Hadith - وكان ‏ ‏ابن عمر ‏ ‏يراهم شرار خلق الله ‏ ‏وقال إنهم انطلقوا إلى آيات نزلت في الكفار فجعلوها على المؤمنين - Ibn Umar (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) considered the Khawarij and the heretics (Salafis , Deobandis and their like minded groups) as the worst beings in creation (meaning worst than Satan and his subordinate Shayateen), and he said : 'They went to verses which were revealed about the disbelievers (the pagans of Makka) and applied them to the Believers (Prophets, Sahabah, Awliya Allah and Muslims). (Bukhari - Chapter Khawarijeen).

They mislead people by saying that Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) was not the waseela, rather his Dua was a Waseela. They also say that since Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) is dead, he is no more a Waseelah. With their blasphemous rhetoric they aim to equate the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) with sinful human beings.

The following supplication (Dua) is mentioned in many Ahadith books like Tirmizi, Nasai, Tabrani, Ibn Huzeema, Hakim, Baihaqi, etc. The Dua confirms the fact that his waseelah is equally important both during of his physical span of life, after his death, on the day of Judgment and beyond. The people of the book used to take his waseelah even before his birth and their supplications were answered by Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ).

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ وَأَتَوَجَّهُ إِلَيْكَ بحبيبِ المصطفى عندكَ يا حبيبنا يَا مُحَمَّدُ اني نتوسلُ بِكَ الى ربكَ فشفعه لنا عِند المولى العظيم يانعمة الرسولُ الطّاهراللَّهُمَّ شافعه فينا بجاه عندكَ

[ O'Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ), I implore, I beg to you with the mediation (wasilah) of your revered beloved Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) who is chosen by you. O' Beloved of the Al-mighty, O' Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) we implore to Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) with your mediation (Wasilah). Kindly mediate for us with Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ). O' Sacred Apostle (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم), O' Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ), kindly accept the intercession (Shafa'a) of our Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) for us in view of the "honor and grace he has with you. ]

As a matter of fact our Dua will not be accepted if we do not send Durood on Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) before and after the Dua and seek Allah's (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) favor by the mediation (Waseelah) of Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم).

وَإِنْ تَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى الْهُدَىٰ لَا يَسْمَعُوا ۖ وَتَرَاهُمْ يَنْظُرُونَ إِلَيْكَ وَهُمْ لَا يُبْصِرُونَ١٩٨

7:198 And if you invite them to guidance, they do not hear; and you see them looking at you but they cannot perceive anything.

خُذِ الْعَفْوَ وَأْمُرْ بِالْعُرْفِ وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ الْجَاهِلِينَ١٩٩

7:199 (O Prophet ﷺ) Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the ignorant.

وَإِمَّا يَنْزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ نَزْغٌ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ٢٠٠

7:200 (O' believers) if an evil consideration comes to you from Satan, seek refuge in Allah. Indeed, He is All Hearing and All Knowing.

The above verse teaches us that whenever there is an evil consideration comes to our mind, we should take refuge in Allah.

What are evil considerations and how do we get rid of them?

Shaikh Mohammad Abdul Qadeer Siddiqui (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ) has described some interesting details about evil considerations in his books. Below are excerpts from his books.

CONSIDERATIONS (Khatraat - خَطرات)

When the divine way farer (Saalik - سالِک) steps into the 'divine way' (Raah-e-Khuda - راہِ خدا) and intends to perform virtuous deeds and tries to train anima/Corporeal Self (Nafs - نفس) by way of invocation and good deeds, both his enemies, the anima and Satan, who have been misleading him all along by hiding in the ambuscade, endeavor to hold him away from this path. How they achieve this? By insinuations. These are known as 'evil considerations' or 'evil promptings'. There are some 'good considerations' as well that come to our mind. In all, there are 4 types of considerations, as follows.

(i) Satanic Consideration (خَطراتِ شيطاني) - Their work is to create disbelief about Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ); stop from divine mindfulness; and to involve the person in worldly affairs and playfulness to an extent that he is unable to contemplate about Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ), at all.

(ii) Anima's Consideration (خَطراتِ نفساني) - The objective of Anima (نفس) is to enjoy, eat, drink, dress, marry, lead a luxurious life, etc. But if you train, it becomes rational also. When the horse becomes mischievous and does not allow the rider to touch, it is trained with great difficulty. Once trained, he starts working with bigul (call). Try to get up in the last quarter of the night for prayers. After a few days, your sleep will automatically break around that time and your 'anima' (corporeal self) will be able to do the good deeds. The evil considerations of anima and Satan give birth to 'Villainous Anima' (نفسِ اَمّاره).

(iii) Angelic Consideration (خَطراتِ مَلكي) - It stops a person from evil deeds and to differentiate between virtue and evil. This is angelic consideration. Afterwords, the anima transforms into "Conscious Anima' (نفسِ لَوَّامہ).

(iv) Most Compassionate's Consideration (خَطراتِ رحماني) - It enriches the person with divine gnosis (معارف الہیہ). At this time Anima becomes 'Satisfied Anima' (نفسِ مطمئنہ).

The difference between 'Consideration' (خطرہ) and 'Determination' (عزم) is that

a 'Consideration' (خطرہ) is a thought that comes and goes. If a person firmly resolves to do something, the 'Consideration' becomes 'determination' (عزم). The consideration is forgivable, but the determination is not. If a person strongly willed to do a bad thing, but in view of some hindrance could not do it, then this will be treated as determination which is sin, subjected to punishment. But this sin is smaller than the performance of the actual act. In any case from morning till evening several good and bad thoughts come to our minds and go. All these are not subjected to scrutiny. But determinations are subject to questioning.

PREVENTION OF CONSIDERATIONS (دفع خطرات)

Is there a way to get rid of the futile considerations? An important principles of prevention of consideration is 'to keep one's eyes on one's foot steps (نظر بَر قدم), and maintain 'recluse in association (خَلوت در انجمن). Always keep your eyes down. Do not look hither and thither. Human face has dreadful attraction. To whoever we see, his face comes straight into the heart through our eyes.

When you look all over the places, you heart will become bewildered and you will not have tranquility. The face of human being is calamitous and an affliction to the viewer. Sufi Shuyookh say that the head of the human being is 'the portrait of the most beneficent' (تصويرِ رحمان). It has all the seven attributes. It has 'life, and it has knowledge and above all, it has attachment and affection. They eyes of the human being are great hunters. The red veins in them are like a net spread over to catch the victims.

Safeguard your eyes and escape from others' eyes for a few days. When your heart settles on one point (monotheism), and the 'fact' of the cosmos gets unfolded for you, nothing will be troublesome. When otherness vanishes, things will not cause trouble. You will see everyone with the 'eye of precision (عینیت کی نظر).

It is in Quran - سَنُرِيهِمْ آيَاتِنَا فِي الْآفَاقِ وَفِي أَنفُسِهِمْ [Soon will We let signs manifest themselves (bringing about a change in their lives) both outward and in ward. ] (Fussilat - 53)

There is one more thing. Do not eat variety of food. The tastefulness of the multiplicity of food creates distraction in thoughts. When you eat compounds, how will you get 'unification' (توحيد)?

Whatever wasteful or impossible thought comes to your mind, howsoever inappropriate time it is, respond positively and supplicate with Almighty to save you from evil thoughts. Supplication is an imperative ordained by Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ).

It is in Quran - اُدْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ [ You pray and I will give you.] (Ghafir - 60).

It is in Hadith - اَلدُّعَاءُ مُخُّ الْعِبَادَةِ [ Supplication is the essence of all prayers] (Tirmidhi).

Other Proved remedies for the 'elimination of evil considerations (دفع خطرات) are as follows.

(i) When you get excessive evil considerations, change your state, meaning, if you are sitting, stand, and if you are standing, start walking or sit down. The principle behind this prevention is change in movement.

(ii) When a consideration comes to your mind, you run from it. After a few moments, the consideration will be left behind, and you will go away from it. Or think that the consideration is running away from you. With this practice the evil consideration can be restricted to a large extent.

(iii) If some consideration comes to you, tell it 'if you bother us, where will we find a refuge'?

(iv) Say 'stop it, stop it' and release your breath forcefully.

(v) When a consideration comes, addressing it, some people say 'O', you have come. Whatever form and whatever shape you change, I recognize you well, because you are the only source of existence.

(vi) Recitation of this Quranic verse also helps in the reduction of considerations. إِن يَشَأْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ وَيَأْتِ بِخَلْقٍ جَدِيدٍ - وَمَا ذَ‌ٰلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ بِعَزِيزٍ - [Should He like it, He can make you die out and replace you by a new set of people]. (Ibrahim - 19-20). It does not make difference even if you utter this verse in your heart during Salah.

(vii) You can also recite this Quranic Verse قُلْ كُلٌّ مِّنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ [ Say, everything is from Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ).] (An-Nisa - 78).

(viii) You can recite this verse - الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ [ At rest in the thoughts of Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) are the hearts of those who believe in Him. In deed, the hearts of men feel at rest in the though of Allah.] (Ar-Ra'd- 13) And impulse your heart with the invocation of Allah, Allah.

(ix) If you repeated recite divine epithet "Ya Qahhar" (يا قهّار), all evil considerations are burned. But you should invoke this epithet by taking permission of a Shaikh, otherwise you will get perpetration of heart.

(x) You can also invoke these four epithets; Ya Khallaq, Ya Fa'aal, Ya Musawwir, and Ya Qahhar (يا خلّاق، يا فعّال، يا مُصَوِّر، يا قهّار) .

(xi) Often literate people have the habit of imaginary flights of fancies. One should think of an integrated schedule of deeds for his whole life as well as the fractional schedule for the following few days. If a consideration about this schedule comes again, it should be told that this issue has already been decided; why this useless thought has come again?

(xii) If a consideration comes for achieving something in a particular fashion, convert it into a supplication and turn towards Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) saying that 'I need this thing and I want to seek it this way. Kindly bestow upon me this thing and guide me in achieving it. Even if you think a lot about it, all your imaginations will turn into supplications. And as supplication is the primary form of worship, Satan will never allow it to continue and these considerations will stop abruptly. The objective of Satan is to refrain you from mindfulness of Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) and see that you spend your life in wasteful thoughts in destroying your life. Once you turn the consideration into a supplication, Satan will get irritated and will leave you alone and will contemplate another way to deviate you from Allah's (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) mindfulness.

(xiii) The best course of all the above is the way Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) has taught us; ie., 'seeking Allah's (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) protection. Seeking Allah's (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) protection is supplication and supplication is the primary form of worship. If you are servant, do not depend upon any of your abilities. لا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله [ there is no sway or strength save that of Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ)]. Seek the protection of your Sustainer. He is absolutely sufficient for you. He is the one who grants your supplications and He is the one who is helpful in overcoming all your difficulties. If you refrain from defiance and disobedience and come under the protection of His mercy, who can cause you harm?

It is in Quran - فَفِرُّوا إِلَى اللَّهِ [ So flee to Allah.] (Adh-Dhariyaat - 50). The, who can misguide you?

It is in Quran - وَالَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا [ The people who strive in our way, We show and put them on the right path. ] (Al-Ankaboot - 69).

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا إِذَا مَسَّهُمْ طَائِفٌ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ تَذَكَّرُوا فَإِذَا هُمْ مُبْصِرُونَ٢٠١

7:201 Indeed, those who fear Allah, when an impulse touches them from Satan, they remember (Allah) and at once they get insight.

وَإِخْوَانُهُمْ يَمُدُّونَهُمْ فِي الْغَيِّ ثُمَّ لَا يُقْصِرُونَ٢٠٢

7:202 The devils plunge their human brothers (associates) deeper into error. So they never give up on that. 

وَإِذَا لَمْ تَأْتِهِمْ بِآيَةٍ قَالُوا لَوْلَا اجْتَبَيْتَهَا ۚ قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَتَّبِعُ مَا يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ مِنْ رَبِّي ۚ هَٰذَا بَصَائِرُ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ٢٠٣

7:203 And (O' Prophet ﷺ) when you do not bring them a verse, they say, 'Why did you not fabricate it?' Say, 'I follow only what is divinely revealed to me from my Lord'. This (Quran) is an enlightenment from your Lord, and a guidance and a Mercy for the Muslims. 

وَإِذَا قُرِئَ الْقُرْآنُ فَاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ وَأَنْصِتُوا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ٢٠٤

7:204 When the Quran is recited listen to it in silence so that Allah has Mercy upon you.

وَاذْكُرْ رَبَّكَ فِي نَفْسِكَ تَضَرُّعًا وَخِيفَةً وَدُونَ الْجَهْرِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصَالِ وَلَا تَكُنْ مِنَ الْغَافِلِينَ٢٠٥

7:205 (O' believers) remember your Lord within your hearts humbly and with fear, and softly with your tongues, morning and evening, and do not be of the neglectful.

How do we remember our Lord? It is by reciting and invoking Him by His beautiful names. This is known as Zikr. Details in this context can be read in the Tafseer of verse 191, Sura Aal-e-Imran.

It is in Quran - وَلِلَّهِ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَى فَادْعُوهُ بِهَا وَذَرُوا الَّذِينَ يُلْحِدُونَ فِي أَسْمَائِهِ سَيُجْزَوْنَ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ [ And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them. And leave (the company of) those who practice deviation concerning His names. They will get retribution of what they have been doing. ] (Al-A'raaf - 180)

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِ وَيُسَبِّحُونَهُ وَلَهُ يَسْجُدُونَ ۩٢٠٦

7:206 Indeed, those who are near your Lord are not prevented by arrogance from His worship, and they exalt Him, and to Him they prostrate.

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.

سورة الأنفال

The Spoils of War

Al-Anfaal | Sura # 8 | 75 verses | Madinan

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

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

يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْأَنْفَالِ ۖ قُلِ الْأَنْفَالُ لِلَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ ۖ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَصْلِحُوا ذَاتَ بَيْنِكُمْ ۖ وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ١

8:1 They ask you, (O' Prophet  ﷺ), about the spoils (of war). Say, 'The (decision for) it is for Allah and the Apostle (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم).' So fear Allah and amend that which is between you,  and obey Allah and His Apostle (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم), if you are believers.

The above verse was a major conceptual reform pertaining to war and spoils of war in Islam. During pre-Islamic times, the soldier used to take all that he could lay his hands on. On occasions, the spoils were seized by the King. By declaring that the spoils or war belong to Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) and His Apostle (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم), the Muslim soldiers were reminded that they are not fighting a war for material gains, rather they are the reformers of the world. Therefore, it was made obligatory on all soldiers to deposit the spoils of war with the commander. Later elaborate laws were laid down in which one-fifth of the spoils was to be deposited in the treasury for public welfare and support to the needy while four-fifths was to be distributed among the soldiers.

إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ٢

8:2 The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts become fearful, and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith; and upon their Lord they rely.

الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنْفِقُونَ٣

8:3 The ones who establish prayer, and spend in charity from what We have provided them.

أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ حَقًّا ۚ لَهُمْ دَرَجَاتٌ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ٤

8:4 Those are they who are truly believers. For them are ranks with their Lord and forgiveness and generous provision.

كَمَا أَخْرَجَكَ رَبُّكَ مِنْ بَيْتِكَ بِالْحَقِّ وَإِنَّ فَرِيقًا مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ لَكَارِهُونَ٥

8:5 When your Lord brought you out of your home (for the battle of Badr), in truth,  a party among the believers were unwilling,

يُجَادِلُونَكَ فِي الْحَقِّ بَعْدَمَا تَبَيَّنَ كَأَنَّمَا يُسَاقُونَ إِلَى الْمَوْتِ وَهُمْ يَنْظُرُونَ٦

8:6 disputing with you regarding the truth after it had been made clear, as if they were being herded towards an inevitable death.

وَإِذْ يَعِدُكُمُ اللَّهُ إِحْدَى الطَّائِفَتَيْنِ أَنَّهَا لَكُمْ وَتَوَدُّونَ أَنَّ غَيْرَ ذَاتِ الشَّوْكَةِ تَكُونُ لَكُمْ وَيُرِيدُ اللَّهُ أَنْ يُحِقَّ الْحَقَّ بِكَلِمَاتِهِ وَيَقْطَعَ دَابِرَ الْكَافِرِينَ٧

8:7 When Allah promised you, one of the two groups, that it would be yours, and (O' believers) you wished to get the one that posed no danger.  But Allah intended to establish the truth by His words and to eliminate the disbelievers (decisively).

It is clear from the above verses that when the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) started from home for the battle of Badr, he intended for a decisive battle with Quraish. There were two options for Muslims either to confront the trading Caravan of Quraish which was to pass through Badr or the Makkan Army which had arrived at Badr to protect their trading caravan. The decision was taken by the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) at the start of the expedition that Muslims will confront the Makkan Army. However a group of Muslims tried to avoid it. The Quraish Army consisted of over 1000 heavily armed soldiers while the Trading Caravan consisted of about 30 to 40 armed guards. When finally Muslims were asked to march on the formidable Quraish army, this group thought they were driven to their apparent death. Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) says that He intended to establish the truth and eliminate the disbelievers. When the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) prayed for help, Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) supported Muslim Army by sending thousands of angels who fought along with Muslims.

لِيُحِقَّ الْحَقَّ وَيُبْطِلَ الْبَاطِلَ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُجْرِمُونَ٨

8:8 That He should establish the truth and abolish falsehood, even if the criminals disliked it.

إِذْ تَسْتَغِيثُونَ رَبَّكُمْ فَاسْتَجَابَ لَكُمْ أَنِّي مُمِدُّكُمْ بِأَلْفٍ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ مُرْدِفِينَ٩

8:9 When you (O Prophet ﷺ) were supplicating for the help of your Lord, He answered your supplication saying, 'I will help you with a row of thousands of angels.'

وَمَا جَعَلَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بُشْرَىٰ وَلِتَطْمَئِنَّ بِهِ قُلُوبُكُمْ ۚ وَمَا النَّصْرُ إِلَّا مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ١٠

8:10 He gave you that good news only to reassure your hearts, for victory comes from Allah alone, and certainly Allah is All Mighty and All Wise.

إِذْ يُغَشِّيكُمُ النُّعَاسَ أَمَنَةً مِنْهُ وَيُنَزِّلُ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً لِيُطَهِّرَكُمْ بِهِ وَيُذْهِبَ عَنْكُمْ رِجْزَ الشَّيْطَانِ وَلِيَرْبِطَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِكُمْ وَيُثَبِّتَ بِهِ الْأَقْدَامَ١١

8:11 When He made the slumber overcome you, so it was as a peacefulness from Him, and sent down water from the sky upon you to purify you with it, and to remove the impurity of Satan from you, and to give your hearts fortitude and firmly establish your feet with it.

The first part of the verse إِذْ يُغَشِّيكُمُ النُّعَاسَ أَمَنَةً مِنْهُ [ When He made the slumber overcome you, so it was as a peacefulness from Him.] refers to the battle of Uhad where Muslims panicked with intense fear. A slumber took over them for a while with which they felt peace.

The later part of the verse refers to the heavy downpour on the night preceding the Battle of Badr which helped them to store abundant water and it compacted the loose sand in the upper part of the valley where Muslims had fixed their tents. On the lower side of the valley where Quraish army was camped became marshy.

إِذْ يُوحِي رَبُّكَ إِلَى الْمَلَائِكَةِ أَنِّي مَعَكُمْ فَثَبِّتُوا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ۚ سَأُلْقِي فِي قُلُوبِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا الرُّعْبَ فَاضْرِبُوا فَوْقَ الْأَعْنَاقِ وَاضْرِبُوا مِنْهُمْ كُلَّ بَنَانٍ١٢

8:12 And the Lord said to the angels : 'I am with you; go and strengthen the faithful. I shall fill the hearts of infidels with terror.  So smite them on their necks and every joint, (and incapacitate them).'

Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) helped Muslims by sending thousands of angels in the battle of Badr.

ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ شَاقُّوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۚ وَمَنْ يُشَاقِقِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ١٣

8:13 For they had opposed Allah and His Apostle (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم).   Whosoever opposes Allah and his Apostle (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) (should know) that Allah is severe in retribution.

ذَٰلِكُمْ فَذُوقُوهُ وَأَنَّ لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَذَابَ النَّارِ١٤

8:14 Therefore taste this for now, and along with it for the disbelievers is the punishment of Hell Fire.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا لَقِيتُمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا زَحْفًا فَلَا تُوَلُّوهُمُ الْأَدْبَارَ١٥

8:15 O' believers,  when you confront a large army of disbelievers in battle, do not turn your backs to them.

وَمَنْ يُوَلِّهِمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ دُبُرَهُ إِلَّا مُتَحَرِّفًا لِقِتَالٍ أَوْ مُتَحَيِّزًا إِلَىٰ فِئَةٍ فَقَدْ بَاءَ بِغَضَبٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَمَأْوَاهُ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ١٦

8:16 For any one who turns his back on that day, except as manoeuvre or rally to his side, will bring the wrath of Allah on himself, and have Hell as abode; what an evil destination!

فَلَمْ تَقْتُلُوهُمْ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ قَتَلَهُمْ ۚ وَمَا رَمَيْتَ إِذْ رَمَيْتَ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ رَمَىٰ ۚ وَلِيُبْلِيَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْهُ بَلَاءً حَسَنًا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ١٧

8:17 And you did not kill them, but it was Allah who killed them (at Badr). And you threw not, (O' Prophet ﷺ), when you threw, but it was Allah who threw, so that He might test the believers with a good test.  Indeed, Allah is All Hearing and All Knowing.

The verse refers to the battle at Badr when two armies stood face to face at the start of the battle. At that moment, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) threw a handful of dust at the enemy saying: 'May their faces be scorched.' It impacted the Makkan Army and marked the beginning of Muslims charge towards the Quraish and eventually they won the war decisively.

ذَٰلِكُمْ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ مُوهِنُ كَيْدِ الْكَافِرِينَ١٨

8:18 That was that (what happened at Badr), but remember Allah will weaken the scheme of the disbelievers.

إِنْ تَسْتَفْتِحُوا فَقَدْ جَاءَكُمُ الْفَتْحُ ۖ وَإِنْ تَنْتَهُوا فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ ۖ وَإِنْ تَعُودُوا نَعُدْ وَلَنْ تُغْنِيَ عَنْكُمْ فِئَتُكُمْ شَيْئًا وَلَوْ كَثُرَتْ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ١٩

8:19 If you (disbelievers) seek the victory, the defeat has come to you. And if you desist (from hostilities), it is best for you; but if you return (to war), We will return, and never will you be availed by your (large) company, even if it should increase; and (that is) because Allah is with the believers.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَلَا تَوَلَّوْا عَنْهُ وَأَنْتُمْ تَسْمَعُونَ٢٠

8:20 O' People who believe,  obey Allah and His Apostle (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) and do not turn from him while you hear him speak.

وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ قَالُوا سَمِعْنَا وَهُمْ لَا يَسْمَعُونَ٢١

8:21 And do not be like those who say : 'We have heard,' but do not hear.

إِنَّ شَرَّ الدَّوَابِّ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ الصُّمُّ الْبُكْمُ الَّذِينَ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ٢٢

8:22 The worst of creatures in the eyes of Allah are those who are deaf and dumb and devoid of sense.

وَلَوْ عَلِمَ اللَّهُ فِيهِمْ خَيْرًا لَأَسْمَعَهُمْ ۖ وَلَوْ أَسْمَعَهُمْ لَتَوَلَّوْا وَهُمْ مُعْرِضُونَ٢٣

8:23 If Allah had seen any good in them He would surely have made them hear.   Now even if He makes them hear they will turn away (in obduracy).

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَجِيبُوا لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ ۖ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَحُولُ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَقَلْبِهِ وَأَنَّهُ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ٢٤

8:24 O' believers, respond to Allah and to the Apostle (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) when he calls you to that which gives you life. And know that Allah intervenes between a man and his heart and that to Him you will be gathered.

وَاتَّقُوا فِتْنَةً لَا تُصِيبَنَّ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْكُمْ خَاصَّةً ۖ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ٢٥

8:25 Beware of turmoil, which does not (only) affect the unjust alone among you, and know that the punishment of Allah is severe.

The above verse emphasize the need that the reformatory mission of Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) towards his people is meant for cleansing the society as a whole from the evils of idol worship and oppression of certain people in society. The people in general should not remain as silent spectators and consider it is sufficient not getting involved in the evil deeds personally. If the evil is not restricted and removed, it spreads in society and affects one and all. It also invites Allah's (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) wrath on the community.

وَاذْكُرُوا إِذْ أَنْتُمْ قَلِيلٌ مُسْتَضْعَفُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ تَخَافُونَ أَنْ يَتَخَطَّفَكُمُ النَّاسُ فَآوَاكُمْ وَأَيَّدَكُمْ بِنَصْرِهِ وَرَزَقَكُمْ مِنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ٢٦

8:26 And remember when you were few and oppressed in the land, fearing that people might abduct you, but He sheltered you, supported you with His victory, and provided you with good things, that you might be grateful.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَخُونُوا اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ وَتَخُونُوا أَمَانَاتِكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ٢٧

8:27 O you who believe! betray not the trust of Allah and the Apostle (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم), nor misappropriate knowingly things entrusted to you.

وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلَادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ عِنْدَهُ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ٢٨

8:28 And know that your wealth and your children are a trial, and that with Allah is an immense reward.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنْ تَتَّقُوا اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ فُرْقَانًا وَيُكَفِّرْ عَنْكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ٢٩

8:29 O' People who Believe, if you fear Allah, He will bestow upon you (the wisdom) with which you will (be able to) separate the truth from falsehood, and He will unburden your misdeeds and forgive you; and Allah is the Extremely Munificent.

وَإِذْ يَمْكُرُ بِكَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِيُثْبِتُوكَ أَوْ يَقْتُلُوكَ أَوْ يُخْرِجُوكَ ۚ وَيَمْكُرُونَ وَيَمْكُرُ اللَّهُ ۖ وَاللَّهُ خَيْرُ الْمَاكِرِينَ٣٠

8:30 And remember (O' Prophet ﷺ) when the disbelievers were plotting against you to either imprison you, or to kill you or to banish you; and they were scheming, and Allah also had His plan; and Allah’s planning is the best.

The above verse is related to the conspiracy of Quraish during Prophet's (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) stay in Makka before immigration to Madina. Makkan Pagans apprehended that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) may migrate to Madina. They called for a meeting of all the Chiefs of the tribes where they discussed the possibilities of either to imprison, or banish the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) from Makka. However, both these proposals were dropped for various reasons. Then, Abu Jahl suggested that a group of young men should be selected from different clans of Quraish assigned to kill the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) by attacking him together. In such a case Prophet's (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) relatives will not be able to take revenge from any individual clan and would be forced to settle for blood-money. Accordingly, the young men charged with the execution of the plan were selected.

The selected assassins arrived at the Prophet's (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) house during the night, as planned. They waited till dawn for Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) to come out of the home to attack him. However, before they could do any harm, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) came out of the house during the night and traveled to Madina along with Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddique (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ). Hadhrat Ali (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) was asked to sleep on the Prophet's (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) bed. This way they could not succeed in their evil plan.

It is in Hadith - It is narrated on the authority of Ibn Abbas (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) that in the interpretation of the above verse (Anfaal 30), he said, 'Quraysh met together one night in Makkah. Some of them said : When morning comes, imprison him in chains. Some said, No, kill him; and others said, No, drive him out. Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) informed His Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) of that, so Ali (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) slept in the bed of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) that night, and the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) went out and hid in the cave. The mushrikoon spent the night lying in wait for Ali (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ), thinking that it was the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم). When morning came, they pounced on him, and when they saw Ali (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ), they asked, where is that friend of yours? He said, I do not know. So they set out after him and when they reached the mountain, they were confounded. They climbed up the mountain and passed by the cave, and saw a spider’s web over its entrance. They said, if anyone had entered here, the spider would not have spun a web over the entrance. And he (the Prophet ﷺ) stayed there for three nights. (Musnad Ahmad. It was classed as Hassan by Ibn Hajr in Fath al-Bari and Ibn Kathir in Bidaya wan Nihaya.)

وَإِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُنَا قَالُوا قَدْ سَمِعْنَا لَوْ نَشَاءُ لَقُلْنَا مِثْلَ هَٰذَا ۙ إِنْ هَٰذَا إِلَّا أَسَاطِيرُ الْأَوَّلِينَ٣١

8:31 And when Our verses are recited to them they say, 'Yes, we have heard.  If we wanted we could also say something like this.   These are nothing but stories of former people!

وَإِذْ قَالُوا اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كَانَ هَٰذَا هُوَ الْحَقَّ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ فَأَمْطِرْ عَلَيْنَا حِجَارَةً مِنَ السَّمَاءِ أَوِ ائْتِنَا بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ٣٢

8:32 And (remember) when they (the Mushrikeen of Makka) said (in mockery), O' Allah, if this (Quran) should be the truth from You, then rain down upon us stones from the sky or bring us a painful punishment.'

وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُعَذِّبَهُمْ وَأَنْتَ فِيهِمْ ۚ وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ مُعَذِّبَهُمْ وَهُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ٣٣

8:33 But Allah would not punish them while you, (O' Prophet  ﷺ), are among them, and Allah would not punish them as long as they (some of them) seek forgiveness.

وَمَا لَهُمْ أَلَّا يُعَذِّبَهُمُ اللَّهُ وَهُمْ يَصُدُّونَ عَنِ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَمَا كَانُوا أَوْلِيَاءَهُ ۚ إِنْ أَوْلِيَاؤُهُ إِلَّا الْمُتَّقُونَ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ٣٤

8:34 But what is there so special they have that Allah should not punish them when they obstruct people from the Masjid al-Haram, though they are not its (appointed) guardians? Its guardians could be only those who are pious and devout. But most of them do not know.

وَمَا كَانَ صَلَاتُهُمْ عِنْدَ الْبَيْتِ إِلَّا مُكَاءً وَتَصْدِيَةً ۚ فَذُوقُوا الْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ٣٥

8:35 Their worship in the House of Allah has been no more than whistling and clapping. So they have to taste the punishment for their disbelief.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا يُنْفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ لِيَصُدُّوا عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ۚ فَسَيُنْفِقُونَهَا ثُمَّ تَكُونُ عَلَيْهِمْ حَسْرَةً ثُمَّ يُغْلَبُونَ ۗ وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِلَىٰ جَهَنَّمَ يُحْشَرُونَ٣٦

8:36 Indeed the disbelievers spend their wealth in order to prevent people from the way of Allah; so they will spend it now, and then regret over it, then they will be defeated; and the disbelievers will be gathered in the Hell.

لِيَمِيزَ اللَّهُ الْخَبِيثَ مِنَ الطَّيِّبِ وَيَجْعَلَ الْخَبِيثَ بَعْضَهُ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ فَيَرْكُمَهُ جَمِيعًا فَيَجْعَلَهُ فِي جَهَنَّمَ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ٣٧

8:37 (It is) in order that Allah may distinguish the wicked from the good and place the wicked  upon each other and heap them together and put them into Hell. It is those who are the losers.

قُلْ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِنْ يَنْتَهُوا يُغْفَرْ لَهُمْ مَا قَدْ سَلَفَ وَإِنْ يَعُودُوا فَقَدْ مَضَتْ سُنَّتُ الْأَوَّلِينَ٣٨

8:38 You tell the unbelievers,  in case they desist whatever has happened will be forgiven. If they persist, they should remember the fate of those who have gone before them.

وَقَاتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّىٰ لَا تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ وَيَكُونَ الدِّينُ كُلُّهُ لِلَّهِ ۚ فَإِنِ انْتَهَوْا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ٣٩

8:39 Fight them until persecution is no more, and religion becomes exclusively for Allah.  So if they desist, Allah surely watches what they do.

وَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ مَوْلَاكُمْ ۚ نِعْمَ الْمَوْلَىٰ وَنِعْمَ النَّصِيرُ٤٠

8:40 But if they turn away, then know that Allah is your protector. What an excellent protector, and what an excellent helper.

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